Zechariah 8:20-23 / Luke 9:51-56
One of the popular pilgrimages that is available is a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
For some Christians, it is their hope to go to the Holy Land at least once in their lifetime, so as to visit the land that Jesus Christ, the God-who-became-man, set foot on, and to experience the history and mystery of the land that God had blessed and given to Abraham and his descendants.
Certainly, if we go to the Holy Land and when we can resist spending our time and energy taking too many photos and buying too many souvenirs, then we would be able to have a spiritual experience.
As the 1st reading puts it, many peoples and great nations will come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favour of the Lord.
It continues by saying that ten men from every language will take a Jew by the sleeve and say, "We want to go with you (to Jerusalem) since we have learnt that God is with you."
Yes Jerusalem is a city blessed by God and to go there for a pilgrimage is to entreat the favour of the Lord and invoke His blessings.
But what Jerusalem is in the Old Testament, the Church is in the New Testament. The Church is also the place to seek the Lord of hosts and to entreat the favour of the Lord and to seek His blessings.
If the 1st reading says that ten men from every language will take a Jew by the sleeve and want to follow him to Jerusalem, then has anyone ever asked us to bring them to Church because they want to seek Jesus and ask for His blessings?
But if no one ever asked us, could it be because we never shared with them about why we go to Church and what we do there and how we have experienced God's blessings?
Let us be like those messengers in gospel that Jesus sent. The Church is also the dwelling place of God and a place to entreat the favour of the Lord. But we have to tell others about it and bring them to Church for them to experience the blessings of the Lord.
Monday, October 2, 2017
Sunday, October 1, 2017
The Holy Guardian Angels, Monday, 02-10-17
Exodus 23:20-23 / Matthew 18:1-5, 10
Do we know the meaning of the initials BFF? Well it stands for Best Friend Forever. It seems to be more popular with the young as they look among their peers for someone who would be their best friend, and even like forever.
But it is not just the young who have this desire for a someone who would be their best friend.
We too, would want someone to be our best friend, our true friend, someone who will always be there for us. But we may also know how difficult it is to find a friend like that, maybe even impossible.
But a best friend or a true friend is not just a label. It is a promise. Because a best friend is someone who makes your problems their problems, so that you don't have to go through them alone.
We may have different best friends at various stages of our lives, but blessed are those who have the same best friend in all the stages of their lives.
And the good news is that each of us has such a friend. Because God has blessed each of us with a Guardian Angel. It is a promise, as we heard it in the 1st reading, the Lord says this: I myself will send an angel before you to guard you as you go and to bring you to the place that I have prepared.
But we also must acknowledge our Guardian Angels and give them reverence and listen to all that they say, because they echo the voice of God.
And just as an angel was sent to comfort Jesus in His agony in the garden, our Guardian Angels will also sit silently beside us when we are hurting or troubled or in distress.
And when we count our blessings, let us not forget about our Guardian Angel who is the promise of God.
So let us honour our Guardian Angels with this very simple prayer: Angel of God my guardian dear. To whom God's love commits me here. Ever this day be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.
Do we know the meaning of the initials BFF? Well it stands for Best Friend Forever. It seems to be more popular with the young as they look among their peers for someone who would be their best friend, and even like forever.
But it is not just the young who have this desire for a someone who would be their best friend.
We too, would want someone to be our best friend, our true friend, someone who will always be there for us. But we may also know how difficult it is to find a friend like that, maybe even impossible.
But a best friend or a true friend is not just a label. It is a promise. Because a best friend is someone who makes your problems their problems, so that you don't have to go through them alone.
We may have different best friends at various stages of our lives, but blessed are those who have the same best friend in all the stages of their lives.
And the good news is that each of us has such a friend. Because God has blessed each of us with a Guardian Angel. It is a promise, as we heard it in the 1st reading, the Lord says this: I myself will send an angel before you to guard you as you go and to bring you to the place that I have prepared.
But we also must acknowledge our Guardian Angels and give them reverence and listen to all that they say, because they echo the voice of God.
And just as an angel was sent to comfort Jesus in His agony in the garden, our Guardian Angels will also sit silently beside us when we are hurting or troubled or in distress.
And when we count our blessings, let us not forget about our Guardian Angel who is the promise of God.
So let us honour our Guardian Angels with this very simple prayer: Angel of God my guardian dear. To whom God's love commits me here. Ever this day be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.
