Jeremiah 33:14-16
Luke 21:25-28, 34-36
I wonder what you will think of when I mention these 4 numbers. And these four numbers are 2012.
Well, some of us may think that it is 4D number and might want to try our luck.
For some of us, 2012 is a movie, which is currently showing.
For those of us who have seen the movie, we will know it’s about the end-times, with catastrophe and devastation, worst than some kind of a nuclear disaster.
And there is this haunting line in the movie trailer: You have been warned.
Anyway, 2012 is about the year 2012, which is like 2 or 3 years away.
But we are not scared or frightened.
As we sit back comfortably and watch the movie, we will be impressed by the CGI (computer generated imagery) movie effects.
There is the aircraft carrier being rolled over by the tidal waves, massive earthquakes and skyscrapers tumbling, there is even a scene in which the dome of St Peter’s Basilica is being washed away by the waves.
But it is just a movie with good impressive effects. A must watch, if got time.
It is some kind of apocalyptic movie, but we are not going to be frightened or scared, even though it says: You have been warned.
At times I wonder if coming for Mass is like coming for a movie.
We come to church, we walk down the aisle, we go to our favourite seat, we sit back in air-con comfort.
Very much like going for a movie, isn’t it?
Then we hear some kind of end-of-the-world and out-of-this-world dooms-day message.
But we are not alarmed, we are not frightened, we are not scared even.
And what’s all that got to do with our Xmas preparations?
The world out there seems to be more prepared for Xmas.
Orchard Rd is dressed up to the hilt, the Xmas light-up this year was earlier than usual, on the radio Xmas carols are like the top 10 songs.
So while the world is preparing for a festive holiday, the Church on this 1st Sunday of Advent seems to be preparing us for dooms-day.
So strange, so out-of-touch, and every year it is like this :
1st Sunday of Advent, it is about devastation, and nothing about Xmas celebration.
So what is the meaning of all this? What is the religious meaning of the 1st Sunday of Advent?
Well, a calmer, more sober reflection of the gospel message is this.
And that is, the impermanence of the things of this world. In other words, nothing is permanent, everything is temporary, everything is passing on.
Well, the Xmas decorations and the lights we see now, will have to be taken down very soon after Xmas.
The Xmas carols that are flooding the airwaves will soon fade off and fade out, in fact almost immediately after Xmas day.
And not just the decorations and the lights and the carols.
Life is also passing on, and moving towards the final destiny, moving on towards God who is Everlasting.
So the gospel message is not about doom and gloom.
In fact it is about Vroom … Vroom! That’s the sound of acceleration, the sound we get when we throttle the engine of a car or motorbike.
We want to prepare to celebrate Xmas so that we can move on and move forward.
The celebration of Xmas is the celebration of one promise that was fulfilled 2000 years ago.
The celebration of Xmas is also the renewal of another promise yet to be fulfilled.
So Advent is to remind us of this 2nd promise and to prepare us for the fulfillment of this promise.
The gospel characters like Mary and Joseph, Elizabeth and Zechariah, were told of the 1st promise of the coming of the Saviour, and they saw its fulfillment.
In today’s gospel, we are told of the promise of the 2nd coming of Christ.
So we have been told, we have been warned. So are we prepared?
On this 1st Sunday of Advent, we bless the Advent wreath and we light the 1st candle.
Why the Advent wreath, and why must it be made of evergreens like holly and fir.
The story has it that the trees of the forest were told to stay awake till the rising of the sun.
As the night drew on, some trees dozed off. As the night went deeper, some trees fell asleep.
By the time of the first rays of the rising sun, the only trees still awake were the cedar, the pine, the spruce, the fir, the holly and the laurel.
So these trees were blest to be evergreens and to be guardians of the forest.
In the seeming dead of winter, when the rest of the trees lose their leaves and sleep, the evergreens keep watch with their green leaves and they are the visible signs of life in the dead of winter.
In the blessing of the Advent wreath, we are reminded that like the evergreens, we are called to be on the watch for God’s promptings around us.
And that is why the Advent wreath is circular, to symbolize that God is eternal and everywhere.
We are also reminded to be signs of life and love in a world that just wants to go on a eat-drink-sleep and rush cycle.
I would like to share with you how people often sleep-rush through life.
The place was Washington, DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007. A man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about an hour.
During that time, approx. 2 thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.
After 3 minutes a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.
4 minutes later, the violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.
6 minutes later, a young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.
10 minutes later, a 3-year old boy stopped, but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pulled hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time.
This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.
45 minutes later, the musician was still playing continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 people gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.
1 hour later, he finished playing and then silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.
What no one knew that day was this - the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world.
He played one of the most intricate musical pieces ever written, on a violin worth $3.5 million dollars.
Two days before, Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100 a piece.
This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in that metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities.
The questions raised were: in a common-place environment, at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty?
Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?
One question for reflection is this :
If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made.....
How many other things are we missing?
So maybe, let us begin our Advent preparation by just looking and reflecting on the Advent wreath.
Let us see in it the sign of God’s eternity and encircling presence among us.
May the evergreens also remind us to be signs of life and light to others.
May it also remind us to be alert and on the watch for God’s promptings during this period of preparation.
Otherwise we might just sleep-rush through Xmas, right through to 2012, and may not even be awake in eternity.
Click the links under My Blog List to get to Chinese and English weekday homilies.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Sunday, November 1, 2009
All Saints Day 01.11.09
Rev 7:2-4,9-14
1 Jn 3-1-3
Mt 5:1-12a
Ever since the Church came into existence, the Church has issued some very bold statements. Of course, these statements or teachings are made through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
One such statement is that the communion host is the Real Presence of Jesus. In other words, the communion host is indeed the real body of Christ.
On this feast of All Saints, we recall yet another bold statement that the Church has made, and in fact, is still making.
On this feast of All Saints, the Church proudly, and confidently and bravely proclaims the names of those who have gone to heaven.
In the name of God, the Church issues, with certainty, the list of the names of these people, and gives them the title of Saints.
In this official list are the familiar names like St. Peter, St. Paul, St. Jude, St. Anthony, etc.
And just recently, on the 11th October, the names of St. Damien (the leper priest) and St. Jeanne Jugan, the foundress of the Little Sisters of the Poor, were added on to this official list of saints.
The Church’s official list has more than 10,000 canonized saints.
But that is just the official list. Heaven certainly has much more than that.
Because in the 1st reading, we hear of a huge number of people, impossible to count, from every nation, race, tribe and language.
Nonetheless, the Church issues this list of canonized saints to affirm one reality – the reality of heaven, and that people have gone there.
So besides these, more than 10,000 canonized saints who are in heaven, who else can be there?
Recently in the newspapers, the picture of the body of a blue whale washed ashore, reminded me ironically of a joke.
The joke goes like this : A science teacher was telling the class about sea creatures and came to the topic of whales.
A little girl stood up and said : I know something about whales. A whale swallowed the prophet Jonah and he was in its belly for 3 days.
The teacher frowned and said that it was impossible for a whale to swallow a man because of the size of its throat, and also, a man cannot possibly survive in the stomach of a whale, etc., etc.
But the little girl was adamant and said : Ok, when I go to heaven, I will ask Jonah whether it is true or not.
Then the teacher said : But what if Jonah is in hell.
The little girl said : Then, you go and ask him.
Just a joke, but I am sure that little girls will go to heaven and meet people like Jonah and the rest of that countless number whose names are not in the official list of canonized saints.
And if heaven has a big aquarium, then we might even find the whale that swallowed Jonah, swimming there somewhere.
Anyway, the meaning of the feast of All Saints is that we believe that people have gone to heaven, and they are praying and waiting for us to join them there.
Yes, we believe that they are there, and we also want to know how they got there, so that we have an example and a direction to follow.
We may tend to think that saints are people who did great and heroic acts that made people gasp in awe.
Well, some of them actually did, like the martyrs who courageously suffered horrendous torture in their witnessing for Christ.
For e.g., St. Perpetua who was heavily pregnant at the time when she was caught in the persecution of Christians.
She gave birth only a few days before her martyrdom.
The soldier who witnessed her crying out in the pains of childbirth said to her : You cry out now in so much pain. What will you do when you are suffering in the arena at the jaws of the wild animals?
Her reply was : Then another One will suffer in me, referring to Christ within her.
Such was her courage and her faith in Christ
We may think that such faith and courage belonged to a bygone era, and the skeptic in us may even think that the stories and lives of the saints have gone through some kind of embellishment, or some kind of dramatization.
If that is the case, then how about the story of the recently canonized St. Damien, the leper priest.
He is hailed a hero for going to Molokai and ministering to the leper colony there. Unfortunately he contracted the disease and died of it.
But from his own writings, he revealed the ordinary human struggles he had to endure in order to overcome his revulsion for the day-to-day life with his flock of lepers.
