22nd Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 01-09-2021

Colossians 1:1-8 / Luke 4:38-44   

No matter how strong or how healthy we are, there is no doubt that we are afraid of sickness and illness.

Because sickness or illness, especially when it is grave or serious, will expose our vulnerability.

It is in times like these that we see clearly that health is wealth, and all the wealth cannot buy health.

The gospel passage talked about sickness and illnesses, but it also showed that sickness and illness do not have the last say.

Jesus came as Saviour and His mission was to proclaim the Good News of salvation, and it was expressed in curing the sick and breaking the power of evil.

And as Saviour, Jesus came not just to cure sickness and illnesses but to proclaim the Good News of salvation and to give us hope.

With hope, we will be able to face the difficulties of life like sickness and illness and the evil of this world.

With Jesus, even though there will anxiety and fear in our lives, we will rise with Jesus and be witnesses of His saving love for us.

22nd Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 31-08-2021

1 Thess 5:1-6, 9-11 / Luke 4:31-37   

To "make hay while the sun shines" means to make the most of a favourable situation while it lasts.

A similar situation would be that in time of peace, be prepared for war.

All that might initially seem to be a contraction or a paradox, but it is essentially about being prepared for rough times during good times.

In the 1st reading, St. Paul talks about the Day of the Lord coming like a thief in the night.

It is like when people are saying "How quiet and peaceful it is" that the worst suddenly happens.

That reminds us that calm can turn to chaos just like that and so we need to be prepared.

When it is calm and peaceful, we must take the opportunity to pray and read the Scriptures and be in communion with the Lord while we have the time to do so.

Because when the storm suddenly strikes and all is chaos, when we are too distressed to even pray, then it will be the Lord who will come to our aid and give us strength.

Let us be alert in prayer when it is peaceful, and the Lord will keep us from breaking into pieces during chaos.

22nd Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 30-08-2021

1 Thess 6:13-18 / Luke 6:16-30     

To know that someone has passed on generally makes us sad.

Depending on how familiar with that person, there will be memories of how we knew that person and how we interacted with each other.

But the fact is that we will not be able to meet that person again in this life.

Still there is the afterlife, and that is where we hope to meet each other again, although we don't know how it would really be like.

In the 1st reading, St. Paul says this about death and the afterlife:

I want you to be quite certain about those who have died, to make sure that you do not grieve about them, like other people who have no hope.

The hope that St. Paul is talking about is not about the circumstances that we will meet with those who went on before us.

The hope that he is talking about is in Jesus who died and rose again.

It is in the Risen Jesus that we have the hope of eternal life and it will be love of God that will unite us together in the eternal life.

More than hoping to meet those who have gone before us, our hope is in the new life and love that the Risen Jesus will give us so that together, we will rejoicing and praising the Lord forever.

22nd Ordinary Sunday, Year B, 29.08.2021

Duet 4:1-2, 6-8 / James 1:17-18, 21-22, 27 / Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

One of the things that we had not quite expected to come into prominence is hand sanitizers. 

We have been using it for about a year-and-a-half already, and it is actually in Church that we use quite a bit of it. 

As we come in, we sanitize our hands. Before coming up for Holy Communion we sanitize our hands. And on the way out of the Church we again sanitize our hands. 

Where once upon a time we see it only in the hospitals, now we see it in the lifts, in the restaurants, in the restrooms and in about almost every place where there is human traffic. 

There are some who even carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer long with them. 

That is just a reflection of the situation that we are in, and since viruses and bacteria are not that easily visible, then hand sanitizers can be a safety measure against it. 

But generally speaking, personal hygiene and cleanliness are good practices that can help to prevent unnecessary infections. 

The gospel began with the Pharisees and scribes noticing that some of the disciples of Jesus were eating with unclean hands and they raised the issue with Jesus. 

There was this practice in the tradition of the elders that before every meal there would be a ritual cleansing of the hands up to the elbows. 

So, it was in view of this “tradition of the elders” that the Pharisees and scribes raised the issue to indicate that Jesus was not following the “tradition of the elders”, and hence putting Himself above the Law.

Jesus responded by quoting from the prophet Isaiah: “This people honours me only with lip service, while their hearts are far from me. The worship they offer me is worthless, the doctrines they teach are only human regulations. You put aside the Commandment of God to cling to human traditions”. 

Jesus then moved the issue of the state of the hands to the state of the heart. 

In effect, Jesus is asking this fundamental question: Where is the heart? 

That is the question that Jesus was asking then and also asking now: 

When we say all the prayers, where is the heart? 

When we come to Church, where is the heart? 

When we perform ministry work, where is the heart? 

Besides asking us where is the heart in the religious aspect of our lives, Jesus goes deeper as He asks: How clean is the heart? 

Jesus says this: Nothing that goes into a man from outside can make him unclean. It is the things that come out of a man that make him unclean. 

Yes, from what is in the heart, flow our thoughts, our words and our actions. 

So, our thoughts, our words and our actions are reflections of the state of our heart. 

