Our true colours

We attended mass at the Cathedral last weekend. It was a good time to pray and reflect after a long and tiring day out enjoying the Chinese New Year festivities in Chinatown.

Father shared about the 40 days of Lent, how we are to pray, fast and give alms. We often show our true colours when we undergo tough times. It could be voluntary or involuntary. Most times, our true colours show the bad side of us. It is during these times that we need to stay connected to God through prayer. Only God, who knows us through and through can help us get through these times, with love and kindness. Jesus was in the desert for 40 days and during that time, He was tempted by the Devil. He did not give in though He was clearly affected by the fasting. His constant connection to God through prayer kept Him going.

Help us Lord, to stay close to you and be more loving and kind to others during this Lenten season.

God never tires of forgiving us

Father mentioned at mass during the weekend, that though we might tire of asking God for forgiveness, He never tires of forgiving us.

The question beckons can we be like God who never tires of forgiving? I recalled an incident that happened recently, two young kids playing and out of the blue, one starts to cry. Daddy comforts the crying child and finds out that he was upset by what was said to him. Daddy asks his child to forgive the other when an apology was given. However, his child replies with,"Why must I, when he will do it again..."

This reminds me much of myself. You might find it very familiar as well. We seem to constantly fall back into sin, and God continually forgives us, knowing that we will turn from Him again. Help us be more like you Lord, to find it within ourselves to forgive others repeatedly. I am so thankful to have a God who never tires of forgiving us.

Oh, in the end, all was forgiven and forgotten, and the two kids were playing together again very quickly.

God recognises our efforts of love

We were all waiting in anticipation for mass to begin but Father was nowhere in sight. After about 10 minutes into the mass timing, Father came, and we all heaved a sigh of relief.

The reason for Father being late was because he was feeling under the weather. Although he was not well, he came and celebrated mass with us. He really is quite an incredible man. Though I was a little disappointed that mass was short, without the usual homily, I came to realise that it is the love that Father has for God that brought him to come celebrate mass despite being unwell.

I was reading one of the sharings from a lay missionary, who told us that God recognises our efforts of love. He went for mass with his 5 year old son, but was not able to take in anything that was said during mass. It was during his quiet prayer later that God revealed to him that God sees the love that brought him to mass with his son, Although he might have gotten nothing out of it, he was there for God, because he loves God.

Thank you for recognising the love we have for you Lord, may we continue to love you in all that we do.