32nd Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 13-11-2023

Wisdom 1:1-7 / Luke 17:1-6   

In the battle between good and evil, there can be no doubt that good will prevail and will be victorious.

But the folly of mankind is that people choose to go along with sin and evil to get immediate gains.

And it may be anything from being deceptive to being diabolic.

But the sinful and evil person can never get the upper hand.

As the 1st reading says, the Wisdom of God will never make its way into a crafty soul, nor stay in a body that is in debt to sin.

And those who put obstacles to lead astray the virtuous will certainly be punished, as Jesus said in the gospel.

The Wisdom of God is a friend to those who love virtue and honesty and helps those who seek the Lord in simplicity of heart.

Let us ask the Lord God to send the Spirit of Wisdom into our hearts to strengthen our faith.

Our faith may not move mountains or uproot trees to be planted into the sea.

We just need to believe in love and forgiveness and that would be enough to defeat sin and evil.

32nd Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 12.11.2023

Wisdom 6:12-16 / 1 Thess 4:13-18 / Matthew 25:1-13

To be on time for an appointment is truly a commitment. 

And we can say that to be early is good efficiency. 

Well, one key to success is to have lunch at that time of the day when most people are having breakfast.

But more importantly, to be early shows that we are responsible and that we care about the people we are meeting. 

We don't want others to wait for us, and waste their time when we are late. Because we also don't like it when others are late. That won't be a pleasant start for the meeting or for the appointment. 

But when we have to wait for others because they are late, there are a couple of things we can choose to do. 

We can choose to be frustrated and resentful and be angry, while constantly looking at our watch. 

Or, we can choose to do something that will benefit us, and even benefit the other party. 

In the gospel parable, the bridegroom was late, very late. The 10 bridesmaids who are waiting for him grew drowsy and fell asleep. 

The wise bridesmaids were prepared as they brought along extra flasks of oil. The foolish bridesmaids had oil in their lamps, but they did not bring any extra oil for an unexpected situation. 

But while the bridesmaids were waiting, those foolish bridesmaids should have done some observing and thinking. 

Instead of being idle and falling asleep, they should have noticed that they don't have extra oil. 

But since they chose to do nothing about it, then nothing can be done for them. 

In reflecting on this parable, there is a lesson presented before us. 

We are not born wise or foolish. Rather in life it is a matter of choice. We choose to be either wise or foolish. 

We can either choose what is beneficial, or we can choose to just remain idle. 

So, in waiting for someone who is late for an appointment, a choice is presented before us. 

We can choose to be frustrated and angry with the other person for being late and wasting our time. 

Or, we can choose to turn it into a time to be with God, and to see what He is showing us or telling us. 

A deeper reflection would also help us realize that waiting is something that happens often, if not always, in prayer. 

When we pray, and if we get an immediate answer from the Lord, then it means that it is something important and urgent. 

But, most of the time, we pray and then we wait and wait for God to answer our prayer. 

God does not reject our prayer, or give us a flat NO! 

Rather, in waiting for God's answer to our prayer, we are led to think about what we are really asking from God. 

The light of our faith will tell us that God loves us, and He wants to give us what is good for us. 

Let us not be foolish and be angry and frustrated with God, because we think our prayers are not answered. 

Rather let us ask the Lord to give us oil for our lamps of faith, so that our hope will burn bright, and that we will be wise enough to see that God's ways are always right.

31st Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 11-11-2023

Romans 16:3-9, 16, 22-27 / Luke 16:9-15  

It would be so unfortunate, to say the least, if we were to say that we can’t trust anyone, or that we don’t trust anyone.

That would mean that we would be a very lonely person, even though there may be people around us.

But it is unlikely that we would say such a thing and mean it.

Because if we really can’t trust anyone or don’t trust anyone, then life would be so miserable because we will be suspicious of everyone.

In the gospel, Jesus something that we are very familiar with when He spoke about trust and honesty.

Jesus used the image of money, and we would have no trouble understanding it because we know how desirable it is to have money.

But Jesus used the image of money to teach about trust and honesty.

A person who can be trusted in little things can be trusted in great.

On the other hand, a person who is dishonest in little things will be dishonest in great.

So, let honesty be our best policy, and may others see us as trustworthy.

