Faithfulness and Love

Category Archives: Year C

3rd Sunday of Lent Year C

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Does anyone know what God looks like? Some of you may begin to think: this padre is asking a silly question: Of course no one has seen God and know what He looks like, since we would see God only when we are dead. But this does not stop people from having all kinds of perception of what God may look like and what He may be like. Some may see God as a really old person, since He has been around for a really long time. Some may see God as a fierce-looking and vengeful person, ever ready to judge us and punish us for the slightest mistake or error. But all these images seem to give us the impression that God is impersonal and distant from us, as if He has got nothing to do with us. But is this what God is really like?

In today’s readings, we see quite a different picture of God. God is present here among us. He does not reveal himself only in spectacular and miraculous events, but in the daily events of our lives, sometimes, very ordinary events. In the first reading, God appeared to Moses and appointed him as His messenger to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Moses never expected to encounter God in the middle of the burning bush, since bush fires were natural and frequent in such a place where Moses was living and working at, but God chose to appear in the ordinary. In the same way, we never expect to encounter God in the ordinary events of our lives, but God is present everywhere and in whatever circumstance we are in. Moreover, God is compassionate, merciful and ever patient. In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us of the man who planted a fig tree. Even though the tree was not bearing fruit after all the hard work that had been put into it, the man patiently decided to wait and give the tree another chance. Our God is like that: He patiently waits for our repentance and looks on us sinners with compassion. God even sent Hs only Son to die for us so that we may be saved from our sins and so that we may have life.

Let us therefore be grateful and thankful that we have God who wants to maintain a relationship with us and guide and help us in our lives. We do not need to seek Him at high places or spectacular events, since He is with us everywhere. This means that we need to be willing to grow spiritually in His love, so that we would one day be with Him for all eternity.

2nd Sunday of Lent Year C

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Do you really feel at home? Do you feel you have arrived at your final destination, that place which you would want to be, or is there something more? Many of us were taught that our home and final destination is heaven, but perhaps over the years, we may have become more and more attracted and comfortable with our temporary home here on earth. Life seems so much to offer, so many interesting things and attractions to see, enjoy and experience, that we sometimes forget or doubt about our final home and destination.

We must be cautious not to deceive ourselves into thinking that this life is a permanent one. Death can come at any time and in any form. The problem is, there are people who do not want to talk or think about death. They think that they could prolong their lives by gaining more wealth, property and power, as well as depending on so-called modern medicine. But death is a reality, we cannot avoid it, no matter how hard we try. All that we tried so hard to attain will be lost to us, as we cannot bring anything we have in this world into the next life. In today’s Gospel, the three disciples followed Jesus up the mountain. They wanted to experience the event of Jesus’ transfiguration indefinitely by wanting to build tents for all of them. But Jesus refused to allow them to do so and remain at this level, since the transfiguration points to Jesus’ resurrection and the glory of heaven and is not actually the resurrection nor heaven. In the same way, we would not be able to appreciate and attain eternal life, if we put our confidence only in the present life as if it was permanent. Eternal life is to know God, to love him and be with him for all eternity, since God does not promise us a long life but eternal life. In heaven we will be able to see God face to face, without having to hide behind our fears and anxieties and God is the fulfilment of our every hope, dream and desire.

Today, let us ask God for His help and guidance, so that we would be willing and able to let go of our earthly securities and in the first reading be like Abraham who put his faith in the Lord. Let us also take heed of what St. Paul reminds us in the second reading, that “For us, our homeland is in heaven.” May we patiently, humbly and joyfully walk in the ways of the Lord, and strive towards being with Him in heaven, our true and permanent home.

1st Sunday of Lent Year C

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Most of us know that the ways of the world and the ways of God are different. For example, what the world sees as success is different from what God sees as success. According to the world, a person is successful if one has tremendous amounts of money, property and wealth, as well as power and popularity. People in the world would generally hardly take notice of you if you are poor, weak or unpopular, since in their mind, you would not have anything to offer them or you are of no use or advantage to them.

In today’s Gospel, we see the contrast between the ways of the world and the ways of God. Jesus was tempted by the devil to succumb to possessions, power and popularity, all of which are worldly matters. The devil tried to tempt Jesus to change the stones into bread, which is the temptation to place ones trust in riches, possessions and objects, as if such things are all that matters in our lives. The devil tried to tempt Jesus with power, by giving the impression and illusion that if we are in control of our lives, control of organisations, or control of other people; basically if we are in control generally, then we would be somebody important. The devil also tried to tempt Jesus with popularity, by doing things or performing feats which would attract the crowd and make one seem famous. But as we would later note, Jesus did perform miracles but never to show off or to make himself popular.

