13 October, Friday — Battling Lukewarmness

Friday of Week 27 in Ordinary Time

Joel 1:13-15;2:1-2
Lk 11:15-26

He who is not with me is against me

I grew up with my grandaunt, who taught me always to be kind to people around me. She was a wonderful role model for me. I learned from her how to take care of others. I remember how she used to go out of her way to take care of a relative who was addicted to opium. She would cook for him and take a bus down to make sure he had food to eat, and to also clean his place.

I have always taken the position that in addition to being kind, the additional thing we need to do is to not do evil. As a Christian, this had been my practice for many years.

I began to be aware that such an approach is insufficient in the life of being a Christian. In particular, I heard a sermon by our Archbishop William Goh. He was talking about the danger of being lukewarm; about not being ‘hot’ nor ‘cold’ in our faith. Rather than taking a stand, Cardinal Goh was emphasizing the need for us to be strong in our faith and to demonstrate it.

I must have read this Gospel of Luke countless times. Yet, it was only when I was preparing for this reflection that the latter parts (verses 21 and 24) spoke to me. All of a sudden, I see the close link between the dangers of lukewarm-ness and the lack of one’s conviction in faith.

What can I do in order to be stronger in my faith? For one, I recognise the need to guard against the ‘little things’. Sin tends to overcome us in small movements and I realised how important it was to be on guard at all times. An amazing song I recently heard is one by Casting Crowns — “Slow Fade” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QASREBVDsLk)

Let us stand guard and be strong. Let us be convicted in our faith. Let us take our side with the Lord, and do so convincingly.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Paul Wee)

Prayer: We pray that we will always be unafraid to stand up for our faith. That we will allow others to see it in full glory.

Thanksgiving: We are grateful for the freedom that being with You brings, Father God. Thank You for showing us that we need to be courageous in our faith!