Jeremiah 26:11-16, 24 / Matthew 14:1-12
At times we wonder if being good and doing good is really worth it.
Because very often, we see, and even experienced, that good is being re-paid with evil.
John the Baptist just wanted Herod to repent and live a good life.
Because what Herod did was leading towards self-destruction.
John the Baptist had compassion for Herod.
In fact, Herod knew it, and that was why he was distressed when he had to give the orders for John's execution.
But goodness cannot be silenced or put to death.
Because in the person of Jesus, Herod was once again reminded of the goodness of John the Baptist.
When we live out the Christian values of love, patience, gentleness, humility, etc., and we get slapped in the face, we may wonder if it is worth it.
But let us remember that all good comes from God.
When we do good, the benefactors are not just the others.
We ourselves begin to realize our Christian identity and see the power of goodness and the power of God's love happening in the lives of others.
Friday, July 31, 2020
17th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 31-07-2020
Jeremiah 26:1-9 / Matthew 13:54-58
Life would be very nice and easy if everybody agrees with us on anything that we say and do, and life would be even nicer and easier still if everybody does what we want and do it our way.
But that would be like an impossible dream.
If ever we can make everybody agree with us or make them do what we want, it will certainly be with threats and the use of force.
Whether others agree with us or not, or do what we want them to do, it is understandable that everyone has their own opinions and ideas.
We cannot force them to agree with us, nor can we force them to do whatever we want them to do.
But when there is a collective majority opposition against us, then it can be quite painful to bear.
Jesus felt this pain when He went back to His hometown, and then after teaching in the synagogue, He faced rejection from His own people.
He would have felt disappointment that even the people of His own hometown rejected Him.
He could have let frustration and resentment eat into Him. But He moved on and He didn't want to let that rejection and criticism affect Him and His mission.
And we can be certain that in life we will face rejection and criticism.
But like Jesus, we must be clear of our motives and purposes.
If we are really doing the will of God, then like Jesus, we will just move on and get along.
After all, the will of God will not bring us to where the grace of God will not accompany us.
Today the Church also honours St. Ignatius of Loyola. He too faced rejection, opposition and criticism in his mission. But he persisted and persevered.
The following is a prayer by St. Ignatius of Loyola. May it also be our prayer as we carry out the will of God:
"Dear Lord teach me to be generous; teach me to serve You as You deserve, to give and not to count the cost, to fight and not to heed the wounds, to toil and not to seek for rest, to labor and not to ask for reward, save that of knowing that I do Your will. Amen."
Life would be very nice and easy if everybody agrees with us on anything that we say and do, and life would be even nicer and easier still if everybody does what we want and do it our way.
But that would be like an impossible dream.
If ever we can make everybody agree with us or make them do what we want, it will certainly be with threats and the use of force.
Whether others agree with us or not, or do what we want them to do, it is understandable that everyone has their own opinions and ideas.
We cannot force them to agree with us, nor can we force them to do whatever we want them to do.
But when there is a collective majority opposition against us, then it can be quite painful to bear.
Jesus felt this pain when He went back to His hometown, and then after teaching in the synagogue, He faced rejection from His own people.
He would have felt disappointment that even the people of His own hometown rejected Him.
He could have let frustration and resentment eat into Him. But He moved on and He didn't want to let that rejection and criticism affect Him and His mission.
And we can be certain that in life we will face rejection and criticism.
But like Jesus, we must be clear of our motives and purposes.
If we are really doing the will of God, then like Jesus, we will just move on and get along.
After all, the will of God will not bring us to where the grace of God will not accompany us.
Today the Church also honours St. Ignatius of Loyola. He too faced rejection, opposition and criticism in his mission. But he persisted and persevered.
The following is a prayer by St. Ignatius of Loyola. May it also be our prayer as we carry out the will of God:
"Dear Lord teach me to be generous; teach me to serve You as You deserve, to give and not to count the cost, to fight and not to heed the wounds, to toil and not to seek for rest, to labor and not to ask for reward, save that of knowing that I do Your will. Amen."
Wednesday, July 29, 2020
17th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 30-07-2020
Jeremiah 18:1-6 / Matthew 13:47-53
Christianity is a religion of love. It is about God's love for us and that love is expressed in the person of Jesus Christ who came to show us God's love and died on the Cross to save us.
It is from that love that we also come to know that God is merciful and compassionate and He is also forgiving.
But just as there are two sides of a coin, there is also the other side that we must not forget and certainly not to be overlooked.
In the Bible, whenever the people of God sinned and were unfaithful and turned to idolatry, God sent punishment upon them to make them repent.
So when the love of God is overemphasised at the expense of the justice of God who metes out punishment for sin, then God's love may be taken for granted and sin may be taken lightly since God is merciful and compassionate and forgiving.
The two readings express the justice of God against sin and evil.
In the 1st reading, whenever the vessel that the potter was making came out wrong, he would start afresh and work it into another vessel.
And with that came this warning from God: Can I not do to you what the potter does?
In the gospel, Jesus also talks about punishment for sin and evil.
If we believe in God's love, then we certainly wouldn't want to sin.
More than just the fear of punishment, we certainly don't want to lose the peace and joy of God's love.
So let us turn away from sin, and let us give thanks to God for loving us and saving us.
Christianity is a religion of love. It is about God's love for us and that love is expressed in the person of Jesus Christ who came to show us God's love and died on the Cross to save us.
It is from that love that we also come to know that God is merciful and compassionate and He is also forgiving.
But just as there are two sides of a coin, there is also the other side that we must not forget and certainly not to be overlooked.
In the Bible, whenever the people of God sinned and were unfaithful and turned to idolatry, God sent punishment upon them to make them repent.
So when the love of God is overemphasised at the expense of the justice of God who metes out punishment for sin, then God's love may be taken for granted and sin may be taken lightly since God is merciful and compassionate and forgiving.
The two readings express the justice of God against sin and evil.
In the 1st reading, whenever the vessel that the potter was making came out wrong, he would start afresh and work it into another vessel.
And with that came this warning from God: Can I not do to you what the potter does?
In the gospel, Jesus also talks about punishment for sin and evil.
If we believe in God's love, then we certainly wouldn't want to sin.
More than just the fear of punishment, we certainly don't want to lose the peace and joy of God's love.
So let us turn away from sin, and let us give thanks to God for loving us and saving us.
Tuesday, July 28, 2020
St. Martha, Wednesday, 29-07-2020
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 worried and fret about so many things and yet only one was 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 worried and fret about so many things and yet only one was 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.
Monday, July 27, 2020
17th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 28-07-2020
Jeremiah 14:17-22 / Matthew 13:36-43
Whenever it rains, we don't usually think much about it or make reflections.
It could be that because the weather here is either sunny or rainy, so we may take it rather for granted.
We may even complain that the rain makes our shoes wet or that we have to bring an umbrella along if we are going out.
But in our happier moments, when we see the rain, we will call it "showers of blessings".
Indeed the rain waters the earth and gives life and makes the earth fertile.
Yet, let us not take the rain for granted.
In the 1st reading, the prophet Jeremiah has something to say about rain:
Can any of the pagan Nothings make it rain? Can the heavens produce showers? No, it is you, Lord.
The rain that waters the earth and give life also falls on the good and bad alike.
It waters the good seed and the darnel in the gospel parable.
The next time it rains, let us look up to the heavens and ask God to shower forth His blessings so that all peoples will give thanks and acknowledge that all good things come from God and God alone.
Whenever it rains, we don't usually think much about it or make reflections.
It could be that because the weather here is either sunny or rainy, so we may take it rather for granted.
We may even complain that the rain makes our shoes wet or that we have to bring an umbrella along if we are going out.
But in our happier moments, when we see the rain, we will call it "showers of blessings".
Indeed the rain waters the earth and gives life and makes the earth fertile.
Yet, let us not take the rain for granted.
In the 1st reading, the prophet Jeremiah has something to say about rain:
Can any of the pagan Nothings make it rain? Can the heavens produce showers? No, it is you, Lord.
The rain that waters the earth and give life also falls on the good and bad alike.
It waters the good seed and the darnel in the gospel parable.
The next time it rains, let us look up to the heavens and ask God to shower forth His blessings so that all peoples will give thanks and acknowledge that all good things come from God and God alone.
Sunday, July 26, 2020
17th Sunday, Ordinary Time, Monday, 27-07-2020
Jeremiah 13:1-11 / Matthew 13:31-35
It would be rather awkward and embarrassing to talk about undergarments in a sacred and holy context of the homily.
Even the mention of the word "underwear" will irritate some sensitivities.
Yet the 1st reading was so graphic in description about the loincloth and its decay.