So, more than just sanitizing the hands before Holy Communion, we must also cleanse our hearts as we earnestly pray: Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, grant us peace. 

St. Augustine gave us this profound saying: our hearts will not rest, until they are rested in you, O Lord. 

In our prayer and in our worship, let us place our hearts in the Heart of Jesus. 

Let us ask Jesus to cleanse our hearts of sin and grant us His peace. 

A heart that is at peace is a heart that is clean and ready to be filled with love. 

May our hearts be like the Heart of Jesus, so that through our thoughts, our words and our actions, others may see the loving Heart of Jesus.

21st Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 28-08-2021

1 Thess 4:9-11 / Matthew 25:14-30      

Each of us is endowed with a gift or a talent that is unique.

Whether we will fully realise the potential within us depends on a lot of factors.

In the gospel parable, the talents refer to a large sum of money.

But we can also take it to mean the intangible potential within us.

Today as we celebrate the memorial of St. Augustine, we remember a great saint who is a gifted philosopher and theologian and who made many profound contributions to the Church.

But before his conversion, St. Augustine led a wild and wayward life and he would not have realised his potential if not for the prayers of his mother St. Monica, as well as St. Ambrose who had a deep influence on his life.

Like St. Augustine, we too need the help of other people to help us realise who we are and what we can do for the good of others.

May we be able to realise the potential of our gifts and talents and help others to realise theirs.

21st Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 27-08-2021

1 Thess 4:1-8 / Matthew 25:1-13         

Psalm 14:1 goes like this: The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are evil; there is no one who does good.

When the Bible uses the word "fool" it implies that the attitude is of one that is against God and it is associated with evil and sin.

For us who profess our belief in God and knowing how much He loves us, then to commit sin and not to obey God is indeed a truly foolish thing.

In the gospel parable, we heard of the 10 bridesmaids, 5 of whom were foolish and the other 5 were sensible.

The 5 foolish bridesmaids were foolish because they didn't bring extra oil and so they were caught unprepared.

A further spiritual reflection would also indicate that they were foolish because they saw what the other sensible bridesmaids did but they either didn't bother or care much about it.

To be sensible, or wise, in the spiritual sense would mean that we know what God wants of us and to do it.

In the 1st reading, St. Paul tells the Thessalonians that what God wants of them is to be holy and not to sin.

When we say that we believe in God, then we must be sensible and wise enough to know what He wants of us.

Let us walk in His ways and grow in wisdom and holiness and live a life that is worthy of God's love.

21st Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 26-08-2021

1 Thess 3:7-13 / Matthew 24:42-51    

There is a phrase that goes like this: "absence makes the heart grow fonder".

It is a proverb to mean that you feel more affection for those you love when parted from them.

But does absence really make the heart grow fonder?

Or is it "out of sight, out of mind"?

Well, absence truly does make the heart grow fonder, particularly when it comes to love and intimacy. 

St. Paul expressed this sentiment in the 1st reading when he said that he was earnestly praying night and day to be able to see the Thessalonians face to face again.

Obviously, he felt deeply for the Thessalonians and it really made his heart grew fonder.

But in the gospel parable, when the master was away, it was for the dishonest servant "out of sight, out of mind".

In this particular time when we are slowly getting back to our spiritual routine of coming for Mass as often as we could, we are certainly aware that there are those whom we have not met for some time already, and it is more than a year.

They may be out of sight but they must not be out of our minds. 

As the Body of Christ, we keep them in our prayers that God will also bless them and answer their prayers and our hope is that we will meet them again one day.

21st Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 25-08-2021

1 Thess 2:9-13 / Matthew 23:27-32     

Our time on this earth is about 80 years, more or less.

Whatever length of time it may be, we have a contribution to make with our existence on this earth.

Some may leave a legacy, that is handed down from generation to generation.

But by and large, each of us will just leave behind a story of our lives, and that story may be a legacy.

The story that the scribes and Pharisees left behind in the gospels is a rather sad story.

Jesus said that they were like whitewashed tombs that look good on the outside, but inside are full of corruption.

Even what they did, like building the sepulchres of the prophets and decorating the tombs of holy men, did not change them from doing what their forefathers did.

But in the 1st reading, we hear of another story. It was a story of how St. Paul treated the Thessalonians as a father treats his children.

It was a story of how St. Paul taught, encouraged and appealed to them to live a life worthy of God.

That was the story and legacy that St. Paul left behind for the Thessalonians and for the Church.

May the story of our lives on earth be a life that was worthy of God and how we bore witness to the love of God for others.

St. Bartholomew, Apostle, Tuesday, 24-08-2021

Apocalypse 21:9-14 / John 1:45-51    

Saint Bartholomew was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ. He was introduced to Jesus Christ through Saint Philip and is also known as "Nathaniel of Cana in Galilee," and that was what we heard in the gospel account.

St. Bartholomew is believed to have carried the Gospel to India, Mesopotamia, Persia, Egypt, and Armenia and was martyred there.

