Galatians 1:6-12 / Luke 10:25-37
So very often we hear of this word "miscommunication". And that word kicks in whenever something is not done or done wrongly.
Miscommunication
essentially means a lack of clear or adequate communication. The
problem may lie in the words being used or maybe a mistake somewhere in
the line of communication.
Yet
miscommunication do not happen by intention. It is just that something
is spoken wrongly, or written wrongly, or heard wrongly. We may call
miscommunication an honest mistake.
In the 1st
reading, St. Paul emphasized that what he preached was the Good News of
Christ. And there cannot be more than one version of the Good News.
He warned that if anyone preached another version of the Good News, then that person is to be condemned.
Because
that is not miscommunication. That is distortion and even deception.
That kind of distortion and deception of the Good News is certainly
aimed at what people would like to hear. It would certainly win people's
approval.
What St.
Paul is saying is that in preaching the Good News, one must not look for
the approval of man but rather the approval from God.
Similarly
living out the Good News and keeping the Commandments of God is not
justifying ourselves or chalking up points with God.
Rather it is about loving God and showing that love to our neighbour in thought, word and deed.
Anything else would be a distortion and even a deception.
Sunday, October 7, 2018
Saturday, October 6, 2018
27th Ordinary Sunday, Year B, 07.10.2018
Genesis 2:18-24 / Hebrews 2:9-11 / Mark 10:2-16
The month of October can be called a “spiritual” month, and it is spiritually inspiring as well as spiritually exciting.
October began with the feast of St. Therese “The Little Flower” who taught us the spirituality of doing little things with great love.
Following that, is the feast of the Guardian Angels, and it is comforting to know that each of us have a “PA” – Personal Angel, to light and guard, to rule and guide us.
And then towards the end of the month is the feast of one of our favourite saints, St. Jude, the Patron Saint of desperate cases.
But besides being dotted with the feast days of great saints, the month of October has a special dedication. The Church dedicates the month of October to Our Lady under the title of “Our Lady of the Rosary”.
Today is the 7th October, and if it is not a Sunday, it would be celebrated as the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.
This feast has its origins in the year 1571, when on this day, the small and outnumbered Christian fleet defeated the mighty Ottoman armada at the Gulf of Lepanto, thus stopping the invasion of Europe by the Ottoman empire.
That victory was dubbed as miraculous and credited to the intercession of Our Lady, as the Pope at that time, Pope Pius V, called for a Rosary Crusade to help the Christian fleet. It was said that the Christian soldiers fought with swords on one hand and rosaries on the other.
Hence the 7th October was dedicated to Our Lady and later it became the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, and then later the whole month of October became known as the Rosary Month.
It is obvious that the Church is telling us something about the power of the prayer of the Rosary. It is simple enough even for children to pray it, and at the same time, it has the depth for those who wish to deepen their spiritual life.
But as much as the Rosary is a simple prayer, at the same time, it is also one of the most difficult prayers. We cannot assume that simple equates to easy. In fact simple can be difficult and challenging.
For those of us who have prayed the Rosary, we know how difficult and challenging it can be. The simplicity can turn into monotony and a lethargy, and we begin to think that nothing is happening and we can find it boring.
But the monotony of the Rosary has a calming effect and gives our tired hearts and minds the peace and rest that we long for.
At the same time, the prayer is also slowly etched and seared into our hearts. For those of us who have prayed the Rosary long enough, we can already pray it by heart. Yes, the Rosary is already etched and seared into our hearts.
A priest was sharing his vocation story. As a cradle-Catholic, he went through Catechism classes and all that, but dropped out of Church in the late teens and early 20s. (it’s the usual case with cradle-Catholics)
He went on the wild side and was having a time of his life when he “hit the wall” and everything started to crumble with one setback after another.
Feeling lost and afraid, he decided to go back to the religion of his childhood days, and he went to a church and tried to pray. But he was just too tired and disappointed to pray.
Then he heard the Rosary being prayed and then he remembered those early years when his family prayed the Rosary every evening and he was surprised that he could still remember the prayers. Well, it was the beginnings of the stirrings that led him eventually to the priesthood.
But that was because the Rosary was already etched and seared into his heart during his childhood days.
That’s why it is so necessary to teach our children and our youth to pray the Rosary (whether they like it or not!) We must give them the means of prayer, so that in the time of crisis, they will know how to go back to God.
