Romans 4 : 20-25
Luke 12 : 13-21
It is necessary, even crucial, to have a faith-vision, because a faith-vision will help us to look beyond the present situation and to put our faith in God who is master of the future.
Just like Abraham continued to believe and to trust in God even when things did not look good at that moment, nor was it looking good for the future.
There is this story of two altar-boys.
One was born in 1892 in Eastern Europe and the other, three years later in a small town of Illinois in the US.
Although they lived thousands of miles apart, they had an almost identical experience as altar servers.
Both had an accident with the wine while serving Mass. They spilled some of it on the floor during the offertory.
That's where the similarity in their story ended.
The altar-boy in Eastern Europe was harshly reprimanded for being so clumsy and was told to stop serving Mass.
That boy grew up to become an atheist and a communist. His name is Josip Tito, who was dictator of the former Yugoslavia for 37 years.
The altar-boy in Illinois was consoled with these words from the priest : It is alright my boy. You will do better next time. You may even serve God as a priest.
That boy was the famous Bishop Fulton Sheen.
Many reflections can be made out of these two stories. But looking at it from the aspect of the faith of Abraham, then it is about having a faith-vision of a hope for the future.
Both altar-boys had a similar unfortunate experience of making a mistake, though one was punished and the other was not.
But one lost his faith-vision and took control of his future, which turned out to be a tragic one, while the other was given a faith-vision and put his future into the hands of God.
So it is a question of where our future lies.
If it lies in the self-made security of our riches and wealth, we may have to re-think our future.
If it lies in the hands of God, then despite the trials and turmoils of the present, we will still have hope for the future. Because we know that God is in control of our future.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Saturday, October 17, 2009
28th Week, Ordinary Time, Sat , 17-10-09
Rom 4:13, 16-18
Lk 12:8-12
There is always this question about the meaning of blaspheming against the Holy Spirit and what does that entail, because Jesus said that such a thing cannot be forgiven.
For us, we believe that the Holy Spirit is one of the Persons of the Triune God and that He is sent by the Father and the Son into our hearts to lead our lives and to direct us in the truth.
But if we knowingly and constantly ignore the call to faith and outrightly suppress the truth within us, then we are obstinately rejecting the Holy Spirit, which is actually rejecting God Himself.
But this is not likely that we are absolutely that stubborn.
However, to blaspheme against the Holy Spirit is a more serious matter.
Because that would be to ascribe the working of the Holy Spirit and something holy to that of the working of the devil and the unholy.
Those who commit it persist in it even though they know what they are doing is not right at all.
It is like their eyes and hearts are so tightly closed to the goodness of divine power, so much so that the light of goodness had become darkness, and good had become evil.
Yet people like St Ignatius of Antioch have exposed the darkness of evil.
He stood up for love and goodness and truth, and for that he was thrown into the amphitheater and devoured by lions.
Yet his courage in witnessing for Christ and for love and truth lives on to this day.
May our faith gives us the courage to witness to God's truth and love.
Lk 12:8-12
There is always this question about the meaning of blaspheming against the Holy Spirit and what does that entail, because Jesus said that such a thing cannot be forgiven.
For us, we believe that the Holy Spirit is one of the Persons of the Triune God and that He is sent by the Father and the Son into our hearts to lead our lives and to direct us in the truth.
But if we knowingly and constantly ignore the call to faith and outrightly suppress the truth within us, then we are obstinately rejecting the Holy Spirit, which is actually rejecting God Himself.
But this is not likely that we are absolutely that stubborn.
However, to blaspheme against the Holy Spirit is a more serious matter.
Because that would be to ascribe the working of the Holy Spirit and something holy to that of the working of the devil and the unholy.
Those who commit it persist in it even though they know what they are doing is not right at all.
It is like their eyes and hearts are so tightly closed to the goodness of divine power, so much so that the light of goodness had become darkness, and good had become evil.
Yet people like St Ignatius of Antioch have exposed the darkness of evil.
He stood up for love and goodness and truth, and for that he was thrown into the amphitheater and devoured by lions.
Yet his courage in witnessing for Christ and for love and truth lives on to this day.
May our faith gives us the courage to witness to God's truth and love.
Friday, October 16, 2009
28th Week, Ordinary Time, Fri, 16-10-09
Rom 4:1-8
Lk 12:1-7
If we ever get into heaven, we ought to be surprised.
We ought to be surprised that we ever get there in the first place.
And we may be surprised by who is there; and also surprised by who is not there.
Indeed, in the first place, how many of us can say that we truly deserve to be in heaven.
We may be baptised, live religious lives, are good people, or even doing service and great things for the Lord.
But does this mean that we can claim for ourselves a place in heaven.
The Letter to the Romans (1st Reading), says that if a person has work to show, his wages are not considered as favour but as his due.
But when a person has nothing to show except his faith and trust in God, then that person is truly blessed.
As an example, Abraham put his faith in God, as his faith was a blessing for him.