He wrote : The flesh of the leper gives out a repulsive and foul odor ; even the breath of the leper becomes so foul that the air around is poisoned with it.
I have great difficulty in getting used to such an atmosphere.
One day at a Sunday Mass, I found myself so stifled that I thought I must leave the altar to breathe a little of the outside air.
But I restrained myself, thinking of our Lord Jesus who reached out to the leper. These are the words of St. Damien himself.
So when we look at it deeper, we can see that saints are holy not because they love to do great and heroic deeds for God.
Rather they are holy because they do things for God with great love.
That is what today’s gospel of the Beatitudes tell us.
It is not how great or heroic the act is, but rather, how great the love is for God.
Our love for God should tell us to put our trust in God, rather than on wealth and riches.
Our love for God should tell us to hunger and thirst for what is right and good.
Our love for God should tell us that true greatness lies in forgiveness and mercy, instead of revenge and hatred.
Our love for God should tell us that life is not about good looks and appearances, but rather a good, clean and pure heart.
The world doesn’t need us to be a hero. What the world wants to see is that we are holy.
Because to be holy is to be like God.
One last story about St. Damien, the leper priest.
When St. Damien went to the leper colony at Molokai to minister to them, he met the hostile opposition of one leper who did not want to have anything to do with him.
That leper used to taunt him, saying : Go home, priest! Since your God does not cure us, what is the point of believing in Him?
Now many years later, when that leper was coming to the end of his life, he called for St. Damien.
And he said : Priest, I have been watching you. And now I want to believe.
If you were only a man, you would have run away from this island, and you would have failed long ago.
But you stayed, you have not failed, you must be more than a man. You must have a God in you.
Tell me about the God that is dwelling in you, so that I may receive him as well.
Indeed, holiness is to be like God ; holiness is to have God dwelling in us.
With God in us, we can fight the good fight, we can run the race to the finish, we can keep the faith.
And, we can become saints while still on earth.
1 Jn 3-1-3
Mt 5:1-12a
Ever since the Church came into existence, the Church has issued some very bold statements. Of course, these statements or teachings are made through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
One such statement is that the communion host is the Real Presence of Jesus. In other words, the communion host is indeed the real body of Christ.
On this feast of All Saints, we recall yet another bold statement that the Church has made, and in fact, is still making.
On this feast of All Saints, the Church proudly, and confidently and bravely proclaims the names of those who have gone to heaven.
In the name of God, the Church issues, with certainty, the list of the names of these people, and gives them the title of Saints.
In this official list are the familiar names like St. Peter, St. Paul, St. Jude, St. Anthony, etc.
And just recently, on the 11th October, the names of St. Damien (the leper priest) and St. Jeanne Jugan, the foundress of the Little Sisters of the Poor, were added on to this official list of saints.
The Church’s official list has more than 10,000 canonized saints.
But that is just the official list. Heaven certainly has much more than that.
Because in the 1st reading, we hear of a huge number of people, impossible to count, from every nation, race, tribe and language.
Nonetheless, the Church issues this list of canonized saints to affirm one reality – the reality of heaven, and that people have gone there.
So besides these, more than 10,000 canonized saints who are in heaven, who else can be there?
Recently in the newspapers, the picture of the body of a blue whale washed ashore, reminded me ironically of a joke.
The joke goes like this : A science teacher was telling the class about sea creatures and came to the topic of whales.
A little girl stood up and said : I know something about whales. A whale swallowed the prophet Jonah and he was in its belly for 3 days.
The teacher frowned and said that it was impossible for a whale to swallow a man because of the size of its throat, and also, a man cannot possibly survive in the stomach of a whale, etc., etc.
But the little girl was adamant and said : Ok, when I go to heaven, I will ask Jonah whether it is true or not.
Then the teacher said : But what if Jonah is in hell.
The little girl said : Then, you go and ask him.
Just a joke, but I am sure that little girls will go to heaven and meet people like Jonah and the rest of that countless number whose names are not in the official list of canonized saints.
And if heaven has a big aquarium, then we might even find the whale that swallowed Jonah, swimming there somewhere.
Anyway, the meaning of the feast of All Saints is that we believe that people have gone to heaven, and they are praying and waiting for us to join them there.
Yes, we believe that they are there, and we also want to know how they got there, so that we have an example and a direction to follow.
We may tend to think that saints are people who did great and heroic acts that made people gasp in awe.
Well, some of them actually did, like the martyrs who courageously suffered horrendous torture in their witnessing for Christ.
For e.g., St. Perpetua who was heavily pregnant at the time when she was caught in the persecution of Christians.
She gave birth only a few days before her martyrdom.
The soldier who witnessed her crying out in the pains of childbirth said to her : You cry out now in so much pain. What will you do when you are suffering in the arena at the jaws of the wild animals?
Her reply was : Then another One will suffer in me, referring to Christ within her.
Such was her courage and her faith in Christ
We may think that such faith and courage belonged to a bygone era, and the skeptic in us may even think that the stories and lives of the saints have gone through some kind of embellishment, or some kind of dramatization.
If that is the case, then how about the story of the recently canonized St. Damien, the leper priest.
He is hailed a hero for going to Molokai and ministering to the leper colony there. Unfortunately he contracted the disease and died of it.
But from his own writings, he revealed the ordinary human struggles he had to endure in order to overcome his revulsion for the day-to-day life with his flock of lepers.
He wrote : The flesh of the leper gives out a repulsive and foul odor ; even the breath of the leper becomes so foul that the air around is poisoned with it.
I have great difficulty in getting used to such an atmosphere.
One day at a Sunday Mass, I found myself so stifled that I thought I must leave the altar to breathe a little of the outside air.
But I restrained myself, thinking of our Lord Jesus who reached out to the leper. These are the words of St. Damien himself.
So when we look at it deeper, we can see that saints are holy not because they love to do great and heroic deeds for God.
Rather they are holy because they do things for God with great love.
That is what today’s gospel of the Beatitudes tell us.
It is not how great or heroic the act is, but rather, how great the love is for God.
Our love for God should tell us to put our trust in God, rather than on wealth and riches.
Our love for God should tell us to hunger and thirst for what is right and good.
Our love for God should tell us that true greatness lies in forgiveness and mercy, instead of revenge and hatred.
Our love for God should tell us that life is not about good looks and appearances, but rather a good, clean and pure heart.
The world doesn’t need us to be a hero. What the world wants to see is that we are holy.
Because to be holy is to be like God.
One last story about St. Damien, the leper priest.
When St. Damien went to the leper colony at Molokai to minister to them, he met the hostile opposition of one leper who did not want to have anything to do with him.
That leper used to taunt him, saying : Go home, priest! Since your God does not cure us, what is the point of believing in Him?
Now many years later, when that leper was coming to the end of his life, he called for St. Damien.
And he said : Priest, I have been watching you. And now I want to believe.
If you were only a man, you would have run away from this island, and you would have failed long ago.
But you stayed, you have not failed, you must be more than a man. You must have a God in you.
Tell me about the God that is dwelling in you, so that I may receive him as well.
Indeed, holiness is to be like God ; holiness is to have God dwelling in us.
With God in us, we can fight the good fight, we can run the race to the finish, we can keep the faith.
And, we can become saints while still on earth.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
28th Ordinary Sunday, Year B, 11.09.10
Wis 7:7-11
Hebr 4:12-13
Mk 10:13-30 (or 17-27)
I think it would be nice to have a guest preacher once in a while, and hear a different tone and a different style.
Well, I have tried to get a guest preacher for this weekend.
But because he is a celebrity, and very much in demand, hence it was difficult for him to fit us into his schedule.
I wanted him to share with us the secret of his success so that we might be stimulated and helped by his story.
Although he can’t be here in person, nonetheless, I have a transcript of his sermon.
Also, I have his poster, so although he can’t be here with us today, I would like to show you who he is.
So our preacher for this weekend…presenting…Mickey Mouse from Disneyland.
And this is the transcript of his sermon:
Thank you, thank you very much for inviting me to your church.
I must admit, at first, I was surprised that a church would ask me to give a sermon.
Oh, I have been invited to churches to give out Disneyland goodie bags. But to give a sermon is something new.
But after I thought about it, I kind of see that Disneyland and the church do have a lot in common.
As I began to organize my thoughts, I believe that if your church were to apply our principles, you would become as successful as Disneyland.
Well, firstly, make sure that your Church seems exciting, even dangerous, much like our joy rides, but be quick to let your people know that there is really no danger at all. Give the illusion of great risk, but make sure everything is perfectly safe.
Secondly, go into the entertainment business mode.
People don’t care what you say as long as they are entertained. Keep your people happy. Don’t tell them anything negative and don’t make demands on them. Just keep them diverted from the ugly reality of today’s world and they’ll keep coming back for more.
