Friday of Week 23 Year 1

It is easy for some of us to find fault with other people. One reason why some of us only know how to find fault with others is because some of us are insecure and unwilling to come to terms with one's own faults. So to try and cover up our own faults, we would project such faults on others. This stems from the fact that some of us are too proud or egoistic or even having some sort of inferiority complex, making it difficult for some of us to be humble enough to admit one's faults and change for the better.

In today's Gospel, Jesus admonishes us when He says: "Why do you observe the splinter in your brother’s eye and never notice the plank in your own? How can you say to your brother, "Brother, let me take out the splinter that is in your eye," when you cannot see the plank in your own? Hypocrite! Take the plank out of your own eye first, and then you will see clearly enough to take out the splinter that is in your brother’s eye."

Perhaps we need to take a good look at ourselves and discover whether we are willing and humble enough to admit our faults, before we look at others' faults. If we are aware of our faults and admit them, instead of trying to hide them or focus only in finding fault with others, then we would realise that, at the end of the day, we are all imperfect and we all need help to become better. Let us present our faults to God, asking Him to heal us and guide us, and give Him the glory.

Thursday of Week 23 Year 1

For some of us, our relationship with others could sometimes be seen as if it is some sort of barter trade. We do something for others, or we love others, but there are terms and conditions attached. We expect to receive something in return for what we have done for others. There's no such thing as a free lunch, seems to be the way things are for some. But as Christians, what sort of relationship should we be practising? Do we expect or do we feel entitled to receiving something in return just like others do?

In today's Gospel, Jesus tells us: "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who treat you badly." All these sound like insane things expected of us, but what Jesus is telling us is we need to go beyond basic humanity and love beyond how the world loves. This is because if we only love the way the world loves, with terms and conditions, then we are no different from the world. We as Christians are tasked to love just as God loves, and He loves all without fear or favour, and as the Gospel reminds us, He "is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked."

What does this mean to us Christians? It means that to love as God loves is indeed tough and challenging, since it goes beyond our human nature and the ways of the world. But when we do so, God's love will also grow in us, His love will strengthen us and comfort us, and the love of Christ will find a home in us. Are we willing to take up the challenge to love as God loves, trusting that God would help us to do so, and give Him all the glory?

Saturday of Week 20 Year 1

Every once in a while, I come across people who seem to have so many ideas and suggestions to make, and yet when they are asked to carry out such ideas and suggestions, they would suddenly back off and say that they are too busy, no time, unqualified and so many other excuses made. For example, there are people who have suggested that the church needs to have a funeral parlour, since more and more people are staying in apartments or condominiums, and such housing may not have a suitable place for a wake. However, when such persons are asked to take charge of such a project and see it through, they all of a sudden have cold feet and try to push the task to others. Indeed, coming out with lots of ideas and suggestions is easy, but carrying them out is a different matter.

In today's Gospel, Jesus told the people to listen to what the scribes and Pharisees tell them since they occupy the chair of Moses, but not to be guided by what they do, since they do not practise what they preach. The scribes and Pharisees knew how to talk, and everything they did was to attract attention and make them appear as if they were holy and pious. But being holy and pious is not just about words, but also about action, or action speaks louder than words, or walk the talk, so to speak.

What about us? Do we know only how to talk and make all sorts of suggestions and demands, without any further action? Or are we willing to do our part in seeing that what we suggest is carefully considered, planned and eventually materialised? May we learn to be humble and zealous in doing what is right, and glorify God in all we do.

Thursday of Week 20 Year 1

I sometimes wonder whether some of us have begun taking Mass or Holy Communion for granted. How many of us are properly prepared to come and participate at Mass, and receive Holy Communion properly and worthily? Do we observe important preparations such as the 1 hour fast before Holy Communion; and how many of us are regular for the Sacrament of Confession, in an effort to try receive Holy Communion in the state of grace? Do we assume that we have the right or entitlement to receive Holy Communion, come what may? Also, are we coming for Mass just for the sake of fulfilling the Sunday obligation?

