26th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 03-10-2025

Baruch 1:15-22 / Luke 10:13-16   

Before any accident or disaster happens, usually there will be warning signs.

But those warning signs can be ignored and dismissed as just odd occurrences.

When the warning signs are not heeded, then there will be consequences.

And then it will be too late to think about those earlier warning signs and why no attention was paid to them.

So, in the final analysis, it comes down to the human factor, that human beings were not sensitive to those warning signs.

In the 1st reading, the prophet Baruch lamented about the tragedy that had fallen upon God’s people.

But he proclaims the integrity of the Lord God and also the shame of the people.

Baruch confessed that the people have sinned in the sight of the Lord, have disobeyed Him, and have not listened to the voice of the Lord God.

Hence, the people deserved the punishment of the disasters and tragedies that have fallen upon them.

In the gospel, Jesus warned the prosperous towns of Chorazin and Capernaum. Those two towns now lay in ruins.

Let us listen to the Word of God and let us look at the signs around us.

May we be able to see and listen to what the Lord our God is telling us and be saved from disasters and tragedies.

The Holy Guardian Angels, Thursday, 02-10-2025

Exodus 23:20-23 / Matthew 18:1-5, 10   

The feeling of loneliness is the distress of being alone or separated.

It is distressing to think that we are all alone when we are facing a big problem.

And the feeling becomes heavier when we feel that we are forgotten and no one cares about the struggles that we are going through.

But the Bible tells us that even if a mother forgets her baby, God will not forget us.

In the 1st reading, the Lord God tells His people this: I myself will send an angel before you to guard you as you go and bring you to the place that I have prepared.

And in the gospel, Jesus says this: See that you never despise any of these little ones, for I tell you that their angels in heaven are continually in the presence of my Father in heaven.

Reflecting deeper upon these Bible passages, the Church also teaches us that each of us have a guardian angel the moment we come into existence.

So from the moment we are conceived in this world to the eternal existence in the next world, we have a guardian angel accompanying us always.

So, we are never alone, but let us remember to give our guardian angel reverence and listen to all that he says, for God speaks though our guardian angels.

And let us also say this prayer to our Guardian Angel and teach others, especially the children, to say it:

Angel of God, my guardian dear,

To whom God’s love, commits me here,

Ever this day be at my side,

To light and guard, to rule and guide.

Amen.

St. Therese of the Child Jesus, Patroness of Missionaries and the Missions, Wednesday, 01-10-2025

Isaiah 66:10-14 / Matthew 16:1-5   

St. Therese of the Child Jesus was a French Carmelite nun. She is also known as "The Little Flower of Jesus".

She lived during the second half the 19th century (1873-1897), a rather short life of only 24 years.

Yet the shortness of years is certainly complemented by the great impact her life had on the spirituality of the Church and also in the life of holiness.

Her spiritual orientation of a hidden life coupled with simplicity and humility endeared her to many who desired to live a life of faith that wants to do small things with great love.

For St. Therese, every little act of love is like a little flower that is offered to Jesus, hence she is also known as "The Little Flower of Jesus".

Her childlike attitude is also an inspiration for many, especially in the area of prayer.

In "The Autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux", she said there were so many lovely prayers and that she could not possibly say them all and did not know which to choose, so she would behave like children who cannot read.

"I tell God very simply what I want and He always understands". "I say an Our Father or a Hail Mary when I feel so spiritually barren that I cannot summon up a single worthwhile thought. These two prayers fill me with rapture and feed and satisfy my soul."

Such is the childlike simplicity of the Patroness of the Missions as she prays for missionaries even though she had never set foot on a foreign land.

From St. Therese we learn that simple prayers are indeed powerful prayers. Yet simple prayers should also form us to have a childlike simplicity and humility.

And like St. Therese, we should be like arrows that remain hidden in the quiver of God. And just as He used St. Therese to fulfill His plan, let us also be ready always to fulfill God's will for us.

26th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 30-09-2025

Zechariah 8:20-23 / Luke 9:51-56   

Very often, a simple question does not necessarily mean that there is only one simple answer to it.

And because there can be many answers to a simple question, it may also mean that the question indicates a complexity.

So, a simple question can be like “Why do people come to Church?”

And yet, there can be as many answers as there are people responding to it.

But even before giving a quick answer to that simple question, let us think about the question.

Because that question makes us think of who God is, who we are, what is the purpose and mission of the Church, and who are the people coming to Church.

So to that question “Why do people come to Church?”, one response could be that people need God, so they come to Church to pray and they hope that their prayers will be answered.

That could be a reflection of what is said in the 1st reading when the Lord of hosts says this: In those days, ten men of nations of every language will take a Jew by the sleeve and say, “We want to go with you, since we have learnt that God is with you”.

For those who are in need of God, may we tell them to come to Church and we pray that their prayers will be answered.

But for those who don’t come to Church anymore and who no longer practice their faith, let us pray for them.

Let us not reprimand or threaten them with fire from heaven to burn them up.

Let us pray for them, and may God hear our prayers and bring them back to Church.

Sts. Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Archangels, Monday, 29-09-2025

Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 or Apocalypse 12:7-12 / John 1:47-51    

The Bible has many passages referring to angels, both in the Old Testament as well as the New Testament

Furthermore the New Testament mentions frequently of angels in the significant moments.

There were angels giving messages to Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds; angels ministering to Christ after his temptation in the wilderness, an angel visiting Christ in his agony, angels at the tomb of the risen Christ, and the angels who liberated the Apostles Peter and Paul from prison.

