Jeremiah 11:18-20 / John 7:40-52
The fastest and easiest way to come to a conclusion is to make an assumption.
An assumption is to take something for granted, a supposition.
Whether it is a correct or an incorrect assumption, we usually begin by saying "I think ..."
But when the assumption is wrong, then the conclusion is also wrong.
In today's gospel, there were a lot of assumptions made about Jesus and specifically about His identity.
In the midst of these assumptions, an unexpected challenge came from Nicodemus.
He challenged the people to give Jesus a hearing and to discover for themselves who Jesus was.
But the assumptions far outnumbered and eventually drowned out the challenge.
We too have our own assumptions about who Jesus is.
We also need to verify our assumptions about Jesus.
It is about moving from "I think that Jesus loves me" to saying "I know that Jesus loves me".
Friday, March 31, 2017
Thursday, March 30, 2017
4th Week of Lent, Friday, 31-03-17
Wisdom 2:1, 12-22 / John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30
We know what the famous Golden Rule is. It is taught by religious teachers and can also be found in the Bible (Matthew 7:12; Luke 6:31)
The common phrasing is "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you". Putting it in another way, then it is "Do not do unto others what you do not want done unto you".
That rule applies in the normal and usual situations and circumstances of life.
However, there is an area where that rule does not apply or cannot be applied. That rule cannot be applied to the devil and his agents.
The fact is that evil does not have rules. We can't rationalise with evil nor can we come to an agreement with evil, such as, if we don't bother about it then it shouldn't bother about us. Evil does not go by that.
In the 1st reading, we see how the godless and evil people treat the virtuous and good people, when they say: Let us test him and cruelty and with torture, explore his gentleness, put his endurance to the test, condemn him to a shameful death.
There is no reason for them to do that but that is what evil is all about and what the agents of the devil will do to the good and virtuous people.
Similarly in the gospel, we heard of the intention to kill Jesus, even though He had not done anything wrong that He would have to pay for with His life. But such is the irrationality of evil intentions. There is no need for a reason to harm and kill the good and virtuous.
As we are confronted with these evil motives, we would be worried and anxious about what evil people will do to us and our hearts weighed down with fear.
But as the Responsorial Psalm puts it: The Lord is close to the broken-hearted.
Also, as we participate in the devotion of the Way of the Cross, let us ask Jesus to strengthen our faith as we stand firm against evil. Let us walk with Jesus along the Way of the Cross and we will be victorious over evil.
We know what the famous Golden Rule is. It is taught by religious teachers and can also be found in the Bible (Matthew 7:12; Luke 6:31)
The common phrasing is "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you". Putting it in another way, then it is "Do not do unto others what you do not want done unto you".
That rule applies in the normal and usual situations and circumstances of life.
However, there is an area where that rule does not apply or cannot be applied. That rule cannot be applied to the devil and his agents.
The fact is that evil does not have rules. We can't rationalise with evil nor can we come to an agreement with evil, such as, if we don't bother about it then it shouldn't bother about us. Evil does not go by that.
In the 1st reading, we see how the godless and evil people treat the virtuous and good people, when they say: Let us test him and cruelty and with torture, explore his gentleness, put his endurance to the test, condemn him to a shameful death.
There is no reason for them to do that but that is what evil is all about and what the agents of the devil will do to the good and virtuous people.
Similarly in the gospel, we heard of the intention to kill Jesus, even though He had not done anything wrong that He would have to pay for with His life. But such is the irrationality of evil intentions. There is no need for a reason to harm and kill the good and virtuous.
As we are confronted with these evil motives, we would be worried and anxious about what evil people will do to us and our hearts weighed down with fear.
But as the Responsorial Psalm puts it: The Lord is close to the broken-hearted.
Also, as we participate in the devotion of the Way of the Cross, let us ask Jesus to strengthen our faith as we stand firm against evil. Let us walk with Jesus along the Way of the Cross and we will be victorious over evil.
Wednesday, March 29, 2017
4th Week of Lent, Thursday, 30-03-17
Exodus 32:7-14 / John 5:31-47
The one thing that creates some problems for us and makes us feel aged is this thing called forgetfulness.
Forgetfulness afflicts everybody, and especially when we are no longer that young and we forget this and that, then we become the butt of jokes.
Anyway, if our individual forgetfulness can give us problems, how about the forgetfulness of a nation?
Certainly, it would be disastrous, as in the case of Israel.
It was not that long ago since they experienced the liberation from Egypt and the miraculous parting of the Red Sea.
But soon they forgot about the God who saved them and they created an idol in the image of an animal!
In fact, forgetfulness is too lame a word to be used here.
The word should be stupidity. The Israelites were stupid enough to forget, and for that they wandered in the desert for 40 years just to have their memory corrected.
The 40 days of Lent is indeed a time for us to recall and remember the saving acts of God and the wonderful graces He poured into our lives so that we won't forget the meaning of love and mercy.
It is also a time to cleanse ourselves of other distractions that have come into our lives that make us lose focus and forget about God in our lives.
For it is to God alone that we must say: You alone are my God.
