Reflection - 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time (19/10/2014)

God is one and there is no other. Therefore, we must give to God, what is God's.

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus says to return to Ceaser what is Ceaser's, and to God what is God's. The Denarius had Ceaser's image, hence it had to be returned to Ceaser. However, as humans, we are imprinted in the image of God. Hence, we must give ourselves to God by working out God's plans and mission in this world.

Reflection - 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time (28/9/2014)

The scriptures of this Sunday tell us that we are valued and judged by what we actually do rather than what we say we will do.
Through the parable of the two sons, we are taught that deeds are what matter and not just the words.

Reflection - 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (7/9/2014)

The scriptures of the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time tell us that we should act out of love for others. Our love for others would not let us bring harm to them. However, not harming them alone is not enough. We should also correct our brothers and sisters who have done wrong.

We may not tell our neighbor that they have done wrong in fear of conflict and thinking that we may not be accepted by others for trying to correct them. But, we are called to stand for what we believe in and should help others see the path of right.

The Second Coming

When the second coming of our Lord is nigh, those who have lived a life worthy of rewards from the heaven will be joyful and hopeful. However, those who have lived a life which will bring judgement and maybe eternal punishment the feeling will be that of fear, trepidation and anxiety.

The gospels say that we should not be deceived by those who appear to preach the signs of the coming of the Lord, for only the Lord himself knows the time. We need to keep ourselves prepared for whenever that time is - so that we can joyfully and hopefully wait for the event of the coming.

Salvation is for all

During the time of Jesus, the people believed that salvation belonged only for the chosen ones. Jesus made it clear in Luke 13:22-30, that salvation and entrance into the Kingdom is universal and that it belongs to all people from all over the world.
Jesus preaches to strive to enter the Kingdom through the narrow door - which is the way of the cross. To enter into eternal life, it is not enough that we recognize Jesus, but it is more important that Jesus recognizes us. And Jesus recognizes by our love for one another.

Open Ourselves to God's Plans

Thoughts from the liturgy of the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle B)
Being passionate over worldly indulgences and being selfish leads to losing our true relationship with God. Our worldly passions and selfishness upset the plans that God has for the world through each one of us. The grace of god will not be with us, when we start following the orders of this world for own selfish gains.St.James tells us that we do not receive what we ask for, because we ask them for the wrong reasons, that is, for our own passions and selfishness.

Go Prophesize!

In the new testament, Jesus sent out his disciples in pairs granting them the authority to preach the word of God, to drive out demons and to cure the sick. Likewise in the old testament, Amos, who was an ordinary shepherd was chosen by God to be a prophet. He was sent out to prophesize in the King's sanctuary, despite being rebuked by the King and and the King's priests.
Let us ask for graces from God that we may understand the type of calling that he has set out for us. So that we may help spread the Kingdom of God in our neighborhoods and societies through our words and actions which befit a Catholic.