Faithfulness and Love

Category Archives: Year B

4th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B

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In ancient times, we read of emperors and kings who claim to have a mandate or the authority from heaven to rule their subjects. Some of these emperors and kings even believed that they were actually divine, or that they were descendants of the divine (even if they believed they were somewhat divine was good enough for them), or that they had received a divine message or confirmation to support their right and privileges as a ruler. Few people questioned whether these emperors and kings were genuine in their claims, but in hindsight, we could discover that such claims are questionable.

But what do we mean when we speak of authority? When we speak about authority, we are talking about the power a person has received, usually through a voting process, though at times, such powers could have been seized with the support of the military or through some other means. Such persons would then have the power to determine the actions of another person or a group of people. Society creates laws to protect its citizen and then gives authority to certain people such as the police or in some cases the military to enforce these laws. In general, authority is intimately connected with its source and such authority is temporary and subject to review and possible change or even to be discarded when it no longer serves its purpose.

However, today’s Gospel tells us of a different kind of authority. Such authority comes from God, since we believe Jesus is the Son of God. In today’s Gospel, the people were amazed because they had never experienced someone speaking with such authority. This authority would never be removed from Jesus because Jesus was intimately united to His Father, the source of the authority. Likewise, we share in the authority of the Lord if we are united to the source of this authority. God can remove this authority if we refuse to stay intimately united to him. God has entrusted us with his authority only to the extent that we allow him into our lives. This is why, in today’s reading, we are warned: “The man who does not listen to my words that he speaks in my name, shall be held answerable to me for it. But the prophet who presumes to say in my name a thing I have not commanded him to say, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.” In other words, we should not play play with the authority God has given us, for such authority is not meant for our personal gratification or benefit, but to do His will and to glorify His name.

Today, as we look back at our history, we are reminded of the many instances where authority has been misused or abused. We are also reminded of the many examples of proper use of authority. Have we who have been given authority, either from sources on earth, or from the divine, used such authority wisely and justly for the benefit of all and for the greater glory of God?

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B

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Life here on earth is quite unpredictable. Today we may seem healthy and content, but we do not know what could happen tomorrow. Many of us may be quite uncomfortable to talk about death, and there are some who consider it a taboo topic. However, the fact of the matter is, all of us will die one day. It does not matter whether we are young or old, sick or healthy, death can come at any time. This is why we are always reminded that life is short and we should set our priorities right. We should not be spending too much time in less important things, while disregarding or procrastinating on the more important ones, the ones that really matter.

This is what the readings today are trying to remind us. In today’s Gospel, Jesus begins His message of Good News by telling us: “The time has come and the kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent, and believe the Good News.” Jesus is telling us that now is the time to change our ways, to make God our priority, to let God take control of our lives. We cannot wait till tomorrow, or next month, or even next year; we must decide now, because tomorrow may never come. The Ninevites in today’s first reading got the idea of how urgent it was to change their ways. They did not wait or waste time, instead, “the people of Nineveh believed in God; they proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least.” As a result, “God saw their efforts to renounce their evil behaviour. And God relented: He did not inflict on them the disaster which He had threatened.” Even St. Paul in today’s second reading cautions us with the same message: “Brothers: our time is growing short. Those who have wives should live as though they had none, and those who mourn should live as though they had nothing to mourn for; those who are enjoying life should live as though there were nothing to laugh about; those whose life is buying things should live as though they had nothing of their own; and those who have to deal with the world should not become engrossed in it. I say this because the world as we know it is passing away.”

Some of us may be wondering why we are talking about death and repentance at the beginning of the year. Some may think that we are being too pessimistic or too cautious, and that we should continue living life to the fullest. But the point is: death can come suddenly, and all our plans for the year, no matter how grand or wonderful they may be, will no longer matter. What matters is our relationship with God. Is our relationship with God healthy? Have we let God be the master of our lives? If the answer is still “no,” then we need to do something about it. We need to seize every opportunity to grow closer to God, and repent and believe in His Good News. Why wait till it’s too late?

We call ourselves Christians, but are we prepared to follow Christ completely, with no ifs or buts, no terms or conditions? Are we willing to change our ways and let God take control? Are we prepared to “leave our nets and follow him”? Saying that we are willing to do so is easy, but what we say could be merely words, empty words. Let us make the decision today, and let God reign in our hearts.

2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B

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Have you ever wondered why you are here on earth? What is your purpose? Who are you, really? What are you to become? Sometimes we go through life without thinking much about such questions, but there comes a time where we would need to take stock of where we came from, where we are now, and where we are going. Life here on earth is short, and it is good for us to be firmly rooted in knowing our purpose and to live life to the fullest.

