1st Sunday of Lent, Year A, 26.02.2023

 Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7 / Romans 5:12-19 / Matthew 4:1-11 

The season of Lent can be called a very spiritual season. Compared with all the other liturgical seasons of the year, the season of Lent has many more spiritual activities. 

And of course, the mood is not as festive as like the season of Christmas; in fact Lent has a rather serious and sombre mood. 

Even decorations are minimized and minimal, and we may have noticed that there are no floral decorations. 

Even the music is sober with hymns invoking God's mercy and compassion for forgiveness and repentance. 

We began the season of Lent on Ash Wednesday when we were marked with ashes and with fasting. 

Ashes and fasting are symbols and acts of penance and we continue with Stations of the Cross on Fridays. 

And for the 40 days of Lent, that will be the mood and direction, plus the call to go for Confession, especially towards the end of the season of Lent. 

So, the season of Lent is a very spiritual season, with enough of spiritual activities to keep us focused. 

The purpose of all that is to make us aware of the spiritual realities in our lives. And the one profound spiritual reality that must come across to us is the spiritual battle between good and evil. 

In other words, it is about the devil going against God, and the Gospel reading tells us about this. 

The gospel tells us that Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, and it was there that the devil took on Jesus. 

In the harsh conditions of the wilderness, Jesus fasted for 40 days, after which He was very hungry. 

The devil took advantage of that weakened condition of Jesus to tempt Him to give in to His human need. 

And that was only the first of the three temptations. The devil tempted the humanity of Jesus by goading Him to use His divine powers as a quick solution to the problem. 

But Jesus showed that self-denial and faithfulness to God are the weapons that will defeat the devil. 

The devil couldn't overcome Jesus, and the gospel ends off with the devil leaving Jesus, and the angels appeared and looked after Him. 

But that is not the end of the battle, because the devil now turns his focus on us, and the season of Lent is to remind us of this devilish threat. 

Just as how the devil tempted Jesus, that will also be how the devil will tempt us. Just as how Jesus fought off the devil with self-denial and faithfulness to God, that will also be how we will be tested. 

But let us remember that we are tested, not so much to expose our weakness, but to discover our strength. 

For us who observed the obligatory fast and abstinence on Ash Wednesday, we will know how we were tested. 

Some may forget the obligation because of the busyness of the day, and only to remember it later. It shows that we are so busy with the things of ourselves, that we forget about the things of God. 

That's a test of self-denial, where we are to look out of ourselves and to turn our eyes to God. 

And on the day of fasting and abstinence, we may feel exceptionally hungry, and begin to think about delicious food, and want to give in to eating. 

That's a test of faithfulness, because we just have to endure in order to be strengthened. 

When we deny ourselves and stay faithful to God, then God will certainly protect us and keep us safe. 

Let us remember how the gospel ended off: Then the devil left Jesus, and the angels appear and looked after him. 

When we deny ourselves and remain faithful to God, then God will send His angels to look after us.

7th Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 19.02.2023

 Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18 / 1 Cor 3:16-23 / Matthew 5:38-48 

A person's religious affiliation is not that obvious, especially in a country where there are a number of religions. 

In other words, what religion does a person officially embrace is not publicly stated, besides the fact that a person can also change religious affiliation. 

But a person may exhibit some signs that might indicate a person's religious orientation. 

So, if a person is seen going to church, or wears some Christian religious objects like a cross, then that person could possibly be a Christian. 

To make a fairly correct guess as to whether a person is a Catholic, is not that difficult actually. 

Catholic religious objects and articles are quite unique and distinct, and if a person uses them, it is quite likely that the person is a Catholic. 

And it is also relatively easy to identify a vehicle, especially a car, that is owned by a Catholic. 

Because hanging on the rear view mirror, would be a Rosary, or at least a Crucifix, and on the dashboard, there would be something like a mini altar. That is how we identify whether the cars in the car park belong to our parishioners or not. 

So, it can be said that Catholics, or those who have an orientation towards the Catholic faith, can be quite distinctly identifiable. 

In a sense, we can be quite proud of that, and yet in a sense, that can make us quite vulnerable. 

Because when others come to know that we are Catholics, they could be quite inquisitive and start asking us about this and that. 

Or, they may be quite intrusive and ask piercing questions like, “why pray to Mary”, or “why pray to statues and holy pictures”, or “where is this found in the Bible?”. 

It can be an opportunity to evangelize, but by and large, Catholics are not that good in answering questions about the faith, and also in a way, Catholics are not that well versed with the Bible, which is something we have to work on. 

But when others know that we are Catholics, then in a way we are being observed, and also put under a so-called scrutiny. 

Because they would expect something different from us, and that something is to be expected. 

Because they would expect us Catholics to be charitable, kind and compassionate, much like what Jesus said in the gospel. 

And Jesus said this in the gospel: Offer the wicked no resistance, offer the other cheek, offer more than what is asked for. 

As if that is already not enough, Jesus continues to say: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. 

To say the least, that is difficult, actually, very difficult. But it is in striving to do what is difficult then we will make a difference. 

Jesus made a difference because He not only taught what is difficult, He also did the difficult. 

He forgave His prosecutors and He died for sinners. 

So, to be a Catholic, we just can't be mediocre, or just be mundane in our way of life. 

In many ways, the world looks at those who profess a religious affiliation to show something different. 

And as Catholics, the world looks at us to show them the God that we believe in. 

