Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Thank you for the affirmation and encouragement that you have given me for the running of this blog. As I will be away on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, there will be no posts from 21 Nov till 5 Dec. Blog posts will resume on 6 Dec. Please keep me and my fellow pilgrims in your prayers.
Thank you and God bless you,
Fr Stephen Yim
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Friday, November 18, 2011
33rd Week in Ordinary Time, Saturday, 19-11-11
1 Maccabees 6:3-13 / Luke 20:27-40 (2019)
The ambition of man can be so astounding and amazing, and can even have no bounds.
Man has even gone out of his world and gone to the moon and even explored the solar system.
Yet he may have gone so far out of himself that he may not be able to see what is so near and so important to him.
In the 1st reading, we heard how king Antiochus had great ambitions in his military campaigns.
But when everything fell apart, he also fell into a lethargy from acute disappointment and melancholy until he understood that he was dying.
He regretted the wrong he did, especially the wrong he did to God in Jerusalem. He regretted, but was it too late?
We too have our ambitions in life and plans for the future. But are these plans just about the future or are they about eternity?
As Jesus said in the gospel, God, is not God of the dead, but of the living.
If our lives and our plans are all just about ourselves, then we may not know who the God of the living is.
King Antiochus is showing us a very important lesson today. Don't wait till it is too late and end up regretting. Because it might be for eternity.
The ambition of man can be so astounding and amazing, and can even have no bounds.
Man has even gone out of his world and gone to the moon and even explored the solar system.
Yet he may have gone so far out of himself that he may not be able to see what is so near and so important to him.
In the 1st reading, we heard how king Antiochus had great ambitions in his military campaigns.
But when everything fell apart, he also fell into a lethargy from acute disappointment and melancholy until he understood that he was dying.
He regretted the wrong he did, especially the wrong he did to God in Jerusalem. He regretted, but was it too late?
We too have our ambitions in life and plans for the future. But are these plans just about the future or are they about eternity?
As Jesus said in the gospel, God, is not God of the dead, but of the living.
If our lives and our plans are all just about ourselves, then we may not know who the God of the living is.
King Antiochus is showing us a very important lesson today. Don't wait till it is too late and end up regretting. Because it might be for eternity.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
33rd Week in Ordinary Time, Friday, 18-11-11
1 Maccabees 4:36-37, 52-59 / Luke 19:45-48
The house of God is indeed a holy place. It is a sanctuary of prayer and worship, a place where we come to meet God.
Hence it goes without saying that we won't do anything disrespectful or even think of committing any sin in this holy place.
For example we won't bring in food here to eat, or behave in a disrespectful manner, simply because we know we are in the house of God and we must have reverence for God.
In the 1st reading we heard how important it was for Judas and his brothers to purify the sanctuary and dedicate it back to God once their enemies were defeated.
With much rejoicing and gladness, they dedicated the altar and it was for them a symbol that God is with them and blessing them.
Yet in the gospel we saw how Jesus had to use force to drive out those who were committing defilement in the Temple.
Jesus made it clear that there must be no defilement in the Temple, in His Father's house.
Now, we know that we are the temples of the Holy Spirit, we are the temples of God.
We should not tolerate any sin, any defilement, in our hearts because that would turn our hearts into a robbers' den.
In this Eucharist, let us offer our hearts to the Lord to be cleansed, so that we can offer Him a pure sacrifice and may we continue to live a pure and holy life.
The house of God is indeed a holy place. It is a sanctuary of prayer and worship, a place where we come to meet God.
Hence it goes without saying that we won't do anything disrespectful or even think of committing any sin in this holy place.
For example we won't bring in food here to eat, or behave in a disrespectful manner, simply because we know we are in the house of God and we must have reverence for God.
In the 1st reading we heard how important it was for Judas and his brothers to purify the sanctuary and dedicate it back to God once their enemies were defeated.
With much rejoicing and gladness, they dedicated the altar and it was for them a symbol that God is with them and blessing them.
Yet in the gospel we saw how Jesus had to use force to drive out those who were committing defilement in the Temple.
Jesus made it clear that there must be no defilement in the Temple, in His Father's house.
Now, we know that we are the temples of the Holy Spirit, we are the temples of God.
We should not tolerate any sin, any defilement, in our hearts because that would turn our hearts into a robbers' den.
