Acts 4:1-12 / John 21:1-14 (2019)
The last chapter of the Gospel of John is chapter 21, and today's gospel passage is taken from that chapter.
And this passage recalls many occasions for reminiscing.
When Peter said he wanted to go fishing, probably he wanted to recall how his life had turned out since the time he left his fisherman trade to follow Jesus.
And then there was the miraculous catch of the 153 fish; another reminder for Peter of that occasion, at the same lake, when he witnessed a miraculous catch of fish under the similar circumstances.
And then the sight of the charcoal fire. It was while standing before another charcoal fire that he denied knowing Jesus.
And then the bread and fish - it certainly reminded him of the miraculous feeding of the thousands.
It was in the midst of all this recollection and reminiscing that Jesus asked Peter the question "Do you love me?"
How else could Peter answer?
And when Jesus asked him to feed His sheep, how could he reject?
And when it came for him to lay down his life for Jesus, how could he not do it willingly?
Because when it comes to Chapter 21 of the Gospel of John, Peter knew that Jesus is the only one who can save us.
It was a conviction which he declared in the 1st reading.
We too will come to a Chapter 21 of our lives.
And as we recall and reminisce what God has done for us in our lives, may we also say, like Peter, that we love Jesus, and may we proclaim His as Saviour.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Easter Octave, Thursday, 08-04-10
Acts 3 : 11-26
Luke 24 : 35-48
Nobody likes to look at wounds because the sight of wounds give us a squirmish feeling, especially grievous wounds.
We could also feel the pain of the wounds and the suffering that it caused.
When Jesus showed His disciples His hands and feet, they would have certainly seen one thing.
They would have certainly seen the grievous wounds in His hands and feet, wounds that were caused by the nail, wounds that were the signs of His crucifixion.
But after Jesus showed them His wounds, their fear turned in joy.
Indeed by His wounds and by the sight of His wounds, they were healed of their fear and their anguish of having deserted and abandoned Jesus in His darkest moment.
As we look at the wounds of the Risen Lord, Jesus in turn also wants to look at the wounds of our hearts.
He wants us to show Him our wounds, to tell Him what is troubling and disturbing us, to tell Him our hurts and pains, as well as our anger and resentment.
Because Jesus is the Risen Lord, He is our Saviour and our Healer.
As the 1st reading puts it: It was for you in the first place that God raised up His servant and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.
Indeed, by the wounds of the Risen Lord, we are healed and saved.
We only need to turn to Jesus for healing and salvation.
Luke 24 : 35-48
Nobody likes to look at wounds because the sight of wounds give us a squirmish feeling, especially grievous wounds.
We could also feel the pain of the wounds and the suffering that it caused.
When Jesus showed His disciples His hands and feet, they would have certainly seen one thing.
They would have certainly seen the grievous wounds in His hands and feet, wounds that were caused by the nail, wounds that were the signs of His crucifixion.
But after Jesus showed them His wounds, their fear turned in joy.
Indeed by His wounds and by the sight of His wounds, they were healed of their fear and their anguish of having deserted and abandoned Jesus in His darkest moment.
As we look at the wounds of the Risen Lord, Jesus in turn also wants to look at the wounds of our hearts.
He wants us to show Him our wounds, to tell Him what is troubling and disturbing us, to tell Him our hurts and pains, as well as our anger and resentment.
Because Jesus is the Risen Lord, He is our Saviour and our Healer.
As the 1st reading puts it: It was for you in the first place that God raised up His servant and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.
Indeed, by the wounds of the Risen Lord, we are healed and saved.
We only need to turn to Jesus for healing and salvation.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Easter Octave, Wednesday, 07-04-10
Acts 3:1-10 / Luke 24:13-35 (2019)
The main reason and purpose that a priest is ordained for is because of the Eucharist.
So it is imperative that a priest should celebrate the Eucharist with reverence and with devotion.
To the laity, this might sound rather superfluous.
After all, that is what a priest does everyday and hence he should be more than familiar with the Eucharist.
But precisely, that is where the problem can begin.
Because if familiarity can lead to contempt, then routine can be the death of reverence.
