18th Ordinary Sunday, Year B, 01.08.2021

Exodus 16:2-4, 12-15 / Ephesians 4:17, 20-24 / John 6:24-35  

If we were asked whether we know what international event is happening in Japan, presumably the answer would be the Olympic Games. 

But that would not necessarily be the obvious and foregone answer, because with so many other things happening locally and internationally, the publicity about the Olympic games has also been affected. 

Initially, there was even the question of whether the Games would continue as planned, but eventually it went ahead but with much restrictions. 

So, we may know that the Olympic Games is happening in Japan now. The next question is, do we know what is the Olympic motto? 

The Olympic motto is just three Latin words: Citius-Altius-Fortius. These three words mean “Faster-Higher-Stronger”. 

And it was a priest, Fr. Henri Didon OP, who expressed these words in the opening ceremony of a school sports event in 1881, and it was later adopted as the Olympic motto. 

That motto expresses the aspirations of the Olympic movement, not only in its athletic and technical sense, but also from a moral and educational perspective. 

So, when it comes down to competition and sportsmanship, then it will be “sometimes we win, sometimes we learn”. 

Even when it comes to losing or failure, then the lesson that can be learned is that failure is the mother of success. 

So, it is a good thing that the Olympic Games went on. After all, the Olympic Games originated from a break from the fighting by the warring Greek states. 

But going back much earlier than the Greek era, a gold medal could have been given to Moses for leading the Israelites in the desert for 40 years. 

Moses had to endure the unfaithfulness, the stubbornness and the complaints from the Israelites for 40 long years. 

In the 1st reading, we heard of the complaint about the lack of food, and the people even said that they would rather die as slaves in Egypt then to die in the desert. 

But from that, the lesson that Moses and the people learnt was that God will provide them food to eat to their hearts content, even in the desert. 

In the gospel, the people were looking for Jesus, but when we found Him, He had this to say to them: You are not looking for me because you have seen the signs, but because you had all the bread you wanted to eat. 

Jesus went on to tell them not to work for food that could not last, but to work for food that endured to eternal life. 

This working for food that endures to eternal life is essentially the work of faith and to believe that Jesus is the bread of God that has come down from heaven for the life of the world. 

And the people tell Jesus to give them that bread always. For the people, the idea of bread in abundance was stuck in their minds, and they were not seeing the signs and learning from it. 

Well, the signs may change, but it is faith that enables us to see Jesus giving us the spiritual food for life. 

In a way, we don't like the signs to change. So, we would like to come for Mass weekly, receive Holy Communion and to have these spiritual things always, as it was before. 

But the signs are changing, and that doesn't mean we will lose faith. In fact, it calls for a new learning and a new growth in faith. 

One of the amazing stories of the Christians in Japan is about how the faith of the Japanese Christians endured 400 years of persecution. 

Christianity arrived in Japan in 1543, but by 1620, Christianity was banned. Missionaries were expelled and the local Christians were persecuted and they went into hiding. 

So, there was no Mass, no Holy Communion, no Sacraments, no priests, and it was amazing how the Japanese Christians held on to the faith. 

Finally, when missionaries were allowed into Japan, they found these Japanese Christians holding on to their faith with religious items like crucifixes and rosaries that were handed down from generation to generation, and it was for 400 years. They should get gold medals for that. 

So, in these times when we may not be able to come for Mass weekly and our spiritual routines are not always there for us, we have much to learn. 

It is about we, the Church, going out there in the modern world and understanding the signs that God is showing us. 

Like the persecuted Japanese Christians, we find consolation in our religious objects as we use them to stay connected to our faith and to Jesus. 

Yes, let us learn faster, so that we will reach higher and grow stronger in the faith. 

We may not win silver or gold, but we will always have Jesus and we will not thirst and hunger for anything else.

17th Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 31-07-2021

Leviticus 25:1, 8-17 / Matthew 14:1-12         

As much as life is difficult and challenging, and the path of life has its twists and turns, yet there are principles in life that must be adhered to.

When the principles of life are followed, then all will be well and life can be lived peacefully.

In the 1st reading, the Lord God states the very basic principle of life, and that is "Let none of you wrong his neighbour, but fear your God; I am the Lord your God".

That is also another way of saying what the Christian principle of life is about, which is to love God and to love neighbour.

But when these basic principles of life are broken, then that is when troubles begin.

In the gospel, when the girl asked king Herod for the head of John the Baptist, he knew it was wrong to do so.

In fact, king Herod was distressed, but thinking of the oaths he had sworn and of his guests, he gave in to her request.

Whenever the principles of life are infringed, the voice of God will be sounded in the depths of our hearts.

May we always listen to the voice of the Lord our God and walk in the path of life and love.

17th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 30-07-2021

Leviticus 23:1, 4-11, 15-16, 27, 34-37 / Matthew 13:54-58    

There are certain phrases that are often used that may seem clear initially, but upon further reflection, it may mean much more.

For example, when the phrase "Oh I see ... " it means more than just the ability to see. It could also mean a realization or a deeper understanding.

When Jesus said that "a prophet is only despised in his own country and in his own house", we may understand it from the context of the gospel passage.

But a further reflection may lead us to wonder why isn't a local prophet accepted in his own country and in his own house. 

