Jeremiah 31:31-34 / Matthew 16:13-23
In the study of philosophy, there is this classical definition for man, and that is man is a rational animal.
That term is of interest in that as much as man has intellect and free will, he is also nonetheless, a part of the animal kingdom in that he also has needs and has instincts.
And being a rational animal, man also has the power of choice - the choice to believe in God or not, and also the choice to serve God or not.
The people of God in the 1st reading knew who God is and believed in God. Yet they also chose to disobey God and to be unfaithful to Him.
So even though God made a covenant with them, they broke it, and so God said in the 1st reading: They broke that covenant of mine, so I had to show them who was master.
Putting in bluntly, when man does not acknowledge God as his Master, then he becomes the master of his own destruction.
Yet God has written His covenant of love deep in our hearts, and hence we are also able to acknowledge Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Yes, Jesus is our Lord and Master. Yet it is not just about words or ideas. We are to follow our Lord and Master in how He serves and suffers for the sins of mankind.
When we do not acknowledge Jesus as our Lord and Master and follow His Law of love, then we are not any more rational than just another animal.
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
18th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 08-08-12
Jeremiah 31:1-7 / Matthew 15:21-28
Normally we are quite in control of our emotions. Whether we are happy or sad, we would not be too expressive about our emotions.
Of course there are times when it is difficult to hold back our emotions, like for example at a funeral when we might be overcome with sadness, or at a birthday celebration where we will revelling in joy and happiness.
Yet no matter what, we won't lose control of ourselves and go around wailing in sadness or shouting with excitement.
Yet the 1st reading is telling the people of God to shout with joy and not to hold back their emotions, and for a good reason.
Indeed, the Lord has saved His people and certainly it calls for a celebration; hence very expressive words are used - Proclaim! Praise! Shout!
Certainly salvation is not a light matter that does not evoke any emotions. Because the salvation is from a very real evil - suffering, pain, oppression, slavery, torture and death.
And we can also be sure that the Canaanite woman would be shouting with joy that her daughter was delivered from evil and was well again.
She was not only persistent, she was also more desperate for her daughter and she was shouting her plea for Jesus to save her daughter.
In the end, she would be shouting for joy and praising the Lord for saving her daughter.
Yes, as the Responsorial Psalm would put it: The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards His flock.
Yes the Lord God is our Saviour. That is something to shout about, and more also to give thanks and praise.
Normally we are quite in control of our emotions. Whether we are happy or sad, we would not be too expressive about our emotions.
Of course there are times when it is difficult to hold back our emotions, like for example at a funeral when we might be overcome with sadness, or at a birthday celebration where we will revelling in joy and happiness.
Yet no matter what, we won't lose control of ourselves and go around wailing in sadness or shouting with excitement.
Yet the 1st reading is telling the people of God to shout with joy and not to hold back their emotions, and for a good reason.
Indeed, the Lord has saved His people and certainly it calls for a celebration; hence very expressive words are used - Proclaim! Praise! Shout!
Certainly salvation is not a light matter that does not evoke any emotions. Because the salvation is from a very real evil - suffering, pain, oppression, slavery, torture and death.
And we can also be sure that the Canaanite woman would be shouting with joy that her daughter was delivered from evil and was well again.
She was not only persistent, she was also more desperate for her daughter and she was shouting her plea for Jesus to save her daughter.
In the end, she would be shouting for joy and praising the Lord for saving her daughter.
Yes, as the Responsorial Psalm would put it: The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards His flock.
Yes the Lord God is our Saviour. That is something to shout about, and more also to give thanks and praise.
Monday, August 6, 2012
18th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 07-08-12
Jeremiah 30:1-2, 12-15, 18-22 / Matthew 14:22-36
It is always necessary to be cautious whenever we put anything into writing.
That is because the written word cannot be changed, and it can have a long term effect, if not a lasting effect.
Especially when writing about God. All the more, caution must be exercised.
Yet God Himself didn't seem to hold back any sentiments when He told the prophet Jeremiah to put His words down in writing, as we heard in the 1st reading.
