Habakkuk 1:12-2:4 / Matthew 17 : 14-20
Under normal circumstances, we would not say anything rash or brash.
When things are under control, we would surely be more logical and rational.
But
when things start to get rough and we see injustice and oppression and
evil happening before our eyes, we begin to search anxiously for answers
and solutions.
And being a people of faith, we will surely pray.
Yet
when God doesn't seem to answer our prayer or seems like He is taking
forever to do so, then God becomes the target of our frustration and
criticism.
That was what the prophet Habakkuk did and his laments and complaints against God are even recorded in the Holy Bible!
Habakkuk could not understand why Judah was punished by her enemies who were more wicked and sinful than her.
He complained that God was silent and did nothing while wicked men swallowed up His people.
In the end, God did answer. Yes even if it comes slowly, we just have to wait in faith, for come it will, without fail.
Because we believe that the wicked man will eventually stumble and fall, but the upright man will live by his faithfulness.
That is God's answer to us, as well as His promise to us.
We need to have faith in God who loves us and cares for us.
In the gospel, Jesus emphasized on faith in God in all that we do.
With faith in God, nothing would be impossible. Because with God nothing is impossible.
Friday, August 10, 2018
Thursday, August 9, 2018
St. Lawrence, Deacon & Martyr, Friday, 10-08-18
2 Cor 9:6-10 / John 12:24-26
Today the Church celebrates the feast of St. Lawrence, who was only a deacon at the time of his martyrdom in year 258.
In that year, on the 6th August, Pope Sixtus II and four other deacons was captured while celebrating Mass in the catacombs, and subsequently martyred.
The administration of the Church of left to St. Lawrence and he was ordered to surrender the riches and the wealth of the Church in three days time.
He quickly distributed as much Church property to the poor as possible, and on the third day, he gathered the poor, the crippled, the blind and the suffering and presented them to the authorities and he told them that these were the true treasures of the Church.
Needless to say he was immediately sentenced to death, and tradition has it that he was grilled or roasted to death, hence his association with the gridiron, which was the instrument of torture for grilling people to death.
What was remarkable was that it was a slow painful and horrible way to be tortured to death, and yet St. Lawrence persevered to the end.
His martyrdom portrays the reality of what Jesus said in the gospel: If a man serves me, he must follow me, wherever I am, my servant will be there too. If anyone serves me, my Father will honour him.
St. Lawrence served Christ with his life right up till the end. In doing so he gave us an example of giving up his life so that it will yield a rich harvest in the hands of the Lord.
May our lives also be like seeds of love in the hands of the Divine Sower, and wherever we are sown, may we also bear a rich harvest of love for the Lord.
Today the Church celebrates the feast of St. Lawrence, who was only a deacon at the time of his martyrdom in year 258.
In that year, on the 6th August, Pope Sixtus II and four other deacons was captured while celebrating Mass in the catacombs, and subsequently martyred.
The administration of the Church of left to St. Lawrence and he was ordered to surrender the riches and the wealth of the Church in three days time.
He quickly distributed as much Church property to the poor as possible, and on the third day, he gathered the poor, the crippled, the blind and the suffering and presented them to the authorities and he told them that these were the true treasures of the Church.
Needless to say he was immediately sentenced to death, and tradition has it that he was grilled or roasted to death, hence his association with the gridiron, which was the instrument of torture for grilling people to death.
What was remarkable was that it was a slow painful and horrible way to be tortured to death, and yet St. Lawrence persevered to the end.
His martyrdom portrays the reality of what Jesus said in the gospel: If a man serves me, he must follow me, wherever I am, my servant will be there too. If anyone serves me, my Father will honour him.
St. Lawrence served Christ with his life right up till the end. In doing so he gave us an example of giving up his life so that it will yield a rich harvest in the hands of the Lord.
May our lives also be like seeds of love in the hands of the Divine Sower, and wherever we are sown, may we also bear a rich harvest of love for the Lord.
Wednesday, August 8, 2018
Singapore National Day, Thursday, 09-08-18
Isaiah 63:7-9 / Col 3:12-17 / Luke 12:22-31
As our country celebrates 53 years of independence, we as the Church in Singapore are certainly not just spectators or bystanders in this national celebration.
