On Lepers

Excerpt on Lectio Divina’s reflection on the Gospel reading for the Thursday of the first week in Ordinary Time (Mark 1:40:45)

People of Jesus’ time considered lepers outcasts of the society. They were driven from their homes and communities, and left to survive on their own. They were even considered already dead by their own relatives. Jewish law forbade anyone from touching or approaching a leper for the fear of ritual defilement.

When approached by a leper, Jesus touched him and healed him. He demonstrated love, compassion, and tenderness.

The question we have to ask ourselves: How do we approach those who are difficult to love or who are shunned by others because of their deformities or defects? Do we show them love, compassion, and tenderness as Jesus did?

My View on Christmas

It’s two weeks away from Christmas. I see so many people excited about buying gifts for theirs friends and their loved ones, but somehow I feel differently.  I feel “Christ” has been taken away from “Christ”mas.  It is way too secular, worldly, and commercialized.  To me, the Advent period (the period leading up to Christmas) should be like Lent – a time of reflection, prayer and repentance.

I think it’s good to remind ourselves that Christmas is about the birth of Jesus Christ, the living God who humbled Himself to be born as a man for us poor sinners. Who later on, out of His unimaginable love, gave up His life to die on the cross for our sins. Have we given ourselves to others, especially the poor and needy? Have we loved others as Jesus have?

Look at Mary and Joseph, who faithfully did what God asked them. Have we been faithful to God?  Look at the shepherd who humbly worship the Lord. Have we worship Him with all we are?

So what do you say about telling your friends not to buy any Christmas present for you, but to use the money for the poor instead?

Some of you might think what I wrote is crazy, controversial, out of the ordinary, but St. Paul reminds us “Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2).

On Standing Up to the Truth

Excerpt of Lectio Divina’s Reflection on the Gospel reading for the Monday of the 3rd Week of Advent (Matthew 21:23-27)

In today’s Gospel reading, we see how the religious leaders opposed Jesus and rejected His claim to divine authority.  Their view of religion did not match with God’s word because their hearts were set on personal gain rather than truth and submission to God’s plan and design for their lives.

In His priestly prayer, Jesus said “I have given them your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world” (John 17:13). God’s word is the truth, and because of that we will face opposition and disapproval by people. Faced with opposition and disapproval, St. Paul exhorted “Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2).

Are you willing to take a stand for the truth, even when it might cost you personally because of opposition or disapproval of others?

Prayer:
“Lord Jesus Christ, you are the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Let your light shine in my heart and in my mind that I may grow in understanding the truth of your word and find joy and freedom in living according to it.” 

My Take on Mother Teresa’s Loving Until It Hurts

Referring to my previous post “Mother Teresa on Loving Others Until It Hurts“, a friend of mine asked what my understanding of the phrase is. To me it means love needs sacrifice – be it our time, the things we like to do, our ego, our pride. It resonates with John 15:13 “Greater love has no man that this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” Of course I am not taking the word “lay down” literally.

My Disappointments with Some Social Workers

I brought a Friend-in-Need (from now on will be called FIN) who has been sleeping in the void deck for some time to meet with social workers from a Catholic organization in charge of a home for the elderly. It was my first time meeting with social workers and it left me with bitter taste.  Dealing with a Catholic organization, I expected more love and compassion.

One of the social worker, was very negative. He kept emphasizing that my FIN can’t be admitted there as he doesn’t meet one of the conditions. Putting myself in my FIN’s shoes, hearing what the social worker said would definitely make me feel unwelcome and all my hope being taken away. At the very least the social worker could have said that he would review the case first, instead of just dismissing it like that.

During the meeting, the social worker also tried to explore what other options my FIN could take, and the first thing he said “I guess void deck is not one of them”. Worse still, the social worker asked why my FIN discharged himself from the hospital. My FIN said it was because he was feeling better and he could use more air. The social worker’s respond to that was something like “There is a lot of air in the void deck”. Maybe he was joking, but I find it totally inappropriate.

I guess what we can learn from this is not to become like them in dealing with our FINs, and that we should be more loving and compassionate.

Mother Teresa on Loving Others Until It Hurts

I came across Mother Teresa’s Nobel Lecture on 11 December 1979. Below is a portion of it on the topic on loving others. For the full lecture, proceed here.

“And we read that in the Gospel very clearly – love as I have loved you – as I love you – as the Father has loved me, I love you – and the harder the Father loved him, he gave him to us, and how much we love one another, we, too, must give each other until it hurts. It is not enough for us to say: I love God, but I do not love my neighbour. St. John says you are a liar if you say you love God and you don’t love your neighbour. How can you love God whom you do not see, if you do not love your neighbour whom you see, whom you touch, with whom you live. And so this is very important for us to realise that love, to be true, has to hurt. It hurt Jesus to love us, it hurt him.”

On Action vs Words

Excerpt of Lectio Divina’s reflection on the Gospel reading for the Monday of the 33rd week in Ordinary Time (Luke 18:35-43)

In the Gospel reading, we learn something important on how God interacts with us.

Bartimaeus was so determined and persistent to get near to the one person who could meet his need in the face of opposition. Jesus could have ignored or rebuffed him because he was interrupting His talk and disturbing His audience. Instead, Jesus was ready not only to empathize with his suffering but also to relieve it.  Jesus knew that Bartimaeus was in desperate need.

Jesus showed that acting is more important than talking.  A great speaker can command attention and respect, but a man or woman with a helping hand and a big heart is loved more.