Such temptations are certainly challenging to overcome, but Jesus rejected all these temptations because none of them could take away the fact that He is the Son of God. Jesus is showing us that God loves us no matter who or what we are. We do not need to prove our importance by acquiring riches, power and popularity. Being God’s sons and daughters is all that we would ever want and need. In the first reading, Moses reminded the Israelites of their history and their identity. They were ‘nobodies’ or ‘slaves.’ But God gave them an identity by saving them, giving them a land which they could call home and made them His people. Without God they had no identity, no freedom, no riches, no importance. Only with God did they and us too become sombodies. Only with God would we find happiness and contentment.

Thus, if we are still caught up with the ways of the world, let us pray that we would learn to let go and let God be in control. Let us pray for God’s grace to resist all forms of temptations, knowing that they can never grant us eternal happiness. What matters is we find happiness and everlasting life in our loving God.

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C

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In life, we often come across different situations where some level of risk is involved. For example, when we buy shares or unit trusts, we are taking a risk with our money, since the shares or unit trusts could increase in value or decrease in value substantially or even go bust totally. When we get into a relationship, we are also taking some risk, since we would not be able to tell whether such a relationship will lead to a life-long one or would eventually lead to a break-up. When we have a child especially at an older age, we face the risk of having a child affected with autism or a mongoloid child or even a child afflicted with some serious illness. It does not matter how big or small the risk may be, but most of us would need to face some form of risk in one way or another. The problem is, we do come across some people who are afraid of taking risks. It seems much easier doing things that are familiar than it is to do something which is new. Why are some people so afraid to take risks? Because what some of us actually fear is failure. We fear that we will not be able to finish what we have started; or we will not get the results we desired; or that others will laugh at us for our stupidity or incapabilities; or that if we fail in this task, we would also fail for the rest of our lives.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus is inviting all of us to take courage and take risks. In the Gospel, Jesus told Peter to “put out into deep water and pay out your nets for a catch.” Peter would have found such an instruction difficult to follow, since he had already failed to catch any fish after trying so hard. After we have failed, some of us may often be hesitant to try again and become discouraged. We try to avoid making the same mistakes and try to do something else which we believe would lead to a better chance of success. However, Peter chose to take the risk again, and as a result, he succeeded in catching so many fish that two boats were filled to sinking point. What does this mean to us? It means that being a Christian means being willing to take risks. When people are invited or asked to become a catechist, a BEC coordinator or a leader in some ministry, many often decline, giving all sorts of excuses or reasons. Some say that they have no time; or they feel that they have enough responsibilities (even though in reality, they are not doing anything for the church); or that they do not have the necessary abilities. But the real reason is the fear of failure and being unwilling to take risks. If we are going to avoid taking risks, are we making ourselves armchair or even nominal Christians, only knowing how to comment or criticise but afraid and refusing to do our part? Is this what Christianity is really all about to some of us?

Today, each and every one of us are called to discipleship. It is not enough to just be a Sunday Christian and not get involved. It is not enough just to come to Church or to pray. It is not enough to just complain and assume that nothing can be done. All of us are called to be disciples, not just a select few. Contrary to what some of us may think, a disciple is not one who doesn’t make mistakes, since he or she does make mistakes from time to time; he or she is not someone who will always succeed in everything that he or she does, since a true disciple experiences failures just like everyone else; he or she is not perfect, but far from perfect, since he or she has many weaknesses and struggles just like everyone else. Instead, a disciple is one who is prepared and able to take risks because he has developed a deep relationship with Jesus. He or she trusts Jesus enough to be able to place his or her own fate in the hands of the Lord. A disciple may be weak or seem not so skillful or qualified but believes and has confidence that all is possible with the grace and help of God. A disciple constantly turns to God for forgiveness and mercy and recognises his or her own sinfulness. In other words, a disciple is willing to give his or her all, come what may, because he or she trusts and depends on God for His help and providence. Today, Jesus is calling us and telling us: “Do not be afraid, from now on it is men you will catch.” Are we willing to take the risk and follow Him?

