Wisdom 9:13-18/ Philemon 1:9-10, 12-17/ Luke 14:25-33
One characteristic of most Singaporeans when they travel overseas, especially when they travel out of the Asian region, is that they will bring along a particular spice.
And that particular spice is none other than chilli.
For most Singaporeans, or at least a number of Singaporeans, chilli is the spice of life.
So into the luggage will go a bottle of chilli, be a dried chilli, or chilli powder, or sambal chilli or whatever chilli.
If there is such a thing as chilli perfume, it will also be brought along. (Not to spray on the body but on the food! : P )
Yes, in Singapore, chilli is the spice of life. So if you are a Singaporean, and you don’t eat chilli, then it may mean that you have a crisis of identity.
Having said all that, chilli after all, is only a spice. And spices are used to add flavor to food or to preserve food.
We don’t eat chilli as food, or consume spices as food!
Food will still be food, with or without spices. And when we are very hungry, we will eat whatever food there is, even without the chilli or the other spices.
In other words, without chilli we won’t die. Even without the other spices of life, we also won’t die.
And the spices of life is not just about what we put into our food.
Broadly speaking, there are many things that can spice up our lives.
For example, there was the “Spice Girls”, though they are not so hot now. There is also a smartphone model called “Desire”.
Oh yes, these kind of spices certainly fuel our desires and make us forget our essential needs, just like how too much chilli can make us forget the original taste of food.
When there is too much of these spicy flavoring in our lives, then the 1st reading has this to say: The reasonings of mortals are unsure, and man’s intentions become unstable.
Then like the examples that Jesus gave in the gospel, we will build but we won’t be able to finish. We can fight with all our might but we won’t be able to win.
When there is too much clutter in our lives, then we lose the clarity of our vision, and hence our reasoning become unsure and our intentions become unstable.
In today’s gospel, Jesus gave a rather severe teaching on discipleship.
Jesus makes it clear to us that if we want to be His disciple, then He must be over and above what we treasure most.
And that means that He must be above father, mother, spouse, children, brothers and sisters.
And as if that is not tough enough, He asks for where it will hurt most – and that is our very own life!
And that is where Jesus brings in the cross.
As we all know, and for those who are listening to Him knew it as a reality, the cross was the ultimate punishment for those who are sentenced for rebellion or subversion.
Hence, His listeners know, as a matter of fact, what crucifixion was, how horrible it was, how gruesome it was and shockingly cruel.
And yes, Jesus said that anyone who does not carry his cross and come after Him cannot be His disciple.
Certainly the cross meant pain and shame. And along with that it also means fears and tears.
So the cross challenges us in a very shocking way.
The cross challenges our fears of losing our loved ones – father, mother, spouse, children, brothers and sisters.
The cross challenges our fear of pain and suffering.
And finally the cross challenges our fear of dying to ourselves and giving up our lives for others.
Because our understanding of the survival of the fittest is that the one who has the most and who possess the most, will survive.
It is so unnatural to let go and sacrifice and give ourselves for others.
Here is where we can learn something from the grey squirrel. As we know, the grey squirrel would run around gathering nuts for food for the winter.
It would hide the nuts in a few places. Yet very often it would also forget where it has hidden the nuts so in the end it would only consume about 10% of the nuts that it had gathered.
Well, as for the rest of the 90% of the nuts, after winter, they will germinate and bear fruit for the next cycle.
So unintentional and out of forgetfulness, the squirrel helps in the reproduction of the food cycle.
Like the grey squirrel, we too will gather, but as a disciple carrying the cross, what we gather we must scatter and give to others.
The cross is painful because it challenges us to give up ourselves for others.
The cross will cut away all that we spice up our lives with, but when all the spice of life is cut away, we will get the real taste of life.
No doubt, the cross will bring tears to our eyes, but very often tears are the lenses we need to see Jesus (quote from Pope Francis); yes, to see Jesus clearly and to continue to carry our cross and follow Him as His disciple.
Saturday, September 7, 2013
Friday, September 6, 2013
22nd Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 07-09-13
Col 1:21-23 / Luke 6:1-5
Traditionally speaking, Saturdays are dedicated our Lady and the Eucharist is also offered in her honour. It is an ancient custom of the Church and there are many reasons for it.