This is our homeland, this is where we are born, this is where we have grown up and lived, and this is also probably where we are going to live for the rest of our lives.
As the Church in Singapore, we can be proud of our forefathers of the faith who have contributed much to the country in the early years of independence, especially in the areas of education, medical care and social services to the poor.
As our country develops and progresses, we the Church must also remember that we need to progress and develop as a sign of God's blessings for our country.
On this day, we come together as Catholics and as Singaporeans to pray for our country, and we also join the Archbishop in his prayer intention "that the prosperity of peoples, assurance of peace, freedom of religion, be made secure through those who govern us with authority".
And as Catholics and as Singaporeans, we have a duty to our country in that we pledge ourselves as one united people, regardless of race, language or religion, to build a democratic society, based on justice and equality, so as to achieve happiness, prosperity
and progress for our nation.
On the spiritual realm, we also have a religious duty to set our hearts on the kingdom of God, so that the Church in Singapore will be able to accomplish its mission of being a sign of God's blessing for our country.
So we pray for God's blessings on Singapore so that we will continue to enjoy peace, harmony and prosperity.
May the Lord also protect our country and keep her safe in His love.
As our country celebrates 53 years of independence, we as the Church in Singapore are certainly not just spectators or bystanders in this national celebration.
This is our homeland, this is where we are born, this is where we have grown up and lived, and this is also probably where we are going to live for the rest of our lives.
As the Church in Singapore, we can be proud of our forefathers of the faith who have contributed much to the country in the early years of independence, especially in the areas of education, medical care and social services to the poor.
As our country develops and progresses, we the Church must also remember that we need to progress and develop as a sign of God's blessings for our country.
On this day, we come together as Catholics and as Singaporeans to pray for our country, and we also join the Archbishop in his prayer intention "that the prosperity of peoples, assurance of peace, freedom of religion, be made secure through those who govern us with authority".
And as Catholics and as Singaporeans, we have a duty to our country in that we pledge ourselves as one united people, regardless of race, language or religion, to build a democratic society, based on justice and equality, so as to achieve happiness, prosperity
and progress for our nation.
On the spiritual realm, we also have a religious duty to set our hearts on the kingdom of God, so that the Church in Singapore will be able to accomplish its mission of being a sign of God's blessing for our country.
So we pray for God's blessings on Singapore so that we will continue to enjoy peace, harmony and prosperity.
May the Lord also protect our country and keep her safe in His love.
Tuesday, August 7, 2018
18th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 08-08-18
Jeremiah 31 : 1-7 / Matthew 15 : 21-28
The prophet Jeremiah was known for his cut-and-dry prophesies, most of which foretell disaster and doom to a people who had turned away from God.
Yet in today's 1st reading, comes a statement from the same prophet about how much God loves His people.
From his mouth came these words of the Lord: "I have loved you with an everlasting love".
It is a verse is that often quoted to express the eternity of God's love.
But what is the reality of this love in our lives? Have we ever experienced God's love even in the temporary?
It might be difficult for us to understand this love of God until we have had the experience of being forgiven for committing a grave wrongdoing.
We may not understand this love of God until we had the experience of being saved from a great danger.
God's love for us is not only eternal, it is also a stubborn and persistent love that probes us in order to make us respond to His love.
God's eternal love empowers us to live in love here on earth so that we will have the foretaste and the experience of what it means to live in love eternally.
The prophet Jeremiah was known for his cut-and-dry prophesies, most of which foretell disaster and doom to a people who had turned away from God.
Yet in today's 1st reading, comes a statement from the same prophet about how much God loves His people.
From his mouth came these words of the Lord: "I have loved you with an everlasting love".
It is a verse is that often quoted to express the eternity of God's love.
But what is the reality of this love in our lives? Have we ever experienced God's love even in the temporary?
It might be difficult for us to understand this love of God until we have had the experience of being forgiven for committing a grave wrongdoing.
We may not understand this love of God until we had the experience of being saved from a great danger.
God's love for us is not only eternal, it is also a stubborn and persistent love that probes us in order to make us respond to His love.
God's eternal love empowers us to live in love here on earth so that we will have the foretaste and the experience of what it means to live in love eternally.
