Galatians 5:18-25 / Luke 11:42-46 (2020)
The practice of religious beliefs is supposed to help human beings have a moral order in their lives and to strive for higher ideals in life.
Yet the practice of religion can at times deteriorate into a matter of convenience and that gives a warped understanding of the religious demands.
For example, a Catholic may think that by just coming for Mass on Sundays and saying grace before meals is all that is to being a Catholic.
Anything more is like reinforcing a place in heaven.
But that would make religion look so cheap and that being Catholic is like a private affair.
Jesus makes it very clear in the gospel that justice and the love of God are the essentials of being a Catholic.
The justice that we owe to others is that we have to help them lift the burdens of their lives by showing them the love of God.
As stated in the 1st reading, it is the Spirit who will direct us and lead us to understand the deeper aspects of our faith.
Then we will bear the fruits of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustfulness, gentleness and self-control.
May the Spirit be our life, so that we can show others how to live life.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Monday, October 11, 2010
28th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 12-10-10
Galatians 5:1-6 / Luke 11:37-41
There is this story of an old man who was going around planting very small fruit trees.
When he was asked when will those trees bear fruit, he replied : Probably years after I am dead.
So then, why plant them if he wasn't going to enjoy the fruits of his labour?
The old man replied: I didn't find the world empty of fruit trees when I was born. So I am planting these fruit trees for others who will come after me, just as others had did before me.
I narrate this story because I find it interesting that Jesus said in the gospel: Give alms from what you have and then indeed everything will be clean for you.
In the Jewish tradition, charity is represented by righteousness and justice, and the poor are entitled to charity as a matter of right rather than benevolence.
Following from that, the Church also teaches that private acts of charity are considered a Christian duty, and not done for others to admire.
Here Jesus places the primary focus on the motives behind the outward and an inward giving of alms - which should be love (cf Matthew 6:1)
So alms-giving is not just a duty but it also should be an act of love.
Let us also remember what Jesus said in Matthew 25:45 : Whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.
So let us continue to plant trees of life that will bear fruits of love.
It is not just because of duty ; it will also cleanse our souls.
There is this story of an old man who was going around planting very small fruit trees.
When he was asked when will those trees bear fruit, he replied : Probably years after I am dead.
So then, why plant them if he wasn't going to enjoy the fruits of his labour?
The old man replied: I didn't find the world empty of fruit trees when I was born. So I am planting these fruit trees for others who will come after me, just as others had did before me.
I narrate this story because I find it interesting that Jesus said in the gospel: Give alms from what you have and then indeed everything will be clean for you.
In the Jewish tradition, charity is represented by righteousness and justice, and the poor are entitled to charity as a matter of right rather than benevolence.
Following from that, the Church also teaches that private acts of charity are considered a Christian duty, and not done for others to admire.
Here Jesus places the primary focus on the motives behind the outward and an inward giving of alms - which should be love (cf Matthew 6:1)
So alms-giving is not just a duty but it also should be an act of love.
Let us also remember what Jesus said in Matthew 25:45 : Whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.
So let us continue to plant trees of life that will bear fruits of love.
It is not just because of duty ; it will also cleanse our souls.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
28th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 11-10-10
Galatians 4:22-24, 26-27, 31 - 5:1 / Luke 11:29-32 (2019)
There are many lessons we can learn from the events of history and from the peoples of the past.
These events also help us to create a greater awareness of our current situation and we also see that we have many advantages over the peoples of the past.
We may feel anything from feeling sorry to being critical of the people in the gospel passage.
They were asking Jesus for a sign when THE sign was standing right before them.
Jesus could only ask them to reflect upon the events of their own history and upon the lessons of their past, and He quoted two figures of the past for their reflection - Jonah and the Queen of the South.
Similarly Jesus is also asking us to reflect on the events of our history so as to be more aware of our present spiritual state.
Events like our baptism and our experiences of God all point to God's love for us and His mercy and forgiveness of our sins.
We don't need more signs from God. We only need to remember and reflect upon the marvelous deeds He has done for us.
May we also respond to the call of Jesus for repentance and conversion.
There are many lessons we can learn from the events of history and from the peoples of the past.
These events also help us to create a greater awareness of our current situation and we also see that we have many advantages over the peoples of the past.
We may feel anything from feeling sorry to being critical of the people in the gospel passage.
They were asking Jesus for a sign when THE sign was standing right before them.