Saturday, September 30, 2017
26th Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 01.10.2017
Ezekiel 18:25-28 / Philippians 2:1-11 / Matthew 21:28-32
Exams are a major part in the life of a student. Exam time is also probably the most religious time in the life of most students. One rather funny prayer before the exam the next day is this: As I lay me down to rest, I pray I pass tomorrow’s test. If I should die before I wake, that’s one less test I’ll have to take.
But exams can be so strange. Some statistics have it that 80% of the exam questions are based on that one lecture you didn’t attend and on that one book you didn’t read. When that happens then it’s poetry time: Tick tock, mind block, pen stop, eye pop, full shock, jaw drop, time's up, no luck.
But even when the exams are over, the anxiety comes next. Because there will be the results of the exams and that will be the time of reckoning.
Those who scored “A”s will be in the limelight and will get praises and rewards. But in the shadows are those at the end of the spectrum, those who are graded “F” or bluntly speaking, the failures.
In the exam grading scale, “F” stands for fail. In the social grading scale, “F” can also stand for forgotten. In the eyes of society, the failures are forgotten and there are not many who will feel sorry for them.
But we need to remember that failure is not the opposite of success; failure is part of success. In fact, failure is the mother of success, and we learn more from failure than from success.
One thing that can be learnt is that failure is not final, and failure can be good, as long as it doesn’t become a habit.
So if your child gets an “F” for the exam, “F” of course means fail, please go easy on the child. FAIL can also mean “First Attempt In Learning”.
After all, failure is just a bruise, not a tattoo. And failure is just an event in the life of the person; failure is not equal to the person.
Of course, this is not meant to encourage failure, but just to give encouragement in the event of failure. As it is said, if plan “A” doesn’t work, then the alphabet still has 25 more letters.
In the gospel, Jesus is highlighting a category of people who live in the shadows of society, and He pointed them out as the tax-collectors and prostitutes, in short, all those who are considered the failures of society.
Generally speaking, failures can be divided into two classes: those who thought about it but never did anything about it, and those who did it but never thought about it.
In a way, the tax-collectors and prostitutes, those so-called sinners, just did it and never thought about it. And since they had already done wrong, they stayed in the shadows of society and never thought much about it.
Until they heard John the Baptist preach about repentance and forgiveness, then they thought better of it, and as Jesus said of them, they are making their way into the kingdom of God. Yes, they have learnt from their failures and showing it in repentance.
They are like the first son in the parable, who refused to go and work in his father’s vineyard. But afterwards he thought better of it and went.
On the other hand, the second son thought about it, and he even said yes to his father, but then never did anything about it.
The teaching of Jesus in the gospel is about repentance, and that is expressed in that phrase “thought better of it”.
And that is also how we learn from failure. We need to think better of it, so as to learn from it, and to gain from it and even to make a success out of it.
And that is how we need to look at persons who have failed, to see failure as just an event in the person’s life and not failure as a person. We need to think better of it, so that the person can move on in life and become a “success” in life.
There is a story of a couple had a few children. All were normal and intelligent. Except one who had Down’s Syndrome and hence, was slow and different from the rest.
The couple took joy in their other children but for this special child, they had to swallow their disappointment and embarrassment.
At times, they even asked themselves why they were burdened with such a child. It seems that they will have to care for him all their lives.
As the years went by, the rest of their children got married and left home to start their own families. As the couple became older, their children also became busier with their own families.
Naturally, the couple felt lonelier with all their children gone. Except for one, the slow “special” one. Because of his inabilities and disabilities, he obviously had to stay with his parents.
In the past, the parents thought of him as a burden and an obstacle to their freedom in life. But now, the old couple realized that he is the only one who is with them day and night.
Once upon a time, he had to depend on them and they have to fend for him. Now that they are in their lonely old age, it is they who have to depend on him despite his inabilities and disabilities.
This story opens our minds to those whom society deem as failures or liabilities, people who are left in the shadows and forgotten, just like those tax-collectors and prostitutes in the gospel.
The gospel reminds us that when the message of repentance is preached to them, they responded more quickly and readily accepted the Good News of salvation.
In fact, despite their failures in almost every sense of the word, they showed that they thought better of it and did what God wanted of them.
When we can think better of those who failed, whether in academics or in life, and see how they are responding to the call of God, then we will be able to follow them in making the way to heaven.
Exams are a major part in the life of a student. Exam time is also probably the most religious time in the life of most students. One rather funny prayer before the exam the next day is this: As I lay me down to rest, I pray I pass tomorrow’s test. If I should die before I wake, that’s one less test I’ll have to take.