Some have argued that teaching young children to rattle off the prayers is nonsensical and meaningless. Well, besides the etching and searing effect of the Rosary prayer, there is another spiritual effect.
In Psalm 8, there is this verse: Your majesty is praised above the heavens; on the lips of children and of babes, You have found praise to foil Your enemy, and to silence the foe and the rebel.
Yes, the prayers of children and of babes are heard by God, and brings about blessings and protection for us when we teach them to pray the Rosary.
As Jesus said in the gospel, it is to the little children that the kingdom of God belongs.
Well, the Rosary brought about a miraculous victory in 1571; it will also do the same for us now. Not just only for us, but also for the Church and for the world.
Well, we know that the Church and the world are in quite a messy state.
That is why Pope Francis is calling for a “Special Prayer Campaign for the Church” for the whole month of October, with a great emphasis on the prayer of the Rosary.
He is calling on us to pray for the protection of the Church from the attacks of the devil, as well as for forgiveness and healing for the sins of the Church and to fight abuse.
And we also need to pray for the sanctity of marriages and for the unity of families. As Jesus said in the gospel, we need to go back to “the beginning”.
Yes, we need to go back to the beginning, back to our faith origins, and begin to pray, especially the Rosary, whether as an individual, as a family or as a community.
As Pope Francis said: This is our power; not to dominate or to cry out more loudly according to the logic of this world, but rather to exercise the gentle power of prayer.
Yes, let us begin to pray, let us pray the Rosary, and God’s protection and blessings will be upon us.
The month of October can be called a “spiritual” month, and it is spiritually inspiring as well as spiritually exciting.
October began with the feast of St. Therese “The Little Flower” who taught us the spirituality of doing little things with great love.
Following that, is the feast of the Guardian Angels, and it is comforting to know that each of us have a “PA” – Personal Angel, to light and guard, to rule and guide us.
And then towards the end of the month is the feast of one of our favourite saints, St. Jude, the Patron Saint of desperate cases.
But besides being dotted with the feast days of great saints, the month of October has a special dedication. The Church dedicates the month of October to Our Lady under the title of “Our Lady of the Rosary”.
Today is the 7th October, and if it is not a Sunday, it would be celebrated as the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.
This feast has its origins in the year 1571, when on this day, the small and outnumbered Christian fleet defeated the mighty Ottoman armada at the Gulf of Lepanto, thus stopping the invasion of Europe by the Ottoman empire.
That victory was dubbed as miraculous and credited to the intercession of Our Lady, as the Pope at that time, Pope Pius V, called for a Rosary Crusade to help the Christian fleet. It was said that the Christian soldiers fought with swords on one hand and rosaries on the other.
Hence the 7th October was dedicated to Our Lady and later it became the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, and then later the whole month of October became known as the Rosary Month.
It is obvious that the Church is telling us something about the power of the prayer of the Rosary. It is simple enough even for children to pray it, and at the same time, it has the depth for those who wish to deepen their spiritual life.
But as much as the Rosary is a simple prayer, at the same time, it is also one of the most difficult prayers. We cannot assume that simple equates to easy. In fact simple can be difficult and challenging.
For those of us who have prayed the Rosary, we know how difficult and challenging it can be. The simplicity can turn into monotony and a lethargy, and we begin to think that nothing is happening and we can find it boring.
But the monotony of the Rosary has a calming effect and gives our tired hearts and minds the peace and rest that we long for.
At the same time, the prayer is also slowly etched and seared into our hearts. For those of us who have prayed the Rosary long enough, we can already pray it by heart. Yes, the Rosary is already etched and seared into our hearts.
A priest was sharing his vocation story. As a cradle-Catholic, he went through Catechism classes and all that, but dropped out of Church in the late teens and early 20s. (it’s the usual case with cradle-Catholics)
He went on the wild side and was having a time of his life when he “hit the wall” and everything started to crumble with one setback after another.
Feeling lost and afraid, he decided to go back to the religion of his childhood days, and he went to a church and tried to pray. But he was just too tired and disappointed to pray.
Then he heard the Rosary being prayed and then he remembered those early years when his family prayed the Rosary every evening and he was surprised that he could still remember the prayers. Well, it was the beginnings of the stirrings that led him eventually to the priesthood.
But that was because the Rosary was already etched and seared into his heart during his childhood days.
That’s why it is so necessary to teach our children and our youth to pray the Rosary (whether they like it or not!) We must give them the means of prayer, so that in the time of crisis, they will know how to go back to God.