But the purpose of graphic language is to irritate and cause discomfort to us.
Because when we see decay, we get this disgusted feeling.
When God sees our spiritual decay caused by sin, He too gets disgusted.
And He will employ all means to wake us up from our decay and destruction, even using an embarrassing and awkward item like a loincloth.
Whenever we see something that is rotting and decaying, we turn away in disgust.
Yet it is strange that whenever we sin, we turn away from God and we foolishly swirl in rot and decay.
Yet the Lord reaches out to us sinners and binds Himself to us just as man wraps a loincloth closely around his waist.
God wants to wake us up from our foolishness and stupidity so that we will cling to Him as a loincloth clings to the waist of a man.
Yet along with the mercy and forgiveness of God, there is also a stern warning.
As the Lord says : If you do not stand by Me, you will not stand at all (Isa 7:9)
It would be rather awkward and embarrassing to talk about undergarments in a sacred and holy context of the homily.
Even the mention of the word "underwear" will irritate some sensitivities.
Yet the 1st reading was so graphic in description about the loincloth and its decay.
But the purpose of graphic language is to irritate and cause discomfort to us.
Because when we see decay, we get this disgusted feeling.
When God sees our spiritual decay caused by sin, He too gets disgusted.
And He will employ all means to wake us up from our decay and destruction, even using an embarrassing and awkward item like a loincloth.
Whenever we see something that is rotting and decaying, we turn away in disgust.
Yet it is strange that whenever we sin, we turn away from God and we foolishly swirl in rot and decay.
Yet the Lord reaches out to us sinners and binds Himself to us just as man wraps a loincloth closely around his waist.
God wants to wake us up from our foolishness and stupidity so that we will cling to Him as a loincloth clings to the waist of a man.
Yet along with the mercy and forgiveness of God, there is also a stern warning.
As the Lord says : If you do not stand by Me, you will not stand at all (Isa 7:9)
Saturday, July 25, 2020
17th Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 26.07.2020
1 Kings 3:5, 7-12 / Romans 8:28-30 / Matthew 13:44-52
If there is anything that we need now, probably the first thing that would come to our minds is a vaccine against the virus that is causing this pandemic.
And it is not just we who need it. The whole world needs, but it doesn’t seem that a vaccine will be available so soon, although it is needed urgently.
This pandemic is just too disruptive. It has disrupted the life of the whole world right down to our personal lives.
Oh yes, we want a vaccine and we want it urgently so that our lives can go back to normal.
But what is this normal life that we have in our minds that we are thinking of?
Is it a life where we can have more time with our loved ones, to have family meals together, to have time for conversation with our family members and even to pray together as a family?
But isn’t that what is happening now, or at least it is possible now.
What seemed so difficult to achieve in the past, now it is possible. But do we want it?
So, the fundamental question is: Do we know what we really want? Do we know what we really need?
And if we are still thinking about that question, let us recall the conversation between God and Solomon in the 1st reading.
God appeared to Solomon in a dream and said: Ask what you would like Me to give you.
Many things could have crossed the mind of Solomon, but he asked for this - he asked for a heart to understand how to discern between good and evil so that he can govern the people of God.
And that pleased the Lord God because what Solomon asked for was not for himself but for the good of the people and for the glory of God.
In prayer we ask for many things. Some are for ourselves and some are for others.
But like what Solomon asked for, may what we ask for be for the good of others and for the glory of God.
Because the glory of God shines brightly when people live out the goodness in themselves and when they understand the ways of the Lord and walk by it.
Let us ask the Lord to give us the heart to understand, the heart that was given to Solomon so that we will be able to discern the signs of the times and to know what the Lord is asking of us.
But let us understand that in these times God wants us to love Him by loving others.
When we do that, then we will receive treasures from above, and we will be given what we need.
If there is anything that we need now, probably the first thing that would come to our minds is a vaccine against the virus that is causing this pandemic.
And it is not just we who need it. The whole world needs, but it doesn’t seem that a vaccine will be available so soon, although it is needed urgently.
This pandemic is just too disruptive. It has disrupted the life of the whole world right down to our personal lives.
Oh yes, we want a vaccine and we want it urgently so that our lives can go back to normal.
But what is this normal life that we have in our minds that we are thinking of?
Is it a life where we can have more time with our loved ones, to have family meals together, to have time for conversation with our family members and even to pray together as a family?
But isn’t that what is happening now, or at least it is possible now.
What seemed so difficult to achieve in the past, now it is possible. But do we want it?
So, the fundamental question is: Do we know what we really want? Do we know what we really need?
And if we are still thinking about that question, let us recall the conversation between God and Solomon in the 1st reading.
God appeared to Solomon in a dream and said: Ask what you would like Me to give you.
Many things could have crossed the mind of Solomon, but he asked for this - he asked for a heart to understand how to discern between good and evil so that he can govern the people of God.
And that pleased the Lord God because what Solomon asked for was not for himself but for the good of the people and for the glory of God.
In prayer we ask for many things. Some are for ourselves and some are for others.
But like what Solomon asked for, may what we ask for be for the good of others and for the glory of God.
Because the glory of God shines brightly when people live out the goodness in themselves and when they understand the ways of the Lord and walk by it.
Let us ask the Lord to give us the heart to understand, the heart that was given to Solomon so that we will be able to discern the signs of the times and to know what the Lord is asking of us.
But let us understand that in these times God wants us to love Him by loving others.
When we do that, then we will receive treasures from above, and we will be given what we need.
Friday, July 24, 2020
St. James, Apostle, Saturday, 25-07-2020
2 Cor 4:7-15 / Matthew 20:20-28
During His life on earth, Jesus singled out three apostles out of the twelve apostles to be with Him in the special and unique moments of His ministry.
They were Peter, John and James, whose feast day we celebrate today.
They were with Jesus in His healing ministry as well as at the Transfiguration.
Although James had the privilege of being in the inner circle of the apostles, he did not quite understand the mission and purpose of Jesus.
As we heard in the gospel, he and his brother John had ideas about getting special positions in the earthly kingdom that they thought Jesus was going to establish.
But for all his misconceptions, James wanted to be with Jesus.
He had found the one whom he wanted to follow, even though he had yet to understand fully that his Master came to serve and to eventually give His life as a ransom for many.
Nonetheless, in the end, St. James would be the first among the apostles to give up his life in witness to his Master.
So even though St. James was in the inner circle of the apostles, he was an earthenware jar that holds the privilege of being chosen by Jesus.
The 1st reading reminds us that like St. James, we are also earthenware jars holding the treasures of God.
Like St. James, let us pour out these treasures in love and service to God and neighbour.
We can only inherit the kingdom of God when we give up our lives for others.
During His life on earth, Jesus singled out three apostles out of the twelve apostles to be with Him in the special and unique moments of His ministry.
They were Peter, John and James, whose feast day we celebrate today.
They were with Jesus in His healing ministry as well as at the Transfiguration.
Although James had the privilege of being in the inner circle of the apostles, he did not quite understand the mission and purpose of Jesus.
As we heard in the gospel, he and his brother John had ideas about getting special positions in the earthly kingdom that they thought Jesus was going to establish.
But for all his misconceptions, James wanted to be with Jesus.
He had found the one whom he wanted to follow, even though he had yet to understand fully that his Master came to serve and to eventually give His life as a ransom for many.
Nonetheless, in the end, St. James would be the first among the apostles to give up his life in witness to his Master.
So even though St. James was in the inner circle of the apostles, he was an earthenware jar that holds the privilege of being chosen by Jesus.
The 1st reading reminds us that like St. James, we are also earthenware jars holding the treasures of God.
Like St. James, let us pour out these treasures in love and service to God and neighbour.
We can only inherit the kingdom of God when we give up our lives for others.
Thursday, July 23, 2020
16th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 24-07-2020
Jeremiah 3:14-17 / Matthew 13:18-23
Along the journey of life, we will certainly need some care and love.
Presumably, this would come from our parents and those who look after us.
Those who show us care and love help us to believe in the goodness of the world we live in and give us the hope to build a caring and loving world.
More importantly, they are signs and witnesses of God's care and love for us.
In the the 1st reading, God made this promise to His people: I will give you shepherds after my own heart.
Yes, God wants to raise up leaders for us so that they can show us God's care and love.
So our leaders, secular and spiritual leaders, have this great responsibility and duty to be that sign and witness of God's care and love.
And if they have failed in that duty and responsibility, then we on our part must also pray for them that they may be faithful and persevere in carrying out their mission.
We want to believe that they are appointed by God for this mission and hence it is also our duty to pray for them.