Because of the manner in which he died - he was flayed (skinned alive and then beheaded), St. Bartholomew became the patron saint of butchers, tanners, and leather workers, who peel the hide off animals before the carcasses are sent to the butcher.

St. Bartholomew the apostle has long been associated with skin diseases and may be considered the patron saint of dermatology, which is the diagnosis and treatment of skin disorders.

St. Bartholomew would have not thought that this was in store for him as he followed Jesus.

But he was faithful to his calling and witnessed with his life to Jesus, whom he acknowledged as Son of God and King of Israel.

May St. Bartholomew pray for us that we too be faithful to God and grow in our conviction of Jesus as our Saviour and proclaim Him by the witness of our lives.

21st Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 23-08-2021

Thess 1:1-5, 8-10 / Matthew 13:13-22     

When a stone is thrown into the water, ripples are created.

It is an ordinary occurrence, but a reflection can be made about it that pertains to our lives.

What we say and what we do also has ripple effects on others.

And as Christians, our actions or ripple effects are certainly not something ordinary.

We carry in us, the message of the Good News of salvation, and others would expect to see and hear this message in action.

St. Paul says in the 1st reading, that when he brought the Good News to the Thessalonians, it was not just words, but also with the power of the Holy Spirit and with conviction.

His words and his actions were observed by the Thessalonians and that brought about their conversion.

The ripple effect was that the Thessalonians showed their faith in action, worked for love and persevered through hope in  Jesus Christ.

That too must be our direction and purpose in life.

May the ripple effects of our words and actions be the message of the Good News of salvation for others.

21st Ordinary Sunday, Year B, 22.08.2021

Joshua 24:1-2, 15-18 / Ephesians 5:21-32 / John 6:60-69

We may remember what are the 5 Cs in life. It is a phrase used to refer to the quest for affluence or wealth. 

Just in case we can’t quite remember what those 5 Cs stand for they are, Cash, Car, Credit Card, Condominium and Country club membership. 

That phrase has been around for quite a while, and though things may have changed a bit, the 5 Cs are still relevant. 

They reflect the human desire for comfort and security, and in fact the 5 Cs can be summed up into the first C, and that is Cash. 

With cash, or money, we can be quite comfortable, and the more we have of it, the more luxuries we will be able to get with it. 

But, how much cash do we really need to have? When is it enough? When will we ever be contented with what we have? 

These are questions that we'd rather not think about, because when it comes to cash, then the more, the better. 

Or is that really it? Money, as we know, can’t buy true love or happiness. Money can't buy peace. Money can't buy life. 

When we understand this truth, then it leads us to realize the power we have within us. 

And that power is the power of choice. It is the power to choose, to be who we want to be and what we want to be. 

The power of choice will also determine our destiny in life here and also the hereafter. 

In the 1st reading, Joshua gathered all the people of Israel together, and he presented them with a choice. 

He said to them, “If you will not serve the Lord, choose today whom you wish to serve.” 

And then he made known his choice: As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. 

Well, the people said that they will serve the Lord too. But we know from the Bible, that time and again, the people chose otherwise and were unfaithful to the Lord and even worshipped idols. 

And they suffered the consequences of their choice. They were conquered by the enemies and they were oppressed. 

But the Lord was faithful in His promises to His Chosen people. Time and again, He delivered them from their enemies, but it was always the people who made the wrong choice. 

In the gospel, the people could not accept the doctrine that Jesus was teaching, that He is the Bread of Life. 

They called it intolerable language, and after that many of His disciples left him and stopped going with Him. 

Jesus then turned to the Twelve and asked, “What about you, do you want to go away too?” In other words, Jesus was asking them to make a choice. 

And Jesus is also asking us to make a choice about what He is teaching us. And it is not just about the teaching that He is the Bread of Life that He is asking us to accept and believe. 

There are also other challenging and difficult teachings that He is asking us to follow. 

Like for e.g., “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who persecute you” (Mat 5:43-44).

Or how about this : Do not resist an evildoer; if he strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other to him as well (Mat 5:39)

Or, if you do not take up your cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple (Lk 14:27).

In fact, every page of the gospels is filled with some kind of hard teachings from Jesus.

But all those teachings are about life and love. To choose to follow them will grant us peace and joy. 

Let us know that we have to make a choice and let it be Christ-centred choice. In comfort or in chaos, let us choose Christ and receive blessings that are beyond the 5 Cs.

20th Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 21-08-2021

Ruth 2:1-3, 8-11; 4:13-17 / Matthew 23:1-12      

Whatever we do, and even whatever our intentions and motives are, God sees and God knows.

Even if we don't want to make our action known to the public, or try to keep it secret, there one thing that we need to know.

And that is God will somehow make it known to whoever He wants to, and of course it will be for His plan and purpose.

In the 1st reading, Boaz told Ruth this: I have been told all you have done for your mother-in-law since your husband's death, and how you have left your own father and mother and the land where you were born to come to a people  whom you knew nothing about before you came.