Some have argued that teaching young children to rattle off the prayers is nonsensical and meaningless. Well, besides the etching and searing effect of the Rosary prayer, there is another spiritual effect.
In Psalm 8, there is this verse: Your majesty is praised above the heavens; on the lips of children and of babes, You have found praise to foil Your enemy, and to silence the foe and the rebel.
Yes, the prayers of children and of babes are heard by God, and brings about blessings and protection for us when we teach them to pray the Rosary.
As Jesus said in the gospel, it is to the little children that the kingdom of God belongs.
Well, the Rosary brought about a miraculous victory in 1571; it will also do the same for us now. Not just only for us, but also for the Church and for the world.
Well, we know that the Church and the world are in quite a messy state.
That is why Pope Francis is calling for a “Special Prayer Campaign for the Church” for the whole month of October, with a great emphasis on the prayer of the Rosary.
He is calling on us to pray for the protection of the Church from the attacks of the devil, as well as for forgiveness and healing for the sins of the Church and to fight abuse.
And we also need to pray for the sanctity of marriages and for the unity of families. As Jesus said in the gospel, we need to go back to “the beginning”.
Yes, we need to go back to the beginning, back to our faith origins, and begin to pray, especially the Rosary, whether as an individual, as a family or as a community.
As Pope Francis said: This is our power; not to dominate or to cry out more loudly according to the logic of this world, but rather to exercise the gentle power of prayer.
Yes, let us begin to pray, let us pray the Rosary, and God’s protection and blessings will be upon us.
Friday, October 5, 2018
26th Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 06-10-18
Job 42:1-3, 5-6, 12-17 / Luke 10:17-24
We like things to have a happy ending. If it is a story book or a movie, a happy ending will earn our approval.
Even in life, whatever we undertake, be it projects or assignments or whatever tasks, we would like it to have a happy ending, so that we would earn the approval of others.
In the 1st reading, we have finally come to the last chapter of the book of Job. The book of Job has often been the assigned reading for those who have questions about innocent suffering.
Well, the book of Job closes with a happy ending with the fortunes of Job restored and he lived to a ripe old age and full of days.
Yet, Job did not find the answers as to why he had been afflicted with sufferings and tragedies. His consolation, besides his restoration, was his realization of who God is (but now I have seen You with my own eye ...)
He realized that everything happens under the watchful eyes of God, and God's plan for us is always for our good and not otherwise.
In the gospel the 72 disciples came back to Jesus rejoicing that even devils submit to them when they use the authoritative name of Jesus.
But the time will come when the whole strength of the enemy will come at them, and they will be persecuted and they will even have to face death.
It may not be that kind of happy ending that people wish for, yet for whatever ending it will be, they will accept it willingly.
Because the true happy ending will be that their names are written in heaven. May we willingly accept our difficulties and sufferings in life and realize who God is, so that our names will also be written in heaven.
We like things to have a happy ending. If it is a story book or a movie, a happy ending will earn our approval.
Even in life, whatever we undertake, be it projects or assignments or whatever tasks, we would like it to have a happy ending, so that we would earn the approval of others.
In the 1st reading, we have finally come to the last chapter of the book of Job. The book of Job has often been the assigned reading for those who have questions about innocent suffering.
Well, the book of Job closes with a happy ending with the fortunes of Job restored and he lived to a ripe old age and full of days.
Yet, Job did not find the answers as to why he had been afflicted with sufferings and tragedies. His consolation, besides his restoration, was his realization of who God is (but now I have seen You with my own eye ...)
He realized that everything happens under the watchful eyes of God, and God's plan for us is always for our good and not otherwise.
In the gospel the 72 disciples came back to Jesus rejoicing that even devils submit to them when they use the authoritative name of Jesus.
But the time will come when the whole strength of the enemy will come at them, and they will be persecuted and they will even have to face death.
It may not be that kind of happy ending that people wish for, yet for whatever ending it will be, they will accept it willingly.
Because the true happy ending will be that their names are written in heaven. May we willingly accept our difficulties and sufferings in life and realize who God is, so that our names will also be written in heaven.
Thursday, October 4, 2018
26th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 05-10-18
Job 38:1, 12-21; 40:3-5 / Luke 10:13-16
If nothing happens by coincidence, then it is only natural that we want to know what is the link between the various events and experiences of our lives.
We would want to know why such an event happened in our lives and why we had certain experiences.
