4th Sunday of Advent, Year C, 22.12.2024

 Micah 5:1-4 / Hebrews 10:5-10 / Luke 1:39-44

Some of us may remember this famous statement and its historical background. 

The statement is this: That's one small step for man, a giant leap for mankind. 

That statement was made by the American astronaut Neil Armstrong on the 20th July, 1969. He made this statement as he descended from the ladder of the lunar capsule and stepped on the surface of the Moon. 

And with that, he became the first man to step on the moon. 

But man didn't stop with just stepping on the moon. The quest for exploration of outer space continues with further ventures to other planets. 

But other than the moon, man has not stepped on other planets, well, not yet. 

So, it can be said that man has leapt to the moon, and he may be eyeing other planets to leap at. 

Although man has leapt far into outer space, how far has he gone into inner space? 

Much money and resources are spent exploring other planets, and yet planet Earth was left with an ecological problem. 

Man has leapt are into outer space, but has neglected about his inner space. 

In the gospel, we hear of another kind of leap. It was a leap of joy, a leap of life, a leap of love. 

Mary greeting Elizabeth seems ordinary, but it revealed a deep mystery. 

The Word of God has taken flesh in the womb of Mary, and through her greeting, the Good News of salvation was proclaimed. 

And baby in Elizabeth's womb left for joy at the sound of the Good News. 

It was a leap not into outer space, but a leap into the mystery of salvation, a leap into the love of God. 

As we listen to the gospel passage, our hearts also want to leap for joy. 

But if our hearts are not responding to this joyful news, could it be that our hearts are heavy and burdened. 

We may have spent our time, resources and energy on the unnecessary, on the so-called outer space, and neglected what is necessary, we have neglected our inner space. 

We need to listen to the Good News, so that our hearts can also leap with joy into the love of God. 

A story goes that a man went trekking into the woods, and he was fascinated by the natural beauty, and he lost track of time. 

When he realized it was getting dark, he tried to hurry back but he got lost, but he still tried to find his way back even though it was dark. 

He went on and on and then suddenly he fell off a cliff. As he was falling down, he somehow managed to catch hold of a branch. 

He caught his breath and was relieved, but he couldn't see where he was as it was pitch dark. 

So, he began to pray: Oh God, save me, save me. 

To his surprise, he heard a voice: You want me to save you? 

The man replied. Yes Lord yes, please save me. 

The Voice then said: Okay, then do what I tell you, let go of the branch. 

The man was stunned and also shocked. He couldn’t believe what he heard. So, he closed his eyes and desperately held on to the branch with all his might. 

After a long while, he heard birds chirping and he knew that finally morning has arrived. 

With much anxiety, he slowly opened his eyes to see what his situation was. To his surprise, when he opened his eyes to see where he was, his feet was only six inches from the ground. 

If only he had listened to the voice of God and let go of the branch, he wouldn't have suffered all night. 

So, it comes back to this simple spiritual saying: Let go and let God. 

When we let go of our worries, fears and anxieties, we will listen to the voice of God and let God take control of our lives. 

When we let God take control, then we will be able to listen to the Good News of salvation, and our hearts will leap for joy.

Weekday of Advent, Saturday, 21st December 2024

Songs 2:8-14 or Zephaniah 3:14-18 / Luke 1:39-45    

Advent is a time of preparation for the celebration of the birth of Christ as well as His second coming.

But for Mary and Elizabeth, it was a time of preparation of motherhood.

As these two expecting mothers met in the gospel passage, we can sense a spike of revelation.

For Elizabeth, the sad barren period of her life is over as God revealed His blessings on her.

For Mary, a joy-filled, yet anxious future, has just been revealed to her.

In Mary and Elizabeth, we can see the cycle of life and the cycle of joy and anxiety.

Yet even in our joys and anxiety, God will still reveal Himself to us, just as He did to Mary and Elizabeth.

In our joys and anxiety may we still sing the songs of love and thanksgiving, like the song we heard in the 1st reading.

May our hearts always leap with joy with each revelation from God.

Weekday of Advent, Friday, 20th December 2024

Isaiah 7:10-14 / Luke 1:26-38   

The word "sign" in everyday language can have a few meanings.