Finally, pretend that there are no problems. At Disneyland, we dress up our security guards as smiling rabbits and friendly bears, because we don’t want anyone’s experience at Disneyland to be spoilt by the sight of law enforcement personnel.
Disguise your problems and failures with a warm smile and a firm handshake. Leave the problems at home, and let the church be a happy place where there are no ugly problems. Just friendly priests and smiling wardens.
The point here is that people today want good clean entertainment. They want an environment that is safe for children and they want a place that is safe for their family and friends.
Well, I am so glad that you have invited me here. Thank you once again and see you soon at Disneyland. Bye!
We might clap for Mickey if he were here ; or would we clap at all?
Certainly, all that he said earlier is something we know that the church should not be.
But yet for all that he said, could it be that it was something we, the church are becoming, or have become?
I was thinking of the part about making the church exciting, even dangerous, but yet actually there is no danger at all.
Just giving the illusion of great risk, but actually everything is perfectly safe.
Well, is this what Christianity is all about?
Is this what is being Church all about?
Is this what following Jesus is all about?
Maybe that is what the rich young man in today’s gospel thought it was all about.
He had kept the law from his earliest days. He had met the requirements and the religious standards.
He thought he had made it, and that was it.
So as he approached Jesus, he was confident that he would get a pat on the back and maybe even held up as a model for others.
When he came before Jesus, he fell on his knees and told Jesus where he was at.
But when Jesus told him where he should go, and what he should do, his face fell and he went away sad.
Now, we came to church today, we genuflect, we fall on our knees in prayer.
But when we heard the gospel, did our faces fall like the face of the rich young man?
Maybe not. Because we would be thinking to ourselves: Jesus does not mean it literally, right? He does not expect us to sell everything and give it to the poor, right?
Whatever it is, we want to have a safe worship, we want to be comfortable, the message of Jesus might sound dangerous and risky, but we won’t be pushed to do anything strange or funny.
But if that is the case, we might have become the church of Mickey Mouse and not the Church of Christ the King.
We might have blunted the double-edged sword of the Word of God and made it into a joy-ride.
As in it looks exciting, looks even dangerous, but actually there really is no danger at all. Quite safe.
But Christianity is not about safety. Because Christianity points to the Cross.
St Paul would say this in the letter to the Galatians (2:19):
With Christ I hang upon the cross.
And if we hang upon the cross, then nothing and no one can ever save us except Jesus Christ.
On the cross, our money can’t save us, our health can’t save us, our abilities can’t save us, our achievements can’t save us.
Only Jesus Christ who was crucified on the cross, died, buried but rose from the dead, only He can save us.
Not even Mickey Mouse, with all his success and fame can ever save us.
But yet behind the Mickey Mouse character is an interesting story of 2 men and their strong but volatile friendship.
One is the famous Walt Disney and the other is his side-kick Ubbe Ert.
Both were animation artists, and though they were talented in their own ways, they had to struggle to prove themselves.
Eventually, they started their own company, with Disney providing the ideas and Ubbe Ert coming with animation and thus they created the famous MM character.
But Disney had a short and fierce temper, which was often dumped on Ubbe Ert who was more introvert and mild.
But one day, Ubbe Ert shocked Disney by making a secret arrangement with a competitor so that he would break out on his own.
That caused Disney to lose a lot of money and nearly become bankrupt. We must remember it was the days of the Great Depression in the US and things were not easy.
But Ubbe Ert failed in his venture and was left penniless and destitute.
Meanwhile, Disney managed to climb back from his severe setback.
When Disney heard what happened to Ubbe Ert, instead of gloating over it, he went in search of him, and when he found him, he invited him to work with him again.
There was no mention of the betrayal, no mention of revenge, no mention of pay back time.
Now, we would certainly not do that. How can we forget the pain of betrayal, the hurt of being played-out, the anger of being stabbed in the back.
Well, for whatever reason, Disney took that dangerous path with Ubbe Ert.
And together, they brought up Walt Disney Studios to what it is today.
So behind the smiling MM character was of a volatile yet close friendship.
Similarly, behind the cross, is an invitation to hang upon the cross with Christ.
To hang upon the cross with Christ means to let go of ourselves.
It is not just our money or wealth – that would be easy to do.
Compared with the hurt, the resentment, the anger we want to vent, the revenge we want to inflict.
Let us hang all those on the cross with Christ, so that in return we would dare to love again, in spite of the risks.
Note: Sermon of the Mouse is adapted from "Get 'em Talking: 104 Great Discussion Starters for Youth Groups" by Mike Yaconelli & Scott Koenigeaecker.
Hebr 4:12-13
Mk 10:13-30 (or 17-27)
I think it would be nice to have a guest preacher once in a while, and hear a different tone and a different style.
Well, I have tried to get a guest preacher for this weekend.
But because he is a celebrity, and very much in demand, hence it was difficult for him to fit us into his schedule.
I wanted him to share with us the secret of his success so that we might be stimulated and helped by his story.
Although he can’t be here in person, nonetheless, I have a transcript of his sermon.
Also, I have his poster, so although he can’t be here with us today, I would like to show you who he is.
So our preacher for this weekend…presenting…Mickey Mouse from Disneyland.
And this is the transcript of his sermon:
Thank you, thank you very much for inviting me to your church.
I must admit, at first, I was surprised that a church would ask me to give a sermon.
Oh, I have been invited to churches to give out Disneyland goodie bags. But to give a sermon is something new.
But after I thought about it, I kind of see that Disneyland and the church do have a lot in common.
As I began to organize my thoughts, I believe that if your church were to apply our principles, you would become as successful as Disneyland.
Well, firstly, make sure that your Church seems exciting, even dangerous, much like our joy rides, but be quick to let your people know that there is really no danger at all. Give the illusion of great risk, but make sure everything is perfectly safe.
Secondly, go into the entertainment business mode.
People don’t care what you say as long as they are entertained. Keep your people happy. Don’t tell them anything negative and don’t make demands on them. Just keep them diverted from the ugly reality of today’s world and they’ll keep coming back for more.
Finally, pretend that there are no problems. At Disneyland, we dress up our security guards as smiling rabbits and friendly bears, because we don’t want anyone’s experience at Disneyland to be spoilt by the sight of law enforcement personnel.
Disguise your problems and failures with a warm smile and a firm handshake. Leave the problems at home, and let the church be a happy place where there are no ugly problems. Just friendly priests and smiling wardens.
The point here is that people today want good clean entertainment. They want an environment that is safe for children and they want a place that is safe for their family and friends.
Well, I am so glad that you have invited me here. Thank you once again and see you soon at Disneyland. Bye!
We might clap for Mickey if he were here ; or would we clap at all?
Certainly, all that he said earlier is something we know that the church should not be.
But yet for all that he said, could it be that it was something we, the church are becoming, or have become?
I was thinking of the part about making the church exciting, even dangerous, but yet actually there is no danger at all.
Just giving the illusion of great risk, but actually everything is perfectly safe.
Well, is this what Christianity is all about?
Is this what is being Church all about?
Is this what following Jesus is all about?
Maybe that is what the rich young man in today’s gospel thought it was all about.
He had kept the law from his earliest days. He had met the requirements and the religious standards.
He thought he had made it, and that was it.
So as he approached Jesus, he was confident that he would get a pat on the back and maybe even held up as a model for others.
When he came before Jesus, he fell on his knees and told Jesus where he was at.
But when Jesus told him where he should go, and what he should do, his face fell and he went away sad.
Now, we came to church today, we genuflect, we fall on our knees in prayer.
But when we heard the gospel, did our faces fall like the face of the rich young man?
Maybe not. Because we would be thinking to ourselves: Jesus does not mean it literally, right? He does not expect us to sell everything and give it to the poor, right?
Whatever it is, we want to have a safe worship, we want to be comfortable, the message of Jesus might sound dangerous and risky, but we won’t be pushed to do anything strange or funny.
But if that is the case, we might have become the church of Mickey Mouse and not the Church of Christ the King.
We might have blunted the double-edged sword of the Word of God and made it into a joy-ride.
As in it looks exciting, looks even dangerous, but actually there really is no danger at all. Quite safe.
But Christianity is not about safety. Because Christianity points to the Cross.
St Paul would say this in the letter to the Galatians (2:19):
With Christ I hang upon the cross.
And if we hang upon the cross, then nothing and no one can ever save us except Jesus Christ.
On the cross, our money can’t save us, our health can’t save us, our abilities can’t save us, our achievements can’t save us.
Only Jesus Christ who was crucified on the cross, died, buried but rose from the dead, only He can save us.
Not even Mickey Mouse, with all his success and fame can ever save us.
But yet behind the Mickey Mouse character is an interesting story of 2 men and their strong but volatile friendship.