Although we know that everything that has happened has a meaning and a purpose, yet we can be rather impatient to know the answers immediately.
Especially so when misfortune and tragedy happens. We won't be just asking for answers; we will be demanding for answers and demanding it furiously too.
For the character of Job in the 1st reading, he too was demanding for answers from God as misfortune and tragedy befell upon him one upon another, although he had insisted that he had not done anything wrong.
And this time God spoke. From the heart of the tempest, the Lord gave Job his answer. Yet the answer was a series of question that began with "Have you ... ".
In the end, Job realized who he was and in his own words "I had better lay my finger on my lips. I will not speak again."
When we can realize what Job had realized, that God had a perfect plan for everything in our lives and that His ways are above our ways and His thoughts are above our thoughts, then we too in humility would lay our finger on our lips.
If we ever open our lips, then it will be to praise and thank the Lord. And may those who hear us glorify the Lord, be edified and do the same too.
If nothing happens by coincidence, then it is only natural that we want to know what is the link between the various events and experiences of our lives.
We would want to know why such an event happened in our lives and why we had certain experiences.
Although we know that everything that has happened has a meaning and a purpose, yet we can be rather impatient to know the answers immediately.
Especially so when misfortune and tragedy happens. We won't be just asking for answers; we will be demanding for answers and demanding it furiously too.
For the character of Job in the 1st reading, he too was demanding for answers from God as misfortune and tragedy befell upon him one upon another, although he had insisted that he had not done anything wrong.
And this time God spoke. From the heart of the tempest, the Lord gave Job his answer. Yet the answer was a series of question that began with "Have you ... ".
In the end, Job realized who he was and in his own words "I had better lay my finger on my lips. I will not speak again."
When we can realize what Job had realized, that God had a perfect plan for everything in our lives and that His ways are above our ways and His thoughts are above our thoughts, then we too in humility would lay our finger on our lips.
If we ever open our lips, then it will be to praise and thank the Lord. And may those who hear us glorify the Lord, be edified and do the same too.
Wednesday, October 3, 2018
26th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 04-10-18
Job 19:21-27 / Luke 10:1-12
The hymn "Make me a channel of your peace" is a popular hymn. It is also called "The Prayer of St. Francis", because the words are attributed to St. Francis of Assisi whose feast day we celebrate today.
There are many inspiring stories of St. Francis of Assisi, but there is one rather amazing story of St. Francis and the wolf.
The Wolf of Gubbio, as it was called, was a large wolf that terrorized the city of Gubbio, devouring livestock and then attacking and devouring human beings, until it was tamed by St. Francis, acting on behalf of God.
When St. Francis and the wolf went back to the city, the townsfolk gathered in the city marketplace and were shocked to see the ferocious wolf behaving as though his pet. When St. Francis reached the marketplace, he offered the assembled crowd an impromptu sermon with the tame wolf at his feet. He is quoted as saying: "How much we ought to dread the jaws of hell, if the jaws of so small an animal as a wolf can make a whole city tremble through fear?"
St. Francis brought about reconciliation between the townsfolk and the wolf and brought about peace.
In the gospel, Jesus told His disciples that He was sending them out like lambs among wolves, but it was to bring the message of peace and to bring about reconciliation.
May we remember that our mission is to proclaim the message of peace and to bring about reconciliation, and may St. Francis of Assisi pray for us.
The hymn "Make me a channel of your peace" is a popular hymn. It is also called "The Prayer of St. Francis", because the words are attributed to St. Francis of Assisi whose feast day we celebrate today.
There are many inspiring stories of St. Francis of Assisi, but there is one rather amazing story of St. Francis and the wolf.
The Wolf of Gubbio, as it was called, was a large wolf that terrorized the city of Gubbio, devouring livestock and then attacking and devouring human beings, until it was tamed by St. Francis, acting on behalf of God.
When St. Francis and the wolf went back to the city, the townsfolk gathered in the city marketplace and were shocked to see the ferocious wolf behaving as though his pet. When St. Francis reached the marketplace, he offered the assembled crowd an impromptu sermon with the tame wolf at his feet. He is quoted as saying: "How much we ought to dread the jaws of hell, if the jaws of so small an animal as a wolf can make a whole city tremble through fear?"
St. Francis brought about reconciliation between the townsfolk and the wolf and brought about peace.
In the gospel, Jesus told His disciples that He was sending them out like lambs among wolves, but it was to bring the message of peace and to bring about reconciliation.