Forgetfulness afflicts everybody, and especially when we are no longer that young and we forget this and that, then we become the butt of jokes.
Anyway, if our individual forgetfulness can give us problems, how about the forgetfulness of a nation?
Certainly, it would be disastrous, as in the case of Israel.
It was not that long ago since they experienced the liberation from Egypt and the miraculous parting of the Red Sea.
But soon they forgot about the God who saved them and they created an idol in the image of an animal!
In fact, forgetfulness is too lame a word to be used here.
The word should be stupidity. The Israelites were stupid enough to forget, and for that they wandered in the desert for 40 years just to have their memory corrected.
The 40 days of Lent is indeed a time for us to recall and remember the saving acts of God and the wonderful graces He poured into our lives so that we won't forget the meaning of love and mercy.
It is also a time to cleanse ourselves of other distractions that have come into our lives that make us lose focus and forget about God in our lives.
For it is to God alone that we must say: You alone are my God.
Tuesday, March 28, 2017
4th Week of Lent, Wednesday, 29-03-17
Isaiah 49:8-15 / John 5:17-30
Words are powerful. We use words to convey our ideas and concepts.
We use words to express our feelings and our convictions.
Although at times we feel that there are just too many words with nothing much to convey.
We also just heard a lot of words from the 1st reading and the gospel.
But these words will just remain as words unless we hear something more.
When we hear the voice of Jesus behind those words, then those words become powerful. Then those words become life-giving.
Jesus said that whoever listens to His words has eternal life.
To have eternal life means that we will live our lives the way that Jesus wants us to live.
That means we must live a life that is free from sin and wrong-doing, so that we know what peace and joy and love and the fullness of life is all about.
And whenever we have our needs, we just have to present it to the Lord in prayer.
As the Lord said in the 1st reading: At the favourable time I will answer you.
Those are powerful words of God's promises. May we listen to them, so that we will have life.
Words are powerful. We use words to convey our ideas and concepts.
We use words to express our feelings and our convictions.
Although at times we feel that there are just too many words with nothing much to convey.
We also just heard a lot of words from the 1st reading and the gospel.
But these words will just remain as words unless we hear something more.
When we hear the voice of Jesus behind those words, then those words become powerful. Then those words become life-giving.
Jesus said that whoever listens to His words has eternal life.
To have eternal life means that we will live our lives the way that Jesus wants us to live.
That means we must live a life that is free from sin and wrong-doing, so that we know what peace and joy and love and the fullness of life is all about.
And whenever we have our needs, we just have to present it to the Lord in prayer.
As the Lord said in the 1st reading: At the favourable time I will answer you.
Those are powerful words of God's promises. May we listen to them, so that we will have life.
Monday, March 27, 2017
4th Week of Lent, Tuesday, 28-03-17
Ezekiel 1-9, 12 / John 5:1-3, 5-16
It is interesting to note that the words "listen" and "silent" are spelled with the same letters.
That may also indicate to us that in order to truly listen, we have to be silent. That is the basic principle of communication.
But the biggest communication problem is that we do not listen to understand. Rather, we listen to reply.
Because even as the other person is speaking, we are already forming ideas so as to give a reply.
And in that process we are already not listening clearly to the question, nor clearly understanding the question.
In the gospel, Jesus asked the man who was ill for thirty-eight years this question: Do you want to to be well again?
It was a simple straightforward question that required just a "Yes" or "No" answer.
However the man did,n't give a "Yes" or "No" reply. Instead he went into a litany of reasons as to why he couldn't get into the pool in time.
Maybe after 38 years of disappointment and resignation, this had become his standard answer to whatever question it was about his illness and his need for healing.
As for us, we too may have our standard answers as to why our problems are not solved or our needs not met.
But today Jesus is asking us this question: Do you want to be well again?
Let us be silent as we listen and ponder on that question. May we understand that question and come to experience what Jesus wants to do for us.
It is interesting to note that the words "listen" and "silent" are spelled with the same letters.
That may also indicate to us that in order to truly listen, we have to be silent. That is the basic principle of communication.
But the biggest communication problem is that we do not listen to understand. Rather, we listen to reply.
Because even as the other person is speaking, we are already forming ideas so as to give a reply.
And in that process we are already not listening clearly to the question, nor clearly understanding the question.
In the gospel, Jesus asked the man who was ill for thirty-eight years this question: Do you want to to be well again?
It was a simple straightforward question that required just a "Yes" or "No" answer.
However the man did,n't give a "Yes" or "No" reply. Instead he went into a litany of reasons as to why he couldn't get into the pool in time.
Maybe after 38 years of disappointment and resignation, this had become his standard answer to whatever question it was about his illness and his need for healing.
As for us, we too may have our standard answers as to why our problems are not solved or our needs not met.
But today Jesus is asking us this question: Do you want to be well again?
Let us be silent as we listen and ponder on that question. May we understand that question and come to experience what Jesus wants to do for us.
Sunday, March 26, 2017
4th Week of Lent, Monday, 27-03-17
Isaiah 65:17-21 / John 4:43-54
This period of Lent is especially for the Elects of the Church to prepare for the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil.