But exams can be so strange. Some statistics have it that 80% of the exam questions are based on that one lecture you didn’t attend and on that one book you didn’t read. When that happens then it’s poetry time: Tick tock, mind block, pen stop, eye pop, full shock, jaw drop, time's up, no luck.
But even when the exams are over, the anxiety comes next. Because there will be the results of the exams and that will be the time of reckoning.
Those who scored “A”s will be in the limelight and will get praises and rewards. But in the shadows are those at the end of the spectrum, those who are graded “F” or bluntly speaking, the failures.
In the exam grading scale, “F” stands for fail. In the social grading scale, “F” can also stand for forgotten. In the eyes of society, the failures are forgotten and there are not many who will feel sorry for them.
But we need to remember that failure is not the opposite of success; failure is part of success. In fact, failure is the mother of success, and we learn more from failure than from success.
One thing that can be learnt is that failure is not final, and failure can be good, as long as it doesn’t become a habit.
So if your child gets an “F” for the exam, “F” of course means fail, please go easy on the child. FAIL can also mean “First Attempt In Learning”.
After all, failure is just a bruise, not a tattoo. And failure is just an event in the life of the person; failure is not equal to the person.
Of course, this is not meant to encourage failure, but just to give encouragement in the event of failure. As it is said, if plan “A” doesn’t work, then the alphabet still has 25 more letters.
In the gospel, Jesus is highlighting a category of people who live in the shadows of society, and He pointed them out as the tax-collectors and prostitutes, in short, all those who are considered the failures of society.
Generally speaking, failures can be divided into two classes: those who thought about it but never did anything about it, and those who did it but never thought about it.
In a way, the tax-collectors and prostitutes, those so-called sinners, just did it and never thought about it. And since they had already done wrong, they stayed in the shadows of society and never thought much about it.
Until they heard John the Baptist preach about repentance and forgiveness, then they thought better of it, and as Jesus said of them, they are making their way into the kingdom of God. Yes, they have learnt from their failures and showing it in repentance.
They are like the first son in the parable, who refused to go and work in his father’s vineyard. But afterwards he thought better of it and went.
On the other hand, the second son thought about it, and he even said yes to his father, but then never did anything about it.
The teaching of Jesus in the gospel is about repentance, and that is expressed in that phrase “thought better of it”.
And that is also how we learn from failure. We need to think better of it, so as to learn from it, and to gain from it and even to make a success out of it.
And that is how we need to look at persons who have failed, to see failure as just an event in the person’s life and not failure as a person. We need to think better of it, so that the person can move on in life and become a “success” in life.
There is a story of a couple had a few children. All were normal and intelligent. Except one who had Down’s Syndrome and hence, was slow and different from the rest.
The couple took joy in their other children but for this special child, they had to swallow their disappointment and embarrassment.
At times, they even asked themselves why they were burdened with such a child. It seems that they will have to care for him all their lives.
As the years went by, the rest of their children got married and left home to start their own families. As the couple became older, their children also became busier with their own families.
Naturally, the couple felt lonelier with all their children gone. Except for one, the slow “special” one. Because of his inabilities and disabilities, he obviously had to stay with his parents.
In the past, the parents thought of him as a burden and an obstacle to their freedom in life. But now, the old couple realized that he is the only one who is with them day and night.
Once upon a time, he had to depend on them and they have to fend for him. Now that they are in their lonely old age, it is they who have to depend on him despite his inabilities and disabilities.
This story opens our minds to those whom society deem as failures or liabilities, people who are left in the shadows and forgotten, just like those tax-collectors and prostitutes in the gospel.
The gospel reminds us that when the message of repentance is preached to them, they responded more quickly and readily accepted the Good News of salvation.
In fact, despite their failures in almost every sense of the word, they showed that they thought better of it and did what God wanted of them.
When we can think better of those who failed, whether in academics or in life, and see how they are responding to the call of God, then we will be able to follow them in making the way to heaven.
Friday, September 29, 2017
25th Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 30-09-17
Zechariah 2:5-9, 14-15 / Luke 9:43-45
Whenever we talk about a house, we would presume that it has walls that would determine its size and boundaries.
Who would ever think of a house that is without walls? What kind of security would that house have?
So it would certainly surprise us when we heard in the 1st reading that Jerusalem was to remain unwalled.
What kind of city would that be if it is without walls for protection and security?