Certainly we can feel the cutting edge of those words addressed to the people - your wound is incurable, your injury past healing. There is no one to care for your sore, no medicine to make you well again. Why bother to complain about your wound? Your pain is incurable.
Yet, as much as God lets His people be punished by their enemies for their sins and infidelities, God is also there to heal and restore His people.
So, for as much as His people turned away from God, He still keeps His promise - You shall be my people and I will be your God.
And Jesus would reinforce that promise by saying to His disciples - Courage, it is I! Do not be afraid.
So whether we are walking tall in the sunshine of confidence or spiralling down into the murky waters of darkness, let us keep those three words of Peter - Lord! Save me!
Yes, those three simple words will certainly bring about salvation and healing for us.
It is always necessary to be cautious whenever we put anything into writing.
That is because the written word cannot be changed, and it can have a long term effect, if not a lasting effect.
Especially when writing about God. All the more, caution must be exercised.
Yet God Himself didn't seem to hold back any sentiments when He told the prophet Jeremiah to put His words down in writing, as we heard in the 1st reading.
Certainly we can feel the cutting edge of those words addressed to the people - your wound is incurable, your injury past healing. There is no one to care for your sore, no medicine to make you well again. Why bother to complain about your wound? Your pain is incurable.
Yet, as much as God lets His people be punished by their enemies for their sins and infidelities, God is also there to heal and restore His people.
So, for as much as His people turned away from God, He still keeps His promise - You shall be my people and I will be your God.
And Jesus would reinforce that promise by saying to His disciples - Courage, it is I! Do not be afraid.
So whether we are walking tall in the sunshine of confidence or spiralling down into the murky waters of darkness, let us keep those three words of Peter - Lord! Save me!
Yes, those three simple words will certainly bring about salvation and healing for us.
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Transfiguration of the Lord, Monday, 06-08-12
Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 / 2 Peter 1:16-19 / Mark 9:2-10 (2022 / 2025)
The Transfiguration is one of the the significant events in the gospel narratives about Jesus. The other significant events are Baptism, Crucifixion, Resurrection and Ascension.
Like the other significant events, it is about Jesus and it reveals His identity as well as His mission.
Certainly there is no speculation about the voice from heaven and its content - "This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him."
And the setting on the mountain with the appearance of the Moses and Elijah point to the meaning of the event.
And that is, in Jesus, the Law and the prophesies of the Old Testament has been fulfilled.
Also in Jesus, divinity has dwelt among humanity, and in Jesus is the connecting point and the bridge between heaven and earth.
So for those who believe in who Jesus is, there can be no other alternative options in life to follow.
As St. Peter would say in the 2nd reading, his faith in Jesus is not any cleverly invented myth, otherwise everything will fall apart sooner or later.
And for us who profess our faith in Jesus, then He will be the lamp lighting our way through the dark until the dawn comes and the morning star rises in our minds.
Yes, we have to listen to Him as the voice of the Father has commanded us to do.
When we listen, and truly believe, we too will change and be "transfigured" like Jesus.
The Transfiguration is one of the the significant events in the gospel narratives about Jesus. The other significant events are Baptism, Crucifixion, Resurrection and Ascension.
Like the other significant events, it is about Jesus and it reveals His identity as well as His mission.
Certainly there is no speculation about the voice from heaven and its content - "This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him."
And the setting on the mountain with the appearance of the Moses and Elijah point to the meaning of the event.
And that is, in Jesus, the Law and the prophesies of the Old Testament has been fulfilled.
Also in Jesus, divinity has dwelt among humanity, and in Jesus is the connecting point and the bridge between heaven and earth.
So for those who believe in who Jesus is, there can be no other alternative options in life to follow.
As St. Peter would say in the 2nd reading, his faith in Jesus is not any cleverly invented myth, otherwise everything will fall apart sooner or later.
And for us who profess our faith in Jesus, then He will be the lamp lighting our way through the dark until the dawn comes and the morning star rises in our minds.
