Stay Alert To See the Needs of Neighbour 經常留意近人的需要

First Advent Sunday, Year C
Theme: Stay Alert To See the Needs of Neighbour

For me, purple is not only a cold colour, but it also conveys a gloomy mood which is exactly what many people are feeling since 2019. It never rains but pours. When the social unrest subsided, pandemic erupted. In fact, we’re not so sure whether the social unrest has truly subsided. Perhaps it is hibernating! No wonder our northern neighbour, who prefer overkill to oversight, imposes overdoses of security measures to nip future unrest in its bud! When the developed countries are talking about the third vaccination while many underdeveloped countries are not able to afford the first, a new strain of more infectious COVID-19 virus comes on stage … If this is a narration of an Advent Season, it is truly a rather long season. Despite the gloomy outlook ahead, I meet many pregnant ladies on my way to work. I wonder where their faith in the future comes from. Then, it dawns to me that the tribulations before the end are birth pangs which prophets of the Old Testament, e.g. (Isaiah 13:8, Jeremiah 13:21) as well as St. Paul (Romans 8:22, Galatians 4:19) like referring to. Therefore, we shouldn’t focus on the pains and labour at the moment. Instead, we should listen to the advice of John and gaze in hope to the joy at the end. “When a woman is in labour, she is in anguish because her hour has arrived; but when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the pain because of her joy that a child has been born into the world.” (John 16:21)

On this first Advent Sunday, I would like to meditate on this verse taken from the gospel passage today, “Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise” (Luke 21:34). Many moralists have already pointed out that pains and sufferings are indispensable for our survival. For example, after enumerating a list of successful historical figures, Mencius drew the conclusion that “life springs from sorrow and calamity, and death from ease and pleasure.” (Mencius, II Gao Zi) We still agree with this ancient wisdom as one of our modern aphorisms goes, “No pain, no gain”. However, perhaps life has been too easy for this generation. The last World War ended more than seven decades ago and world economy has since been very vibrant. The living standard of most people on earth keeps improving. Had this pandemic not come uninvited, the market would have been extremely bullish. Making money has never been so easy. Pains seem to be something which could only unearthed in the past … Thus, many governments are caught unprepared to deal with the outbreak of this pandemic which is indeed a surprise and a wakeup call for all of us.

Brought up in this post-war era, seeking pleasure and avoiding pains seem to be natural human dispositions for these two generations of people. Who on earth would enjoy and actively seek pains unless one is a masochist, isn’t it? By definition, a masochist/sadist is a pervert and therefore, these behaviours and attitudes are culturally disapproved. So how can we blame people who seek relief and refuge in becoming an alchoholic, a workaholic and in substance abuses? They have never gone through sufferings in famines and wars. How do they come to know the survival values of calamities? Poor humanity, they have become so fragile. When suicide rates go hand in hand with economic prosperity, social scientists deny it and explain it away. After tasting the sweetness of affluence, who wants to go back to poverty? This is exactly what Christians of modern era have to battle against. Doesn’t Jesus Christ make poverty the very first Beatitude (Matthew 5:3)? Regrettably, even though Pope Francis claims that the Beatitudes are the identity card of Christians (Gaudete et Exsultate #63), who cares?

Being Christ’s ambassadors of reconciliation on earth (2 Corinthians 5:19-20), we shall keep on discharging our duties even if our proclamation falls on deaf ears. Very commandable indeed! But when we proclaim the good news to people that God is not counting their trespasses against them, are we able to inspire hope in those who are desperate and seek refuge in substance abuses or the like? One of the reasons for people to restort to substance abuses and the like is to fill their interior void. When people reject God, nothing on earth is able to fill up this inner black hole! What can we do? There are also people who believe in God but are unable to tolerate God’s schedules. They see bad things happening to good people. They witness prisons filled up with political prisoners but God seems not to notice or care. They can no longer take their faith in God seriously because justice is not seen done! If you try to explain to them that Jesus Christ shall judge the living and dead at the end of the world, they want to see immediate vengeance instead! Modern men are brought up in advanced technology. They take speed and convenience for granted. Patience, which agricultural societies demanded, is in short supply. “There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens” (Ecclesiastes 3:1) is alien to them. Immediate gratification of wants is the norm rather than the exception. How can we blame these people when they take justice to mean vengeance and prefer condemnation to reconciliation?