Together with our leaders, may we become a more caring and loving people.
Along the journey of life, we will certainly need some care and love.
Presumably, this would come from our parents and those who look after us.
Those who show us care and love help us to believe in the goodness of the world we live in and give us the hope to build a caring and loving world.
More importantly, they are signs and witnesses of God's care and love for us.
In the the 1st reading, God made this promise to His people: I will give you shepherds after my own heart.
Yes, God wants to raise up leaders for us so that they can show us God's care and love.
So our leaders, secular and spiritual leaders, have this great responsibility and duty to be that sign and witness of God's care and love.
And if they have failed in that duty and responsibility, then we on our part must also pray for them that they may be faithful and persevere in carrying out their mission.
We want to believe that they are appointed by God for this mission and hence it is also our duty to pray for them.
Together with our leaders, may we become a more caring and loving people.
Wednesday, July 22, 2020
16th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 23-07-2020
Jeremiah 2:1-3, 7-8, 12-13 / Matthew 13:10-17
What will be our reaction when we see people eating rubbish on the floor when there is sumptuous delicious food on the table?
Or what would be our reaction when we see people drinking dirty muddy water on the ground when there is clean water in glass containers?
We will be either bewildered, to say the least, or horrified at such actions and at such people.
Then what about when we sin and turn away from God who is love and turn to become hateful and hated?
That sound so ridiculous isn't it? But that is how ridiculous we are when we sin and turn away from God.
As the Lord God says in the 1st reading:
You heavens, stand aghast at this, stand stupefied, stand utterly appalled, since My people have committed a double crime: they have abandoned Me, the fountain of living water, only to dig cisterns for themselves, leaky cisterns that hold no water.
Let us have eyes to see, have ears to listen and hearts to feel the horror of our sins so that we will wake up from a deathly existence to a life of love.
Our Lord God is inviting us to His banquet of rich food and sweet wines by just being faithful and obedient to Him.
Let us respond to such a great love from our God.
What will be our reaction when we see people eating rubbish on the floor when there is sumptuous delicious food on the table?
Or what would be our reaction when we see people drinking dirty muddy water on the ground when there is clean water in glass containers?
We will be either bewildered, to say the least, or horrified at such actions and at such people.
Then what about when we sin and turn away from God who is love and turn to become hateful and hated?
That sound so ridiculous isn't it? But that is how ridiculous we are when we sin and turn away from God.
As the Lord God says in the 1st reading:
You heavens, stand aghast at this, stand stupefied, stand utterly appalled, since My people have committed a double crime: they have abandoned Me, the fountain of living water, only to dig cisterns for themselves, leaky cisterns that hold no water.
Let us have eyes to see, have ears to listen and hearts to feel the horror of our sins so that we will wake up from a deathly existence to a life of love.
Our Lord God is inviting us to His banquet of rich food and sweet wines by just being faithful and obedient to Him.
Let us respond to such a great love from our God.
Tuesday, July 21, 2020
St. Mary Magdalene, Apostle of the Apostles, Wednesday, 22-07-2020
Song of Songs 3:1-4 / John 20:1-2, 11-18
Every now and then, we see in the newspapers a notice about a missing person, with the person's photograph and some details.
Whether the person was eventually found or not, we cannot be certain because very often there are no follow-up reports on the case in the newspapers.
What is certain is that when a loved one is missing, the anxiety is painful and the search is relentless.
Such was the depth of the emotion expressed in the 1st reading in the search for the one whom the heart loves deeply.
It may also express the pain and grief of Mary Magdalene as she looked for the One she loved in the tomb.
And not finding Jesus in tomb, Mary Magdalene searched relentlessly and persistently for Him.
Mary's deep love for Jesus was because it was He who loved her first and healed her of her sufferings and sins.
In life, Mary Magdalene loved Jesus. Even in death she searched for Him in order just to be with Him.
Mary Magdalene is remembered because of her deep love for Jesus and her relentless and persistent search for Jesus when others seemed to have given up.
From our priorities and what we are searching and longing for, we will know how deep our love is for Jesus.
There is this saying for St. Augustine in his book "Confessions" : You were within me, but I was outside, and it was there I searched for you.
God is within us. From within He calls out to us. If we are not listening to Him from within, then we might just be looking for the wrong things.
Every now and then, we see in the newspapers a notice about a missing person, with the person's photograph and some details.
Whether the person was eventually found or not, we cannot be certain because very often there are no follow-up reports on the case in the newspapers.
What is certain is that when a loved one is missing, the anxiety is painful and the search is relentless.
Such was the depth of the emotion expressed in the 1st reading in the search for the one whom the heart loves deeply.
It may also express the pain and grief of Mary Magdalene as she looked for the One she loved in the tomb.
And not finding Jesus in tomb, Mary Magdalene searched relentlessly and persistently for Him.
Mary's deep love for Jesus was because it was He who loved her first and healed her of her sufferings and sins.
In life, Mary Magdalene loved Jesus. Even in death she searched for Him in order just to be with Him.
Mary Magdalene is remembered because of her deep love for Jesus and her relentless and persistent search for Jesus when others seemed to have given up.
From our priorities and what we are searching and longing for, we will know how deep our love is for Jesus.
There is this saying for St. Augustine in his book "Confessions" : You were within me, but I was outside, and it was there I searched for you.
God is within us. From within He calls out to us. If we are not listening to Him from within, then we might just be looking for the wrong things.
16th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 21-07-2020
Micah 7:24-15, 18-20 / Matthew 12:46-50
Generally speaking, people's impression of God, or "a god" is that of awe and wonder.
But beyond awe and wonder, there could also be fear and apprehension.
God is to be feared especially when we do wrong and we expect punishment from God.
We see that in the Old Testament, that when God's people sinned and were unfaithful, they were punished, with their enemies conquering them or disasters and tragedies falling upon them.
But in that same Old Testament, and from the 1st reading from the prophet Micah, we hear this:
What god can be compared with You: taking fault away, pardoning crime, not cherishing anger for ever, but delighting in showing mercy?
Yes, God is also merciful and compassionate, loving and forgiving.
And the prophet Micah teaches us to pray like this:
Once more have pity on us, tread down our faults, to the bottom of the sea throw all our sins.
Yes, let us implore the Lord our God to forgive our sins and grant us faithfulness so that we will always walk in His ways and do His will.
Generally speaking, people's impression of God, or "a god" is that of awe and wonder.
But beyond awe and wonder, there could also be fear and apprehension.
God is to be feared especially when we do wrong and we expect punishment from God.
We see that in the Old Testament, that when God's people sinned and were unfaithful, they were punished, with their enemies conquering them or disasters and tragedies falling upon them.
But in that same Old Testament, and from the 1st reading from the prophet Micah, we hear this:
What god can be compared with You: taking fault away, pardoning crime, not cherishing anger for ever, but delighting in showing mercy?
Yes, God is also merciful and compassionate, loving and forgiving.
And the prophet Micah teaches us to pray like this:
Once more have pity on us, tread down our faults, to the bottom of the sea throw all our sins.
Yes, let us implore the Lord our God to forgive our sins and grant us faithfulness so that we will always walk in His ways and do His will.
Sunday, July 19, 2020
16th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 20-07-2020
Micah 6:1-4, 6-8 / Matthew 12:38-42
If we were asked as Christians, how do we live a good life, just what will our answer be?
We may say things like we trust in God and live our lives honestly and charitably.
We may say a lot of other things to describe how we would live a good life.
But in the 1st reading, the prophet Micah summed it all in just a few lines and that sets the direction of life
"What is good has been explained to you; this is what the Lord asks of you: only this, to act justly, to love tenderly and to walk humbly with your God."
That is so simple to understand and yet it is so difficult to live out.
Because the fact is that we have failed in at least one of the aspects and it is not likely that we can ever say we were able to live that out all the time.
But to do what is right and just and do it humbly and lovingly is what basic fundamental goodness is all about.
That is not some kind of ideology but it is what God is asking of us.
That is what others want to see in us when they know that we are Christians.
So now that we know what God is asking of us, let us humbly and loving ask the Lord to grant us the grace to always do what is right and just.
Saturday, July 18, 2020
16th Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 12.07.2020
Wisdom 12:13, 16-19 / Romans 8:26-27 / Matthew 13:24-43
Every generation had a crisis to face.
For the Pioneer generation it was the crisis of war, where life and death are separated by just a thin line.
For the Merdeka generation it was the crisis of the independence of the nation where the future hung on the balance.
For this generation, it was the crisis of a pandemic, where a viral infection has brought about a great disruption.
But whatever the crisis might be, it is a matter of survival.