The problem can also afflict the laity especially when they say that the Mass is boring.
Maybe they are like the two disciples on the way to Emmaus. They have yet to truly hear Jesus and they have yet to see Jesus in the breaking of bread.
Yet these are the questions we need to also ask ourselves. What did we hear at Mass? What did we see? Did our hearts burn within us at Mass?
There is no gold or silver that the Eucharist will offer us. But we will be filled with the greatest gift and treasure of all - the Risen Christ!
Indeed, at every Eucharist, the Emmaus experience awaits us.
Because Jesus wants to fills our thoughts and set our hearts on fire with His love.
The main reason and purpose that a priest is ordained for is because of the Eucharist.
So it is imperative that a priest should celebrate the Eucharist with reverence and with devotion.
To the laity, this might sound rather superfluous.
After all, that is what a priest does everyday and hence he should be more than familiar with the Eucharist.
But precisely, that is where the problem can begin.
Because if familiarity can lead to contempt, then routine can be the death of reverence.
The problem can also afflict the laity especially when they say that the Mass is boring.
Maybe they are like the two disciples on the way to Emmaus. They have yet to truly hear Jesus and they have yet to see Jesus in the breaking of bread.
Yet these are the questions we need to also ask ourselves. What did we hear at Mass? What did we see? Did our hearts burn within us at Mass?
There is no gold or silver that the Eucharist will offer us. But we will be filled with the greatest gift and treasure of all - the Risen Christ!
Indeed, at every Eucharist, the Emmaus experience awaits us.
Because Jesus wants to fills our thoughts and set our hearts on fire with His love.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Tuesday within Easter Octave, 06-04-10
Acts 2 : 36-41 / John 20 : 11-18 (2022)
Whatever race or whatever dialect group we belong to, we all have learnt a language from our earliest days.
That language we call the mother-tongue.
We may have learned other languages along the way, but we will not forget our mother-tongue.
Because the mother-tongue creates a very intimate resonance within us.
It is used to tell us that we are loved; we use it to express love.
When Mary Magdalene addressed Jesus as "Rabbuni" the gospel makes it a special note that she said it in Hebrew.
In such an intimate moment, she used Hebrew, which was probably her mother-tongue, to express her love for Jesus.
Because more than just being the mother-tongue, it is also the language of the heart.
In the 1st reading, when Peter spoke to the Jews, he also spoke from the heart, and that was why they were convinced.
From his heart, Peter addressed Jesus as Lord and Christ.
For us, over and above our devotional practices and beliefs, we too must have an intimate relationship with Jesus.
We too, like Mary Magdalene and Peter, must address Jesus by an intimate name with a language which is from the heart.
Because it was God who first called us by a special name, even when we were in our mother's womb.
Whatever race or whatever dialect group we belong to, we all have learnt a language from our earliest days.
That language we call the mother-tongue.
We may have learned other languages along the way, but we will not forget our mother-tongue.
Because the mother-tongue creates a very intimate resonance within us.
It is used to tell us that we are loved; we use it to express love.
When Mary Magdalene addressed Jesus as "Rabbuni" the gospel makes it a special note that she said it in Hebrew.
In such an intimate moment, she used Hebrew, which was probably her mother-tongue, to express her love for Jesus.
Because more than just being the mother-tongue, it is also the language of the heart.
In the 1st reading, when Peter spoke to the Jews, he also spoke from the heart, and that was why they were convinced.
From his heart, Peter addressed Jesus as Lord and Christ.
For us, over and above our devotional practices and beliefs, we too must have an intimate relationship with Jesus.
We too, like Mary Magdalene and Peter, must address Jesus by an intimate name with a language which is from the heart.
Because it was God who first called us by a special name, even when we were in our mother's womb.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Monday within Easter Octave, 05-04-10
Acts 2 : 14, 22-33 / Matthew 28 : 8-15 (2015 / 2019)
Truth has a way of bringing out the stuff that people are made of.
In the gospel, we see two groups of people with different reactions to the empty tomb.
The women saw the empty tomb, saw the Truth, ie. the Risen Christ, and then went off to proclaim the truth with joy in their hearts.