It is said that to err is human, to forgive is divine. 

We may have our human shortcomings and failings, but we still must show the world the divine power of love and forgiveness. 

Yes, we are human, but we are called to be like the divine, we are called to be like God who created us and called us to be His beloved children. 

When we listen to the Divine call, then we can be the echo of the Divine voice to the world.

6th Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 12.02.2023

 Ecclesiasticus 15:15-20 / 1 Cor 2:6-10 / Matthew 5:17-37 

When we were baptized, we are officially called a Christian. 

To be a Christian is not just a term for a religious status, or for belonging to a particular religion. 

To be a Christian means that we are committed to a relationship with Jesus. And this relationship it's not an ordinary relationship with an ordinary person. 

This relationship is between the Creator and the created, between the Saviour and the sinner, between the Master and the disciple.

So, to be a Christian means that our identity is in Jesus Christ. To be a Christian means that we conform our lives to Jesus Christ and we follow His Way and His Truth. 

So, we do not follow what others say or what the world says, but only what Jesus says and what He teaches us. 

In that sense, to be a Christian is not being ordinary; in fact, to be a Christian is to go beyond and even to make a difference in this world. 

By our lives as Christians, our mission is to make Jesus present, as well as to make others wonder about our beliefs and our conviction. 

But of course, that means we are firmly grounded in our commitment. 

The 1st reading tells us that we have to keep God's commandments, and to be faithful to God is within our power. 

Much like marriage vows and religious promises, we remain faithful to Jesus in good times and in bad, and sickness and in health. 

Faithfulness is a powerful form of witnessing to who Jesus is in our lives, because in being faithful, we show that Jesus is our Saviour and we trust in Him alone. 

And when our faithfulness is put to the test, then the 1st reading tells us that God gives us a choice. 

God has set fire and water before us, and we put out our hand to whichever we prefer. And we also have life and death before us; whichever we like better will be given to us. 

When we are firmly grounded in our relationship with Jesus, then we know that faithfulness to Jesus will be the decision and the direction of our lives. 

So, in the gospel when Jesus taught about anger and lust and using the name of the God in vain, we know that it is a teaching beyond the ordinary. 

What others would ordinarily think and do, Jesus is calling us to think and do beyond. 

So, while others would say, “Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose”, we would say “Sometimes we win, sometimes we learn”. 

While others will say, “Win some, lose some”, we will remember the Good Shepherd searching for that one lost sheep, and we will say, “Win some, lose none”, because our mission as Christians is to help everyone go to heaven. 

While the world talks about efficiency and productivity, we should be talking about humility and mystery. 

Well, the mighty Titanic was built by professionals, while the Ark was built by amateurs, but we all know which stayed afloat.

So, as Christians, we should see further, think deeper, and be holier than just being the ordinary. 

To follow the ways of God will demand faithfulness, but when we trust in God and say “Yes” to Him, then we will also show the world the way to the kingdom of God.

5th Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 05.02.2023

 Isaiah 58:7-10 / 1 Cor 2:1-5 / Matthew 5:13-16

Everything has a purpose, and when that purpose is achieved and fulfilled, then we can say that it works well and good. 

So, if we buy a mobile phone or computer, we would expect it to work the way we want it to. 

But if it operates in an erratic manner, or when we discover that it has manufacturing defects, then we would demand for a replacement or refund. 

Certainly, we are not going to accept something that is malfunctioning and bear with the inconvenience. 

And if there are no other options, then it would be better to just get rid of it, since it would be good for nothing. 

Obviously when something does not function according to its purpose, then what is the use of having it around? It is just good for nothing and only fit for the rubbish bin. 

In the gospel, Jesus uses two ordinary things in life to give us a teaching. 

One of which is salt. Salt that has no taste is to be thrown away and even trampled underfoot by men, since it is good for nothing. 

It is quite unimaginable for salt to have no taste. Regardless of what is said about the health concerns of salt, if it has no taste, then it is a fake or that it is not salt at all. 

Similarly, to cover up a light does not make sense. Light is for everyone to see, and it should not be covered up or hidden. 

Jesus is just stating the obvious, but that is also His teaching point for us. 

Because what is obvious is often treated with indifference, and that is where malfunction or dysfunction sets in. 

What is obvious is that God created humanity to be the best of all His creation. No one is good for nothing. 

And because we are created in love and with love, the light of God's love shines in us so that we will be good for that something in God’s plan for us. So that is obvious. 

But when what is obvious is treated with indifference, then what is good for something slowly becomes good for nothing. 

We slowly lose the taste for life, and the light of our lives is slowly covered up and hidden from sight. 

When indifference sets into our lives, malfunction and dysfunction will also slowly set in and we will forget who we obviously are. 

We are in this world as Christians to give the world a taste of life, and to be sparks of light where there is darkness. 

The 1st reading brings us back to the obvious basics in life as it says this:

“Share your bread with the hungry,

and shelter the homeless poor,

clothe the man you see to be naked

and do not turn from your own kin.

Then will your light shine like the dawn

and your wound be quickly healed over.”

And when we cry out to the Lord, He will answer us. When we call out to the Lord, He will say: I am here. 

Let us always remember that God created us to be good for something. Let us never think that we are insignificant or good for nothing. 

And even if we are just a little spark, still we must let it shine. 

Because when people see the good works that we do, they will give praise to God, because He has created something good in us.