A crisis also shows character. It brings out the good and the bad, the happy and the sad, the brilliant and ignorant, the best and worst.
When things are going smoothly, a lot of good is taken for granted, and the not-so-good are often overlooked and ignored.
But it takes a crisis to uncover everything above and everything below.
In the gospel parable, a man sowed good seed in his field and all was well and good.
But then the enemy came and sowed darnel all among the wheat.
For a while all seemed well and good until the wheat sprouted and ripened and the darnel appeared as well.
And so the crisis began. Questions were asked and solutions were offered.
The gospel parable seems to give a rather simple solution: Let them grow and then at harvest time they will be separated.
But the teaching point of the parable is this, and we hear it in the 1st reading: God is mild in His judgement and governs us with great lenience.
The 1st reading continues with this: You have taught a lesson to Your people, how a virtuous man must be kind to his fellow men, and You have given Your sons the good hope that after sin You will grant repentance.
So in this current crisis of the pandemic, we see the good and the bad, the happy and the sad, the brilliant and ignorant, the best and the worst, all being exposed before our eyes.
It’s not just around us that we see these; we see these in ourselves.
For all the goodness and growth that we’ve seen in ourselves, let us give thanks and praise to God for His blessings.
But for all our failings, our shortcomings, our weaknesses, our sinfulness, we turn to God who is mild in judgement and governs us with great lenience.
We put our hope in God that He will grant us repentance and let us produce a good harvest for God and those around us, so that in this crisis of the pandemic, we will grow in love and that we will help others rise above this difficult times.
Every generation had a crisis to face.
For the Pioneer generation it was the crisis of war, where life and death are separated by just a thin line.
For the Merdeka generation it was the crisis of the independence of the nation where the future hung on the balance.
For this generation, it was the crisis of a pandemic, where a viral infection has brought about a great disruption.
But whatever the crisis might be, it is a matter of survival.
A crisis also shows character. It brings out the good and the bad, the happy and the sad, the brilliant and ignorant, the best and worst.
When things are going smoothly, a lot of good is taken for granted, and the not-so-good are often overlooked and ignored.
But it takes a crisis to uncover everything above and everything below.
In the gospel parable, a man sowed good seed in his field and all was well and good.
But then the enemy came and sowed darnel all among the wheat.
For a while all seemed well and good until the wheat sprouted and ripened and the darnel appeared as well.
And so the crisis began. Questions were asked and solutions were offered.
The gospel parable seems to give a rather simple solution: Let them grow and then at harvest time they will be separated.
But the teaching point of the parable is this, and we hear it in the 1st reading: God is mild in His judgement and governs us with great lenience.
The 1st reading continues with this: You have taught a lesson to Your people, how a virtuous man must be kind to his fellow men, and You have given Your sons the good hope that after sin You will grant repentance.
So in this current crisis of the pandemic, we see the good and the bad, the happy and the sad, the brilliant and ignorant, the best and the worst, all being exposed before our eyes.
It’s not just around us that we see these; we see these in ourselves.
For all the goodness and growth that we’ve seen in ourselves, let us give thanks and praise to God for His blessings.
But for all our failings, our shortcomings, our weaknesses, our sinfulness, we turn to God who is mild in judgement and governs us with great lenience.
We put our hope in God that He will grant us repentance and let us produce a good harvest for God and those around us, so that in this crisis of the pandemic, we will grow in love and that we will help others rise above this difficult times.
Friday, July 17, 2020
16th Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 18-07-2020
Jeremiah 7:1-11 / Matthew 13:24-30
Christians deplore the practice of superstition as it conflicts and contradicts the belief in God.
Included in the superstitious practices are consulting horoscopes, fortune-tellers and palm-reading, etc.
But few of us Catholics would admit to having religious superstitions.
For e.g., what are the real reasons for hanging the palm branch on the door post, drink holy water, wear holy medals, etc.
Of course there are valid religions reasons for these practices, but yet we can also concoct our own queer reasons for doing so.
The 1st reading pointed out that the people were using the Temple of the Lord as a kind of religious superstitious object by saying delusive words like "This is the sanctuary of the Lord.
Yet the contradiction was that they know they were in the presence of God and yet they continue with their sinful ways.
Religion becomes a sort of superstition when we say we believe in God and come to church to obtain whatever religious articles and yet there is no change in our sinful ways.
The gospel parable highlights the sinful and superstitious practices in our lives but yet God is loving and merciful.
May the weeds of our sinfulness slowly diminish and may we produce a rich harvest of true love for God and neighbour.
Christians deplore the practice of superstition as it conflicts and contradicts the belief in God.
Included in the superstitious practices are consulting horoscopes, fortune-tellers and palm-reading, etc.
But few of us Catholics would admit to having religious superstitions.
For e.g., what are the real reasons for hanging the palm branch on the door post, drink holy water, wear holy medals, etc.
Of course there are valid religions reasons for these practices, but yet we can also concoct our own queer reasons for doing so.
The 1st reading pointed out that the people were using the Temple of the Lord as a kind of religious superstitious object by saying delusive words like "This is the sanctuary of the Lord.
Yet the contradiction was that they know they were in the presence of God and yet they continue with their sinful ways.
Religion becomes a sort of superstition when we say we believe in God and come to church to obtain whatever religious articles and yet there is no change in our sinful ways.
The gospel parable highlights the sinful and superstitious practices in our lives but yet God is loving and merciful.
May the weeds of our sinfulness slowly diminish and may we produce a rich harvest of true love for God and neighbour.
Thursday, July 16, 2020
15th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 17-07-2020
Isaiah 38:1-6, 21-22, 7-8 / Matthew 12:1-8
There is an old hymn that we don't hear often nowadays.
In the past, that hymn was usually sang at funerals, maybe because the tune is rather solemn and mournful.
The title of that hymn is "God of mercy and compassion".
The first verse and the chorus goes like this:
God of mercy and compassion,
Look with pity upon me,
Father, let me call Thee Father,
'Tis Thy child returns to Thee.
Refrain:
Jesus, Lord, I ask for mercy;
Let me not implore in vain;
All my sins, I now detest them,
Never will I sin again.
That first verse and chorus already tells us what is expressed in the title "God of mercy and compassion".
The hymn can be used as an expression of repentance, of sorrow for sins, for examination of conscience, and not just for funerals.
But it is also a hymn to invoke God's mercy and compassion.
And who doesn't need God's mercy and compassion?
When we admit and confess that we have sinned, then with a humble and contrite heart, we turn to the God of mercy and compassion for forgiveness and healing.
The mercy and compassion of God is expressed profoundly in the open Heart of our Saviour Jesus.
So as we offer our devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and beseech His mercy and compassion, let us also know what Jesus is asking of us.
Just as God is merciful and compassionate, we too must be merciful and compassionate to others.
In this way, our own sins will also be forgiven and mercy will be shown to us.
There is an old hymn that we don't hear often nowadays.
In the past, that hymn was usually sang at funerals, maybe because the tune is rather solemn and mournful.
The title of that hymn is "God of mercy and compassion".
The first verse and the chorus goes like this:
God of mercy and compassion,
Look with pity upon me,
Father, let me call Thee Father,
'Tis Thy child returns to Thee.
Refrain:
Jesus, Lord, I ask for mercy;
Let me not implore in vain;
All my sins, I now detest them,
Never will I sin again.
That first verse and chorus already tells us what is expressed in the title "God of mercy and compassion".
The hymn can be used as an expression of repentance, of sorrow for sins, for examination of conscience, and not just for funerals.
But it is also a hymn to invoke God's mercy and compassion.
And who doesn't need God's mercy and compassion?
When we admit and confess that we have sinned, then with a humble and contrite heart, we turn to the God of mercy and compassion for forgiveness and healing.
The mercy and compassion of God is expressed profoundly in the open Heart of our Saviour Jesus.
So as we offer our devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and beseech His mercy and compassion, let us also know what Jesus is asking of us.
Just as God is merciful and compassionate, we too must be merciful and compassionate to others.
In this way, our own sins will also be forgiven and mercy will be shown to us.
Wednesday, July 15, 2020
15th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 16-07-2020
Isaiah 26:7-9, 12, 16-19 / Matthew 11:28-30
To desire to be rich, it is necessary to work hard.
To desire to be healthy, it is necessary to keep fit.
To desire for something good, then it is necessary to know what is really good.
The 1st reading tells us what goodness is:
"The path of the upright man is straight, You smooth the way of the upright.
Following the path of Your judgements, we hoped in you, Lord, Your name,Your memory are all my soul desires."
As much as following the ways of the Lord is to be desired, yet our profane desires are for things that lead us away from God.