Lord, I really don’t know how to proceed because there is no turning back to agricultural societies. Nowadays, even agriculture is technological advanced to produce greater yields. How do we cultivate the virtues of long-suffering and hope among these impatent people? From afflictions! St. Paul’s famous exhortation is relevant here. He says, “Affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, and hope does not disappoint.” (Romans 5:3-5) We have come a full circle and returned to the survival value of pains and sufferings. Of course, modern people may not buy the wisdom of St. Paul or Mencius because they were brought up in an era of immediate gratification and convenience. Where else can we turn? It seems that we have run out of all options.

Brethren! In His ineffable wisdom, God leaves us signs to remind us of His merciful presence. On the 33^rd Sunday, we meditated on the theme of “The poor you will always have with you” (Mark 14:7) In fact, despite improvements in the living standard of most people, poverty stares us down and teases our advances in modern technology which have failed miserably to eradicate poverty. By turning our attention to the needy instead of turning to ourselves, we may have the opportunity to see clearly our own inadequacy. By staying alert always to the needs of our neighbour, we may be able to liberate ourselves from egoism and humbly seek repentance. Let poverty be our guide to steer us away from despair and keep hoping in God’s redemption.
God bless!
2015 Reflection
Photo credit: scmp.com

Advent Is A Season of Anticipation

Advent Is A Season of Anticipation

Probably you have read His Eminence, Cardinal John Tong’s Advent message. He should have been happily retired had His Excellency, the late Bishop Michael Yeung not suddenly died in January 2019. His Eminence has gone through an extremely long season of Advent as the Apostolic Administrator of the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong until the consecration of His Excellency, Bishop Stephen Chow, S.J. of Hong Kong on December 4, 2021.

Traditionally, Advent is an anticipatory season like Lent. The liturgical colour is rather gloomy --- purple. But don’t worry. Brightness is just around the corner. Christ the Holy Infant is the morning star at the dawn of our salvation. Before that, Jews were living in the dark age of captivity: Babylonian, Persian, Greek and finally Roman. After some thirty years, Jesus emerged from Nazareth where people didn’t expect anything good to come (John 1:46). His public ministry reached climax at His crucifixion on the cross, the darkest moment in human history but in the small hours of the very first Easter Sunday, Christ outshone the darkness of death like trillions of trillions suns and came back to life! At the end of history, Christ the King of the Universe shall come again in majestic glory to judge the living and the dead. Yes, darkness does not last!

Therefore, not only do we prepare for the birth of our Saviour during Advent, but we also prepare for the Second Coming of Christ the King. The liturgical setting of the Church arranges the first two weeks in anticipation of His Second Coming, not the first. This is an ingenious decision because the coming of Christ is always unexpected. Surely, nobody knows when the world shall end, nor when one shall die. But who would expect the Saviour of the world, the champion who would defeat Satan, to be born a nobody? The worst of all, Christ found no room to receive Him (Luke 2:7).

Brethren, we spend weeks, if not months, to prepare for throwing a birthday party/wedding banquet. By how do we prepare and to make room for the coming of our Saviour and King? We don’t have to worry about how to throw a party in heaven because we are not yet there. Rather, we should worry about whether we have thrown away the invitation card which God gives us! God forces nobody to join Him but He generously invites all to partake in His eternal life and glory. Thus, we should worry about whether we have prepared a good enough wedding garment to join the heavenly banquet (Matthew 22:12)! It would be pitiful if we would be rejected at the gate of heaven by St. Peter in full sight of all the souls present. The advice of Pope Francis is simple. The invitation/identity card of Christians is the Beatitudes (Gaudete et Exsultate #63). Deacon’s advice is even simpler. Pray, read the gospel, stay alert to see who needs help and act.

Together with the people of Hong Kong, His Eminence, Cardinal John Tong has gone through an advent of more than 34 months. All of us have! Has our faith vanished? Are we still anticipating the good Lord to manifest His justice? Are we helping the needy (Matthew 25:40) and acting as Christ's ambassadors of reconciliation in this world (2 Corinthians 5:19-20)? Be assured that our King and Lord shall come to reward all those who listen, follow and persevere. God bless! Amen!