Indeed, faith is a gift from God. It is because we see faith as a gift from God, that our deeds are acts of thanksgiving and to glorify God.
Then our deeds would not be just for selfish and self-glorifying motives.
We would not want to be hypocritical because we know that God sees everything and knows what so deep in our hearts.
Finally, when we see God face to face, there is no need to talk about the good we have done. We just want to give thanks to God.
Lk 12:1-7
If we ever get into heaven, we ought to be surprised.
We ought to be surprised that we ever get there in the first place.
And we may be surprised by who is there; and also surprised by who is not there.
Indeed, in the first place, how many of us can say that we truly deserve to be in heaven.
We may be baptised, live religious lives, are good people, or even doing service and great things for the Lord.
But does this mean that we can claim for ourselves a place in heaven.
The Letter to the Romans (1st Reading), says that if a person has work to show, his wages are not considered as favour but as his due.
But when a person has nothing to show except his faith and trust in God, then that person is truly blessed.
As an example, Abraham put his faith in God, as his faith was a blessing for him.
Indeed, faith is a gift from God. It is because we see faith as a gift from God, that our deeds are acts of thanksgiving and to glorify God.
Then our deeds would not be just for selfish and self-glorifying motives.
We would not want to be hypocritical because we know that God sees everything and knows what so deep in our hearts.
Finally, when we see God face to face, there is no need to talk about the good we have done. We just want to give thanks to God.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
28th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 15-10-09
Romans 3 : 21-30
Luke 11 : 47-54
It is said that the purpose of preaching is to comfort the disturbed, and to disturb the comfortable.
But when preaching ends up in comforting the comfortable, and disturbing those who are already disturbed, then the preaching may not be prophetic.
What is worse is when preaching is used for profit and benefit.
But besides having the double-edged thrust of consolation and desolation, the prophetic voice is recognized by its call for justice.
In the 1st reading, St. Paul highlighted the justice of God, which is essentially love and forgiveness.
Indeed, love and forgiveness is the very essence of the justice of God.
So whenever Jesus preached about love and forgiveness, He brought comfort to the disturbed and those in need for forgiveness.
But for those who want to silence the prophetic voice of justice, the words of Jesus brought them distress.
So if today, or any day, when we hear the voice of the Lord, when we hear the voice of love and forgiveness, when we hear the voice of justice, let us not harden our hearts and brush it off.
It is only when we are disturbed, then we will be awakened.
Luke 11 : 47-54
It is said that the purpose of preaching is to comfort the disturbed, and to disturb the comfortable.
But when preaching ends up in comforting the comfortable, and disturbing those who are already disturbed, then the preaching may not be prophetic.
What is worse is when preaching is used for profit and benefit.
But besides having the double-edged thrust of consolation and desolation, the prophetic voice is recognized by its call for justice.
In the 1st reading, St. Paul highlighted the justice of God, which is essentially love and forgiveness.
Indeed, love and forgiveness is the very essence of the justice of God.
So whenever Jesus preached about love and forgiveness, He brought comfort to the disturbed and those in need for forgiveness.
But for those who want to silence the prophetic voice of justice, the words of Jesus brought them distress.
So if today, or any day, when we hear the voice of the Lord, when we hear the voice of love and forgiveness, when we hear the voice of justice, let us not harden our hearts and brush it off.
It is only when we are disturbed, then we will be awakened.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
28th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 14-10-09
Romans 2 : 1-11
Luke 11 : 42-46
A common situation exists where there are leaders and followers, or superiors and subordinates, or teachers and students.
It may be in an organization, or workplace or classroom or even in church.
Whether the person up in the front is a superior or a manager or a teacher or a priest, he/she will treat those under his/her charge differently.
For whatever reason, some will be treated with favour, some will be treated indifferently, some will just be overlooked.
That is understandable when we look at it from the perspective of relational chemistry.
So we have to admit that we are partial and biased in varying degrees.
We often look at people with different and arbitrary standards.
This can be detrimental in situations where the "favoured" people get away with something that others will be severely punished for.
The last line of the 1st reading says that God has no favourites. That means God is impartial, that He loves everyone regardless of whether they are clever or attractive or influential or otherwise.
That does not mean that we cannot have close friends or talk more with people that we can easily relate with.
It means that with those whom we can't easily relate with or even dislike, we still must treat them with fairness and not to impose on them unendurable burdens of mind and heart.
Especially when we are the superiors.
Luke 11 : 42-46
A common situation exists where there are leaders and followers, or superiors and subordinates, or teachers and students.
It may be in an organization, or workplace or classroom or even in church.
Whether the person up in the front is a superior or a manager or a teacher or a priest, he/she will treat those under his/her charge differently.
For whatever reason, some will be treated with favour, some will be treated indifferently, some will just be overlooked.
That is understandable when we look at it from the perspective of relational chemistry.
So we have to admit that we are partial and biased in varying degrees.
