Acts 8:5-8, 14-17 / 1 Peter 3:15-18 / John 14:15-21
Do we know what is the hottest news in town? It’s on everyone’s lips anyway.
If we are still wondering about what is the hottest news in town, think no further. The hottest news in town is that it is hot, it is hot and it is hot! It’s on everyone’s lips right?
We don’t need to check the temperature to know that it is hot.
Have we heard of those “the weather is so hot” jokes? The weather is so hot that:
- The only milk available is evaporated milk
- The chickens are laying hard-boiled eggs
- Swimming pools have become protected areas
But jokes aside, we wonder if the hot weather has anything to do with another phenomenon.
What has the warehouse opposite IMM, the Punggol construction site, Changi Airport Terminal 2, Shenton House, Paya Lebar Bakery, Katong I12, Woodlands flat and the taxi on Commonwealth Avenue, all have in common?
They all caught fire!
So the warning is obvious. In this hot weather, don’t play with fire. It’s already hot enough, don’t make it hotter!
And of course in this heatwave, it would be wise to follow some good advice, like:
- Drink more water. (but that would only increase the price of water)
- Eat more fruits, but durians are excluded, for obvious reasons
- Wear light clothing, but that doesn’t mean wear less clothing.
That’s pretty good advice for the hot weather. But advice is advice.
Whether we want to follow it or not, that’s really up to us.
In the gospel, Jesus said to His disciples: If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
In no uncertain terms, Jesus is also telling us that if we love Him, then we must keep His commandments.
Jesus is talking about commandments. It’s not about advice, not about options, not about suggestions.
Commandments are imperative. They have to be obeyed. It’s not negotiable, we cannot bargain with commandments, at least not with the commandments of Jesus.
And even if we are not that well versed with the Bible, we know what are the commandments of Jesus.
And that is to love God with all our heart, with all our mind and with all our strength. And to love our neighbour as ourselves.
Together with that is also the new commandment, i.e., to love one another as Jesus has loved us.
The practical expressions of these commandments are as challenging as trying to keep cool in hot weather.
For example, we should forgive and even love our enemies, and pray for those who persecute us.
We know we should not bear hatred or take revenge. We know we should not judge or condemn or slander others.
We should not lie or cheat, we should not be devious or malicious.
We should be kind and compassionate and generous. We must pray and be faithful to God.
These are the commandments of Jesus and they are also the truths of life, and we know it. We should know it.
Yes, we know it, but do we really believe in it?
Because if we really believe in it, then regardless of what others think or say, we will live by the truths of life because in the final analysis, that’s how we show that we love Jesus.
There is this reflection called the “Final Analysis” which tells us how to live out the truths of life in this world.
People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, others may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; Give the world the best you've got anyway.
So in the FINAL analysis, it is more than what we think about the truth. It is about what we do with the truth. It is about living out the truth. It is about showing how we love Jesus. It is about witnessing to Jesus.
Pope Paul VI said that modern man listens more to witnesses than to teachers, and if they do listen to teachers, it is because they are first and foremost witnesses.
So it’s not about telling others what to do in the hot weather. We must show how to keep cool in the heat.
Similarly, it is not about telling others how to be a Catholic, or criticize them when they don’t behave like one.
We have to live out the truth, and live it out in love and the Spirit of truth that Jesus will send will help us to do it.
So that hot weather or cold weather, rain or shine, we will always love Jesus and that love must also flow out to others.