On the Parable of the Widow and the Unrighteous Judge

Excerpt of Lectio Divina’s reflection on the Gospel reading for the Saturday of the 32nd week in Ordinary Time (Luke 18:1-8)

In this parable, Jesus tells a story about a defenseless widow who was taken advantage off, and the unrighteous judge who refused her her rights.  Through sheer persistence, she wore down the unscrupulous judge until he gave her the justice she deserved.  Persistence pays off, and that’s especially true for those who trust in God.

Jesus illustrates how God as our Judge is going to be much quicker to bring us His justice, blessing, and help when we need it.  But we can easily lose heart and forget to ask our Heavenly Father for His grace and help.  Jesus also told this parable to give fresh hope and confidence to His disciples.

In this present life we can expect trials and adversity, but we are not without hope in God.  The just who put their trust in God can look forward with hope to that day when they will receive their reward. Jesus ends His parable with a probing question for us – Will you and I have faith, one that perseveres to the end?

Prayer:
“Lord Jesus, give me faith to believe your promises and give me perseverance and hope to withstand trials and adversities. Help me to trust in your unfailing love and to find joy and contentment in you alone.”

Fr. Thomas Kocik on the Mass

Taken from Fr. Thomas Kocik’s book – Living and Loving the Mass

About the Mass
Primary purpose of the Mass is not to please us, but to worship our creator.

Mass is a holy exchange. We give ourselves to God in union with Christ’s sacrifice, and God in turn gives us Christ’s very Body and Blood as food for our earthly pilgrimage.

Mass is the Church’s obedient response to Jesus’ command at the last supper: “Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19)

The Colors in the Mass
- White
Symbolizes joy and purity.
Occasions: Christmas; Easter Seasons; feast days of Christ, Our Lady, and saints who are not martyrs.

- Red
Symbolizes blood, Holy Spirit.
Occasions: Palm Sunday; Good Friday; Pentecost; and Masses in honor of the Holy Spirit and martyrs.

The Introductory Rite and Procession
In the introductory rite, we greet Christ in the person of the priest.

Procession reminds us that we are a “pilgrim” Church, on the way to eternity.

The Sign of the Cross
It means love. It was for love of sinners that Christ died and rose. The cross is the emblem of His redeeming and victorious sacrifice.  By making the sign of the cross, we show our acceptance of the salvation won for us on Calvary. No need, then to brood over our sins and failings; rather, resolve to love God more firmly. Sign of the cross also expresses our willingness to take up our “cross” daily and follow Christ (Luke 9:23).  It is also a reminder that Christian life is more akin to self-sacrifice than to self improvement.

Gloria
In Gloria, we can find all 4 motives of prayer:
1. Adoration
2. Thanksgiving
3. Petition
4. Contrition

The Gospel Reading
Before the Gospel reading, we sign with a small cross with thumb on our forehead, lips, and chest. It signifies our desire to open our minds and hearts to the good news of the Gospel, and to share that good news with others.

Sermon vs Homily
Sermon: a talk on any religious topic.
Homily: draws its inspiration from the liturgical text and especially from the Scripture readings.

The Communion
Imagine yourself on the paten with the bread, offering to our God your mind and heart, your soul and body, all that you have and are.
Pour out your heart into the chalice with the wine, and put into it all your hopes and fears, joys and sorrows, love and adoration, your whole self.

By eating and drinking His Body and Blood in faith, Christians share in God’s holiness, power, and life.

On the Parable of the Dishonest Steward

Excerpt of Lectio Divina’s reflection on the Gospel reading for the Friday of the 31st week in Ordinary Time (Luke 16:1-8)

In the parable, we have a steward who very likely overcharged his master’s tenants for their use of the land, and kept more than his fair share of the profit.  When the landowner finds out, he immediately removes him from his office. Before the news of his dismissal becomes public, the shrewd steward strikes a deal with his master’s debtors.  In discounting their debts, he probably was giving his generous commission.  Such a deal won him great favor with the debtors. Since he acted as the landowner’s agents, such a deal made his master look very generous and forgiving towards those who owed him money. Surely everyone would praise such a generous landowner. Since the master could not undo the steward’s cancellation of the debts without losing face and making his debtors resent him, he praises the steward for outwitting him.

What’s the point of Jesus’ parable? Jesus commended the dishonest steward not for mishandling his master’s wealth, but for his shrewd effort in averting personal disaster and in securing his future livelihood.  However, Jesus is concerned here with something more than a financial crisis – our spiritual well being. He wants us to take every effort possible to avert spiritual crisis and personal moral disaster through the exercise of faith.

If only Christians would expend as much foresight and energy to spiritual matters, which have eternal consequences, as they do to earthly matters, which have temporal consequences, they would truly be better off both in this life and in the age to come.

Other than that, Jesus also wants to remind us that possessions are a great responsibility. The Lord expects us to use them honestly and responsibly and to put them at his service and the service of others. We belong to God and all that we have is his as well.

Ambrose, a 4th century bishop said “The bosoms of the poor, the houses of widows, the mouths of children are the barns which last forever”. True wealth consists not in what we keep but in what we give away. God has given us so many things generously, we have to give to other generously as well. Freely you received, freely you give (Matthew 10:8)

Prayer:
“Lord Jesus, all that I have is a gift from you. May I love you freely and generously with all that I possess. Help me to be wise and faithful steward of the resources you put at my disposal, including the use of my time, money, and possessions.”