A sign can give information, as in the information on a signboard.

It can give directions, as in road signs.

Or it can have a symbolic meaning, as in someone's words or actions are indicating a peculiar meaning or happening.

But when the Bible uses the word "sign" as in the 1st reading, it means that God was intervening for His people.

In the 1st reading, God was pledging that He would be with king Ahaz as he faced the threat of the foreign powers, and the prophet Isaiah was calling on Ahaz to trust in God because of the sign that was given.

Similarly in the gospel, God was also intervening when He sent the angel Gabriel to tell Mary that God was with her.

When the world was crumbling in its sin, God intervened and gave a sign.

He sent His only Son, born of a virgin, who became like us in all things except sin, to save us.

At every Mass, we celebrate God's saving intervention when we hear the words: The Lord be with you.

Let us respond by being with God and in God always, so that in everything, we see the signs of God's saving love.

Weekday of Advent, Thursday, 19th December 2024

Judges 13:2-7. 24-25 / Luke 1:5-25  

We pray because we believe that God hears and answers our prayers.

And because our prayers have been answered, our faith in God is deepened and strengthened.

And so we continue to put our faith and trust in God in our time of need.

But prayer can be rather challenging when it comes to difficult circumstances.

Zachariah’s wife, Elizabeth, was barren and getting on in years, and he was also an old man.

Though Zachariah prayed for a child, his hopes were fading and his prayer for a child became a routine.

And as he was offering incense at the Temple, the angel Gabriel appeared to him and told him that his prayer was heard and that Elizabeth is to bear a son and he must name him John.

But Zachariah found it hard to believe that it could happen.

Time has eroded his hopes and possibilities have faded off.

Advent is a time of prayer and a renewal of our faith in God who hears our prayers.

May we come to realise that what seems impossible to us is not impossible for God.

Weekday of Advent, Wednesday, 18th December 2024

Jeremiah 23:5-8 / Matthew 1:18-24  

When we think of home, what comes to mind will be a number of warm and cozy thoughts and feelings.

Because home is a place where we can call our own, be ourselves, feel comfortable and have a good and peaceful rest.

Any other place, no matter how nice or enjoyable can never be like home.

The 1st reading prophesied that the Lord will lead back and bring home the descendants of the House of Israel from all the countries where they were dispersed so that they will live on their own soil.

So the People of God will go home and live under the protection of the Lord God.

That is true freedom and with that, they will be able to worship God in a place that they can truly call their own.

In the gospel, the angel also used the word home. He told Joseph to take Mary home as his wife.

And that is also to prepare a place for Jesus as He comes into the world.

For Jesus, His home is in heaven, but He came from heaven to make His home with us.

He did that so that He can in turn bring us home to heaven.

Let us prepare a home for Jesus in our hearts during this Advent season.

When Jesus makes His home in our hearts, then we will also know what it feels like to be in heaven.

Weekday of Advent, Tuesday, 17th December 2024

Genesis 49:2, 8-10 / Matthew 1:1-17   

When we look at a tree, what we will see will be what is above the ground.

We will notice the height, the shape, the branches, the leaves and the fruit.

But the health and the state of the tree is determined by what is below the ground.

What is below the ground is what we don’t see, but it is as important if not more important that what is above the ground.

In other words, the roots determine the fruit, and the deeper the roots, the better will the tree hold on to the ground.

In the gospel, we hear of the long genealogy of Jesus Christ.

In that genealogy are some names of men that we have heard before, as well as some women who have significant roles.

But all of them form the roots of the tree of life that eventually bore the ultimate fruit, and that is Jesus Christ the Saviour.

The season of Advent reminds us of the promise of salvation that is fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is the root of our faith and our life.

May we bear the fruit of His love so that others will see us, the Church, as the tree of life bearing fruits for the salvation of the world.

3rd Week of Advent, Monday, 16-12-2024

Numbers 24:2-7, 15-17 / Matthew 21:23-27  

To say that a person is spiritual would imply that the person is closely in union with God.

It may also imply that God may choose to reveal certain things through that person.

In the 1st reading, Balaam was a spiritual person and as well as a prophet of God.

But he was enticed with a reward by the enemies of Israel to lay a curse on Israel so that they will be defeated in battle.

