2nd Week of Lent, Wednesday, 08-03-2023

Jeremiah 18:18-20 / Matthew 20:17-26    

We do things for a reason, whatever the reason may be.

Whether the reason makes good sense or not, that is another matter.

But one thing for sure, and that is we don’t do things without a reason.

We can’t be doing something and yet we do not know why we are doing it.

For evil to do harm to the good, no reason is really needed.

Because it is in the nature of evil to harm, to destroy and even to kill.

In the 1st reading, the prophet Jeremiah had to come to terms with why evil is returned for good.

But the reality is that evil does not recognize goodness, and in fact it is totally opposed to good.

So evil does not need to reason to harm and to destroy the good, just as the evil people were out to destroy Jeremiah for no reason whatever.

But on the other hand, we know that God does not need a reason to do good because He is all good and goodness naturally flows out from God to His creation and to His people.

We are called to be like God, and hence, there is no need for a reason to do good.

And we must keep on doing good because we are called to be good and because that is the only way to keep evil at bay.

2nd Week of Lent, Tuesday, 07-03-2023

Isaiah 1:10, 16-20 / Matthew 23:1-12

When we look at the readings of today, we will get to see that actually God does not demand too much of us.

God does not expect us to go to extremes to express our faith in Him.

In fact, it can be said that God cares about those who are weak in faith and He doesn’t demand too much, so that everyone will be able to do what God wants of them.

As we can see from the 1st reading, God only wants the following to show that what He wants of us is to do what is fundamentally human:

Cease to do evil. Learn to do good, search for justice, help the oppressed, be just to the orphan, plead for the widow.

That is something that can be done. All that is required of us is to be in touch with our basic human nature.

But as much as that can be done, our broken human nature resorts to pride, selfishness and greed.

Hence, we seek attention at the expense of others, and we put others down to boost our pride and ego.

We ask the Lord our God to forgive us and to heal our broken human nature so that we will learn to be humble and to help others with love.

2nd Week of Lent, Monday, 06-03-2023

Daniel 9:4-10 / Luke 6:36-38      

One of the profound characteristics of being human is to be kind and compassionate.

When we are in some trouble or distress, then what we really need is for someone to show us kindness and compassion.

Kindness and compassion are expressed profoundly in the act of forgiveness.

To forgive someone requires genuine kindness and compassion.

When God forgives us, He is truly expressing kindness and compassion.

And when God forgives, He also wants to forget our sins and wrong-doings.

So it can be said that God forgives and forgets.

We ask God to forgive us, and God will give and give and give.

But we may just get and get and forget; we forget the kindness and compassion of God for us.

Let us ask God to help us to be compassionate just as He is compassionate.

Then we will also forgive and give and give.

And God will give us blessings of a full measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over.

2nd Sunday of Lent, Year A, 05.03.2023

Genesis 12:1-4 / 2 Timothy 1:8-10 / Matthew 17:1-9 

For us who live in high-rise buildings, we know that there is a difference between living on a lower levels, and living on the higher levels. 

Besides the difference in price, with the higher floors pegged at a higher price, there is also the difference in the view. 

In the lower floors, the view can be quite crowded and cluttered, as we get to see the surroundings at the ground level. 

Also, being nearer the ground, we will see more dirt, and if there are inconsiderate people living in the higher floors, then we will also see falling litter and dripping water from clothes and mops. 

On the higher floors, what might impress us is the view. We get to see further and see more, and it is windier and the air might be fresher. 

It may also be quieter, and with a good view, it may give a sense of tranquillity and serenity. 

So if we have a choice, and if we need not consider power failure and lift breakdowns, then it is likely that we would choose to live on the higher floors. 

But, the dynamics of life is not about a choice of whether we want to stay at the higher level or having to bear with staying at the lower level. 

Life is not about being on a high always or being on a low always. In fact, life is like a cycle of ups and downs, and of highs and lows. 

In last week's gospel, we heard that Jesus went into the desert and there He faced the temptations of the devil. 

We can imagine that it was not a pleasant image with the harsh conditions of the desert and dry sands. And we can also Imagine how challenging it was for Jesus to resist the devil's temptations in those kinds of conditions. 

In today's gospel, we heard that Jesus and three of His disciples went up a high mountain. On that mountain, Jesus was transfigured, and his face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. 

Jesus was in His divine glory, and Moses and Elijah appeared and they talked with Him. It was an amazing scene, and Peter summed it all up when he said: Lord, it is wonderful for us to be here. 

Yes, it is wonderful to be on the mountain top, but it is awful to be in the desert. Even the surroundings are contrastingly different. 

