FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT, YEAR A

Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7

Romans 5:12-19

Matthew 4:1-11

TEMPTED AND YET NOT DEFILED!

Lent is here again! Lent is a period to deepen our relationship with God through prayer, fasting and almsgiving. It is a time of renewal, penance and conversion, a time to start afresh. Traditionally, the gospel of the first Sunday of Lent speaks of the temptation of Jesus (Matt. 4:1-11). Jesus’ overcoming the devil’s triple temptation does not only anticipate his victory over sin and death through his Passion, death and resurrection, but also constitutes an example to us. For there are many temptations that await us during this season of grace. But just as Jesus resisted the devil, we too should not give in to the solicitations of the devil.

In fact, there is a striking contrast between Jesus in the Gospel and our first parents in the Garden of Eden as narrated in the first reading. Thus, the second reading comes as a kind of synthesis for the two:  it was the fall of Adam and Eve which brought about the coming of Jesus to restore our relationship with God. For just as one man’s fall and disobedience led all to sin and condemnation, so also the obedience of one man has brought life and justification to all.

The story of Jesus’ temptation has much to teach us. First, no one can escape temptation. Temptation is everywhere and has no respect for status or position. Temptation is always related to common human attractions, needs and desires such as food, pleasure, power and fame. Second, the devil tempts us on our weakest point and can easily seduce us to fall into his traps. He comes under the guise of some kind of goodness.  But his real intention is to separate us from God, to make us rebel against God who is Love. 

Third, to be able to resist the devil, we must counter him firmly with the Word of God. It is not simply reciting bible verses, but being deeply rooted in God’s Word and allowing it to transform us. Lastly, when we are tempted, we have a choice to make, depending on whether we know our identity and mission as Christians or not. Jesus was able to withstand the devil because he knew his identity and mission. May he help us to resist temptations that may come our way especially during this season of grace. Amen

ASH WEDNESDAY

Joel 2:12-18

Psalm 51

2 Corinthians 5:20—6:2

Matthew 6:1-6.16-18

ASH WEDNESDAY

Today marks the beginning of 40 days journey: the Lenten Season. Lent is a period of spiritual discipline and conversion, which culminates in the celebration of the Holy Week. In his merciful love, God calls us to return to him. For He is tenderness and compassion, slow in anger and rich in love (Joel 2:12-18). For St Paul, this is the favourable time; this is the day of salvation. We must be reconciled with God and open ourselves to his grace (1Co. 5:20-6:2). In the gospel reading, the three traditional practices are presented to us: fasting, prayer, and almsgiving. These must be done in discretion, for God who sees all that is done in secret will reward us (Matt. 6:1-6.16-18).

Moreover, today’s liturgy is marked by the blessing and giving of ashes. In effect, in the Old Testament ashes signify remorse for sins and repentance. To cover oneself with ashes was the external expression of repentance and conversion: “Repent, and believe in the Gospel.” They are also symbol of man’s nothingness, frailty and mortality: “Remember, man, you are dust and to dust you shall return.” They are also expression of man’s sorrow in the midst of suffering but also of hope in God’s mercy.

In chemistry too, ashes are signs that an irreversible change of chemical has taken place. Thus, we must change for the better, change our sinful ways of life and put on the new self, created in the image of Christ (Eph. 4:24). Besides, ashes are used as fertilizers in agriculture. Meanwhile, fertilizers are symbol of growth. This way, the Lenten season is an opportunity for us to grow in our relationship with the Lord and bear abundant fruit. We must nourish our souls with prayer, meditation on the Word of God, and with the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Confession. 

Finally, ashes are used in washing or cleansing utensils. These domestic usages remind us of our need to cleanse ourselves from our sins: “Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin” (Ps 51:2). Let us, therefore, make use of the Sacrament of confession to avail ourselves to the abundant mercy and forgiveness of God. May the Lord bless and keep all of us. Amen 

I wish you all a fruitful Lenten Season.

7TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME, YEAR A

Leviticus 19:1-2.17-18

1 Co 3:16-23

Matthew 5:38-48

DEALING WITH ONE'S ENEMY

In today's gospel, Jesus continues his sermon on the mount. Contrary to the law of retaliation in the Old Testament, which regulated revenge in terms of proportionality between the punishment and the offense, Jesus proposed a completely new approach: no resistance to the wicked, love of one’s enemy, praying for one’s persecutors, etc. 

The first reading invites us to love our brothers or sisters, to reprove our fellow citizens fraternally, to take no revenge against any of our own people, and to love our neighbours as ourselves. In short, being kind and loving towards our own kind. But loving one’s enemy as Jesus teaches seems ridiculous, awkward, crazy, unreasonable and unacceptable in our world where human logic advocates for power, revenge, violence; and where forgiveness and not responding to a “provocation” are seen as signs of weakness and fear.

However, Jesus’ teaching finds justification in two statements: (i) "Be holy, for I, the Lord, your God, am holy" (Lev. 19:2); and (ii) "You therefore will be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matt. 5:48). These are invitations to be like God, precisely because we are created in the image and likeness of God. For in God there is no grudge, no revenge, no hatred. The psalmist says that the Lord is kind and merciful; slow to anger and abounding in love (Ps 102). Again, He makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust (Matt. 5:45).

As such, we are invited to go beyond the logic or reasoning of the world which is foolishness in the eyes of God, and to live according to the Spirit of God who dwells in us (1 Co 3:16-23). Unfortunately, it could be observed that we Christians have a long way to go as much as love is concerned. For even the pagans reciprocate love, and the tax-collectors greet those who greet them. But as Christians we often fail to love those who love us, we wish them misfortune and look for the downfall of our own kind. Some of us do not even respond to the greetings of those who greet us because we have grudges and resentment against them. As such, let us pray the Lord to touch our hearts so that we may not be worse than pagans and tax-collectors but know that the best way to take revenge on one’s enemies is to love them (cf. Rom 12:17-21).

SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR A

Sirach 15:15-20

1Cor. 2:6-10

Matthew 5:17-37

Fulfilling the Law

Today's Gospel is an excerpt from the Sermon on the Mount, often characterized by the radical choices that Jesus invites his disciples to make. In today's passage, Jesus presents himself as the New Moses, who came not to abolish or abrogate the Law and the Prophets, but to fulfil and perfect it. In fact, the Law should not be considered as a simple set of precepts prohibiting certain behaviours, but as a means to realize our humanity and a way to enter into a life of communion with God.

In this dynamic, it is not enough not to commit murder, but also not to get angry, and to go as far as forgiving and reconciling. It’s not enough not to commit adultery, but to educate ourselves in purity of heart and mind and avoid the least occasion of sin. It is not enough not to take false oaths but to cultivate integrity, sincerity and faithfulness; we must be men and women of our word.

It is therefore obvious that Jesus invites us to go further, to go beyond “the wisdom of this age”, to use the words of Saint Paul in the second reading. But to embrace the “wisdom of God” that is revealed to us in the Gospel, that is, the way of Jesus. It is a radical choice and often difficult to make but that leads to freedom. Jesus invites us to look at our interior disposition, into our hearts in whatever we do. For we often regret the consequences of some of our choices, and unfortunately blame God or others for the misfortunes that result from our ouwn choices. Thus, Ben Sirach reminds us that each of us is free and responsible for his choices and actions.

