Exodus 40:16-21, 34-38 / Matthew 13:47-53
When we walk into a house or a building, one impression that will come across quite obviously is the interior design and layout of the space.
We will know whether there was any thought given to what the house or building would look like before the renovations began and when the furnishings are moved in.
Interior design is the art and science of enhancing the interiors, sometimes including the exterior, of a space or building, to achieve a healthier and more aesthetically pleasing environment for the end user. An interior designer is someone who plans, researches, coordinates, and manages such projects.
In the 1st reading, we heard how God directed Moses on how the tabernacle and the ark of the covenant would look like and Moses proceeded with the details.
Obviously, the interior designer is God because He wanted to show the important aspects of who He is - there was the throne of mercy, the screening veil, the Testimony - all that were glimpses of who God is and how He relates with His people.
So only the important and necessary things were put into and around the tabernacle and the ark of the covenant, and the people would experience the presence of God with it.
In the gospel, Jesus told a parable of a dragnet that brings in a haul of all kinds. Then the fishermen would collect the good fish in a basket and throw away those that were of no use.
Similarly, in this world, we are exposed to all sorts of things in what we see and hear. We must choose and discern what is good, keep it and throw away what is of no use.
It is God who created out hearts and it is His designs that we must follow. Then our hearts would look like the dwelling place of God and others would be able to experience the presence of God in us.
Wednesday, August 2, 2017
Tuesday, August 1, 2017
17th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 02-08-17
Exodus 34:29-35 / Matthew 13:44-46
Our hands and our feet are at the different ends of our body. And depending on our height, they vary in the distamce apart.
Yet, when our hands or our feet are hurting, whether from touching a hot object or from the shoes we are wearing, somehow our face shows it.
Oh yes, we can hide our feelings, but not for long. And more so if it is the feelings and emotions in our heart.
What we feel in our hearts will show up on our faces, and it will show up through the make-up and the masks we might want to put on.
In the 1st reading, Moses couldn't hide the radiance and the glory of God which he experienced, and it showed on his face.
What Moses experienced challenges us to take a look at ourselves in the mirror and to ask ourselves what others see in us.
We may not like what we see of ourselves in the mirror, maybe because it reminds us of the frustrations, resentment, hurt and pain that are gripping our hearts.
Yet we must also remember that God has planted the treasures of His love in our hearts.
In this Eucharist, let us ask the Lord to heal us so that we can let go of our sinfulness and to discover the joy of the treasure of God's love in us.
And may the joy of God's love be reflected in our faces too.
Our hands and our feet are at the different ends of our body. And depending on our height, they vary in the distamce apart.
Yet, when our hands or our feet are hurting, whether from touching a hot object or from the shoes we are wearing, somehow our face shows it.
Oh yes, we can hide our feelings, but not for long. And more so if it is the feelings and emotions in our heart.
What we feel in our hearts will show up on our faces, and it will show up through the make-up and the masks we might want to put on.
In the 1st reading, Moses couldn't hide the radiance and the glory of God which he experienced, and it showed on his face.
What Moses experienced challenges us to take a look at ourselves in the mirror and to ask ourselves what others see in us.
We may not like what we see of ourselves in the mirror, maybe because it reminds us of the frustrations, resentment, hurt and pain that are gripping our hearts.
Yet we must also remember that God has planted the treasures of His love in our hearts.
In this Eucharist, let us ask the Lord to heal us so that we can let go of our sinfulness and to discover the joy of the treasure of God's love in us.
And may the joy of God's love be reflected in our faces too.
Monday, July 31, 2017
17th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 01-08-17
Exodus 33:7-11; 34:5-8, 28 / Matthew 13:36-43
In life there are many choices - from the food we eat, to the clothes we wear, to words we use, to what we choose to do.
In our spiritual life, we also have to make a fundamental choice, and that is the choice between good and evil.
And when we do an examination of our lives, then we will see that there are times we chose to do good and there are times we chose to do evil.
So in our lives, there is a good harvest of wheat, but there are also the weeds of sin.
And till the last day of our life on earth, there will be wheat and weeds in our hearts.
As Jesus talks about the final judgement in today's gospel, let us pray for the ears to listen .
As we listen to God's Word, may we also make a choice for God.
So that in all we do and say, we will want to choose to do the good and right and loving thing.
The 10 Commandments tell us about the way to life. Jesus offers us the choice between life and death.
Let us choose life, and death will be slowly pulled out and burnt away.
In life there are many choices - from the food we eat, to the clothes we wear, to words we use, to what we choose to do.
