Sirach 3:19-21, 30-31 / Heb 12:18-19 / Luke 14:1, 7-14
It is said that a proud man can learn humility but he will be proud of it.
Pride is the scourge of humanity and it has brought about the first Fall and countless misery.
Well, it was pride that changed angels into devils.
Having said all that about pride, it is also necessary to look at its counterpart - humility.
It is humility that makes men as angels; the Lord turns His eyes on the lowly and the humble.
Indeed the first test of a truly great person is his humility.
Yet humility does not mean that one looks down on himself, or to have a poor self esteem, or does not have self-respect or dignity.
That would be like false humility or a warped understanding of humility.
Maybe putting it simply "humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less" (C. S. Lewis)
Having said all this about humility, it would be helpful to have practical ways of humility.
Below are 10 ways that humility can be put into practice.
1. Listen without interrupting (Proverbs 18)
2. Speak without accusing (James 1:19)
3. Give without sparing (Proverbs 21:26)
4. Pray without ceasing (Colossians 1:9)
5. Answer without arguing (Proverbs 17:1)
6. Share without pretending (Ephesians 4:15)
7. Enjoy without complaining (Philippians 2:14)
8. Trust without wavering (1 Cor 13:7)
9. Forgive without punishing (Colossians 3:13)
10. Promise without forgetting (Proverbs 13:12)
Yes, we can live without pride, and humility is not just the key to living but also the key to loving.
Saturday, August 31, 2013
Friday, August 30, 2013
21st Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 31-08-13
1 Thess 4:9-11 / Matthew 25:14-30 (2025)
There is a story of a rat who fell into a bin of rice. At first it tried to get out but it was not possible as the walls of the bin are steep.
Since there was rice all around, it began to feed itself. And after a while, it was enjoying itself inside the bin.
There was food, there was security, and all it needed do was to literally eat and sleep.
But one day, the rice ran out, and the rat, by then obese and over-weight, realized that it couldn't get out of the bin any more and would eventually die of starvation.
One of the lessons about life that we can learn from this story is that when things are going easy and there are no difficulties and challenges, we got to be careful.
Because we will be getting careless and lax and we might be sliding into a hole in which we would not be able to get out.
In the gospel parable, the servant who buried his one talent in the ground was called "wicked and lazy" by his master.
We may think that the master was rather harsh with his words and in his treatment of that servant.
But it is a pointed reminder for us who are servants of God that we must labour in the field of love and to bear of harvest for the Lord, as St. Paul would remind the Thessalonians in the 1st reading.
Not to struggle and labour for love of God and neighbour would mean that we slowly dry up and waste away the love that God has given us.
There is a story of a rat who fell into a bin of rice. At first it tried to get out but it was not possible as the walls of the bin are steep.
Since there was rice all around, it began to feed itself. And after a while, it was enjoying itself inside the bin.
There was food, there was security, and all it needed do was to literally eat and sleep.
But one day, the rice ran out, and the rat, by then obese and over-weight, realized that it couldn't get out of the bin any more and would eventually die of starvation.
One of the lessons about life that we can learn from this story is that when things are going easy and there are no difficulties and challenges, we got to be careful.
Because we will be getting careless and lax and we might be sliding into a hole in which we would not be able to get out.
In the gospel parable, the servant who buried his one talent in the ground was called "wicked and lazy" by his master.
We may think that the master was rather harsh with his words and in his treatment of that servant.
But it is a pointed reminder for us who are servants of God that we must labour in the field of love and to bear of harvest for the Lord, as St. Paul would remind the Thessalonians in the 1st reading.
Not to struggle and labour for love of God and neighbour would mean that we slowly dry up and waste away the love that God has given us.
Thursday, August 29, 2013
21st Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 30-08-13
1 Thess 4:1-8 / Matthew 25:1-13
Mention the word "sex" and there might be various kind of reactions.
People might be uncomfortable with that word and its implications, and hence they react. Some emotions are stirred and people might get defensive.
We know reactions when we see it. In fact, some people on the other side will intentionally stoke the fires, especially when they know we will react. They know if they poke we will coil up and be ready to react in a full way.
In the 1st reading, St. Paul was not out to say anything repulsive or offensive to the Thessalonians.
But he did use words like "fornication" and "selfish lust" so as to highlight how wrong it was because it was sinful and it was against what God made us to be and what He wants us to be.
Among other things, God made us to be sexual beings and sex is meant to be a holy act that is consummated in the sanctity of marriage.
Yet when human beings forget that the holy fire of love is created by God, then they will turn to immorality and allow the fire into a lust that will burn up and destroy relationships.
Like the five wise bridesmaids in the gospel parable, let us keep the fire of holiness burning bright in our lives.
It would be foolish to let this fire burn out because of a lack of prayer. Because when the fire of God's love is put out by our carelessness, then the fire of lust and immorality will arise and devour and destroy us.
Mention the word "sex" and there might be various kind of reactions.
People might be uncomfortable with that word and its implications, and hence they react. Some emotions are stirred and people might get defensive.
We know reactions when we see it. In fact, some people on the other side will intentionally stoke the fires, especially when they know we will react. They know if they poke we will coil up and be ready to react in a full way.
