Jeremiah 26 : 11-16, 24 / Matthew 14 : 1-12 (2020)
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 30, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
17th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 30-07-10
Jeremiah 26 : 1-9 / Matthew 13 : 54-58
If someone were to ask you who preached the homily at Mass last Sunday, you might take a while to recall which priest it was.
But if the next question would be "So what did he preach about?" then we really have to crank up our memory in order to recall what we heard.
And ten other persons who were there listening to the same homily would have ten versions of what was preached.
That could mean that people are doing their own reflections about the Word of God.
Yet people also tend to listen with varying degrees of openness and receptivity.
And that depends largely on who is speaking.
In the two readings of today, we see two types of people who are not open to what is said.
In the 1st reading is the type who is not open to correction, and hence do not want to hear the truth.
In the gospel is the type who is not open to the person, and hence is not open to the truth.
We have a bit of both in each of us.
But when we challenge ourselves to listen to what is said and not how it is said or who is saying it, then we will be able to hear the truth.
Then we will hear the prophetic voice of God.
If someone were to ask you who preached the homily at Mass last Sunday, you might take a while to recall which priest it was.
But if the next question would be "So what did he preach about?" then we really have to crank up our memory in order to recall what we heard.
And ten other persons who were there listening to the same homily would have ten versions of what was preached.
That could mean that people are doing their own reflections about the Word of God.
Yet people also tend to listen with varying degrees of openness and receptivity.
And that depends largely on who is speaking.
In the two readings of today, we see two types of people who are not open to what is said.
In the 1st reading is the type who is not open to correction, and hence do not want to hear the truth.
In the gospel is the type who is not open to the person, and hence is not open to the truth.
We have a bit of both in each of us.
But when we challenge ourselves to listen to what is said and not how it is said or who is saying it, then we will be able to hear the truth.
Then we will hear the prophetic voice of God.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
St. Martha, Memorial, Thursday, 29-07-10
1 John 4 : 7-16 / John 11 : 19-27 (2016 / 2020)
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 worry and fret about so many things and yet only one is 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 worry and fret about so many things and yet only one is 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.
17th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 28-07-10
Jeremiah 15 : 10, 16-21 / Matthew 13 : 44-46 (2023)
There is no doubt that everyday we do a lot of important things.
But while we are busy doing so many important things, we may just want to stop and do take a little time to do some reflecting.
Just what are the things we are doing that are really important?
Does it only have a temporary importance, or does it also have an eternal importance?
We need to remember that how we live our lives here on earth is a preparation of how we are going to live our lives in heaven.
And God has planted the treasures of heaven in our hearts to help us live our live our lives on earth.
Hence the search for this treasure is not from the without as in the material or tangible.
The search is from the within, in the depths of our hearts, where the treasures of God are waiting to be discovered.
When we discover that treasure within, then we will naturally let go of the things that are not important and unnecessary.
We will realize that it is God that is our only need, and it is God that we really want.
There is no doubt that everyday we do a lot of important things.
But while we are busy doing so many important things, we may just want to stop and do take a little time to do some reflecting.
Just what are the things we are doing that are really important?
Does it only have a temporary importance, or does it also have an eternal importance?
We need to remember that how we live our lives here on earth is a preparation of how we are going to live our lives in heaven.
And God has planted the treasures of heaven in our hearts to help us live our live our lives on earth.
Hence the search for this treasure is not from the without as in the material or tangible.
The search is from the within, in the depths of our hearts, where the treasures of God are waiting to be discovered.
When we discover that treasure within, then we will naturally let go of the things that are not important and unnecessary.
We will realize that it is God that is our only need, and it is God that we really want.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
17th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 27-07-10
Jeremiah 14 : 17-22 / Matthew 13 : 36-43 (2022)
A lot of questions have been asked about this age-old problem of evil in the world, as well as origin of evil.
The Latin term for this phrase "origin of evil" is MYSTERIUM INIQUITATIS.
When translated into English it is "the mystery of iniquity".
Indeed, sin and evil is so much of a mystery.
The letter to the Romans 7:19 puts this mystery in a life experience when it says - For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.
So as much as sin and evil is mysterious, yet the reality and the fact is clear.
Sin and evil is merely a manifestation of the lack of goodness, whether it is around us or in us.
Yet in the 1st reading, we hear of how God feels about the sinful and evil situation of mankind, with these words: Tears flood my eyes night and day unceasingly.
God's love for us was so deep that He sent His only Son so that He can restore our love and goodness.
But we have to make the decision to pick up the weeds of our sin and burn them in the fire of God's love.
With Jesus, we can be certain that love and goodness will triumph in the end.
In our fight against sin and evil, whether within or without, let us put our confidence in God as we cry out - O our God, you are our hope (Jer 14:22)
A lot of questions have been asked about this age-old problem of evil in the world, as well as origin of evil.
The Latin term for this phrase "origin of evil" is MYSTERIUM INIQUITATIS.
When translated into English it is "the mystery of iniquity".
Indeed, sin and evil is so much of a mystery.
The letter to the Romans 7:19 puts this mystery in a life experience when it says - For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.
So as much as sin and evil is mysterious, yet the reality and the fact is clear.
Sin and evil is merely a manifestation of the lack of goodness, whether it is around us or in us.
Yet in the 1st reading, we hear of how God feels about the sinful and evil situation of mankind, with these words: Tears flood my eyes night and day unceasingly.
God's love for us was so deep that He sent His only Son so that He can restore our love and goodness.
But we have to make the decision to pick up the weeds of our sin and burn them in the fire of God's love.
With Jesus, we can be certain that love and goodness will triumph in the end.
In our fight against sin and evil, whether within or without, let us put our confidence in God as we cry out - O our God, you are our hope (Jer 14:22)
Monday, July 26, 2010
17th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 26-07-10
Jeremiah 13 : 1-11 / Matthew 13 31-35 (2020)
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 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 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 24, 2010
16th Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 24-07-10
Jeremiah 7 : 1-11 / Matthew 13 : 24-30 (2020)
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.
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