But the 1st reading also tells us where we will end up with these profane desires: "Distressed,we search for You, Lord; the misery of oppression was your punishment for us.
In life, what we desire most is peace and joy.
Jesus exclaimed in the gospel : Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest.
Let us heed the call of Jesus to go to Him, so that we may know His ways and walk in His paths, and find peace and rest in our lives.
To desire to be rich, it is necessary to work hard.
To desire to be healthy, it is necessary to keep fit.
To desire for something good, then it is necessary to know what is really good.
The 1st reading tells us what goodness is:
"The path of the upright man is straight, You smooth the way of the upright.
Following the path of Your judgements, we hoped in you, Lord, Your name,Your memory are all my soul desires."
As much as following the ways of the Lord is to be desired, yet our profane desires are for things that lead us away from God.
But the 1st reading also tells us where we will end up with these profane desires: "Distressed,we search for You, Lord; the misery of oppression was your punishment for us.
In life, what we desire most is peace and joy.
Jesus exclaimed in the gospel : Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest.
Let us heed the call of Jesus to go to Him, so that we may know His ways and walk in His paths, and find peace and rest in our lives.
Tuesday, July 14, 2020
15th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 15-07-2020
Isaiah 10:5-7, 13-16 / Matthew 11:25-27
To have faith in God means that we look and see with the eyes of faith and we also understand with hearts of faith.
To be a person of faith means that our faith is integrated into every aspect of our lives, and we see the hand of God shaping every event and every experience.
Yet if we put ourselves in the shoes of the people of God who were listening to the 1st reading, would we be able to see the hand of God directing the power of our enemy against us?
Yes, we have sinned, we have provoked the Lord, we have turned away from the Lord and have been unfaithful.
Our enemy have pillaged and plundered us, and stamped us like mud in the street. Will the Lord not have pity on us and save us from being cut to pieces?
Yet to have faith in this kind of horrible situation is certainly challenging but nonetheless it is critical to have that bit of faith in God.
Because we must believe what the Lord said through the prophet Isaiah in the 1st reading: Does the axe claim more credit than the man who wields it, or the saw more strength than the man who handles it?
To have faith in a critical situation also means that we have hearts like that of children who believe that God will protect us and will not let us break beyond our strength.
Yes, the hand that hurts is also the hand that heals, and we must see the hand of God directing and shaping every event and experience in our lives for our good.
To have faith means we must be able to see further and deeper and to see God in all things.
To have faith in God means that we look and see with the eyes of faith and we also understand with hearts of faith.
To be a person of faith means that our faith is integrated into every aspect of our lives, and we see the hand of God shaping every event and every experience.
Yet if we put ourselves in the shoes of the people of God who were listening to the 1st reading, would we be able to see the hand of God directing the power of our enemy against us?
Yes, we have sinned, we have provoked the Lord, we have turned away from the Lord and have been unfaithful.
Our enemy have pillaged and plundered us, and stamped us like mud in the street. Will the Lord not have pity on us and save us from being cut to pieces?
Yet to have faith in this kind of horrible situation is certainly challenging but nonetheless it is critical to have that bit of faith in God.
Because we must believe what the Lord said through the prophet Isaiah in the 1st reading: Does the axe claim more credit than the man who wields it, or the saw more strength than the man who handles it?
To have faith in a critical situation also means that we have hearts like that of children who believe that God will protect us and will not let us break beyond our strength.
Yes, the hand that hurts is also the hand that heals, and we must see the hand of God directing and shaping every event and experience in our lives for our good.
To have faith means we must be able to see further and deeper and to see God in all things.
Monday, July 13, 2020
15th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 14-07-2020
Isaiah 7:1-9 / Matthew 11:20-24
When faced with a hungry person, it is utterly useless to preach to him about the love of God.
The most sensible thing to do is to give him some food and that will indeed show him the love of God.
Hunger has no logic and hence people will not listen to whatever promises of food that will be coming. The hunger has to be addressed immediately.
If hunger has no logic, then fear can cause panic. In the face of mortal danger, fear can make people hysterical.
In the 1st reading, we heard that the hearts of the king Ahaz and the people of Judah shuddered when they got the news that the enemy was approaching to attack them.
The immediate thing to do would be to run away and save themselves and to each his own. For those remaining, they could panic and be hysterical as they wait for death to fall on them.
Yet in all that chaos, the Lord spoke. And He assured His people that what the enemy planned to do won't come true; it would not be. But on one condition: But if you do not stand by me, you will not stand at all.
The people will have to decide - either to stand by the words of the Lord, or they give in to fear and panic.
Yet in the gospel, the story was quite the opposite. The people had seen the miracles of Jesus, and yet they refused to repent. And as it is, those places mentioned in the gospel now lie in ruins.
And for us, we have heard the words of the Lord; we have seen His love for us in the Eucharist.
We now have to make the decision - either we stand by Him, or we won't stand at all.
When faced with a hungry person, it is utterly useless to preach to him about the love of God.
The most sensible thing to do is to give him some food and that will indeed show him the love of God.
Hunger has no logic and hence people will not listen to whatever promises of food that will be coming. The hunger has to be addressed immediately.
If hunger has no logic, then fear can cause panic. In the face of mortal danger, fear can make people hysterical.
In the 1st reading, we heard that the hearts of the king Ahaz and the people of Judah shuddered when they got the news that the enemy was approaching to attack them.
The immediate thing to do would be to run away and save themselves and to each his own. For those remaining, they could panic and be hysterical as they wait for death to fall on them.
Yet in all that chaos, the Lord spoke. And He assured His people that what the enemy planned to do won't come true; it would not be. But on one condition: But if you do not stand by me, you will not stand at all.
The people will have to decide - either to stand by the words of the Lord, or they give in to fear and panic.
Yet in the gospel, the story was quite the opposite. The people had seen the miracles of Jesus, and yet they refused to repent. And as it is, those places mentioned in the gospel now lie in ruins.
And for us, we have heard the words of the Lord; we have seen His love for us in the Eucharist.
We now have to make the decision - either we stand by Him, or we won't stand at all.
Sunday, July 12, 2020
15th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 13-07-2020
Isaiah 1:10-17 / Matthew 10:34 - 11:1
The Eucharist is the highest form of worship in the Church because it is Jesus who offers Himself to the Father, and we unite with Jesus in His sacrifice.
Hence the Eucharist is indeed the source and summit of our faith and life.
In the Eucharist we receive an outpouring of God's grace as we receive Jesus in Holy Communion.
Yet at the same time, it may bother us to see that the celebration of the Eucharist may seem so bland and the Catholic life and spirituality seems so lethargic.
If that is the case and if we are asking ourselves why, then the 1st reading may shed some light into our question.
It seems that God is lamenting that the sacrifices that were offered to Him were unclean and blemished and unworthy.
Simply because the hearts of the people were unclean and wicked and hence their offerings and sacrifices were just a reflection of the state of their hearts.
How can God's grace enter into hearts that are contaminated by sin and wickedness?
And how can we say that the Eucharist does not seem to have any effect when it is we who are at fault?
Jesus comes with a sword to cut away the sin and wickedness in our hearts so that we can be made a worthy offering to God.
May we detest our sins and turn to Jesus who will cleanse us and heal us and make of us a worthy offering to God, and in turn receive peace and joy from Him.
The Eucharist is the highest form of worship in the Church because it is Jesus who offers Himself to the Father, and we unite with Jesus in His sacrifice.
Hence the Eucharist is indeed the source and summit of our faith and life.
In the Eucharist we receive an outpouring of God's grace as we receive Jesus in Holy Communion.
Yet at the same time, it may bother us to see that the celebration of the Eucharist may seem so bland and the Catholic life and spirituality seems so lethargic.
If that is the case and if we are asking ourselves why, then the 1st reading may shed some light into our question.
It seems that God is lamenting that the sacrifices that were offered to Him were unclean and blemished and unworthy.
Simply because the hearts of the people were unclean and wicked and hence their offerings and sacrifices were just a reflection of the state of their hearts.
How can God's grace enter into hearts that are contaminated by sin and wickedness?
And how can we say that the Eucharist does not seem to have any effect when it is we who are at fault?
Jesus comes with a sword to cut away the sin and wickedness in our hearts so that we can be made a worthy offering to God.
May we detest our sins and turn to Jesus who will cleanse us and heal us and make of us a worthy offering to God, and in turn receive peace and joy from Him.
Saturday, July 11, 2020
15th Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 12.07.2020
Isaiah 55:10-11 / Romans 8:18-23 / Matthew 13:1-23
The word “destiny” is a powerful word and it is also a thought-provoking word.
