Jeremiah 20:7-9 / Romans 12:1-2 / Matthew 16:21-27
The word “domestic” gives the idea that it is relating to the home, the household, household affairs or the family.
And from that word comes another word and that is “domesticated”, and it is usually referred to animals and plants.
So a domesticated animal can be a pet that is usually kept at home or livestock that is on a farm. The same can be said of plants.
The word domesticated is not usually used on persons, unless it is meant to be a joke, as in “he was a wild man but after he got married he was domesticated.”
Nonetheless, domesticated has a positive meaning, and that is to nurture, to cultivate, to groom, and to form.
Over the past few months, there was a sort of domestication, but it was a kind of forced domestication.
We have to stay at home, work from home, learn from home.
Domestication usually results in a change of behaviour, a change of lifestyle, a change of mentality, and an overall change.
So has these few months brought about any change in us? And has it been a positive change? Has it been a creative change?
When Jesus called His disciples, it wasn’t for the purpose of domestication, in that He wanted to be a master and treat them as His slaves.
Rather He wants to form them in the ways of God and He will even set the example for them.
So when Jesus told His disciples that He was destined to suffer grievously and to be put to death and raised up on the third day, Peter started to remonstrate with Him.
But with that Jesus taught His disciples about the difference between God’s ways and man’s ways.
And the other lessons also followed, like the cross and the renunciation of self, and what has a man to offer in exchange for his life even if he gains the whole world.
Over these months, there were many safety measures and regulations that we have to comply with.
Do we observe them, or do we flout them whenever we can?
We want freedom from rules and regulations, whether in society or in the Church.
But we have to realize that true freedom lies in obedience to God and also in compliance to the rules and regulations of society that are for our good.
Jesus does not want us to be like domesticated slaves who will only obey when punished.
He wants us to exercise our freedom by being obedient and being faithful to God.
May we be obedient to the ways of God and by our lives of faithfulness, may we also teach others what is right and what is good for them.
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Saturday, August 29, 2020
Saturday, August 22, 2020
21st Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 23.08.2020
Isaiah 22:19-23 / Romans 11:33-36 / Matthew 16:13-20
The knowledge of the reality that we see around us is usually accumulated from what we were taught, what we were told and from what we experienced through our senses.
So whatever we know is either based on facts, on accounts from others or from the testimonies of others.
But there are also some things that we accept without questioning, like the existence of places that we have never been to, events that happened in history, right down to the acceptance that we are born of a particular set of parents.
Hence, much of our knowledge is actually based on faith, faith in the broadest sense of the word.
Without faith in that sense, we will be burdened by doubts and paralyzed with questions.
In today’s Gospel, we come to know of something that would require a specific kind of faith, and that is faith in the religious sense.
When Jesus asked His disciples, who do they say He is, Simon Peter spoke up: You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.
But how did Simon Peter know this? How did he find it out?
And here we are presented with another source of knowledge, which is called a revelation.
And Jesus says where Peter got this knowledge from: It was not flesh and blood that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven.
And from that revelation, Jesus went on to speak about two realities.
One is the Church, which Jesus said: You are Peter and on this rock I will build My church.
That is also a revelation, that the Church is not just a mere human institution but also a Divine institution, founded by Jesus Christ.
And there is also another revelation when Jesus said this: The gates of the underworld can never hold out against it.
So it means that the Church will triumph over evil and evil cannot destroy the Church.
But the Church is divine as well as human, just as Jesus is divine as well as human.
As much as the divine nature of the church cannot be destroyed by evil, very often it is the human nature of the church that is subjected to weakness and sinfulness from the temptations of the evil one.
But to focus and criticize the sinfulness and the weaknesses of the church is just looking at one side of the coin.
The Divine aspect of the Church is a revelation from God. When we believe in this divine revelation, then we will be united in the divine mission of salvation.
When we truly believe in that divine revelation, then that knowledge can dissolve fear, just as light scatters the darkness.
Let us live in the light of God’s revelation and be courageous members of the Church in the mission of salvation.
The knowledge of the reality that we see around us is usually accumulated from what we were taught, what we were told and from what we experienced through our senses.
So whatever we know is either based on facts, on accounts from others or from the testimonies of others.
But there are also some things that we accept without questioning, like the existence of places that we have never been to, events that happened in history, right down to the acceptance that we are born of a particular set of parents.
