34th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 01-12-2023

Daniel 7:2-14 / Luke 21:29-33   

Throughout the course of history, many kingdoms have come and gone.

Even in the Bible, there were great kingdoms that are mentioned.

There were the kingdoms of Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome, some of which were mentioned in the vision of the prophet Daniel in the 1st reading.

Those great kingdoms and their powerful leaders have left legacies in world history and also in Bible history.

But their legacies have remained as just accounts in history books.

In his vision, the prophet Daniel mentioned a great figure who was conferred an eternal sovereignty, glory and kingship.

And his kingdom will also never be destroyed; it is an eternal kingdom.

In the gospel, Jesus says that the kingdom of God is near at hand.

We know that the kingdom of God is already present in the world.

Worldly powers may try to overcome and destroy the kingdom of God which is present in the Church.

But we know that the worldly powers will come and go, they will rise and fall.

But the kingdom of God is an eternal kingdom, and will stand forever.

Because even if heaven and earth will pass away, the words of Jesus will never pass away, because He is the eternal Word of God.

Let us believe in the eternal word of Jesus, and we will be in the eternal kingdom of God.

St. Andrew, Apostle, Thursday, 30-11-2023

Romans 10:9-18 / Matthew 4:18-22    

In the gospel account, we hear of Jesus calling St. Peter along with his brother St. Andrew.

But there was something else about St. Andrew.

In the gospel according to St. John, St. Andrew was initially a disciple of John the Baptist.

And when John the Baptist pointed out Jesus as the Lamb of God, Andrew in turn followed Him.

So we can say that St. Andrew was the first disciple of Jesus.

And it was St. Andrew who brought St. Peter to see Jesus, after telling him that he had found the Messiah.

We can learn much from St. Andrew, especially his attitude as a disciple.

After staying with Jesus and coming to know Him, St. Andrew did not keep this experience to himself, but shared it with his brother St.Peter.

So saints are not nicely sculptured statues, or just pretty colourful pictures on the stained-glass of churches.

They are common people who are opened to Jesus when He came into their lives, and after experiencing Him, they also shared Him with others, just like St. Andrew did.

Let us pray that we will continue to experience Jesus daily and like St. Andrew we will go forth to share Him with others.

34th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 29-11-2023

Daniel 5:1-6,13-14, 16-17, 23-28 / Luke 21:12-19     

The feeling of fear is something that we, as humans, would have experienced.

It can be anything from having cold and clammy hands to cold sweat and shivers.

But the fear of king Belshazzar in the 1st reading made him turn pale with alarm, and his thigh-joints went slack and his knees began to knock.

What he saw was beyond comprehension – the fingers of a human hand appeared and began to write on the wall.

King Belshazzar was so obstinate with total disregard for the sacred and the religious that this had to happen to him.

And that was also his judgement, and it sealed his fate.

In the gospel, what Jesus said is truly disturbing and unsettling.

We certainly do not want to face the kind of persecutions that Jesus is talking about.

But if ever we find ourselves in that kind of situation, then Jesus is telling us that it is an opportunity to bear witness.

Our endurance will win us our lives.

And our reward will be written in heaven.

34th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 28-11-2023

Daniel 2:31-45 / Luke 11:5-11

When a person is riding on the crest of the wave of success, it will be all roses and sunshine.

Moreover, in that bright light of confidence, nothing would seem impossible.

And one would think that this sweetness will last forever, or at least a lifetime.

But as much as the proverb urges us to make hay while the sun shines, we would be too comfortable with just lazing around and sun-tanning.

In the 1st reading, king Nebuchadnezzar had a vision, and Daniel interpreted that vision for him.

But will that interpretation leave him to be sober about his temporary glory and mortality?

Or would he think about Daniel’s interpretation of his vision, and do something good about his life?

In the gospel, Jesus tells us not to be deceived into complacency and indifference.

Things may be going smooth and we may be basking in the bright light of confidence and success.

But just as we turn to the Lord in bad times for help, let us turn to the Lord in good times with thanksgiving and supplication.

Let us ask the Lord to grant us wisdom and knowledge to interpret the times, so that we will live our lives giving glory to God, and inheriting glory for eternity.

34th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 27-11-2023

Daniel 1:1-6, 8-20 / Luke 23:1-4   

If we say that we love God whom we have not seen, then consequently, we must love our neighbour whom we can see.

To say that we love God and yet we do not love our neighbour, then we are not living out what we say and believe (cf 1 John 4:20)

By the same token, if we say that we trust God, then we too must trust others.

We believe that God will send people or persons to affirm our trust in Him.

In the 1st reading, the four young men didn’t want to defile themselves with the food from the king’s table.

But they trust that God will provide a way for them, and so they negotiated with the chief eunuch and the guard.

Against the odds, the chief eunuch and the guard relented and let them have the food that they requested.

