26th Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 27.09.2020

 Ezekiel 18:25-28 / Philippians 2:1-11 / Matthew 21:28-32

We may have heard of this expression: Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. 

Of course, that is more like a childish rebuttal when being teased or scolded or a reaction to some gossip. 

But in reality, it is more like: Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will continue to haunt me. 

So, whatever we may think about words, whether it is too many words, or too few words, the power of words cannot be under-estimated. 

Words may not have the force to tear the skin or to break the bones, but words make their way into the heart and are locked in there. 

Kind and encouraging words strengthen the heart and lift up the spirit. 

Harsh and hurtful words contaminate the heart and make it bitter and resentful. 

We will remember that Jesus said this: From what fills the heart, the words will flow. 

But in today’s gospel parable, there seems to be some kind of contradiction. What is being said and what is being done is so different. 

In the parable, the first son was asked to go and work in the vineyard. He said “no” but afterwards thought better of it and went. 

The same thing was said to the second son and he answered, “Certainly, sir,” but he did not go. 

What we often encounter is the second son’s response. Some people will say “yes” to anything that is asked of them, but whether they will accomplish it or fulfill it, that’s another question. 

But the first son’s response and subsequent action is something for us to ponder upon. 

His response is something that is unpleasant to hear. To get a flat and sharp “No” from our children, our employees, our subordinates, it is certainly irritating and insulting. 

Our instinctive reaction would be to use words that hurt and haunt that person until we get compliance and submission. 

This is where the gospel parable teaches us about the ways of God, about His love, His mercy and His compassion, especially for those who disobey Him and turn away from Him. 

God didn’t use lightning and thunder to force them to repent and obey. Of course He could have, but He didn’t. 

Instead God sent John the Baptist to preach the message of repentance. And surprisingly, it was the lowest of sinners, those hopeless sinners, those tax collectors and prostitutes, those were the ones that listened to him and repented. 

And Jesus added on to John the Baptist’s message of repentance with these beautiful words:
For God sent His only Son into the world, not to condemn the world but that through Him the world might be saved. 

We have said “no” to others and it has made them felt hurt, pain, anger and bitterness. 

But let us listen to those loving words of Jesus and repent and do what God wants of us so that there will be peace and Harmony. 

For those who have said “no” to us, let us not use harsh and hurtful words to rebuke them. This will only cause bitterness and resentment. 

Just as God is loving and merciful and compassionate to us so that we can repent, let us also use kind and encouraging words to help others to do what God wants of them.

Let us use words that heal, loving words that come from our heart, so that others will experience the love of God by our words.

25th Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 20.09.2020

 Isaiah 55:6-9 / Philippians 1:20-24, 27 / Matthew 20:1-16

Whenever there is a presentation that has a few points, we will often hear this when it comes to the last point: “And last but not least …”.

That is to emphasize that the last point is just as important as the first point and just as important as the preceding points. 

So, we generally understand what is “last but not least”. It is a sort of a figure of speech to emphasize the equal importance of the last point to the other preceeding points. 

Most of the time it is applicable to presentations as a figure of speech. 

However, in the reality of life, things may be quite different. 

In this world, we are categorized by our financial and economic worth, we are graded by our abilities and capabilities, we are classified by our intelligence and academic qualifications. 

And that would obviously mean that first is first, and last is last, and in between there would be a huge gap that also makes a big difference. 

We know what it means to be first. There will be medals and trophies, offers and benefits, attention and the limelight, applause and cheers. Being first is certainly a good feeling. 

And if the winner takes it all, then the loser will have to stand small. And if the loser is the last, then there might be nowhere to stand at all. 

As we listen to the gospel, there are many things that the gospel is teaching us. 

Essentially the gospel is teaching us the ways of God, which often is so different from the ways of the world. 

As the 1st reading reminds us, and it is the Lord who speaks: Yes, the heavens are as high above the earth, as My ways are above your ways and My thoughts above your thoughts. 

That would also make us think about the last line of the gospel when Jesus said: The last will be first, and the first, last. 

More than just some kind of reversal of fortunes, it shows who God is and how He looks at the last, the lost, the lowly and the losers. 

The last, the lost, the lowly and the losers often find themselves at the bottom of the barrel and they are often rejected and devalued. 

The world may not look at them or listen to them, but God listens to them. 

Because for the last, the lost, the lowly and losers, they have no one to turn to but God alone. 

And God is close to all who call on Him. 

The gospel teaches us the ways of God and the thoughts of God. The last, the lost, the lowly and the losers also have something to teach us. 