In the desert, there is only the hot and dry desert sand. On the mountain, there is a sense of might and majesty, as a mountain is often seen to be as solid as a rock. 

So, in life, and even in faith, there are times when we feel as secure as a rock, and there are times when we feel that we are walking on hot sand and even sinking into quicksand. 

But the majesty of the mountain and the agony of the desert has lessons for us. The rocks of the mountain and the sands of the desert can tell us this story.

Two friends were walking through the desert and got into an argument. One friend slapped the other one in the face. The one who got slapped was hurt, but without saying anything, wrote in the sand: Today my best friend slapped me in the face.

They kept on walking until they found an oasis. Thirsty, they stopped for water. The one who had been slapped, slipped and fell into the pool, and started drowning. His friend saved him. That evening, he wrote on a rock: Today my best friend saved my life.

The friend who had slapped and saved his best friend asked him, “After I hurt you, you wrote in the sand and now you write on a rock, why?” 

He replied: “When someone hurts us, we should write it in sand where the winds of forgiveness can erase it away. But, when someone does something good for us, we must engrave it in stone where it will be long remembered.”

So, let us remember the divine majesty that Jesus revealed on that mountain top, and let us listen to His teachings of love and forgiveness.

And when we sink into the agony of the hot desert sands, let us remember what Jesus said to His disciples: Stand up, do not be afraid.

So when we feel that we are standing on hot sands or even in quicksand, let us call out to Jesus, and He will raise us up to the mountain top to see His glory.   

1st Week of Lent, Saturday, 04-03-2023

Deuteronomy 26:16-19 / Matthew 5:43-48    

Although some people believe in a supreme being, or a divinity, they nonetheless like to remain as "free-thinkers" (although that is a local colloquial term)

Maybe the attractive factor here is the freedom.

The freedom to remain uncommitted, the freedom to live one's life according to one's own precepts, the freedom to believe whatever what one wants to believe in.

Yet in today's 1st reading from Deutoronomy, we hear two declarations.

The first declaration was from the people, that the Lord God will be their God.

And God declared that they will be His very own people.

Such a declaration of commitment is not unlike marriage vows, and such a commitment actually frees both parties to love each other more deeply.

We commit ourselves to God by following His ways, and keeping His statutes, His commandments and His ordinances.

God in turn commits Himself to us by empowering us to be a consecrated people, a holy people.

A people set apart to show others a way of living that is much more meaningful and truthful.

But if we are like "free-thinking" Christians, then are we doing anything exceptional, especially when the other non-Christians do just as much.

As Christians, Jesus calls us to be perfect, to be holy, just as our heavenly Father is perfect and holy.

1st Week of Lent, Friday, 03-03-2023

Ezekiel 18:21-28 / Matthew 5:20-26   

To be a Christian is certainly a blessing. At the same time, it can be challenging.

It is a blessing to know that Jesus Christ is our Saviour that we turn to Him in our troubles and distress, and we know that He will protect us and save us from danger.

That is a great consolation especially when we meet with the struggles and troubles of life and we know that when we call upon Jesus to help us, He will be there for us.

Although we may find some gratification in the things of earth, yet we also know that only Jesus can give true peace and contentment.

So we live in this world, but not of this world, because we believe in Jesus, and from the things of earth, we look at the things of above.

So to be a Christian means that we live a life not of earth, but rather a life of above.

Our calling as Christians is to live a life that will motivate and inspire others so that they too would want to receive blessings from God.

And that is where the Christian life becomes challenging.

As what Jesus taught in the gospel, while others will refrain from killing and murdering, we will go higher and resist and forbid ourselves from derogatory name-calling and insults against others.

Yes, it is challenging to be a Christian, but we will accept that challenge because with it come God’s blessings, and that is what we really desire.

1st Week of Lent, Thursday, 02-03-2023

Esther 4:17 / Matthew 7:7-12      

As a Christian, prayer is a fundamental and essential aspect of our lives.

Because prayer is an expression of our relationship with God.

Prayer is not just petitions and to ask for things but more of thanksgiving for the love that God has for us.

And we pray because we want to give thanks to God for loving us and saving us.

So, in the gospel, Jesus tells us to pray with confidence, that when we ask, God will give us, when we search, God will help us find and when we knock the door will open.

Yes, how much more will God our Father give good things to those who ask Him.

But there will be times when we will face deep distress and desolation, like how queen Esther felt in the 1st reading.

She took refuge with the Lord in the mortal peril which had overtaken her, and she besought the Lord in desperate prayer.

So when we face serious trouble and deep distress in our lives, let us not lose faith, but turn to the Lord in prayer.

As Jesus promised us, how can God our Father, who loves us, not give good things to those who ask Him.