In our spiritual life, we also have to make a fundamental choice, and that is the choice between good and evil.
And when we do an examination of our lives, then we will see that there are times we chose to do good and there are times we chose to do evil.
So in our lives, there is a good harvest of wheat, but there are also the weeds of sin.
And till the last day of our life on earth, there will be wheat and weeds in our hearts.
As Jesus talks about the final judgement in today's gospel, let us pray for the ears to listen .
As we listen to God's Word, may we also make a choice for God.
So that in all we do and say, we will want to choose to do the good and right and loving thing.
The 10 Commandments tell us about the way to life. Jesus offers us the choice between life and death.
Let us choose life, and death will be slowly pulled out and burnt away.
Sunday, July 30, 2017
17th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 31-07-17
Exodus 32:15-24, 30-34 / Matthew 13:31-35
Babies and very young children have this peculiar tendency.
They will cry out in distress when they don't see their parents around them.
Their parents are certainly still around; just that they are momentarily out of sight.
This tendency is especially manifested on the first day of nursery, when the parents leave their children under the care of teachers.
The reaction of the children can be anything from frowning to hysterical cries.
Such is the need of children for a visible presence of their parents.
We see a similar situation with the Israelites in the 1st reading.
Moses had left them to go up to Mt Sinai, and they began to feel abandoned and insecure.
They needed a sense of security and they turned to a thing to satisfy them.
Yes, we might criticize them for being idolatrous, etc.
But what they felt only illustrates the human desire for the presence of God in order to feel secure.
The presence of God is like the mustard seed and the yeast parables that Jesus used to describe the Kingdom of God.
Where God is made present, there is the Kingdom.
We are like the mustard seeds and the yeast.
God is within us and He is waiting.
He is waiting for us to make His kingdom present in the world.
Babies and very young children have this peculiar tendency.
They will cry out in distress when they don't see their parents around them.
Their parents are certainly still around; just that they are momentarily out of sight.
This tendency is especially manifested on the first day of nursery, when the parents leave their children under the care of teachers.
The reaction of the children can be anything from frowning to hysterical cries.
Such is the need of children for a visible presence of their parents.
We see a similar situation with the Israelites in the 1st reading.
Moses had left them to go up to Mt Sinai, and they began to feel abandoned and insecure.
They needed a sense of security and they turned to a thing to satisfy them.
Yes, we might criticize them for being idolatrous, etc.
But what they felt only illustrates the human desire for the presence of God in order to feel secure.
The presence of God is like the mustard seed and the yeast parables that Jesus used to describe the Kingdom of God.
Where God is made present, there is the Kingdom.
We are like the mustard seeds and the yeast.
God is within us and He is waiting.
He is waiting for us to make His kingdom present in the world.
Saturday, July 29, 2017
17th Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 30.07.2017
1 Kings 3:5, 7-12 / Romans 8:28-30 / Matthew 13:44-52
Let us begin with a question about our health, and maybe let us look at our dental health. When was the last time we went to the dentist? It is recommended that we go to the dentist for a check-up every six months. That’s the recommendation. But our assessment is “no pain, no need”.
But as it is, we don’t like to visit the dentist because it means two things. Either it is a filling for a cavity, which at times feels like a brain surgery, because of all that drilling and the pain shoots up the brain. Or it will be an extraction, i.e. to pull out the teeth.
For those of us who have an upcoming dental appointment, here is a little story to prepare you to meet your dentist. A man went to a new dentist to remove a wisdom tooth for the first time. The man told the dentist, “I am afraid … it’s my first time taking out a wisdom tooth.” The new dentist told him, “Me too … it’s my first time.”
By and large, the dentist wouldn’t want to do an extraction unless it is really necessary. But when it comes to the wisdom tooth, it’s quite another matter.
Wisdom teeth are the third and final set of molars that most people get in their late teens or early twenties. Maybe when we start to get wiser, those wisdom teeth will grow as well. Sometimes these teeth can be a valuable asset to the mouth when healthy and properly aligned. But more often, they are misaligned and require removal.
So it doesn’t mean that the more wisdom teeth we have or try to keep, the wiser we are. In fact, it would be wiser to remove those wisdom teeth if they are giving us teething problems.
In the 1st reading, the Lord appeared in a dream to Solomon and said, “Ask what you would like me to give you.”
Now, that’s like a blank cheque, isn’t it? If the Lord were to appear to us and ask us that same question, just how would we reply? Because there are so many things that we want – health, wealth, happiness, security, good looks, etc.
