Category Archives: Lent

Tuesday of the 1st week of Lent
Isaiah 55:10-11 | Psalm 33(34):4-7,16-19 | Matthew 6:7-15

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘In your prayers do not babble as the pagans do, for they think that by using many words they will make themselves heard.’ (Matthew 6:7)

Oh. Er. I guess I do babble sometimes in prayer.

And by sometimes I mean often.

It’s as good a time as any to refresh my memory on the four key components of Catholic prayer, known as the ACTS:

• Adoration: O Lord, you are Almighty and ever-loving!
• Contrition: We are weak, Lord, and we have sinned against you.
• Thanksgiving: We thank you, Lord, for loving us despite our sin, and supporting us in our earthly trials and tribulations.
• Supplication: Heal us, O Lord, and help us turn to you all day, every day.

For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, now and forever.

Fiat voluntas tua – Thy will be done. Amen.

Monday of the 1st Week of Lent
Leviticus 19:1-2,11-18 | Psalm 18(19):8-10,15 | Matthew 25:31-46

And the King will answer, “I tell you solemnly, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me.” (Matthew 25:40)

Last Judgement. The final destination for us all. Will we be counted amongst the loving sheep, or the neglectful goats?

I think none of us can say for sure. I’m very sure that I’ve neglected to help quite a few people in my life thus far, and will probably leave some more wanting in my remaining days on earth.

All I can do, all any of us can do, is to put into action Jesus’ command to us: Love one another as I have loved you.

Feed hunger.
Slake thirst.
Welcome strangers.
Clothe nakedness.
Comfort the sick.
Visit prisoners.
Love our neighbor.

It’s sometimes a tall order, but especially in this season of Lent, we can but try our best, and leave the rest in God’s hands.

And perhaps inspire someone around us to do the same, as these videos illustrates:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMLF5BDXJOk

Amen.

1st Sunday of Lent (Year A)
Genesis 2:7-9,3:1-7 | Psalm 50(51):3-6,12-14,17 | Romans 5:12-19 | Matthew 4:1-11

Today’s Gospel recounts the temptation of Christ in the desert. I experienced what should’ve been a severe temptation yesterday, but an Lenten act unexpectedly “saved” me.

As I mentioned in a recent blog post, I’m fasting Ramadan-style throughout this Lent. One side-effect is that I’m actually less hungry during the day than I was even before Lent, as the lack of water input quietens my growling stomach. I now understand how Muslims can keep this up for a whole month; it’s really less stressful on the body than fasting with water.

Anyway, my old friend asked me to meet him at Marina Bay Sands today, instead of our usual cafe haunt. When I asked why, he just said that he wanted to check out something before our usual Saturday meeting.

So I met him at the appointed place, only to discover that he was headed to a food expo, the kind where both of us usually run riot in, sampling pretty much all the wares on display.

OK, I thought, this should be a good test of my Lenten resolve.

It turned out to be a cakewalk (pun intended), to my (and my friend’s) surprise.

You see, one other side-effect I’d only just realized is that my fast left my mouth and nose in a rather dry state, and that muted my ability to smell.

Aromatic coffee all around? Nah, I barely sensed it.

Fragrant tea leaves that I would’ve craved a cuppa of? Nope, not doing anything for me.

So to our collective amusement, my friend went round sampling the teas and coffees, while I followed in his wake, looked with interest at all the wares on display, and politely declined everything that was offered.

But both of us skipped all the free luscious cakes and ice creams, as well as the sweet sodas and fried starches for the taking. Neither one of us wanted to walk down that sugar-laden road.

✞ ✞ ✞ ✞ ✞

I may not be experiencing now the sort of hunger Jesus suffered, but I did in my previous years’ seasonal fasts, and I have some idea of the unbearable cravings the body develops after such a long fast.

But this year is different. This time around, I’ve found a way to “die to myself” without the sort of literal gut-wrenching I experienced in years past.

This time, I can refuse to partake in the midst of incredible temptation, yet still be content. After all, Lent is a time to reflect, renew and reconcile, not turn into a miserable git through pious suffering.

As today’s scripture says:

Man does not live on bread alone
but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4)

Amen.

Saturday after Ash Wednesday
Isaiah 58:9-14 | Psalm 85(86):1-6 | Luke 5:27-32

The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples and said, ‘Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?’ Jesus said to them in reply, ‘It is not those who are well who need the doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the virtuous, but sinners to repentance.’ (Luke 5:30-32)

Every day, when I travel by train or bus, I notice a stark similarity amongst nearly all my fellow passengers: they all look really glum, like they’re carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders.

Even if they were locked away in their own universe, isolated by their headphones and whatever was mesmerizing them on their personal devices, the corners of their mouths were invariably turned down.

Those who were simply looking around them were similarly wreathed in metaphorical dark clouds, strained brows brooding over God knows what.

The only exceptions were those who were travelling in groups. Those folks were chatting happily with each other, and it mattered not if they were young or old. They had company, and their spirits were thus lifted.

✞ ✞ ✞ ✞ ✞

We’ve long heard the old saw that the worst way to die is alone. We see it on TV, or perhaps even in person: people young and old, glumly trudging through their lonely days, finding neither joy nor support.

I can’t imagine anyone wanting to experience that, yet I see unhappy people every day, buried in their own concerns, locked away in their own universes.

✞ ✞ ✞ ✞ ✞

Lately, I’ve been feeling warm around my shoulders at random times, despite the unnaturally chilly days we’re currently experiencing. I might be imagining things, but I’d like to think that what I’m feeling is the loving arm of Christ wrapping me in a hug, just like my old friend used to urge me on to our next destination (he’s quite a bit taller than I, so it’s really difficult for me to return the favour).

It’s a comforting feeling, that He’s willing to spend time with me, a sinner.

I’d like others to feel it too.

Will you reach out to Him, and let Him embrace you?

Will you spend time in His company, and let Him spend time in yours?

He is always there, hearing every prayer
Faithful and true
Walking by our side, in His love we hide
All the day through

When you get discouraged, just remember what to do
Reach out to Jesus, He’s reaching out to you

Amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etvak8dIxBY