Monday, August 6, 2018
18th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 07-08-18
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, 2018
Transfiguration of the Lord, Monday, 06-08-18
Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 / 2 Peter 1:16-19 / Mark 9:2-10
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, 2018
18th Ordinary Sunday, Year B, 05.08.2018
Exodus 16:2-4, 12-15 / Ephesians 4:17, 20-24 / John 6:24-35
In a few days’ time, we will be celebrating National Day. That should be obvious enough as the Singapore flag makes its annual appearance and there are six flags fluttering prominently at the front of the church.
As Singapore marks its 53 years of independence, it can be said that Singapore has grown into a fine country, in almost every sense of the word.
And some would agree that it is a fine country, at least in a funny sense: “No littering – Fine $1000”, “No smoking – fine $1000”, “No eating and drinking – Fine $500” (inside MRT), “No jaywalking – Fine $1000”, “No spitting – Fine $1000”.
The law and order imposed with a fine, makes Singapore a uniquely fine country. Maybe that’s also a tourist attraction as others would like to see how fine Singapore is in carrying out its law and order. (What a fine way to put it).
Whatever we might want to say about it, it is a sort of legacy that we have inherited and it has shown results, in that we would think again before we throw something out of the window, or jaywalk across the road.
In short, when we are about to commit an offence, there is a “fine” way to deter us. It may be a uniquely Singaporean way but it works fine.
But can that also be applied to other aspects of Singaporean habits? Like for example: “No complaining – Fine $500”. Singaporeans give the impression that they are like spoilt brats and are always complaining about the ERP that never fails, and the MRT that often fails, and everything in between.
But we can have the consolation that to complain is a human tendency. We complain because there is something better to compare with. This so-callled “better” thing may just be an illusion or even an imagination, but still, it spurs us on to complain.
Even the Israelites in the 1st reading succumbed to this human tendency. We read that the whole community of the sons of Israel began to complain against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness.
The point of contention was that as slaves in Egypt they had enough to eat, whereas now they are freed, there was nothing to eat.
It is said that a hungry man is an angry man, but a hungry man can also be a crazy man. Hunger drove the Israelites to think that slavery with a full stomach is better than freedom on an empty stomach. Such is the delusive power of hunger – it makes a person angry and crazy.
But it doesn’t just stop there. Besides making a person angry and even crazy, hunger can also make a person greedy.
And that’s what Jesus told the people in the gospel – “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.”
So at first, they were hungry for bread, but having been fed to the full, they are now greedy for more. They looked for Jesus because they wanted to see what else they can get out of Jesus. So at first, they were hungry, but now they are greedy.
And greed has a sibling called selfishness. Oh yes, they come together, just as angry and crazy come together. But whether it is being angry and crazy, or greedy and selfish, they have an appetite that cannot be satisfied. What’s more, they eat away at us until we become an ugly person, or an ugly Singaporean, or an ugly Catholic.
Jesus tells us not to work for food that cannot last, but to work for food that endures to eternal life.
And just as Jesus is the bread of life for us, then we are also called to share the bread of life with others. That will be the food that endures to eternal life.
This year’s National Day theme is “We are Singapore”, and in a competition held by The Straits Times, participants were asked to identify a hero in a photo and describe why the heroic act matters.
One of the submissions was from the 18 year-old Beatrice Chao, daughter of the late Dr Alexandre Chao.
Beatrice Chao lost her dad when she was just three years old - but she has taken comfort knowing he was a hero.
Dr. Alexandre Chao died from severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) while serving in a hospital fighting the deadly virus.
Dr Chao, a 37-year-old Singapore General Hospital vascular surgeon, had voluntarily cut short his holiday in the United States to join his colleagues to fight SARS in 2003.
Beatrice said that when she saw her father's photo in the newspaper, she was very moved. She was surprised and touched that people still cared about her father's story and hopes that they will adopt his philosophy of always placing others before himself.
The legacy that Dr. Chao left for his daughter is also a legacy left for Singapore and for all of us.
It’s a legacy that will inspire more similar legacies that will turn us always from complaining about hunger to being a provider, to stop being a problem and to becoming a solution.
Jesus has given Himself to us as the bread of life; there is nothing more that we shall want.