May we remember that our mission is to proclaim the message of peace and to bring about reconciliation, and may St. Francis of Assisi pray for us.
Tuesday, October 2, 2018
26th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 03-10-19
Job 9:1-13, 14-16 / Luke 9:57-62
Sometimes, what is not said is more important than what is said.
For example, in job advertisements, they may talk a lot about the salary, the fringe benefits, the prospects, etc.
But it is only when we have taken up the job that we realize that there were other demands that were not spelt out.
But whenever Jesus talks about following Him, He doesn't play down the cost of discipleship.
He tells us of the cross and its hardships.
And in the gospel, He seems to be telling the three potential disciples to "Take it or leave it".
Christian discipleship is not for the half-hearted.
Jesus is like telling us to look before we leap, and when we have looked long enough, we must also have the faith to make the leap.
We must believe that we don't make the leap alone; Jesus makes the leap with us.
Let us ask Jesus to give us the faith and courage to be follow Him and be His faithful disciples.
Sometimes, what is not said is more important than what is said.
For example, in job advertisements, they may talk a lot about the salary, the fringe benefits, the prospects, etc.
But it is only when we have taken up the job that we realize that there were other demands that were not spelt out.
But whenever Jesus talks about following Him, He doesn't play down the cost of discipleship.
He tells us of the cross and its hardships.
And in the gospel, He seems to be telling the three potential disciples to "Take it or leave it".
Christian discipleship is not for the half-hearted.
Jesus is like telling us to look before we leap, and when we have looked long enough, we must also have the faith to make the leap.
We must believe that we don't make the leap alone; Jesus makes the leap with us.
Let us ask Jesus to give us the faith and courage to be follow Him and be His faithful disciples.
Monday, October 1, 2018
The Holy Guardian Angels, Tuesday, 02-10-18
Exodus 23:20-23 / Matthew 18:1-5, 10
Stories about angels appeal very much to children, as well as to adults. Pictures of angels often show them with big wings, but also at time they are portrayed like chubby little children with cute wings.
Whatever it may be, the Catechism of the Catholic Church has this to teach about angels:
#328 The existence of the spiritual, non-corporeal beings that Sacred Scripture usually calls "angels" is a truth of faith. The witness of Scripture is as clear as the unanimity of Tradition.
#334 In the meantime, the whole life of the Church benefits from the mysterious and powerful help of angels.
#336 From its beginning until death, human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession. "Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life." Already here on earth the Christian life shares by faith in the blessed company of angels and men united in God.
Today's feast of the Guardian Angels affirm this teaching and it also reminds us that we have, since our existence on earth, a spiritual being, who is with us as our guardian and who at the same time stands before God in heaven.
It is our guardian angel who prays with us and with Mary, the Queen of Angels, prays for us, and helps us to follow Jesus and do the will of God here on earth and helps us on our journey to heaven.
Let us acknowledge our Guardian Angels with this prayer, and let us also teach this prayer to our children and to those who need to know that there is always an angel with them.
Angel of God
My guardian dear
To Whom His love
Commits me here
Ever this day
Be at my side
To light and guard
To rule and guide. Amen
Stories about angels appeal very much to children, as well as to adults. Pictures of angels often show them with big wings, but also at time they are portrayed like chubby little children with cute wings.
Whatever it may be, the Catechism of the Catholic Church has this to teach about angels:
#328 The existence of the spiritual, non-corporeal beings that Sacred Scripture usually calls "angels" is a truth of faith. The witness of Scripture is as clear as the unanimity of Tradition.
#334 In the meantime, the whole life of the Church benefits from the mysterious and powerful help of angels.
#336 From its beginning until death, human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession. "Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life." Already here on earth the Christian life shares by faith in the blessed company of angels and men united in God.
Today's feast of the Guardian Angels affirm this teaching and it also reminds us that we have, since our existence on earth, a spiritual being, who is with us as our guardian and who at the same time stands before God in heaven.
It is our guardian angel who prays with us and with Mary, the Queen of Angels, prays for us, and helps us to follow Jesus and do the will of God here on earth and helps us on our journey to heaven.
Let us acknowledge our Guardian Angels with this prayer, and let us also teach this prayer to our children and to those who need to know that there is always an angel with them.
Angel of God
My guardian dear
To Whom His love
Commits me here
Ever this day
Be at my side
To light and guard
To rule and guide. Amen
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