Saturday after Ash Wednesday, 21-02-2026

Isaiah 58:9-14 / Luke 5:27-32  

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace" is a famous, oft-quoted phrase frequently attributed to Jimi Hendrix (1942 – 1970).

The same notion can also be applied to other areas of life.

With love, we can move from selfishness to selflessness,.

With love, we can move from sinfulness to holiness.

With love, we will be able to listen to the voice of the Lord and do what He wants of us.

In the gospel, Levi was a tax-collector sitting at the customs house.

Jesus called him, and Levi left everything to follow Jesus.

It was rather surprising and amazing that Levi got up and followed Jesus just like that, and there could be many reasons for it.

But it can be quite certain that there was already a stirring in Levi’s heart and when he heard the call of Jesus, that stirring just cannot be ignored.

Jesus came to save and to call sinners.

When sinners repent and even become saints, then that is the power of love.

Friday after Ash Wednesday, 20-02-2026

Isaiah 58:1-9 / Matthew 9:14-15   

When we are hungry, it is obvious that we will look for something to eat.

We eat not just to satisfy the hunger of our stomachs, but also to have the strength to do work.

And also we eat to live.

So when we are hungry and there is food, we will surely eat.

And if there is food in abundance, then we will even feast, and eat till our hearts content.

But in religious practice, there is this spiritual act of fasting.

It may even be a spiritual discipline, where only a limited amount of food is eaten a day, or even going on for a few days without eating.

Whatever it may be, the act of fasting is a form of prayer.

Fasting has the benefits of denying earthly pleasures and desires.

And it also helps to come into a deeper union with God.

During this season of Lent, let us embark on the spiritual act of fasting.

May it cleanse us of our sins and may we also be more focused on what God’s will is for us.

Thursday after Ash Wednesday, 19-02-2026

Deuteronomy 30:15-20 / Luke 9:22-25   

When making choices, it is quite obvious that we choose what we think is good.

So we will choose what benefits us most, we will choose what is convenient and easy, we will choose the path of least resistance.

Our human thinking is often focused on immediate gratification or results.

We don’t see beyond nor reflect deeper about the outcome or the consequences.

In the 1st reading, Moses set before the people life and prosperity, death and disaster.

Moses even narrowed it down to life or death, blessing or curse.

Obviously we want life and blessing over death, disaster and curse.

But the distraction and the temptation of sin lead us to desire for pleasure and gratification, that will eventually lead us to death and disaster.

In the gospel, Jesus made it clear what is His destiny and His choice.

He chose to accept suffering, rejection and even a shameful death.

And Jesus tells us that if we want to be His disciple, then we must renounce ourselves, to take up our cross and to follow Him.

So while winning the whole world may look attractive, would we want to ruin our lives to do so?

To renounce ourselves and take up our cross is difficult and even painful.

But if we really want life and blessing, then our choice must be for the cross.

In doing so, we follow Jesus to receive life and blessing.

Ash Wednesday 2026, 18-02-2026

Joel 2:12-18 / 1 Cor 5:20 – 6:2 / Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18  

During the season of Lent, the emphasis is on penance, and rightly so. 

Today is Ash Wednesday, and with it the season of Lent begins. 

Today is also a day of obligatory fasting and abstinence, but a dispensation is given because of the festive season. 

The gospel gives a spiritual direction for the season of Lent. 

Jesus spells out three spiritual disciplines that will help us to turn away from sin, and turn back to God. 

The act of alms-giving addresses our sense of security. 

To have money is to have a sense of security. 

To share it or to give it away makes us uncomfortable and makes us feel needy. 

But in doing so, we can also see how much we trust and depend on God. 

The need for food is a basic human need. 

In the act of fasting, we also reflect on our need for God, and to see that we need God over and above everything else. 

To pray is to acknowledge that God is our Creator, and we are mere creatures. 

By God’s love, we came into existence. 

But one day our life will come to an end. 

The ashes that will be marked on our foreheads remind us of our mortality and frailty. 

We are created beings, but the sinful tendency in us makes us think that we are the Creator.

May the season of Lent, with the spiritual disciplines of alms-giving, fasting and prayer help us to turn away from our sinful tendencies. 

To turn away from sin is to turn back to God and to be loved by Him. 

May the ashes on our foreheads be a reminder of our human mortality and frailty. 

But may those ashes also remind us of God’s saving love for us.

Chinese New Year Mass, Tuesday, 17-02-2026

Numbers 6:22-27 / Matthew 6:31-34  

Today we are gathered in this Mass to celebrate the beginning of the Lunar New Year. 

In the Chinese calendar, this year is the year of the "fire horse". 

And since it is the year of the horse, we would want many good things to come our way. 

And the horse also stands for strength and endurance. 

The Bible also speaks about the strength and the power of the horse. 

Warriors ride on powerful horses to win battles. 

Chariots are pulled by horses to attack the enemy. 

But the Bible also reminds us that no matter how powerful the horses are, those who rely on the strength of the Lord will overcome all difficulties. 

The gospel talks about blessings of the Kingdom of God.

We have come for Mass on the first day of the Lunar New Year to ask God for His blessings. 

The greatest blessing we will receive will be Jesus who gives Himself to us at Holy Communion. 