In the gospel, the poverty-stricken widow put in all she had to live on. 

She thought that no one would have noticed, and she may not want anyone to notice, since it was such a little amount.

But Jesus noticed, and He also implied that because that widow trusted in God, God will also provide for her.

So when we say that we trust in God and that He will provide for us, God will also affirm us.

He will send people to show us what He can do for us and provide for us.

Christ The King, Year A, 26.11,2023

Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-17 / 1 Cor 15:20-26, 28 / Matthew 25:31-46

The world that we live in operates on a logical and mathematical level. 

Almost everything is squarely and neatly balanced off, maybe because we like things to be neat and tidy. 

So, if we are at a drink dispensing machine, each drink has a price. We choose the drink, pay the money, and the drink is dispensed. 

That is all fair and square, that is also expected of the transaction. 

But, when we choose a drink, pay the money and the drink is not dispensed, then something has gone wrong. 

Whatever the problem may be, the logical and mathematical process is disrupted. And of course we get frustrated. 

In our world where efficiency and productivity are highly priced, there is little tolerance for disruption and malfunction. 

Things need to be fair and square, as well as neat and tidy. 

It also means that the more we do, the more we should get in return. 

In other words, the higher the investment, the greater should be the return. 

And the returns are not just in terms of the tangible. The returns should also be intangible, like gaining attention.

So, when something big or great is done, it should be announced, and maybe even trumpeted, for everyone to know. 

That is how the world operates, that is how the world moves, and that is also how we are influenced. 

But in the gospel, Jesus tells us something that is quite different. 

Jesus tells us that the humble and ordinary deeds are important. In fact, they have an eternal consequence. 

It is deeds like feeding the hungry, quenching the thirsty, welcoming the stranger, clothing the naked and visiting the sick. 

These are so plain and ordinary, that they won't make it to the headlines or get the spotlight. 

In all this, Jesus is telling us that He cares for the poor and the lowly, He cares for the helpless and the needy. 

Jesus not only cares for them, He tells us that He is among them, that He is in them. 

Hence, His profound teaching is this: In so far as you did it to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me. 

That divine teaching breaks our concept of fair and square, as well as the world's orientation towards efficiency and productivity. 

Jesus is telling us that our little deeds of service and charity may not be noticed by the world, but He sees it. 

We may think that there is nothing to gain from doing what is humble and lowly. 

We may think that only those who are deserving would be rewarded, while those who don't meet expectations will have to be left on their own. 

But Jesus tells us that those who need our help are those who have no one to help them.

If they are not voicing out their need for help, it could be because they have become oblivious in a world that pays attention to the glamorous. 

But Jesus tells us that there are the poor and the lowly, there are those who are helpless and needy. 

And what is astounding is that Jesus tells us that He is among them, that He is in them. 

May those five words “you did it to me”, keep ringing in our ears. 

Those are the words of the King of kings, the King of the universe. 

Our eternal future is shaped when we listen to our King, and do what He tells us.

33rd Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 25-11-2023

1 Macc 6:1-13 / Luke 20:27-40    

To have some goals and ambitions in life can be a good thing.

At least we will have some directions and meaning in life.

But goals and ambitions can begin to turn to greed and self-centeredness.

And when a person is obsessed with greed and selfishness, the inevitable is that there will be a disregard and disrespect for God.

In the 1st reading, king Antiochus had reached the pinnacle of his reign.

He was powerful, but he became greedy and over-ambitious.

He forgot that he was mere human, and he had a disregard and disrespect for God.

It can be said that he brought about his own downfall and he died a miserable man.

The lesson for us and for humanity is that our lives are temporal and that God is eternal.

Yet, this great and eternal God wants to give us life and meaning.

Let us revere and honour God for He is our Lord and Saviour.

Without the God of life and love, we may exist but we will not know the joy and meaning of life.

33rd Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 24-11-2023

1 Macc 4:36-37, 52-59 / Luke 19:45-48    

One of the most difficult attitudes to confront, whether as a teenager or as an adult, is peer pressure.

If we want to stay in and with the crowd, if we want to be accepted by the rest, if we don't want to be the odd-one-out, then we just have to submit to peer pressure.

And that might mean staying silent and not doing anything even when we see injustice and oppression and corruption and immorality happening in front of us.

When Jesus walked into the Temple that day, He already knew that there was a price on his head; His life was at stake.

It was a day when He should take it easy, keep quiet and do nothing about the scandals and the irreverence and the profanity that were happening around Him.

But it was happening in the Temple, in His Father's house!

It was the same Temple that we heard about in the 1st reading that was rededicated with so much reverence and rejoicing after the pagans had desecrated it.

The people prostrated in adoration and praised God for being with them again, because the Temple symbolized the presence of God among them.

