We call ourselves Christians,followers of Christ,but how Christ-like are we in our daily lives?How Christ-like are we in dealing with those around us,our neighbor?
Last Wednesday,22.2.2023, we commemorated Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. To many Ash Wednesday is another day for rituals - fast, abstinence, attending mass and imposition of ashes on their foreheads.
While there is nothing wrong with these practices, but Ash Wednesday is much more than these rituals.
Today it is so difficult to live a good and decent life in an environment of so much evil. Evil seem to be so powerful and we seem to be helpless watching it triumph over good, everywhere and every time.
Very often we too succumb to the temptations of such evils which are deep rooted in our society everywhere. With our rituals we are not going to win over evil engulfing us.
We can only defeat evil by our courage to stand up to it, a courage that is so lacking in us.
This courage is obtained from the examples shown by Jesus himself as he prepared to face his unjust persecution and death on the cross. He himself gained that courage from the Father and used fasting to strengthen him to fight the evil that even put him to death on the cross.
As Christians we too are faced with evil influences everywhere and we need great courage to live a righteous life in such a hostile environment where greed, wealth and injustice rule.
During this Lent, let us pray for that courage in our hearts to face our own trials and tribulations. Let us ask God to give us the courage to stand up where many are failing.
Within ourselves lets gain the courage to fight the evil within us. In our family lets gain the courage to extend a hand of friendship to all our loved ones. In our places of work and country lets have the courage to extend our friendship and goodwill to all, including those who are against us.
Behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Jesus, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
Jesus said to him, "What is written in the law? How do you read it?"
He answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbour as yourself."
He said to him, "You have answered correctly. Do this, and you will live."
But the lawyer, desiring to justify himself, asked Jesus, "Who is my neighbour?"
Jesus answered, "A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who both stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. By chance a certain priest was going down that way. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side. In the same way a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.
But a certain Samaritan, as he travelled, came where he was. When he saw him, he was moved with compassion, came to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. He set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the host, and said to him, 'Take care of him. Whatever you spend beyond that, I will repay you when I return.'
Now which of these three do you think seemed to be a neighbour to him who fell among the robbers?"
He said, "He who showed mercy on him."
Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."
Reflections
The above is the Gospel reading at mass today. It is the story of the Good Samaritan, which we are all very familiar since we were children. It may be timely for us to reflect on the meaning of this story narrated by Jesus at this stage in our lives.
Jesus had clearly indicated who is our neighbour and what it takes to be a good Samaritan.It does not matter which God we believe in or what religion we profess. It does not matter how rich we are or how learned we may be or how powerful we are in society. What truly matters is the feeling for others in our heart – compassion.
Today what we are sked to do is to examine our hearts to see whether we have that compassion of the good Samaritan in our hearts.Lets get rid of the greed,selfishness and jealousy from our hearts and replace them with love, compassion and mercy.
We all have the same question that was posed by the learned lawyer, what should we do to inherit eternal life? The answer is simple, love God and love your neighbour.
Jesus had clearly indicated who is our neighbour and what it takes to be a good Samaritan. It does not matter which God we believe in or what religion we profess. It does not matter how rich we are or how learned we may be or how powerful we are in society. What truly matters is the feeling of empathy for others in our heart – the great virtue of compassion.
It is easy to say we love God, whom we do not see, hear, or touch but difficult to love our neighbour as ourselves, a neighbour whom we may not like and may not see things the way we do. The greed, selfishness and jealousy in our hearts prevents us to love our neighbour as ourselves. Unless we get rid of these vices from our hearts, it will be impossible to love our neighbour in the ways Jesus asks us to do.
Jesus is very clear that God does not need our sacrifices in the form of donations and rituals. What he wants is our compassion and mercy towards our fellow men, most so to those who are in need. Today let’s examine ourselves to see whether we have that compassion of the good Samaritan in our hearts.
10.7.2022
With his resurrection on the 3rd day after an
agonising death on the cross, Jesus conquered death. He brought us great joy
and hope. Yes, Easter is all about hope for end of our long ordeal and a better
future for all.
All of us in some form may be suffering from so much pain in
our lives. Numerous problems come in many ways that at times we tend to give up
and begin to suffer in silence and despair. At times even the staunchest believer
tends to doubt the existence of God. However Christ’s resurrection gives us
hope that if we continue to persevere with faith, patience and right attitude, our
problems too can be overcome one day.
The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has threatened everyone of us.
It destroyed our way of life and put fear of infection and death. The very
foundation on which our lives were based is being threatened by this virus.
After 3 weeks of panic and fear we may be seeing some hope of overcoming the virus.
It was not with our might and power but by our unity and helping one another,
regardless of race, creed and status. These are the only weapons that can
subdue the virus.