Hence, much of our knowledge is actually based on faith, faith in the broadest sense of the word.
Without faith in that sense, we will be burdened by doubts and paralyzed with questions.
In today’s Gospel, we come to know of something that would require a specific kind of faith, and that is faith in the religious sense.
When Jesus asked His disciples, who do they say He is, Simon Peter spoke up: You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.
But how did Simon Peter know this? How did he find it out?
And here we are presented with another source of knowledge, which is called a revelation.
And Jesus says where Peter got this knowledge from: It was not flesh and blood that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven.
And from that revelation, Jesus went on to speak about two realities.
One is the Church, which Jesus said: You are Peter and on this rock I will build My church.
That is also a revelation, that the Church is not just a mere human institution but also a Divine institution, founded by Jesus Christ.
And there is also another revelation when Jesus said this: The gates of the underworld can never hold out against it.
So it means that the Church will triumph over evil and evil cannot destroy the Church.
But the Church is divine as well as human, just as Jesus is divine as well as human.
As much as the divine nature of the church cannot be destroyed by evil, very often it is the human nature of the church that is subjected to weakness and sinfulness from the temptations of the evil one.
But to focus and criticize the sinfulness and the weaknesses of the church is just looking at one side of the coin.
The Divine aspect of the Church is a revelation from God. When we believe in this divine revelation, then we will be united in the divine mission of salvation.
When we truly believe in that divine revelation, then that knowledge can dissolve fear, just as light scatters the darkness.
Let us live in the light of God’s revelation and be courageous members of the Church in the mission of salvation.
Saturday, August 15, 2020
20th Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 16.08.2020
Isaiah 56:1, 6-7 / Romans 11:13-15, 29-32 / Matthew 15:21-28
It is said that technology changes the world and indeed it has.
And in recent times, technology has indeed changed the world, especially in the way we communicate, in the way we work, in the way we learn, in the way we shop, and even in ways we have never thought could happen.
Now there is a surge of online or livestreaming activities, like online worship, online prayers, online weddings, etc.
All this is possible because of the technological advances that enable us to be connected online.
But we must remember that human beings are social beings and there is this inherent need to gather together and meet up face-to-face.
The physical encounter enables a dimension that technology cannot do, and that is, there is a personal encounter.
In the gospel, we hear of a personal encounter as well as a witty conversation.
Jesus came to the region of Tyre and Sidon, and then out came a Canaanite woman shouting: Sir, Son of David, take pity on me. My daughter is tormented by a devil.
It was a very respectful request, and we would have expected Jesus to grant that woman her request without hesitation.
But surprisingly, Jesus answered her not a word. And we know what a non-reply means - it means “no” and also don’t bother to ask again.
Instead it was the disciples who intervened as they said: Give her what she wants. But why did the disciple say that. It was because she was shouting after them.
Then Jesus said something about Him being sent to the lost sheep of Israel.
But the woman came up and knelt at His feet with this plea: Lord, help me.
This gospel passage has many things to tell us. There is a lesson on persistence and perseverance. There is a lesson of faith and trust.
But underlying all this is the personal encounter between Jesus and the Canaanite woman, with a lesson on prayer.
Those three prayer words of the Canaanite woman “Lord, help me” is as simple, as profound, as moving, as effective and as personal as prayer can be.
And that is how we should pray - with sincerity, with humility, and with conviction.
So even though we cannot gather physically as a community in prayer, let us pray together online and pray with sincerity, with humility, and with conviction.
Let us have faith in Jesus that when we pray with sincerity, with humility, and with conviction, He will grant us our needs, just as He granted that Canaanite woman her prayer.
It is said that technology changes the world and indeed it has.
And in recent times, technology has indeed changed the world, especially in the way we communicate, in the way we work, in the way we learn, in the way we shop, and even in ways we have never thought could happen.
Now there is a surge of online or livestreaming activities, like online worship, online prayers, online weddings, etc.
All this is possible because of the technological advances that enable us to be connected online.
But we must remember that human beings are social beings and there is this inherent need to gather together and meet up face-to-face.
The physical encounter enables a dimension that technology cannot do, and that is, there is a personal encounter.
In the gospel, we hear of a personal encounter as well as a witty conversation.