One is the famous Walt Disney and the other is his side-kick Ubbe Ert.
Both were animation artists, and though they were talented in their own ways, they had to struggle to prove themselves.
Eventually, they started their own company, with Disney providing the ideas and Ubbe Ert coming with animation and thus they created the famous MM character.
But Disney had a short and fierce temper, which was often dumped on Ubbe Ert who was more introvert and mild.
But one day, Ubbe Ert shocked Disney by making a secret arrangement with a competitor so that he would break out on his own.
That caused Disney to lose a lot of money and nearly become bankrupt. We must remember it was the days of the Great Depression in the US and things were not easy.
But Ubbe Ert failed in his venture and was left penniless and destitute.
Meanwhile, Disney managed to climb back from his severe setback.
When Disney heard what happened to Ubbe Ert, instead of gloating over it, he went in search of him, and when he found him, he invited him to work with him again.
There was no mention of the betrayal, no mention of revenge, no mention of pay back time.
Now, we would certainly not do that. How can we forget the pain of betrayal, the hurt of being played-out, the anger of being stabbed in the back.
Well, for whatever reason, Disney took that dangerous path with Ubbe Ert.
And together, they brought up Walt Disney Studios to what it is today.
So behind the smiling MM character was of a volatile yet close friendship.
Similarly, behind the cross, is an invitation to hang upon the cross with Christ.
To hang upon the cross with Christ means to let go of ourselves.
It is not just our money or wealth – that would be easy to do.
Compared with the hurt, the resentment, the anger we want to vent, the revenge we want to inflict.
Let us hang all those on the cross with Christ, so that in return we would dare to love again, in spite of the risks.
Note: Sermon of the Mouse is adapted from "Get 'em Talking: 104 Great Discussion Starters for Youth Groups" by Mike Yaconelli & Scott Koenigeaecker.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
24th Ordinary Sunday, Year B, 13.09.09
1st Reading:Is 50:5-9a
2nd Reading: Jas 2:14-18
Gospel: Mk 8:27-35
The face of Singapore has changed tremendously over the past 30 to 40 years.
When I say the face of Singapore, what I am talking about are the places and buildings we see now, as compared to how we remembered them 30 to 40 years ago.
Many old buildings have been torn down and big gleaming high-rise buildings now stand in their place.
But the good thing is that the government has gazetted some old historical buildings and sites to be preserved.
But one of the places or sites that won’t be slated for preservation is the cemetery.
In Singapore where land is scarce, resting in peace is not a certainty.
But with the reclamation of old cemeteries like Bidadari, then gone are those grand tombs, and the sentimental, and at times, enigmatic epitaphs.
Enigmatic epitaphs like this one that I once saw on a tomb at Chao Chu Kang cemetery.
It’s not exactly an epitaph, but on one side of the tomb were these words in mosaic : Life is but a dream.
Kind of enigmatic isn’t it – Life is but a dream
I wonder if those words were what the deceased wanted on the tomb, or were those words used to describe what the life of the deceased was all about.
Whatever the case may be, how are we going to describe our lives when it is all over?
Or what will others say about us when our lives are over and done?
That is why what is said about the deceased at a funeral service can be rather sensitive. It can even be embarrassing if the wrong thing was said.
Maybe let me share with you a joke to let you know what I mean.
At a funeral service, the priest was delivering the homily. So he began : Well John (the deceased) was a good husband and a good father. He was a patient and a kind man, loving and understanding towards his wife, always helping her with the housework, …
Now, the wife of the deceased, as she was hearing all this, she slowly elbowed her son who was sitting next to her.
And she whispered to him : Go over and open the lid, and see if that is your father …
So you see, we priests are always in some kind of a situation when it comes to funerals.
So it’s safer to say something in general. Or sometimes, it may be something profound, but it can be misunderstood as something profane.
I remember that occasion when my friend’s father passed away, and so he had to arrange the obituary.
His father’s favourite scripture verse was this : Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing. The words of Jesus on the cross.
And indeed his father was an understanding and forgiving man. And so it was decided that those words are to be included in the obituary.
But the layout of the obituary turned out to be like this : the father’s photo, followed by the scripture verse “Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing”
And then below that, the names of the wife, the children and the grandchildren.
Somehow, it just didn’t look right, so the scripture verse had to be removed, to prevent any awkward misunderstanding.
But seriously, what do others think about us? What are they saying about us?
It is a sensitive question, and we may not even want to know what others think, or say about us.
But yet, that is preciously what Jesus asked His disciples in today’s gospel : Who do you say I am?
It is a very direct and personal question. They can’t borrow answers from others. They have to give their own answers.
So who do we say Jesus is? Who do you say Jesus is? Who do I say Jesus is?
Well, so who do I say Jesus is? Over the years, my answer to that question has changed from the conventional and conservative titles like Lord or Saviour, to a very personal and down to earth answer – Jesus is my best friend.
Well, I have good friends, but not a best friend.
Until I discovered that Jesus is indeed my best friend who is always with me, who is always there for me.
And that gives me a lot of consolation and comfort.
You see, as a priest, most of the time, I am alone. So when I am thinking about something, or if something is bothering me, of when I am anxious about something, I don’t usually have someone to talk with, or to share with.
So in the past, I had this habit of talking to myself.
I think most of us do that right? We talk to ourselves.
I think that’s pretty ok, as long as we don’t talk to ourselves in public.
But I have come to realize that talking to myself did not bring me anywhere better, nor did it give me any comfort.
In fact whenever I think, and talk to myself about something disturbing, or frustrating, or annoying, I was like digging deeper into the dark hole of resentment and even anger.
But over the years, I have come to realize, and experienced, that when I start talking with Jesus, it is just so comforting and consoling. There is this healing effect.
So if you happen to see me talking to myself, please don’t be alarmed, please don’t worry or think that some wire up there is disconnected.
I am just talking with Jesus, my best friend.
And it’s also good for mental health and spiritual health, to be talking with Jesus, instead of talking to yourself.
Even 1 Pet 5:7 would urge us to “unload all our worries on to Him, since He is looking after you”.
So, how else to unload our worries but by talking with Jesus.
If we talk to ourselves, we only stress ourselves. But when we talk with the Lord, then He will come to our help.
Yes, the Lord comes to our help to unload all our worries because He is taking care of us.
So that’s why I say that Jesus is my best friend. He is always there whenever I want to talk with Him.
Jesus is not only my best friend. He wants to be your best friend too.
We may have a lot of good friends, or we may even have a best friend.
But they can’t be with us all the time, especially when the crosses of life come our way.
Then we will find ourselves having to face the pains, the difficulties and uncertainties of life alone.
St Peter had to face his cross alone when he was asked if he knew Jesus. He denied knowing Jesus. He alone had to take the consequences of his denial.
Yes, there will come a time when we alone have to face the cross of life, and all our friends can’t be there with us.
I remembered visiting someone in hospital before he had to undergo a major surgery.
He told me that he was afraid of being alone because no one will be with him as he goes for his operation.
I gave him the Anointing of the Sick and Holy Communion, and I told him that Jesus is now with him, and he is not alone, and he need not be afraid.
Then I noticed he relaxed and calmed down, and I told him to call on Jesus to be with him when he is being wheeled in for the operation.
Thanks be to God, the operation was successful and after he was discharged, he told me that as he prayed when he was being wheeled into the operating theatre, he felt a warm sensation over his heart, and he knew that Jesus was with him in his loneliest and fearsome moment.
Even for Jesus, we might think that He was alone in the Garden of Gethsemane. Even His disciples were asleep.
But He was not alone. He was talking with God His Father, and He was strengthened to face His cross.
Jesus in turn, now wants to enter into our hearts whenever we face loneliness and distress.
So, whoever you might say that Jesus is, just know that He is there for you, whenever you want to talk with Him.
Because Jesus is the Christ ; He is also our Lord, our Saviour, our Good Shepherd, our Healer, and also our Best Friend.
2nd Reading: Jas 2:14-18
Gospel: Mk 8:27-35
The face of Singapore has changed tremendously over the past 30 to 40 years.
When I say the face of Singapore, what I am talking about are the places and buildings we see now, as compared to how we remembered them 30 to 40 years ago.
Many old buildings have been torn down and big gleaming high-rise buildings now stand in their place.
But the good thing is that the government has gazetted some old historical buildings and sites to be preserved.
But one of the places or sites that won’t be slated for preservation is the cemetery.
In Singapore where land is scarce, resting in peace is not a certainty.
But with the reclamation of old cemeteries like Bidadari, then gone are those grand tombs, and the sentimental, and at times, enigmatic epitaphs.
Enigmatic epitaphs like this one that I once saw on a tomb at Chao Chu Kang cemetery.
It’s not exactly an epitaph, but on one side of the tomb were these words in mosaic : Life is but a dream.
