Saturday After Ash Wednesday

At some point of our lives, we may have come across persons who seem difficult to love or to be with. The easiest thing for us to do is to just ignore such persons completely, or shun them, or have nothing to do with them, or ostracise them. Some of us may begin to think that such persons are not worth our time, or that they are probably condemned or beyond redemption. But how many of us are willing to accept such persons, and journey with them, depending on God's grace and mercy to help them change and grow closer to God?

In today's Gospel, Jesus called Levi, a tax collector, to follow Him. Not only that, Jesus even had a meal at Levi's house, where with them at table was a large gathering of tax collectors and others. If Jesus was willing to reach out to such persons, who society despises, shuns or considers repugnant or as some may say, "bad company," what about us? Are we willing to follow Jesus' example and reach out to such persons too? Who knows, God has His ways, and by doing our part in showing care and love to such persons, they may return to the ways of the Lord. Let us not let our pride, prejudice and ego get the better of us, and learn to be loving and compassionate, just as God is loving and compassionate to us.

Saturday After Ash Wednesday

One reality in life that most of us would need to come to terms with is that, the older we get, the more often we find ourselves visiting the doctor. As we grow older, we may even need to visit different types of doctors, for ailments of different parts of our bodies. Some of us may try to delay or put off seeing the doctor for as long as possible, but we may suffer the consequences of doing so. So whether we like it or not, we would need to accept the fact that we may eventually need to see different doctors for different kinds of ailments, especially if we need medical care from a specialist.

In today’s Gospel Jesus says that "Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do." What sort of physician is Jesus referring to? Jesus is referring to a physician who heals the soul. The irony of today's Gospel is that the self-righteous likely need Jesus more than those they accuse of sinfulness. But more often than not, the self-righteous fail to acknowledge their need for a spiritual physician, due to their pride and ego.

What about us? Have we come to realise that we need a spiritual physician to heal our soul and restore our relationship with God? Are we willing to let Jesus heal us and shepherd us? May we be humble and docile, and confess our sins through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and let Jesus, our eternal physician, heal us and guide us.

Saturday After Ash Wednesday

Life is such that if we want to achieve something, we need to persevere and be persistent. For example, a couple who wants to conceive may need to watch out for the signs where the woman may be most fertile, make several attempts, and pray to God that they may be granted a "bun in the oven." To do well in exams, one may need to make sacrifices, and persevere and be persistent in one's studies and preparations. To get a job, one may need to persevere and be persistent in applying to several companies, attend interviews, and hope to receive a favourable response. But if you ponder for a moment, how many of us are just as persevering and persistent in our spiritual life?

In today's reading, the Lord is telling His people to do away with the yoke, the clenched fist, the wicked word, giving bread to the hungry, and relief to the oppressed. In return, what they will receive from the Lord is far more than they could ever imagine - The Lord will always guide them and give them relief in desert places, they will be like a watered garden, a spring of water, called "Breach-mender" and "Restorer of ruined houses." What the Lord is basically telling His people is this: persevere and be persistent in following the Lord's ways, and they will continue to live and prosper.

What about us? Are we willing to make more effort in persevering and persisting in growing in our spiritual life? May we not waste the many opportunities God gives us to grow closer to Him, and remain steadfast in our efforts, knowing with confidence that He will help and guide us.

Friday after Ash Wednesday

I find it quite interesting to observe how fasting has become like a commercial opportunity or a show of so called piety for some people. What do I mean, you might say? Take for example, when the time for fasting arrives for certain people, we begin to see lots of advertisements on television or radio, inviting and enticing people to break fast in a restaurant or hotel, with a huge buffet of exquisite dishes to savour. I have also seen some of such people waiting hungrily and longingly for the time to break fast at a food court or restaurant, with the food all ready in place, and when the time comes to break fast, these people attack the food with such ferociousness like lions that have not eaten for days. Is fasting meant to be an excuse for people to eat lavishly when the time to break fast comes? Or is fasting such a torture or hassle that some folks just cannot wait to break fast, instead of giving thanks to God for the privilege and opportunity to fast? Why do such people fast in the first place?

In today's reading, we see that there are some people who fast just to put on a show. The reading tells us: "Why should we fast if you never see it, why do penance if you never notice?’ Look, you do business on your fast-days, you oppress all your workmen; look, you quarrel and squabble when you fast and strike the poor man with your fist. Fasting like yours today will never make your voice heard on high. Is that the sort of fast that pleases me, a truly penitential day for men? Hanging your head like a reed, lying down on sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call fasting, a day acceptable to the Lord?" When we fast just to put on a show, or we are mean or nasty towards others, then are we really fasting in the first place? Is our fasting helping us to grow closer to God, and to love God and neighbour, or are we making a joke or mockery of fasting, through our actions, behaviour and conduct? May we not fall into hypocrisy when we fast, since we ought to be doing so not to boost our ego or for our personal gratification, but to give glory to God.