As a young king, Solomon could have asked for more “teeth”, not more wisdom teeth, but more “teeth” to have more “bite”, so that he can control his subjects and his kingdom, victory over his enemies, long life, prosperity, security.
But he asked the Lord for this: Give Your servant a heart to understand how to discern between good and evil, for who can govern this people of Yours that is so great?
And the Lord replied: I give you a heart wise and shrewd, as none before you has had and none will have after you.
And truly, Solomon was noted for his wisdom. There was this instance of two mothers living in the same house, each the mother of an infant son, and they came to Solomon. One of the babies had died, and each claimed the remaining boy as her own. Calling for a sword, Solomon declared his judgment: the baby would be cut into two, each woman to receive half. One mother thought the ruling fair, but the other begged Solomon, "Give the baby to her, just don't kill the baby!" The king declared the second woman the true mother, as a mother would even give up her baby if that was necessary to save his life. (1 Kings 3:16-28) This judgment became known throughout all of Israel and was considered an example of profound wisdom.
Solomon asked the Lord for wisdom to govern God’s people because he was aware and humble enough to admit that he was young and unskilled in leadership.
So the Lord is also asking us what we want for Him. Certainly it would be something that we have to think carefully about.
It would be something like the treasure hidden in a field, or like that pearl of great value that the gospel speaks of. In both cases, the two finders sold everything they own and bought it.
But also like the fishermen who hauled in the dragnet and then collected the good fish in a basket and threw away those that are of no use, we also need the wisdom to discern what is good and what is fleeting and temporary.
There is this story of a bus-station attendant who was handed a wallet that someone had lost. He looked inside the wallet. There were a few dollars and a holy picture of Jesus in it. But there was no identification of the owner.
After a while an elderly man came to claim the wallet. The attendant asked him to prove that it was his before he would give it to him. The old man smiled and said, “There is a picture of Jesus in it.” But the attendant was not satisfied. He said, “That is no proof. Anyone can have a picture of Jesus in his wallet. And why is your photo or IC not in there like the others.”
The old man took a deep breath and explained. “My IC is with me. As to why my photo is not there, this wallet is given to me by my father when I was in school, and I used to put a photo of my parents in it.
When I was a teenager, I was proud of my looks and so I replaced my parents’ photo with my own. Then I got married and I replaced my photo with a photo of my wife. Then my first child was born and then I replaced my wife’s photo with my baby’s photo.”
Then his voice began to quiver. “My parents passed away many years ago. Recently my wife passed away too. My children are too busy with their families to look after me.
All that I ever held close to my heart is now far away from my reach. I have this picture of Jesus in my wallet because it is only now that I realized that He is always with me and He will never leave me alone. If only I had realized this earlier, I would have His picture when I first got this wallet.”
Whether we have a picture of Jesus in our wallets or not, we should realize that we are created in His image. And His image in etched in our hearts so that we can reflect and share this divine image with others so that they can see the true treasure that is within us.
Yes, we already have that treasure. What more do we need to ask for or search for?
St. Thomas Aquinas, the great Christian philosopher and theologian, wrote many works that influenced the Church. It was he who wrote the lyrics of the great Eucharistic hymns like “Humbly we adore Thee”.
There is a story that he had a vision of Christ on the Cross and was asked by the Lord what reward he wanted for all he had done and written. St. Thomas answered, “Non nisi te, Domine.” (Only you, Lord.)
Jesus is our only reward and our eternal reward. We don’t need to have the wisdom of Solomon to realize that.
Let us begin with a question about our health, and maybe let us look at our dental health. When was the last time we went to the dentist? It is recommended that we go to the dentist for a check-up every six months. That’s the recommendation. But our assessment is “no pain, no need”.
But as it is, we don’t like to visit the dentist because it means two things. Either it is a filling for a cavity, which at times feels like a brain surgery, because of all that drilling and the pain shoots up the brain. Or it will be an extraction, i.e. to pull out the teeth.
For those of us who have an upcoming dental appointment, here is a little story to prepare you to meet your dentist. A man went to a new dentist to remove a wisdom tooth for the first time. The man told the dentist, “I am afraid … it’s my first time taking out a wisdom tooth.” The new dentist told him, “Me too … it’s my first time.”
By and large, the dentist wouldn’t want to do an extraction unless it is really necessary. But when it comes to the wisdom tooth, it’s quite another matter.
Wisdom teeth are the third and final set of molars that most people get in their late teens or early twenties. Maybe when we start to get wiser, those wisdom teeth will grow as well. Sometimes these teeth can be a valuable asset to the mouth when healthy and properly aligned. But more often, they are misaligned and require removal.