Jesus could only ask them to reflect upon the events of their own history and upon the lessons of their past, and He quoted two figures of the past for their reflection - Jonah and the Queen of the South.
Similarly Jesus is also asking us to reflect on the events of our history so as to be more aware of our present spiritual state.
Events like our baptism and our experiences of God all point to God's love for us and His mercy and forgiveness of our sins.
We don't need more signs from God. We only need to remember and reflect upon the marvelous deeds He has done for us.
May we also respond to the call of Jesus for repentance and conversion.
Friday, October 8, 2010
27th Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 09-10-10
Galatians 3:22-29 / Luke 11:27-28 (2020)
In the Mass as well as in devotions, there are always hymns of praise.
These hymns are sung to praise and thank the Lord and they are usually sung with feeling and emotion.
Also dynamic and emotive hymns are preferred in order to appeal to the emotions of the people and also to elicit a more fervent response from them.
But where the emotions and the feeling fade off, that is where the real action begins.
Our hymns of praise must also be translated into acts of love for God and neighbour.
That was why in response to the acclamation of praise, Jesus sobered down the emotions to focus on doing the will of God.
As we offer this Mass in honour of our Lady, let us remember that she heard the Word of God, pondered on it and did the will of God in her life.
May we who honour her also learn from her and do God's will in our lives.
In the Mass as well as in devotions, there are always hymns of praise.
These hymns are sung to praise and thank the Lord and they are usually sung with feeling and emotion.
Also dynamic and emotive hymns are preferred in order to appeal to the emotions of the people and also to elicit a more fervent response from them.
But where the emotions and the feeling fade off, that is where the real action begins.
Our hymns of praise must also be translated into acts of love for God and neighbour.
That was why in response to the acclamation of praise, Jesus sobered down the emotions to focus on doing the will of God.
As we offer this Mass in honour of our Lady, let us remember that she heard the Word of God, pondered on it and did the will of God in her life.
May we who honour her also learn from her and do God's will in our lives.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
27th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 08-10-10
Galatians 3:7-14 / Luke 11:15-26
Very often, life is like a paradox; it can be filled with so many strange contradictions.
We might think that when something good is done, people would be simply happy and even rejoice and celebrate.
But yet for every good that is done, there are criticisms and even slanderous remarks that are made that leaves a sour and bitter taste in the mouth.
But that should not be very surprising to us, isn't it?
Because it happened to Jesus. He was doing something good by casting out demons.
Yet some people could even say that He was in cahoots with the devil. Absurd, isn't it?
Maybe it can be said that the most difficult demons to cast out are those that like to criticize, to find fault, to argue regardless of the facts or the truth.
That kind of demonic behaviour exists in each of us.
In this Eucharist, let us ask Jesus to cast out that kind of demonic behaviour in us.
Let us ask Him to cleanse the temple of the Spirit that is within us.
And with Jesus in our hearts, let us gather people into the unity of the Spirit.
Very often, life is like a paradox; it can be filled with so many strange contradictions.
We might think that when something good is done, people would be simply happy and even rejoice and celebrate.
But yet for every good that is done, there are criticisms and even slanderous remarks that are made that leaves a sour and bitter taste in the mouth.
But that should not be very surprising to us, isn't it?
Because it happened to Jesus. He was doing something good by casting out demons.
Yet some people could even say that He was in cahoots with the devil. Absurd, isn't it?
Maybe it can be said that the most difficult demons to cast out are those that like to criticize, to find fault, to argue regardless of the facts or the truth.
That kind of demonic behaviour exists in each of us.
In this Eucharist, let us ask Jesus to cast out that kind of demonic behaviour in us.
Let us ask Him to cleanse the temple of the Spirit that is within us.
And with Jesus in our hearts, let us gather people into the unity of the Spirit.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, Thursday, 07-10-10
Acts 1:12-14 / Luke 1:26-38
The feast of the Holy Rosary was established by Saint Pius V on the anniversary of the naval victory won by the Christian fleet at Lepanto, October 7, 1571. The victory was attributed to the intercession of the holy Mother of God whose aid was invoked through praying the Rosary.
The celebration of this day invites all to mediate upon the mysteries of Christ, following the example of the Blessed Virgin Mary who was so deeply associated with the incarnation, passion and glorious resurrection of the Son of God.
It is believed that God has on many occasions rewarded the faith of those who had recourse to this devotion in times of grave danger.