From whoever that Boaz heard this about Ruth, it can be quite certain that God was behind it and He had a plan and a purpose.

So in whatever we do, there is no need to try to attract the attention of others or to make it publice.

God sees and God knows, and if God wants others to know about it, then it is simply because God has a plan and a purpose for it.

We just have to be humble and do all things for the glory of God, whether privately or in public.

20th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 20-08-2021

Ruth 1:1, 3-6, 14-16, 22 / Matthew 22:36-40    

Actions speak louder than words.

Still, words are necessary so that the actions can be expected from what is said.

When the Pharisees asked Jesus which is the greatest commandment of the Law, their purpose was to disconcert Him.

To disconcert someone is to unsettle that person and that is not a charitable act.

Nonetheless, Jesus gave a charitable reply, by stating that the greatest commandment is to love God and to love neighbour, and that on these two commandments hang the whole Law and the Prophets.

In the 1st reading, we see how that commandment of love was shown by Ruth to her mother-in-law Naomi.

To be with Naomi when she was all alone was a great act of love by Ruth.

May we too carry out that commandment of love by being with those in their time of need.

Our loving presence is all they need to feel God's love.

20th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 19-08-2021

Judges 11:29-39 / Matthew 22:1-14      

If we say that something is important to us, to what extent are we going to show that importance?

Or putting it simply, what price would we pay for something that we deem as important?

In the 1st reading, Jephthah made a vow to the Lord. 

If the Lord delivered the enemies into his hands, then Jephthah would offer the Lord as a sacrifice the first person to meet him from the door of his house when he returns in triumph.

Unfortunately, that first person was his only daughter. Jephthah was distressed but he kept the vow he made to the Lord.

For him, what was important was his vow and it was made to the Lord.

He had to keep to his word, because the Lord fulfilled his request for victory over his enemies.

Jephthah showed us how important it was to be faithful to the Lord, although it was a heavy price he had to pay.

Nonetheless, his consolation was that his daughter agreed to be the price of his vow to the Lord. Still it was a very painful heartbreak.

On the other hand, the attitude of those who were invited by the king to the banquet not only showed that they were not interested, they even killed the king's servants.

As for us, if God is truly important in our lives, then let us offer Him our obedience and faithfulness.

God is faithful in keeping His promises to us. Let us be faithful in serving Him by loving others.

20th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 18-08-2021

Judges 9:6-15 / Matthew 20:1-16    

To have nothing to do might sound like a welcome relief from a busy and hectic life.

But to have nothing to do for an extended period of time does not sound quite pleasant.

And even if we want to do something but are reduced to just waiting for something to happen, it can be really depressing.

In the gospel parable, there were workers who were waiting to be hired.

We can imagine the relief of those who were hired first and the anxiety of those who were waiting to be hired, especially as the day went on.

The one thing that we can take up from the gospel parable is that to have work, to have a responsibility, to have something to do, is a blessing from God and it makes us see our worth and that we can contribute to the good of others.

But in the 1st reading, the parable is about those who had the ability to take up the responsibility rejected the leadership role.

In the end, that role fell into the hands of the one who had selfish motives and vested interests.

May we make ourselves available to the will of God and His plans for us. 

Even though God's plans may seem difficult and even demanding, let us trust and believe in the Lord God that we make ourselves available to Him, He will make us suitable for anything.

20th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 17-08-2021

Judges 6:11-24 / Matthew 19:23-30    

God has made mankind in His image. God also endowed mankind with intellect and will, so that mankind stands at the apex of God's creation.

With intellect, mankind is entrusted with the responsibility of developing and enhancing creation to its full potential for the glory of God.

But with free will and freedom of choice, mankind has to make the decision as to whether the world and all that is in it will be for the glory of God.

Or will it be for him to exploit and misuse and abuse. 

It is not just mankind at large, but it also comes down to each of us.

For all that we see that is wrong in the world, we may think that it is beyond us, and almost impossible for us, to make any change for the better.

But what is impossible for man is not impossible for God; everything is possible for God.

As we heard in the 1st reading, God chose the weakest and the least in the person of Gideon to rescue Israel from the power of the enemy.

May we know what God's will is for us, and may we carry it faithfully, so that we can truly be who God has created.

20th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 16-08-2021

Judges 2:11-19 / Matthew 19:16-22     

When we say that we believe in something, then we will have to stand by what we say.

Even when our convictions are challenged, we can only prove our belief when we stay on what we believe.

And when we say that we believe in God, then we will have to put our trust in Him even when our convictions are challenged.

To say that we believe in God and yet we do not trust in Him or do things that displeases Him is an embarrassing contradiction and an outright insult to God.

In the 1st reading, the people did what displeased God and they even served other idols.

The Lord's anger flamed out against His people. In every warlike venture, the hand of the Lord was there to foil them, as the Lord had warned, as the Lord had sworn to them. Thus the Lord reduced them to dire distress.

Although we admit that we have sinned against the Lord, yet the Lord is merciful and He forgives our sins.

