Monthly Archives: July 2017

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)
Zechariah 9:9-10 | Psalm 144(145):1-2,8-11,13b-14 | Romans 8:9,11-13 | Matthew 11:25-30

See now, your king comes to you;
he is victorious, he is triumphant,
humble and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey. (Zechariah 9:9)

I attended evening mass at my parish yesterday, wanting to see how the newly-formed choir was doing.

I ended up singing with them, and it was a refreshing experience.

There’s something about a new group still feeling their way around liturgy, keeping it simple by singing everything in unison, but with a voice or two braving a harmony line on occasion.

There’s something about a group of new choristers with little musical training and no scores, yet still singing with both heart and head.

In humble beginnings are the seeds of triumphant and heartfelt worship. Zechariah’s words are a reminder to his fellow Judeans, and to us through the mists of time, that victory can be cloaked in humility.

Perhaps there’s a lesson in there for my own seasoned choir, as we welcome half a dozen youths into our ranks as part of their Ministry Involvement Program.

Amen.

Thursday of Week 13 in Ordinary Time (Year I)
Genesis 22:1-19 | Psalm 114(116):1-6,8-9 | Matthew 9:1-8

Abraham called this place ‘The Lord Provides’, and hence the saying today: On the mountain the Lord provides. (Genesis 22:14)

Jehovah-jireh, “The Lord provides”. The Truth is often found in simple statements such as this, without nuances, or qualifications, or handwaving.

Sailing through the air en route to a date with early death twenty-six years ago, the Lord provided a sturdy car around me to crumple into oblivion, and let me walk away mostly unscathed.

On Mount Sinai seven years ago, when I ascended in the darkness with hundreds of others to greet the rising sun, the Lord provided a sure footing and a heart full of love to sing with all sincerity “How Great Thou Art”, while bathed in the blinding light of the Risen Son.

On this site a year ago, the Lord provided the courage to begin baring my soul in love for Him, and the words to tell each day what He has done for me.

And every night, even on the nights when I fail to conclude my daily blog, the Lord provides me with the peace of mind to lay down each day’s burdens, and the health and strength to take them up again the next morning.

Most importantly, He has given me, and all who believe in Him, the Spirit of good counsel, to guide our thoughts and words and deeds in His holy Way.

All we need to do…is follow.

✞ ✞ ✞ ✞ ✞

Brothers and sisters, the Lord gives us everything we need, without surfeit or triviality. Sufficient unto the day are His provisions for all mankind.

Blessed be His name forever.

Amen.

Tuesday of Week 13 in Ordinary Time (Year I)
Genesis 19:15-29 | Psalm 25(26):2-3,9-12 | Matthew 8:23-27

‘Run for your life. Neither look behind you nor stop anywhere on the plain. Make for the hills if you would not be overwhelmed.’ (Genesis 19:17)

I’m no longer the secularly-focused man I was just a few years ago, but ever so often, I think of those dark days gone by, and instantly hear the siren call of temporal temptation.

The angels’ admonition to Lot applies just as well today: When we are working to shed the stain of sin in our lives, looking back on our mistakes can cause us to secretly long for the bad old days, and be seduced back into our old undesirable habits.

Our focus should be on the light of Christ ahead, illuminating the Way of Truth and Life. Behind us lie our shadows of sin and temptation, our past lives of transgression and hurt, fit only for letting go.

Lot’s wife couldn’t let go, and she paid a terrible price. We should take a big hint from her plight.

Lord, we are besieged every day by the temptation of earthly pleasures, to which our brethren regularly succumb in full measure. Help us see the death of spirit and love that follows this treacherous path, and give us the strength to forever focus our gaze on You, as You guide us to Your heavenly kingdom. Amen.

13th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)
2 Kings 4:8-11,13-16 | Psalm 88(89):2-3,16-19 | Romans 6:3-4,8-11 | Matthew 10:37-42

[The Shunammitess] replied, ‘I live with my own people about me.’ (2 Kings 4:13)

What a simple yet profound acknowledgement of all God’s gifts that surround us. “I live with my own people about me. I may not have children of my own, but I’m surrounded by people I care about, and that’s enough for me.”

But how often do we mentally shun others for whatever reason?

Tsk tsk, that lazy young girl sitting down with no bags, staring at her phone while the tired old aunty stands right in of her with her shopping bags. Shame!

Alamak, that uncle selling tissues is standing right where I need to pass! Never mind, keep walking, stare straight ahead, don’t look at him.

Yiii, that guy’s got so many tattoos, must be gangster. Why did he have to stand right next to me?!?! Slowly slowly move away, don’t make him think I’m avoiding him, otherwise sure die one!

Do our mental borders extend only to the people we personally know, or can we push them outwards to include strangers who we may find unattractive or perhaps even offensive in some way, but who are nevertheless God’s children just like us.

✞ ✞ ✞ ✞ ✞

Two days ago, I boarded a lift at my block to head out for a meeting. There was a young mother and a toddler already in it, and the child was having his own brand of fun touching the lift buttons and walls, and going “beep!” each time.

So I held out my hand, palm outwards, and waited to see what he’d do.

To my surprise, he rushed over and grabbed my hand…and didn’t let go.

I think the mother was surprised too; she must’ve thought “I don’t know this man, so why is my son being so friendly with him?”

When the lift doors opened at ground level, he still wouldn’t let go, so I had to exit with him and his mother in tow. Only when it became clear that we were headed in different directions did he finally relax his grip…and wave goodbye with a cherubic grin.

I suspect his mother may have admonished him out of earshot, impressing on him the importance of not being so friendly with strange adults. Those few moments, though, reminded me that we often have to look past the superficial ugliness to the core of love and care beneath, and engage with that core, drawing them through our own loving deeds to the Father of us all.

Then, and only then, can we begin to fulfill the words we pray so often:

Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Amen.