So when Jesus cleansed the Temple that day by driving out those who were selling and making use of the Temple for their profits, He not only drove out injustice and corruption, from the holy place.

He also restored the Temple to its sacred dignity as the dwelling place of God, a refuge for those in trouble and in need, and a sanctuary of life and love.

Jesus also wants to cleanse the Temple which is in our hearts.

Our hearts is the dwelling place of God. May we keep it holy and sacred, pure and filled with God's love always.

33rd Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 23-11-2023

1 Macc 2:15-29 / Luke 19:41-44    

It is said that opportunity knocks only once, and that means there may not be another opportunity.

When an opportunity is missed, then there can only be regrets.

But when a missed opportunity results in disaster and tragedy, then there will only be tears.

Jesus saw how the holy city of Jerusalem did not understand the message of peace and the missed opportunity that God has offered.

In one of His saddest moments, He shed tears over Jerusalem.

And we know that the disaster and tragedy that Jesus spoke of came true for Jerusalem.

We may ask how do we know that it is a God-given opportunity and that it is a message of peace.

Opportunities are often missed because they come in hard and rough appearances.

The promptings from God point to a long hard road and a narrow gate.

But when we surrender to God’s way, then we will receive peace and blessings, and there will be only tears of joy.

33rd Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 22-11-2023

2 Macc 7:1, 20-31 / Luke 19:11-28   

Our character and integrity are often expressed in two aspects, and that is trust and faithfulness.

So essentially, it is about whether others can trust us and whether we can be faithful to that trust.

Trust and faithfulness are expressed in relationships like marriage, family, social and even spiritual.

In the 1st reading, we hear of this terrible account of torture and execution of seven brothers, and their mother had to endure witnessing their deaths.

But the mother kept on encouraging her sons to trust in the Lord God and to be faithful to Him to the end, even to giving up their lives.

In the gospel parable, Jesus also emphasized on trust and faithfulness.

If we can be trusted with a small thing like money, and be faithful to that trust, then it shows our character and integrity.

On a higher level, we also must trust God in His love and promises to us, and that He is faithful to us.

If we can be trusted and be faithful to that trust, it is because we trust in God’s faithfulness to us. 

But let us remember to be faithful in little things, and we will be trusted in greater things.

Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Tuesday, 21-11-2023

Zechariah 2:14-17 / Matthew 12:46-50   

It is not unusual that devout Catholic parents consecrate their new-born baby to the Lord.

That is especially so when they have prayed for a child and the baby was like an answer to their prayers.

But of course more than just consecrating their child to God, they will also baptize the baby in Church.

The feast of the presentation of Mary in the Temple is not found in the New Testament but from sources outside of the Bible.

According to those sources, Mary's parents, Joachim and Anne had been childless and eventually having Mary was a heavenly gift from God.

In thanksgiving, they brought the child Mary to the Temple to consecrate her to God and she remained in the Temple till puberty.

The spiritual significance of this feast is that God chose Mary to be the Mother of His Son and He had prepared her since the Immaculate Conception to be ready for this mission.

Hence the feast of the Presentation of Mary is part of fulfillment of her mission as the Mother of God.

The celebration of this feast also reminds us of our own baptism, in that we are not just consecrated to God in baptism but we have become God's chosen children.

As His children, we are to carry out and carry on the saving mission of Jesus our Saviour. May Mary our Mother pray for us and help us to fulfill this mission.

33rd Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 20-11-2023

1 Macc 1:10-15, 41-43, 54-57, 62-64 / Luke 18:35-43     

Night and day are cycles of nature that we take for granted.

At night we rest and sleep peacefully in bed until morning.

When day comes, we get up and get to work till evening.

And the cycle repeats itself and we go on with our lives.

But what if the night is a prolonged darkness and we don’t know if daylight would ever come around.

That is certainly a depressive thought and also a fearful feeling.

For that blind man in the gospel, his world was a perennial darkness.

Until he heard about Jesus and came before Him to ask to see again.

Jesus restored his sight and He also said that his faith has saved him.

In the 1st reading, we heard about a dreadful wrath that came upon Israel.

It was a terrible and fearful darkness, and those who wanted to remain faithful to the covenant lost their lives.

The people of Israel would have called for help from the Lord and wondered how long would that terrible and dreadful darkness last.

When we ourselves face a darkness in our lives, may we call upon the Lord and wait for the light of deliverance to come.

By our faith, we will be saved and rejoice in the light of salvation.

33rd Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 19.11.2023

 Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31 / 1 Thess 5:1-6 / Matthew 25:14-30

The human body is an amazing and highly organized living structure. 

It is made up of a unique physical combination of bones, muscles and organs, that work together for the human body to function. 

So, we are able to sit, walk, run, work and do many other things that the human body is capable of. 

And we can even train our body for advanced abilities like sports, dancing and playing musical instruments. 