In this Eucharist, let us offer our hearts to the Lord to be cleansed, so that we can offer Him a pure sacrifice and may we continue to live a pure and holy life.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
33rd Week in Ordinary Time, Thursday, 16-11-11
1 Maccabees 2:15-29 / Luke 19:41-11
Whenever it comes to conflict and hostility, the Church would urge for peace through dialogue, and dialogue at the table of reconciliation.
But unfortunately, the call for peace through dialogue and reconciliation would go unheeded, resulting in war and violence and bloodshed and loss of innocent lives.
And when we reflect upon the numerous wars and devastation and loss of lives that had happened and that is still happening, we will come upon this eerie fact.
It is not that humanity wants wars and devastation; it is just that we don't want peace.
That might sound strange but the fact is that peace can only come about with forgiveness and reconciliation.
That was the message of Jesus in the gospel - that peace for His people can only happen when they repent and ask for forgiveness and be reconciled with God and with each other.
That is the message for us too. If our hearts are not at peace because of resentment and anger, or even hatred and revenge, then it is time to ask God for forgiveness and healing.
Sin and evil can never bring us peace of heart. So let us heed that sign in our hearts and ask for forgiveness in the Sacrament of Reconciliation so that peace can begin with us.
Whenever it comes to conflict and hostility, the Church would urge for peace through dialogue, and dialogue at the table of reconciliation.
But unfortunately, the call for peace through dialogue and reconciliation would go unheeded, resulting in war and violence and bloodshed and loss of innocent lives.
And when we reflect upon the numerous wars and devastation and loss of lives that had happened and that is still happening, we will come upon this eerie fact.
It is not that humanity wants wars and devastation; it is just that we don't want peace.
That might sound strange but the fact is that peace can only come about with forgiveness and reconciliation.
That was the message of Jesus in the gospel - that peace for His people can only happen when they repent and ask for forgiveness and be reconciled with God and with each other.
That is the message for us too. If our hearts are not at peace because of resentment and anger, or even hatred and revenge, then it is time to ask God for forgiveness and healing.
Sin and evil can never bring us peace of heart. So let us heed that sign in our hearts and ask for forgiveness in the Sacrament of Reconciliation so that peace can begin with us.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
33rd Week in Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 16-11-11
2 Maccabees 7:1, 20-31 / Luke 19:11-28 (2019)
Whenever we hear of the term "Judgement Day" just what are the feelings and thoughts that we get?
It is certainly a day of reckoning, a time when we have to give an account of our lives, and only we ourselves know what kind of an account to give.
Because out of our own mouths we will pronounce judgement on ourselves.
In the gospel parable, that was what the master told the servant who kept the pound and did nothing with it.
Knowing what was expected and yet not bothering about it certainly calls for accountability and punishment.
So what is expected of us? The 1st reading gives a terrible account of what it means to be faithful to God and to do what is expected of us.
We may not have to face that kind of physical torture and torment when it comes to keeping faith in God.
Yet in our trials and temptations, we will surely face the spiritual torture and torment of the evil one to sin and go against God.
The evil one will also entice us with lies and deception to take the soft and easy way and slowly walk into the blindness of darkness.
Yes we need to pray that the Lord will deliver us from evil and to grant us the grace to live a holy life so that we can sincerely give an account of our lives on Judgement Day.
Whenever we hear of the term "Judgement Day" just what are the feelings and thoughts that we get?
It is certainly a day of reckoning, a time when we have to give an account of our lives, and only we ourselves know what kind of an account to give.
Because out of our own mouths we will pronounce judgement on ourselves.
In the gospel parable, that was what the master told the servant who kept the pound and did nothing with it.
Knowing what was expected and yet not bothering about it certainly calls for accountability and punishment.
So what is expected of us? The 1st reading gives a terrible account of what it means to be faithful to God and to do what is expected of us.
We may not have to face that kind of physical torture and torment when it comes to keeping faith in God.
Yet in our trials and temptations, we will surely face the spiritual torture and torment of the evil one to sin and go against God.
The evil one will also entice us with lies and deception to take the soft and easy way and slowly walk into the blindness of darkness.
Yes we need to pray that the Lord will deliver us from evil and to grant us the grace to live a holy life so that we can sincerely give an account of our lives on Judgement Day.
