Monthly Archives: November 2016

Thursday of Week 32 in Ordinary Time (Year II)
Saint Leo the Great, Pope, Doctor
Philemon 1:7-20 | Psalm 145(146):7-10 | Luke 17:20-25

Asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was to come, Jesus gave them this answer, ‘The coming of the kingdom of God does not admit of observation and there will be no one to say, “Look here! Look there!” For, you must know, the kingdom of God is among you.’ (Luke 17:20-21)

As I write these words, it’s a foregone conclusion that Donald Trump is the U.S. President-elect of 2016.

As I write these words, social media is awash with melodrama and hysteria, and the mass media is playing up scenes of manic jubilation and wailing despair in a bid for viewers’ attention.

As I write these words, the financial markets are rocking and rolling, buffeted by panicked uncertainty.

And yet…the most important thing on this earth has not changed. The kingdom of God on earth began with Christ’s death and resurrection, and still exists within us. We are charged with the sowing of the seed of the kingdom, the Good News that God is with us, and always will be.

We live in this world, but we are not of this world. This world may shudder at the thought of a great nation helmed by Trump, but for us, our hope is in Christ our Redeemer and Saviour, not any mortal being, no matter how powerful.

But since we live in this world, it is our prerogative, and indeed our duty, to pray for our temporal leaders, in the fashion of a Solemn Intercession from Good Friday:

IX. FOR THOSE IN PUBLIC OFFICE
Let us pray also for those in public office,
that our God and Lord
may direct their minds and hearts according to his will
for the true peace and freedom of all.

Almighty ever-living God,
in whose hand lies every human heart
and the rights of peoples,
look with favour, we pray,
on those who govern with authority over us,
that throughout the whole world,
the prosperity of peoples,
the assurance of peace,
and freedom of religion
may through your gift be made secure.
Through Christ our Lord.
AMEN.

Lord, grant President Trump the wisdom he needs to lead his nation productively. Touch his heart, so that he may learn the way of compassion. Forgive him all his sins, and as we approach the season of Advent, may your faithful in America and the world continue to spread your eternal message of hope, love, joy and peace. Amen.

Dedication of the Lateran Basilica
Ezekiel 47:1-2,8-9,12 | Psalm 45(46):2-3,5-6,8-9 | 1 Corinthians 3:9-11,16-17 | John 2:13-22

Words fail me, on this feast of the mother church of Mother Church.

In all my contemplation of today’s scripture, one hymn kept running through my head, drowning out everything else and overwhelming my senses. This hymn speaks of our unity as one living church, for God, built on Christ, powered by the Spirit.

I think, brothers and sisters, that you already know which one it is. I can do naught but give in to it.

We form one Church, one Christian folk
Redeemed by God’s own Son
Refreshed by clear and saving streams
We share in graces won
We break the Bread of heaven
To feed us on our way
We take the cup that brings us life
To celebrate His day

We know the kindness of His love
We know His will to save
We know He’s won the victory
O’er sin and o’er the grave
To each of us is given
The fullness of His grace
To live in joy a life of love
Until we see His face

Our hope is strong in Jesus Christ
Our faith is in His name
We know he seeks the sinful one
For that is why He came
He cares for those who suffer
He loves both young and old
A man of sorrows, risen now
As He Himself foretold

Amen.

P.S. Strangely, I couldn’t find a YouTube video of this hymn, but a little digging revealed its surprising melodic underpinnings:

Tuesday of Week 32 in Ordinary Time (Year II)
Titus 2:1-8,11-14 | Psalm 36(37):3-4,18,23,27,29 | Luke 17:7-10

On the face of it, today’s Gospel reminds us to serve with dutiful humility, that we ought not to expect public acclaim or benefits when doing the Lord’s work.

However, I think there is another subtle message being conveyed here. When Jesus says, “Must he be grateful to the servant for doing what he was told?”, I strongly believe the appropriate answer is “No, but the servant should still be treated with dignity.”

✞ ✞ ✞ ✞ ✞

During my college days, I received a call from my aunt who happened to run a lunch café near my university. Her busboy had just quit, and she was still trying to hire a new one, so could I temp for her a couple of days? (If you’re not familiar with the term, a busboy cleans tables at an eating place.)

I was happy to, being family and all, but when I’d finished my stint, I’d also received a lesson in human dignity.

See, while I was busy clearing tables of remains, not one person looked me in the eye, or said a word of thanks. They just grabbed their food, ate as quickly as they could, perhaps chatting with their co-workers (the café was in the business district), then wiping their mouths with the provided paper napkins and walking out the door without a backward glance.

What really surprised me was how I felt about it.

I’ve been a shy person all my life, and generally shun social situations, so when I first noticed it happening, I thought “no big deal, it’s not like I’m going to chat with them anyway.”