But what is the meaning of destiny? There are many shades of meaning but not one that can really express it in its essence.
Destiny can be said to be events that will necessarily happen to a particular person or thing in the future.
Destiny can also be understood as a future scenario determined by decisions an individual will make.
There are certainly more shades of the meaning to Destiny and so it can be quite difficult to define destiny given that there are many other factors involved.
But what is the Christian understanding of destiny?
We would have heard before that Jesus said this of Himself: The Son of Man is destined to suffer, die and rise again.
So the Christian understanding of destiny is connected to God’s will.
Jesus came to show us how to do the will of God. And in doing the will of God, Jesus understood His destiny as having to suffer, die and to rise from the dead.
In the 1st reading we get a glimpse of the will of God and how it directs the destiny of nature:
Thus says the Lord: ‘As the rain and the snow come down from the heavens and do not return without watering the earth, making it yield and giving growth to provide seed for the sower and bread for the eating, so the word that goes from my mouth does not return to me empty, without carrying out my will and succeeding in what it was sent to do.’
So the rain and the snow fulfilled their destiny by watering the earth. In turn the earth gave growth to provide seed for the sower and bread for eating.
But in the gospel, we hear of a parable in which some of the seeds that were sown were not able to fulfill their destiny of bearing a harvest.
But it is a parable that shows us that quite often we are the obstacles of our own destiny.
The Word of God leads us to know and do the will of God. And the Word of God are like seeds that are sown in our hearts.
When our hearts are hardened by pleasures and desires, or by resentment and disappointment, God’s Word cannot take root.
When our hearts are distracted or disturbed by worries and anxieties, God’s Word cannot take root.
When our hearts are poisoned by sin and unfaithfulness, God’s word cannot take root.
But like the sower, God continues to sow His Word on our hearts.
May we listen, may we see, so that we will be forgiven and healed, and then we will be able to do God’s Will and fulfill our destiny in our lives.
The word “destiny” is a powerful word and it is also a thought-provoking word.
But what is the meaning of destiny? There are many shades of meaning but not one that can really express it in its essence.
Destiny can be said to be events that will necessarily happen to a particular person or thing in the future.
Destiny can also be understood as a future scenario determined by decisions an individual will make.
There are certainly more shades of the meaning to Destiny and so it can be quite difficult to define destiny given that there are many other factors involved.
But what is the Christian understanding of destiny?
We would have heard before that Jesus said this of Himself: The Son of Man is destined to suffer, die and rise again.
So the Christian understanding of destiny is connected to God’s will.
Jesus came to show us how to do the will of God. And in doing the will of God, Jesus understood His destiny as having to suffer, die and to rise from the dead.
In the 1st reading we get a glimpse of the will of God and how it directs the destiny of nature:
Thus says the Lord: ‘As the rain and the snow come down from the heavens and do not return without watering the earth, making it yield and giving growth to provide seed for the sower and bread for the eating, so the word that goes from my mouth does not return to me empty, without carrying out my will and succeeding in what it was sent to do.’
So the rain and the snow fulfilled their destiny by watering the earth. In turn the earth gave growth to provide seed for the sower and bread for eating.
But in the gospel, we hear of a parable in which some of the seeds that were sown were not able to fulfill their destiny of bearing a harvest.
But it is a parable that shows us that quite often we are the obstacles of our own destiny.
The Word of God leads us to know and do the will of God. And the Word of God are like seeds that are sown in our hearts.
When our hearts are hardened by pleasures and desires, or by resentment and disappointment, God’s Word cannot take root.
When our hearts are distracted or disturbed by worries and anxieties, God’s Word cannot take root.
When our hearts are poisoned by sin and unfaithfulness, God’s word cannot take root.
But like the sower, God continues to sow His Word on our hearts.
May we listen, may we see, so that we will be forgiven and healed, and then we will be able to do God’s Will and fulfill our destiny in our lives.
14th Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 11-07-2020
Isaiah 6:1-8 / Matthew 10:24-33
Generally, it can be said that every person has had some kind of spiritual experience of the divine presence.
It can be anything from a deep quiet moment of peace to a unique encounter with an apparition.
In the 1st reading, the prophet Isaiah seemed to have a heavenly vision of the glory and the holiness of God.
It was an amazing vision as well as an exhilarating experience.
But what the prophet Isaiah experienced was a deep sense of his sinfulness.
But he wss cleansed of his sinfulness when in his vision he saw a seraph took a live coal and touched his lips.
But what was equally amazing was that Isaiah offered himself to be sent on the mission to be God's messenger.
So as much as we may wish to have an experience of God, let us also remember that a mission comes along with an experience.
It is a mission to be God's messenger, and it will bring healing for others as well as for ourselves
Generally, it can be said that every person has had some kind of spiritual experience of the divine presence.
It can be anything from a deep quiet moment of peace to a unique encounter with an apparition.
In the 1st reading, the prophet Isaiah seemed to have a heavenly vision of the glory and the holiness of God.
It was an amazing vision as well as an exhilarating experience.
But what the prophet Isaiah experienced was a deep sense of his sinfulness.
But he wss cleansed of his sinfulness when in his vision he saw a seraph took a live coal and touched his lips.
But what was equally amazing was that Isaiah offered himself to be sent on the mission to be God's messenger.
So as much as we may wish to have an experience of God, let us also remember that a mission comes along with an experience.
It is a mission to be God's messenger, and it will bring healing for others as well as for ourselves
Friday, July 10, 2020
14th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 10-07-2020
Hosea 14:2-10 / Matthew 10:16-23
If there is a passage in the gospels that we would rather not listen to, it would probably be the passage in today's gospel reading.
In this gospel passage, Jesus talks about danger and persecution and betrayal.
But there may be one sentence that will catch our attention and imagination.
Jesus instructed His disciples, and also to us, to be cunning as serpents and harmless as doves.
And before that He say that He is sending us out like sheep among wolves, and we know what wolves will do to sheep.
Then He gave the images of two creatures and their characteristics - the cunning (or shrewd) serpent and the harmless (or docile) dove.
As much as it may initially seem contradictory, both characteristics are needed in order to survive and even overcome a dangerous and hostile world.
And we should be able to understand that we need that wisdom (like that of a serpent) and humility (like that of a dove) in order to live out our Christian calling and to be disciples of Jesus.
Let us ask the Lord Jesus to grant us that wisdom and humility.
If there is a passage in the gospels that we would rather not listen to, it would probably be the passage in today's gospel reading.
In this gospel passage, Jesus talks about danger and persecution and betrayal.
But there may be one sentence that will catch our attention and imagination.
Jesus instructed His disciples, and also to us, to be cunning as serpents and harmless as doves.
And before that He say that He is sending us out like sheep among wolves, and we know what wolves will do to sheep.
Then He gave the images of two creatures and their characteristics - the cunning (or shrewd) serpent and the harmless (or docile) dove.
As much as it may initially seem contradictory, both characteristics are needed in order to survive and even overcome a dangerous and hostile world.
And we should be able to understand that we need that wisdom (like that of a serpent) and humility (like that of a dove) in order to live out our Christian calling and to be disciples of Jesus.
Let us ask the Lord Jesus to grant us that wisdom and humility.
Wednesday, July 8, 2020
14th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 09-07-2020
Hosea 11:1-4, 8-9 / Matthew 10:7-15
The God that we believe in is the God of mercy and compassion, forgiving and loving.
But it must also not be forgotten that God is the God of justice and He punishes sin and unfaithfulness.
This is obvious in the Bible especially in the Old Testament.
When the people sinned and were unfaithful and did things that angered God, like idolatry, God sent prophets to warn them over and over again.
But when the people stubbornly refused to repent, God punished them by sending natural disasters and enemies to conquer them and even let their enemies destroy the Temple.
It is a sad thing but it is quite obvious from the history of God's people, that the only way to wake them up from their sinfulness is to inflict disaster and tragedy on them.
Indeed we must learn the lessons for the history of God's people. It is not just that sin will result in punishment.
Rather the important lesson is that God is merciful and compassionate, loving and forgiving.
We just have to be faithful and obedient, and blessings will be overflowing in our lives.
The God that we believe in is the God of mercy and compassion, forgiving and loving.
But it must also not be forgotten that God is the God of justice and He punishes sin and unfaithfulness.
This is obvious in the Bible especially in the Old Testament.
When the people sinned and were unfaithful and did things that angered God, like idolatry, God sent prophets to warn them over and over again.
But when the people stubbornly refused to repent, God punished them by sending natural disasters and enemies to conquer them and even let their enemies destroy the Temple.
