Baptism of the Lord A- 2026, 11.01.2026

Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7 / Acts 10:34-38 / Matthew 3:13-17

Going overseas for holidays during the mid-year and year-end school holidays is a popular trend among Singaporeans. 

So much so that if we don’t go overseas for holidays, some people might even ask us, “How come you don’t go overseas for holidays?” 

So, going everywhere for holidays is a popular trend among Singaporeans, (going everywhere except to the moon). 

Then it comes to packing up the luggage for the overseas trip. 

Some pack light as they intend to go shopping overseas. They buy things like food, souvenirs and clothes. 

Then there are some who pack like as if they are migrating to another country. 

And even then, there will be always something that they forgot to pack in, like nail-clippers, cotton buds, body powder and whatever. 

But whether lightweight or heavyweight luggage, the thrill is in the excitement of going overseas for a holiday. 

But besides going overseas for holidays, there are also people who go overseas for a pilgrimage. 

There are many overseas pilgrimage sites to choose from. 

Going to the Holy Land is a popular pilgrimage. 

And the Holy Land pilgrimage would also likely to include a visit to the river Jordan. 

It is somewhere along the river Jordan that Jesus was baptised by John the Baptist. 

The river Jordan is a river of revelations. 

When the Israelites crossed the river Jordan into the Promised Land, the waters stopped and they crossed over, just like how they crossed the Red Sea as they left Egypt. 

It was along the river Jordan when Jesus after His baptism, was revealed as the Beloved Son of God. 

Jesus came down from heaven, took on human nature, and His baptism shows that Jesus is like us in all things except sin. 

In a way, it can be said that Jesus left heaven and came to earth with very few belongings. 

Jesus laid aside His glory and majesty, and in humility entered into humanity. 

His baptism affirms his human nature, as well as initiated Him into His mission of salvation. 

Jesus was baptised so that He can begin his mission of salvation. 

We are baptised so that we can receive the gift of salvation from Jesus. 

And salvation means that we set our sights on heaven because we want to go there. 

With baptism, it is like preparing ourselves to migrate to heaven.

With this thought of migration, then we must know what we need to hold on to, and what we need to let go off. 

We need to hold onto our baptismal promises and become like the water that we are baptised in, so that we can be the water of love and life for others. 

This world thirsts for the waters of love, waters of love that bring about life and growth. 

Being baptised in the waters of life and love, let us also share these waters with others. 

And may the waters of our baptism wash away and cleanse us and help us to let go of the fires of sinful desires. 

Those sinful desires like pride, greed, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony, and sloth, burn away our focus and longing for salvation, and also burn away our focus and longing to be with God in heaven. 

May the waters of our baptism bring about growth of holiness with the fruits of the Holy Spirit and growth in virtues like Humility, Charity, Chastity, Kindness (or Gratitude), Patience, Diligence, and Temperance (or self-control). 

In His baptism, Jesus is revealed as the Beloved Son, and God’s favour rest on Him. 

May our baptism also remind us that we are God’s beloved children, and His favour rest on us too. 

Let us continue the saving mission of Jesus by sharing the waters of life and love with others.

Let us also lead them to baptismal waters of salvation, and to let them experience God’s life-giving love. 

Saturday after Epiphany, 10-01-2026

1 John 5:14-21 / John 3:22-30    

Famous people are often quoted because of their profound words and wise sayings.

Often these famous people are leaders, but there are also personalities from the sports and movie circles.

In Christianity, the famous Biblical figures have their words recorded in the Bible.

Jesus also had His teachings recorded in the gospel.

And Jesus also did say that among the men born of women, John the Baptist stands out as the greatest.

In today’s gospel, John the Baptist had some sayings that are worth remembering and to be reflected upon.

He says that “a man can lay claim only to what is given him from heaven”.

That is so true when we look at what we have and what we desire.

What we have and what we need is already given by God. We need not desire more.

But more profound is what John the Baptist says of Jesus: He must grow greater, I must grow smaller.

Our Christian life is to let Jesus be all of our life, so that it is not us but Jesus who lives in us.

When Jesus lives in us, that is the most profound statement and witness that we can bear for others.

Friday after Epiphany, 09-01-2026

1 John 5:5-13 / Luke 5:12-16  

In the reality of life, we face sickness and diseases, and we have succumbed to them.

Even the healthiest among us get a cough and cold, to say the least.

As it is often said, health is wealth.

But more than that, health is life, and when we are reasonably healthy, we can have a good quality of life.

But for that leper in the gospel, or for that matter all the lepers during that time, the quality of life is down to zero.

And it was also the deep pain of loneliness and rejection that drained out all life in him.

Jesus came to give us life and life in its fullness.

