1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 / Matthew 25:1-13
By and large, our lives are filled with hectic schedules and we are busy most of the time.
But no matter how busy we might be, there comes a quiet moment now and then, and the question about life pops up.
It may be while having a conversation with someone, or maybe just looking at the sunset or admiring a painting. The question just pops and flashes before us.
We begin to ask ourselves: So what is my life all about? What is the meaning of my life?
Such questions have prompted many people to embark on a spiritual journey in discovering who God is in their lives.
We too will have to answer those questions at one point in time.
In answering that question, St. Paul went straight to the point.
He told the Thessalonians that what God wants for them is to be holy.
In the 1st reading, St. Paul specifically pointed out sexual morality as an expression of holiness.
We need to ask ourselves how are we to express holiness concretely in our lives.
Maybe we should heed the call of today's gospel to be alert - to be alert and watchful of complacency and carelessness in our spiritual life and in our relationship with God.
All of us are called to be holy. To be any lesser is to take God for granted.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
21st Week in Ordinary Time, Thursday, 25-08-11
1 Thessalonians 3:7-13 / Matthew 24:42-51
There is this story about how three devils discussed about how to tempt people to sin.
The first said: I will tell them that there is no God, so sin all you want and have all the pleasures of life.
The second said : I will tell them that there is no hell, so sin all you want and enjoy all the pleasures of life.
The third said: I will tell them not to be in a hurry, that they still have lots of time left on earth, so they can still sin and have what they want, and they will fall for it.
So will we fall for the third temptation? Will we think that we still have lots of time ahead and there is no urgency to repentance?
We will know we are falling for it by our attitudes, e.g. complacency, procrastination, laziness.
We will know we are falling for it by our lukewarmness towards prayer and going for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
We will know we are falling for it when we keep saying "Later on when I am free ..." when it comes to spiritual nourishment and formation.
Sin, like weeds, don't grow overnight. They creep in slowly.
In the 1st reading, St. Paul affirmed the Thessalonians for keeping their new found faith and he was relieved that they were still holding firm in the Lord, even though there was no urgency or crisis.
In the gospel, Jesus warned His disciples to stay awake, to be alert, to be aware of any slacking or back-sliding.
Because if in our faith and in our relationship with God, we do not feel the sense of urgency, that need for be alert and stand ready and be on the watch, then it may mean that we are falling into the devil's tactics.
As it is said, the man who thinks that he is safe must be careful not to fall (1 Cor 10:12).
There is this story about how three devils discussed about how to tempt people to sin.
The first said: I will tell them that there is no God, so sin all you want and have all the pleasures of life.
The second said : I will tell them that there is no hell, so sin all you want and enjoy all the pleasures of life.
The third said: I will tell them not to be in a hurry, that they still have lots of time left on earth, so they can still sin and have what they want, and they will fall for it.
So will we fall for the third temptation? Will we think that we still have lots of time ahead and there is no urgency to repentance?
We will know we are falling for it by our attitudes, e.g. complacency, procrastination, laziness.
We will know we are falling for it by our lukewarmness towards prayer and going for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
We will know we are falling for it when we keep saying "Later on when I am free ..." when it comes to spiritual nourishment and formation.
Sin, like weeds, don't grow overnight. They creep in slowly.
In the 1st reading, St. Paul affirmed the Thessalonians for keeping their new found faith and he was relieved that they were still holding firm in the Lord, even though there was no urgency or crisis.
In the gospel, Jesus warned His disciples to stay awake, to be alert, to be aware of any slacking or back-sliding.
Because if in our faith and in our relationship with God, we do not feel the sense of urgency, that need for be alert and stand ready and be on the watch, then it may mean that we are falling into the devil's tactics.
As it is said, the man who thinks that he is safe must be careful not to fall (1 Cor 10:12).
Monday, August 22, 2011
21st Week in Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 23-08-11
1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 / Matthew 23:23-26
To be endowed with some kind of spiritual gift can indeed make a person very popular and famous.
They will be sought after, and they can also command a certain degree of influence and authority.
For e.g., the gifts of healing or prophesy or spiritual vision, can make a person very influential over the lives of others.
In the 1st reading, St. Paul talks about another gift - the gift of preaching.
But he emphasized that it was a duty and a responsibility.
He was also aware of the possibility of abuse in the work of preaching.
In fact, as we see it nowadays, one can make a career out of it and even make some money out of it.
St. Paul warned the missionaries of the early Church not to preach for money or honour, nor for authority or power.
Not all of us are gifted with preaching but we can't deny that each of us are endowed with a particular gift or talent.
Whatever these gifts or talents are, they are to be used to serve God by serving the Church as well as to serve humanity.
The imagery St. Paul used in talking about gifts is like that of a mother feeding and looking after her children - it is a duty and responsibility.
As Jesus highlighted in the gospel - our gifts should be used in the work of justice, mercy and building up the faith.
So what we are is God's gift to us; what we make of ourselves is our gift to God.
To be endowed with some kind of spiritual gift can indeed make a person very popular and famous.