The soldiers saw the empty tomb, went to report to the chief priests and the elders, cooked up a lie and then lived on in fear and in worry.
Strange that the second group of people who are supposed to be people of courage and bravery, somehow succumbed to cowardice and deceit.
And it is surprising that the first group of people, the women, who were powerless, discounted and devalued, were the ones who lived up to the truth and courage.
So as long as we have something to lose, whether it is our social standing, our reputation, our security, our investments, our pride, then we will have a difficulty with the truth.
But the Easter greeting of the Risen Christ always assures us that He knows how we feel and He knows what we need.
The Risen Lord wants to calm our hearts so that we too can proclaim the truth.
The Truth, who is the Risen Lord, will set us free.
Truth has a way of bringing out the stuff that people are made of.
In the gospel, we see two groups of people with different reactions to the empty tomb.
The women saw the empty tomb, saw the Truth, ie. the Risen Christ, and then went off to proclaim the truth with joy in their hearts.
The soldiers saw the empty tomb, went to report to the chief priests and the elders, cooked up a lie and then lived on in fear and in worry.
Strange that the second group of people who are supposed to be people of courage and bravery, somehow succumbed to cowardice and deceit.
And it is surprising that the first group of people, the women, who were powerless, discounted and devalued, were the ones who lived up to the truth and courage.
So as long as we have something to lose, whether it is our social standing, our reputation, our security, our investments, our pride, then we will have a difficulty with the truth.
But the Easter greeting of the Risen Christ always assures us that He knows how we feel and He knows what we need.
The Risen Lord wants to calm our hearts so that we too can proclaim the truth.
The Truth, who is the Risen Lord, will set us free.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Good Friday, 02.04.10
Isaiah 52:13-53
Hebrew 4:14-16, 5:7-9
John 18:1-19,42
Whenever we mention “Good Friday” the first impression we have is the cross.
Obviously that is the most recognizable and easily understood symbol of Good Friday.
Simply because Jesus died on the Cross on Good Friday.
The gospel recounted for us how Jesus was betrayed and abandoned by his own disciples, how he was rejected and condemned by His own people, and how He suffered and eventually died on the cross.
Today we are also reminded that Jesus suffered and died for us even though we are still sinners.
Jesus is the Son of God. That means that Jesus is God.
He didn’t have to go through all that suffering and painful death.
Yet, Jesus sacrificed His life on the cross because He loves us and He will love us right to the end.
Furthermore, His love for us is an unconditional love.
Nothing can ever separate His love for us.
So even when we are struggling with sins like hatred and unforgiveness, or selfishness and greed, or lust and impure actions, Jesus will still love us.
Jesus wants us to know that His love for us will help us turn away from sin and turn back to Him in love.
Hence the cross symbolizes the unconditional and everlasting love of Jesus for us sinners.
Later, we will come forward to venerate the cross.
Let us tell Jesus that we love Him and we need His love to help us become loving persons.
Let us also ask Jesus to be merciful to us and forgive our sins.
The cross is indeed a sign of God’s love for us, a sign of God’s mercy and compassion for us.
In the cross, we will find salvation, in the cross we will find healing and strength.
Let us thank Jesus for loving us and saving us as we venerate the cross.
Hebrew 4:14-16, 5:7-9
John 18:1-19,42
Whenever we mention “Good Friday” the first impression we have is the cross.
Obviously that is the most recognizable and easily understood symbol of Good Friday.
Simply because Jesus died on the Cross on Good Friday.
The gospel recounted for us how Jesus was betrayed and abandoned by his own disciples, how he was rejected and condemned by His own people, and how He suffered and eventually died on the cross.
Today we are also reminded that Jesus suffered and died for us even though we are still sinners.
Jesus is the Son of God. That means that Jesus is God.
He didn’t have to go through all that suffering and painful death.
Yet, Jesus sacrificed His life on the cross because He loves us and He will love us right to the end.
Furthermore, His love for us is an unconditional love.
Nothing can ever separate His love for us.
So even when we are struggling with sins like hatred and unforgiveness, or selfishness and greed, or lust and impure actions, Jesus will still love us.
