Isaiah 42:1-7 / John 12:1-11
Whenever we hear the word worship, what are the images and emotions that come to mind?
Most probably it will be praying, kneeling, offering sacrifice, raising of hands in praise and adoration.
In whatever forms it may take, worship is essentially a total offering of self to God, and also a total abandonment into the hands of God and His will.
In the gospel, we saw how Mary made an act of total abandonment of self in her love and devotion to Jesus.
Disregarding of what people may think of her as well as their comments (we heard one from Judas), and also disregarding what others may considered wasteful (that was from Judas too), Mary gave her all to Jesus.
It was also an open display of her affection and intimacy with Jesus.
All this may sound rather too sensual for the ears but yet how can we ever describe worship if we don't see it in concrete actions like those of Mary.
Yet we can also be like Judas who will break the crushed reed and snuff out the wavering flame of worship and devotion with sarcastic and scorching comments.
Holy week is a time to reflect and meditate on the sufferings of Jesus as He offered Himself to His Father for our salvation.
May our prayer also lead us to offer ourselves in worship as we follow Jesus in His total abandonment to God and in doing His will.
Sunday, April 14, 2019
Saturday, April 13, 2019
Palm Sunday, Year C, 14.04.2019
Isaiah 50:4-7 / Philippians 2:6-11 / Luke 22:14 – 23:56
The full title of today’s liturgical celebration is: “Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord”.
So it is not just Palm Sunday or just Passion Sunday. It is both, with one leading to the other.
We began with the Palm Sunday gospel passage of the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.
Then we heard a long gospel passage about the suffering and death of Jesus.
The contrast between the two passages is obvious.
And as we think about it, so are our lives – there is joy as well as sorrow, success as well as failure, peace as well as chaos, health as well as sickness.
So the contrast between the two gospel passages of today is also a reflection of our experience of life.
But as much as there is a contrast, there is also a similarity.
When Jesus made His triumphant entry into Jerusalem, the people hailed him as king.
When He was crucified on the cross, there was a notice with an inscription: This is the King of the Jews.
So in life and in death, Jesus held on to His identity as the King of kings.
And in our contrasting experiences of life, may we always have our eyes fixed on Jesus, so that we know who we are and that we belong to Him and that He will always be with us.
For now, let us be with Jesus and be with Him in His suffering and death, and keep faith in Him as we await for Him to raise us to new life.
The full title of today’s liturgical celebration is: “Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord”.
So it is not just Palm Sunday or just Passion Sunday. It is both, with one leading to the other.
We began with the Palm Sunday gospel passage of the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.
Then we heard a long gospel passage about the suffering and death of Jesus.
The contrast between the two passages is obvious.
And as we think about it, so are our lives – there is joy as well as sorrow, success as well as failure, peace as well as chaos, health as well as sickness.
So the contrast between the two gospel passages of today is also a reflection of our experience of life.
But as much as there is a contrast, there is also a similarity.
When Jesus made His triumphant entry into Jerusalem, the people hailed him as king.
When He was crucified on the cross, there was a notice with an inscription: This is the King of the Jews.
So in life and in death, Jesus held on to His identity as the King of kings.
And in our contrasting experiences of life, may we always have our eyes fixed on Jesus, so that we know who we are and that we belong to Him and that He will always be with us.
For now, let us be with Jesus and be with Him in His suffering and death, and keep faith in Him as we await for Him to raise us to new life.
Friday, April 12, 2019
5th Week of Lent, Saturday, 13-04-19
Ezekiel 37:21-28 / John 11:45-56
Today's gospel ends with questions, and those questions will be answered in the coming days as the liturgy unfolds.
It was also a questioning time for Jesus as His hour of reckoning approaches.
So as He retreated to the countryside with His disciples, He could have decided to remain there.
He could have gone on with His work of healing and teaching in a quiet way.
Many people would have supported Him and kept Him safe.
But Jesus knew that that was not the Father's will, so He moved out of His safety zone, a move that will cost Him His life.
Hence whenever we talk about doing God's will, we have to remember that it involves risk.
It involves moving out of our safety zone and moving out of our comfort zone.
But it is only in moving out that God moves in.
It is only when we move out of our pride, our resentment, our selfishness that God can move in to strengthen us with His love and to face the questions of life.
Today's gospel ends with questions, and those questions will be answered in the coming days as the liturgy unfolds.
It was also a questioning time for Jesus as His hour of reckoning approaches.
So as He retreated to the countryside with His disciples, He could have decided to remain there.
He could have gone on with His work of healing and teaching in a quiet way.
Many people would have supported Him and kept Him safe.
But Jesus knew that that was not the Father's will, so He moved out of His safety zone, a move that will cost Him His life.
Hence whenever we talk about doing God's will, we have to remember that it involves risk.
It involves moving out of our safety zone and moving out of our comfort zone.
But it is only in moving out that God moves in.
It is only when we move out of our pride, our resentment, our selfishness that God can move in to strengthen us with His love and to face the questions of life.