However, it makes only two references to "archangels." They are in Jude 9 where Michael is an archangel and in 1 Thessalonians 4:16, where the "voice of an archangel" will be heard at the return of Christ.

The Roman Catholic Church honours three archangels - Michael, Gabriel and Raphael.

Michael in the Hebrew language means "Who is like unto God?" or "Who is equal to God?" St. Michael has been depicted from earliest Christian times as a commander, who holds in his right hand a spear with which he attacks the devil, and in his left hand a green palm branch which symbolizes victory over evil.

Gabriel means "Man of God" or "Might of God." He is the herald of the mysteries of God, especially the Incarnation of God and all other mysteries related to it. He is depicted as holding a lighted lantern to symbolize that only God can shed light to the mysteries.

Raphael means "God's healing" or "God the Healer". He is mentioned in the book of Tobit (3:17; 12:15). Raphael is depicted leading Tobit with his right hand, and holding a physician's alabaster jar in his left hand.

The celebration of the feast of the three Archangels focuses on three aspects of God.

It reminds us that God is almighty and is victorious over evil. Also the mystery of life and death, and suffering and evil is in the hands of God who is the source of all mystery.

God is also our Healer who forgives us our sins and strengthens us with His love.

May God also strengthen our faith so that as we gather together in this Eucharist, we will also become aware of the presence of angels and archangels joining us to worship and praise the Lord.

26th Ordinary Sunday, Year C, 28.09.2025

Amos 6:1, 4-7 / 1 Tim 6:11-16 / Luke 16:19-31

We know that Singapore is a small country and without much natural resources. 

And more than that, Singapore does not produce much food, certainly not enough to feed the population.

And yet, there is one rather surprising phenomenon, and that is we have a thriving food culture. 

Almost everywhere and anywhere, we can find restaurants, eateries, food courts and hawker centres. 

For a country that does not produce much food, we are noted for a variety of foods from different cultures. 

We are really spoiled for choice when comes to food, and we can also be as adventurous as we like. 

So, the habit is that we go to the counter or food stall to order our choice of food, eat the meal, and then look forward to the next meal. 

But there is one important factor that we may have missed in our food culture. 

And that is the people who prepared the ingredients, cooked the food and gave us a meal as well as a good taste. 

Without these people, we won't have a thriving food culture. 

If we eat to live, then we also must be grateful to the people who are involved in cooking and producing our meals.

In the gospel, Jesus told a parable that points to the need of awareness, of the people around us.

There was this rich man who used to dress in purple and fine linen, and feast magnificently every day. 

At his gate there was a poor man called Lazarus, covered with sores, who long to fill himself with the scraps that fall from the rich man's table. 

We may wonder, why didn't the rich man see Lazarus who was lying at his gate. Is the gate that far off? 

Or maybe the rich man was just too focused and obsessed with his clothing and food, that he could not see, and also could not hear anything else. 

But later in the parable, when the rich man was tormented in Hades, he begins to see who Lazarus is, and he can even begin to think of the welfare of his five brothers. 

The parable gives us a glimpse of what the afterlife is about, of what the next world is like. 

But it also teaches us what life is about here in this world. 

Life is more than food and clothing and shelter, although these are the very basic human needs. 

God will provide for us. Jesus did tell us that God clothed the flowers in the fields with beauty and splendour, and God also feeds the birds of the air even though they don't sow and reap. 

The parable calls us to look beyond our needs of food, clothing and shelter, to the needs of the people around us, especially those who are at the so-called gates of our lives. 

We see them, they may not be in need of food or clothing or shelter. 

But they may be in need of some encouragement and affirmation. 

They may be in need of direction and motivation. 

They may need to hear a voice to give them a word of hope. 

They may need a little act of gentleness to know that God cares for them. 

I remember this one particular occasion when I went home for lunch, and my mother as usual, cooked a simple meal. 

So, there I was, at the table with my mother, and gobbling away at the food. 

Then my mother asked, “Is the food okay?”

I nodded my head, and then she said, “Oh, I thought it was not good because you didn't say anything about it.” 

At that instant, I realized that I was just too focused on eating the food, that I forgot about talking with my mother. 

So, the next time, when we go to an eatery or restaurant, or to a food court or hawker centre, let us remember this. 

Let us remember to look at the people cooking and serving us, and to thank them and even to encourage them. 

Let us put into practice what the 2nd reading is telling us: You must aim to be saintly and religious, filled with faith and love, patient and gentle. 

Life is more than just food and clothes. 

Life is also about seeing who is at the gate, and sharing with them the love and blessings of God.

25th Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 27-00-2025

Zechariah 2:5-9, 14-15 / Luke 9:43-45  

The Church exists primarily for the salvation of souls.

The Church is to be the sign of God’s call of salvation to humanity.

And when people hear that call, they will come to Church and offer prayer and worship to the Lord.

God is our Saviour, and He is also our Protector and Provider.

In the 1st reading, the Lord God says this:

Jerusalem is to remain unwalled, because of the great number of men and cattle there will be in her.

But I will be a wall of fire all round her, and I will be her glory in the midst of her.

God showed that He is our Saviour by sending Jesus to proclaim the Good News of God’s saving love for us.

And Jesus sacrificed Himself on the Cross to save us, and that showed how great God’s love is for us.

May the Church be the House of God where we will feel safe and at peace.

May the Church also be a House of prayer, where our cries for God’s help and blessings be heard and answered by God.

May God be the wall of the Church and may we also live holy lives to show our gratitude and thankfulness to God.