Thursday after Ash Wednesday

Every once in a while, we are faced with choices. Sometimes the choices we are given are straightforward and clear-cut, and making a choice is easy. Sometimes the choices given may be quite difficult, and choosing one could cause us to lose the other and vice versa. For example, some of us may have faced a difficult situation where we can choose to listen and obey our parents, but in doing so we may be going against God's commandments; but if we obey God's commandments, we may risk losing our parents (one possible outcome from the choice made could be to be disowned by our parents). If we are faced with such choices, where there is no middle ground or third option, where it is either one or the other, what would you choose?

In today's reading, the Israelites were given a choice: "choose life and you will live and increase; choose death and you will most certainly perish." There was no middle ground or alternative; only one or the other. In the Gospel, Jesus gives us a choice: "For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake, that man will save it. What gain, then, is it for a man to have won the whole world and to have lost or ruined his very self?" If we are asked to choose now, what would we choose? Would we choose life as in the reading, or choose to lose our life for Jesus' sake as in the Gospel? Or would we choose otherwise? Remember, there is no middle ground, it is one or the other. May we make our choice wisely, as there is no turning back or alternatives.

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent. When we think of the season of Lent, what are some of the things we think of? Some of us think about going to church to receive the imposition of ashes on our forehead on Ash Wednesday, some think about abstinence and fasting on certain days, some think about the Way of the Cross which is usually held on Fridays during Lent, some even think about making a confession at one of the churches having penitential service. All these thoughts are practices and they are good. But what sort of practices are these? These are outward forms or external practices of piety, and if we get caught up with only such external practices, we may end up losing the whole point of Lent, and that is to lead us to reconciliation with God and with each other, and eventually lead us to an inner conversion. But are these practices already mentioned enough? Perhaps we need to relook at three practices which we often hear about especially during Lent, but we may not have fully comprehended or understood what they mean. The three practices are prayer, fasting and giving alms.

When we speak of prayer, we are talking about establishing a closer relationship with God. Sometimes we may have become so used to rattling out prayers such as the rosary, the divine mercy, prayer to the Sacred Heart, or some other form of devotion, that our prayer is prayed out of habit or out of a tradition that was passed down to us from our elders. But by praying such prayers, are we really growing closer to God? Prayer should change us and lead us to trust more in God and to place our lives in His control. Are our prayers enabling us to do so? Or have our prayers become a form of babbling, saying so many things but without meaning?

When we speak of fasting, we are fasting not because we want to torture or punish our bodies, and fasting is not meant to be used as an excuse or a means to lose weight. We fast because we want to thirst for God, and place God first in our lives. Fasting helps us reconsider our values in life, and guides us to reject and deny the lures of temptations, especially to satisfy our own wants. Fasting sets us free from greed, and makes us more sensitive to the needs of others.

When we give alms, we do so not because we pity the poor or those who are less fortunate. We give alms because it reminds us of the need to be in solidarity with all, especially with the poor. Giving alms reminds us that all things come from God, nothing really belongs to us, and thus we should not cling on to these things selfishly. Giving alms remind us that people are far more important than things.

As we begin the season of Lent, let us take courage and let the Lord help us deepen our prayer life, and help us to be humble and docile in our fasting and also in our generosity to share with the poor. Let us do these things not because they are merely external practices, or to show off, but because we want to grow closer to God, walk in His ways, and let Him be our providence and guide.

Friday after Ash Wednesday

Today's readings speak of a common theme and that theme is "fasting." When we speak of fasting, some of us may begin to assume that it means not taking certain food or drink; or not eating a particular meal; or even not eating for a certain period of time (such as from dawn to dusk). But is that the kind of fasting we are supposed to do?

In today's reading, we are told that there are some people who fast just to put on a show. The reading tells us: "Why should we fast if you never see it, why do penance if you never notice?’ Look, you do business on your fast-days, you oppress all your workmen; look, you quarrel and squabble when you fast and strike the poor man with your fist. Fasting like yours today will never make your voice heard on high. Is that the sort of fast that pleases me, a truly penitential day for men? Hanging your head like a reed, lying down on sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call fasting, a day acceptable to the Lord?" When we supposingly fast from food or drink without love, without right conduct and without right action, we are merely making a mockery out of fasting. If this is what we do, then why fast in the first place? Are we trying to win a popularity contest or something? Do we expect others to see us fasting for our own personal gratification, while we continue to put on a sad or monkey face, but at the same time be nasty or ruthless in our behaviour and conduct?

Instead, the reading tells us about the right way to fast: "Is not this the sort of fast that pleases me, to break unjust fetters and undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and break every yoke, to share your bread with the hungry, and shelter the homeless poor, to clothe the man you see to be naked and not turn from your own kin?" When we fast with love, mercy and compassion, the reading tells us: "Then will your light shine like the dawn and your wound be quickly healed over." Let us not be hypocrites in fasting only to win recognition and admiration among men, but do what is pleasing to God.

