Gold among Pyrite

As part of my spiritual routine, I would take a portion of my time every day to contemplate the day’s missal. So for this post, I decided to write down my thoughts on the readings several weeks back on Monday, the 19^th week in Ordinary Time (readings were in the order of: Ezekiel 1:2-5,24-28; Psalm 148:1-2,11-14; and Matthew 17:22-27).

The setting of the first reading took place several years after the fall of Jerusalem and the Jewish exile to Babylon. Around this period, a priest named Ezekiel had a vision in which he beheld the glory of God:

“Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord.” 

(Ezekiel 2:28)

I would like to stress that this took place in what can be considered as dark times, when the Israelites were under Babylonian rule, and the former were given a significant amount of time to chip away their hope of reclaiming their sovereignty. Their Temple was ransacked, their identity was being destroyed, and the people were scattered throughout the region.

Yet in these turbulent circumstances, God chose to reveal Himself to a relatively insignificant priest by a river in Chaldea. Not something he – or anyone – would have expected, what more in a foreign land away from Holy City. Yet when the will of men seem greatest, God’s glory glows in the backdrop, though not everyone will be able to glimpse its flame behind the veil. Ultimately, His glory will prevail; the curtain will be caught by an all-consuming fire: the righteous faithful with fire the Holy Spirit, while the unrepentant to the fire of Hell.

In the opening lines of the day’s Gospel, Jesus informed His disciples that He would be subjected to the powers of men and be put to death. His disciples were so distraught, that to a man they seemed to overlook His immediate follow through, “‘…He will be raised on the third day.’”

Often I observe that people (myself included) focus on the events of the world, and how corruption and evil seem to prevail. In fact, at one time I myself developed a habit of inquiring who died the moment someone brought in a newspaper/newsfeed, as death and disasters seem like a commonplace nowadays. I do not believe I am the only one; it is difficult to remain optimistic when the world seem to revel showering us with depressing news. Worse, we seem to embrace it – ask ourselves which seem more likely to catch our eye: A donates $ amount to charity or B killed N amount of people in a school? Which of the two are likely to be on mainstream headlines?

Yet as Christians we are called not to lose to hope but to keep faith. As our Lord said in John 15:19, we do not belong to this world – God picked us out specifically to be part of His flock. As such, though the world may be in darkness, we carry within us a light that can illuminate the world. For within us dwell the Holy Spirit, God’s very Person Himself, in the temple of our bodies (1 Corinthians 6:19).

This theme of God’s hidden glory in the world is also present in the second part of the Gospel. The collectors of the Temple tax came to Peter, inquiring whether Jesus had paid the half shekel, as was required by the Rabbis then. What they did not realise was that they should be paying the tribute to Jesus Himself! They intended to collect an earthly offering for the divine from the One who is Divine, who came to and for the world. Even Peter, who had earlier proclaimed Him as the Christ back in Matthew 16:16, did not fully grasp the significance and authority of Jesus from his reply in Matthew 17:25. Unlike the man in Matthew 13:44, they did not recognise the hidden treasure dug up in the field.

There is a saying, “there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.” This is especially meaningful in Christianity, whose faith hinges on the hope of the second Coming of our Lord. Even in the darkest night, the hidden stars never cease to shine above the clouds, and dawn never fails to come after.

All that is gold does not glitter,

Not all those who wander are lost;

The old that is strong does not wither,

Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

- J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

RFG always.

Prejudiced Pretext

A few weeks back a former classmate of mine (let us call her A) posted a picture on Facebook, containing an extract from the Bible and Quran respectively (see below).  

Her opening comment basically asserted Islam as a religion of peace, denying it as a terrorist sect, while implying Christianity as the culprit of violence.

Naturally, when a person posts sensitive or controversial topics – while at the same time having acquaintances from different backgrounds and beliefs –, he/she is bound to attract attention and – most likely – feedback. Thus it came as no surprise when another former classmate (B) responded, citing a number of verses from the Quran that seemingly supported violence, and arguing that Christians do not follow the Old Testament but the New Testament laws.

This is where it got interesting to me. A’s response was that the verses cited by B were taken out of context and distorted by anti-Islamists to support their own propaganda. She then took one of B’s quoted verses and explained at some length the reason and meaning behind it.