Because the glory of God is man fully alive.

The 1st reading emphasized it deeper when it says that God has given us eternal life and this life is in His Son, and everyone who has the Son has life.

Jesus is our Life, and in times of pain and suffering, let us turn to Him for healing.

And of course, Jesus wants to heal us and give us the life of faith and hope.

So even in pain and suffering, in sickness and illness, when we have Jesus in our heart, we will be able to live life and give glory to God.

Thursday after Epiphany, 08-01-2026

1 John 4:19 - 5:4 / Luke 4:14-22   

It is a nice feeling to hear someone say something good and positive.

Even if that person saying it is an ordinary person without much or any credentials.

But when it is a person of a high status or high standing, the good things that he says are often well received and even applauded.

In the gospel, Jesus went to the synagogue in His hometown in Nazareth.

Then He stood up to read a passage from the prophet Isaiah.

And He won the approval of all as they were astonished by the gracious words that came from His lips.

But we know what came next. When His hometown people realized that Jesus was the son of a carpenter, they began to put Him down and scorned Him.

His gracious words don’t mean much to them because of His lowly status, even though Jesus told them that the prophecy is being fulfilled.

The 1st reading tells us that anyone who says “I love God” but hates his brother is a liar.

Let us remember that what we say should also express who we are.

We need to be sincere and honest in what we say.

We may not always have to say nice things, but let us also not say what is hurtful or what is false.

When we say that we love God, then may what we say be words of love to others.

Wednesday after Epiphany, 07-01-2026

1 John 4:11-18 / Mark 6:45-52  

There is no one who can say that he has no fear.

And fear respects no one.

Regardless of status, or reputation, or qualification, fear will begin to grip when there is uncertainty or danger.

In the gospel, Jesus made His disciples get into the boat while He sent the crowds away.

Then He went off into the hills to pray.

So Jesus was not with them in the boat, and they were having a difficult time rowing for the wind was against them.

Then in the fourth watch of the night, Jesus walked towards them on the water.

With the darkness of the night and the choppy waters, fear came upon the disciples, and they thought that they were seeing a ghost and they were terrified.

But when Jesus got into the boat with them, and the wind dropped, the disciples were utterly and completely dumbfounded.

The situation at sea and the adverse conditions tested them and they gave in to fear.

Jesus came into the world to show us God’s love.

The 1st reading tells us that in love there can be no fear.

But we are human, and we are insecure and we have our fears.

In times of uncertainty or danger, let us turn to Jesus who will protect us.

Jesus loves us and cares for us. Let us always remember that.

Tuesday after Epiphany, 06-01-2026

1 John 4:7-10 / Mark 6:34-44  

For those of us who cook sporadically, or try to cook, preparing a meal can be challenging.

Cooking a meal for just ourselves would already take quite a bit of time.

Cooking a meal for others would really stress us out.

But for some people, cooking is like a duck taking to the water.

And they can cook for even a gathering of people, depending on their ability and other cooking factors.

Still, they would be able to churn out good tasting food.

And they do it with love and passion.

In the gospel, Jesus saw the large crowd, and He took pity on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and He taught them at some length.

Then it was getting late and the people were hungry, and so Jesus asked if the disciples could get them something to eat.

It was like asking the disciples to cook for the crowd of five thousand with just five loaves and two fish.

Then Jesus worked a miracle, and it was a miracle of love.

Jesus showed His love for the people and He looked to God for His providence.

When we are faced with a challenging and difficult task, let us look at the people with love and let us turn to God for His blessings.

Nothing is impossible as long as there is love for the people.

So the next time if we are asked to cook for a number of people, let us look at them with love and God will work a wonder of love for them and also for us.

Monday after Epiphany, 05-01-2026

1 John 3:22 - 4:6 / Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25  

The festive season is obviously over.

We have celebrated Christmas, and welcomed the New Year.

With the feast of Epiphany over, it is time to take down the Christmas decorations and keep the statues of the Nativity scene.

As much as all the feasts and festivities are over, some things must have changed.

We have experiences that have deepened and strengthened our faith.

Our faith is leading us to the mission, and the mission is to proclaim the Good News of God’s love.

It is the same mission that Jesus embarked on in the gospel.

With His light in our hearts, we go forth into the world, but we are not of the world.

The 1st reading tells us that those who of the world speak the language of the world, and the world listens to them.

The world listens to those who speak of efficiency, results, achievements, numbers and profits.

But we who are of God will speak the language of the Good News.

We speak of the dignity of the person and respect, forgiveness and healing, kindness and gentleness, patience and dependence on God’s providence and guidance.

May the Spirit of truth lead us to speak and act with love.

And may the Good News bring about God’s blessings on us and on the world.