But at the end of each shift, I felt like a worm. No customer was actively rude to me, but it was as if I wasn’t just invisible, but nonexistent.

I never shared that feeling with my aunt, and she thankfully didn’t need to tap on my services again.

✞ ✞ ✞ ✞ ✞

We each have our station in life, but we are also equal in the eyes of the One who made us:

there are no more distinctions between Jew and Greek, slave and free, male and female, but all of you are one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28)

So let us show Christian dignity to the people who serve our needs daily, from the busboys (now mostly elderly folk) who clean our lunch tables, to the cleaners of our office toilets, to the maids who ease our daily household burdens.

Bus drivers, taxi drivers, waitstaff, supermarket checkout staff…it’s almost impossible to get through a modern day without meeting at least six different people who help us through it, and while we’re not called to put them on a pedestal, neither are we to be rude to or dismissive of them. A smile and a heartfelt “thank you” go a long way for the tired and potentially abused service workers, a clear signal that they are not part of an invisible underclass.

And it really doesn’t take religion to realize this. After all, if the noted American humorist and atheist Dave Barry can figure out that:

A person who is nice to you but rude to the waiter is not a nice person. (This is very important. Pay attention. Never fails.)

we Christians really have no excuse for disrespect.

Lord, we are one as You and the Father are one. Help us remember to love each other in our daily lives, as you have loved us. Amen.

Monday of Week 32 in Ordinary Time (Year II)
Titus 1:1-9 | Psalm 23(24):1-6 | Luke 17:1-6

Since, as president, he will be God’s representative, he must be irreproachable: never an arrogant or hot-tempered man, nor a heavy drinker or violent, nor out to make money; but a man who is hospitable and a friend of all that is good; sensible, moral, devout and self-controlled; and he must have a firm grasp of the unchanging message of the tradition, so that he can be counted on for both expounding the sound doctrine and refuting those who argue against it. (Titus 1:7-9)

My mind tends towards the musical, so inputs like St. Paul’s words to Titus sometimes get spontaneously translated into song. This one just happens to set to my all-time favorite Gilbert and Sullivan masterpiece.

I hope its seeming frivolity doesn’t hide the fact that it’s not just St. Paul’s “job description” of early Christian bishops, but also a lay Catholic ideal to aspire to, even in modern times.

I am the very model of a follower of Jesus Christ
Not arrogant nor temperamental, I try always to be nice
I don’t imbibe much alcohol, I don’t resort to fisticuffs
And when I make my daily bread, I always take care not to bluff
If you are hungry or in need of shelter, I have bed and food
If you are kind, I’ll call you friend, for I like everything that’s good
And I was taught from very young, the secret to a heart of gold
“Be sensible and moral and devout and always self-controlled”

I know the doctrine and tradition of our Christianity
And I proclaim the gospel message, even when you’re sick of me
On top on this, I don the cloak of love for all, the sacred prize
I am the very model of a follower of Jesus Christ

Lord, we acclaim You as our model. Help us to live fully, to love universally, and to spread Your message of love and peace to the ends of the earth. Amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2OcbeGqbpU

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
2 Maccabees 7:1-2,9-14 | Psalm 16(17):1,5-6,8,15 | 2 Thessalonians 2:16-3:5 | Luke 20:27-38

At some point in my faith journey, I heard someone expound on how to differentiate between the Sadducees and Pharisees:

The Sadducees didn’t believe in the resurrection of the dead, so they were sad, you see.

But the Pharisees did, so in the Sadducees’ eyes, they as good as believed in fairies, see?

Corny, but it got the point across.

History tells us that the Sadducees disappeared after the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem around 70 A.D., but their belief in “dead means dead” still lives on today, particularly in the people who live like there’s No Tomorrow.

You’ve probably seen them, the “me, myself and I” cadre, who are willing to do whatever it takes (and climb however many bodies lie in their way) to acquire their hearts’ desires, who brook no interference in their life of hedonism because they have only One Life to Live.

You might even have realized that some of them are Catholic…though also being careful not to call attention to their state of hypocrisy.

✞ ✞ ✞ ✞ ✞

As Catholics, we believe that our life doesn’t end in death; we’re just trading our bodies of dust in for brilliant forms of light. In TV production terms, we believe that our actions in each episode of our yearly seasons greatly influence our storyline going forward, and especially whether our series ends in a glorious revival or fiery car crash oblivion.

Alas, we tend to assume that our on-screen time will last…well, a very long time, and we’ll receive enough warning that we’re getting cancelled, so that we can make-up for all our sins before our series finale.

Of course, as the Parable of the Rich Fool (Luke 12:16-21) reminds us, that’s not very likely.

So As the World Turns, let us be Touched by an Angel, and not act like Desperate Housewives. Otherwise, as the Days of Our Lives draw to a close, we may find ourselves face to face with Lucifer.

Let us live our lives in love, not in a soap opera.

Amen.