From Jesus we will learn how to rely and be dependent on God for all our needs. 

From Jesus we will learn how to be gentle, how to forgive, how to do what is right and good. 

And most of all, we learn from Jesus how to love by giving thanks to God and helping those in need. 

At the end of the mass, we will receive blessed oranges in a carrier bag. 

Printed on the bag is a red horse with flames for its mane and tail, to symbolise the blessings of the Holy Spirit. 

The horse is also galloping towards the cloud, a symbol of God, to symbolise that we want to love God with all our strength and to lead others to God. 

May the New Year give us the strength of the horse to love God and to love others. 

May the New Year also bring us God’s abundant blessings of peace and joy, and may we be prosperous in good deeds.

6th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 16-02-2026

James 1:1-11 / Mark 8:11-13   

It is a human tendency to challenge others in order to test them.

Beneath this tendency is also the urge to see others fail and humiliated.

On the other hand, it is also a human tendency to want to prove one’s capabilities and abilities to others so as to win their admiration and praise.

But a lion does not need to roar to prove that it is a lion.

And a cheetah does not need to race against other animals to prove that it is the fastest.

Neither do we need to say or do anything to prove our capabilities and abilities.

By just being who we are, others will know what we are capable of.

In the gospel, the Pharisees demanded a sign from Jesus so as to test Him.

But He walked away without giving in to their demands, because Jesus knows that no matter what sign is given, His adversaries will still find fault with Him.

The 1st reading tells us that if we need wisdom, we must ask God for it, and ask with faith that He will give it to us.

Yes, we need God’s wisdom to know who we are and what His will is for us.

We only need to prove to ourselves that we have faith and wisdom when we do God’s will.

Other than that, there is nothing else to prove.

6th Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 15.02.2026

Ecclesiasticus 15:15-20 / 1 Cor 2:6-10 / Matthew 5:17-37  

The Lunar New Year, or Chinese New Year, is up and coming, and we can feel it almost immediately after Christmas. 

Actually the Chinese New Year decorations were already available in December.

And the traditional colour of this festival is none other than red. 

So, from decorations to desserts, from packages to dresses, there must be a flash of red. 

Now, we in the church were wondering about what kind of decorations to put up. 

We didn’t want it to be too overwhelming, as the second day of the Chinese New Year is the beginning of Lent. 

So, after discussing and praying about it, (oh yes, we have to pray but what kind of decorations to put up), we decided on simplicity, dignity and meaning. 

So, we chose only one type of decoration, and that is to get some pots of kumquat plants, real plants.

Because it represents life, it represents dignity, and it represents simplicity. 

In Chinese culture, the kumquat plant represents blessings and prosperity, as seen by its golden colour an abundant fruit. 

And we didn’t forget that dash of red, so there are little red ribbons tied to the branches. 

So it is not a loud or fancy decoration, but it leads us to think about life, about God’s blessings, and to give thanks. 

What we have learned is that as much as we want to have decorations, whatever decorations we put up should point us to the meaning of the festival and to the blessings of God. 

In the gospel, Jesus declared that He did not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. 

Rather, He came not to abolish but to complete the Law and the Prophets. 

Jesus goes on to say that not one dot, not one little stroke, shall disappear from the Law until its purpose is accomplished. 

Jesus then brought up what was taught, what the people have learned, and to look deeper at it. 

So, we know the Commandment that forbids us to kill. 

Jesus teaches us that more than just the act of killing, our words can also kill. 

So, curse words like “fool” and “idiot” disregard and also do not respect the dignity of the person who is made in the image of God. 

Needless to say, when we gossip and slander others, we may not be shedding blood. 

But we are committing character assassination in a vicious and sneaky way. 

So too, for the act of adultery. It may not be done physically with the other person. 

But to desire and lust for another person destroys the respect for dignity of that other person. 

So, we have learned a lot, and we also know a lot, but does all that bring us closer to God? 

From what we have learned and from what we know, do we also find meaning in life and walking in the ways of the Lord? 

Are we growing in holiness by loving God and loving others? 

As we ponder about these questions, we may also be uncertain about the answers. 

Here is where the “I don’t know” prayer comes in, although we may not know what that prayer is. 

So, what is this “I don’t know” prayer all about?  

First, we need to go to somewhere quiet, like the Church or the Adoration Room. 

As we sit at the feet of Jesus, let our prayer be this three simple words: I don’t know. 

So, we tell the Lord Jesus this: 

I don’t know what to do.

I don’t know where to go from here. 

I don’t know what is happening. 

I don’t know how to handle this situation. 

I don’t know, but Lord Jesus, You know. 

Yes, we tell the Lord Jesus all the “I don’t knows” that burden our hearts.

And then with faith and love, we say: I don’t know, but Lord Jesus, You know. 

And the Lord Jesus who knows all and who sees all that is in our hearts, will reveal to us what we need to know. 

As the 1st reading tells us: For vast is the wisdom of the Lord, He is almighty and all seeing. His eyes are on those who fear him. 

So, we have learned a lot, and we also know a lot. 

But let us also learn to walk in the ways of the Lord, and to know that He will guide us and show us the way to life and to love.