Thursday after Ash Wednesday

It is quite easy for some to become distracted and caught up with so many things this world has to offer. Wealth, property, popularity, fame, recognition, power and prestige are some of the attractions which could lure us away from our true purpose and our true goal. The world gives us the impression that these things are what matters and some may fail to open their eyes and discover the illusion and impermanence of all these temporal things.

In today's Gospel, we see a contrast between the ways of the world and the ways of God. If we want to grow closer to God, Jesus reminds us in the Gospel: "If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross every day and follow me. For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake, that man will save it. What gain, then, is it for a man to have won the whole world and to have lost or ruined his very self?" The question we need to ask ourselves truthfully is this: are we seeking an eternity of happiness, or an eternity of ruin? We say that we want happiness, but what are we doing to arrive at such happiness? Are we willing to lose it all on this earth for eternal rewards? Let us choose wisely and make the necessary preparations for what ultimately really matters.

Ash Wednesday

Many things that we see around us may seem beautiful, pleasing to see, or attractive, but when these things are burnt, the only thing left are ashes. No matter how grand, stylo milo, or shockalingam the item or even a person may appear, all of these will no longer be identifiable once reduced to ashes. Many of us would normally not want to have anything to do with ashes, since such ashes are merely dust. But when we look at ashes through the eyes of faith, we begin to see its true value. Ashes remind us that everything that we own, every relationship that we cherish, are impermanent. Ashes also remind us of our mortality and we should not only focus on things and people here on earth, since all of these will eventually disappear, all of these will return to dust.

Today we celebrate Ash Wednesday, which is the beginning of the season of Lent. For us Christians, ash is used as a sign of penance. Each of us may come from different backgrounds, different ethnic groups or even different social status, but no matter who you are or where you come from, all are invited to come forward to place ashes on your forehead, all are equally sinners in need of salvation. In this way, we are all equal in the eyes of God; we all require forgiveness and redemption.

This season of Lent is an opportunity for us to die to sin; to die to its illusions, its lies. Sin misguides us into thinking that we only need to think of ourselves. Sin lures us with the ways of the world and blinds us to the ways of God. Instead of giving into sin, our focus should now be turned toward God. In God, we shall discover our true worth and our true purpose, and we will find our resting place and our true home. Thus, in this season of Lent, let us increase our efforts to examine our lives and turn back to God and depend on His providence. Let us heed the call to "turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel."

Friday after Ash Wednesday

How do you fast? Some people eat less, some avoid certain types of food or drink for a period of time, some do not eat anything for a period of time. But can you tell whether a person is fasting? For some, fasting is a real pain and they put on a "sour face" or "monkey face" to show that they are fasting. Some look listless or seem to have no energy while fasting. How many of us fast cheerfully and discreetly?

Today's reading tells us about the type of fasting the Lord expects of us: "to break unjust fetters and undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and break every yoke, to share your bread with the hungry, and shelter the homeless poor, to clothe the man you see to be naked and not turn from your own kin?" If we fast to put on a show, then what is the point of fasting? Also, if we fast but treat others badly, how different are we compared to others? Let us learn to fast happily and with compassion towards others, so that "your light shine like the dawn and your wound be quickly healed over. Your integrity will go before you and the glory of the Lord behind you."

Thursday after Ash Wednesday

All of us are given choices in life. We can choose good things, or we can choose bad things. It may seem strange that a person would want to choose bad things, but some people have resorted to choosing bad things due to one reason or another. For example, a person who is addicted to alcohol may choose to buy alcoholic drinks, even though that the person is aware that too much of such alcoholic drinks is detrimental to one's health. However, the urge to have a drink is great and it would require much willpower and help from others to overcome such addiction.

The same principle can also applied to today's reading. We are given a choice in today's reading to choose life or death. While it may seem strange for people to choose death, we can see examples of a culture of death in today's world, where people are willing to commit abortion or use contraception for one's own convenience and personal gratification. This is where today's reading is a stern reminder to us: choose life and you will live and increase; choose death and you will most certainly perish.

In our lives, are we continuously making a decision to choose life? Do we value and take seriously our eternal life, or are we only interested and focused in this life on earth? Let us choose carefully and not end up regretting later.

Ash Wednesday

Today we begin the season of Lent with Ash Wednesday. The imposition of ashes on our forehead reminds us that we are from dust and to dust we shall return. However, there is more to Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent which we can learn and reflect.

Often in our lives, we are busy with so many things. We are busy with our work, our family life, our social life, but how busy have we been with our relationship with God? Sometimes, in the midst of the hurry-burry, in the midst of the rat-race, we may have forgotten to take a good look at ourselves and see how we are progressing spiritually. The season of Lent is an opportunity to do just that.

During the season of Lent, we are encouraged to do more praying, fasting and alms-giving. These
three major means of penance would not mean anything if they do not ultimately lead us to an inner conversion, a change of heart. Are we willing to take an honest look at ourselves and work towards a better relationship with God and with others? Are there areas in our life which we have been neglecting that we should address? Let us not confine our conversion to a better person only during Lent, but also continuously and consistently do so, for the betterment of our soul.