Among the more recent ones is the message of Fatima, especially in the apparitions of June 13 and July 13,1917, when Mary drew attention to the custom of devoting Saturdays to her and praying the rosary in reparation.
For this year, the Pope has a special message and purpose for today, the 7th September. Also since tomorrow, the 8th September, the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is not celebrated as the Sunday liturgy takes precedence, the Pope has called for a day of prayer and fasting today.
He has called upon all the faithful worldwide to join in a day of prayer and fasting of September 7 for peace in the Middle East, and especially in Syria.
He even issued an invitation to “each person, including our fellow Christians, followers of other religions and all men of good will, to participate, in whatever way they can, in this initiative.”
The Pope said, “Humanity needs to see these gestures of peace and to hear words of hope and peace!”
Troubled by conflicts around the world and especially the dramatic developments in Syria, the Pope said, “How much suffering, how much devastation, how much pain has the use of arms carried in its wake in that martyred country, especially among civilians and the unarmed!”
In calling for a day of prayer and fasting, the Pope has taken recourse to the intercession of Mother Mary for this crisis in Syria.
As St. Paul told the Colossians in the 1st reading, they were once enemies of God in the way they used to think and the evil things they did but now there are reconciled with God through the death of Christ.
May the prayer and fasting that we are offering today, together with the intercession of our Lady, bring about peace and reconciliation in Syria and in the world.
Traditionally speaking, Saturdays are dedicated our Lady and the Eucharist is also offered in her honour. It is an ancient custom of the Church and there are many reasons for it.
Among the more recent ones is the message of Fatima, especially in the apparitions of June 13 and July 13,1917, when Mary drew attention to the custom of devoting Saturdays to her and praying the rosary in reparation.
For this year, the Pope has a special message and purpose for today, the 7th September. Also since tomorrow, the 8th September, the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is not celebrated as the Sunday liturgy takes precedence, the Pope has called for a day of prayer and fasting today.
He has called upon all the faithful worldwide to join in a day of prayer and fasting of September 7 for peace in the Middle East, and especially in Syria.
He even issued an invitation to “each person, including our fellow Christians, followers of other religions and all men of good will, to participate, in whatever way they can, in this initiative.”
The Pope said, “Humanity needs to see these gestures of peace and to hear words of hope and peace!”
Troubled by conflicts around the world and especially the dramatic developments in Syria, the Pope said, “How much suffering, how much devastation, how much pain has the use of arms carried in its wake in that martyred country, especially among civilians and the unarmed!”
In calling for a day of prayer and fasting, the Pope has taken recourse to the intercession of Mother Mary for this crisis in Syria.
As St. Paul told the Colossians in the 1st reading, they were once enemies of God in the way they used to think and the evil things they did but now there are reconciled with God through the death of Christ.
May the prayer and fasting that we are offering today, together with the intercession of our Lady, bring about peace and reconciliation in Syria and in the world.
Thursday, September 5, 2013
22nd Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 06-09-13
Col 1:15-20 / Luke 5:33-39
The parables of Jesus are always full of images and that is why they are easily understood in the practical sense.
The parables are also easily understood at the first layer in that it makes sense and is logical.
For example, the parable that Jesus told in today's gospel passage is easily understood in the practical and logical sense.
Certainly a piece from a new cloak sown onto a old cloak would look awkward, and new wine would certainly be too strong for old wine skins.
But at a deeper and maybe in a spiritual sense, it is not so much about the differentiation but rather about the integration.
Because, as the 1st reading would put it, God wanted all perfection to be found in Christ and all things to be reconciled through Him and for Him.
By His death on the cross, He brought about peace and reconciliation.
So today's gospel parable acknowledges the existing tension between persons and communities, and between races and countries.
But because of Jesus and His death on the cross, we know that reconciliation in the midst of tension is possible.
Let us begin by accommodating and adjusting to the ways of the people around us, so that where there is reconciliation, peace and harmony will follow.
The parables of Jesus are always full of images and that is why they are easily understood in the practical sense.
The parables are also easily understood at the first layer in that it makes sense and is logical.
For example, the parable that Jesus told in today's gospel passage is easily understood in the practical and logical sense.
Certainly a piece from a new cloak sown onto a old cloak would look awkward, and new wine would certainly be too strong for old wine skins.
But at a deeper and maybe in a spiritual sense, it is not so much about the differentiation but rather about the integration.