They will be sought after, and they can also command a certain degree of influence and authority.
For e.g., the gifts of healing or prophesy or spiritual vision, can make a person very influential over the lives of others.
In the 1st reading, St. Paul talks about another gift - the gift of preaching.
But he emphasized that it was a duty and a responsibility.
He was also aware of the possibility of abuse in the work of preaching.
In fact, as we see it nowadays, one can make a career out of it and even make some money out of it.
St. Paul warned the missionaries of the early Church not to preach for money or honour, nor for authority or power.
Not all of us are gifted with preaching but we can't deny that each of us are endowed with a particular gift or talent.
Whatever these gifts or talents are, they are to be used to serve God by serving the Church as well as to serve humanity.
The imagery St. Paul used in talking about gifts is like that of a mother feeding and looking after her children - it is a duty and responsibility.
As Jesus highlighted in the gospel - our gifts should be used in the work of justice, mercy and building up the faith.
So what we are is God's gift to us; what we make of ourselves is our gift to God.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Queenship of the BVM, Monday, 22-08-11
Isaiah 9:1-6 / Lk 1:26-38
Eight days ago, the Church celebrated the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary into heaven.
In the course of these eight days, the Church meditates deeper on the mystery of the Assumption, and on the Octave of the Assumption (8 days later) the Church concludes the reflection with the celebration of the Queenship of Mary.
In short, it could be said that God assumed Mary into heaven to share the victory of Christ and to reign with Him in glory as Queen of Heaven.
So the proclamation and celebration of Mary's queenship in essence points to the Kingship of Christ.
In celebrating the queenship of Mary, we are also reminded that we are the Chosen people of God and we are also His royal children.
So as God's Chosen and royal people, all that we do and say must be geared towards giving glory to God.
Mary showed us how to do that in the gospel when she responded to God's call by accepting God's will.
In doing so, Mary gave us the concrete example of obedience in the form of servanthood.
We are not just the Chosen and royal people of God. We are also the Chosen and royal servants of Christ the King.
With Mary as our queen, let us offer ourselves in service to the Church, so that in all that we do and say, God will be glorified and exalted.
Eight days ago, the Church celebrated the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary into heaven.
In the course of these eight days, the Church meditates deeper on the mystery of the Assumption, and on the Octave of the Assumption (8 days later) the Church concludes the reflection with the celebration of the Queenship of Mary.
In short, it could be said that God assumed Mary into heaven to share the victory of Christ and to reign with Him in glory as Queen of Heaven.
So the proclamation and celebration of Mary's queenship in essence points to the Kingship of Christ.
In celebrating the queenship of Mary, we are also reminded that we are the Chosen people of God and we are also His royal children.
So as God's Chosen and royal people, all that we do and say must be geared towards giving glory to God.
Mary showed us how to do that in the gospel when she responded to God's call by accepting God's will.
In doing so, Mary gave us the concrete example of obedience in the form of servanthood.
We are not just the Chosen and royal people of God. We are also the Chosen and royal servants of Christ the King.
With Mary as our queen, let us offer ourselves in service to the Church, so that in all that we do and say, God will be glorified and exalted.
Friday, August 19, 2011
20th Week in Ordinary Time, Saturday, 20-08-11
Ruth 2:1-3, 8-11; 4:13-17 / Matthew 23:1-12
At times we may say that life is unfair and even unjust - the rich seems to get richer and the poor get poorer.
As such, what's the point in being kind and generous when all we get is being taken advantage of.
Yet we cannot deny that in the law of life, a good deed will beget another good deed and generosity will beget generosity.
We will get our affirmation along the way. Even if we don't get it in this life, God will give us our what we deserve in the life to come.
In the 1st reading, we heard how Boaz affirmed Ruth on her kindness and generosity towards her mother-in-law, especially in leaving her own people and her own land and following her mother-in-law to a foreign land.
Ruth was further rewarded when Boaz took her as his wife and she also became part of the genealogy of Jesus.
Yes life can be rewarding, and our kindness and generosity will be rewarded, be it in this life or in the next.
Yet our greatest joy and reward is to help others bear their burdens or even to free them from their burdens.
In fact, like Jesus said in the gospel, our greatest joy is to serve others and to be a servant for others.
That does sound strange and illogical, but the best thing we can do for others is to serve them with kindness and generosity so that they can see that life is also fair and just.
At times we may say that life is unfair and even unjust - the rich seems to get richer and the poor get poorer.
As such, what's the point in being kind and generous when all we get is being taken advantage of.
Yet we cannot deny that in the law of life, a good deed will beget another good deed and generosity will beget generosity.
We will get our affirmation along the way. Even if we don't get it in this life, God will give us our what we deserve in the life to come.
In the 1st reading, we heard how Boaz affirmed Ruth on her kindness and generosity towards her mother-in-law, especially in leaving her own people and her own land and following her mother-in-law to a foreign land.
Ruth was further rewarded when Boaz took her as his wife and she also became part of the genealogy of Jesus.