Let us look at them and listen to them and learn from them.

Because they might just be the ones that God has sent to teach us His ways.

24th Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 13.03.2020

 Ecclesiasticus 27:30 – 28:7 / Romans 14:7-9 / Matthew 18:21-35

When we look at life and ask ourselves what is it that we want in life, the answer can be quite obvious. 

Over and above everything else, we want to be happy, and like how all fairy tales often end, we want to live life happily ever after. 

But it seems that life is never ever happy!

So, whether we are studying or working, single or married, junior or senior or retired, happiness in whatever state of life seems so elusive. 

And because we are not happy in life, we get tired and weary with the burdens and struggles of life. 

But what is really the cause of our unhappiness in life? 

Actually, human beings can take a lot of hardships in life and still be happy. 

But it is the hardness of heart that makes us unhappy. 

And here, the 1sr reading points out what it is that causes that hardness of heart. 

The 1st reading begins with this: Resentment and anger, these are foul things, and both are found in the sinner. 

And from resentment and anger flows other foul things like vengeance, hurt, unforgiveness and even hate. 

Yes, all these are foul things, and these foul things make us unhappy, and we also make others unhappy. 

And these foul things cause the heart to be hardened and unhappy. 

Foul things are like rubbish in the house. We need to clear the rubbish in the house, otherwise there will be a bad rotten smell and of course, there will be pest infestation. 

Similarly, we need to clear the foul things in our lives so that our hearts can be clean and happy. 

But we know how difficult it can be. Even the 1st reading has this to say: Mere creatures of flesh, he cherishes resentment. 

Putting it bluntly, and we have to admit it, we like to keep the foul things of resentment, anger, vengeance and unforgiveness, although that doesn’t make us happy at all. 

Jesus came to cleanse us of these foul things so that we can be happy in life. 

On the cross Jesus did not let any of these foul things get into His Heart and He even prayed: Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. 

On the Cross, blood and water flowed from His pierced side to cleanse our hearts. 

Let us look at the Cross, and let us embrace the Cross, so that Jesus can heal us with the blood and water from His Heart.

May the blood and water from the Heart of Jesus cleanse us and make us happy and make us holy, so that we too can make others happy and help them to be holy.

23rd Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 06.09.2020

 Ezekiel 33:7-9 / Romans 13:8-10 / Matthew 18:15-20

It is said that a problem isn’t really a problem if it can be solved by money. 

That is quite true because as long as the solution to a problem is money, then the question is whether there is the money or not. 

So if the problem is hunger and what is needed is food, then what is needed will be money to buy the food and the problem is solved. It is almost as straightforward as that. 

That can be applicable to almost any physical and material problem. If money can solve the problem, then it is not really that big or that serious a problem. 

But a more complex matter would be human relationship problems.

 

As we know by now, human relationships are so complex and if there are problems, money may only solve part of the problem but certainly not the whole problem. 

Especially so when we try to correct someone or tell that person that what he is doing is wrong. We all know how difficult it can be. 

In the gospel, Jesus gives a rather straight-forward method of correcting someone or telling him that what he is doing is wrong. 

Initially it is one-to-one, and if that doesn’t work, then two or three others are to be called upon, and if that still doesn’t work, then it it will have to involve the community. 

And finally if all that doesn’t solve the problem, then that person is to be treated like a pagan or a tax collector. 

That seems straight-forward enough. But does treating that person as a pagan or a tax collector means to cut him off and don’t bother about that person anymore? 

We need to listen to Jesus as He says this: I tell you solemnly once again, if two of you on earth agree to ask anything at all, it will be granted to you by My Father in heaven. For where two or three meet in my name, I shall be there with them. 

What Jesus said makes us aware of the power of prayer and the power of intercession, even if it is only two or three who are gathered in Jesus’ name. Because He promised that He will be there. 

The mission of the Church and our mission is for the conversion and the salvation of sinners and those who do not believe in God. 

We must believe that such prayers for sinners and non-believers are heard by Jesus because He said that when two or three agree to ask anything, then it will be granted by God. 

More so when it comes to trying to correct a person or tell him that he has done something wrong. 

We must have recourse to the power of prayer and also have recourse to the power of community prayer. 

Let us trust in Jesus and in His promises. Let us offer up our prayers at this Mass as well as during the online community prayers. 

The world needs to experience the saving love of God specially in these times. 

Money cannot buy that love. Only prayer and especially community prayer will open heavens and God will hear our prayers and rain down His love on us and on the world.