Do prophets need to be from somewhere foreign or someone unexpected or a total stranger?

But when someone local has achieved something honourable or glorious, like winning a gold medal at the Olympics, that person immediately becomes a national hero with due recognition and rewards.

It is something for the country to be proud that a local citizen has achieved fame and honour for self and the country.

But if that same person starts to speak out against injustice and inequality, then it can be quite certain that there will opposition and rejection.

That was what happened to Jesus, but He was prepared for it.

One aspect of our baptismal calling is to be a prophet for our times and in our situations.

May the Lord give us the courage and the faith to be committed to the truth and to live it out with love and to be messengers of God for our people.

St. Martha, Memorial, Thursday, 29-07-2021

1 John 4:7-16 / John 11:19-27 or Luke 10:38-42    

To say that someone is as busy as a bee means that person is the active type, and by extension that person could also be productive and efficient.

Such a person could also be highly sought after at the workplace so that the person can get things moving and going and also could be an inspiration for others.

Today as we celebrate the memorial of St. Martha, we would usually remember her as in the gospel account.

She took the initiative to welcome Jesus into her home and she began to be busy with the serving.

But just as busy people don't like to be doing nothing, they may also not like to see people doing nothing, and hence she complained to Jesus about her sister Mary who sat the Lord's feet and listened to Him speaking.

Jesus responded by saying that she worry and fret about so many things, but few are needed, indeed only one.

Jesus went on to say it was Mary who had chosen the better part and it was not to be taken from her.

Martha would have stopped in her tracks and pondered about what Jesus said, especially about that "few are needed, indeed only one".

For St. Martha, her one important moment in the gospel was when at the death of Lazarus, she proclaimed her belief in Christ as the Resurrection and the Life.

In our busyness, our worrying and fretting about so many things, may we also find time to think about the few things that are important in life.

May we also come to acknowledge Jesus as our Life and may we rise to live out the important things of life.

17th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 28-07-2021

Exodus 34:29-35 / Matthew 13:44-46      

Whatever we may want to say about the world we live in, there are attractions.

And we do get attracted to the things of this world, and that's why we have possessions of all kinds.

It may be money, property and whatever we put our interests and investments in.

We may not call these treasures, but they are certainly an integral part of our life and they are almost like a "must-have".

In the gospel, Jesus used parables to point to the kingdom of heaven. So He used ideas like treasure and fine pearls.

But we know that Jesus is not talking about something tangible. He is talking about something spiritual.

It is just like the face of Moses was radiant after speaking with the Lord.

Moses didn't have the light. He was only reflecting the light of the Lord, just like the moon reflects the light of the sun.

May the light of the Lord also enlighten our minds and hearts to know that the things of this world are to used for His glory and for the service of others.

May we also see that the Lord is our true treasure and may we walk in His light.

17th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 27-07-2021

Exodus 33:7-1; 34:5-9, 28 / Matthew 13:36-43           

There is no doubt that whenever we have a choice, we would choose the best that is available.

And better still, if we have the means for it, then the choice would be nothing less than the best.

So from food, to clothing, to housing, to pets, to accessories and even to luxuries, it would be the best and no less.

When God wanted to choose a nation to be His people, there were many refined and cultured peoples that were available.

But God chose Israel, and what a surprise it was!

As Moses described his own people: they are a headstrong people. In fact, more than that, they were an unfaithful people, they would sin over and over again and put the Lord God to the test.

It would be easier to have just done away with the people of Israel and choose another nation who would be more obedient and faithful and easier to teach.

But as the Lord God proclaims of Himself - He is tenderness and compassion, slow to anger, rich in kindness and faithfulness, forgives faults, transgression and sin.

But He will let nothing go unchecked and will punish sin.

We are like the field in the gospel parable. We have wheat and weeds. 

Yet God still chose us to be His children. 

Let us be obedient and faithful to God. Let us turn away from sin and wrong doing so that we will shine like the sun in the kingdom of God.

17th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 26-07-2021

Exodus 32:15-24, 30-34 / Matthew 13:31-35    

The 10 Commandments were given by God to Moses and it was meant for the people to know what are the spiritual and moral obligations that they have to observe.

The 1st reading said that the 10 Commandments were inscribed on two tablets. They were the work of God, and the writing on them was God's writing engraved on the tablets.

Maybe that is where that phrase "written on stone" comes from. As such it also means that to break any of the 10 Commandments would be a serious offence.

But when Moses came down from the mountain and saw what the people did, he literally broke all the 10 Commandments at one go when he threw down and broke them at the foot of the mountain.

To break one Commandment is considered a serious sin, so when Moses broke the two tablets, he was showing the seriousness of the sin of the people.

But sin is not usually committed in leaps and bounds. It is usually progressive, as in it begins with a small sin and then when left unchecked it becomes bigger and bigger until it becomes a serious sin.

If that can be said of sin, the same can be said of virtue.

In the gospel, Jesus used the parables of the mustard seed and the leaven to teach about the kingdom of heaven.

The growth of virtue is similar. When we choose to do a little good, that is one step toward growth in the kingdom of heaven.

And every time we choose to obey the 10 Commandments, we too grow in virtue and obedience to God and help others to walk in the Lord's ways.