Yet the Lord God was quick to add that He would be the wall of fire for her all round her, and He would be the glory of the city.
Indeed, if the Lord does not watch over the city, in vain would its watchmen keep vigil, and in vain would its stone walls offer any protection and security.
Jesus said in the gospel that He would be handed over into the power of men.
Yet Jesus also knew that His security and protection would be in God alone, and that God will save Him out of death and raise Him back to life.
May we also know that if God does not watch over us, then all other physical means of protection will be in vain.
With God in our midst and watching over us and protecting us, let us give thanks, let us sing, let us rejoice in the Lord our Saviour.
Whenever we talk about a house, we would presume that it has walls that would determine its size and boundaries.
Who would ever think of a house that is without walls? What kind of security would that house have?
So it would certainly surprise us when we heard in the 1st reading that Jerusalem was to remain unwalled.
What kind of city would that be if it is without walls for protection and security?
Yet the Lord God was quick to add that He would be the wall of fire for her all round her, and He would be the glory of the city.
Indeed, if the Lord does not watch over the city, in vain would its watchmen keep vigil, and in vain would its stone walls offer any protection and security.
Jesus said in the gospel that He would be handed over into the power of men.
Yet Jesus also knew that His security and protection would be in God alone, and that God will save Him out of death and raise Him back to life.
May we also know that if God does not watch over us, then all other physical means of protection will be in vain.
With God in our midst and watching over us and protecting us, let us give thanks, let us sing, let us rejoice in the Lord our Saviour.
Thursday, September 28, 2017
The Holy Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Friday, 29-09-17
Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 or Apocalypse 12:7-12 / John 1:47-51
Even though we are Catholics, we are certainly influenced and maybe even affected by the events of the recent Chinese 7th month.
We are more inclined to believe that the hungry ghosts and devils are roaming around to scare the wits out of us, than to believe in angels that look like cute chubby babies with wings.
But in the spiritual world of the invisible, if we believe in the existence of evil spirits, then all the more we too must believe in the presence of angels.
Today we celebrate the feast of three archangels: Michael, Gabriel and Raphael.
All three names end with "el", which is the old Jewish word for "God".
The name Michael means "Who can be like God?" - it is a name that has the form of a rhetoric question. It was Michael and the heavenly army of angels that fought against Satan and drove him and the fallen angels out of heaven, and also protected God's people (Rev 12:7; Daniel 12:1)
Gabriel means "the power of God". He announced the Good News of salvation to Zechariah and Mary and manifested God's saving power with the Good News of salvation (Luke 1:5-38)
Raphael means "the healing power of God". He brought about God's healing power in the book of Tobit and healed Tobit's blindness (Tobit 11)
Through these three archangels, God manifested His power and presence in the Bible as well as even now.
Indeed, who can be like God, who is so loving that He saved us by sending His Son to forgive us and heal us of our sinfulness
We can only be thankful to God. And as we honour the three Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, we can be confident that there is the heavenly army of angels to protect us from evil.
Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel
Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in the day of battle,
be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him we humbly pray;
and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly host,
by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the other evil spirits
who roam throughout the world
seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
Even though we are Catholics, we are certainly influenced and maybe even affected by the events of the recent Chinese 7th month.
We are more inclined to believe that the hungry ghosts and devils are roaming around to scare the wits out of us, than to believe in angels that look like cute chubby babies with wings.
But in the spiritual world of the invisible, if we believe in the existence of evil spirits, then all the more we too must believe in the presence of angels.
Today we celebrate the feast of three archangels: Michael, Gabriel and Raphael.
All three names end with "el", which is the old Jewish word for "God".
The name Michael means "Who can be like God?" - it is a name that has the form of a rhetoric question. It was Michael and the heavenly army of angels that fought against Satan and drove him and the fallen angels out of heaven, and also protected God's people (Rev 12:7; Daniel 12:1)
Gabriel means "the power of God". He announced the Good News of salvation to Zechariah and Mary and manifested God's saving power with the Good News of salvation (Luke 1:5-38)
Raphael means "the healing power of God". He brought about God's healing power in the book of Tobit and healed Tobit's blindness (Tobit 11)
Through these three archangels, God manifested His power and presence in the Bible as well as even now.
Indeed, who can be like God, who is so loving that He saved us by sending His Son to forgive us and heal us of our sinfulness
We can only be thankful to God. And as we honour the three Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, we can be confident that there is the heavenly army of angels to protect us from evil.
Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel
Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in the day of battle,
be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him we humbly pray;
and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly host,
by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the other evil spirits
who roam throughout the world
seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
Wednesday, September 27, 2017
25th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 28-09-17
Haggai 1:1-8 / Luke 9:7-9
Herod can be called a typical half-believer, someone who believes that there is a God, yet he was more concerned about himself, his comfort, his curiosity, and whatever that can gain him some advantage.
He wanted to see Jesus because of the curious and sensational reports that he heard about Jesus, and maybe also to see Jesus work something spectacular for him to see.
Well, Herod eventually got to see Jesus, but yet for all his curiosity to see Jesus, he didn't get anywhere closer to Jesus.
He got so near to Jesus, yet was so far away, and he ended up gaining nothing.
Similarly for the people in the 1st reading. They were anxious about their own lives and how to live comfortably.
But as the prophet Haggai told them: Reflect carefully how things have gone for you.
They were anxious about themselves, their own comfort and their own houses, yet there was no anxiety and concern for the Lord's house, the Temple, which was still under construction and far from completion.
We to have to reflect carefully about our lives and then we will see the truth of things.
Indeed, we need not be too anxious and worry and over-concerned about our lives or about our comfort.
Let us seek the kingdom of God first, and whatever we need will be given unto us.
Let us be more concerned about the Temple of God in our hearts, and may God be glorified in our lives.
Herod can be called a typical half-believer, someone who believes that there is a God, yet he was more concerned about himself, his comfort, his curiosity, and whatever that can gain him some advantage.
He wanted to see Jesus because of the curious and sensational reports that he heard about Jesus, and maybe also to see Jesus work something spectacular for him to see.
Well, Herod eventually got to see Jesus, but yet for all his curiosity to see Jesus, he didn't get anywhere closer to Jesus.
He got so near to Jesus, yet was so far away, and he ended up gaining nothing.
Similarly for the people in the 1st reading. They were anxious about their own lives and how to live comfortably.
But as the prophet Haggai told them: Reflect carefully how things have gone for you.
They were anxious about themselves, their own comfort and their own houses, yet there was no anxiety and concern for the Lord's house, the Temple, which was still under construction and far from completion.
We to have to reflect carefully about our lives and then we will see the truth of things.
Indeed, we need not be too anxious and worry and over-concerned about our lives or about our comfort.
Let us seek the kingdom of God first, and whatever we need will be given unto us.
Let us be more concerned about the Temple of God in our hearts, and may God be glorified in our lives.
Tuesday, September 26, 2017
25th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 27-09-17
Ezra 9:5-9 / Luke 9:1-6
It is so easy to forget to be thankful and grateful when our difficulties and struggles are over.
Just like my parents' generation would look at my generation and say that we are not grateful and thankful that we have so much to eat and can even throw away food.
And my generation would look at the next generation and say that they take so many things for granted and that they waste money even before they have to earn it.
In the 1st reading, when Ezra looked at his people, he remembered how they were sent into exile.
They had sinned against the Lord and hence they were punished as their enemies conquered them and sent them into captivity and slavery.
But the Lord was merciful and now a remnant has come back to rebuild the Temple.
But Ezra remembered the past and he was taking nothing for granted in the present.
Even when Jesus sent His disciples to proclaim the Good News, He sent them off with nothing but with His authority and empowerment.
This was to remind them to take nothing for granted because all they needed had already been granted.
Even for us, all we ever needed has already been granted. We need to be thankful and grateful.
That will be the first step for us in proclaiming the Good News
It is so easy to forget to be thankful and grateful when our difficulties and struggles are over.
Just like my parents' generation would look at my generation and say that we are not grateful and thankful that we have so much to eat and can even throw away food.
And my generation would look at the next generation and say that they take so many things for granted and that they waste money even before they have to earn it.
In the 1st reading, when Ezra looked at his people, he remembered how they were sent into exile.
They had sinned against the Lord and hence they were punished as their enemies conquered them and sent them into captivity and slavery.
But the Lord was merciful and now a remnant has come back to rebuild the Temple.
But Ezra remembered the past and he was taking nothing for granted in the present.
Even when Jesus sent His disciples to proclaim the Good News, He sent them off with nothing but with His authority and empowerment.
This was to remind them to take nothing for granted because all they needed had already been granted.
Even for us, all we ever needed has already been granted. We need to be thankful and grateful.
That will be the first step for us in proclaiming the Good News
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