In other words, he detracted from his prophetic role and even collaborated with the enemies of Israel.

But the Spirit of God came upon him and he submitted to the authority of God and retracted and declaimed his curse.

And he even blessed Israel as well as prophesied that a great leader would arise from Israel.

In the gospel, when the chief priests and elders questioned Jesus about His authority, He in turn questioned them about the authority of John the Baptist.

If the chief priests and elders had been spiritual enough, they would have acknowledged that the authority of Jesus and John the Baptist was from above.

We are called to be a prophetic people and to fulfil that prophetic role, we have to be spiritual and to be closely united with Jesus.

And when we speak, may it be Jesus who speaks through us, and may our words be a blessing for others.

3rd Sunday of Advent, Year C, 15.12.2024

Zephaniah 3:14-18 / Philippians 4:4-7 / Luke 3:10-18

Human beings and machines have some similarities. 

A machine is designed to perform a specific task. 

For example, a car is designed to move after a sequence of operations. The task is specific and there are not much variations to what a car is supposed to do. 

Human beings, as much as they can be flexible and adaptable, also like to be told specifically what to do. 

And human beings can be rather robotic, and they can at times even act like robots. 

But a better way of putting it is that human beings are creatures of habit, and they like to be ritualistic. 

They want to know what to do and keep doing it, so that they don't have to think too much about how to do it. 

And when they get used to doing something over and over again, then it is not likely that they will like to change it. 

In the gospel, the people who came to John the Baptist asked him what must they do for repentance. 

So, to specific groups of people John the Baptist gave them specific tasks to perform. 

Generally, he told them to be generous and to share with those in need. 

Then, to the tax collectors, he told them to be honest and not to collect more than required. To the soldiers, he told them not to intimidate and not to extort. 

John the Baptist was specific and straightforward in his teaching and in his instructions to the people and to the specific groups. 

So the people thought that it was all that was required. 

Then, John the Baptist gave them something more to think about and what to be prepared for. 

He said that he baptized with water for the repentance of sin. 

But there is one who is coming after him, and who is more powerful than he is. 

And that one who is to come, will baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 

What immediately comes to mind is a stark contrast. 

John the Baptist talks about and uses water for his ministry. 

But Jesus, the one who is to come, will have the power of the Holy Spirit and there will be fire. 

What a contrast, and what a change. 

But the contrast also prepares for the change, and it will be a wonderful and beautiful change. 

On this third week of Advent, the rose coloured candle is lighted and rose coloured vestments are worn. 

The rose coloured candle stands as a contrast among the three purple coloured candles. 

It is a candle to symbolize the theme of rejoicing. 

It also reminds us that when Jesus came He brought about a change. 

He was a light in the darkness, and his birth brought about rejoicing because the promise of salvation was fulfilled. 

On this third Sunday of Advent, the message for us is that Jesus will bring about a change, and it is a change that we will rejoice over. 

So, when there are changes in our lives, in our family and in our workplace, let us ask Jesus to help us see the change with rejoicing and with His blessings.

For this parish community, for Fr. Andre and for myself, all of us had undergone a change, and we want to believe that the change comes with blessings and rejoicing.

Let us remember the rose coloured candle of the Advent wreath.

May the light of that candle give us the Spirit of rejoicing. 

And let us pray that every change will come with the blessings of God, and that every change will be wonderful and beautiful.

2nd Week of Advent, Saturday, 14-12-2024

Ecclesiasticus 48:1-4, 9-11 / Matthew 17:10-13  

If there was one prophet in the Old Testament that we can say is really dramatic, it is surely the prophet Elijah.

And the 1st reading makes special mention of this dramatic prophet, and rightly so.

Elijah was a fire-and-brimstone prophet. He worked great and awful deeds like calling down famine upon the land, calling down fire from heaven to consume the sacrifice he offered and putting the 450 false prophets by slitting their throats, just to mention a few.

But all that dramatic deeds were intended to turn the people back to God and for the restoration of Israel as the people of God.

But people can just be interested in the dramatic and the spectacular and not see the meaning and the message behind it.

We live in an age where people, Catholics included, are easily attracted by the dramatic and the spectacular and the extraordinary.