Yes, the human body is amazing, and wonderful, and also beautiful. 

So, it is important to take care of our bodies, and for us, we also believe that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. 

So, it is not just the mind and the heart that is to be holy; the physical body is also to be holy. 

All that points to one important thing, and that is, the human body is meant to move and to work and to serve God. 

So, it is obvious that if we were to laze around in bed the whole day, we will feel even more lethargic instead of energetic. 

In fact, the more we move and work, our bodies will become better and stronger. 

The same can be said about our faith. Our faith needs to be exercised in order to make it deeper and stronger. 

But when we hide our faith and even bury it with other worldly concerns, then our faith will slowly rot and die.

It is like what the gospel parable says about the three servants. 

The master entrusted to them his property, each in proportion to his ability. 

The first two promptly went and traded with them, and made double the amount they were given. 

But the third servant went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. 

When the time of reckoning came, the master rewarded the first two servants and said: 

Well done, good and faithful servant, you have shown you can be faithful in small things. I will trust you with even greater. 

But the servant who hid his master’s money was punished for being wicked and lazy. 

He tried to defend himself with excuses, but his master saw his real ulterior motives. 

As we think about the gospel parable, let us also reflect about our faith. 

Faith is a gift from God. Faith is also a precious and powerful gift. 

With faith, we can move mountains. But more importantly, faith can bring down showers of blessings from heaven. 

When we pray with faith, we will see marvellous signs and wonders from God. 

When parents teach children how to pray and bring them for the Sunday Eucharist, God will bless the family with peace, providence and protection. 

For those who serve in ministries, God blesses them with humility and charity. And they will be served by angels in their time of need. 

As a parish community, we gather in faith and offer up prayer and worship. 

We pray for our needs, the needs of the Church and the needs of the world. 

We also persevere with hope, so that we can see the fruits of our faith and prayer. 

Let us keep exercising our faith, so that God can make it stronger and deeper. 

As Jesus said: For to anyone who has will be given more, and he will have more than enough. 

Let us give thanks to God and treasure our faith, and we will receive blessing upon blessing.

32nd Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 18-11-2023

Wisdom 18:14-16; 19:6-9 / Luke 18:1-8  

There are many things that we don't seem to get tired of doing.

For example, we don't get tired of watching TV, eating good food, surfing the internet, shopping, traveling or whatever.

However when it comes to praying and the things of the spiritual life, we somehow tire out easily.

The disciples of Jesus might have felt the same way. They didn't get tired of watching Jesus work miracles day after day, e.g. curing the sick, expelling demons, making the blind see and the lame walk, etc.

These were spectacular and extraordinary events and they were exciting to watch.

But Jesus called His disciples not just to watch how He worked miracles but to follow Him.

He called them to personal conversion and to a deeper faith in God.

Jesus knew that He Himself could not work miracles without prayer and a deep intimate love for His Father.

It is because of this that He told the gospel parable in order to teach them the importance of prayer.

Essentially He told them to pray always without becoming weary.

Because prayer is not about getting immediate results ; rather it is about patience and perseverance.

Many people become great saints not because of their sudden experience and vision of God.

Rather, it was because of their prayerful lives that kept them close to God and close to others.

May we also have the patience to persevere in prayer and keep the faith.

32nd Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 17-11-2023

Wisdom 13:1-9 / Luke 17:26-37    

No matter how bad we think this world is, we cannot deny that there are many things that are attractive and beautiful.

One of which is the natural beauty of the world with its breath-taking scenery.

Or the rolling plains and the high-ridge mountains that look so awesome.

Even the power of nature, like the mighty wind, the strong waves of the ocean, the fierce power of a volcanic eruption, can stun us as well as amaze us.

Yet, all of creation, from serenity and tranquility, to the spectacular and the power, all that points to the Creator.

The 1st reading says that those who see the good things and study the wonders of creation, are stupid if they fail to discover God or fail to recognize Him.

And some people are even charmed by the beauty and the power of created things that they have taken them to be gods.

At the end of the 1st reading, it says that there can be no excuse, since if people are capable of acquiring enough knowledge to be able to investigate the world, how can they be so slow to find its Maker.

As for us Christians, all the more, with our faith, we should be able to see God in everything.

And we should also be aware of God’s presence around us and in us, and be sensitive to His promptings and guidance.

Let us not be too distracted by the beauty of this world.

Rather, let us give thanks to God and strive to be the good and beautiful persons that He has created us to be.

32nd Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 16-11-2023

Wisdom 7:22 - 8:1 / Luke 17:20-25     

The religious instinct of man is to seek for the supreme higher power or the supreme deity.

This is especially so when man realises his limitations and seeks protection from the supreme being.

Mankind tends to use their own intelligence and ability to make out what this supreme being is like.