But he did use words like "fornication" and "selfish lust" so as to highlight how wrong it was because it was sinful and it was against what God made us to be and what He wants us to be.
Among other things, God made us to be sexual beings and sex is meant to be a holy act that is consummated in the sanctity of marriage.
Yet when human beings forget that the holy fire of love is created by God, then they will turn to immorality and allow the fire into a lust that will burn up and destroy relationships.
Like the five wise bridesmaids in the gospel parable, let us keep the fire of holiness burning bright in our lives.
It would be foolish to let this fire burn out because of a lack of prayer. Because when the fire of God's love is put out by our carelessness, then the fire of lust and immorality will arise and devour and destroy us.
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
The Passion of St. John the Baptist, Thursday, 29-08-13
Jeremiah 1:17-19 / Mark 6:17-29
Today's gospel for the memorial of the Passion of St. John the Baptist has a rather intriguing sentence that sticks out like an extra digit on a finger of a hand.
The mood of the passage would have flowed quite well except for this sentence: When he heard him speak, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he liked to listen to him.
Why was Herod perplexed when he listened to John the Baptist speak, and yet he liked to listen to him?
Given the historical facts about Herod, it would be quite obvious that he would have ordered the head of John the Baptist to be lopped off before he could finish saying anything about Herod and Herodias.
But Herod being Herod, he probably wanted to watch John the Baptist die a slow and painful death for saying such embarrassing things about him.
Yet that hideous desire slowly became a great perplexity for him. But he stilled liked to listen to John the Baptist.
Logically it may sound strange but that's the power of the Word of God. It comforts those who are disturbed but disturbs those who are comfortable.
And the Word of God is to be proclaimed by prophets such as John the Baptist and by Jeremiah (1st reading).
And the Word of God is to be proclaimed by us who are baptized into the prophetic mission of Jesus.
It may mean that we are to stick out and cause others to be perplexed. But deep in the heart of hearts we still want to hear the Word of God. The question is what are we going to do about it?
Today's gospel for the memorial of the Passion of St. John the Baptist has a rather intriguing sentence that sticks out like an extra digit on a finger of a hand.
The mood of the passage would have flowed quite well except for this sentence: When he heard him speak, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he liked to listen to him.
Why was Herod perplexed when he listened to John the Baptist speak, and yet he liked to listen to him?
Given the historical facts about Herod, it would be quite obvious that he would have ordered the head of John the Baptist to be lopped off before he could finish saying anything about Herod and Herodias.
But Herod being Herod, he probably wanted to watch John the Baptist die a slow and painful death for saying such embarrassing things about him.
Yet that hideous desire slowly became a great perplexity for him. But he stilled liked to listen to John the Baptist.
Logically it may sound strange but that's the power of the Word of God. It comforts those who are disturbed but disturbs those who are comfortable.
And the Word of God is to be proclaimed by prophets such as John the Baptist and by Jeremiah (1st reading).
And the Word of God is to be proclaimed by us who are baptized into the prophetic mission of Jesus.
It may mean that we are to stick out and cause others to be perplexed. But deep in the heart of hearts we still want to hear the Word of God. The question is what are we going to do about it?
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
21st Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 28-08-13
1 Thess 2:9-13 / Matthew 23:27-32
There is quite a difference between the parenting styles of a father and a mother.
Mothers tend to have an emotionally nurturing role and they talk more to their children, and they tend to "talk-out" the issues involving discipline.
Fathers, on the other hand, tend to be more keen on helping and challenging their children to face the real world, and from a disciplinary standpoint, they tend to impose consequences more quickly and then talk later.
So it may be a male tendency to eradicate and eliminate what is obstructing and opposing them.
In the gospel, Jesus brought out a sore point from the past. He admonished the scribes and Pharisees by saying that they were doing exactly what their fathers had done in the past - they shed the blood of the prophets.
Yes, they had learnt well from their fathers and there was no denying it that they were doing exactly what their fathers did.
Certainly that was not a very positive image of fatherhood. But then the 1st reading gives a view on the other side of the coin.
St. Paul told the Thessalonians that he worked hard for them, and treated them right and fair, just as how a good father would treat his children.
A good father would teach his children what is right, encouraging them and appealing to them to live a life worthy of God so that they would have a share in God's kingdom.
And that is not just about fathers. Any good teacher, superior, manager, leader is called to do likewise.
And for every Christian, one of the spiritual works of mercy is to instruct the ignorant.
So let us live a life worthy of God, and then we will be able to teach others what is right and good.
There is quite a difference between the parenting styles of a father and a mother.
Mothers tend to have an emotionally nurturing role and they talk more to their children, and they tend to "talk-out" the issues involving discipline.
Fathers, on the other hand, tend to be more keen on helping and challenging their children to face the real world, and from a disciplinary standpoint, they tend to impose consequences more quickly and then talk later.
So it may be a male tendency to eradicate and eliminate what is obstructing and opposing them.
In the gospel, Jesus brought out a sore point from the past. He admonished the scribes and Pharisees by saying that they were doing exactly what their fathers had done in the past - they shed the blood of the prophets.