Thursday, April 11, 2019
5th Week of Lent, Friday, 12-04-19
Jeremiah 20:10-13 / John 10:31-42
A hero is often associated with courage and bravery, outstanding achievements as well as noble qualities.
The general impression is that a hero has strength, much like those super-heroes that are portrayed in movies, and that in the end, the hero is the winner.
And of course there are those unsung ordinary and common heroes who persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming difficulties and obstacles.
The prophet Jeremiah, in the 1st reading, does not give the impression of being a hero or being associated as a hero.
But he certainly had to endure much persecution and dangers for being a prophet.
And it was in his prophetic role that he showed us who his real hero is when he said, "The Lord is at my side, a mighty hero."
Yes, the Lord God is his hero, who delivers the soul of the needy from the hands of evil men.
So even if we have outstanding qualities like courage or bravery, physical or mental strength, perseverance or dedication, there is one thing that we should know.
Even if others were to call us a hero, we know that we can't do one thing, and that is we can't save ourselves, no matter what our heroic deeds may be.
Indeed the Lord our God is our hero, our mighty stronghold, our Saviour, who can do much more for us than we can ever think of.
So let us not be afraid of difficulties or obstacles, or even persecutions or dangers.
Through it all, may we realise that we need the Lord, who will come to be at our side, a mighty hero.
It is only when we are needy and that we are no heroes, that the Lord our God will show us that He will deliver us from whatever difficulties and obstacles, whatever persecution and danger.
A hero is often associated with courage and bravery, outstanding achievements as well as noble qualities.
The general impression is that a hero has strength, much like those super-heroes that are portrayed in movies, and that in the end, the hero is the winner.
And of course there are those unsung ordinary and common heroes who persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming difficulties and obstacles.
The prophet Jeremiah, in the 1st reading, does not give the impression of being a hero or being associated as a hero.
But he certainly had to endure much persecution and dangers for being a prophet.
And it was in his prophetic role that he showed us who his real hero is when he said, "The Lord is at my side, a mighty hero."
Yes, the Lord God is his hero, who delivers the soul of the needy from the hands of evil men.
So even if we have outstanding qualities like courage or bravery, physical or mental strength, perseverance or dedication, there is one thing that we should know.
Even if others were to call us a hero, we know that we can't do one thing, and that is we can't save ourselves, no matter what our heroic deeds may be.
Indeed the Lord our God is our hero, our mighty stronghold, our Saviour, who can do much more for us than we can ever think of.
So let us not be afraid of difficulties or obstacles, or even persecutions or dangers.
Through it all, may we realise that we need the Lord, who will come to be at our side, a mighty hero.
It is only when we are needy and that we are no heroes, that the Lord our God will show us that He will deliver us from whatever difficulties and obstacles, whatever persecution and danger.
Wednesday, April 10, 2019
5th Week of Lent, Thursday, 11-04-19
Genesis 17:3-9 / John 8:51-59
Whenever Jesus uses the phrase "I tell you solemnly ... " it means that He is giving a serious teaching.
It means that what he is going to say must be remembered because it is going to mean a lot to us.
In the gospel, Jesus used this phrase twice.
Jesus said that whoever keeps His word will never see death.
And He also solemnly proclaimed that He is the "I AM" which is the mystical name of God.
God's Word, especially His promises, are eternal, and His Word also gives us the sure hope of eternal life.
Hence even though we heard in the 1st reading that God made the promise to Abraham, yet Abraham never saw the fulfillment of the promise.
But believing in God who made that promise to him, Abraham knew that there would be life after death because the belief at that time was that the ancestors would have eternal life as long as there are descendants.
So Abraham and the prophets are not dead, as the people said in the gospel.
Yet it is only in believing and keeping God's word that we will have life.
Jesus promised us that when we keep His word and walk in His ways, we will have life, here and hereafter.
Let us believe in Jesus because His word is spirit and life and they have the message of eternal life.
Whenever Jesus uses the phrase "I tell you solemnly ... " it means that He is giving a serious teaching.
It means that what he is going to say must be remembered because it is going to mean a lot to us.
In the gospel, Jesus used this phrase twice.
Jesus said that whoever keeps His word will never see death.
And He also solemnly proclaimed that He is the "I AM" which is the mystical name of God.
God's Word, especially His promises, are eternal, and His Word also gives us the sure hope of eternal life.
Hence even though we heard in the 1st reading that God made the promise to Abraham, yet Abraham never saw the fulfillment of the promise.
But believing in God who made that promise to him, Abraham knew that there would be life after death because the belief at that time was that the ancestors would have eternal life as long as there are descendants.
So Abraham and the prophets are not dead, as the people said in the gospel.
Yet it is only in believing and keeping God's word that we will have life.
Jesus promised us that when we keep His word and walk in His ways, we will have life, here and hereafter.
Let us believe in Jesus because His word is spirit and life and they have the message of eternal life.