What she did not realise however, was that the very words she wrote spoke against her! She admonished others about others about taking isolated verses and using it as a pretext, when she herself was guilty of committing that very act for Exodus 22:20.  I could not help but point it out to A, explaining that Exodus 22:20 was concerning apostasy exclusively among Jews – and that similar writings have been recorded in the Hadith (regarded in Islam as the second most important book after the Quran). As a closing, I added that I was willing to discuss more on matters concerning other faiths in order to deepen my understanding of their beliefs.

During this episode, there were two things that bothered me (other than those already mentioned above). The first was the reactions it received. Within a span of a few hours, the original post garnered a significant number of likes from Muslims (all who I believe were from my country). This goes to show that there are many who would immediately seize any reason to support their own agenda – no matter how flimsy it is –, even in a supposedly professed moderate and multi-religious nation. No need to delve further in the issue – after all, the verse is there for all to see and compare. I mean, why waste time and complicate matters as long as I have proven my point, right?

The second was the aftermath of my reply. The very next day, the first post to show up on my news feed was by A:

Some may take this as her growing maturity in being sensitive and respecting other religions, but I see it differently. By responding in this manner, there are several implications which I can draw in contrary to the above opinion.

Firstly, removing the post without any mention of the aforementioned topic showed that she had no intention to discuss nor think of it any further. Let us just put it out of our minds and not dwell on the issue any longer. No one gets worked up and everybody is happy, right?

Correction: picking this path shows you are unwilling to learn and make an effort to understand the many different faiths around you. Could this be due to misguided fear? Of, perhaps, damaging relationships? Triggering a retribution? Offending others? A misunderstanding of some sort? Maybe it is too much hassle? More likely, it is a combination of all, some more than others.

Deep down, I believe the major reason people choose to this option is the fear of truth. J.K. Rowling deliberated on this concept, writing in the voice of Hermione, “Dumbledore says people find it far easier to forgive others for being wrong than being right” (Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince).

It is not easy to let go of one’s pride and foundation, to admit your errors, re-examine and perhaps re-correct one’s thoughts or behaviours. No one likes to be in the wrong. That has ever been part human nature since the time of Adam right up till today, and will remain so for future generations until the Day of Judgment.

This act, rather than demonstrating maturity, displays callowness in the person. When a difficult or unpleasant issue arises, he/she closes his/her eyes rather than confronting it. Real growth is marked by the ability to overcome obstacles. Conversely, running from a problem shows that one is unwilling to change.

Another issue arising from removing the post was that it impeded any effort put in in fostering harmony and understanding of the different religions around us, thus keeping presumptions about other faiths. I cannot foresee A’s actions down the road (only the Lord knows), but I doubt those who took this preventive step would be disposed in discussing similar topics in future. Sadly, many people have this sort of mentality. Which is a pity really; we could have learnt so much from and about one another, even acquiring insights that we may have overlooked from our own sheltered upbringing.

If all of us would set aside our preconceptions and take some time to get to know one another and our respective beliefs, I believe much of the world’s conflicts can be avoided. Just how many arguments, discriminations and wars have been carried out under the banner of religion? As intelligent and civilised beings we ought to be, perhaps it is high time we open our eyes and live up to that description, instead of jumping to whatever catches our fancy and ignoring views which run contrary to ours.

“We must love them both, those whose opinions we share and those whose opinions we reject, for both have laboured in the search for truth, and both have helped us in finding it.”

(Saint Thomas Aquinas)

RFG always.

Redemption’s Death

When I was young, I was taught that, after we die, we will ultimately end up either in Heaven or Hell for all eternity. There will be no second chances once our life on this world ends – either we make it or break it. As I started being exposed to various thoughts and opinions however, I began to question the issues surrounding this statement.

Back in Sunday school, the teachers used to emphasise on how loving and merciful God is, sending His only begotten Son to die for our sins that we may be saved. At the same time, we were given a set of rules which can essentially be summed up as “how to be a good person”. Though seldom explicitly stated, it was somewhat implied that if we go against those rules, we will wind up in Hell. This had me wondering, if our God is slow to anger and abundant in mercy, why is a person not entitled for that same grace after his/her life here ends? 

I believe the answer lies in one of the very first gift that God bestowed on humankind – free will. In our life here, we can choose whether or not to respond to God’s call. This freedom I believe extends even after we pass from this world. However, I also believe this will not change the outcome.

Think about it. We are given our lifetime here to make our choice to follow Him. Even at the last second, that instant before a suicide hits the ground, the moment he/she repents, the person is saved. 