Yes, they had learnt well from their fathers and there was no denying it that they were doing exactly what their fathers did.
Certainly that was not a very positive image of fatherhood. But then the 1st reading gives a view on the other side of the coin.
St. Paul told the Thessalonians that he worked hard for them, and treated them right and fair, just as how a good father would treat his children.
A good father would teach his children what is right, encouraging them and appealing to them to live a life worthy of God so that they would have a share in God's kingdom.
And that is not just about fathers. Any good teacher, superior, manager, leader is called to do likewise.
And for every Christian, one of the spiritual works of mercy is to instruct the ignorant.
So let us live a life worthy of God, and then we will be able to teach others what is right and good.
Monday, August 26, 2013
21st Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 27-08-13
1 Thess 2:1-8 / Matthew 23:23-26
Spiritual gifts are quite awesome as well as worrisome.
Because they can command a lot of authority, and yet they can also be abused.
The gifts of preaching and healing are two spiritual gifts that can turn people to God or turn people away from God.
In other words, they can be used to magnify God or they can be used to multiply personal gains.
In the 1st reading, St. Paul stressed on the possibility of abuse in the preaching of the Good News.
He warned the missionaries of the early Church not to preach for money or honour or power or authority.
Rather, like a mother feeding and looking after her own children, they should preach with love and devotion.
In doing so, they not only preach the Good News, but they preach by also handing over their lives.
In the gospel, Jesus reprimanded the scribes and Pharisees for not putting into practice what they preach, and also they neglected the fundamentals of the Good News - justice, mercy and good faith.
Where there is no love in the preaching, then there will also be no healing and conversion.
Regardless of whether we are a preacher or just an ordinary parishioner, we are judged by the fruits we bear in our lives.
Spiritual gifts are quite awesome as well as worrisome.
Because they can command a lot of authority, and yet they can also be abused.
The gifts of preaching and healing are two spiritual gifts that can turn people to God or turn people away from God.
In other words, they can be used to magnify God or they can be used to multiply personal gains.
In the 1st reading, St. Paul stressed on the possibility of abuse in the preaching of the Good News.
He warned the missionaries of the early Church not to preach for money or honour or power or authority.
Rather, like a mother feeding and looking after her own children, they should preach with love and devotion.
In doing so, they not only preach the Good News, but they preach by also handing over their lives.
In the gospel, Jesus reprimanded the scribes and Pharisees for not putting into practice what they preach, and also they neglected the fundamentals of the Good News - justice, mercy and good faith.
Where there is no love in the preaching, then there will also be no healing and conversion.
Regardless of whether we are a preacher or just an ordinary parishioner, we are judged by the fruits we bear in our lives.
Sunday, August 25, 2013
21st Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 26-08-13
1 Thes 1:1-5, 8-10 / Matthew 23:13-22
It can be quite amazing to think about the influence and power we can have over people.
What we say and what we do can influence others, be it for better or for worse.
And more often than not we see that power being used for the worse.
In the gospel, Jesus gave an example of how others can be adversely affected by our bad influence.
He said to the scribes and Pharisees: You who shut up the kingdom of heaven in men's faces, neither going in yourself nor allowing others to go in who want to. You who travel over sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when you have him, you make him twice as fit for hell as you are.
Those are very grave and shocking words but nonetheless it shows the reality of the devastating power and influence that we can have over others.
But on the other hand, we are also capable of influencing others to rise above the sludge of this world and to reach for heaven.
In the 1st reading, we heard how St. Paul gave thanks to God for the community at Thessalonika.
But it was he who preached to them the Good News and helped them to break from idolatry and were converted to God and became servants of the true and living God. They showed their faith in action, worked for love and persevered through hope in the Lord Jesus Christ.
So we have a choice: we can be like the scribes and Pharisees and have a devastating power and influence over others or we can be like St. Paul who was an instrument of God's saving grace for the Thessalonians.
Yes, we can choose, and let us pray that we will choose to be signs that will point others towards heaven.
It can be quite amazing to think about the influence and power we can have over people.
What we say and what we do can influence others, be it for better or for worse.
And more often than not we see that power being used for the worse.
In the gospel, Jesus gave an example of how others can be adversely affected by our bad influence.
He said to the scribes and Pharisees: You who shut up the kingdom of heaven in men's faces, neither going in yourself nor allowing others to go in who want to. You who travel over sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when you have him, you make him twice as fit for hell as you are.
Those are very grave and shocking words but nonetheless it shows the reality of the devastating power and influence that we can have over others.
But on the other hand, we are also capable of influencing others to rise above the sludge of this world and to reach for heaven.
In the 1st reading, we heard how St. Paul gave thanks to God for the community at Thessalonika.
But it was he who preached to them the Good News and helped them to break from idolatry and were converted to God and became servants of the true and living God. They showed their faith in action, worked for love and persevered through hope in the Lord Jesus Christ.
So we have a choice: we can be like the scribes and Pharisees and have a devastating power and influence over others or we can be like St. Paul who was an instrument of God's saving grace for the Thessalonians.
Yes, we can choose, and let us pray that we will choose to be signs that will point others towards heaven.
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