HOMESTEAD 2021 Nov. edition

My Kingdom Does Not Belong To This World 我的國不屬於這世界

Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ King of the Universe, Year B
Theme: My Kingdom Does Not Belong To This World

When Pilate interrogated Jesus for treason charges, asking Him whether He was the king of the Jews, the Lord gave Pilate an opportunity to confess if he truly believes so (John 18:34).
Pilate was under pressure. On one hand, he had lost favour before Caesar and was assigned a difficult job of governing a turbulent province: Judaea. He needed the chief priests to support the Roman colonial rule and Pilate knew that they handed Jesus over out of jealousy (Mark 15:10). On the other hand, he has the responsibility to enforce Roman justice, at least to show that Roman laws were impartial. It was a dilemma. Taking the chief priests’ side went against Roman justice and was immoral. Opposing them would lose their support. Pilate tried hard to get off the hook and the rest is history.

When Jesus asks Pilate if he truly believes that He is the king of the Jews, Pilate declares his neutrality/impartiality and continues to press for evidence, “What have you done?” (John 18:35) As usual, Jesus answers in an off-topic manner, speaking of “kingdom” three times in order to give Pilate the “evidence” he needs to incriminate Him. “My kingdom does not belong to this world…” (18:36) and in the end, Pilate could only wash his hands in the sight of the crowd to declare his own innocence of Jesus’ blood (Matthew 27:24).

We Catholics are called and chosen to be a “royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of God” (1 Peter 2:9) Jesus Christ came and invited us to join His kingdom. We Catholics have accepted His invitation and thus, regret to say, we possess dual nationaly: the earthly state as well as the kingdom of Heaven. We need to obey two different sets of laws: the local laws and the Canon Law of the Church. Therefore, most of the time, we Catholics live in high tension, torn between worldly attitudes and the beatic spirit. I’m not joking because Pope Francis once says, “The Beatitudes are like a Christian’s identity card.” (GE #63) Which means, our baptismal certificate is no admission ticket to heaven. St. Peter shall check how we have led our earthly life in the beatific spirit! Most of the time, it would go against the flow (#65-66)! That’s what I meant when I previously said “we Catholics live in high tension.” Then, let’s meditate what message Jesus wants to tell us with “My kingdom does not belong to this world”.

Though a bit old-fashioned, our understanding of kingdom consists of the concept of space, viz. territory. Naturally we’ll wonder, if Jesus’ kingdom is not of this world, then where?
There could be three possibilities. Jesus’ kingdom would be far-away and other-worldly which has nothing to do with this world. Neither is it Jewish, nor Roman, nor Chinese etc. Most likely, it may be somewhere in the outer space or in some dimensions beyond the usual three! This is not an attractive interpretation because it portrays a God who is all powerful, all knowing and all present. He could create a magnificent universe from void with just a snap of fingers. Yet, there is no way to reach Him, no way to migrate into His kingdom. So, we may forget it.

Or Jesus’ kingdom can be closer and bigger than this world, enveloping it and yet it can still exclude this world. Again, such a kingdom suggests an indifferent, lofty and almighty God who doesn’t care about us, doesn’t bother to relate to us. Do you think you may flourish in such an environment? No thanks. I would not migrate to this kingdom even if it is within reach.

At last, it is possible for Jesus’ kingdom to envelop this world as well as penetrating this world. In other words, Jesus’ kingdom is everywhere, within and without all of us. Thus, Jesus’ ambiguous answer could be a declaration that His kingdom is NOT Jewish as Pilate thinks, but universal. This interpretation agrees with what Catholics always believe because the God we believe in is love (1 John 4:8). Love is inclusive and accepts all. Love offers oneself instead of enslaving others. Thus, love only invites and forces nobody to accept it.

Despite the fact that technologies of transportation, from sailing to flying, from horseback to the internet, have broken down national borders, almost all kingdoms on earth are exclusive. Governments set up regulations to define who are qualified to be their nationals and who are not. This is convenient for greedy and ambitious mandarins because they could easily set up enemies to divert the dissatisfaction and frustration of their subjects. They could abuse the concept of territory to claim natural underground resources which should be shared by all humanity! Consequently and sadly, the world is more fragmented and polarized! Since almost all kingdoms on earth are exclusive, Jesus’ kingdom is unable to find a niche among them. Its invitation to build a kingdom of love and peace on earth has almost always fallen on deaf ears of the people in power. No kingdom on earth is interested to form alliance with Jesus’ kingdom ... No wonder Jesus’ kingdom does not belong to this world.