But for those who refuse to turn to God in this life, could they will truly repent once they pass the place of Judgment? Here on earth, the Church militant tirelessly holds out her hand while battling the forces of evil, in order to save the lost in this world. Upon (physical) death however, the saints would be gathered up into heaven; who then, among the holy ones would be around to pick us up? When the wheat is separated from the chaff, and righteous taken to Heaven, who will still be able to witness to those who remained behind? In the valley where even a spark of good is denied, how are we to ever hope to climb out of that chasm if we had turned our backs at the time when the beacon of light was still present in our midst?

This is a solemn reminder to myself, that if I cannot overcome the temptations as well as my reluctance to call upon His grace in this God given life, I will not be able to do so even if given a hundred more. Just how many times have I told myself that I would get my act together immediately, only to let it flicker out right after? There will come a time when I will have to answer for what I have done, and failed to do. If, even with the support and encouragement of His people I choose to deny the grace of God, what more in a place devoid of it?

RFG always.

Persist in Prayer 2

Awhile back I wrote on how one should always persevere in prayer, even under trying circumstances. The post was actually a slight deviation from what I originally intended to put out, influenced by the events I went through that time.  

For this entry, I would like to emphasise again the need to persevere in prayer, but on a slightly different ground. That is, pray even if you do not have the feeling to pray. Entreat the Lord even if you do not see the significance in it. And, by extension, worship Him with the traditions handed down by the Church, even if you do not fully comprehend or commit to it.

We can all learn a thing or two from 1 Samuel 3:1-10. Merely a boy at that time, I highly doubt he could fully grasp the significance of his duties in the temple. Even more so, when the Word of the Lord first came to him, he did not immediately recognize it. Yet though he did not know nor comprehend what was happening, he persisted in answering and was ultimately chosen by the Lord.

I think it is imperative to know that the Lord oft chooses those who do not understand, and commissions those who do not fully comprehend. The desire to see the mystery and wisdom they glimpsed drove the Wise men to seek the Babe in the stable. The simpleness and lack of understanding of the shepherds and the Apostles allowed the angels and later the Holy Spirit to illuminate their path and fill that void within them. The fact is that, only when we empty ourselves can the Holy Spirit fill us with His wisdom. It was because the Scribes and Pharisees’ arrogance of their wisdom and understanding of Scripture that blinded them to the Word Incarnate, and prevented the Holy Spirit from entering their hearts.

A common example is that children may not understand what their parents are doing, but that does not mean the latter’s actions have no meaning on the children’s future, welfare or lives. When I was young, I could not understand why my mum would prioritise holding onto a lost child at the same spot until his mother arrived, over my intention to quickly return home and watch Dragon Ball. Nor did I grasp the significance when she told me not to stare directly at the sun as it would spoil my eyes. Similarly, the Apostles, disciples and crowds did not grasp (initially) the meaning of Christ’s coming and healing works and miracles, yet to those who were destined to be saved, it made a great impact in their lives.

How Isaac must have felt when he laid upon the altar, about to be sacrificed by his own father. Yet from there sprouted God’s promise of descendants as many “as the stars of heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore”. How Joseph must lamented his misery when his brothers chucked him in the well, especially given his dreams that he would be standing above them. Yet God raised him to a high position in Pharaoh’s court. How Naaman must have snorted when he was told to bathe in the river 7 times. Yet he did so, and was healed. How Peter balked when Christ told him He has to suffer on the Cross. Yet he would come to fully appreciate it on the day of the Apostle's own death. How we ourselves would initially have, and still may continue to feel when Jesus said we are to love Him more than our parents, and to give up everything in order to enter Heaven, what more saying that to small children. Yet, we know it is the Lord that blessed us with all these.

Why should we lay hands when commissioning? Why should we go for confession? Why partake in the Eucharist every Sunday? Why abstain from meat on Fridays? Why make the sign of the Cross before prayer? Why pray to Mary and the Saints? Why pray for the souls of the dead? Why, why, why…

I am not advocating to simply swallow and repeat everything as it is. It is always meaningful to know the significance of the things we believe and the actions we perform. Yet at times the answers given may not wholly satisfy us. Even if it is logically sound, our heart may not necessarily accept what we hear. A rational answer may sometimes be overwritten by rousing speeches – much politics sadly work that way. And never forget that faith transcends human rationale.