Yes, we have to listen to Him as the voice of the Father has commanded us to do.
When we listen, and truly believe, we too will change and be "transfigured" like Jesus.
Saturday, August 4, 2012
18th Ordinary Sunday, Year B, 05.08.2012
Exodus 16:2-4, 12-15/ Ephesian 4:17, 20-24/ John 6:24-35
We are in the midst of one of the greatest sporting events, or should I say the greatest sporting event, and I am sure you know I am talking about the Olympics – the 2012 London Olympics.
Across the media, there are live telecasts of the sporting events, and medal updates and the record-breakers.
To be in this spectacular sporting event is every athlete’s dream; to get through the qualifiers and to be in the finals means that you are among the best.
To win a medal, and especially a gold medal, is not just something – that would be everything.
Yes, the Olympics is no ordinary sporting event; the athletes are also no ordinary athletes.
It is the time to show the world how good you are among the best; and for some, it is now or never ever.
That’s why the Olympic motto is – Citius, Altius, Fortius (Faster, Higher, Stronger)
The Olympic Creed is longer and maybe more inspiring, and part of it goes like this – The most important thing is not to win, but to take part.
That is indeed a very noble Creed, and it is an expression of the true spirit of Olympic sportsmanship.
It may be noble, but is that possible? To be in the Olympics just to “take part” sounds incredible, because all the athletes would go for “Faster, Higher, Stronger”.
We can say that for ourselves too. We won’t be contended with just having a life. We want to be “Faster, Higher, Stronger” than the rest. And we would want even more; we want to win!
And we can say the same about the people who were looking for Jesus, the people that we heard about in the gospel.
Even Jesus pointed it out to them by saying – I tell you most solemnly, you are not looking for me because you have seen the signs, but because you had all the bread you wanted to eat.
In other words, the people were just concerned with having enough to eat, and not just enough, but that there will be more to eat, more food, a never ending supply of food.
And hence Jesus brought the people back to the sign – it is not just about more food.
Jesus said : Do not work for food that cannot last, but work for food that endures to eternal life, the food that He Himself is offering.
And so what kind of food is that? And how to work for that kind of food?
Jesus gave a very intriguing answer : The work that must be done is to believe in the one God has sent.
Well, to believe in Jesus is indeed very hard work.
It may mean that we have to give up the food of this world, and the glittering medals of fame and success.
In the Olympic arena, if you can be faster, higher and stronger than the competition, and get those gold medals, then you can be assured to be fed with fame, popularity and money.
Let me bring you back to the 1936 Olympics held in Berlin, Germany. At that time, Adolf Hitler was using that great sporting event to show the world a resurgent Nazi Germany, and that the German athletes would dominate the games and win the medals, so as to propagate the so-called superior Aryan race.
It was the qualifying round for the long jump event.
The German long jumper Luz Long was the European record holder, whereas the American Jesse Owens was the world record holder.
It was an event to watch, because it was like Germany vs America.
Luz Long had qualified for the finals ,and even set an Olympic record during the qualifying round.
But Jesse Owens had surprisingly fouled on his first two jumps (he stepped over the line) and he was getting quite desperate and nervous about his last jump. It’s either he qualifies or he is out.
It was then that Luz Long went over to Jesse Owens and advised him in halting English, to jump from a spot several inches before the line, and he would easily qualify for the finals without having to try so hard.
And of course, a calmer, steadier, Jesse Owens took his third jump and qualified for the finals.
And in the exciting finals of the long jump event, Jesse Owens out-jumped Luz Long to win the gold medal.
Luz Long took the silver medal, and in true Olympian sportsmanship, he was the first to congratulate Jesse Owens on his victory.
They posed together for photos and walked arm-in-arm to the dressing room.
Jesse Owens said later: It took a lot of courage for Luz Long to befriend me in front of Hitler. You can melt down all the medals and cups I have won, and they wouldn’t be a plating on the 24-karat friendship that I felt for Luz Long at that moment.