Brethren! All of us are citizens of Jesus’ kingdom. We can’t afford to lose hope even when the prospect is gloomy! Our king did not give up even when He was hanging on the cross. He has conquered death with resurrection. This is the turning point of the spiritual battle between good and evil, life and death. Like chess, Christ has secured for humanity a winning position and it is up to us to turn this winning position into victory. Our mission is clear, “God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting their trespasses against them and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. So we are ambassadors for Christ.” (2 Corinthians 5:19-20a)

Jesus does not count Pilate’s trespasses. Instead, Jesus gives him opportunities to know the truth. No matter how hard he had tried to get off the hook, Pilate went down into history as the man who failed to uphold justice and condemned Jesus. Pilate’s plight is representative of the contradictions humanity has to face in all ages. Like Pilate, all of us are facing different degrees of dilemma in our daily life. Many of us don’t have the moral courage to take the right actions. Fortunately, we Christians occupy a better position than Pilate did because we acknowledge the kingship of Jesus Christ. Since the Father is pleased to give us the kingdom (Luke 12:32), we are able to proclaim the gospel of reconciliation boldly to bring the Kingdom of Heaven on earth.
God bless!
Picture Credit: widiart.org
2018 Reflection

你們常有窮人同你們在一起 The Poor You Will Always Have With You

5^th World Day of the Poor
Theme: 你們常有窮人同你們在一起 The Poor You Will Always Have With You (Mark 14:7)

In these two years of social unrest and pandemic, we are definitely in need of God’s accompaniment and support. Thus wherever appropriate in prayers or activities, the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong would invoke the idea of Emmanuel: God is with us (Matthew 1:23). Indeed, Emmanuel forms an inclusio for the gospel of Matthew. He brought up the prophecy of Isaiah (Isaiah 7:14) to show that the virginal birth of Jesus is one of the signs showing that He is the Messiah. In the last chapter of Matthew, Jesus pledges that He is with us always until the end of the age (Matthew 28:20). It is truly reassuring and consoling to read Matthew in this light.

Seeing the world around us in the light of faith, we are able to see God in most of the things we encounter. Of course, some are easier to identify while many others are more difficult to discern. For example, it is easier to see sunshine, the air we breathe, beautiful sceneries and good people we meet as signs of God’s loving care. Whereas, it is more challenging to see God in sufferings, in discouraging situations and in developments spinning downwards.
If anything, this pandemic teaches us at least one lesson. Like any virus, the Covid-19 is an indifferent virus like the Spanish Flu and we are going to live with it for ages ahead. First of all, it kills people that we love as well as people that we hate. Therefore, we should not fancy that God sent this virus to punish the world. No, instead this virus exposes a lot of ignorance, hypocrisy, greed and bigotry among peoples and governments. At the outbreak, commoners hoarded surgical masks and medical supplies in frenzy. Governments blame each other for releasing the virus from bio-chemical laboratories. Pharmaceutical giants rush to manufacture inadequately tested vaccinations to occupy the market. Experts relent their scientific objectivity to become consenting megaphones for the states and developed countries impose third vaccination while under-developed countries aren’t even able to deliver the first jab etc. Covid-19 shows how fragile all our social institutions and relations are. Are we able to see God in these failings? What about sufferings? Are we able to see God’s loving care when bad things happen to good people? If God is always with us, so are sufferings! If God is a mystery, so are sufferings! Are we able to see God in poverty, starvation, oppressions and persecutions as well? Let’s not be too ambitious. Meditating on poverty is enough to help us extrapolate our discernment to other areas. Perhaps this is the Pope had in mind when he made “The Poor You Will Always Have With You” (Mark 14:7) the theme of World Day of the Poor 2021.