For us Christians, we believe that it is God who reveals Himself to us.

God reveals Himself through the Scriptures and finally through His Son, Jesus Christ.

But we can only understand and believe the revelation of God with His help.

God sends the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom to know, to understand and to accept His revelation.

It is the Holy Spirit who prompts and guides us to accept that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life.

It is the Holy Spirit that gives us the faith to live out the mysteries of the Kingdom of God in our lives.

Let us pray to the Holy Spirit to lead and direct us to build the Kingdom of God within us and around us.

32nd Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 15-11-2023

Wisdom 6:1-11 / Luke 17:11-19  

Leaders and other top people who have power and authority may sometimes say that it is lonely at the top.

Well, naturally, of course, when there can only be one person at the top.

But as much as it might be lonely, to be at the apex of power and authority and might, is certainly an enjoyable feeling and some will even crave for it after awhile at the top.

Hence, loneliness may just be a small price to pay to sit at the top.

But yet loneliness can also be a consequence, especially when in order to sit at the top, one resorts to sitting on people.

The  1st reading tells us that power is a gift from the Lord, and for those who hold power and authority, God will probe their acts and scrutinize their intentions.

But we don't have to be necessarily sitting at the top and holding power and authority for God to probe our acts and scrutinize our intentions.

When we forget who is Creator and who is the creature, then we will think that we are God, and that we have power and authority over our own lives, and even on the lives of others.

A creature who separates himself for his Creator will have 2 consequences.

He will be very lonely and he will also be very ungrateful.

Even in the gospel, Jesus stressed that gratefulness and thankfulness must be given to God.

Otherwise we will take all things for granted, even though we may not have much power and authority.

32nd Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 14-11-2023

Wisdom 2:23 - 3:9 / Luke 7:7-10    

Our beliefs and our destiny have an intricate connection.

Our beliefs shape our destiny, not just our destiny in this life, but also our destiny in the life to come.

Because out of our beliefs flows our actions. Our actions slowly form our character, and by our character we build our destiny.

For example, if someone believes that a good education can make life better for himself as well as for others, he would take his studies seriously.

When he begins to realise that reading widely and deeply has enhanced his understanding of life and of himself, his studies begin to shape his character.

When he has attained a high educational standard, he may even see that he can indeed make life better and more meaningful for himself as well as for others by being a teacher so as to impart his knowledge to others.

This is just a simple secular example of what is meant by our beliefs shape our destiny.

The 1st reading tells us that God made us imperishable ; He made us in the image of His own nature.

But it was the devil's envy that brought death into the world.

In other words, sin has distorted our beliefs as well as amplified our doubts.

Sin has also robbed us of our destiny, the destiny to be fully human and to be fully loving.

That is why Jesus tells us in today's gospel that we are merely servants.

No doubt, we are made in the image of God's nature, and God's nature is love.

Hence, to love God and to love others is our duty, because we are servants of love, and we can't expect a reward for it.

When we heed the call to this duty of love, we begin to build our destiny, our destiny in this life and also in the life to come.

32nd Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 13-11-2023

Wisdom 1:1-7 / Luke 17:1-6   

In the battle between good and evil, there can be no doubt that good will prevail and will be victorious.

But the folly of mankind is that people choose to go along with sin and evil to get immediate gains.

And it may be anything from being deceptive to being diabolic.

But the sinful and evil person can never get the upper hand.

As the 1st reading says, the Wisdom of God will never make its way into a crafty soul, nor stay in a body that is in debt to sin.

And those who put obstacles to lead astray the virtuous will certainly be punished, as Jesus said in the gospel.

The Wisdom of God is a friend to those who love virtue and honesty and helps those who seek the Lord in simplicity of heart.

Let us ask the Lord God to send the Spirit of Wisdom into our hearts to strengthen our faith.

Our faith may not move mountains or uproot trees to be planted into the sea.

We just need to believe in love and forgiveness and that would be enough to defeat sin and evil.

32nd Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 12.11.2023

Wisdom 6:12-16 / 1 Thess 4:13-18 / Matthew 25:1-13

To be on time for an appointment is truly a commitment. 

And we can say that to be early is good efficiency. 

Well, one key to success is to have lunch at that time of the day when most people are having breakfast.

But more importantly, to be early shows that we are responsible and that we care about the people we are meeting. 

We don't want others to wait for us, and waste their time when we are late. Because we also don't like it when others are late. That won't be a pleasant start for the meeting or for the appointment. 

But when we have to wait for others because they are late, there are a couple of things we can choose to do. 

We can choose to be frustrated and resentful and be angry, while constantly looking at our watch. 

Or, we can choose to do something that will benefit us, and even benefit the other party. 

In the gospel parable, the bridegroom was late, very late. The 10 bridesmaids who are waiting for him grew drowsy and fell asleep. 