But when the Lord God ask us to do His will, do we trust Him enough to let go of ourselves and to let God lead us along His ways?

When the rich young man heard what Jesus said to him, he went away sad, for he was a man of great wealth.

If we say that we believe in God, then let us submit our lives into His hands. 

It would certainly be better to be in the hands of God than to live our lives in sadness.

 

Assumption of the BVM, 15.08.2021

Apocalypse 11:19; 12:1-6, 10 / 1 Cor 15:20-26 / Luke 1:39-56

Catholics have a unique and amazing devotion, and that is the devotion to Mary. 

That devotion is expressed in praying the Rosary, going for Novena sessions on Saturdays (although it is now online), as well as other forms of Marian devotion. 

But the devotion, or veneration, is more than just spiritual. It is also a personal devotion and a personal relationship with Mary. 

No doubt, for those who do not understand the Catholic devotion and veneration of Mary, they may say that Catholics seem to worship Mary. 

And to make matters rather confusing, we say, as a manner of speech, that we pray to Mary. 

And the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a big feast such that it is a day of obligation, and since this year it is on a Sunday, the feast replaces the usual Sunday in Ordinary Time. 

All this seem to make Mary like on par with Jesus in status, and at times even more popular than Jesus. 

But the Church has emphasized over and over again, that any veneration or devotion to Mary must lead us to Jesus, and such veneration and devotion are highly encouraged. 

In other words, it is through Mary to Jesus. This is not something that is devised by the Church. It is actually the intention of God Himself. 

One of the titles of Mary is “Mother of God”, and also “Mother of the Church”. 

We can find the origins of this title in the gospel, when Elizabeth, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, blessed Mary and called her “the mother of my Lord”. 

The word “Lord” is synonymous with the word “God”. So, Mary is truly the Mother of God. 

And before Jesus died on the Cross, He turned to Mary His mother and said, “Woman, this is your son”. And then to the beloved disciple, He said, “This is your mother”. 

These two instances tell us that Jesus wants us to honour Mary as our mother, just as He did.

So, we turn to Mary and offer her flowers and we pray the Rosary and we ask her to pray for us, as we offer her our needs and our petitions. 

And indeed, the power of Mary's intercession is truly amazing as we hear testimony after testimony of how the prayers of people were answered through the intercession of Mary. 

More than just praying the Rosary and asking Mary to pray for us, we also must look to her as a model of faith. 

When we look to her and learn from her, then our devotion to her would make sense and would also help to clear the confusion. 

Mary is a disciple of love, and in the gospel, we heard how she literally carried God's love to Elizabeth in her time of need. 

And like Mary our mother, we are to be disciples of love. 

And the word love can be an acronym for our spiritual life. 

“L” is for listening. Mary listened to God's Word at the Annunciation and said “Yes” to God. 

May we also listen and let God's Word be made flesh in us. 

“O” is for obedience. Mary obeyed the promptings of the Holy Spirit and she set out at once to visit Elizabeth. 

May we be humble and follow the directions of our elders and superiors for our good and for the good of others. 

“V” is for victory. Mary overcame her difficulties with God's grace. May we follow Christ our Victorious King by carrying our cross and to gain eternal life. 

And finally, “E” is for encouragement. Mary's presence was an encouragement as well as an enlightenment for Elizabeth. 

May we too support each other in word and in action, so that where two or three are gathered in the name of Jesus, He will be there to bless and to strengthen us. 

So, let us like Mary, be a disciple of love, a disciple who will listen to God and obey with humility.

Let us believe that through the agony of the Cross, we will gain victory for life, and that we will be a channel of encouragement to strengthen others in faith and hope. 

May our devotion to Mary, and the celebration of the Feast of the Assumption, form us to be disciples of God's love for others.

19th Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 14-08-2021

Joshua 24:14-29 / Matthew 19:13-15      

Modern psychology has discovered that the formation of person's personality and character can be traced back to the childhood years, and even right before birth, when the baby is still in the mother's womb.

Depending on what the child had been exposed to, the child can either gain or suffer from it.

That is why in the Church's "Book of Blessings", there is a prayer for expecting mothers and for the baby in the womb.

All this shows that the early years of a child are the most important years, because that's when the character is formed and the faith built.

So for us adults, the greatest thing we could do for a child is to give them tender love and an assuring word.

And as Catholics, it is even more important to share our faith with our children.

We must, and this is imperative for parents, to pray with our children as well as to pray for them, by blessing them with the sign of the cross on their foreheads.

We can do this whenever they go off to school, and when they come back home, before they go to sleep and whenever they are sick.

Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven belongs to the little children.

So whenever we bless our children, we ourselves will also receive a blessing.

19th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 13-08-2021

Joshua 24:1-13 / Matthew 19:3-12         

It is certainly helpful to have an ambition in life. 

In school, we are asked to write compositions about what is our ambition in life and what we would want to be in future.

But for us Christians, as much as it is helpful to have an ambition in life, it is more important to have a vocation in life.