So besides the naval victory at Lepanto in 1571, there were many other occasions like plagues, disasters, disunity and schisms, where the Church has recourse to the prayer of the Rosary.
The original title was "Our Lady of Victory" but it was changed to the present title to give the devotion and the prayers a wider scope and appeal.
Still we are assured that when we stand by God we need have no fear because God will always be victorious.
And if God is for us, then who and what can be against us. For nothing can ever separate us from the love of God.
The feast of the Holy Rosary was established by Saint Pius V on the anniversary of the naval victory won by the Christian fleet at Lepanto, October 7, 1571. The victory was attributed to the intercession of the holy Mother of God whose aid was invoked through praying the Rosary.
The celebration of this day invites all to mediate upon the mysteries of Christ, following the example of the Blessed Virgin Mary who was so deeply associated with the incarnation, passion and glorious resurrection of the Son of God.
It is believed that God has on many occasions rewarded the faith of those who had recourse to this devotion in times of grave danger.
So besides the naval victory at Lepanto in 1571, there were many other occasions like plagues, disasters, disunity and schisms, where the Church has recourse to the prayer of the Rosary.
The original title was "Our Lady of Victory" but it was changed to the present title to give the devotion and the prayers a wider scope and appeal.
Still we are assured that when we stand by God we need have no fear because God will always be victorious.
And if God is for us, then who and what can be against us. For nothing can ever separate us from the love of God.
Excerpt from Pope Benedict XVI – Angelus Message 10/2/05 …“The month of October is dedicated to the Holy Rosary, the unique contemplative prayer through which, guided by the Lord’s Heavenly Mother, we fix our gaze on the face of the Redeemer in order to be conformed to his joyful, light-filled, sorrowful and glorious mysteries."
So despite its repetitive form, the Rosary invites us to join our Blessed Mother to look at Jesus and to pour out our love for Him.
We can also be assured that like Mary, we too will be filled with grace and that God will work marvels for us and through us.
Let us always remember that with God, nothing is impossible.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
27th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 06-10-10
Galatians 2:1-2, 7-14 / Luke 11:1-4
One of the sports that is really amazing is gymnastics.
The graceful and yet gravity-defying movements are really astonishing and wonderful to see.
We will certainly admire the gymnasts for what they can do on the exercise floor, the parallel bars and the roman rings.
Yet we can also be sure that they have put in many hours of practice, many hours of sweat and pain.
All that just for the sake of sports and maybe for a medal.
Jesus was looked upon by people as a teacher with authority, a healer, a miracle-worker and some may even see the divinity in Him.
More than that, when the disciples saw Him praying, they also knew that the wonderful work He was doing flowed from His prayer.
They too wanted to feel that power and hence they also wanted to learn how to pray and what prayer He used.
Jesus taught them the prayer of the "Our Father" or the "Lord's Prayer".
That is the heart of all the Church's prayer. Obviously it is not meant to be said occasionally or sporadically.
We have to "practice" that prayer constantly - we have to pray it. And it has to go from just saying that prayer to living out that prayer.
We will have to have rigours of "practice" - the monotony, the boredom, the frustration, the doubt.
But when we are faithful to it, we too will experience power flowing out of our prayer, the power of love that flows through our lives towards God and others.
One of the sports that is really amazing is gymnastics.
The graceful and yet gravity-defying movements are really astonishing and wonderful to see.
We will certainly admire the gymnasts for what they can do on the exercise floor, the parallel bars and the roman rings.
Yet we can also be sure that they have put in many hours of practice, many hours of sweat and pain.
All that just for the sake of sports and maybe for a medal.
Jesus was looked upon by people as a teacher with authority, a healer, a miracle-worker and some may even see the divinity in Him.
More than that, when the disciples saw Him praying, they also knew that the wonderful work He was doing flowed from His prayer.
They too wanted to feel that power and hence they also wanted to learn how to pray and what prayer He used.
Jesus taught them the prayer of the "Our Father" or the "Lord's Prayer".
That is the heart of all the Church's prayer. Obviously it is not meant to be said occasionally or sporadically.
We have to "practice" that prayer constantly - we have to pray it. And it has to go from just saying that prayer to living out that prayer.
We will have to have rigours of "practice" - the monotony, the boredom, the frustration, the doubt.
But when we are faithful to it, we too will experience power flowing out of our prayer, the power of love that flows through our lives towards God and others.
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