We often look at people with different and arbitrary standards.
This can be detrimental in situations where the "favoured" people get away with something that others will be severely punished for.
The last line of the 1st reading says that God has no favourites. That means God is impartial, that He loves everyone regardless of whether they are clever or attractive or influential or otherwise.
That does not mean that we cannot have close friends or talk more with people that we can easily relate with.
It means that with those whom we can't easily relate with or even dislike, we still must treat them with fairness and not to impose on them unendurable burdens of mind and heart.
Especially when we are the superiors.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
28th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 13-10-09
Romans 1 : 16-25
Luke 11 : 37-41
The use of sacramentals in the Church is an interesting practice.
Sacramentals are things like holy water, crucifix, rosary, holy pictures and statues.
Most Catholics would use such sacramentals during prayer, and will kiss the holy pictures and touch the statues.
But of course, we are clear that we don't worship statues or use holy pictures like some kind of talisman.
But as much as we know the place of sacramentals and holy objects in our religious life, when it comes to our secular life, we get all mixed-up.
We run into this problem of making things the center of our lives.
For e.g., some get so absorbed with their personal computers that they could not see that the computers are now controlling them.
Some get so absorbed with another human being that they create a personality cult, and that's why singers, movie stars ad sports stars have a fan club,
St. Paul, in the 1st reading, would point out that the impiety and the depravity of man have caused them to exchange the glory of the immortal God for a worthless imitation, of mortal man, of birds, of animals, or whatever.
All this happened because the truth of God has been imprisoned by the wickedness of man.
Indeed, we have that ability to suppress God's truth in us.
Let us ask Jesus to cleanse our hearts, so that the truth of God will set us free to worship the one true God.
Luke 11 : 37-41
The use of sacramentals in the Church is an interesting practice.
Sacramentals are things like holy water, crucifix, rosary, holy pictures and statues.
Most Catholics would use such sacramentals during prayer, and will kiss the holy pictures and touch the statues.
But of course, we are clear that we don't worship statues or use holy pictures like some kind of talisman.
But as much as we know the place of sacramentals and holy objects in our religious life, when it comes to our secular life, we get all mixed-up.
We run into this problem of making things the center of our lives.
For e.g., some get so absorbed with their personal computers that they could not see that the computers are now controlling them.
Some get so absorbed with another human being that they create a personality cult, and that's why singers, movie stars ad sports stars have a fan club,
St. Paul, in the 1st reading, would point out that the impiety and the depravity of man have caused them to exchange the glory of the immortal God for a worthless imitation, of mortal man, of birds, of animals, or whatever.
All this happened because the truth of God has been imprisoned by the wickedness of man.
Indeed, we have that ability to suppress God's truth in us.
Let us ask Jesus to cleanse our hearts, so that the truth of God will set us free to worship the one true God.
Monday, October 12, 2009
28th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 12-10-09
Romans 1 : 1-7
Luke 11 : 29-32
If we were asked this question : What do you do as Catholics?... what will our reply be?
Are we going to say : we go for Mass on Sundays, or, we go to Novena on Saturdays, or, we pray the Rosary?
But what do we do essentially as Catholics? What is being Catholic all about?
If St. Paul were to answer that question, his reply could be found in the 1st reading, which is the letter to the Romans.
For St. Paul, it is to proclaim the Good News, and it is about Jesus Christ who rose from the dead, so that in Him, the holiness of God is shown to all peoples.
The Church teaches that all the followers of Christ have the obligation of spreading the faith according to their abilities.
Whatever abilities we may have, we can be witnesses of the faith by living lives of holiness.
Because holiness is the sign and the expression of our faith in the Risen Lord.
By our lives of holiness, we already proclaim our faith.
The fruit of holiness is repentance, and hence our lives are turned away from sin and turned towards God.
When our lives are turned towards God, others will eventually follow suit.
They need not ask us what we do as Catholics, because they can see who we are as Catholics.
Luke 11 : 29-32
If we were asked this question : What do you do as Catholics?... what will our reply be?
Are we going to say : we go for Mass on Sundays, or, we go to Novena on Saturdays, or, we pray the Rosary?
But what do we do essentially as Catholics? What is being Catholic all about?
If St. Paul were to answer that question, his reply could be found in the 1st reading, which is the letter to the Romans.
For St. Paul, it is to proclaim the Good News, and it is about Jesus Christ who rose from the dead, so that in Him, the holiness of God is shown to all peoples.
The Church teaches that all the followers of Christ have the obligation of spreading the faith according to their abilities.
Whatever abilities we may have, we can be witnesses of the faith by living lives of holiness.
Because holiness is the sign and the expression of our faith in the Risen Lord.
By our lives of holiness, we already proclaim our faith.
The fruit of holiness is repentance, and hence our lives are turned away from sin and turned towards God.
When our lives are turned towards God, others will eventually follow suit.
They need not ask us what we do as Catholics, because they can see who we are as Catholics.
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