So in the greatest sporting event, where everyone, including your own countryman is your competitor on the track-and-field, there was true sportsmanship, and even fellowship.
Indeed, the most important thing is not about winning, but to take part.
For Luz Long and Jesse Owens, they took part and they became good friends and also became a part of each other’s lives.
And that is what Jesus said in the gospel – that He came down from heaven, to be the bread of our lives, to be the living bread that will give us life and everlasting life.
So for us, life is not about being faster, higher and stronger. That would only leave us being thirsty and hungry for more and more.
The 2nd reading would call that an aimless kind of life that is corrupted by illusionary desires.
That kind of aimless life is fed with the bread of slavery, and yet we will be tempted by that kind of bread which makes us want to go faster, higher and stronger, and go for more and more, and yet we will still feel hungry and thirsty for more.
Jesus offers us the bread of life, the bread of freedom, the bread of fellowship, the bread that makes us a part of Jesus and also a part of each other.
One more thing about Luz Long and Jesse Owens. After the Olympics, they continued their friendship through correspondence.
But war broke out in 1939, and Luz Long was drafted into the German army, and was killed in action in 1943.
In his last letter to Jesse Owens, Luz Long had a request. He asked Jesse Owens to look for his son in Berlin, and to tell him about the friendship between a tall blond German gentleman, and an Afro-American son of an Alabama farm worker.
The letter ended off profoundly with this statement: Tell my son about how things can be between men on earth.
Luz Long and Jesse Owens may have jumped to win the silver and gold medals. But they won more than that.
They won each other’s respect, and won a great friendship.
We may never have a chance to take part in the Olympics.
We may not win any silver and gold medals.
But we have Jesus, our bread of life, so that we will never be hungry or thirsty again.
So silver and gold we may have none, but let us give each other what we have.
Let us give each other Jesus, and with Jesus, let us also give a part of ourselves.
We are in the midst of one of the greatest sporting events, or should I say the greatest sporting event, and I am sure you know I am talking about the Olympics – the 2012 London Olympics.
Across the media, there are live telecasts of the sporting events, and medal updates and the record-breakers.
To be in this spectacular sporting event is every athlete’s dream; to get through the qualifiers and to be in the finals means that you are among the best.
To win a medal, and especially a gold medal, is not just something – that would be everything.
Yes, the Olympics is no ordinary sporting event; the athletes are also no ordinary athletes.
It is the time to show the world how good you are among the best; and for some, it is now or never ever.
That’s why the Olympic motto is – Citius, Altius, Fortius (Faster, Higher, Stronger)
The Olympic Creed is longer and maybe more inspiring, and part of it goes like this – The most important thing is not to win, but to take part.
That is indeed a very noble Creed, and it is an expression of the true spirit of Olympic sportsmanship.
It may be noble, but is that possible? To be in the Olympics just to “take part” sounds incredible, because all the athletes would go for “Faster, Higher, Stronger”.
We can say that for ourselves too. We won’t be contended with just having a life. We want to be “Faster, Higher, Stronger” than the rest. And we would want even more; we want to win!
And we can say the same about the people who were looking for Jesus, the people that we heard about in the gospel.
Even Jesus pointed it out to them by saying – I tell you most solemnly, you are not looking for me because you have seen the signs, but because you had all the bread you wanted to eat.
In other words, the people were just concerned with having enough to eat, and not just enough, but that there will be more to eat, more food, a never ending supply of food.
And hence Jesus brought the people back to the sign – it is not just about more food.
Jesus said : Do not work for food that cannot last, but work for food that endures to eternal life, the food that He Himself is offering.
And so what kind of food is that? And how to work for that kind of food?
Jesus gave a very intriguing answer : The work that must be done is to believe in the one God has sent.
Well, to believe in Jesus is indeed very hard work.
It may mean that we have to give up the food of this world, and the glittering medals of fame and success.
In the Olympic arena, if you can be faster, higher and stronger than the competition, and get those gold medals, then you can be assured to be fed with fame, popularity and money.