Kind of enigmatic isn’t it – Life is but a dream
I wonder if those words were what the deceased wanted on the tomb, or were those words used to describe what the life of the deceased was all about.
Whatever the case may be, how are we going to describe our lives when it is all over?
Or what will others say about us when our lives are over and done?
That is why what is said about the deceased at a funeral service can be rather sensitive. It can even be embarrassing if the wrong thing was said.
Maybe let me share with you a joke to let you know what I mean.
At a funeral service, the priest was delivering the homily. So he began : Well John (the deceased) was a good husband and a good father. He was a patient and a kind man, loving and understanding towards his wife, always helping her with the housework, …
Now, the wife of the deceased, as she was hearing all this, she slowly elbowed her son who was sitting next to her.
And she whispered to him : Go over and open the lid, and see if that is your father …
So you see, we priests are always in some kind of a situation when it comes to funerals.
So it’s safer to say something in general. Or sometimes, it may be something profound, but it can be misunderstood as something profane.
I remember that occasion when my friend’s father passed away, and so he had to arrange the obituary.
His father’s favourite scripture verse was this : Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing. The words of Jesus on the cross.
And indeed his father was an understanding and forgiving man. And so it was decided that those words are to be included in the obituary.
But the layout of the obituary turned out to be like this : the father’s photo, followed by the scripture verse “Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing”
And then below that, the names of the wife, the children and the grandchildren.
Somehow, it just didn’t look right, so the scripture verse had to be removed, to prevent any awkward misunderstanding.
But seriously, what do others think about us? What are they saying about us?
It is a sensitive question, and we may not even want to know what others think, or say about us.
But yet, that is preciously what Jesus asked His disciples in today’s gospel : Who do you say I am?
It is a very direct and personal question. They can’t borrow answers from others. They have to give their own answers.
So who do we say Jesus is? Who do you say Jesus is? Who do I say Jesus is?
Well, so who do I say Jesus is? Over the years, my answer to that question has changed from the conventional and conservative titles like Lord or Saviour, to a very personal and down to earth answer – Jesus is my best friend.
Well, I have good friends, but not a best friend.
Until I discovered that Jesus is indeed my best friend who is always with me, who is always there for me.
And that gives me a lot of consolation and comfort.
You see, as a priest, most of the time, I am alone. So when I am thinking about something, or if something is bothering me, of when I am anxious about something, I don’t usually have someone to talk with, or to share with.
So in the past, I had this habit of talking to myself.
I think most of us do that right? We talk to ourselves.
I think that’s pretty ok, as long as we don’t talk to ourselves in public.
But I have come to realize that talking to myself did not bring me anywhere better, nor did it give me any comfort.
In fact whenever I think, and talk to myself about something disturbing, or frustrating, or annoying, I was like digging deeper into the dark hole of resentment and even anger.
But over the years, I have come to realize, and experienced, that when I start talking with Jesus, it is just so comforting and consoling. There is this healing effect.
So if you happen to see me talking to myself, please don’t be alarmed, please don’t worry or think that some wire up there is disconnected.
I am just talking with Jesus, my best friend.
And it’s also good for mental health and spiritual health, to be talking with Jesus, instead of talking to yourself.
Even 1 Pet 5:7 would urge us to “unload all our worries on to Him, since He is looking after you”.
So, how else to unload our worries but by talking with Jesus.
If we talk to ourselves, we only stress ourselves. But when we talk with the Lord, then He will come to our help.
Yes, the Lord comes to our help to unload all our worries because He is taking care of us.
So that’s why I say that Jesus is my best friend. He is always there whenever I want to talk with Him.
Jesus is not only my best friend. He wants to be your best friend too.
We may have a lot of good friends, or we may even have a best friend.
But they can’t be with us all the time, especially when the crosses of life come our way.
Then we will find ourselves having to face the pains, the difficulties and uncertainties of life alone.
St Peter had to face his cross alone when he was asked if he knew Jesus. He denied knowing Jesus. He alone had to take the consequences of his denial.
Yes, there will come a time when we alone have to face the cross of life, and all our friends can’t be there with us.
I remembered visiting someone in hospital before he had to undergo a major surgery.
He told me that he was afraid of being alone because no one will be with him as he goes for his operation.
I gave him the Anointing of the Sick and Holy Communion, and I told him that Jesus is now with him, and he is not alone, and he need not be afraid.
Then I noticed he relaxed and calmed down, and I told him to call on Jesus to be with him when he is being wheeled in for the operation.
Thanks be to God, the operation was successful and after he was discharged, he told me that as he prayed when he was being wheeled into the operating theatre, he felt a warm sensation over his heart, and he knew that Jesus was with him in his loneliest and fearsome moment.
Even for Jesus, we might think that He was alone in the Garden of Gethsemane. Even His disciples were asleep.
But He was not alone. He was talking with God His Father, and He was strengthened to face His cross.
Jesus in turn, now wants to enter into our hearts whenever we face loneliness and distress.
So, whoever you might say that Jesus is, just know that He is there for you, whenever you want to talk with Him.
Because Jesus is the Christ ; He is also our Lord, our Saviour, our Good Shepherd, our Healer, and also our Best Friend.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
21st Ordinary Sunday, 23.08.09
1st Reading: Josh 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b
2nd Reading: Eph 5:21-32
Gospel: Jn 6:60-69
If you are to stand here, where I am standing, and look at what I’m looking at, then, like me, you would also say it’s awesome.
And to know that there are so many pairs of eyes looking your way, and so many pairs of ears listening to what you are going to say, you can be sure that this is not child’s play.
In fact, some of the visiting priests have commented that the size of the congregation, especially at the 11.30am Mass, can be quite overwhelming.
Yes, we are proud that this parish community is big, and still growing, and at times overwhelming.
But let’s say that the Church lifted this thing about the Sunday obligation.
Let’s just say that coming for Mass on a Sunday is not obligatory but optional.
Now, if that’s the case, would we still want to come to Church for Mass on Sunday?
We have to consider the fact that there are so many other things that we want to do on Sunday.
We can sleep in till noon, and then wake up for this thing called “brunch”, a word now found in the dictionary.
For some people, Sunday can be the laziest day, or the busiest day.
You can sleep right into the late afternoon and wake up for a combination of lunch and dinner. (I don’t know what to call that. If breakfast and lunch is called brunch…)
Or if you have young children, you may not even have time to eat because you will be busy bringing them around from enrichment classes to your parents’ places. (Oh, I forgot, of coz, Sunday catechism classes, how can I forget huh)
So for some, it’s “Thank God it’s Friday”, for some it’s “Thank God it’s Monday”.
But whatever it is, for us, Sunday is to come to church to thank God.
But for us who come to church on Sunday, we also know of someone who does not come to church anymore.
There many reasons why they don’t come to church anymore.
Some are valid reasons; others are just excuses.
Whatever it is, they have made their choice, which is also their decision.
The readings we have heard earlier, also have this underlying aspect of the freedom of choice, and it’s a choice that expresses a decision.
In the first reading, Joshua asked the people – choose today whom you wish to serve.
In the 2nd reading, St Paul urged his people to choose the way of love so as to be obedient to Christ.
In the gospel, when people began leaving Jesus because they could not take what he said about eating His flesh and drinking His blood, He turned to His apostles and asked: What about you, do you want to go away too?
It is said in three different ways, but essentially it is about exercising the freedom of choice, and the choice is decisive.
So, to reply the question of Jesus: What about you, do you want to go away too? We might just give the textbook answer of St Peter and said: Lord, who shall we go to?
But let’s just say, that Jesus would ask this next question: So why do you want to stay?
How are we going to answer that?
We just can’t have a textbook answer for this. We are not going to find the answer in “Facebook”either.
The answer has got to come from your own book, and my own book.
Yes, it has to be a personal answer. And we have to make that personal choice, and it’s a choice that is decisive.
Let me share with you a story of a salesman, a salesman was dealing with audio equipment and accessories.
His basic pay was not much and neither was his commission, but because his clientele was large, so he could make ends meet.
Then came along a competitor company, and it offered him three times his current salary, as will as a higher commission from the sales.
It was certainly a more than attractive offer, but what was unwritten but understood, was that he would have to bring his clientele along.
For this salesman, the monetary benefits would be enough reason for him to leave his present company.
But as he thought about it, he painfully decided not to leave his present company.
So what made him stay on? It is a matter of integrity.
Because to bring his clientele along to the next company would mean that he would be the talk of the town and end up with a bad name.
So it was a choice between a quick gain or a good name, and his choice was a decision for integrity.
We might say; Ya… but integrity will only keep you hungry…”
Well, not the end of story yet. As things turned out, a few years later, that competitor company, due to bad management, began firing its sales personnel and executives.
That salesman could only give thanks to God for helping him make the good and right choice.