Monday, November 14, 2011
33rd Week in Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 15-11-11
2 Maccabees 6:18-31 / Luke 19:1-10
In life, we have our values and priorities, and whoever lives up to these values and priorities will certainly be our role models in life.
So if our values lie in strength and might, then we would certainly admire one who may have the strength of Samson.
If we treasure religious values, then we will admire people like Eleazar and Zachaeus in today's readings.
Eleazar was an old man, just the kind of person the persecutors did not fear, and even actually look upon in comtempt.
But the old man showed a deep religious strength, when he preferred to die rather than make a pretence of eating the forbidden meat.
His death summed up what his life was all about, as well as his faith in God.
Zachaeus was also a person looked upon with comtempt, not ony because he was a hated tax collector, but also because he was small in stature.
Yet, after his encounter with Jesus, he showed spiritual strength to change what was wrong in his life.
As we reflect on today's readings, it is good to wonder if we had ever been inspirations for others by our faith and by our values in life.
One of the highest human responsibilities is also one of the easiest.
And that is to inspire and encourage others by how we live our lives and our faith.
May we continue to fight the good fight, run the race to the finish and keep the faith to the end.
In life, we have our values and priorities, and whoever lives up to these values and priorities will certainly be our role models in life.
So if our values lie in strength and might, then we would certainly admire one who may have the strength of Samson.
If we treasure religious values, then we will admire people like Eleazar and Zachaeus in today's readings.
Eleazar was an old man, just the kind of person the persecutors did not fear, and even actually look upon in comtempt.
But the old man showed a deep religious strength, when he preferred to die rather than make a pretence of eating the forbidden meat.
His death summed up what his life was all about, as well as his faith in God.
Zachaeus was also a person looked upon with comtempt, not ony because he was a hated tax collector, but also because he was small in stature.
Yet, after his encounter with Jesus, he showed spiritual strength to change what was wrong in his life.
As we reflect on today's readings, it is good to wonder if we had ever been inspirations for others by our faith and by our values in life.
One of the highest human responsibilities is also one of the easiest.
And that is to inspire and encourage others by how we live our lives and our faith.
May we continue to fight the good fight, run the race to the finish and keep the faith to the end.
Friday, November 11, 2011
32nd Week in Ordinary Time, Saturday, 12-11-11
Wisdom 18:14-16; 19:6-9 / Luke 18:1-8 (2019)
There is no doubt that God listens to our prayers. And God would certainly pay attention to earnest and persevering prayers, and of course prayers made with faith.
But if we think that God is not answering our prayers, then maybe we have to see what our prayers are all about.
In other words, we have to listen to our own prayers, for a change.
Prayer is not about trying to change God's mind or God's will.
It would be rather absurd to assume that if we say long and persistent prayers, God would finally give in and grant us what we want.
Rather prayer is an act of faith and it is the source of strength which will empower us.
It is with prayer that we will continue to strive for justice and work for peace.
It may mean that we come to realize and accept that some things cannot be changed immediately.
It may also mean that we put our trust in God and believe that with God, nothing is impossible.
Whatever it may be, our earnest and persistent prayer should bring our wills to conform to God's will.
It is God's will "to see justice done, and done speedily".
As the 1st reading assures us, God will keep His children from all harm.
With faith in our prayer, we will see amazing miracles, we will be like horses at pasture, we will skip like lambs, singing our praises to the Lord our deliverer.
There is no doubt that God listens to our prayers. And God would certainly pay attention to earnest and persevering prayers, and of course prayers made with faith.
But if we think that God is not answering our prayers, then maybe we have to see what our prayers are all about.
In other words, we have to listen to our own prayers, for a change.
Prayer is not about trying to change God's mind or God's will.
It would be rather absurd to assume that if we say long and persistent prayers, God would finally give in and grant us what we want.
Rather prayer is an act of faith and it is the source of strength which will empower us.
It is with prayer that we will continue to strive for justice and work for peace.
It may mean that we come to realize and accept that some things cannot be changed immediately.
It may also mean that we put our trust in God and believe that with God, nothing is impossible.
Whatever it may be, our earnest and persistent prayer should bring our wills to conform to God's will.
It is God's will "to see justice done, and done speedily".
As the 1st reading assures us, God will keep His children from all harm.
With faith in our prayer, we will see amazing miracles, we will be like horses at pasture, we will skip like lambs, singing our praises to the Lord our deliverer.
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