In today's Gospel, which is about the Parable of the Wedding Feast, we could pick up three important "I's" for us to reflect on. The first I is Invitation. The Lord invites us every day to come to his banquet. He has it all prepared; but it is up to us to accept his invitation. We must be prepared to come when it is ready, instead of making all sorts of excuses or conditions. Are we willing to come with sincere and honest acceptance, at the moment he calls? The second I is Indifference. Those invited were indifferent. They ignored the invitation and went about their own businesses and works. They ignored the Lord. Just imagine, God Himself inviting us and then we have the audacity to say “No” to his invitation because we have other things to do. Have we become indifferent towards Mass and even indifferent in preparing before Mass? The third I is Inappropriate. Here, the concern is not so much on how we dress for the Eucharistic celebration, though this does not give us any excuse not to dress our Sunday best. The main concern here is more on how we are in Church: our inner disposition; whether our hearts are properly dressed. We may be physically present in church, but in reality some of us may actually be mentally absent.

The question that we need to ask ourselves sincerely is this: the Eucharistic celebration is like the Wedding Feast in today's Gospel. We are already invited to come to God's banquet, and we are expected to come and be properly disposed to come. But are we really ready and properly disposed to come? May we take seriously our inner disposition, lest we end up "bound hand and foot and thrown out into the dark, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth."

Saturday of Week 18 Year 1

Some of us are so used to doing so many things, but how many of us take time to listen to what we are doing, and ponder whether what we are doing is really God's will or our own will? We may appear very busy doing so many things, but sometimes what is being done may not be necessary or just a waste of time; or what is done may turn out to be just to boost our pride and ego. Even when it comes to loving God, some of us may be loving God through lots of actions, but are these actions really necessary and according to His will?

In today's reading, "Moses said to the people: ‘Listen, Israel: the Lord our God is the one Lord. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength. Let these words I urge on you today be written on your heart." Notice that in the reading, the first and foremost thing that the people need to do is not to carry out lots of tasks to show their love, but simply to listen. When the people listen carefully to God, they would come to realise that loving God means to love totally and completely and this includes discerning His will.

What about us? Are we really listening to God and doing His will? If we say that we love God, then we must be prepared to love God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength; and the very first thing we ought to do is to listen. Let us listen carefully and attentively to God's promptings, and glorify God in all that we say and do.

Saturday of Week 16 Year 1

Words spoken can be misinterpreted or misheard. Sometimes certain parties could take what is said, and twist or change the words according to their interpretation or for their benefit. This is is especially true when it comes to agreements or contracts, since what is said by one party could be heard differently by another, leading to misunderstandings or even legal action. That is why, no matter what, it is necessary for words to be put in writing, and to further reinforce what has been written, such written words are signed by parties involved, to seal the deal, so to speak.

In today's reading, "Moses went and told the people all the commands of the Lord and all the ordinances. In answer, all the people said with one voice, ‘We will observe all the commands that the Lord has decreed.’ Moses put all the commands of the Lord into writing... Then Moses took the blood and cast it towards the people. This’ he said ‘is the blood of the Covenant that the Lord has made with you, containing all these rules.’ From the reading, we can see that Moses not only told the people the commands of the Lord, he also had the covenant signed on the people with the blood from the bullocks. This means that the people had "sealed the deal" with the Lord in writing, and they had no longer any excuse to misinterpret or misunderstand the terms and conditions of the Covenant.

In our situation, we had "sealed the deal" with God when we were baptised. We even went through catechism classes or RCIA to make sure we understood the terms of God's Covenant. Moreover, we reinforced our Covenant with God when we received Confirmation. This means that we have no excuse to misinterpret or misunderstand the terms and conditions of the Covenant. May we observe all God's Covenant without excuses or neglect, and encourage others to do the same.

Saturday of Week 15 Year 1

In today's reading, we are told that "The sons of Israel left Rameses for Succoth... People of various sorts joined them in great numbers; there were flocks, too, and herds in immense droves. They baked cakes with the dough which they had brought from Egypt, unleavened because the dough was not leavened; they had been driven out of Egypt, with no time for dallying, and had not provided themselves with food for the journey."

For some, being driven out of one's country may seem like a tragic or terrible thing. But in the case of the sons of Israel, the reason was to rescue them from Pharoah and Egypt, and as such, it was actually a better thing. We too may have experienced being driven out of a bad or even sinful situation, even if it means we have no time for dallying. By being driven out in this way, it no longer becomes a tragic or terrible situation, but a situation meant to rescue us from evil, and to help us remain in God's ways. Are we willing to be driven out and led by God? Or are we still insisting to remain in servitude in Egypt?