Talking about choices, when I was a seminarian, people often asked me about my calling and why I wanted to become a priest.
Now that I am a priest, not many people have asked me why I want to stay on as a priest.
Of course, if I am asked that question, I can always resort to the textbook answer that the priesthood is indelible, as in “once a priest, always a priest”, much like baptism and marriage.
But why do I want to stay on as a priest? Of course there is the joy of seeing people experiencing the love of God and growing in love for the Lord as I carry out my priestly ministry.
Yet there are also the trials and challenges of meeting the expectations as well as demands of the people.
Some people may even think that a priest is like some kind of holy superman, always smiling, always saying Yes to any requests, wont be angry and wont scold people.
Of coz, I want to be a holy man, but a superman ….???
But what is the primary reason that I want to stay on as a priest?
Well, its all about integrity and responsibility.
I have made my choice to answer God’s call. That is my decision. I will be responsible for my decision and I will be faithful to my decision. For me, there will be no other options.
In many ways, I learnt integrity and responsibility from my own father.
My father is an easy going simple family man. He works hard although his salary was not much.
He stays at home to be with his wife and children and goes to church with them.
In short, my father is a simple, responsible man, who is faithful to what he has committed himself to.
Yes, from my father, I learnt responsibility and faithfulness to commitment.
And one more thing, and that is I don’t want to entertain any other options. It is either I stay on, or I stay on.
May you also stay on in whatever good decisions that you have made in life. Let there be no other options.
Let God be our only option. When we choose God and God alone, then we choose life, as well as eternal life.
2nd Reading: Eph 5:21-32
Gospel: Jn 6:60-69
If you are to stand here, where I am standing, and look at what I’m looking at, then, like me, you would also say it’s awesome.
And to know that there are so many pairs of eyes looking your way, and so many pairs of ears listening to what you are going to say, you can be sure that this is not child’s play.
In fact, some of the visiting priests have commented that the size of the congregation, especially at the 11.30am Mass, can be quite overwhelming.
Yes, we are proud that this parish community is big, and still growing, and at times overwhelming.
But let’s say that the Church lifted this thing about the Sunday obligation.
Let’s just say that coming for Mass on a Sunday is not obligatory but optional.
Now, if that’s the case, would we still want to come to Church for Mass on Sunday?
We have to consider the fact that there are so many other things that we want to do on Sunday.
We can sleep in till noon, and then wake up for this thing called “brunch”, a word now found in the dictionary.
For some people, Sunday can be the laziest day, or the busiest day.
You can sleep right into the late afternoon and wake up for a combination of lunch and dinner. (I don’t know what to call that. If breakfast and lunch is called brunch…)
Or if you have young children, you may not even have time to eat because you will be busy bringing them around from enrichment classes to your parents’ places. (Oh, I forgot, of coz, Sunday catechism classes, how can I forget huh)
So for some, it’s “Thank God it’s Friday”, for some it’s “Thank God it’s Monday”.
But whatever it is, for us, Sunday is to come to church to thank God.
But for us who come to church on Sunday, we also know of someone who does not come to church anymore.
There many reasons why they don’t come to church anymore.
Some are valid reasons; others are just excuses.
Whatever it is, they have made their choice, which is also their decision.
The readings we have heard earlier, also have this underlying aspect of the freedom of choice, and it’s a choice that expresses a decision.
In the first reading, Joshua asked the people – choose today whom you wish to serve.
In the 2nd reading, St Paul urged his people to choose the way of love so as to be obedient to Christ.
In the gospel, when people began leaving Jesus because they could not take what he said about eating His flesh and drinking His blood, He turned to His apostles and asked: What about you, do you want to go away too?
It is said in three different ways, but essentially it is about exercising the freedom of choice, and the choice is decisive.
So, to reply the question of Jesus: What about you, do you want to go away too? We might just give the textbook answer of St Peter and said: Lord, who shall we go to?
But let’s just say, that Jesus would ask this next question: So why do you want to stay?
How are we going to answer that?
We just can’t have a textbook answer for this. We are not going to find the answer in “Facebook”either.
The answer has got to come from your own book, and my own book.
Yes, it has to be a personal answer. And we have to make that personal choice, and it’s a choice that is decisive.
Let me share with you a story of a salesman, a salesman was dealing with audio equipment and accessories.
His basic pay was not much and neither was his commission, but because his clientele was large, so he could make ends meet.
Then came along a competitor company, and it offered him three times his current salary, as will as a higher commission from the sales.
It was certainly a more than attractive offer, but what was unwritten but understood, was that he would have to bring his clientele along.
For this salesman, the monetary benefits would be enough reason for him to leave his present company.
But as he thought about it, he painfully decided not to leave his present company.
So what made him stay on? It is a matter of integrity.
Because to bring his clientele along to the next company would mean that he would be the talk of the town and end up with a bad name.
So it was a choice between a quick gain or a good name, and his choice was a decision for integrity.
We might say; Ya… but integrity will only keep you hungry…”
Well, not the end of story yet. As things turned out, a few years later, that competitor company, due to bad management, began firing its sales personnel and executives.
That salesman could only give thanks to God for helping him make the good and right choice.
Talking about choices, when I was a seminarian, people often asked me about my calling and why I wanted to become a priest.
Now that I am a priest, not many people have asked me why I want to stay on as a priest.
Of course, if I am asked that question, I can always resort to the textbook answer that the priesthood is indelible, as in “once a priest, always a priest”, much like baptism and marriage.
But why do I want to stay on as a priest? Of course there is the joy of seeing people experiencing the love of God and growing in love for the Lord as I carry out my priestly ministry.
Yet there are also the trials and challenges of meeting the expectations as well as demands of the people.
Some people may even think that a priest is like some kind of holy superman, always smiling, always saying Yes to any requests, wont be angry and wont scold people.
Of coz, I want to be a holy man, but a superman ….???
But what is the primary reason that I want to stay on as a priest?
Well, its all about integrity and responsibility.
I have made my choice to answer God’s call. That is my decision. I will be responsible for my decision and I will be faithful to my decision. For me, there will be no other options.
In many ways, I learnt integrity and responsibility from my own father.
My father is an easy going simple family man. He works hard although his salary was not much.
He stays at home to be with his wife and children and goes to church with them.
In short, my father is a simple, responsible man, who is faithful to what he has committed himself to.
Yes, from my father, I learnt responsibility and faithfulness to commitment.
And one more thing, and that is I don’t want to entertain any other options. It is either I stay on, or I stay on.
May you also stay on in whatever good decisions that you have made in life. Let there be no other options.
Let God be our only option. When we choose God and God alone, then we choose life, as well as eternal life.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
18th Ordinary Sunday Yr B, 02.08.09
1st Reading: Ex 16:2-4, 12-15
2nd Reading: Eph 4:17, 20-24
Gospel: Jn 6:24-35
If we had read the papers, or browsed the internet on the 20th July (which was just about 2 weeks ago), we would have surely come across this prominent news.
And along with this piece of news, is also the recalling of a very famous historical statement.
Now, I have recorded it for you. It goes like this: This is just one small step for man, but a giant leap for humankind.
Yes, the voice of Neil Armstrong, the American astronaut, the first man to step on the surface of the moon, on the 20th July 1969, a historical moment for him, and also for the world.
And 2 weeks ago, was the 40th anniversary of that historical moment, that historical landing on the moon.
Yes, it was a great moment for science and technology.
The 3-man space team landed on the moon, 2 of them walked on the moon, 1 of them circled round the moon in the spacecraft.
Yes, they reached the moon, but none of them ever wanted to stay on the moon.
So even with all that rocket science that enabled them to break free from the gravitational pull of the earth, they still wanted to come back to earth.
Actually, they had no choice; they had to come back to earth.
But let’s say, they had a choice, as in, the moon was like the earth, and they can stay there.
There is fresh air, clean waters, the sea teeming with fish, the land filled with fruit trees. Almost like the biblical Garden of Eden, unpolluted, but uninhabited.
Would they have stayed on there and lived on the moon? How about you? Would you want to go to the moon and stay there? Would I want to go to the moon and stay there?
Well, can consider. It’s a nice idea, being the 1st priest on the moon. Can even be the 1st pope of the moon.
But I think that if we considered all the options, all the opportunities, as well as all the challenges, I think we would still want to come back to earth.
Even though, we might be able to break free from the gravitational pull of the earth, something else will be pulling us back to earth.
I would call it the sentimental pull.
A classic example of this so-called sentimental pull, can be seen in the 1st reading, which was the book of Exodus.
Now we all know the Exodus story, how Moses led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, into freedom and towards the Promised Land.
But the strange thing was that although freed from the clutches of slavery in Egypt, the Israelites kept looking back at Egypt.
The sentimental pull was just too strong, especially when they faced the hunger and thirst of the desert.