We need to know what state of life God is calling us to and in what manner of life are we to serve Him.

In the 1st reading, Joshua assumed the role of being the leader of the people after Moses had returned to the Lord.

He may not have had that ambition nor did he expect to be in that position.

But as he recounted the calling of the forefathers of the people, like Abraham, Issac, Jacob and Moses, he also knew that it was God who has called him to this state and he is to serve the Lord by being the leader of the people.

In the gospel, Jesus talked about marriage as a calling from God, and hence what God has united, man must not divide.

Jesus also went on to talk about the calling to specific states of life and the call is from God to these people.

Let us discern and discover God's calling for us. 

In whatever state of life or manner of life that God is calling each of us, we can be assured God's grace will accompany us to what and where God is calling us to.

 

19th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 12-08-2021

Joshua 3:7-11, 13-17 / Matthew 18:21 - 19:1      

If we know what is good for us, then certainly we would want to search for it and we would want to have it.

After all, the human longing is for what is good, true, beautiful and loving.

But what is good for us is often right before us but we fail to see it.

We all know that forgiveness is a beautiful thing and it is really good for us.

Without forgiveness, life would be an ugly cycle of resentment and retaliation.

When Peter asked Jesus how often must he forgive his brother if he wrongs him, Peter was expecting that seven times would be more than enough.

But Jesus told him that it is not just seven, but seventy-seven times!

Not just Peter is surprised, but we would be surprised too. How can we keep forgiving someone who is unrepentant?

But to forgive is to set a prisoner free, and to discover that prisoner is you. 

Indeed forgiveness has the power to free us from that ugly cycle of resentment and retaliation.

Forgiveness does not change the past, but it will enlarge the future for us.

We all want a future that is good, beautiful and loving, not just for ourselves but for others as well.

But what is needed for that future is forgiveness. 

Those who are strong would want to forgive and walk towards that beautiful future.

19th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 11-08-2021

Deut 34:1-12 / Matthew 18:15-20    

It is hard to say "I am sorry". Sorry is a difficult word.

It requires humility and sincerity to be sorry and to admit that we are wrong.

But it is more difficult to tell someone that they are wrong and expect them to say sorry.

In the gospel, Jesus gives us the procedure for correction when someone does wrong.

But Jesus also knows that the person may not admit to the fault or wrong-doing.

Hence He goes on to say this: I tell you solemnly once again, if two of you on earth agree to ask anything at all, it will be granted to you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three meet in my name, I shall be there with them.

We know how difficult, and almost impossible, it is to try to get someone to admit to a fault or wrong-doing.

Let us turn to Jesus and pray for those who do wrong before we even address the issue with those persons.

Let us also know that we too are sinners, and we need the blessings from Jesus in order to be instruments of conversion and reconciliation for others.

St. Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr, Tuesday, 10-08-2021

2 Cor 9:6-10 / John 12:24-26

St. Lawrence was a deacon of the Church of Rome when Pope Sixtus was martyred along with four other deacons during the year 258.

St. Lawrence, who was temporarily in charge of the administration, was told by the authorities that if he wanted to be spared, he was to surrender all the treasures of the Church in three days time.

So during the next three days, St. Lawrence went around gathering the poor and the needy who were supported by the Church.

Then he brought them before the authorities and he told them: These are the treasures of the Church.

Needless to say, he was taken away to be tortured to death. The account of the execution scene was morbid.

St. Lawrence was stripped and tied to a wire-mesh to be roasted over the fire.

One account has it that St. Lawrence said to his torturers: You can turn me over, I am well done on this side.

But martyrdom is certainly no laughing matter, but yet even as the blood of the martyrs was poured out, the Church grew especially in those terrible times.

Because it was a blood that was willingly poured out, willingly given for the glory of God.

As the 1st reading puts it, St. Lawrence and the other martyrs sowed with their blood and their lives and they reaped the harvest of eternal life.

And as the gospel puts it, St. Lawrence gave up his life in witness to Jesus and by his death the Church reaped a rich harvest of faith.

The martyrdom of St. Lawrence reminds us that our lives are to be poured out for others so that they can grow in faith and love and be the treasures of the Church.

Hence, every sacrifice we make is like a dying to ourselves, and yet the harvest that will be reaped will make it all worth it.

Singapore National Day, Monday, 09-08-2021

Isaiah 63:7-9 / Colossians 3:12-17 / Luke 12:22-31    

In these present circumstances, we can say that we are thankful that we are in this country.

Despite the challenges and the twists and turns, we are keeping relatively safe and well and we must be grateful for that.

But this situation has made us, and our country, quite vulnerable. 

We are limited in resources, we depend heavily on trade and on the operations of the airport and shipping sectors. But at present, that has been significantly reduced.

Yes, we feel vulnerable, but will we be capable of coping and even rising above the current situation?

The past 56 years of independence has also seen challenges and difficulties, as well as troubles and struggles.

But look forward at the road ahead with hope, not just in our nation's abilities and capabilities.