Tuesday, April 9, 2019
5th Week of Lent, Wednesday, 10-04-19
Daniel 3:14-20, 24-25, 28 / John 8:31-42
If there is something that we invented or created, we would certainly be proud of it.
It may be some kind of pottery, or a piece of painting, or some kind of machinery that can be useful to do some work more effectively.
And if we have chiselled out a beautiful statue, we would only want to put it on display for others to admire. But we would not think of making it an object of worship.
In the 1st reading, king Nebuchadnezzar erected a golden statue which he had made, and because he was king, he made his subjects prostrate and worship it.
And because he was king, all had to obey and worship that golden statue which could be a representation of himself. In other words, he thought of himself as a god.
All obeyed except Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. And there was no way that king Nebuchadnezzar would let this go. More than anything else, he wanted to show that he had power over life and death, and even power over the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
Using the fiery furnace as a stamp of his power, he ordered the three men to be thrown in, only to be shown who really has power and who really is God.
Because Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego stood by their faith in God, king Nebuchadnezzar was humbled and acknowledged the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
When the powers of the world want to stamp their authority over us, let us also stand by our faith in God.
Like the three men, if our God wills to save us from the powers of the fiery furnace, then He will. And even if He does not, then let us also believe that we will be rewarded for our faith in Him when we meet Him face to face.
If there is something that we invented or created, we would certainly be proud of it.
It may be some kind of pottery, or a piece of painting, or some kind of machinery that can be useful to do some work more effectively.
And if we have chiselled out a beautiful statue, we would only want to put it on display for others to admire. But we would not think of making it an object of worship.
In the 1st reading, king Nebuchadnezzar erected a golden statue which he had made, and because he was king, he made his subjects prostrate and worship it.
And because he was king, all had to obey and worship that golden statue which could be a representation of himself. In other words, he thought of himself as a god.
All obeyed except Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. And there was no way that king Nebuchadnezzar would let this go. More than anything else, he wanted to show that he had power over life and death, and even power over the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
Using the fiery furnace as a stamp of his power, he ordered the three men to be thrown in, only to be shown who really has power and who really is God.
Because Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego stood by their faith in God, king Nebuchadnezzar was humbled and acknowledged the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
When the powers of the world want to stamp their authority over us, let us also stand by our faith in God.
Like the three men, if our God wills to save us from the powers of the fiery furnace, then He will. And even if He does not, then let us also believe that we will be rewarded for our faith in Him when we meet Him face to face.
Monday, April 8, 2019
5th Week of Lent, Tuesday, 09-04-19
Numbers 21:4-9 / John 8:21-30
A sign or a symbol must be clear and unmistakable if they are to point to what they should mean.
A country's flag should indicate without doubt which country it represents. Toilet signs should be distinct from lift signs. And a clinic or medical centre would have the sign of the cross, be it red or green.
But in the 1st reading we hear of a rather strange sign or symbol - a bronze serpent on a standard. And that is the sign/symbol for those who were bitten by the fiery serpents, that if they looked at it, they will not die but will live.
What is strange is that the bronze serpent is shaped like those fiery serpents that bit the people and caused death by their bites.
No matter what the explanation, it is one of the strangest stories in the Bible that will certainly raise questions.
Of course it can be put under one of those mysterious ways in which God works to bring about His saving power.
After all, it was God who told Moses to do that, so it is a divine instruction and not a human invention.
But when we think deeper about it, the cross on which Jesus died was also meant to be an instrument of suffering and death. Yet it has now become the sign/symbol of our salvation.
Just as those who were bitten by the fiery serpents only had to look at the bronze serpent on the standard and lived, we too need to look at the cross of our Saviour and believe that He died to save us.
May we truly believe that the cross is no more about suffering and death, but about forgiveness and life.
A sign or a symbol must be clear and unmistakable if they are to point to what they should mean.
A country's flag should indicate without doubt which country it represents. Toilet signs should be distinct from lift signs. And a clinic or medical centre would have the sign of the cross, be it red or green.
But in the 1st reading we hear of a rather strange sign or symbol - a bronze serpent on a standard. And that is the sign/symbol for those who were bitten by the fiery serpents, that if they looked at it, they will not die but will live.
What is strange is that the bronze serpent is shaped like those fiery serpents that bit the people and caused death by their bites.
No matter what the explanation, it is one of the strangest stories in the Bible that will certainly raise questions.
Of course it can be put under one of those mysterious ways in which God works to bring about His saving power.
After all, it was God who told Moses to do that, so it is a divine instruction and not a human invention.
But when we think deeper about it, the cross on which Jesus died was also meant to be an instrument of suffering and death. Yet it has now become the sign/symbol of our salvation.
Just as those who were bitten by the fiery serpents only had to look at the bronze serpent on the standard and lived, we too need to look at the cross of our Saviour and believe that He died to save us.
May we truly believe that the cross is no more about suffering and death, but about forgiveness and life.
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