4th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C

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Throughout sacred scripture, we have come across many different prophets. Some of us may recall them by name and even quote some of the things they may have said. Even today, we come across some people who claim to be prophets. Sometimes their claims are true, other times their claims turn out to be false. But if we consider a moment: who is a prophet? How do we discern whether a person is a prophet or not? A prophet is a messenger, mouthpiece or spokesman of God. He comes to recognise the will of God for his time, that is, what God is trying to say to His people in a certain time, under certain circumstances and in a certain place. A prophet is not one who keeps silent, but is expected to receive and proclaim the message of God. If the prophet fails to proclaim the message or shirks his responsibility, God will raise other prophets to undertake the task.

Being a prophet is not easy and is certainly not a joke or a laughing matter. Sometimes, the prophet is asked to give a message of hope and encouragement to God’s people. Other times, the prophet is given the task to challenge and condemn the people for their sinfulness, by being the conscience of the nation. This causes the prophet to face opposition and rejection, since everyone likes to hear praises and words of encouragement and no one likes to hear criticism. But such criticism is necessary for us to grow. If we are not open to criticism and are not honest with ourselves, we would then be blind to where God wants to lead us.

When we look at today’s Gospel, we are reminded that Jesus speaks of the many prophets in Israel’s history who were rejected by their own people and sometimes welcomed by others. Jesus too is such a prophet, and since He chose to reprimand his listeners in today’s Gospel, Jesus too is rejected. The Word of God is a double-edged sword which cuts both ways. We must be prepared to hear words of encouragement as well as words that would challenge our present way of life. But are we willing and humble enough to do so?

Fulfilling a prophetic role is certainly difficult, since no one wants to be the bad guy. It seems much easier to talk about people behind their backs then to confront them. As a prophetic people, we are called to confront and challenge each other. Confrontation does not mean that we have no love. Instead, love is the reason why we must confront and act the prophet. In the second reading, we are reminded that love is always patient and kind, it is never jealous, never boastful or conceited, or rude or selfish. A prophet is not someone who is harsh, mean, wicked and heartless, but so full of love for God and His people that he is prepared to risk being rejected by his own people and face the consequences of speaking the truth. May we willingly, patiently and humbly accept the challenge to become prophets, with love as our motivation, since without love, we cannot be true prophets, but we may only end up as complainers and critics. Let us pray for the strength and courage to speak the truth with love.

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C

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It is interesting to observe how some families arrange their family altars at their homes. They would usually have a statue of Mother Mary or Jesus at a prominent place on the family altar, some rosary beads, and quite often a bible placed prominently on a stand, opened to a particular chapter and verse which may be the favourite of the family members. But the bible is not meant only to be a decorative item on the family altar, or to be kept in the study. The bible is meant to be read, and its words are meant to nurture us spiritually.

When we go for Mass, we are not only going for nourishment from the Eucharist during the Liturgy of the Eucharist, we are also receiving nourishment from God’s Word during the Liturgy of the Word. The question is: Do you really pay attention to the readings or are you just waiting to receive Holy Communion? If we have not paid attention to the readings during the Liturgy of the Word or taken the trouble to read and study the bible, we may have left out an important aspect of the Mass, that is the Liturgy of the Word. The Liturgy of the Word is no less important than the Liturgy of the Eucharist, as both are equally important. Jesus is present in the Blessed Sacrament as well as in the word proclaimed during the first half of the Mass.

In today’s Gospel, we are reminded that Jesus is the Word of God who has come “to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives and to the blind new sight, to set the downtrodden free, to proclaim the Lord’s year of favour.” If we have not paid attention to the readings every Sunday, we may have lost out on these promises. If we are not making effort to hear God’s word, we may be hearing only ‘bad news’ which society and our experiences choke us each day. The Good News is that in spite of all the evil that we see, hear and experience around us, God’s salvation is far greater; and that Jesus, the Word of God, has conquered evil and death. Those who fail to listen to God’s word continue to be imprisoned by fear and uncertainty; but Jesus promised us that He has come to proclaim liberty to the captives, and He can free us if we listen to Him. Those who fail to listen to God’s word will continue to be blind to our own mistakes and our sinfulness; but Jesus has come to set us free and give us back our sight if we cling on to His words. We are free and are able to see, if we listen to God’s word and act upon it.