Jesus wants us to know that His love for us will help us turn away from sin and turn back to Him in love.
Hence the cross symbolizes the unconditional and everlasting love of Jesus for us sinners.
Later, we will come forward to venerate the cross.
Let us tell Jesus that we love Him and we need His love to help us become loving persons.
Let us also ask Jesus to be merciful to us and forgive our sins.
The cross is indeed a sign of God’s love for us, a sign of God’s mercy and compassion for us.
In the cross, we will find salvation, in the cross we will find healing and strength.
Let us thank Jesus for loving us and saving us as we venerate the cross.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday) 01.04.10
Mass of the Last Supper
Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
John 13:1-15
Today is called Holy Thursday. Some of us might remember that it is also called Maundy Thursday.
That word “Maundy” is derived from the Latin word "mandatum" which means mandate, and it refers to the new commandment of love which Jesus gave to His apostles at the Last Supper.
Indeed, it was a night of love, and Jesus showed how perfect His love was.
Yet it was also a reminder that love entails sacrifice.
In the first Passover, a lamb was sacrificed and its blood was poured out on the doorpost as a sign that Israel was to be freed from slavery.
At the Last Supper, Jesus was the Lamb of God who would have to pour out His life so that we could be freed from the grip of sins.
When it comes to saving mankind from the grip of sins, let us remember that it was not easy for God to sacrifice His own son.
Neither did Jesus look for a quick fix for a broken world that was shattered by sins.
Yet in the breaking of the bread, Jesus foreshadowed His self-sacrifice on the cross for the salvation of the world.
And then came an action that is difficult to express in words.
In the strangest of divine actions, Jesus who is Master and Lord, got up from the table, and with towel and basin, washed His disciples’ feet.
And this upsets our perception of social norms and how things should be. Even Peter protested.
Peter and the rest did not understand what Jesus did then.
Maybe they understood it later when it came to their turn to go down on their knees and pour out their lives for others.
Are we also able to comprehend the meaning of what Jesus did?
On this holy night of the Church’s Triduum, Jesus instituted the Eucharist and He then washed His disciples’ feet.
The Eucharist is about sacrifice. The washing of feet is about service with humility.
One flows from the other.
Jesus, our Lord and Master, gave us this example so that we should follow. It is a mandate.
When we truly understand the mystery of the Eucharist and the washing of feet, we too will take up the towel and pour out our lives for others in love and service.
Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
John 13:1-15
Today is called Holy Thursday. Some of us might remember that it is also called Maundy Thursday.
That word “Maundy” is derived from the Latin word "mandatum" which means mandate, and it refers to the new commandment of love which Jesus gave to His apostles at the Last Supper.
Indeed, it was a night of love, and Jesus showed how perfect His love was.
Yet it was also a reminder that love entails sacrifice.
In the first Passover, a lamb was sacrificed and its blood was poured out on the doorpost as a sign that Israel was to be freed from slavery.
At the Last Supper, Jesus was the Lamb of God who would have to pour out His life so that we could be freed from the grip of sins.
When it comes to saving mankind from the grip of sins, let us remember that it was not easy for God to sacrifice His own son.
Neither did Jesus look for a quick fix for a broken world that was shattered by sins.
Yet in the breaking of the bread, Jesus foreshadowed His self-sacrifice on the cross for the salvation of the world.
And then came an action that is difficult to express in words.
In the strangest of divine actions, Jesus who is Master and Lord, got up from the table, and with towel and basin, washed His disciples’ feet.
And this upsets our perception of social norms and how things should be. Even Peter protested.
Peter and the rest did not understand what Jesus did then.
Maybe they understood it later when it came to their turn to go down on their knees and pour out their lives for others.
Are we also able to comprehend the meaning of what Jesus did?
On this holy night of the Church’s Triduum, Jesus instituted the Eucharist and He then washed His disciples’ feet.
The Eucharist is about sacrifice. The washing of feet is about service with humility.
One flows from the other.
Jesus, our Lord and Master, gave us this example so that we should follow. It is a mandate.
When we truly understand the mystery of the Eucharist and the washing of feet, we too will take up the towel and pour out our lives for others in love and service.
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