Let me bring you back to the 1936 Olympics held in Berlin, Germany. At that time, Adolf Hitler was using that great sporting event to show the world a resurgent Nazi Germany, and that the German athletes would dominate the games and win the medals, so as to propagate the so-called superior Aryan race.
It was the qualifying round for the long jump event.
The German long jumper Luz Long was the European record holder, whereas the American Jesse Owens was the world record holder.
It was an event to watch, because it was like Germany vs America.
Luz Long had qualified for the finals ,and even set an Olympic record during the qualifying round.
But Jesse Owens had surprisingly fouled on his first two jumps (he stepped over the line) and he was getting quite desperate and nervous about his last jump. It’s either he qualifies or he is out.
It was then that Luz Long went over to Jesse Owens and advised him in halting English, to jump from a spot several inches before the line, and he would easily qualify for the finals without having to try so hard.
And of course, a calmer, steadier, Jesse Owens took his third jump and qualified for the finals.
And in the exciting finals of the long jump event, Jesse Owens out-jumped Luz Long to win the gold medal.
Luz Long took the silver medal, and in true Olympian sportsmanship, he was the first to congratulate Jesse Owens on his victory.
They posed together for photos and walked arm-in-arm to the dressing room.
Jesse Owens said later: It took a lot of courage for Luz Long to befriend me in front of Hitler. You can melt down all the medals and cups I have won, and they wouldn’t be a plating on the 24-karat friendship that I felt for Luz Long at that moment.
So in the greatest sporting event, where everyone, including your own countryman is your competitor on the track-and-field, there was true sportsmanship, and even fellowship.
Indeed, the most important thing is not about winning, but to take part.
For Luz Long and Jesse Owens, they took part and they became good friends and also became a part of each other’s lives.
And that is what Jesus said in the gospel – that He came down from heaven, to be the bread of our lives, to be the living bread that will give us life and everlasting life.
So for us, life is not about being faster, higher and stronger. That would only leave us being thirsty and hungry for more and more.
The 2nd reading would call that an aimless kind of life that is corrupted by illusionary desires.
That kind of aimless life is fed with the bread of slavery, and yet we will be tempted by that kind of bread which makes us want to go faster, higher and stronger, and go for more and more, and yet we will still feel hungry and thirsty for more.
Jesus offers us the bread of life, the bread of freedom, the bread of fellowship, the bread that makes us a part of Jesus and also a part of each other.
One more thing about Luz Long and Jesse Owens. After the Olympics, they continued their friendship through correspondence.
But war broke out in 1939, and Luz Long was drafted into the German army, and was killed in action in 1943.
In his last letter to Jesse Owens, Luz Long had a request. He asked Jesse Owens to look for his son in Berlin, and to tell him about the friendship between a tall blond German gentleman, and an Afro-American son of an Alabama farm worker.
The letter ended off profoundly with this statement: Tell my son about how things can be between men on earth.
Luz Long and Jesse Owens may have jumped to win the silver and gold medals. But they won more than that.
They won each other’s respect, and won a great friendship.
We may never have a chance to take part in the Olympics.
We may not win any silver and gold medals.
But we have Jesus, our bread of life, so that we will never be hungry or thirsty again.
So silver and gold we may have none, but let us give each other what we have.
Let us give each other Jesus, and with Jesus, let us also give a part of ourselves.
Friday, August 3, 2012
17th Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 04-08-12
Jeremiah 26:11-16, 24 / Matthew 14:1-12
Whether it is in the Bible or in the lives of people in general, it cannot be denied that a spark of light remains, no matter how enveloping the darkness may be.
And the spark of light in the depths of the hearts of human beings longs for truth and beauty, goodness and justice.
And God will always stir the hearts of human beings to stand for justice and protect the innocent.
In the 1st reading, we heard that the priests and prophets seized Jeremiah and wanted the officials and the people to join them to pronounce a death sentence on Jeremiah.
Yet after hearing what Jeremiah had to say, the officials and the people came to Jeremiah's defence and protected him from being executed.