So what does this mean to us? It means that we should make more effort to pay attention to the Word of God. The Word of God must have a central and prominent place within the community and also be the basis of our lives. It is not enough to merely recite prayers and attend Mass. We must read and study the bible, and listen attentively to the Word of God at Mass, so that the Word of God can become our daily guide and find fulfillment in our lives. May we find spiritual nourishment from Jesus through His Word and through the Eucharist, and share His Good News to all around us.

2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C

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Each and every one of us have got abilities and talents which are unique to us. We do not have any duplicates as we are made different and special in the image of God. As St. Paul in the second reading tells us: “There is a variety of gifts but always the same Spirit; there are all sorts of service to be done, but always the same Lord; working in all sorts of different ways in different people; it is the same God who is working in all of them.” This means that, no matter how much talent or how little talent we may have, all these talents are meant for us to glorify God, not to be kept to ourselves. But the question is: Do we see a variety of gifts manifested in different ways in our parish? Do we see God’s spirit working in our parish through the many people who volunteer for ministry? Are you using your gift for the service of the community and the church?

God has given each and every one of us talents and abilities to help the church and the Christian community grow and mature. The issue is, we sometimes fail God and the community, especially when we do not acknowledge our gifts and the gifts of others in the community. A community can only flourish if its members are able to recognise their own gifts and affirm the gifts of others. A community is in danger of disintegrating when its members are only always expecting something from others and are not prepared to give or share; when its members are constantly criticising and finding fault with one another; when the gifts of its members are suppressed rather than identified and nurtured; and figuratively speaking, when the wine runs out.

In today’s gospel, we are reminded of the story of the wedding at Cana. This joyous occasion nearly ended in disaster because they ran out of wine. Sometimes in our churches, we see the same people serving in church year in year out without any successor, any change or new blood. We begin to think that the wine is also running out as there seems to be no new leaders and no new members. In the old testament, the Israelites also thought that the destruction of their country meant the end of everything. But such thinking is wrong, since Isaiah in the first reading gives a message of hope. All is not lost because God will redeem them. This led the Israelites to realise that glory and blessings came from God alone. Only God can ensure that the wine will never run out.

So what do we need to do? We should realise that our Christian community still has plenty of chances to grow and become stronger. We must recognise that we need a conversion of heart. We need to put God back into the center of our lives. If we have become complacent and satisfied with what we have, its time to wake up. It’s not enough to maintain the things that we have or remain as status quo. The community and the church must grow, and we must encourage and nurture new leaders and new members to eventually take over; otherwise, our community will eventually die. Let us pray that our community will be renewed by the Holy Spirit and that we will recognise our gifts and the gifts of others, and how we can use these gifts to serve the church and for the glory of God.

4th Sunday of Advent Year C

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As humans, I believe most of us long or desire for peace, peace not only in our families, society and the world, but also peace in ourselves. But the reality is that we live in a world where conflicts and misunderstandings are becoming part and parcel of life. As time goes by, we seem to see more and more violence, hatred and wars, as well as problems occurring not only in society but also in our own families. Some of us may start to think that peace is only a dream or an illusion, and that peace can never be attained.

But let us ask ourselves sincerely: Do we really understand what peace means? Peace is not merely an absence of violence and conflict. Peace is possible even in the midst of conflict, since peace is not only what we experience externally but something that must take root in our hearts. If there is no peace in our hearts, we can never experience peace outside of ourselves. We experience conflict in our hearts, simply because we constantly want to have things according to our ways, in other words, we want to be in control. The problem with wanting things according to our ways is that sometimes we are never in control of the situation. When we don’t get things our way, we become unhappy and won’t have peace in our hearts. The only way in which we can find peace is to allow God to take control of our lives. In the second reading, we are reminded of Christ, who came to obey the will of God the Father. When we come to realise that God’s ways are not our ways, and we are willing to surrender our lives to God, then we will have peace in our hearts.

So how do we start having or initiating peace? One way could be found in today’s Gospel: by offering and accepting hospitality. When we offer hospitality to one another just like Mary and Elizabeth offered hospitality and friendship to one another, peace takes place. It is when we refuse to offer hospitality to another person or when we refuse the hospitality given by another person that causes the lack of peace. We don’t need to accomplish great things or wait for great events that cause peace to take place. Peace can be a possibility today, when we are willing give or receive a simple word of encouragement, a kind act, a loving offer of help. Peace begins when each and every one of us believe we can make a difference, beginning with ourselves, and we are humble and willing to let the Lord be our help and guide, since as the first reading reminds us: “He himself will be peace.”