So it doesn’t mean that the more wisdom teeth we have or try to keep, the wiser we are. In fact, it would be wiser to remove those wisdom teeth if they are giving us teething problems.
In the 1st reading, the Lord appeared in a dream to Solomon and said, “Ask what you would like me to give you.”
Now, that’s like a blank cheque, isn’t it? If the Lord were to appear to us and ask us that same question, just how would we reply? Because there are so many things that we want – health, wealth, happiness, security, good looks, etc.
As a young king, Solomon could have asked for more “teeth”, not more wisdom teeth, but more “teeth” to have more “bite”, so that he can control his subjects and his kingdom, victory over his enemies, long life, prosperity, security.
But he asked the Lord for this: Give Your servant a heart to understand how to discern between good and evil, for who can govern this people of Yours that is so great?
And the Lord replied: I give you a heart wise and shrewd, as none before you has had and none will have after you.
And truly, Solomon was noted for his wisdom. There was this instance of two mothers living in the same house, each the mother of an infant son, and they came to Solomon. One of the babies had died, and each claimed the remaining boy as her own. Calling for a sword, Solomon declared his judgment: the baby would be cut into two, each woman to receive half. One mother thought the ruling fair, but the other begged Solomon, "Give the baby to her, just don't kill the baby!" The king declared the second woman the true mother, as a mother would even give up her baby if that was necessary to save his life. (1 Kings 3:16-28) This judgment became known throughout all of Israel and was considered an example of profound wisdom.
Solomon asked the Lord for wisdom to govern God’s people because he was aware and humble enough to admit that he was young and unskilled in leadership.
So the Lord is also asking us what we want for Him. Certainly it would be something that we have to think carefully about.
It would be something like the treasure hidden in a field, or like that pearl of great value that the gospel speaks of. In both cases, the two finders sold everything they own and bought it.
But also like the fishermen who hauled in the dragnet and then collected the good fish in a basket and threw away those that are of no use, we also need the wisdom to discern what is good and what is fleeting and temporary.
There is this story of a bus-station attendant who was handed a wallet that someone had lost. He looked inside the wallet. There were a few dollars and a holy picture of Jesus in it. But there was no identification of the owner.
After a while an elderly man came to claim the wallet. The attendant asked him to prove that it was his before he would give it to him. The old man smiled and said, “There is a picture of Jesus in it.” But the attendant was not satisfied. He said, “That is no proof. Anyone can have a picture of Jesus in his wallet. And why is your photo or IC not in there like the others.”
The old man took a deep breath and explained. “My IC is with me. As to why my photo is not there, this wallet is given to me by my father when I was in school, and I used to put a photo of my parents in it.
When I was a teenager, I was proud of my looks and so I replaced my parents’ photo with my own. Then I got married and I replaced my photo with a photo of my wife. Then my first child was born and then I replaced my wife’s photo with my baby’s photo.”
Then his voice began to quiver. “My parents passed away many years ago. Recently my wife passed away too. My children are too busy with their families to look after me.
All that I ever held close to my heart is now far away from my reach. I have this picture of Jesus in my wallet because it is only now that I realized that He is always with me and He will never leave me alone. If only I had realized this earlier, I would have His picture when I first got this wallet.”
Whether we have a picture of Jesus in our wallets or not, we should realize that we are created in His image. And His image in etched in our hearts so that we can reflect and share this divine image with others so that they can see the true treasure that is within us.
Yes, we already have that treasure. What more do we need to ask for or search for?
St. Thomas Aquinas, the great Christian philosopher and theologian, wrote many works that influenced the Church. It was he who wrote the lyrics of the great Eucharistic hymns like “Humbly we adore Thee”.
There is a story that he had a vision of Christ on the Cross and was asked by the Lord what reward he wanted for all he had done and written. St. Thomas answered, “Non nisi te, Domine.” (Only you, Lord.)
Jesus is our only reward and our eternal reward. We don’t need to have the wisdom of Solomon to realize that.
St. Martha, Saturday, 29-07-17
1 John 4:7-16 / John 11:19-27
Whenever we talk about St. Martha, the image of an active and work-oriented as well as task-oriented person comes to mind.
That may be because of that occasion (Luke 10 : 38-42)when she invited Jesus to her home and she was caught up with all the serving.
And then she complained to Jesus about getting her sister Mary to help her with the work.
But Jesus told her that she worry and fret about so many things and yet only one is important, and Mary had chosen the better part.