This is not the end but the beginning of a long journey
ahead as a nation. The Covid-19 has exposed the many weaknesses in our system
and our country. The people are now so divided as ever with the many differences
among the races being highlighted daily in the way we think, speak and act. There
seems to be very little hope that we are going to develop and progress as a
nation with the present atmosphere.
When our younger generation fail to interact and understand each
other’s differences among us what chance is there for future unity? When our
children are brought up to think and accept that some are superior to others, what
chance is there for interethnic goodwill and respect? When we want everything
for ourselves at the expense of others, how can there be mutual understanding
and tolerance? When we refuse to accept one another as equal how can be natural
justice? When we refuse to understand the plight of others how are we going to
care for them? When the people are constantly reminded of their difference what
hope is there for unity, peace and progress. The interethnic unity is slowly but
surely dying.
We are indeed going through some critical and defining
moments as revealed strangely by a virus. It has once again emphasized the
importance of ethnic unity and goodwill. Unity of the people of various origin
must be strengthened if we want to progress as a nation. We need a strong, unbiased
and multi-ethnic political leadership with great wisdom to take the nation forwards.
If the Covid-19 crisis does not teach us the need for genuine unity, mutual
respect and goodwill, I wonder what ever will.
This Easter let us pray for hope and patience among the
people. Let us pray that God enlighten the minds of the people and our leaders
to think right, talk right and most importantly do right for the wellbeing of
all Malaysians.
Good Friday, commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus, signifies humility, sacrifice and forgiveness for our enemies. These were the three main virtues demonstrated by Jesus besides the physical pain and agony of being tortured and killed in a most cruel way.
However, we tend to highlight the physical suffering of Jesus more than the lessons he tried to teach us going through those sufferings. We tend to over emphasise on the evils of the those who unjustly tried and sentenced Jesus, the Jews who handed him to the Roman rulers who tried him and sentenced him. We readily condemn the Roman soldiers who carried out the sentence with no mercy or compassion whatsoever. We tend to sympathize with Jesus forgetting that sympathy is not what he wanted from us. God knows what and why he allowed Jesus to go through this ordeal which we call “Passion of Christ”.
Instead on sympathysing with Jesus let us uphold the lessons from his passion and see we can employ these in our lives,especially at a time of a major pandemic crisis,the Covid-19.This virus has managed to do something no man could ,close done all places of worship regardless of religion.Yes,our churches are closed even during this Holy Week,the most important in the church calendar.We Forced to follow the services online from our homes. We cannot lock up Jesus in the churches but carry him whenever we go and whatever we do to guide us.
The sacrifice of Christ, dying on the cross, is no ordinary sacrifice. It is self-sacrifice or agape, which is the ultimate sacrifice no man can do for another. During this MCO and Covid-19 crisis, we have a lot of opportunities to sacrifice a little for the benefit of someone, infected with the virus, under quarantine and those lonely confined to their homes. Are we willing to sacrifice a little for someone?
The other important lessons on Good Friday is on forgiveness,especially to those do bad to us and our family.Despite all the agony Jesus went through,he did not react with and anger or hate towards those who unjustly crucified him. He but accepted all the insults and torture with great humility. He freely and unconditionally forgave them and prayed for them saying, “Father forgive them for they do not know what they do”.Let us pray for that magnanimity of heart not to hold any grudge against those to ill treat us and act with vengeance against those who deprive us of our rights.
As we follow the Good Friday services online, let’s pray those infected with Covid-19 and undergoing treatment in all lone under quarantine.Let us pray God to grant the strength to endure the agony of dying all alone in the ICUs all over. Let’s pray for the families of those inflicted with the virus, may they gain the strength and courage to bear with the pain, agony and fear of loneliness and isolation.
Jesus reminds us of his cross on Good Friday; that injustice and pain are inevitable in life but as his followers we must accept them humbly without anger and hate. There is no place for revenge but only forgiveness for our enemies.
As for the Covid-19,with faith patience and doing the right things with the right attitude, we will surely overcome the ordeal soon
This year Holy Thursday is unique and special in that we celebrate this day the within the confines of our own homes, in compliance with the Movement Control Order (MCO) imposed to combat the Covid-19 pandemic. The church is broadcasting live via video streaming the mass so that we can we all follow the mass in our own homes. This goes to show that nothing can stop us from worshiping as God dwells in our hearts not in buildings.
The more important thing is the fact we are commemorating the Last Supper of Jesus with his apostles in the midst of a pandemic where thousands around the world are living in fear, and in loneliness confined to our homes due to the lockdown imposed by the government. Jesus too was lonely praying and fearful of his imminent arrest, torture and death we accompany him in his ordeal.
The main theme of Holy Thursday is humility, highlighted by Jesus himself washing the feet of his disciples. After the washing Jesus tells his disciples, “If I as your Master and Lord can wash your feet, you too should wash the feet of one another”. These may be simple words but has profound meaning.