We may even expect the end times and the second coming of Christ to be kind of dramatic and spectacular, with awesome signs.

But as Jesus said in the gospel, Elijah came in the person of John the Baptist, and God came to visit His people in the Word made flesh.

But John the Baptist and Jesus were just too ordinary, and hence did not live up to the people's expectations.

The season of Advent prepares us to encounter God in the ordinary.

Amidst the festive celebrations, let us quieten our hearts to hear the voice of God in the ordinary.

When Jesus first came to this world at the first Christmas, it was just another ordinary day.

When He comes to us today, it will also be in an ordinary way.

2nd Week of Advent, Friday, 13-12-2024

Isaiah 48:17-19 / Matthew 11:16-19  

To follow instructions may sound simple.

We just have to follow what is said or written and comply to it.

As much as it sounds that simple, yet it is not that easy to do.

Because when it comes to those instructions that we don’t like or don’t agree with, we will then have to deviate and do things to our own convenience.

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

I, the Lord, your God, teach you what is good for you. I lead you in the way you must go.

So, since it is the Lord God who is teaching and instructing us, then certainly we must obey and comply willingly.

But in the pages of the Bible are accounts after accounts of the People of God being unfaithful and turning away from God.

The consequence was misery and tragedy with misfortune upon misfortune.

The Lord our God reminds us of this:

If only you had been alert to my commandments, your happiness would have been like a river, and your integrity like the waves of the sea.

To go our own ways and do things our way will only lead to disputes and division.

To obey God and follow His ways and do His will is to blessed with peace and happiness.

Let us be wise and choose what is right and good.

2nd Week of Advent, Thursday, 12-12-2024

Isaiah 41:13-20 / Matthew 11:11-115  

The season of Advent is often seen as a time of preparation and even celebration.

Advent is a time to put out all the Christmas decorations and also to have Christmas parties even before Christmas Day.

So, the four weeks of Advent often come and go and we don’t remember much about the message of Advent.

Other than lighting the four candles of the Advent wreath each week, we were caught up with the busyness of the festive season as well as the year end activities.

In the gospel, Jesus said that of all the children born of women, a greater than John the Baptist has never been seen.

Yet, even John the Baptist had to face the opposition and the resistance of a violent world that does not want to hear of repentance.

The gospel passage ended with Jesus saying that if anyone has ears, let him listen.

Advent is a time to be silent so that we can listen.

We listen to the promises that God made to His people, promises like those in the 1st reading.

When we make our ears listen, then we will experience the peace of the silent and holy night when the Saviour was born.

2nd Week of Advent, Wednesday, 11-12-2024

Isaiah 40:25-31 / Matthew 11:28-30  

In the book of Genesis, after Adam and Eve fell into sin, they were driven out of the Garden of Eden.

Where once God provided for their sustenance, they now had to earn their bread by the sweat of their brow.

Work became a burden and they had to work hard in order to survive.

Gone are the restful and peaceful days before their fall.

But in the gospel, Jesus exclaimed this: Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest.

Jesus came to save us from our sin, He came to heal us of the wounds of sin.

He came to change burdens into blessings, and work became a mission for humanity to continue God’s work or recreating the world.

But the effects of sin are still felt in our weak humanness, and Jesus calls us to come to Him and find rest and peace.

The season of Advent is also a time to find peace in that promise of Jesus that He will give us rest, physically and spiritually.

Then in all our burdens and labours, we will turn to the Lord to renew our strength and rest in His love.

2nd Week of Advent, Tuesday, 10-12-2024

Isaiah 40:1-11 / Matthew 18:12-14  

The teachings of Jesus are indeed difficult to comprehend, to say the least.

If we were listening to what Jesus was saying in the gospel, and He asks us would that man not leave the ninety-nine on the hillside and go in search of the stray, what would we say?

Obviously, we would say that man should not go.

In our human logical thinking, why would a man leave the ninety-nine sheep just to go search of a stray?

Any which way we see it would still not make sense to us.

But when we reflect about the ways of God, then we would also come to the same conclusion.

The ways of God do not make sense to our human mind.

The season of Advent makes us think about the ways of God, and how absurdly wonderful it is.

For one, why would God want to become man and take on the weakness of human flesh just to save sinners.