First of all, we need to recognize that our negative feelings towards poverty could be a consequence of social and perhaps cultural conditioning. Bear in mind that culture/history is handed down to us through people in power who were inevitably rich and powerful enough to put their opinions down in writings. Thus we are fed with ideas which equate successes with health, wealth, longevity and fame. They blamed poverty on the sloth on the part of the poor. Not only are the poor an eyesore for the affluent society, but they are also a burden draining our social security resources. They don’t deserve our love and care because they have no contribution to the society!
Alas! Nowadays, we see that poverty can be a structural evil because many employers are greedy. They make exploitative laws so that many hard-working labourers are not able to feed themselves and their families. At least three things result: many people ignore purity/simplicity, forget about temperance and have turn workaholic. Becoming workaholic creates relational poverty because people spend less quality time with friends and relatives. They may be rich materially but lonely and poor emotionally. Without temperance, people hoard without restrain, fuelling further consumption and affluent spending. Without purity and simplicity, our hearts become congested and leave no room to love God and our neighbour! Powerful people are totally misled and they mislead many others! They are truly blind leaders of the blind (Matthew 15:14)!

Secondly, why did Jesus make poverty the first Beatitude (5:3)? The Son of God is not trying to be revolutionary to turn mundane wisdom upside down. He comes to show us the path returning to the Father. Thus He reveals Himself to be “The way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6). He led a simple life in poverty, free of mundane burdens in full communion with the Father. This is the proper way of life we, who were created in God’s image (Genesis 1:26) should lead. In the Pope’s word, “Jesus teaches that poverty is not the result of fate, but a concrete sign pointing to His presence among us. We do not find him when and where we want, but see him in the lives of the poor, in their sufferings and needs, in the often inhuman conditions in which they are forced to live.” (2021 Message #2)

When Jesus says, “The poor you will always have with you, and whenever you wish you can do good to them, but you will not always have me” (Mark 14:7), you may interpret it as Jesus’ affirmation that poverty is a structural evil created by the rich and powerful. If they wish, they have all the resources required to change the situation. However, their hearts are so congested that they don’t always have the Author of Life, Lord Jesus Christ in them. Therefore, poverty persists … etc.
But when we interpret the text in the Pope’s manner, we may avoid making judgment and condemning people whom we don’t fully know. Yes, the Pope doesn’t deny that poverty is the fruit of structural evil which he does not condone. However, he is one step ahead. Not only is poverty a piece of evidence condemning human greed, but it is also a sign of God’s presence. God doesn’t enjoy the company of the arrogant. He feels more comfortable to dwell among the poor, the needy, the weak and the pure ones. Therefore, we seldom find God among the mighty, but to be sure, we shall be able to find God in the hungry, the thirsty, the naked, the homeless, the sick and the imprisoned (Matthew 25:35-36).

What do you think God is doing among the poor? To accuse us for not loving Him in the poor and improving their situation, thus to condemn us? No. The Devil enjoys accusing us days and night (Revelation 12:20), not Jesus who lives forever to make intercession for us (Hebrews 7:25). Rather, the poor is a reminder to help us recognize our own poverty, if not materially, relationally and spiritually. Beware, the end is near. Do you have sufficient oil in your lamp to meet the bridegroom (Matthew 25:1-12)? When the Lord comes in glory to judge the living and the dead, are you able to tell the King, “My friend, glad to meet you again!”
God bless!
Photo Credit: https://7dayspoverty.hkccla.org.hk/
4^thWorld Day of the Poor

Love the Poor Widow As Yourself 愛窮寡婦如愛你自己

Thirty Second Ordinary Sunday, Year B
Theme: Learn From the Poor Widow

I cherish an unspeakable fondness of this poor widow story. In December 2012 during the election rite to the candidacy of permanent diaconate, my mind was fully infused with this story so much so that I do not remember what gospel passage was read that evening during the ceremony. The good Lord showed his mercy, accepting the meagre “possession” I offered. In fact, whatever I possessed at that moment were all His gifts and throughout the years, I have spent and wasted most of the talentum given me. To be candid, whatever remains is genuinely microscopic. Still, the good Lord is happy to accept my offer and to turn it useful. St. Augustine says it right, “Late have I loved you, beauty so old and so new: late have I love you.” (Confession X)