Today with Covid-19, many in our midst who are helpless in the assault by the virus. There are many who have lost their jobs, staying overcrowded in their homes, lonely, without money to buy food for them and their children. There are the elderly and sick who are without access to regular medical treatment. There are parents whose children are working round the clock fighting the virus at the frontline, without adequate self-protection. Then there those infected and being treated in the hospitals. Like Jesus in the garden before his death, they are all lonely and living in fear of possible death.
Let us have the humility to appreciate the difficulties of those suffering in fear, loneliness and lack of daily essentials and go out of our way to offer some form of assistance o those less fortunate than us. We should see Jesus is those living in fear and loneliness and provide our company, prayers and support in whatever way we can in their ordeal. This is what Holy Thursday means to us in this time of crisis in the world and our country.
Tomorrow we will be celebrating Palm Sunday, commemorating the triumphant majestic entry into Jerusalem, days before his persecution and death on the cross.This action of Jesus is very relevant and significant to us today, especially with Covid-19 posing a threat to our lives and that of our loved ones.
Jesus showed great courage to do the right despite knowing well that he will be put to an unfair trial and sentenced to die in a most brutal manner. The greater surprise of this is that he accepted the unfair verdict without any hate or anger towards those who plotted and betrayed him.The very people who shouted “Hossana, Hossana”, days later yelled “Crucify him, Crucify him”. Despite fully aware of all the injustice towards him. Jesus still did not show anger or hate whatsoever.
It is this principle of Jesus, we must adopt in our own lives today. We too are continuously being treated unjustly, denied our legitimate rights and at times punished even for doing right. We are extremely angry and tempted to react with anger. But our Lord has showed us that is wrong.
In this respects we commend the 24 seminarians and a priest who were arrested, hand-cuffed and charged for playing football in the premises of the College General ,Penang. They were accused for breaching the Movement Control Order (MCO) during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. It must have been a great humiliation for these seminarians for being treated like that for not coming any crime. However they humbly accepted their arrest and even pleaded guilty and was ordered to do community service as the punishment, which may be God’s plan in preparation for their pastoral life in the future.
During this MCO, the churches organize online masses, Holy week services and even virtual blessing of palms at home. These may be good but Palm Sunday is much more than praying and blessing of palms to make us feel better. There are more important things to do in keeping with what Jesus himself demonstrated on Palm Sunday – the courage to do the right and accept the consequences without anger or hate.
In this MCO period our loved ones may be involved actively in the frontline battle against the Covid-19, we may be cooped up in our homes bored, stressed, fearful and depressed over their safety and our own. This is the time we need the courage to do the right by reaching out to those around us who are worst off the us. Many don’t have food, no proper shelter and no job and money. There are many who are depressed over the uncertain future with the looming pandemic. Now is the time to reach out to them in whatever way we can. It may not be monetary aid they need but just our moral support of reassurance. A phone call or WhatsApp message is all they may need to lift their morale.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 15,1-3.11-32.
Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." So to them he addressed this parable.
Then he said, "A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of your estate that should come to me.' So the father divided the property between them. After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine. And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any.
Coming to his senses he thought, 'How many of my father's hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger. I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers."' So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion.
He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. His son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.' But his father ordered his servants, 'Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.' Then the celebration began.
Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean. The servant said to him, 'Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.' He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him.
He said to his father in reply, 'Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends. But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.'
He said to him, 'My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.'"
Reflection
Nice story to reflect
1.Forgive everybody who repents,even those who betray you.
2.Never be jealous when others are treated better than you.
3.Stay right and do right,God will always be on your side,when you least expect and when in dire need.
It has been 6 years
since she left us. The pain may have faded but her memories still remain
vividly in our hearts and minds. Whenever we are gathered as a family, we never
fail to talk about her. This gives us great courage and inspiration to continue
doing right in whatever we do.
Joseph P. Kenedy said,
“When the going gets tough, the tough get
going”. Mdm Alice would have gone through some extremely difficult times as
a homemaker keeping the family together. But being a woman of steel, it was the
toughness in her that made her go on to achieve the impossible.
Whenever we visit her
grave to place flowers and light candles, it is not just a ritual to honour her
but an expression of her place deep in our hearts. It is also gives as an
opportunity to reflect on the wonderful time we had with her here on earth.
Mother Alice may be
gone but she has left us a great legacy, a legacy of hard work, discipline and
compassion that is extremely difficult to follow as these values hardly exist in
the world today. She has footprints in our hearts that will be hard to erase. We
know she is somewhere watching us, and we hope she continues to guide us and
our family in our own struggles to uplift ourselves.
How we wish she was
with a little longer for us to say good-bye. Well God had better plans for her
to be with Him. We pray that the Lord grant her eternal rest in His home.