The wise bridesmaids were prepared as they brought along extra flasks of oil. The foolish bridesmaids had oil in their lamps, but they did not bring any extra oil for an unexpected situation. 

But while the bridesmaids were waiting, those foolish bridesmaids should have done some observing and thinking. 

Instead of being idle and falling asleep, they should have noticed that they don't have extra oil. 

But since they chose to do nothing about it, then nothing can be done for them. 

In reflecting on this parable, there is a lesson presented before us. 

We are not born wise or foolish. Rather in life it is a matter of choice. We choose to be either wise or foolish. 

We can either choose what is beneficial, or we can choose to just remain idle. 

So, in waiting for someone who is late for an appointment, a choice is presented before us. 

We can choose to be frustrated and angry with the other person for being late and wasting our time. 

Or, we can choose to turn it into a time to be with God, and to see what He is showing us or telling us. 

A deeper reflection would also help us realize that waiting is something that happens often, if not always, in prayer. 

When we pray, and if we get an immediate answer from the Lord, then it means that it is something important and urgent. 

But, most of the time, we pray and then we wait and wait for God to answer our prayer. 

God does not reject our prayer, or give us a flat NO! 

Rather, in waiting for God's answer to our prayer, we are led to think about what we are really asking from God. 

The light of our faith will tell us that God loves us, and He wants to give us what is good for us. 

Let us not be foolish and be angry and frustrated with God, because we think our prayers are not answered. 

Rather let us ask the Lord to give us oil for our lamps of faith, so that our hope will burn bright, and that we will be wise enough to see that God's ways are always right.

31st Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 11-11-2023

Romans 16:3-9, 16, 22-27 / Luke 16:9-15  

It would be so unfortunate, to say the least, if we were to say that we can’t trust anyone, or that we don’t trust anyone.

That would mean that we would be a very lonely person, even though there may be people around us.

But it is unlikely that we would say such a thing and mean it.

Because if we really can’t trust anyone or don’t trust anyone, then life would be so miserable because we will be suspicious of everyone.

In the gospel, Jesus something that we are very familiar with when He spoke about trust and honesty.

Jesus used the image of money, and we would have no trouble understanding it because we know how desirable it is to have money.

But Jesus used the image of money to teach about trust and honesty.

A person who can be trusted in little things can be trusted in great.

On the other hand, a person who is dishonest in little things will be dishonest in great.

So, let honesty be our best policy, and may others see us as trustworthy.

By doing so, we bear witness to the God in whom we believe and trust in.

31st Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 10-11-2023

Romans 15:14-21 / Luke 16:1-8      

We live in an age and time where life’s values are changing, and it leaves us wondering.

What was socially unacceptable or immoral in the past has become like a norm.

What was shameful and embarrassing is now freely discussed without reservation and even published in tabloids.

Traditional values like filial piety, honesty and responsibility are not often mentioned, and may even be considered as conservative and old-fashioned.

Even in the gospel parable, the master praised the dishonest steward for his astuteness, when we think that it should be punishment.

We may wonder what is becoming of the world, especially when some people take pride in doing what is bad and wrong, and others are indifferent to it.

In the 1st reading, St. Paul affirms the Christians that they are perfectly well instructed and able to advise each other.

St. Paul recognises that they are full of good intentions, and they are also receptive to corrections.

Let us believe that goodness, truth and love are eternal values and they also bear fruits that are lasting.

May we be led by the Holy Spirit, and by the holiness of our lives, may others come to believe in what is good, true and loving.

The Dedication of Lateran Basilica, Thursday, 09-11-2023

Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12 or 1 Cor 9-11, 16-17 / John 2:13-22  

Today the Universal Church celebrates the Dedication of the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome because it is the head and mother church of all churches in the world.

The Basilica of St. John Lateran is the Pope’s cathedral because St. John Lateran's Basilica is the Cathedral of the Diocese of Rome, and the official ecclesiastical seat of the Bishop of Rome, who is the Pope.

The first basilica on the site was built in the 4th century when the Roman emperor Constantine donated land he had received from the wealthy Lateran family.

That structure and its successors suffered fire, earthquake and the ravages of war, but the Lateran remained the Church where popes were consecrated until the popes returned from Avignon in the 14th century, after which they resided in St. Peter's.

The dedication of this Church is a feast for all Roman Catholics because St. John Lateran is the parish church of all Catholics since it is the pope's cathedral.

This church is the spiritual home of the people who belong to the Roman Catholic Church.

In celebrating the dedication of the Pope’s cathedral, we show our unity with the Pope and our love and respect for him, as well as our obedience and faithfulness to the teachings of the Catholic Church.

It also shows that we are united with each other in the  Universal Church, with the Spirit of God living in us and uniting us.

Henceforth it is our duty and mission to keep ourselves free of sin and defilement so as not to turn God's house into a market or, worst still, into a thieves' den.