Almost immediately, they became nostalgic about the past, and they dreamed about the pans of meat and eating bread till their hearts content when they were in Egypt.
And then they grumbled, they complained, and they began to say ridicules things like wishing to die as slaves in Egypt rather than be free and die in the desert.
Somehow in the hunger and thirst of the desert, even slavery looks good, compared to freedom in the desert, but no food.
Such is the powerful tempting illusion created by the sentimental nostalgic pull.
That’s why, it probably took one day for Israel to get out of Egypt, but it took 40 years to get Egypt out of Israel.
So if the Israelites were asked: Are you happy now that you are free? It won’t be surprising to hear them say ‘No, life in Egypt was better.’
And that’s also a question to ask ourselves : Are we happy with life, … now?
Or are we thinking that life in the past was better. Somehow it is the sentimental nostalgic good old days.
But the question remains. Are we happier now, or were we happier in the past?
This question can be put to the various situations of our lives.
For eg, are we happier in the new job? Or do we think we were happier in the old job.
Are we happier after marriage? Or do we think we were happier before marriage?
Are we happier now that we are older? Or do we think that we were happier when we were younger?
In the gospel, Jesus tells us not to work for food that cannot last, but to work for food that endures to eternal life, the food that Jesus is offering us in the Eucharist.
Indeed Jesus is the bread of life, He is the bread of fulfillment, He is the bread of joy and happiness.
Let’s face it, if we come for Mass, and we receive Jesus the bread of life, and then we are still not happy, then we will not find happiness anywhere else on earth.
No point going even to the moon to search for happiness, because as long as we are not happy on earth, even if we go to heaven, we might think it is hell.
The purpose of receiving Jesus the bread of life, is to open our eyes to life, and to see where are the areas of our lives that we can grow in happiness.
God made all things good, and He made man the best, because man is made in the image and likeness of God.
But we might become like the Israelites in the desert, grumbling and complaining about life.
But God still uses His beautiful creation to remind us of the beauty of our lives, and how to be happy.
Let me share with you some images of creation, images of happiness, so that we can see for ourselves, what we need to be, in order to be happy.
Be like the sun.
Arise early, and do not go to bed late.
Be like the moon.
Shine in the darkness, but submit to the greater light.
Be like the birds.
Eat, sing, drink, and fly free.
Be like the flowers,
Loving the sun, but faithful to your roots.
Be like the faithful dog,
but only to your Lord.
Be like the fruit.
Beautiful on the outside, and healthy on the inside.
Be like the day,
which arrives and leaves without boasting.
Be like the oasis.
Give your water to the thirsty.
Be like the firefly,
although small, it casts its own light.
Be like the water,
Good and transparent
Be like the river,
always moving forward
And above all things,
be like the heavens:
A home for God.
If any of these images caught your attention, then just act on it.
Let that image be your inspiration and motivation in your journey towards happiness.
It may be one small step, but it will also be a giant leap.
2nd Reading: Eph 4:17, 20-24
Gospel: Jn 6:24-35
If we had read the papers, or browsed the internet on the 20th July (which was just about 2 weeks ago), we would have surely come across this prominent news.
And along with this piece of news, is also the recalling of a very famous historical statement.
Now, I have recorded it for you. It goes like this: This is just one small step for man, but a giant leap for humankind.
Yes, the voice of Neil Armstrong, the American astronaut, the first man to step on the surface of the moon, on the 20th July 1969, a historical moment for him, and also for the world.
And 2 weeks ago, was the 40th anniversary of that historical moment, that historical landing on the moon.
Yes, it was a great moment for science and technology.
The 3-man space team landed on the moon, 2 of them walked on the moon, 1 of them circled round the moon in the spacecraft.
Yes, they reached the moon, but none of them ever wanted to stay on the moon.
So even with all that rocket science that enabled them to break free from the gravitational pull of the earth, they still wanted to come back to earth.
Actually, they had no choice; they had to come back to earth.
But let’s say, they had a choice, as in, the moon was like the earth, and they can stay there.
There is fresh air, clean waters, the sea teeming with fish, the land filled with fruit trees. Almost like the biblical Garden of Eden, unpolluted, but uninhabited.
Would they have stayed on there and lived on the moon? How about you? Would you want to go to the moon and stay there? Would I want to go to the moon and stay there?
Well, can consider. It’s a nice idea, being the 1st priest on the moon. Can even be the 1st pope of the moon.
But I think that if we considered all the options, all the opportunities, as well as all the challenges, I think we would still want to come back to earth.
Even though, we might be able to break free from the gravitational pull of the earth, something else will be pulling us back to earth.
I would call it the sentimental pull.
A classic example of this so-called sentimental pull, can be seen in the 1st reading, which was the book of Exodus.
Now we all know the Exodus story, how Moses led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, into freedom and towards the Promised Land.
But the strange thing was that although freed from the clutches of slavery in Egypt, the Israelites kept looking back at Egypt.
The sentimental pull was just too strong, especially when they faced the hunger and thirst of the desert.
Almost immediately, they became nostalgic about the past, and they dreamed about the pans of meat and eating bread till their hearts content when they were in Egypt.
And then they grumbled, they complained, and they began to say ridicules things like wishing to die as slaves in Egypt rather than be free and die in the desert.
Somehow in the hunger and thirst of the desert, even slavery looks good, compared to freedom in the desert, but no food.
Such is the powerful tempting illusion created by the sentimental nostalgic pull.
That’s why, it probably took one day for Israel to get out of Egypt, but it took 40 years to get Egypt out of Israel.
So if the Israelites were asked: Are you happy now that you are free? It won’t be surprising to hear them say ‘No, life in Egypt was better.’
And that’s also a question to ask ourselves : Are we happy with life, … now?
Or are we thinking that life in the past was better. Somehow it is the sentimental nostalgic good old days.
But the question remains. Are we happier now, or were we happier in the past?
This question can be put to the various situations of our lives.
For eg, are we happier in the new job? Or do we think we were happier in the old job.
Are we happier after marriage? Or do we think we were happier before marriage?
Are we happier now that we are older? Or do we think that we were happier when we were younger?
In the gospel, Jesus tells us not to work for food that cannot last, but to work for food that endures to eternal life, the food that Jesus is offering us in the Eucharist.
Indeed Jesus is the bread of life, He is the bread of fulfillment, He is the bread of joy and happiness.
Let’s face it, if we come for Mass, and we receive Jesus the bread of life, and then we are still not happy, then we will not find happiness anywhere else on earth.
No point going even to the moon to search for happiness, because as long as we are not happy on earth, even if we go to heaven, we might think it is hell.
The purpose of receiving Jesus the bread of life, is to open our eyes to life, and to see where are the areas of our lives that we can grow in happiness.
God made all things good, and He made man the best, because man is made in the image and likeness of God.
But we might become like the Israelites in the desert, grumbling and complaining about life.
But God still uses His beautiful creation to remind us of the beauty of our lives, and how to be happy.
Let me share with you some images of creation, images of happiness, so that we can see for ourselves, what we need to be, in order to be happy.
Be like the sun.
Arise early, and do not go to bed late.
Be like the moon.
Shine in the darkness, but submit to the greater light.
Be like the birds.
Eat, sing, drink, and fly free.
Be like the flowers,
Loving the sun, but faithful to your roots.
Be like the faithful dog,
but only to your Lord.
Be like the fruit.
Beautiful on the outside, and healthy on the inside.
Be like the day,
which arrives and leaves without boasting.
Be like the oasis.
Give your water to the thirsty.
Be like the firefly,
although small, it casts its own light.
Be like the water,
Good and transparent
Be like the river,
always moving forward
And above all things,
be like the heavens:
A home for God.
If any of these images caught your attention, then just act on it.
Let that image be your inspiration and motivation in your journey towards happiness.
It may be one small step, but it will also be a giant leap.
Monday, July 13, 2009
15th Ordinary Sunday, 12.07.09
Mark 6:7-13
It is amazing how the standard of living in Singapore has risen, especially in the area of affluence.
We take so many things for granted now, without thinking how it was back then.
For eg, maybe 40 years ago, each house has only one TV set, and it’s usually placed in the living room.
Now, each room has a TV set, and maybe all are connected to cable TV with over 40 channels to chose from.
Probably the only room that does not have a TV, well not at least I know of, is the toilet.
But maybe because the toilet is like a reading room. People bring newspapers and magazines in there to read.
Maybe also because the reading material comes in handy if the toilet paper runs out!
But it is not just TVs that is a reflection of our affluence.
The number of computers or laptops in each household is amazing.
Plus of course the accessories of comfort and entertainment, like the home-theatre-system, the aircon units, the crystal lighting and what have you.
Indeed, most of us are very proud of our well-furnished and well-decorated homes, and in a way, it reflects the level of our affluence.