Before meditating on the poor widow story, let’s tidy up some loose ends. In the previous week, a scribe challenged Jesus what the first commandment was among the 613 laws. Of course it’s a piece of cake for Jesus. But has anybody wondered why Jesus gave two commandments instead of one? Perhaps it’s a professional hazard for me as a retired teacher. When a student gives unasked for answers, we ignore those answers because they waste our time and we will have a bad impression on the student. So, why did Jesus bring up the “Love your neighbour as yourself” commandment (Mark 12:31)?
I opine that this is what Jesus means when He said “I have come not to abolish but to fulfil the law.” (Matthew 5:17) One way to diminish the effectiveness of the law is to compartmentalize it. Disconnect individual laws, erase their interrelationship and very soon, the spirit of the law vanishes. Without its spirit, the law turns into a devouring monster instead of a guardian of justice. See how the religious authority tried to make use of the law to find fault with Jesus. What did Jesus do? He put the two commandments together once more. His beloved disciple captured the Master’s intention well when he wrote, “If anyone says, ‘I love God’ but hates his brother, he is a liar; for whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.” (1 John 4:20) Therefore, nobody is able to love God who is invisible, with all his heart, all his soul, all his mind and all his strength unless he also loves his neighbour who is visible. A hypocrite is able to boast how much he loves the invisible God. Only by loving the visible poor widow can a hypocrite prove that his love is genuine and thus he is not a hypocrite. Unfortunately, the scribes “devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext, recite lengthy prayers.” (Mark 12:40) With lengthy prayers, the scribes showed how much they loved the invisible God. At the same time, they harmed the needy who were visible. Do we need to pass judgment? No. God will provide.

On one hand, the story of the poor widow today is uplifting because no matter how microscopic our offer is, the good Lord accepts and praises. He praises because “God does not see as a mortal, who sees the appearance. The Lord looks into the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7) The rich might want to show off their riches in their offering. This is pride which obviously offends God. But I think the worst part is to offer “from their surplus wealth” (Mark 12:44a) which was the same mistake Cain had made. (Genesis 4:3, 5, 7) God wants us to be free because He is free. He does not want us to be attached to any worldly things. God did not look with favour Cain’s offering because Cain did not want to depart from his best possession. Similarly, Jesus did not praise the rich because they were not free from their attachment to wealth. On the contrary, the poor widow offered up all that she had. Indeed, she loved God with all her heart, her soul, her mind and her strength. She had observed the first commandment!
We should envy the poor widow because it is easier for the poor to abandon two mites than for the rich two millions. It costs you less to give up two mites because after all, the two mites could not do anything while the opportunity cost of giving up two millions is much higher! It demands greater courage and intelligence to give up two millions than to give up two mites! Thus, the rich is more pitiful than the poor widow!

On the other hand, the story of the poor widow is disturbing because the poor widow is annonymous! Biblical characters without names usually do not end up well. For example, the child which Bathsheba bore for David as a result of adultery (2 Samuel 12:18) and the rich man in the parable of Lazarus the beggar (Luke 16:23). So the fate of the poor widow concerns me. Of course, sociologically speaking, widows in ancient times were marginalized, unless they were national heroines , e.g. Jael and Judith, or were related with kings, e.g. Naomi and Ruth. Otherwise, they would be annoymous like the widow who fed Elijah for three years! Nevertheless, we will naturally wonder what would happen to the poor widow next? She loved God with her all. It would be disturbing if this poor widow was starved to death! However, in the cruelty of daily life, doesn’t our God allow bad things to happen to good people?

As usual, like the parable of the Prodigal Son, the gospel is open-ended. Jesus invites the readers to take appropriate actions. He would not force us. Therefore, her fate most probably depended on her neighbour in the Lucan sense. It is well-known that the early church set up in Jerusalem took care of widows (Acts 6:1). Therefore, the poor widow whom Jesus praised might be taken care of by the Christian community in Jerusalem and remained annoymous because there were so many of them. But that would only be possible at least 50 days later after the Pentecost! Would the widow have survived?
Let’s take a step back. Previously, Jesus came to fulful the law by putting the two commandments together. This time, where is the “Love your neighbour as yourself”? Put it this way, what would God do to feed the widow? Would God appear to perform a miracle, say multiplying the flour in the jar (1 Kings 17:16), to solve her problem? Of course not! Her neighbour should be the hands of God to perform this miracle! If you’re not convinced, watch the attached excerpt of a 1977 comedy.

Brethren! God says, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suited to him.” (Genesis 2:18) Our heavenly Father intended us to help each other. But regrettably, we use each other instead! Remember Jesus’ question “Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbour to the robbers’ victim?” (Luke 10:36) in the parable of the Good Samaritan! Invoke the Holy Spirit to help us live up the commandments of love so that the kingdom of heaven may prevail.
God bless!
2018 Homily