By doing so, we bear witness to the God in whom we believe and trust in.

31st Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 10-11-2023

Romans 15:14-21 / Luke 16:1-8      

We live in an age and time where life’s values are changing, and it leaves us wondering.

What was socially unacceptable or immoral in the past has become like a norm.

What was shameful and embarrassing is now freely discussed without reservation and even published in tabloids.

Traditional values like filial piety, honesty and responsibility are not often mentioned, and may even be considered as conservative and old-fashioned.

Even in the gospel parable, the master praised the dishonest steward for his astuteness, when we think that it should be punishment.

We may wonder what is becoming of the world, especially when some people take pride in doing what is bad and wrong, and others are indifferent to it.

In the 1st reading, St. Paul affirms the Christians that they are perfectly well instructed and able to advise each other.

St. Paul recognises that they are full of good intentions, and they are also receptive to corrections.

Let us believe that goodness, truth and love are eternal values and they also bear fruits that are lasting.

May we be led by the Holy Spirit, and by the holiness of our lives, may others come to believe in what is good, true and loving.

The Dedication of Lateran Basilica, Thursday, 09-11-2023

Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12 or 1 Cor 9-11, 16-17 / John 2:13-22  

Today the Universal Church celebrates the Dedication of the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome because it is the head and mother church of all churches in the world.

The Basilica of St. John Lateran is the Pope’s cathedral because St. John Lateran's Basilica is the Cathedral of the Diocese of Rome, and the official ecclesiastical seat of the Bishop of Rome, who is the Pope.

The first basilica on the site was built in the 4th century when the Roman emperor Constantine donated land he had received from the wealthy Lateran family.

That structure and its successors suffered fire, earthquake and the ravages of war, but the Lateran remained the Church where popes were consecrated until the popes returned from Avignon in the 14th century, after which they resided in St. Peter's.

The dedication of this Church is a feast for all Roman Catholics because St. John Lateran is the parish church of all Catholics since it is the pope's cathedral.

This church is the spiritual home of the people who belong to the Roman Catholic Church.

In celebrating the dedication of the Pope’s cathedral, we show our unity with the Pope and our love and respect for him, as well as our obedience and faithfulness to the teachings of the Catholic Church.

It also shows that we are united with each other in the  Universal Church, with the Spirit of God living in us and uniting us.

Henceforth it is our duty and mission to keep ourselves free of sin and defilement so as not to turn God's house into a market or, worst still, into a thieves' den.

More importantly, we must be united in heart and mind, and worship in Spirit and truth, so that the Church would be like what is described as the Temple in the 1st reading - with living waters flowing out to bring about healing and reconciliation, and bearing fruits of life and love.

31st Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 08-11-2023

Romans 13:8-10 / Luke 14:25-33      

Human beings are social beings, and it is in our nature to interact with each other.

It is through our interactions that we form and build relationships.

For us Christians, our relationships take on two directions.

Following the commandment of love, we revere God and we also respect others.

We are obligated to revere God as our Creator and our Saviour.

From God, we receive love and we are called to love others.

To love others begins with respecting their dignity as persons created in the image of God.

That is essentially what the 1st reading is teaching us.

So, when we love God and to respect others, then we will have life-giving relatioships.

As the 1st reading says profoundly: Love is the one thing that cannot hurt your neighbour; that is why it is the answer to every one of the commandments.

31st Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 07-11-2023

Romans 12:5-16 / Luke 14:15-24   

One of the uncomfortable experiences is to be in a place where you are new but everybody knows each other.

One example of this kind of experience is the first day at work in a new place.

We just long for someone to come and talk with us and show us how things are done and guide us along the way.

In such times, we can say that we are quite vulnerable.

We can be vulnerable to people who might befriend us but with vested interests and ulterior motives.

In the 1st reading, we are told not to let our love be a pretense. In other words, our love and concern should be real and genuine.

Hence we must examine our motives for helping others. We also must not make excuses for not helping others when we can.

When we help others out of love and care for them, it is not for gain but to give.

To give love will cost us - it will cost us our time, it will cost us our energy, it will cost us our very selves.

Let us remember that Jesus loved us and it also cost Him His life.

But when we love others as Jesus loved us, then we have said "Yes" to the invitation to the banquet of love.