And let us go forth to share the bread of our lives with others so that they too will know that besides the hunger in the stomach, there is a hunger in the heart that only Jesus can fill.
That will be the legacy that we will leave behind.
In a few days’ time, we will be celebrating National Day. That should be obvious enough as the Singapore flag makes its annual appearance and there are six flags fluttering prominently at the front of the church.
As Singapore marks its 53 years of independence, it can be said that Singapore has grown into a fine country, in almost every sense of the word.
And some would agree that it is a fine country, at least in a funny sense: “No littering – Fine $1000”, “No smoking – fine $1000”, “No eating and drinking – Fine $500” (inside MRT), “No jaywalking – Fine $1000”, “No spitting – Fine $1000”.
The law and order imposed with a fine, makes Singapore a uniquely fine country. Maybe that’s also a tourist attraction as others would like to see how fine Singapore is in carrying out its law and order. (What a fine way to put it).
Whatever we might want to say about it, it is a sort of legacy that we have inherited and it has shown results, in that we would think again before we throw something out of the window, or jaywalk across the road.
In short, when we are about to commit an offence, there is a “fine” way to deter us. It may be a uniquely Singaporean way but it works fine.
But can that also be applied to other aspects of Singaporean habits? Like for example: “No complaining – Fine $500”. Singaporeans give the impression that they are like spoilt brats and are always complaining about the ERP that never fails, and the MRT that often fails, and everything in between.
But we can have the consolation that to complain is a human tendency. We complain because there is something better to compare with. This so-callled “better” thing may just be an illusion or even an imagination, but still, it spurs us on to complain.
Even the Israelites in the 1st reading succumbed to this human tendency. We read that the whole community of the sons of Israel began to complain against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness.
The point of contention was that as slaves in Egypt they had enough to eat, whereas now they are freed, there was nothing to eat.
It is said that a hungry man is an angry man, but a hungry man can also be a crazy man. Hunger drove the Israelites to think that slavery with a full stomach is better than freedom on an empty stomach. Such is the delusive power of hunger – it makes a person angry and crazy.
But it doesn’t just stop there. Besides making a person angry and even crazy, hunger can also make a person greedy.
And that’s what Jesus told the people in the gospel – “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.”
So at first, they were hungry for bread, but having been fed to the full, they are now greedy for more. They looked for Jesus because they wanted to see what else they can get out of Jesus. So at first, they were hungry, but now they are greedy.
And greed has a sibling called selfishness. Oh yes, they come together, just as angry and crazy come together. But whether it is being angry and crazy, or greedy and selfish, they have an appetite that cannot be satisfied. What’s more, they eat away at us until we become an ugly person, or an ugly Singaporean, or an ugly Catholic.
Jesus tells us not to work for food that cannot last, but to work for food that endures to eternal life.
And just as Jesus is the bread of life for us, then we are also called to share the bread of life with others. That will be the food that endures to eternal life.
This year’s National Day theme is “We are Singapore”, and in a competition held by The Straits Times, participants were asked to identify a hero in a photo and describe why the heroic act matters.
One of the submissions was from the 18 year-old Beatrice Chao, daughter of the late Dr Alexandre Chao.
Beatrice Chao lost her dad when she was just three years old - but she has taken comfort knowing he was a hero.
Dr. Alexandre Chao died from severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) while serving in a hospital fighting the deadly virus.
Dr Chao, a 37-year-old Singapore General Hospital vascular surgeon, had voluntarily cut short his holiday in the United States to join his colleagues to fight SARS in 2003.
Beatrice said that when she saw her father's photo in the newspaper, she was very moved. She was surprised and touched that people still cared about her father's story and hopes that they will adopt his philosophy of always placing others before himself.
The legacy that Dr. Chao left for his daughter is also a legacy left for Singapore and for all of us.
It’s a legacy that will inspire more similar legacies that will turn us always from complaining about hunger to being a provider, to stop being a problem and to becoming a solution.
Jesus has given Himself to us as the bread of life; there is nothing more that we shall want.
And let us go forth to share the bread of our lives with others so that they too will know that besides the hunger in the stomach, there is a hunger in the heart that only Jesus can fill.
That will be the legacy that we will leave behind.
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