We can say that the spark of light in the hearts of the officials and the people stirred them to see the truth of the words of Jeremiah, and to stand on the side of justice and goodness.
Similarly, in the gospel, the heart of Herod was stirred when he heard about the reputation of Jesus, and it brought back memories of how he had unjustly ordered the execution of John the Baptist.
Yes, the spark of God's light will always stir the truth and beauty, goodness and justice in our hearts, especially in face of wickedness and evil.
It was by these stirrings that the prophet Jeremiah was saved. It was also in these stirrings that the memory of Herod was pricked as he recalled the death of John the Baptist.
May the light of God stir up the truth and beauty, goodness and justice in us so that we will walk humbly in the right path and do what is just and right.
Whether it is in the Bible or in the lives of people in general, it cannot be denied that a spark of light remains, no matter how enveloping the darkness may be.
And the spark of light in the depths of the hearts of human beings longs for truth and beauty, goodness and justice.
And God will always stir the hearts of human beings to stand for justice and protect the innocent.
In the 1st reading, we heard that the priests and prophets seized Jeremiah and wanted the officials and the people to join them to pronounce a death sentence on Jeremiah.
Yet after hearing what Jeremiah had to say, the officials and the people came to Jeremiah's defence and protected him from being executed.
We can say that the spark of light in the hearts of the officials and the people stirred them to see the truth of the words of Jeremiah, and to stand on the side of justice and goodness.
Similarly, in the gospel, the heart of Herod was stirred when he heard about the reputation of Jesus, and it brought back memories of how he had unjustly ordered the execution of John the Baptist.
Yes, the spark of God's light will always stir the truth and beauty, goodness and justice in our hearts, especially in face of wickedness and evil.
It was by these stirrings that the prophet Jeremiah was saved. It was also in these stirrings that the memory of Herod was pricked as he recalled the death of John the Baptist.
May the light of God stir up the truth and beauty, goodness and justice in us so that we will walk humbly in the right path and do what is just and right.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
17th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 03-08-12
Jeremiah 26:1-9 / Matthew 13:54-58
To be alone is quite different from loneliness. Loneliness is an unpleasant feeling of emptiness and isolation.
Loneliness is painful because human beings are by nature social beings and they seek company and relationships.
To be alone does not mean that one is not a social being or does not want human company and relationships.
To be alone may mean that in standing for one's beliefs and principles, one may be left standing alone.
In today's readings, we see two men who had to stand alone for what they believed in.
In the 1st reading, the prophet Jeremiah had yet another oracle from the Lord to proclaim, and it was another tough one for the people to hear.
He not only found himself standing alone but alone against the powerful religious authority who can make a demand for his life.
As a prophet, Jeremiah was not accepted because he only had "bad" news for the people.
In the gospel, Jesus would highlight that a prophet is not accepted among his own people. He too had to stand alone in the face of rejection and even opposition.
When we have to stand alone for our beliefs and principles, and especially when we have to stand for God, we will not be standing alone.
When we stand for God, He will never leave us alone.
To be alone is quite different from loneliness. Loneliness is an unpleasant feeling of emptiness and isolation.
Loneliness is painful because human beings are by nature social beings and they seek company and relationships.
To be alone does not mean that one is not a social being or does not want human company and relationships.
To be alone may mean that in standing for one's beliefs and principles, one may be left standing alone.
In today's readings, we see two men who had to stand alone for what they believed in.
In the 1st reading, the prophet Jeremiah had yet another oracle from the Lord to proclaim, and it was another tough one for the people to hear.
He not only found himself standing alone but alone against the powerful religious authority who can make a demand for his life.
As a prophet, Jeremiah was not accepted because he only had "bad" news for the people.
In the gospel, Jesus would highlight that a prophet is not accepted among his own people. He too had to stand alone in the face of rejection and even opposition.
When we have to stand alone for our beliefs and principles, and especially when we have to stand for God, we will not be standing alone.
When we stand for God, He will never leave us alone.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)