Reflecting on man’s free will and responsibility, Ben Sirach says that (i) man is free to choose good or evil, and (ii) to choose good is to make the best choice which leads to happiness and life. There are therefore two ways which are constantly open before us: the path of good which leads to happiness, to a life of eternal bliss with God, and the path of evil which leads to unhappiness, sadness and death. In a confident prayer, let us ask the Lord to grant us the grace to always choose the path of good so that one day we may enter into eternal life. Amen

FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR A

Isaiah 58:7-10

Psalm 111

1 Corinthians 2:1-5

Matthew 5:13-16

SALT AND LIGHT

“You are the salt of the earth ... You are the light of the world.” These are Jesus’ words to his disciples in today’s gospel passage, taken from his sermon on the mount. Salt and light are two familiar images; and yet Jesus uses them to reveal the identity and mission of Christians in the world. Among the multiple functions of salt, it is mainly used for flavouring and for preserving food. Light, on the other hand, reveals the beauty of the world and the beings that inhabit it, and preserves them from living in darkness (Matt. 5:13-16).

What is common to these two ordinary elements is that they do not exist for themselves, but for others. For example, salt gives flavour to food by disappearing, by dissolving. Thus, being “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world” is tantamount to living for others, and serving them in discretion, in self-effacement, in humility to the glory of God. And this is what Jesus did when he offered himself on the cross for us. 

Accordingly, St Paul tells the Corinthians that proclaiming the mystery of God to them as revealed in Jesus Christ, he resolved to know nothing among them except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. For this mystery is a scandal to human logic and is to be communicated not so much in persuasive words or rhetoric or philosophical arguments, but through concrete ways of living in the power of God (1 Cor. 2:1-5). Moreover, according to the prophet Isaiah, being sensitive to the needs of others is a manifestation of God’s presence. In other words, concrete gestures of mercy, justice, love, sharing and generosity towards others, especially towards the needy, attract the favour, healing and closeness of God (Is. 58:7-10).  

As such, today’s message is addressed to each one of us. If there is much growing neglect for the poor and the needy, corruption, social injustices, unhealthy competition, conflicts, etc., in our world today, it is because we Christians are not conscious of our mission, or better still we have failed, to be “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world.” As Pope Paul VI rightly said “Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses.” It is therefore time to be more conscious of this and pray to God to grant us the grace so as to be his authentic witnesses. Amen

PRESENTATION OF THE LORD

Malachi 3:1-4

Hebrews 2:14-18

Luke 2:22-40

Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple which occurred forty days after the birth of Jesus. So it is an extension of Christmas joy. This feast offers us many lessons and avenues for mediation, of which I would like to highlight four: the feast of consecration, light, encounter and the love of God.

First, according to the Law of Moses, "every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord." Thus, the parents of Jesus came not only for the purification of Mary but also to consecrate Jesus to the Lord in accordance with the Law. We too through our baptism have been consecrated to God. And for us priests, men and women religious, this consecration has become an offering of our whole life to God. This is why since 1997, February 2nd has become the Day for Consecrated Life. So, let us thank God for this wondrous gift and renew our consecration to God by asking him the grace of fidelity.

Second, the feast of light. Taking the infant Jesus in his arms, Simeon praised God, recognizing in this little child not only the long-awaited Messiah but also as the light for revelation to the nations and glory for his people Israel. Again, the liturgy of today provides for a procession with candles at the beginning of the celebration. All this tells us that Jesus Christ is the Light of the world, the rising Sun over the entire universe. We are therefore invited to walk with him, and to keep our lights of good works burning for the glory of God.

Third, it is the feast of Encounter. The prophet Malachi in the first reading tells us that the Lord is sending his messenger to prepare his way, and suddenly he will come to his temple. The gospel highlights this encounter: Jesus the Messiah comes to meet his people, represented by the old man Simeon and the prophetess Anna. These two recognized him and announced him to all with enthusiasm. It is the fulfillment of the Old Testament promises. May God’s promises be fulfilled in our lives.

Finally, the second reading tells us that Jesus the Son of God has become like us his brothers. He has become the merciful and worthy High Priest in our relationship with God. The whole mystery of Christmas is there: God identifies himself with men. God undergoes trial to help those in trial. It is the expression of God’s love for us. Therefore, let us celebrate this feast with grateful hearts and ask God the grace to remain faithful to him. Amen