Spiritus Sanctus

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.

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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.

Friday of Week 12 in Ordinary Time (Year A)
Genesis 17:1,9-10,15-22 | Psalm 127(128):1-5 | Matthew 8:1-4

‘Sir,’ he said ‘if you want to, you can cure me.’ (Matthew 8:2)

If we want to, we can follow Jesus in deed, and not just in word.

If we want to, we can center our lives around Him, instead of giving Him only an hour of fidgeting and inattention every Sunday.

If we want to, we can feel His presence in others, especially those who quietly suffer the indignity of serving others who return nothing but scorn and ill-treatment.

Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him and said, ‘Of course I want to! Be cured!’ (Matthew 8:3)

But do we want to?

Or would we rather bask in the glow of knowing that we’re better off than the others around us?

Lord God, You gave us the precious gift of free will, which we then twisted into dark mastery over our fellow human beings. You know we can do better, if we want to.

Give us the burning desire to want to do better. Open our eyes to see the hurt we cause others, open our hearts to their suffering, and move our hands to make good all that was done in prideful sin.

Amen.

Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles
Acts 12:1-11 | Psalm 33(34):2-9 | 2 Timothy 4:6-8,17-18 | Matthew 16:13-19

I have fought the good fight to the end; I have run the race to the finish; I have kept the faith. (2 Timothy 4:7)

I started this blog entry last night, but stopped for no apparent reason. This morning, that reason became clear, and this entry has completely changed as a result.

I was privileged to serve as organist for a noon-day thanksgiving mass today, celebrating the wedding anniversaries of two couples from the same family (grandparents and parents). With the “connivance” of the children, other family members, and a few friends, it was a simple celebration that still overflowed with rich meaning.

I have no doubt that these two couples have had their fights; I too have fought with my own wife from time to time.

Their “race” on this earth, like mine, isn’t over yet.

And, most importantly, we’re all struggling to keep our faith in God.

That last bit can sometimes be rather difficult, but there was an extra spring in my step as I left that celebration today.

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This reflection from St. Paul is a popular one for engraving on headstones, but it’s really a look back at a life lived in love of the Lord. For it to have any meaning for us, we need to understand it as a recipe for good living:

• Fight the good fight, ensuring that our actions bring life to all, not misery.
• Run the race of life with gusto, but also stopping to lift up those who have fallen by the wayside.
• Keep the faith that has been nurtured in us, and the love of the One who gave all for us.

Despite all the uncertainties of modern life, now is a good time to be truly alive in God.

We just need to make the effort to deliberately turn to our Creator, seek His counsel through the quiet voice within us that is the Holy Spirit, and be ever mindful of the Son of Light whose Divine Mercy floods our hearts each day.

Amen.

Tuesday of Week 12 in Ordinary Time (Year A)
Genesis 13:2,5-18 | Psalm 14(15):2-5 | Matthew 7:6,12-14

Looking round, Lot saw all the Jordan plain, irrigated everywhere – this was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah – like the garden of the Lord or the land of Egypt, as far as Zoar. So Lot chose all the Jordan plain for himself and moved off eastwards. Thus they parted company: Abram settled in the land of Canaan; Lot settled among the towns of the plain, pitching his tents on the outskirts of Sodom. (Genesis 13:10-12)

We all know how Lot’s story ends, but its beginning is a lesson for us all.

Lot chose the easy route, the bountiful land, the Eden lookalike. Focused on near-term ease, he failed to notice the impending problematic neighbours that were Sodom and Gomorrah.

Likewise, we sometimes choose the easy way out, prioritizing immediate personal comfort over long-term support of our heavenly objectives. It’s perfectly natural for wealth and ease to be the fruits of our labour, or even the side-effects thereof, but when they become our goals, we inevitably lose sight of our main target: reunion with the Lord.

So let us pay heed to the soft voice that is the Holy Spirit within us. Let our conscience be our guide in doing what is right, not what is easy.

Lord, You know we can be lazy, desiring just to wallow in ease and luxury. Help us clear the fog of hedonism from our minds, and focus on You before us, and our neighbours in whom we see Your face. Amen.