Jesus came to the region of Tyre and Sidon, and then out came a Canaanite woman shouting: Sir, Son of David, take pity on me. My daughter is tormented by a devil.
It was a very respectful request, and we would have expected Jesus to grant that woman her request without hesitation.
But surprisingly, Jesus answered her not a word. And we know what a non-reply means - it means “no” and also don’t bother to ask again.
Instead it was the disciples who intervened as they said: Give her what she wants. But why did the disciple say that. It was because she was shouting after them.
Then Jesus said something about Him being sent to the lost sheep of Israel.
But the woman came up and knelt at His feet with this plea: Lord, help me.
This gospel passage has many things to tell us. There is a lesson on persistence and perseverance. There is a lesson of faith and trust.
But underlying all this is the personal encounter between Jesus and the Canaanite woman, with a lesson on prayer.
Those three prayer words of the Canaanite woman “Lord, help me” is as simple, as profound, as moving, as effective and as personal as prayer can be.
And that is how we should pray - with sincerity, with humility, and with conviction.
So even though we cannot gather physically as a community in prayer, let us pray together online and pray with sincerity, with humility, and with conviction.
Let us have faith in Jesus that when we pray with sincerity, with humility, and with conviction, He will grant us our needs, just as He granted that Canaanite woman her prayer.
Saturday, August 8, 2020
19th Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 09.08.2020
1 Kings 19:9, 11-13 / Romans 9:1-5 / Matthew 14:22-33
Whenever we say that we “understand”, it means that we are clear about something.
So to say that we understand a topic or a subject, it means that we know what it is what it is all about or at least we have a good idea of it.
When we say that we understand someone, it means that we know that person’s thoughts and feel that person’s emotions.
So when we say we understand, it means a lot and it says a lot.
But somehow the word “understand” may seem to be made up of two words: under and stand. But it certainly does not mean to be standing under something.
In fact, it means to be standing in the midst of something and knowing what the situation is all about.
In a gospel, the disciples understood something. They were in a boat on the lake and battling with a heavy sea. They understood and they knew they were in danger.
But then came along something that they couldn’t understand at all. They saw Jesus walking on the water towards them, and they were terrified as they thought it was a ghost and they cried out in fear.
But Jesus called out to them saying: Courage! It is I! Do not be afraid!
Peter seemed to have understood that, and wanted to even walk on the water towards Jesus.
But as soon as he felt the force of the wind, he took fright and began to sink into the water.
Now, we know we can’t walk on water. Even if we can swim, it would be difficult to swim in a heavy sea.
What we are going through now is like what the disciples were going through.
We are hanging on to our faith but it is getting difficult. We are anxious, we are worried, we are even frightened.
There are so many bad and sad situations happening around us.
We want to keep walking towards Jesus but we are sinking into the cold murky waters.
Here we need to do what Peter did. He cried out: Lord, save me.
1 Kings 19:9, 11-13 / Romans 9:1-5 / Matthew 14:22-33
Whenever we say that we “understand”, it means that we are clear about something.
So to say that we understand a topic or a subject, it means that we know what it is what it is all about or at least we have a good idea of it.
When we say that we understand someone, it means that we know that person’s thoughts and feel that person’s emotions.
So when we say we understand, it means a lot and it says a lot.
But somehow the word “understand” may seem to be made up of two words: under and stand. But it certainly does not mean to be standing under something.
In fact, it means to be standing in the midst of something and knowing what the situation is all about.
In a gospel, the disciples understood something. They were in a boat on the lake and battling with a heavy sea. They understood and they knew they were in danger.
But then came along something that they couldn’t understand at all. They saw Jesus walking on the water towards them, and they were terrified as they thought it was a ghost and they cried out in fear.
But Jesus called out to them saying: Courage! It is I! Do not be afraid!
Peter seemed to have understood that, and wanted to even walk on the water towards Jesus.
But as soon as he felt the force of the wind, he took fright and began to sink into the water.
Now, we know we can’t walk on water. Even if we can swim, it would be difficult to swim in a heavy sea.
What we are going through now is like what the disciples were going through.
We are hanging on to our faith but it is getting difficult. We are anxious, we are worried, we are even frightened.
There are so many bad and sad situations happening around us.
We want to keep walking towards Jesus but we are sinking into the cold murky waters.
Here we need to do what Peter did. He cried out: Lord, save me.