Besides, trying to find the answers to all the mysteries of the God and His works is akin to attempting to uncover all the secrets of the universe. We need not even look that far. In the highly objective and factual field of Science and Engineering, after years of research and application, we still cannot pinpoint all the parameters that affect the motion responses of an object, thus we assign a value that represents it, such as the coefficients of friction, drag and inertia. And just as we finally thought we could wrap up all there is to know, along comes another factor which opens up a new branch to many other questions. Continuing from the example of motion responses, I am referring to the relatively recent studies on vortex induced vibrations (VIV). But I digress. The point is, if we cannot completely grasp the knowledge of physical nature, how much more impossible it is then, to fully unearth the mysteries of God.

This struggle is not uncommon. Legend has it that Saint Augustine, while contemplating on the mystery of the Holy Trinity along the seashore, met a young boy filling a seashell with seawater and emptying into a hole in the sand. As the boy continued this routine, the bishop asked, “Son, what are you doing?” to which the former replied, “I am emptying the sea into this hole.” Naturally one cannot fault the bishop for exclaiming, “That is impossible!” But upon hearing that, the boy merely replied, “I will sooner empty the sea into this hole than you will be able to grasp the mystery of the Holy Trinity.”

(St Augustine, by Władysław Wankie)

Saint Thomas Aquinas was another theologian of great intellect whose writings greatly influenced the formation of the Catholic Church today. Near the end of his life he underwent a mystical experience and immediately ceased his writings. His associate Reginald recorded him saying, “…all that I have written seems like straw to me.” These men were prominent teachers blessed with great wisdom, who spent much of their life in earnest study on the Word of God. Yet they barely managed to scrape the tip of the iceberg.

So will we truly come to understand everything we do when it comes to our faith? For myself, the point of life is not to reach the end, but the journey to reach the end. Similarly, I may never be able to fully grasp the significance in my lifetime; even so, I can grow to appreciate more and more as I continue to observe and ponder upon it. Just as humans will never ever be able to comprehend the depths of God’s love, but the faithful undertake the journey anyhow, that they may catch a glimpse of it in this life, and one day come to bask in its fullness.

 “And He said, ‘The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed upon the ground, and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he does not know how. The earth produces of itself, first the blade, then the ear then the full grain of the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because harvest has come.’”

(Mark 4:26-29)

RFG always.

Pride and Forgiveness

Forgiveness is a major theme in the Bible. From the Old right up to the New Testament, Scripture recorded numerous examples of God’s abundant mercy to His people: Israel’s complaints during the Exodus, David’s adultery with Bathsheba, the people of Nineveh and Christ’s Passion on the Cross are just a few sweets in a jar. Throughout the ages, every time the people turn back for forgiveness, God is always there to pardon them from sin.

Today it has become a norm for Christians to ask forgiveness in our prayer. Perhaps it has always been that way since ages past. Either way, it seems so easy for us to ask for forgiveness from God, much like giving a morning greeting to our acquaintances.

Yet why is it so difficult to apologise to people? Why is it that our pride hinders us from uttering a sincere “sorry” even when we are in the wrong? This made me recall to mind Matthew 5:23-24. Something we should all keep in mind in these scenarios.

Should we not ask ourselves: are we truly seeking God’s forgiveness every time we pray, if we cannot bring ourselves to ask forgiveness from those we wronged? Do we hide behind the fact that “God is all-knowing and knows my heart”? Well, those very words seem to ring hollow here. Is it the fact that God is not physically present (in the worldly sense), and thus we are somehow detached in our prayer? Or is our attention when praying occupied elsewhere that it can easily be blown from memory, like dried leaves in an autumn wind?

I feel like I am beginning to grasp bit by bit the other side of Luke 17:4. It is not easy to swallow one’s pride to ask for forgiveness. It is not easy to even look at the person in question in the eye. The drive to such can only come from a person who is either extremely thick-skinned about their actions, or is truly repentant and trying to make amends.

As I reflect upon it, I find it astounding that humans would rather keep their arms crossed than to lower their heads to repair the relationship. So much can be mended, yet often we choose to throw away this opportunity for the sake of “keeping face”. We rather brood for ages and come up with a multitude of justifications than to spend a brief moment for reconciliation. Yes, we will keep our pride alright, and lose our much more valuable dignity.

And what are the causes of breakdown in relationships? More often than not, they are no more than petty issues and minor misunderstandings. An offhand remark which is taken as an insult. A thoughtless action which upsets the recipient. Yes they may be minor, and to us may not seem to warrant a severing of ties. In that case, why allow such a minor problem be blown into a rift? Should it not be easy – or a minor thing, to make an apology?