It is a sad thing but it is quite obvious from the history of God's people, that the only way to wake them up from their sinfulness is to inflict disaster and tragedy on them.
Indeed we must learn the lessons for the history of God's people. It is not just that sin will result in punishment.
Rather the important lesson is that God is merciful and compassionate, loving and forgiving.
We just have to be faithful and obedient, and blessings will be overflowing in our lives.
14th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesay, 08-07-2020
Hosea 10:1-3, 7-8, 12 / Matthew 10:1-7
At times we can't help but wonder about wealth and riches. Is it for the better or for the worse?
No doubt, wealth and riches can resolve some of our financial worries and we can even obtain some of the luxuries of life with it.
But wealth and riches, and specifically the obsession for it can lead to many complicated problems for us.
In the 1st reading, we heard that Israel was indeed blessed by God with riches and wealth.
But the problem was that the richer and wealthier Israel became, the more their heart was divided and they became unfaithful and strayed away from God.
Well, Israel (or Samaria) had had its day and destruction will soon follow because of their unrepentance.
In the gospel, we heard that Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits with power to cast them out and cure all kinds of diseases and sickness.
Then He made a rather strange statement: Do not turn your steps to pagan territory, and do not enter any Samaritan town; go rather to the lost sheep of the House of Israel.
Figuratively, Jesus could be telling His disciples not to be too taken in by the authority over unclean spirits with the power to cast them out and to cure all kinds of diseases and sicknesses.
If riches and wealth can divide the heart, then spiritual power can also result in pride and arrogance.
In whatever we have and in whatever we lack, let us always sow integrity and reap a harvest of kindness, and keep seeking the will of the Lord God.
That will be our blessing and the joy of our life.
At times we can't help but wonder about wealth and riches. Is it for the better or for the worse?
No doubt, wealth and riches can resolve some of our financial worries and we can even obtain some of the luxuries of life with it.
But wealth and riches, and specifically the obsession for it can lead to many complicated problems for us.
In the 1st reading, we heard that Israel was indeed blessed by God with riches and wealth.
But the problem was that the richer and wealthier Israel became, the more their heart was divided and they became unfaithful and strayed away from God.
Well, Israel (or Samaria) had had its day and destruction will soon follow because of their unrepentance.
In the gospel, we heard that Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits with power to cast them out and cure all kinds of diseases and sickness.
Then He made a rather strange statement: Do not turn your steps to pagan territory, and do not enter any Samaritan town; go rather to the lost sheep of the House of Israel.
Figuratively, Jesus could be telling His disciples not to be too taken in by the authority over unclean spirits with the power to cast them out and to cure all kinds of diseases and sicknesses.
If riches and wealth can divide the heart, then spiritual power can also result in pride and arrogance.
In whatever we have and in whatever we lack, let us always sow integrity and reap a harvest of kindness, and keep seeking the will of the Lord God.
That will be our blessing and the joy of our life.
Monday, July 6, 2020
14th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 07-07-2020
Hosea 8:4-7, 11-13 / Matthew 9:32-38
In the course of human history, leaders have come and gone.
Some have made their mark as good leaders and they helped the people they led to better lives and to live in peace and harmony.
But there were also leaders who, out of their own self-interest and other selfish motives have created chaos and hardships for their people.
But more often than not, leaders are chosen by the people, though of course there were leaders who were self-appointed maybe because the people were too confused or divided to choose a leader.
But in the first reading, the Lord has this to say about His people:
They have set up kings, but not with my consent, and appointed princes, but without my knowledge.
It was the people who chose their leaders but without consulting God because they have disobeyed God and were unfaithful to Him.
The people chose their leaders according to their own liking, but this also resulted in their own undoing.
However in the gospel, when Jesus saw the crowds, He felt sorry for them because they were harassed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd.
And then Jesus said: The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest.
Yes, we must pray to the Lord to raise up good leaders for the Church and for the world.
Our prayer for good leaders will only benefit us and help us to live lives pleasing to God.
In the course of human history, leaders have come and gone.
Some have made their mark as good leaders and they helped the people they led to better lives and to live in peace and harmony.
But there were also leaders who, out of their own self-interest and other selfish motives have created chaos and hardships for their people.
But more often than not, leaders are chosen by the people, though of course there were leaders who were self-appointed maybe because the people were too confused or divided to choose a leader.
But in the first reading, the Lord has this to say about His people:
They have set up kings, but not with my consent, and appointed princes, but without my knowledge.
It was the people who chose their leaders but without consulting God because they have disobeyed God and were unfaithful to Him.
The people chose their leaders according to their own liking, but this also resulted in their own undoing.
However in the gospel, when Jesus saw the crowds, He felt sorry for them because they were harassed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd.
And then Jesus said: The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest.
Yes, we must pray to the Lord to raise up good leaders for the Church and for the world.
Our prayer for good leaders will only benefit us and help us to live lives pleasing to God.
Sunday, July 5, 2020
14th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 06-07-2020
Hosea 2:16-18, 21-22 / Matthew 9:18-26
One of the most difficult sins for us to forgive is that of betrayal.
More so in a marriage, when this betrayal takes the form of unfaithfulness, and specifically adultery, then it is even more difficult to forgive.
The prophet Hosea of the 1st reading suffered this experience of betrayal.
But he used this experience to show what God is like to His unfaithful people.
God is compassionate and forgiving, even when His people broke the covenant and worshipped idols.
Hosea showed that God is forgiving and He forgives so completely that punishment can be changed to restoration and even to a celebration of the renewal of the marriage covenant as we heard in the 1st reading.
God even says to the unfaithful Israel - I will betroth you to myself forever, betroth you with integrity and justice, with tenderness and love.
God has always loved us and He loves us with an everlasting love.
Even when we have sinned, God does not turn away from us but instead turns towards us with all His love.
We cannot remain unmoved by what we heard in the 1st reading.
Not to be moved by it means that we do not understand God's love for us.
Or, for the matter of fact, we don't understand what love is at all.
One of the most difficult sins for us to forgive is that of betrayal.
More so in a marriage, when this betrayal takes the form of unfaithfulness, and specifically adultery, then it is even more difficult to forgive.
The prophet Hosea of the 1st reading suffered this experience of betrayal.
But he used this experience to show what God is like to His unfaithful people.
God is compassionate and forgiving, even when His people broke the covenant and worshipped idols.
Hosea showed that God is forgiving and He forgives so completely that punishment can be changed to restoration and even to a celebration of the renewal of the marriage covenant as we heard in the 1st reading.
God even says to the unfaithful Israel - I will betroth you to myself forever, betroth you with integrity and justice, with tenderness and love.
God has always loved us and He loves us with an everlasting love.
Even when we have sinned, God does not turn away from us but instead turns towards us with all His love.
We cannot remain unmoved by what we heard in the 1st reading.
Not to be moved by it means that we do not understand God's love for us.
Or, for the matter of fact, we don't understand what love is at all.
Saturday, July 4, 2020
14th Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 05.07.2020
Zechariah 9:9-10 / Romans 8:9, 11-13 / Matthew 11:25-30
The donkey may be quite a famous animal but it may not be that glamorous.
Certainly, the donkey is not as glamorous as compared to a horse.
It doesn’t have that good looks either. Its head is not proportionate to its body, it’s ears stick up awkwardly, it can’t run that fast, and it makes an annoying “hee-haw” sound.
And to add to that, it is also called by a derogatory name, “beast of burden”. So it seems like it is even less than an animal, it is a beast!
But all that aside, its strong point is that it can carry heavy burdens, almost three times its weight.
As a beast of burden, the donkey is used in many countries to carry heavy loads, especially in places where motorized vehicles cannot access.
The 1st reading begins with a build-up to what was expected to be a glorious mighty figure: “The Lord says this: Rejoice heart and soul, daughter of Zion!
Shout with gladness, daughter of Jerusalem!
See now, your king comes to you;
he is victorious, he is triumphant,
humble and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Somehow, it seems like an anti-climax when the king comes victorious, triumphant, humble and riding on a donkey!
We would expect the king to ride on a glorious and glamorous horse but not on a lowly donkey aka beast of burden.
But the word that should prepare us for what is to come is that word “humble”; yes, victorious, triumphant, humble and riding on a donkey.
And Jesus tells us in the gospel: Come to me all you who labour and are overburdened and I will give you rest.
This is the only instance in the gospels that Jesus talked about His heart – it is a gentle and humble heart.
A gentle and humble heart possesses great strength and that is why Jesus tells us to come to Him when we are tired out by our labours and are overburdened.
We may feel like we are a beast of burden, carrying other people’s loads and doing their work and they get the credit.
We may feel that others have the easier and glorious tasks while we get the low-end laborious dirty jobs.