More importantly, we must be united in heart and mind, and worship in Spirit and truth, so that the Church would be like what is described as the Temple in the 1st reading - with living waters flowing out to bring about healing and reconciliation, and bearing fruits of life and love.

31st Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 08-11-2023

Romans 13:8-10 / Luke 14:25-33      

Human beings are social beings, and it is in our nature to interact with each other.

It is through our interactions that we form and build relationships.

For us Christians, our relationships take on two directions.

Following the commandment of love, we revere God and we also respect others.

We are obligated to revere God as our Creator and our Saviour.

From God, we receive love and we are called to love others.

To love others begins with respecting their dignity as persons created in the image of God.

That is essentially what the 1st reading is teaching us.

So, when we love God and to respect others, then we will have life-giving relatioships.

As the 1st reading says profoundly: Love is the one thing that cannot hurt your neighbour; that is why it is the answer to every one of the commandments.

31st Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 07-11-2023

Romans 12:5-16 / Luke 14:15-24   

One of the uncomfortable experiences is to be in a place where you are new but everybody knows each other.

One example of this kind of experience is the first day at work in a new place.

We just long for someone to come and talk with us and show us how things are done and guide us along the way.

In such times, we can say that we are quite vulnerable.

We can be vulnerable to people who might befriend us but with vested interests and ulterior motives.

In the 1st reading, we are told not to let our love be a pretense. In other words, our love and concern should be real and genuine.

Hence we must examine our motives for helping others. We also must not make excuses for not helping others when we can.

When we help others out of love and care for them, it is not for gain but to give.

To give love will cost us - it will cost us our time, it will cost us our energy, it will cost us our very selves.

Let us remember that Jesus loved us and it also cost Him His life.

But when we love others as Jesus loved us, then we have said "Yes" to the invitation to the banquet of love.

31st Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 06-11-2023

Romans 11:29-36 / Luke 14:12-14     

To say that a person is petty, we may mean that the person thinks too much about small, unimportant things and perhaps rather cold and calculative. 

Generally, we would avoid a petty person because we feel constrained and restricted.

We don’t know what a petty person may pick on, and we might even be surprised that what is a non-issue to us could be a big contention for that person.

What Jesus said in the gospel about inviting people may have an indication on our own mind-set.

We may think that we are not that petty or calculative, but we could be focused on being “fair-and-square”.

So, if we do someone a favour, we will have it locked in our memory, and wait for an opportune time for that person to return us a favour.

To share and to give without expecting anything in return can be rather challenging for us.

Somehow, we will tend to remember what we have shared and given out.

But, we need to rise above our small pettiness and think about what we have received and what we have been given.

God gave us all His love and mercy through Jesus Christ who died to save us.

Let us meditate on the Cross, and may it remind us to share and to give, just as Jesus gave Himself for us.

31st Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 05.22.2023

Malachi 1:14 – 2:2, 8-10 / 1 Thess 2:7-9, 13 / Matthew 23:1-12

In the Catholic Church, the highest and most important form of worship is the Mass. 

The Mass, is essentially, the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross for the salvation of humanity. 

Because it is God the Son, offering Himself to God the Father, hence the Mass is a divine worship. 

But in the Catholic church, there can be no Mass if there is no priest. 

Because when the priest celebrates and offers the Mass, the priest stands in the person of Jesus Christ. 

So, when the priest consecrates the bread and wine, it becomes the Body and Blood of Christ, because he does it under the authority of Christ. 

In other words, it is Christ Himself who consecrates the bread and wine into His Body and Blood. 

That is why, the Mass is the source of all blessings, and it is also the highest expression of our faith. 

So, the Mass and the priesthood are closely connected; when there is no priest, then there can be no Mass. 

That is why, we must pray for more vocations to the priesthood. 

The priesthood is a Divine calling, because a priest is called to do a holy and sacred work for God. 

As much as we need to pray for more vocations to the priesthood, we also need to pray for priests who are already serving the Lord. 

Undeniably, the priest is also human. As a human being, he has physical limitations, and he can fall sick and become weak. 

He can also be adversely affected emotionally and spiritually. 

And the priest is also the prime target of the devil's temptations, so that the priest will be distracted and lose focus on what he is called to do. 

In the 1st reading, we hear of the Lord God issuing a warning for the priests of the Temple. 

The wrongdoing of the priests was that they had strayed from the ways of the Lord, and have caused many to stumble. 

They have defiled the Covenant of the Lord, and showed contempt for the House of the Lord. 

So, the Lord God declared that there will be punishment for those unfaithful and corrupted priests. 

Those are certainly strong words, which are reiterated by Jesus in the gospel. 

Jesus warns His disciples and the people not to follow the corrupted and crooked ways of the scribes and Pharisees. 