Because, as the 1st reading would put it, God wanted all perfection to be found in Christ and all things to be reconciled through Him and for Him.
By His death on the cross, He brought about peace and reconciliation.
So today's gospel parable acknowledges the existing tension between persons and communities, and between races and countries.
But because of Jesus and His death on the cross, we know that reconciliation in the midst of tension is possible.
Let us begin by accommodating and adjusting to the ways of the people around us, so that where there is reconciliation, peace and harmony will follow.
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
22nd Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 05-09-13
Col 1:9-14 / Luke 5:1-11
Whenever I go to the hospital to visit the sick, it may not necessarily be visiting hours.
As such, I will meet the doctors and the nurses doing their rounds and duty.
And we maintain a fairly "professional" attitude; I won't interrupt them when they are with the patient and they won't interrupt me when I am praying with the patient.
In other words, I don't tell them what to do, and they don't tell me what to do either.
So we can imagine, what we heard in the gospel, the reaction of the fisherman Peter when a carpenter told him where to fish.
Skepticism from pride was brought to humiliation on his knees when Peter saw the miraculous catch of fish.
But just as Jesus did not leave Peter on his knees, Jesus will not leave us on our knees either.
He will raise us up so that we can follow Him into the deep and catch souls for Him.
So as much as we believe that God is loving and He won't punish us, there will be times when He will bring us down to our knees in order to realize that He is calling us.
Yes, He will bring us down to our knees but He won't leave us - in fact that is the moment that He is deeply loving us.
Whenever I go to the hospital to visit the sick, it may not necessarily be visiting hours.
As such, I will meet the doctors and the nurses doing their rounds and duty.
And we maintain a fairly "professional" attitude; I won't interrupt them when they are with the patient and they won't interrupt me when I am praying with the patient.
In other words, I don't tell them what to do, and they don't tell me what to do either.
So we can imagine, what we heard in the gospel, the reaction of the fisherman Peter when a carpenter told him where to fish.
Skepticism from pride was brought to humiliation on his knees when Peter saw the miraculous catch of fish.
But just as Jesus did not leave Peter on his knees, Jesus will not leave us on our knees either.
He will raise us up so that we can follow Him into the deep and catch souls for Him.
So as much as we believe that God is loving and He won't punish us, there will be times when He will bring us down to our knees in order to realize that He is calling us.
Yes, He will bring us down to our knees but He won't leave us - in fact that is the moment that He is deeply loving us.
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
22nd Sunday, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 04-09-13
Col 1:1-8 / Luke 4:38-44
Physical ailment, in whatever forms and in whatever degree of gravity, is something that we will have to face in life.
And as if that is already not bad enough, we also have to be on the watch for the dangers that wicked people would try to inflict upon us.
Yes, life can be terribly stressful and anxious when we come to the bends and the corners of life.
So when Jesus came about healing diseases and casting out evil, as we heard in the gospel, the people immediately saw in Him the long-awaited Saviour.
Surely we can understand their excitement over the appearance of the Saviour, and at the same time we can also understand their desire to be in possession of the Saviour.
After all, who would want to let go of someone who can heal their sickness and protect them from evil.
Yet in moving on to other towns to preach the Good News, Jesus also left them a teaching on faith and hope.
More than what they can get from Jesus, they must have faith in Him so that even when He was no longer with them, they will still have the hope of God's promise of salvation.
It is the same faith that St. Paul talked about in the 1st reading that led the Colossians to show love towards all because it was a love driven by the hope that is stored up for them in heaven.
May we also have that faith in the saving love of Jesus for us so that we will continue to live our lives in hope of the blessings that God has promised us in Jesus Christ.
Physical ailment, in whatever forms and in whatever degree of gravity, is something that we will have to face in life.
And as if that is already not bad enough, we also have to be on the watch for the dangers that wicked people would try to inflict upon us.
Yes, life can be terribly stressful and anxious when we come to the bends and the corners of life.
So when Jesus came about healing diseases and casting out evil, as we heard in the gospel, the people immediately saw in Him the long-awaited Saviour.
Surely we can understand their excitement over the appearance of the Saviour, and at the same time we can also understand their desire to be in possession of the Saviour.
After all, who would want to let go of someone who can heal their sickness and protect them from evil.
Yet in moving on to other towns to preach the Good News, Jesus also left them a teaching on faith and hope.