They are prepared to go through this final preparation with fasting, prayer and alms-giving over the 40-day period.
They are prepared to go through this because they have a faith-story to tell.
It is essentially a deep experience of God and His love for them that drives them to look forward for their baptism.
In short, these Elects have experienced what God did for them in their journey of life and journey of faith.
It is not a question of what God might do for them. Rather, it is about what God will do for them.
Even we, who are already Catholics, can learn a lot from these Elects, just as we can learn from the court official in today's gospel.
The court official chose to believe in Jesus and that He will cure his son.
Today's gospel presents us with a challenge to renew and deepen our faith in Jesus and in what He has promised us.
Jesus does not tell us "Maybe". Jesus tells us that "it will be".
Let us believe in Jesus, so that as the 1st reading puts it, we will be renewed in "Joy" and "Gladness".
This period of Lent is especially for the Elects of the Church to prepare for the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil.
They are prepared to go through this final preparation with fasting, prayer and alms-giving over the 40-day period.
They are prepared to go through this because they have a faith-story to tell.
It is essentially a deep experience of God and His love for them that drives them to look forward for their baptism.
In short, these Elects have experienced what God did for them in their journey of life and journey of faith.
It is not a question of what God might do for them. Rather, it is about what God will do for them.
Even we, who are already Catholics, can learn a lot from these Elects, just as we can learn from the court official in today's gospel.
The court official chose to believe in Jesus and that He will cure his son.
Today's gospel presents us with a challenge to renew and deepen our faith in Jesus and in what He has promised us.
Jesus does not tell us "Maybe". Jesus tells us that "it will be".
Let us believe in Jesus, so that as the 1st reading puts it, we will be renewed in "Joy" and "Gladness".
Saturday, March 25, 2017
4th Sunday of Lent, Year A, 26.03.2017
1 Sam 16:1, 6-7, 10-13 / Ephesians 5:8-14 / John 9:1-41
It is not often that we are asked to describe ourselves.
Probably the few occasions that we will be asked to describe ourselves are at group ice-breaking dynamics where we are asked to introduce ourselves.
To describe ourselves would be relatively easy. At least we should be able to describe ourselves with sentences beginning with “I am …”
We can begin with something obvious like: I am Chinese; I am medium-built; I am an executive. Or we can say what we have: I have short hair; I have brown eyes, etc.
But of course we won’t describe what is obvious about ourselves, or what is often taken for granted, e.g. I can see, I can hear, I can talk, I can walk. These don’t seem to be like such a big deal.
But for the blind man in today’s gospel, if he were asked to describe himself, he would probably begin with: I am blind.
It was obvious enough. It was his impediment. And for some, it was some sort of curse that he was born blind.
At least that was what the disciples thought when they asked Jesus: Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, for him to have been born blind?
It seems that when things go wrong, or when something bad happens, there is this tendency to put the blame on someone.
A story goes that a man bumped heavily onto another man on the street, and so he asked angrily, “Why don’t you look where you are going?” The other man retorted, “Then why don’t you go where you are looking?”
So, is it to look where you are going, or to go where you are looking? Is it the same? Or is there a difference?
If we were to look where we are going, and go where we are looking, then there will certainly be less accidents.
The blind man in today’s gospel had his eyes opened and he could see. More than just being able to see, he could also look deeper into his experience of being healed of his blindness.
While others were squabbling over what Jesus did on the Sabbath day, the man has this to say: I only know I was blind but now I see.
And he was clear about the whole matter when he said this of Jesus: If this man were not from God, he couldn’t do a thing.
So although we can see, do we see with clarity about the events of our lives, and more so to see Jesus present in those events of our lives?
We may remember the attack on the Twin Towers , the event that is now known as “9/11”. Some stories surfaced on why some people were still alive although they could have been numbers among the victims.
One survived that day because his son started kindergarten and had to take leave.
Another had to run an office errand so he wasn’t present in the office at the time of the attack.
Another was late because her alarm clock didn’t go off.
Another missed the bus and couldn’t get a taxi. Another one’s car couldn’t start. Another one’s child fell ill and had to go to the doctor.
One or another, they couldn’t go where they were supposed to, and neither could they see what was going to happen.
And because of that, they are still alive. And now they know why.
We too know why, and more than that, we can see the hand of Jesus in those events, just as the blind man eventually saw that he was born blind so that the works of God could be displayed in him.
And hence his profound testimony: I was blind and now I can see. That was also how he described himself after he was healed.
As for us, how do we describe ourselves? The words following “I am … “ are important because we dictate what is coming after.
So if we say “I am busy” then we will have no time. If we say “I am tired” then we will have no energy. If we say “I am old” then there will be more wrinkles!
But do we know how Jesus looks at us? And when we know how Jesus looks at us, then we will know how to describe ourselves.
Because we will say: I am a sinner, but I am saved. Because I am saved, then I am blessed. And because I am blessed, then I am thankful.
And because I am thankful, then every event in my life is beautiful because I can see Jesus in all those events and in every event to come.
“I was blind but now I can see” said the blind man in the gospel.
May we also see, and see more with our hearts, so that we will describe to others, how great and how wonderful our God is.
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