Not to say the one wronged is always completely in the right. In some cases, he/she should have spoken up against the act instead of giving the offender a cold shoulder, or worse, plotting revenge. It may be the offender in question is not even aware that their actions hurt the said party. Thus just before Luke 17:4, Christ said that “if your brother sins, rebuke him” (Luke 17:3).

Yet the responsibility mainly lies on the offender who should make the effort to consider what had brought it all the way to this situation. One cannot really expect the insulted to tell it directly to us in our faces, just as one cannot expect a rape victim to willingly speak up. It could even be, at times, the person we think has backstabbed us actually came about because of the way we acted. In the event that he/she abruptly turns aloof for a seemingly significant amount of time, perhaps we should take the initiative to ask what we did to offend them directly. Listen without the intent to offer a comeback. Apologise when they point out your faults. Those who enjoyed your company will respect you, and will be willing to thaw should you display your sincerity.

If we can apologise to God for our sins, so should we be able to apologise to those neighbours we have sinned against. And if we can do that, we will be able to offer up a more sincere apology that will make us right with God, just like the tax collector in Luke 18:13. 

RFG always.

Daily Miracle Diary

From today onwards I shall attempt to keep a record on some of the daily miracles that occurred in my life, at least the ones which shine out to me. This shall be a reminder to myself and for my conviction of the little yet wonderful blessings God has showered my life with.

Today I woke up as usual at 5.48am to prepare myself and take the bus to Church, which leaves around 7am. As I have to submit my conference paper by 15^th March 2016, I would prefer to attend the earlier Mass (8.00am) at Saint Michael’s Church (SMC) located some 20 minutes away by foot from the bus station. Of late I the bus usually reaches its designation slightly later than 7.50am, so I had been attending the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes (OLOL), which starts at 9am.

Today however, the bus arrived 20 minutes before 8, just in time for me to arrive at SMC at the start of the opening hymn. Miracle No. 1.

Before heading my way to Church, I checked the bus schedule at my usual station, which was recently revised. Previously there had been trips at 10.30am, which was the main reason why I went to SMC – just in time for brunch before walking back to the station from Church. I found that there was no bus at earlier than 11.30am, which would defeat the purpose of going to an earlier Mass. However, there were 2 bus stations in the area, and since I was not familiar with their schedule, I decided to take a step in faith after I am done with Church and food.

Right after brunch, I had an urge to shit. I decided to take the dump at the toilet near the bus station. Not long after, the desperation meter increased exponentially. It was too late to turn back then, and there were no toilets in sight. So at the peak of my limit, I said aloud, “By the strength of God, I will arrive at the toilet,” and “By the grace of God, the toilet will be vacant when I arrive.” (Note there was only 1 decently clean toilet in the area) And whadaya know: the crappy urge began to subside, and I was able to make the last 2 to 3 minutes to the toilet. And just as I was a few meters away from my point of interest, out came the previous occupant of the toilet. Talk about perfect timing. Miracle No. 2.

After answering the call of nature, I headed to bus station no. 2, the one whose schedule I was not sure of. When I arrived and asked about the next trip back, I was told it was about to leave in 5 minutes. Miracle No. 3.

Since I have an urgent need to meet my paper deadline (note I have yet to start writing, as my results were faulty), I stopped by my university laboratory/workstation to continue troubleshooting and calibrating my simulations. Managed to find a workaround before the end of the day. Miracle No.4.

Initially the day seemed as though it might rain in the evening; that would be a problem, as I had left my bicycle at the hypermarket, located between my university and my house. Walking from my university to the hypermarket takes approximately 45 minutes, and the subsequent ride back would add another 10 to it. Yet evening saw decently clear sky, and a research mate who came by the laboratory for his own work was kind enough to fetch me to the hypermarket. Thus I was able to make it back safely before 7pm. Miracle No.5.

So ends another blessed day in God.

PS: if possible, it is always good to keep the Sabbath; I substituted mine with Saturday, the day before.

RFG always.

Missal Musings

There are times when daily readings seem to be compatible with our current circumstances. There are also times when the readings seemingly do not connect with us. Then there are times where the readings are neither of the two, but seem to invoke disagreement. That was what happened to me on 8 February 2016, on the night of Chinese New Year. Note the readings were taken from universalis.com (http://www.universalis.com/20160208/mass.htm, though the link is already dead; it was Monday, the fifth week in Ordinary Time).