Yes life can be rewarding, and our kindness and generosity will be rewarded, be it in this life or in the next.
Yet our greatest joy and reward is to help others bear their burdens or even to free them from their burdens.
In fact, like Jesus said in the gospel, our greatest joy is to serve others and to be a servant for others.
That does sound strange and illogical, but the best thing we can do for others is to serve them with kindness and generosity so that they can see that life is also fair and just.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
20th Week in Ordinary Time, Friday, 19-08-11
Ruth 1:1, 3-6, 14-16, 22 / Matthew 22:34-40
It is unlikely that a person can come to know God and love God as an isolated individual.
Because it is with others and from others that we come to know what kindness and compassion is, what love and forgiveness is, what truth and beauty is.
And we would want to believe in what they believe in, so that we too can radiate the goodness they radiate.
In the 1st reading, it would certainly be alright for Ruth to return to her people just as it would be alright for Naomi to return to her people.
Yet Ruth chose to follow Naomi and go to a foreign land and be a stranger and a foreigner, although she was not obliged to.
A possible reason for her to do that was because she saw the goodness of her mother-in-law Naomi.
Subsequently she can even accept Naomi's people as well as the God that Naomi believed in.
Certainly in Naomi and Ruth, we see the commandment of love that Jesus talked about in the gospel, being practiced in the reality of life.
Yet in the reality of life, the conflicts in relationships abound, be it between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, father and son, husband and wife, parents and children, or superior and subordinates.
Yet the commandment of love demands a commitment and a conviction from us so that others will begin to love just as we choose to love.
Otherwise we will be living a very isolated and lonely life.
It is unlikely that a person can come to know God and love God as an isolated individual.
Because it is with others and from others that we come to know what kindness and compassion is, what love and forgiveness is, what truth and beauty is.
And we would want to believe in what they believe in, so that we too can radiate the goodness they radiate.
In the 1st reading, it would certainly be alright for Ruth to return to her people just as it would be alright for Naomi to return to her people.
Yet Ruth chose to follow Naomi and go to a foreign land and be a stranger and a foreigner, although she was not obliged to.
A possible reason for her to do that was because she saw the goodness of her mother-in-law Naomi.
Subsequently she can even accept Naomi's people as well as the God that Naomi believed in.
Certainly in Naomi and Ruth, we see the commandment of love that Jesus talked about in the gospel, being practiced in the reality of life.
Yet in the reality of life, the conflicts in relationships abound, be it between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, father and son, husband and wife, parents and children, or superior and subordinates.
Yet the commandment of love demands a commitment and a conviction from us so that others will begin to love just as we choose to love.
Otherwise we will be living a very isolated and lonely life.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
20th Week in Ordinary Time, Thursday, 18-08-11
Judges 11:29-39 / Matthew 22:1-14
The character of Jephthah whom we heard in the 1st reading was an interesting and colourful character.
Jephthah was an outcast - he was the son of a prostitute.
People couldn't take his crass n brash ways - they scorned him and rejected him.
Eventually, he went off into the hills and became an outlaw and the leader of a gang of bandits.
Yet it was upon Jephthah that the Spirit of the Lord descended to empower him to free his people from their enemies.
Though the character and morality of Jephthah was questionable, yet he was a man of his word.
What he promised the Lord, he did indeed fulfilled, even though he never thought or intended that his only child, his daughter would be the cost of the sacrifice.
Although his heart was broken over his daughter, he didn't bargain with the Lord over his promise.
This should make us reflect about our baptismal promises to the Lord, that we renounce all evil and be faithful to the Lord.
But more importantly we should remember what the Lord has promised us!
God promised that He would save us and He even invited us to the wedding banquet in heaven.
God fulfilled that promise by letting His only Son be sacrificed on the cross.
The least we could do is to humbly say this: O Lord, You have given me so much. In Your love and mercy, grant me one more thing - grant me a grateful and a thankful heart.
The character of Jephthah whom we heard in the 1st reading was an interesting and colourful character.
Jephthah was an outcast - he was the son of a prostitute.
People couldn't take his crass n brash ways - they scorned him and rejected him.
Eventually, he went off into the hills and became an outlaw and the leader of a gang of bandits.
Yet it was upon Jephthah that the Spirit of the Lord descended to empower him to free his people from their enemies.
Though the character and morality of Jephthah was questionable, yet he was a man of his word.
What he promised the Lord, he did indeed fulfilled, even though he never thought or intended that his only child, his daughter would be the cost of the sacrifice.
Although his heart was broken over his daughter, he didn't bargain with the Lord over his promise.
This should make us reflect about our baptismal promises to the Lord, that we renounce all evil and be faithful to the Lord.
But more importantly we should remember what the Lord has promised us!
God promised that He would save us and He even invited us to the wedding banquet in heaven.
God fulfilled that promise by letting His only Son be sacrificed on the cross.
The least we could do is to humbly say this: O Lord, You have given me so much. In Your love and mercy, grant me one more thing - grant me a grateful and a thankful heart.
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