And Jesus put out His hand at once and held him.
We may have little faith, we may doubt, we may be frightened.
But let us cry out: Jesus, save me.
Jesus will put out His hand and hold us up.
Then we will truly understand who Jesus is and that He holds our hands especially when we are anxious, worried and sinking in fear.
And Jesus put out His hand at once and held him.
We may have little faith, we may doubt, we may be frightened.
But let us cry out: Jesus, save me.
Jesus will put out His hand and hold us up.
Then we will truly understand who Jesus is and that He holds our hands especially when we are anxious, worried and sinking in fear.
Whenever we say that we “understand”, it means that we are clear about something.
So to say that we understand a topic or a subject, it means that we know what it is what it is all about or at least we have a good idea of it.
When we say that we understand someone, it means that we know that person’s thoughts and feel that person’s emotions.
So when we say we understand, it means a lot and it says a lot.
But somehow the word “understand” may seem to be made up of two words: under and stand. But it certainly does not mean to be standing under something.
In fact, it means to be standing in the midst of something and knowing what the situation is all about.
In a gospel, the disciples understood something. They were in a boat on the lake and battling with a heavy sea. They understood and they knew they were in danger.
But then came along something that they couldn’t understand at all. They saw Jesus walking on the water towards them, and they were terrified as they thought it was a ghost and they cried out in fear.
But Jesus called out to them saying: Courage! It is I! Do not be afraid!
Peter seemed to have understood that, and wanted to even walk on the water towards Jesus.
But as soon as he felt the force of the wind, he took fright and began to sink into the water.
Now, we know we can’t walk on water. Even if we can swim, it would be difficult to swim in a heavy sea.
What we are going through now is like what the disciples were going through.
We are hanging on to our faith but it is getting difficult. We are anxious, we are worried, we are even frightened.
There are so many bad and sad situations happening around us.
We want to keep walking towards Jesus but we are sinking into the cold murky waters.
Here we need to do what Peter did. He cried out: Lord, save me.
1 Kings 19:9, 11-13 / Romans 9:1-5 / Matthew 14:22-33
Whenever we say that we “understand”, it means that we are clear about something.
So to say that we understand a topic or a subject, it means that we know what it is what it is all about or at least we have a good idea of it.
When we say that we understand someone, it means that we know that person’s thoughts and feel that person’s emotions.
So when we say we understand, it means a lot and it says a lot.
But somehow the word “understand” may seem to be made up of two words: under and stand. But it certainly does not mean to be standing under something.
In fact, it means to be standing in the midst of something and knowing what the situation is all about.
In a gospel, the disciples understood something. They were in a boat on the lake and battling with a heavy sea. They understood and they knew they were in danger.
But then came along something that they couldn’t understand at all. They saw Jesus walking on the water towards them, and they were terrified as they thought it was a ghost and they cried out in fear.
But Jesus called out to them saying: Courage! It is I! Do not be afraid!
Peter seemed to have understood that, and wanted to even walk on the water towards Jesus.
But as soon as he felt the force of the wind, he took fright and began to sink into the water.
Now, we know we can’t walk on water. Even if we can swim, it would be difficult to swim in a heavy sea.
What we are going through now is like what the disciples were going through.
We are hanging on to our faith but it is getting difficult. We are anxious, we are worried, we are even frightened.
There are so many bad and sad situations happening around us.
We want to keep walking towards Jesus but we are sinking into the cold murky waters.
Here we need to do what Peter did. He cried out: Lord, save me.
And Jesus put out His hand at once and held him.
We may have little faith, we may doubt, we may be frightened.
But let us cry out: Jesus, save me.
Jesus will put out His hand and hold us up.
Then we will truly understand who Jesus is and that He holds our hands especially when we are anxious, worried and sinking in fear.
And Jesus put out His hand at once and held him.
We may have little faith, we may doubt, we may be frightened.
But let us cry out: Jesus, save me.
Jesus will put out His hand and hold us up.
Then we will truly understand who Jesus is and that He holds our hands especially when we are anxious, worried and sinking in fear.
Saturday, August 1, 2020
18th Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 02.08.2020
Isaiah 55:1-3 / Romans 8:35, 37-39 / Matthew 14:13-21
Whenever we talk about relationships, we are talking about a very complex matter.
It is complex because it includes multiple aspects of life, like the physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual.