And as the Church in Singapore, we keep that hope burning strong as we pray for God's blessings on our nation.

Our hope is in the Lord who, as we heard in the 1st reading, in His love and pity, He lifted them up and carried them throughout the days of old.

And with trust in God's love and with gratitude in our hearts, let us praise and give thanks to God for His blessings on our nation.

Let us set our hearts on God's kingdom, that even though we may feel vulnerable, God will make us able and capable to continue on the road ahead and to walk with hope.

19th Ordinary Sunday, Year B, 08.08.2021

1 Kings 19:4-8 / Ephesians 4:30 – 5:2 / John 6:41-51

If ever we have the time to relax and do some reminiscing, we might want to recall the good old days. 

Oh yes, the good old days, like the school days, and for some of us school days might be decades ago. 

And maybe we might even move on to the days of our youth. Those seem to be the good old days, when we were more energetic, more adventurous, more daring and more resourceful. 

And then came the trials of life, when our spirits were put to the test and that formed us to be what we are now. 

And talking about tests, there is this difference about how it is in school and how it is in life. 

In school, we were taught the lesson and then given the test. In life, it is the other way around - we are given the test and then taught the lesson. 

But whether a lesson or a test, we can look at it in two ways. It is either we complain about it or we complete it. 

Come to think of it, we can complain about a lesson or a test and learn nothing from it, or we can complete the lesson and the test and be enriched by it. 

In the 1st reading, the prophet Elijah was going through the test of his life. He was a great prophet who performed the marvels of God, but now he was running for his life as his enemies were hunting him down. 

He complained, or lamented, as he said, “Lord, I have had enough. Take my life. I am no better than my ancestor.” 

And with that, he laid down and went to sleep and didn't want to carry on anymore. But an angel woke him up, two times actually, to eat the bread and drink the jar of water that was before him, and with that, he got up and continued for 40 days and 40 nights to Horeb, the mountain of God. 

So even though Elijah complained about his test, he went on to complete it and finally met God on that mountain. 

In the gospel, the people were complaining to each other about Jesus because of who He said He was, that He is the bread that came down from heaven. 

Jesus had to tell them to stop complaining, just because they knew a bit of His family background. 

They knew a bit, but there was much more to learn, and Jesus told them that to hear the teaching from God and to learn from it means that they must believe in Him as the bread from heaven. 

We believe that Jesus came down from heaven to give us the heavenly teaching from God and that He is our bread of life. 

Jesus is our Eucharistic bread which we consume at Holy Communion. 

But there is also another heavenly bread that Jesus has given us and we received it at our baptism. 

That heavenly bread is the Holy Spirit, the Lord of Life, who will teach us about the truth of lie. 

So even though we may not be able to receive the Eucharistic bread as often as we wish, the Holy Spirit will be our spiritual nourishment for the road ahead in the journey of life. 

The Holy Spirit will also lead us into a deeper communion with Jesus our Eucharistic bread. 

The 2nd reading tells us not to grieve the Holy Spirit by complaining about what we don't have or could not have. 

The Holy Spirit completes our longings and sets us free so that we can learn the ways of God. 

The lessons that we have to learn, besides to stop complaining, is not to hold grudges against others, not to lose our temper or raise our voices and others, or call each other names, or allow any sort of spitefulness. 

Instead, we must learn to be like God, and that is to be kind, and forgiving each other as God forgave us in Christ. 

The Holy Spirit teaches us the truth of life and so that we can learn the lessons of His heavenly teaching. 

And when the tests of life come along, let us not fret and complain or grieve the Holy Spirit. 

The Holy Spirit will provide us with the Eucharistic bread in our time of need. 

So that like the prophet Elijah, we will rise and with the lessons we have learned, we will continue with the journey in the road ahead, and we will walk with love and thanksgiving in our hearts.

18th Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 07-08-2021

Deuteronomy 6:4-13 / Matthew 17:14-20

Some people would say that love is a feeling, others would say it is an action, yet others would say that love is a decision.

But love is a feeling, an action and a decision.

In a way, that is just a simplified version of what Moses told the people: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart (feeling), with all your soul (action) and with all your strength (decision).

It is a love in totality. It encompasses feelings that must be expressed in action, and reinforced continuously with decisions.

Yet, like the mustard seed that Jesus used as an imagery in today's Gospel, love is also a growth.

How we understand love in our younger days, we understand love now in much deeper ways.

To say that we love God might be quite easy, as in our love for God is merely confined to feelings.

Now we know that our love for God must be experienced in love for others, and that can be difficult.

There are mountains of resentment, bitterness, anger, disappointment etc to move.

But as long as we love God, these mountains can be moved.

Then we will understand that love is a feeling, an action as well as a decision.

Transfiguration of the Lord, Friday, 06-08-2021

Dan 7:9-10, 13-14 or 2 Peter 1:16-19 / Mark 9:2-10    

There must be at least one or more occasions in our lives when we are affirmed of our abilities.

It may be just a simple word of recognition of our gifts and talents or an award that states our achievements.