Some of us may feel overwhelmed, thinking that we are only one person. What can one person do, some may ask. What is important to note here is that we should not worry or fret. We can make a difference, especially when we allow God to take control of our lives, when we are willing to surrender our lives to Him. When we do this, we will find peace, peace even in the midst of problems and difficulties. As we prepare to welcome Jesus, our Prince of Peace, this coming Christmas, may we continue to depend on God’s care and providence, and experience true peace only He can give.

3rd Sunday of Advent Year C

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Christmas is soon to come and many of us may be increasingly joyful, hopefully not because of the gifts we may soon receive, nor because of the delicious food and drink we may soon savour and enjoy, but because the Lord is very near and our salvation is near. This is emphasised by St. Paul in the second reading, where he tells us: “I want you to be happy, always happy in the Lord; I repeat, what I want is your happiness. Let your tolerance be evident to everyone: the Lord is very near.” Waiting for the coming of Lord does not mean we should sit around being idle or lazy, but we need to take action and experience a conversion. The different groups of people in today’s Gospel had asked John the Baptist what they must do, and he told them and us too, that we must share with those who are needy; be just and fair in our dealings; refrain from intimidation and extortion to acquire what we want; and be satisfied with what we have. This means that, while we await the coming of Christ, we should not be aloof, selfish or greedy and think only of ourselves or our own needs and wants. Instead, we as Christians are called to put others first before ourselves.

But sometimes, some of us find it difficult to be generous or to share. We are reluctant to share, possibly because we are worried that there may be not enough for us. This is where St. Paul once again reminds us “that there is no need for worry; but if there is anything you need, pray for it, asking God for it with prayer and thanksgiving, and that peace of God, which is so much greater than we can understand, will guard your hearts and your thoughts, in Christ Jesus.” This means that God will take care of us and be our providence, and we will always have enough, since God can fulfil our every heart’s desire, fill the emptiness in our hearts, and satisfy our deepest longings. Only God can be our source of eternal joy.

Let us therefore allow God to fill our lives with His love, joy and peace. In the first reading, the prophet Zephaniah reminds us that our God is “a victorious warrior. He will exult with joy over you, he will renew you by his love; he will dance with shouts of joy for you as on a day of festival.” When we let God be the center of our lives, nothing can take away the joy of being his son and daughter. Let us also bring this joy to all that we meet, so that all may know true joy and give praise to God.

2nd Sunday of Advent Year C

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There are some among us who have used the words “happiness” and “joy” so often, that the meaning may have become lost in translation. There is actually a huge difference between joy and happiness. You can experience joy without feeling happy, but you can’t experience happiness without being joyful. Happiness is a feeling that changes with the emotions we have in a day, but joy is a constant state of being that we choose. Happiness is an outward expression of a feeling we have inside, while joy is an inward peace and contentment that expresses itself through our responses and reactions. So, though we may be experiencing trials and sufferings in our faith life, we can still experience true or perfect joy, which we also call as Christian joy, since as the second reading tells us, God “who began this good work in you will see that it is finished when the Day of Christ Jesus comes.” It is a joy based on what God can do instead of what we can achieve.

Christian joy is a choice, a decision based on faith and hope, knowing that God will not abandon us, no matter what happens. God did not promise us an easy life, but that He will be with us at all times, and God is faithful to what He has promised. In today’s Gospel, we read the fulfillment of one such promise, where “All mankind shall see the salvation of God.” Jesus is the salvation of God, promised from of old and He is the source of our joy and our hope. If we believe that Jesus is our salvation, then we should remain joyful, and not live lives as if we are defeated or victims of tragedy. Though we may have undergone failure, experienced pain, disappointment, challenges and encountered all sorts of other difficulties or problems, our joy lies in knowing that God has won the victory for us. We may not see the signs of God’s victory at the moment, but it is there. This is God’s promise and He is always faithful.

So we cannot just sit down and sulk or do nothing. We must do our part. We must prepare a way for the Lord, by having a conversion in our lives. St. Paul in the second reading prays that “your love for each other may increase more and more and never stop improving your knowledge and deepening your perception so that you can always recognise what is best. This will help you to become pure and blameless, and prepare you for the Day of Christ, when you will reach the perfect goodness which Jesus Christ produces in us for the glory and praise of God.” This too should be our prayer. May we grow and become ever more joyful in the Lord, and share this joy with all we meet.