More than what they can get from Jesus, they must have faith in Him so that even when He was no longer with them, they will still have the hope of God's promise of salvation.
It is the same faith that St. Paul talked about in the 1st reading that led the Colossians to show love towards all because it was a love driven by the hope that is stored up for them in heaven.
May we also have that faith in the saving love of Jesus for us so that we will continue to live our lives in hope of the blessings that God has promised us in Jesus Christ.
Monday, September 2, 2013
22nd Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 03-09-13
1 Thess 5:1-6, 9-11 / Luke 4:31-37
The Church has this tradition of reading and reflecting on the writings of the early Church Fathers and the saints.
Even though they lived in bygone era and way back into the past, yet their words still have relevance for us today in the areas of spirituality and how we live out our Christianity.
Their words carry an authority then as they do now. But more importantly their words give us encouragement and direction.
In the gospel, we heard that the teaching of Jesus made a deep impression on the people because He spoke with authority.
His words not only had the power to cast out evil but His words also gave the people the encouragement and the direction that they were longing to hear.
Similarly for St. Paul, he told the Thessalonians that he was not going to write about "times and seasons" and other frivolous stuff.
He encouraged them to live in the light and to be sons of the day. His words were meant to encourage and to strengthen them in their Christian way of life.
Those are simple words but the simplicity carries with it an authority that makes people listen and understand.
So simple and encouraging words have the power to influence lives and change the world. May we, by the grace of God, continue to speak those simple and encouraging words.
The Church has this tradition of reading and reflecting on the writings of the early Church Fathers and the saints.
Even though they lived in bygone era and way back into the past, yet their words still have relevance for us today in the areas of spirituality and how we live out our Christianity.
Their words carry an authority then as they do now. But more importantly their words give us encouragement and direction.
In the gospel, we heard that the teaching of Jesus made a deep impression on the people because He spoke with authority.
His words not only had the power to cast out evil but His words also gave the people the encouragement and the direction that they were longing to hear.
Similarly for St. Paul, he told the Thessalonians that he was not going to write about "times and seasons" and other frivolous stuff.
He encouraged them to live in the light and to be sons of the day. His words were meant to encourage and to strengthen them in their Christian way of life.
Those are simple words but the simplicity carries with it an authority that makes people listen and understand.
So simple and encouraging words have the power to influence lives and change the world. May we, by the grace of God, continue to speak those simple and encouraging words.
Sunday, September 1, 2013
22nd Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 02-09-13
1 Thess 4:13-18 / Luke 4:16-30 (2019)
Debuts are important in that they form the foundations for the next step ahead.
It is usually associated with the first public appearance, as of a performer, or a beginning of a course of action.
So it may be an actor, a singer, a musician or a footballer, that first formal public presentation may be a make or break situation.
Because if the debut comes crashing down, it may mean the end of a career or aspiration or dreams.
In the gospel, Jesus made His first "debut" by preaching to the people of His own hometown.
It was going quite well and they were even astonished by the gracious words that came from His lips.
Then things suddenly turned and in the end the crowd got so enraged that they hustled Jesus out of the town and even intended to throw Him down the cliff.
If it were us, we would have been very bitter about this and given up the whole mission altogether and never talk about it again.
Yet Jesus moved on with His mission. Because He had the conviction of who He is and what He came to do.
May the Spirit continue to anoint us with His power and follow Jesus to bring Good News to the poor and may we bring about a new beginning of the Lord's favour.
Debuts are important in that they form the foundations for the next step ahead.
It is usually associated with the first public appearance, as of a performer, or a beginning of a course of action.
So it may be an actor, a singer, a musician or a footballer, that first formal public presentation may be a make or break situation.
Because if the debut comes crashing down, it may mean the end of a career or aspiration or dreams.
In the gospel, Jesus made His first "debut" by preaching to the people of His own hometown.
It was going quite well and they were even astonished by the gracious words that came from His lips.
Then things suddenly turned and in the end the crowd got so enraged that they hustled Jesus out of the town and even intended to throw Him down the cliff.
If it were us, we would have been very bitter about this and given up the whole mission altogether and never talk about it again.
Yet Jesus moved on with His mission. Because He had the conviction of who He is and what He came to do.
May the Spirit continue to anoint us with His power and follow Jesus to bring Good News to the poor and may we bring about a new beginning of the Lord's favour.
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