The first reading was taken from 1 Kings 8:1-7, 9-13. I will omit most of it for brevity’s sake, but would like to highlight the verse that rubbed me the wrong way: “I have built thee an exalted house, a place for thee to dwell forever.”(1 Kings 8:13).

The subsequent Psalm seem to further press this point. Taken from Psalm 131:6-10, paired with its antiphon “Go up, Lord, to the place of your rest!” gave the image of the house of God being confined to a physical place. Since when, was my immediate thought, has God and His Presence been, or to be, confined by man?

The Gospel that day was taken from Mark 6:53-56. Quoting directly from website, “No sooner had they stepped out of the boat than people recognised him, and started hurrying all through the countryside and brought the sick on stretchers to wherever they heard he was.” My immediate thought was: Is Our Lord merely a miracle worker that we go running to Him every time we want a favour, and disappear as soon as we obtain what we want? Did they (and by extension, believers today) not intend to build a close personal relationship with God?

To sum it up, I had issues with all 3 readings, something that has never happened to me before.

When I pondered upon it rationally, the first reading I could explain it away by referring to the culture of the Jews at that time, and being God’s chosen people He dwelled specifically in their midst (in the Ark of the Covenant). In addition, the Jews needed affirmation that God was (especially) there with them.

As for the Gospel, that was how I myself somewhat started off: in need of healing, I came and surrendered to the Lord and His grace and mercy.

Yet with all those in mind, they still did not fill me with conviction and left me wanting for a more satisfactory explanation.

Was it something to do with our heart? Perhaps in the first reading the message is that God looks at the state of one’s heart? Why was I not inspired by God’s abundant grace and mercy in those passages?

I found my answers in the following day’s reading: 1 Kings 8:22-23,27-30; Psalm 83:3-5,10-11 (with the response “How lovely is your dwelling-place, Lord, God of hosts.”); Mark 7:1-13. Another reminder that I should always read and consider a passage or an event in its entirety.

Continuing from where it left off, Solomon clearly put it in the first reading, “The heavens and their own heavens cannot contain you. How much less this house that I have built!” This verse suggests the house was not built for the sake as God’s physical residence; rather it served a reminder to his people, to look towards God at all times, to look to him in all sincerity, and that He is always near us. Such allusion can be found further back in the first book of Scripture: the Spirit of God wanders throughout the universe, yet He stopped to take pleasure in Abel’s offerings. Just as Abel offered the firstborn of his flock, in the same way the Temple which Solomon built was meticulously made, with the finest materials and craftsmen, and dedicated with offerings and sacrifices. Thus it was a symbol to the Israelites to dedicate themselves wholly to the Lord.

As Solomon continued his prayer in the reading, the Temple was not a device contain God, but as a house dedicated to God, his prayer was rather that God may pay special attention to it, just as He had for Abel’s offering, to watch over His chosen people. Years later Jesus would say, “For where two or three are gathered in My Name, there am I in the midst of them (Matthew 18:20).”

As for the Psalm, rather than the literal “Go up, Lord, to the place of your rest!” of the previous day, since God’s special attention is present there, it is rather for our sake, for us to dwell in his lovely presence. Similarly in this age as we have Adoration in Churches today before the Blessed Sacrament, before the Real Presence nonetheless.

Comparing the Gospel readings of the two days, on one hand you have the people coming to Him for healing; on the other people who come to Him to find some fault. God would rather us come as the former, for they at least have faith in Him (else He could perform no miracle – Mark 6:5-6), while the latter continue to doubt till their deathbeds. At the very least those that come to rely on Him, the seed which received the waters of grace may have opportunity to grow. After all, the hungry are more receptive if you feed them before preaching. Humans tend to seek fulfilment of their immediate needs before moving on to other matters.

Though the Gospel explanation did not fully satisfy me; then again, perhaps the whole exercise is a reminder to myself, that the house I built for God is not to be made by human hands that would one day collapse but in my heart, a heart always sincere for Him. That I came to Him in need of healing, and being made well to nourish this relationship I have with Him, taking it to a more personal level each day, instead of some dry daily habit.

As I review back what I have written, my initial reasoning and subsequent explanation from the following day’s reading are not so different – or rather, very similar to each other, perhaps just differently phrased and expounded. Yet somehow, the latter seemed more convincing to me than my initial reasoning. I guess it goes to show that an answer, once personalised is far more impactful than a straight and “precise” one.

RFG always.