The mystery of the Incarnation is what Advent is preparing us to encounter, even if we don’t really understand it.

When we see that all the ways of God point to His unconditional love for us, then we will be ready to accept the difficult teachings of Jesus.

Immaculate Conception of the the B. V. Mary, Monday, 09-12-2024

Genesis 3:9-15, 20 / Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12 / Luke 1:26-38 

For those of us who were baptized as babies, our parents gave us a baptism name.

For those of us who were baptized as adults, we chose a baptism name for ourselves.

These will be the names for the rest of our lives.

But these are not just names to identify ourselves. They have a much greater significance.

They symbolize our new identity in Christ through baptism.

For those of us who were baptized as adults, our baptism names symbolize our "Yes" to God to be His beloved children.

Mary was graced to be immaculately conceived in her mother's womb, and freed from sin by the power of God.

But at the Annunciation, Mary is called by a new name and empowered to bear the One who is to crush the power of evil.

Mary is called by the angel Gabriel "the highly favoured one".

And Mary said "Yes" to the mission of bearing the Word made flesh.

By the grace of our baptism, we too have become God's highly favoured ones; we too have become "immaculate".

We too are empowered to say "Yes" to God.

In saying "Yes" to God, we are also saying "No" to evil and to the devil's temptations.

Let us rejoice with Mary on this feast of her Immaculate Conception and give thanks and praise to God for His saving love for us.

Let us renew the grace of our baptism, and by the grace of our baptism, let us crush our evil and sinful desires and live as God's beloved and highly favoured sons and daughters.

Let us also ask Mary to pray for us by using the prayer that is inscribed in the Miraculous Medal : O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you.

2nd Sunday of Advent, Year C, 08.12.2024

Baruch 5:1-9 / Philippians 1:3-6, 8-11 / Luke 3:1-6 

The ways of the world are such that what is done is to be done on a big scale. 

It can be said that size does matter, so the bigger the better. 

The objective is to gain attention and admiration, so as to be more popular and famous than the rest. 

So, when it comes to the seasonal festive decorations, then the brighter and fancier, the better. 

And of course, when it comes to the Christmas trees, then the taller the better. 

But it is not just about being bigger, or brighter, or taller. 

The world also favours those with big names and high status, and from famous places. 

Needless to say, that behind those big names with high status and from famous places, there are influence, power and wealth. 

These are the ways of the world, and we are constantly being exposed to such ways. 

Inevitably, that also became a way of life, to be bigger, higher, better and with power. 

In the gospel, many big and powerful names were mentioned, and they also rule over famous places. 

Among those names are some that we have heard before, like, Pontius Pilate, Herod, Annas and Caiaphas. 

And we have heard about those places that they rule over, Judaea, Galilee and those other places. 

At that time, if someone were to name-drop and say that they are friend of Tiberius Caesar, or Pontius Pilate or Herod, they will be shown favour. 

Or, if someone were to say that the high priest Annas or Caiaphas is their friend, they will also get religious favours. 

What happened then, in that political and religious world, has not changed much. It is also happening in the present political and religious scenes, only that the names and places have changed. 

But there is one thing that did not change, and that is the ways of God. The ways of God are not the ways of the world. 

In the gospel, the Word of God did not go to those high and mighty and famous names or places. 

Instead, the Word of God came to John, son of Zechariah, and he was out there in the wilderness. 

And the message that John received was plain and simple, and that is, the baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sin. 

It was a no-frills and no-thrills message, just repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 

As we enter into the second week of Advent, the world has already entered into the festive celebrations. 

It looks and sounds as if Christmas is already here, and we are also moving with the flow. 

Being in this tension between Advent and the festive celebrations, a well-known figure emerges. 

We know who Santa Claus is. His image has appeared during this time in decorations and advertisements. 

Santa Claus is a big name in this festive season, so much so that his origins is often forgotten. 

Santa Claus, or St. Nicholas, lived during the 4th century. He is venerated in the Church because he helped the poor in their misery and poverty with gifts of money.

So, that is why Santa Claus, or St Nicholas, became a symbol of giving during this season. 

He also reminds us that God gave us His only Son to save us and to forgive our sins. 