So, it can be seen that from the Old Testament to the New Testament to the present-day Church, it is littered with priests and religious who have gone astray and have led people astray. 

They gave wrong teachings, and have broken up the Church of God with scandals. 

It is embarrassing and shameful to go further into the details. 

But as much as there is the dark side of the priesthood, it is also undeniable that there are shining examples of priests who are holy and faithful to God. 

There is Saint John Vianney, who converted the whole village of Ars back to God. He was a much sought after Confessor because he had the gift of insight into souls. 

By his simple and humble ways, sinners were drawn back to God. 

There is Saint Padre Pio, who did penance for sinners, and bore the pains of the wounds of Christ in his body. 

These are just two of the many examples of holy and simple priests who served Jesus faithfully. 

They showed the People of God, the face of Jesus Christ, and brought about conversion and healing. 

Today's readings give us two messages as well as two lessons. 

One is for the priests, that they must be holy and be faithful and obedient to God. 

The other message and lesson is for the People of God, that they need to pray for priests to be holy and to serve God faithfully. 

When the priest is holy, then the people will be formed in the ways of holiness and walk in the ways of the Lord. 

When the priests and the People of God are united in holiness, God will pour forth His abundant blessings of peace, joy and love.

30th Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 04-11-2023

Romans 11:1-2, 11-12, 25-29 / Luke 14:1, 7-11   

It is said that the only way to gain experience is to make some mistakes.

Of course, there are other ways to gain experience, and no one would intentionally make a mistake so as to gain some experience.

Nonetheless, an experience gained from making a mistake is valuable and it is also etched into the memory.

In the 1st reading, St. Paul talks about his own people as the Chosen People of God.

From the time they came out of Egypt to the time they settled in the Promised Land, the Chosen People of God went through cycles of unfaithfulness, punishment, repentance and restoration.

Still, God did not reject the people He had chosen, and St. Paul said that their stumbling and falling in their faithfulness to God is a lesson for us.

They stumbled and fell because of pride and disobedience, and we should learn from that.

We should learn to be humble and not to be too prideful and think too highly of ourselves or that we are better than others.

That is also the lesson that Jesus wants us to learn in the gospel parable.

Yes, by our pride and ego, we stumble and fall.

But let us also have the humility to turn to God and ask for forgiveness, and He will raise us up.

We have learnt many lessons in life, but let us always remember that God loves the humble and contrite of heart.

30th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 03-11-2023

Romans 9:1-5 / Luke 14:1-6   

In many ways, religion is an important influence and impact in the lives of people.

Among other aspects, religion is a great source of support and consolation for people.

As for us Christians, we believe in God who is love, and He loves us and cares for us.

So, we come for Mass, we worship God and offer praise and thanksgiving, and we also pray for His blessings in our needs.

We have faith in God because we know that He hears our prayers and grants us our needs.

But faith and worship are not confined to just “me and my God”.

Faith and worship are also to be expressed in relationships and with love for neighbour.

In the gospel, Jesus noticed a man with dropsy, and He addressed the lawyers and Pharisees with this question: Is it against the law to cure a man on the sabbath, or not?

But they remained silent. They were only watching Jesus to see if He would cure that man on the sabbath.

So for the lawyers and Pharisees, worship and observance of religious precepts have no connection with love and care for neighbour and those in need.

As for St. Paul, he says in the 1st reading that he would willingly be condemned and be cut off from Christ if it could help his people.

Such was the deep connection of his faith and his relationship with others.

May our worship give glory to God, and may our faith lead us to help those in need.

Then others will know that we are truly Christians by our love for God and neighbour.

All Souls, Thursday, 02-11-2023

Isaiah 25:6-9 / Romans 5:5-11 / John 6:37-40     

We have come to this Mass to remember and to pray for our departed loved ones, and also those who have died, especially those who have been forgotten. 

We pray that our God, who is merciful and compassionate, will admit them into His presence, and grant them eternal peace and rest. 

We pray for the souls of the departed, that God in His love, will grant them eternal life. 

And that is what the Eucharist is about, a celebration of life and love. 

The 1st reading gives a beautiful image of the mountain of the Lord, where He has prepared a banquet of rich food for all peoples. 

On that mountain, there will be no mourning, and God will wipe away the tears from every cheek. 

We pray that the departed will be on their way to that mountain, and there is also where we want to go eventually. 

That is the mountain of our hope, where there is an everlasting celebration of life and love. 

Our hope is not deceptive, because the love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead. 

Jesus is our Good Shepherd who leads the departed from the valley of death to the mountain of life. 

Jesus also leads us, the living, to have life and life to the full. 

Jesus is the Saviour of the living and the dead. In Him is our hope for salvation. 

Let us pray with faith and journey on with the hope of eternal life, where every tear will be wiped away, and the rejoicing is forever.