Martha must have remembered what Jesus said to her, and so despite the sadness and grief over her brother's death, she knew that only Jesus could comfort her.
And true to her personality, she made the move to go out and meet Jesus and to express her faith in Jesus.
But on this occasion, she also made a profound proclamation.
Martha proclaimed Jesus to be Christ, the Son of God.
Only St. Peter had made that similar proclamation.
Hence, St. Martha, despite her active and work-oriented and task-oriented personality, came to slowly recognize who Jesus is.
St. Martha is an example for us of someone who is active and busy but yet took the time to reflect and to discover who Jesus is.
Like St. Martha we may also have very active lives and busy with a lot of things.
But let us not forget the one important thing - prayer!
It is in prayer that we will attain the peace to know that Jesus is truly the Son of God, our Saviour.
Whenever we talk about St. Martha, the image of an active and work-oriented as well as task-oriented person comes to mind.
That may be because of that occasion (Luke 10 : 38-42)when she invited Jesus to her home and she was caught up with all the serving.
And then she complained to Jesus about getting her sister Mary to help her with the work.
But Jesus told her that she worry and fret about so many things and yet only one is important, and Mary had chosen the better part.
Martha must have remembered what Jesus said to her, and so despite the sadness and grief over her brother's death, she knew that only Jesus could comfort her.
And true to her personality, she made the move to go out and meet Jesus and to express her faith in Jesus.
But on this occasion, she also made a profound proclamation.
Martha proclaimed Jesus to be Christ, the Son of God.
Only St. Peter had made that similar proclamation.
Hence, St. Martha, despite her active and work-oriented and task-oriented personality, came to slowly recognize who Jesus is.
St. Martha is an example for us of someone who is active and busy but yet took the time to reflect and to discover who Jesus is.
Like St. Martha we may also have very active lives and busy with a lot of things.
But let us not forget the one important thing - prayer!
It is in prayer that we will attain the peace to know that Jesus is truly the Son of God, our Saviour.
Thursday, July 27, 2017
16th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 28-07-17
Exodus 20:1-17 / Matthew 13:18-23
Can we think of anyone who has done us a great favour? It may be that this person saved our life from some near tragedy. Or helped us when everyone else have turned their back on us. Or stood by us when we were alone and in need.
Whatever the situation or circumstance might be, we can only be grateful and thankful to that person. What else more can we ever do for that person?
Certainly, it would never cross our minds that since this person has done us such a great favour, we would ride on that and see what other favours we can get from that person. We can't be that ungrateful or go so low as that.
In the 1st reading, the Lord God declared to His people: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
God was reiterating that it was not by their abilities that they broke away from slavery and are a free people now.
He was their Deliverer and it was He who rescued them from slavery and gave them freedom. But it was not a freedom to do as they wish. He gave them the 10 commandments to guide them because with freedom comes responsibility and accountability.
The 10 commandments were God's way of telling His people how to live their lives so that they can truly be a people who will cherish their freedom and live by the ways of the Lord.
Not to live by the 10 commandments would be to allow rocks and thorns to clutter their hearts and eventually lose their freedom again and be slaves of the devil.
We too have been freed by Jesus from the slavery to sin. We can only give thanks and live by His ways. We certainly don't want to be slaves of the devil and lose the joy of our freedom and peace of heart.
Can we think of anyone who has done us a great favour? It may be that this person saved our life from some near tragedy. Or helped us when everyone else have turned their back on us. Or stood by us when we were alone and in need.
Whatever the situation or circumstance might be, we can only be grateful and thankful to that person. What else more can we ever do for that person?
Certainly, it would never cross our minds that since this person has done us such a great favour, we would ride on that and see what other favours we can get from that person. We can't be that ungrateful or go so low as that.
In the 1st reading, the Lord God declared to His people: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
God was reiterating that it was not by their abilities that they broke away from slavery and are a free people now.
He was their Deliverer and it was He who rescued them from slavery and gave them freedom. But it was not a freedom to do as they wish. He gave them the 10 commandments to guide them because with freedom comes responsibility and accountability.
The 10 commandments were God's way of telling His people how to live their lives so that they can truly be a people who will cherish their freedom and live by the ways of the Lord.
Not to live by the 10 commandments would be to allow rocks and thorns to clutter their hearts and eventually lose their freedom again and be slaves of the devil.
We too have been freed by Jesus from the slavery to sin. We can only give thanks and live by His ways. We certainly don't want to be slaves of the devil and lose the joy of our freedom and peace of heart.
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