When we ask such questions about our lives, some of us may begin to think that it is all about doing and doing as much as possible. But Christianity is not just about doing, what is more important is our identity; who we are, so to speak. Therefore, our actions or what we do ought to flow from who we are. And who are we? Today’s second reading gives us the answer: “Your body, you know, is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you since you received him from God. You are not your own property; you have been bought and paid for. That is why you should use your body for the glory of God.” We are, as the reading reminds us, not our own property, for we belong to God.

If we realise who we are, then we can begin to understand that Jesus in today’s Gospel was not asking the two disciples what they wanted materially. Instead, He is asking them, and He is asking us too: What do you want to become? Jesus was trying to challenge these first disciples, and us too, to look deeper into our lives and to ask ourselves: Who am I? What is my purpose in this life? What does God want me to become? Thus, we must learn to listen carefully to God’s voice while we pray. We must learn to discern His voice and distinguish His voice from others. We must learn to listen the way Samuel in today’s first reading listened and say, “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.”

Today, Jesus is inviting us to become His followers. Jesus is inviting us to “come and see”, to journey with him, to discover His plan for us, to shoulder His yoke and learn from Him. Let us open our hearts and minds, so that Jesus could transform us and use us for the greater glory of God.

4th Sunday of Advent Year B

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Many of us like to give and receive gifts. Sometimes the gift could be something big, or something small, or something expensive, or something cheap, or something valuable or precious, or even something useful to us or we think is useful to the person receiving the gift. As we are approaching Christmas, some of us may begin to scurry about frantically looking for different gifts for different people, some of us may begin shopping for new clothing, some of us may even begin stocking up different types of food, fruits, drinks and other delicacies, so that we would be well prepared for the upcoming celebrations. But if we consider for a moment… when we are choosing a gift or purchasing something, are we choosing something that we like and we think that the other person would like as well? Or are we choosing something which the other person really likes?

In the first reading, we come across King David who thought he ought to build a temple to house the ark of the Covenant. Perhaps King David felt guilty that God had done so much for him and he had not done anything or had not done enough in response. Perhaps King David felt uncomfortable and thought that it was improper or not dignified enough for the ark of God to dwell in a tent while he lived in a house of cedar. But instead of gifting God a temple, King David received a greater gift from God. God blessed King David and promised him a dynasty that will last forever, and also make him great in the midst of all nations.

Some of us think that we owe God something in return for the many things God has given us. Some of us may subscribe to a “you scratch my back, I scratch yours” mentality, thinking that we can get more blessings or favours from God through our gifts (as though we could bribe God). But God cannot be bribed. Everything we have comes from Him and is actually a gift from Him to us. God chooses to give us many gifts, and we must learn to receive and accept from God whatever he wishes to give us. This is an attitude or quality which Mary displayed in the Gospel. She had nothing to give God, for she had no power, no possession; nothing. And yet, God chose her as the mother of His Son Jesus. God blessed her with such a gift because Mary was willing to receive and accept God’s gift; she was willing and humble enough to listen to God’s will when she said: “I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let what you have said be done to me.”

When we gift something to others, we are in control, since we decide what we give. On the other hand, when we receive something, we have no power or control over what we receive. When God gives us something, we cannot dictate what we want to receive from Him; God chooses what is best for us, and we can decide to accept or reject the gift. For some, not having control over the gift which we may receive could be a scary situation. But why should we be afraid? Are we not confident or trusting enough in God’s choice? Let us be willing and humble enough to let God take control of our lives and receive the many blessings and gifts He bestows on us.

3rd Sunday of Advent Year B

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How much joy is there in our hearts? Are we a joyful people, or have we become so preoccupied with so many things that we have become less and less joyful? Sometimes the way we have lived our lives or the circumstances around us, either through our own doing, or through other factors, could cause us to become weary and our joy may be diminished. But as Christians, how do we remain joyful? How do we continue to radiate joy and hope in the Lord?

Today’s readings remind us of the joy we should continuously radiate. From the first reading, we are reminded that “The spirit of the Lord has been given to me, for the Lord has anointed me.” When you have the spirit of the Lord, there is no reason to fear, to be anxious, or to be insecure. Instead, we should be joyful, as the reading tells us: “I exult for joy in the Lord, my soul rejoices in my God, for he has clothed me in the garments of salvation, he has wrapped me in the cloak of integrity.” Likewise, the second reading echoes the need for us to remain joyful: “Be happy at all times; pray constantly; and for all things give thanks to God, because this is what God expects you to do in Christ Jesus.” Why should we continue to be joyful? Because, as the reading assures us, “God has called you and he will not fail you.”

Our life here is too short to be tainted or saddled with worries or fear. God has assured us of His love and care, if we are willing to open our minds and hearts and let Him take control. Let us hold on to what is good and avoid every form of evil, and let us share the joy God has given us to all.