But let us learn from Jesus to be gentle and humble of heart.
With a gentle and humble heart, Jesus will give us strength to bear the heavy burdens of life.
The donkey may be quite a famous animal but it may not be that glamorous.
Certainly, the donkey is not as glamorous as compared to a horse.
It doesn’t have that good looks either. Its head is not proportionate to its body, it’s ears stick up awkwardly, it can’t run that fast, and it makes an annoying “hee-haw” sound.
And to add to that, it is also called by a derogatory name, “beast of burden”. So it seems like it is even less than an animal, it is a beast!
But all that aside, its strong point is that it can carry heavy burdens, almost three times its weight.
As a beast of burden, the donkey is used in many countries to carry heavy loads, especially in places where motorized vehicles cannot access.
The 1st reading begins with a build-up to what was expected to be a glorious mighty figure: “The Lord says this: Rejoice heart and soul, daughter of Zion!
Shout with gladness, daughter of Jerusalem!
See now, your king comes to you;
he is victorious, he is triumphant,
humble and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Somehow, it seems like an anti-climax when the king comes victorious, triumphant, humble and riding on a donkey!
We would expect the king to ride on a glorious and glamorous horse but not on a lowly donkey aka beast of burden.
But the word that should prepare us for what is to come is that word “humble”; yes, victorious, triumphant, humble and riding on a donkey.
And Jesus tells us in the gospel: Come to me all you who labour and are overburdened and I will give you rest.
This is the only instance in the gospels that Jesus talked about His heart – it is a gentle and humble heart.
A gentle and humble heart possesses great strength and that is why Jesus tells us to come to Him when we are tired out by our labours and are overburdened.
We may feel like we are a beast of burden, carrying other people’s loads and doing their work and they get the credit.
We may feel that others have the easier and glorious tasks while we get the low-end laborious dirty jobs.
But let us learn from Jesus to be gentle and humble of heart.
With a gentle and humble heart, Jesus will give us strength to bear the heavy burdens of life.
Friday, July 3, 2020
13th Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 04-07-2020
Amos 9:11-15 / Matthew 9:14-17
It goes without saying that the quality of the agricultural produce of the land depends very much on the weather.
Yet another fundamental factor is also the stability of the land, i.e. the political and social condition of the people living on that land.
If there were wars and bloodshed and unrest, would we expect the land to bear quality produce even if the land was fertile?
And if grapes were planted during a time of turmoil and distress, what would be harvested could be sour grapes that are neither edible nor suitable for wine making.
In the 1st reading, the planting and the harvesting of grapes was in the background of a land that was restored and the people were at peace.
Yet, it must be remembered that the rich harvest of grapes, the sweet taste of wine and the joy it brings to a people at peace was the work of God who restored the land and blessed the people.
In the gospel, Jesus also talked about wine and wineskins, and He said that no one puts new wine into old wineskins.
It may simply mean that the new wine of restoration and blessing cannot be put into the old wineskins of turmoil and distress that comes from unfaithfulness to the Lord.
By now we should know the dire consequences of being complacent and being unfaithful to the Lord.
Yet, as much as the Lord is merciful and restores us and blesses us so that we can have peace in our lives, may we also prepare new wineskins for our hearts so as to receive and treasure God's blessings.
It goes without saying that the quality of the agricultural produce of the land depends very much on the weather.
Yet another fundamental factor is also the stability of the land, i.e. the political and social condition of the people living on that land.
If there were wars and bloodshed and unrest, would we expect the land to bear quality produce even if the land was fertile?
And if grapes were planted during a time of turmoil and distress, what would be harvested could be sour grapes that are neither edible nor suitable for wine making.
In the 1st reading, the planting and the harvesting of grapes was in the background of a land that was restored and the people were at peace.
Yet, it must be remembered that the rich harvest of grapes, the sweet taste of wine and the joy it brings to a people at peace was the work of God who restored the land and blessed the people.
In the gospel, Jesus also talked about wine and wineskins, and He said that no one puts new wine into old wineskins.
It may simply mean that the new wine of restoration and blessing cannot be put into the old wineskins of turmoil and distress that comes from unfaithfulness to the Lord.
By now we should know the dire consequences of being complacent and being unfaithful to the Lord.
Yet, as much as the Lord is merciful and restores us and blesses us so that we can have peace in our lives, may we also prepare new wineskins for our hearts so as to receive and treasure God's blessings.
Thursday, July 2, 2020
St. Thomas, Apostle, Friday, 03-07-2020
Ephesians 2:19-22 / John 20:24-29
If we say that seeing is believing, we are not saying anything new.
Seeing is a powerful faculty that we have in a world of sights, sounds, smells, taste and touch.
Seeing is such a powerful faculty that it plays an important part in the acceptance of what is real and what is not.
So unless we see it, we may not really be so ready to accept it and believe in it.
For St. Thomas, whose feastday we celebrate today, he not only demanded to see the Risen Jesus, he even wanted to confirm what he was seeing by insisting to put his finger into the holes made by the nails in the hands of Jesus and put his hand into the gaping wound at the side.
For St. Thomas, seeing was not enough. He wanted to touch, he wanted to feel, he wanted to know if the Risen Jesus was for real.
Whether St. Thomas did what he demanded by putting his finger into the holes of the hand of Jesus, and whether he put his hand into the side of Jesus, the gospel did not tell us.
But what we know was that in the end, he made a profound statement of faith: My Lord and my God!
And with that statement of faith, Jesus also turned the doubt of St. Thomas into a promise for us: Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.
Yes, it is a promise of Jesus to us, that we who believe will see His blessings, we will receive His blessings, and even though we may not be physically present at the Mass and the Devotion, His blessings will be us when we participate faithfully and devoutly in the online "live" broadcasts.
If we say that seeing is believing, we are not saying anything new.
Seeing is a powerful faculty that we have in a world of sights, sounds, smells, taste and touch.
Seeing is such a powerful faculty that it plays an important part in the acceptance of what is real and what is not.
So unless we see it, we may not really be so ready to accept it and believe in it.
For St. Thomas, whose feastday we celebrate today, he not only demanded to see the Risen Jesus, he even wanted to confirm what he was seeing by insisting to put his finger into the holes made by the nails in the hands of Jesus and put his hand into the gaping wound at the side.
For St. Thomas, seeing was not enough. He wanted to touch, he wanted to feel, he wanted to know if the Risen Jesus was for real.
Whether St. Thomas did what he demanded by putting his finger into the holes of the hand of Jesus, and whether he put his hand into the side of Jesus, the gospel did not tell us.
But what we know was that in the end, he made a profound statement of faith: My Lord and my God!
And with that statement of faith, Jesus also turned the doubt of St. Thomas into a promise for us: Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.
Yes, it is a promise of Jesus to us, that we who believe will see His blessings, we will receive His blessings, and even though we may not be physically present at the Mass and the Devotion, His blessings will be us when we participate faithfully and devoutly in the online "live" broadcasts.
13th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 02-07-2020
Amos 7:10-17 / Matthew 9:1-8
Whenever something unpleasant is said about us or when we get some criticisms, we will get defensive.
We will even want to deny that we are wrong and retort by saying something back in a sharp and angry manner.
But such quick reactions usually reflects that we are not ready to listen and think about whether there is any truth in what is said about us.
In the 1st reading, the reaction of Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, to what the prophet Amos said was that of denial and defensiveness.
The prophet Amos spoke of doom and disaster and Amaziah and the people want to hear nothing of it.
If only Amaziah and the people had thought about what was said by Amos and instead of reacting defensively and in denial, they would have averted the impending tragedy with repentance and contrition.
As what we heard in the gospel, Jesus came to forgive our sins so that we can repent and be healed of our sinfulness.
Let us ask the Lord for a humble and contrite heart so that we will be able to see the truth of the criticisms against us.
Whenever something unpleasant is said about us or when we get some criticisms, we will get defensive.
We will even want to deny that we are wrong and retort by saying something back in a sharp and angry manner.
But such quick reactions usually reflects that we are not ready to listen and think about whether there is any truth in what is said about us.
In the 1st reading, the reaction of Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, to what the prophet Amos said was that of denial and defensiveness.
The prophet Amos spoke of doom and disaster and Amaziah and the people want to hear nothing of it.
If only Amaziah and the people had thought about what was said by Amos and instead of reacting defensively and in denial, they would have averted the impending tragedy with repentance and contrition.
As what we heard in the gospel, Jesus came to forgive our sins so that we can repent and be healed of our sinfulness.
Let us ask the Lord for a humble and contrite heart so that we will be able to see the truth of the criticisms against us.
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