And when we talk about relationships, we’re not referring to relationships with things like the mobile phone or computer or the car.
Neither are we referring to relationships with our pets, whether it is our dogs or cats on whatever pets we may have.
We are talking about human relationships, and these can either be blood relations or friendships that we have built along the way.
The gospel begins with this sentence: When Jesus received the news of John the Baptist’s death, He withdrew to a lonely place where they could be by themselves.
We would be able to feel what Jesus felt especially when we have gone through the experience of the death of a loved one or someone who is close to us.
As we may recall, Jesus and John the Baptist were cousins. The gospels did not tell us much about their personal relationship.
But we can presume that they knew each other from young, played together, had a meal together and talked about life whenever they met. At least it can be said that they had something in common.
So when Jesus received the news of the death of John the Baptist, it affected Him. It was a tragic death. John the Baptist was executed by King Herod. It was a life cut short at its prime.
And that’s why Jesus wanted to withdraw to a lonely place where they could be by themselves. It is understandable that He wanted to grieve over the death of John the Baptist.
He had lost a cousin, a friend and the one who baptized Him and pointed Him out as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
As much as Jesus wanted to spend some time alone, but when He saw a large crowd, He knew what John the Baptist would have wanted Him to do.
So Jesus took pity on them, healed the sick and even fed the crowd.
As we think about all this, let us also remember our departed loved ones. We may have fond memories of them, we may have regrets, we may be carrying a legacy that they have left behind.
But one thing for sure is that our relationships with them have not passed on. Rather their memory lives on in our hearts.
And we also believe that they are alive in another realm. And they would hope that we would live our lives on earth joyfully, peacefully, fruitfully and meaningfully.
As much as the hopes and aspirations of our departed loved ones live on in us, a deeper aspect of this lies in how Jesus wants us to live our lives on earth.
If John the Baptist was an inspiration for Jesus, then our departed loved ones are also signs and directions for us as to how to live our lives here on earth.
May we live our lives joyfully, peacefully, fruitfully and meaningfully, so that we will serve God faithfully, and be signs and directions and inspiration for others.
Whenever we talk about relationships, we are talking about a very complex matter.
It is complex because it includes multiple aspects of life, like the physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual.
And when we talk about relationships, we’re not referring to relationships with things like the mobile phone or computer or the car.
Neither are we referring to relationships with our pets, whether it is our dogs or cats on whatever pets we may have.
We are talking about human relationships, and these can either be blood relations or friendships that we have built along the way.
The gospel begins with this sentence: When Jesus received the news of John the Baptist’s death, He withdrew to a lonely place where they could be by themselves.
We would be able to feel what Jesus felt especially when we have gone through the experience of the death of a loved one or someone who is close to us.
As we may recall, Jesus and John the Baptist were cousins. The gospels did not tell us much about their personal relationship.
But we can presume that they knew each other from young, played together, had a meal together and talked about life whenever they met. At least it can be said that they had something in common.
So when Jesus received the news of the death of John the Baptist, it affected Him. It was a tragic death. John the Baptist was executed by King Herod. It was a life cut short at its prime.
And that’s why Jesus wanted to withdraw to a lonely place where they could be by themselves. It is understandable that He wanted to grieve over the death of John the Baptist.
He had lost a cousin, a friend and the one who baptized Him and pointed Him out as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
As much as Jesus wanted to spend some time alone, but when He saw a large crowd, He knew what John the Baptist would have wanted Him to do.
So Jesus took pity on them, healed the sick and even fed the crowd.
As we think about all this, let us also remember our departed loved ones. We may have fond memories of them, we may have regrets, we may be carrying a legacy that they have left behind.
But one thing for sure is that our relationships with them have not passed on. Rather their memory lives on in our hearts.
And we also believe that they are alive in another realm. And they would hope that we would live our lives on earth joyfully, peacefully, fruitfully and meaningfully.
As much as the hopes and aspirations of our departed loved ones live on in us, a deeper aspect of this lies in how Jesus wants us to live our lives on earth.
If John the Baptist was an inspiration for Jesus, then our departed loved ones are also signs and directions for us as to how to live our lives here on earth.
May we live our lives joyfully, peacefully, fruitfully and meaningfully, so that we will serve God faithfully, and be signs and directions and inspiration for others.
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