2nd Sunday of Advent Year B

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If you were given a choice to drive from one place to another, either by using the old road, or by using the highway, which would you choose? Some of us may not be so keen to use the highway, since the highway may impose hefty toll charges. But supposing the highway had no or minimal toll charges, would you still use the old road? Quite likely more people would use the highway, especially if the highway has more straightened roads which makes it easier and possibly faster to drive, enabling us to arrive at our destination earlier; compared to the old road which could be winding and narrow, making it a difficult and dangerous drive.

The prophet Isaiah in today’s first reading tells us of a highway: “Make a straight highway for our God across the desert. Let every valley be filled in, every mountain and hill be laid low, let every cliff become a plain, and the ridges a valley. ” What sort of highway is the prophet Isaiah talking about? This highway is the highway of our lives. Over the years, our highway may have become bogged down with diversions, winding paths, narrow roads and sharp corners, as we in one way or another have become more and more immersed in the ways of the world and more and more distant from God. Our behaviour, attitudes and way of life may have contributed to the condition of the highway of our lives. Isaiah’s call in the first reading is a call for us to make a radical and consistent change to the landscape of the highway of our lives. It is not just a cosmetic change such as repairing potholes or resurfacing the road here and there, but a total change, so that the highway of our lives would be straightened and God would have easier access to us. John the Baptist in today’s Gospel echoes this call of Isaiah where he says: “Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight.”

When we were baptised, we began a journey of transforming our highway into one which is straight and easily accessible. Our journey requires repentance, a turning away from our sins, and a rejection of our old way of life. We cannot expect others to change for us; we must change ourselves. If we think we are already ok and others are not; if we claim that there is no need for repentance or conversion on our part; then we may begin to think that we are already perfect. If we are perfect, then we do not need God.

Change is difficult, and can be painful; but change is necessary for us to grow closer to God. Let us put aside our stubbornness, our pride, our sinfulness and any obstacles which we may have placed, so that God can straighten us and transform us into something beautiful. Are we willing, humble and docile enough to let God straighten us, so that we would remain in His loving embrace?

1st Sunday of Advent Year B

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Throughout our lives, we may have been concentrating on building a better life here on earth. As children, we studied hard, hoping to do well in school, in exams and striving to get into a good university. Then we spend much effort earning our Bachelor’s degree and perhaps going on to a Master’s degree or even a Doctorate. We may then look for work either in academic circles or in the corporate world, hoping to make a decent living and perhaps make a name for ourselves. All these things and efforts are certainly not wrong, since we do need to survive and prosper in this world. However, as we may have noticed, all these things and efforts only refer to life here on earth. As Christians, we believe that there is life after our time here on earth ceases. What would happen to us after we leave this life here on earth? Would we be with God? Would we be away from God?

In today’s Gospel, Jesus said to his disciples, “Be on your guard, stay awake, because you never know when the time will come.” What does Jesus mean by “stay awake?” In this season of Advent, we are not only preparing ourselves to celebrate Christmas, we ought to also be preparing ourselves for the eventuality of death where we would meet the Lord, and also for His second coming, which is the end of the world. Death and the second coming of Jesus could be frightening to some, because of the unknown before us. Many passages in scripture have painted us fearful images of death and the second coming of Christ, but today’s readings give us a different image.

In the first reading, the prophet Isaiah speaks of the Lord’s Day as a day of happiness and expectation. The Lord is our redeemer and He “would tear the heavens open and come down.” For those of us who have prepared for death and His second coming, there would be no need to fear, since the Lord would be like a father to us. There would be no need for us to be anxious or frightened, if we have allowed ourselves to be formed by the Lord, as we are the clay and God is the potter. But if we are not prepared, if we have been neglecting our spiritual life and our relationship with God, if we have refused to change our ways, then we would have every reason to fear. We could be awake physically, but asleep spiritually, and we could be caught off guard or unaware or unprepared. In the Gospel, Jesus warns us to “stay awake, because you do not know when the master of the house is coming, evening, midnight, cockcrow, dawn; if he comes unexpectedly, he must not find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake!’

Are we spiritually awake, or are we spiritually in slumber. Over the years, we may have slackened or neglected our spiritual life. The attractions of this world, the choices and priorities we make and our attitudes towards sin, confession, and repentance are some factors which could have contributed to our spiritual slumber. Instead of making excuses; instead of pointing the blame towards others; instead of stubbornly continuing as we are; instead of procrastinating until it is too late; let us ponder the consequences of our actions. Do we want to be joyful and at peace with the Lord? If we do, then let us stay awake, and be prepared and ready at all times.