But let’s say, let’s just say, although it’s not nice to say such things, let’s just say that our house is now on fire.
And we have only 3 minutes to retrieve whatever is most precious to us. Now, what would it be?
What is it that we are willing to risk our lives for, in order to save it from being destroyed?
Of course, I am not talking about that kind of drama where the baby is left in one of the rooms, or the paralyzed parent is still in the bed. That is TV kind of drama.
Church drama is about what are the most precious possessions that we have at home.
So if there is a fire now at home, and we have only 3 minutes to save what is most precious to us, what will it be?
Will it be that biscuit tin that is tucked away in an obscure cabinet which contains the hard-earned cash of our life savings?
Well, other than that I really can’t think of anything else that is more important.
Or would we be contented with just taking a pair of shoes and a walking stick?
Well, that was what Jesus told his disciples to take as He sends them forth to proclaim His Word.
He didn’t give them time to pack; or time to think; just the clothes they were wearing, a pair of sandals and a staff and off they go. That was about it. Nothing more.
We might even ask: How about the Bible? At least ask them to bring the Bible lah!
Well, priests and religious and pastors should bring their bibles along everywhere they go to proclaim the Good News.
And This Monday, the priests of the diocese are going for their annual retreat.
We priests are cordially reminded: Please bring your own Bible. So it means we cannot share Bible. Sounds like going for exam.
But the Bible, the Word of God, is not just a thick book that is often carried under the arm, or placed at the home altar for adoration, or hidden in some biscuit tin in some obscure cabinet.
The Word of God is dynamic, in that when God speaks, He also creates. When God said : Let there be light, and there was light.
When He said : let us make man in our image and likeness, man was created, in God’s image, in God’s love.
So God’s word created us, God’s Word shaped us into His image and likeness, and God’s Word is stamped into our very being.
In a way, we can say that God’s Word is made flesh in us. It cannot be taken away from us.
It is precisely God’s Word in us that makes us turn to God and to thirst for God.
St Augustine would express this yearning for God in a prayer like this: O Lord, our hearts will not rest until they rest in you.
Yes, it is only in God that we know we have come home, that indeed we are at home.
And this homing instinct is not so mystifying or mysterious.
Even animals show that they have this homing instinct.
Take for example, the green sea turtles. The green sea turtle will lay eggs on a particular beach.
When the eggs hatch, the baby turtles will instinctively head for the sea.
After about 40 years of swimming in the sea and surviving the dangers from predators and other elements, the green sea turtle reaches reproductive age.
Then she will swim all the way back to that particular beach where she was hatched. They call it the natal beach.
It is on that and only that particular natal beach, she will lay her eggs of the next generation of sea turtles.
The problem comes in when that particular natal beach is destroyed or reclaimed or whatever.
I really don’t know what the sea turtle would do. But one thing for sure, the sea turtle is lost, because the natal beach is lost, and with that the next generation is lost.
The story of the sea turtle reminds us of this: We have to preserve and safeguard the natal beach of our hearts.
Because God’s Word created us and God’s Word is planted deep in our hearts for us to find God and come back to Him.
And that’s why reading the Bible is imperative, it is a must.
Because the written word of the Bible will awaken the Word of God that is planted deep in our hearts.
The Word of God awakens us and spurs us into action, to go forth and awaken in others the Word that is in them.
Today, being Bible Sunday, Jesus sends us forth to proclaim His Word.
And I ask you to bring one thing – that is, this little card that was given to you as you came in.
On this card are 2 promises. God promised that He will be with us always.
The other promise is that His plans for us are always for our good, so as to give us hope and a future.
We need to believe in these promises from God.
We must believe in these promises.
When we don’t, then we ourselves have destroyed the natal beach of our hearts, and we would be lost.
But when we believe, then we must also show that we believe.
Take this card, and more if you want, and give it to those who need to hear about God’s promises.
Especially those who have their hopes and their future destroyed by the fires of bitterness and disappointment.
We pray, that with the aid of these humble cards, we will help others to find their natal beach and come home to God.
It is amazing how the standard of living in Singapore has risen, especially in the area of affluence.
We take so many things for granted now, without thinking how it was back then.
For eg, maybe 40 years ago, each house has only one TV set, and it’s usually placed in the living room.
Now, each room has a TV set, and maybe all are connected to cable TV with over 40 channels to chose from.
Probably the only room that does not have a TV, well not at least I know of, is the toilet.
But maybe because the toilet is like a reading room. People bring newspapers and magazines in there to read.
Maybe also because the reading material comes in handy if the toilet paper runs out!
But it is not just TVs that is a reflection of our affluence.
The number of computers or laptops in each household is amazing.
Plus of course the accessories of comfort and entertainment, like the home-theatre-system, the aircon units, the crystal lighting and what have you.
Indeed, most of us are very proud of our well-furnished and well-decorated homes, and in a way, it reflects the level of our affluence.
But let’s say, let’s just say, although it’s not nice to say such things, let’s just say that our house is now on fire.
And we have only 3 minutes to retrieve whatever is most precious to us. Now, what would it be?
What is it that we are willing to risk our lives for, in order to save it from being destroyed?
Of course, I am not talking about that kind of drama where the baby is left in one of the rooms, or the paralyzed parent is still in the bed. That is TV kind of drama.
Church drama is about what are the most precious possessions that we have at home.
So if there is a fire now at home, and we have only 3 minutes to save what is most precious to us, what will it be?
Will it be that biscuit tin that is tucked away in an obscure cabinet which contains the hard-earned cash of our life savings?
Well, other than that I really can’t think of anything else that is more important.
Or would we be contented with just taking a pair of shoes and a walking stick?
Well, that was what Jesus told his disciples to take as He sends them forth to proclaim His Word.
He didn’t give them time to pack; or time to think; just the clothes they were wearing, a pair of sandals and a staff and off they go. That was about it. Nothing more.
We might even ask: How about the Bible? At least ask them to bring the Bible lah!
Well, priests and religious and pastors should bring their bibles along everywhere they go to proclaim the Good News.
And This Monday, the priests of the diocese are going for their annual retreat.
We priests are cordially reminded: Please bring your own Bible. So it means we cannot share Bible. Sounds like going for exam.
But the Bible, the Word of God, is not just a thick book that is often carried under the arm, or placed at the home altar for adoration, or hidden in some biscuit tin in some obscure cabinet.
The Word of God is dynamic, in that when God speaks, He also creates. When God said : Let there be light, and there was light.
When He said : let us make man in our image and likeness, man was created, in God’s image, in God’s love.
So God’s word created us, God’s Word shaped us into His image and likeness, and God’s Word is stamped into our very being.
In a way, we can say that God’s Word is made flesh in us. It cannot be taken away from us.
It is precisely God’s Word in us that makes us turn to God and to thirst for God.
St Augustine would express this yearning for God in a prayer like this: O Lord, our hearts will not rest until they rest in you.
Yes, it is only in God that we know we have come home, that indeed we are at home.
And this homing instinct is not so mystifying or mysterious.
Even animals show that they have this homing instinct.
Take for example, the green sea turtles. The green sea turtle will lay eggs on a particular beach.
When the eggs hatch, the baby turtles will instinctively head for the sea.
After about 40 years of swimming in the sea and surviving the dangers from predators and other elements, the green sea turtle reaches reproductive age.
Then she will swim all the way back to that particular beach where she was hatched. They call it the natal beach.
It is on that and only that particular natal beach, she will lay her eggs of the next generation of sea turtles.
The problem comes in when that particular natal beach is destroyed or reclaimed or whatever.
I really don’t know what the sea turtle would do. But one thing for sure, the sea turtle is lost, because the natal beach is lost, and with that the next generation is lost.
The story of the sea turtle reminds us of this: We have to preserve and safeguard the natal beach of our hearts.
Because God’s Word created us and God’s Word is planted deep in our hearts for us to find God and come back to Him.
And that’s why reading the Bible is imperative, it is a must.
Because the written word of the Bible will awaken the Word of God that is planted deep in our hearts.
The Word of God awakens us and spurs us into action, to go forth and awaken in others the Word that is in them.
Today, being Bible Sunday, Jesus sends us forth to proclaim His Word.
And I ask you to bring one thing – that is, this little card that was given to you as you came in.
On this card are 2 promises. God promised that He will be with us always.
The other promise is that His plans for us are always for our good, so as to give us hope and a future.
We need to believe in these promises from God.
We must believe in these promises.
When we don’t, then we ourselves have destroyed the natal beach of our hearts, and we would be lost.
But when we believe, then we must also show that we believe.
Take this card, and more if you want, and give it to those who need to hear about God’s promises.
Especially those who have their hopes and their future destroyed by the fires of bitterness and disappointment.
We pray, that with the aid of these humble cards, we will help others to find their natal beach and come home to God.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)