Those are important occasions in our lives because they are signs of who we are and what we are able to do and achieve.

In the Transfiguration of the Lord, what was revealed at the Baptism in the Jordan, was reiterated on that holy mountain.

At the Baptism, Jesus was affirmed of His identity as He began His mission.

At the Transfiguration, Jesus was affirmed again of His identity as He prepared to face His Passion.

As for us, we are like the three disciples who will still have to understand deeper who Jesus is.

Like the three disciples, we know this much about Jesus, but more will be revealed to us.

With each revelation is also an invitation to climb the mountain of faith so that we will become more like Jesus and like Jesus we will also be strengthened to face the Cross.

18th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 05-08-2021

Numbers 20:1-13 / Matthew 16:13-23    

If a company were to set up a "Feedback Department" there might be difficult try to get personnel to staff it.

Because one thing for certain is that there will mostly be complaints coming to that department, and it will be day in day out.

There is only so much that one can take about complaints. 

One possible burnout could be that there will be growing resentment within and it turns into bitterness.

In the 1st reading, the people complained about the lack of water, and they challenged Moses and Aaron.

It had been countless times that the people complained but this time it really got into Moses.

As much as he did what the Lord had instructed, Moses vented out his resentment and frustration on the people.

In the gospel, Jesus began to make it clear to His disciples that He was destined to go to Jerusalem and to suffer grievously at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes.

Then Peter began to remonstrate with Him, but Jesus rebuked him sharply.

Once again Jesus was teaching His disciples and also teaching us what it means to serve God and to serve others.

We have to be prepared for a thankless task as well as scorching complaints. 

But God sees, and God knows how we try to bear it up.

He will bless us with His peace and joy, so that we will be able to focus on how Jesus had served us even to offering His life on the Cross.

18th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 04-08-2021

Numbers 13:1-2, 25 - 14:1, 26-29, 34-35 / Matthew 15:21-28       

Gold is tested by fire, and the strong are tested by adversity.

In the 1st reading, the people were put to the test when they heard the reports about the land they were to enter into.

When they heard how strong the inhabitants were, they raised their voices and cried aloud and wailed all night.

While they were aware of their limitations, they also did not trust in God who had promised them the land and would deliver their enemies into their hands.

Put to the test, they did not have recourse to the strength of the Lord but showed their weakness, and they paid the price for it, and what a heavy price it was.

In the gospel, the Canaanite woman's faith was also put to the test. Her patience was tested.

She persevered and she was rewarded for her faith in Jesus.

In school, we were taught a lesson and then given a test.

In life, we are given a test that teaches us a lesson.

May we learn the lessons of life and grow strong to face the adversities.

18th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 03-08-2021

Numbers 12:1-13 / Matthew 14:22-36      

Although sibling rivalry is common, it can be quite puzzling upon further reflection.

Generally speaking, siblings would come from the same parents, and since they may grow up together, it may be presumed that the siblings would think and feel alike.

But obviously that is not necessarily true, and often sibling rivalry can be even quite bitter.

In the 1st reading, we heard of a case of sibling rivalry as Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses in connection with the Cushite he had married.

But that was rather a superficial matter as the real issue was Miriam and Aaron questioned if the Lord had spoken to Moses only.

They argued that the Lord has spoken to them too. But the real issue was pride has gotten into them and they were actually challenging the authority of Moses.

So the Lord summoned the three of them and He attested that He gave the authority to Moses, and because they were arrogant enough to challenge Moses, hence Miriam was punished, while Aaron begged for mercy.

This reminds us that whether in a family, or community, or ministry, or organisation, there will be some who are appointed to leadership roles to serve with humility.

Respect for the appointment and authority must be given so that there can be unity.

Rivalry is a product of pride. Let us be humble and respectful to each other so that we will grow together in charity.

18th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 02-08-2021

Numbers 11:4-15 / Matthew 14:13-21      

When we say that we are sandwiched in between two disputing parties, it is as good as saying that we are caught in a cross-fire.

And it is the most vulnerable position to be in as fire from both sides will end up on us.

It is like being caught between a dispute between our superiors and our subordinates.

It is a dicey position to be in as we try to find ways and means to appease both sides.

That was the situation Moses found himself in as he heard the wailing of the people and the anger of the Lord flared out, and he was greatly worried over this.

In the end, he turned to the Lord and lamented over the task he was given in leading the people.

It was getting too much for him and he even asked the Lord to take his life so that he won't have to see such a misery.

In the gospel, the disciples found themselves in an awkward situation when Jesus told them to give the people something to eat themselves.

All they had were five loaves and two fish, and Jesus asked for it to be brought to Him.

And here Jesus showed again that God can do something great with whatever little that is offered to Him.

Whether we find ourselves sandwiched between two disputing parties or that the task given to us is too difficult, let us turn to the Lord to ask for directions.

As much as with the Lord, nothing is impossible, He also want us to do whatever is possible. 

We need to do something first, before the Lord will do anything else.