Just as the Word of God came to John the Baptist in the wilderness, the Word of God comes to us through Santa Claus, or Saint Nicholas. 

St Nicholas reminds us of the virtue of giving and especially to help the poor. 

The Word of God reminds us that the best gift is the gift of forgiveness. 

Let us turn to God for forgiveness so that we can forgive others. 

That is how we prepare the way for the Lord, so that we, the Church, and the world, will see the salvation of God.

1st Week of Advent, Saturday, 07-12-2024

Isaiah 30:19-21, 23-26 / Matthew 9:35 - 10:1, 6-8 

The season of Advent often seems like a preparation and a celebration of Christmas.

Even before Christmas Day has come, there are already Christmas parties and Christmas songs are heard everywhere.

The Advent symbols and meanings are like only limited in Church services and the Advent wreath.

But the season of Advent is an invitation to go slow and even to be still and to reflect.

The divine promises are to be recalled and remembered in time of Advent.

The 1st reading recalls the promise of God that though He has punished His people for their sins, He will also dress the wounds of His people and heals the bruises His blows have left.

The gospel also recalls Jesus sending His disciples to go and cast out evil spirits and to cure all kinds of diseases and sickness.

As we recall and remember these divine promises, then we will be able to understand God’s great love for us.

His greatest love for us is when God fulfilled His promise of sending us the Saviour.

And Jesus is now calling us to be labourers in God’s harvest so that more people will hear about the promises of God.

May we believe in God’s promises and may we also hear the call of Jesus to proclaim and to fulfill God’s promises.

1st Week of Advent, Friday, 06-12-2024

Isaiah 29:17-24 / Matthew 9:27-31  

In the course of His healing ministry, Jesus cured many types of diseases and illnesses.

And He also restored sight to the blind, opened the ears of the deaf and loosened the tongues of the dumb.

During the time of Jesus and especially in the Old Testament times, illness and diseases, as well as being blind, or deaf or dumb are seen as the effects of sin or punishment for sin.

So in curing those who were sick or afflicted with some kind of disease, and in restoring sight to the blind, and opening the ears of the deaf and loosening the tongues of the dumb, Jesus showed what the Good News is about.

The Good News is about the forgiveness of sin and restoring the human dignity in the image of God.

But the Good News is also about conversion and repentance.

The Good News is also a warning for tyrants and scoffers and those disposed to evil, as stated in the 1st reading.

The Good News also warns against those who gossip to incriminate others, those who try to trip the arbitrator, and those who get the upright man’s case dismissed.

So the Good News is a warning against sinners, as well as a teaching for those who have faith in God.

Let us acknowledge that we are sinners and need to learn wisdom and accept instruction to live in the ways of truth and love.

1st Week of Advent, Thursday, 05-12-2024

Isaiah 26:1-6 / Matthew 7:21, 24-27  

It is often said that history repeats itself. It is only the people and the situations or circumstances have changed.

So it is with the lessons of life.

The lessons of life keep repeating itself. It is only the people and situations or circumstances have changed.

But whether it is history or the lessons of life that keep repeating, it shows one thing.

And that is we human beings, despite our intelligence, don’t seem to learn or remember the lessons of life.

We keep making those mistakes from one generation to the next, and going back way into history.

One mistake that the high and mighty keep making is that they think they are going to stay up there forever.

The 1st reading says that the Lord will bring low those who lived high up, brings them down to the ground, and flings them to the dust.

We turn to the Word of God and listen to it in order to know what the Lord is teaching us and the warnings that He is giving us.

Let us listen and remember what the Lord has said and keeps saying.

Then we won’t be in misery over our mistakes, and that our lives will be built on the Lord our Rock.

1st Week of Advent, Wednesday, 04-12-2024

Isaiah 25:6-10 / Matthew 15:29-37  

We usually think that the important things are the big things in life.

Some of the so-called big things are like wealth, status, looks and whatever that will boost our ego.

We may not pay that much attention to the small and little things in life but they are equally as important as the big things of life.

In the gospel, Jesus was expressing His mission of salvation through His healing ministry.

He cured the lame, the crippled, the blind, the dumb and many other illnesses and diseases.

But He also cared about the welfare of the people.

He knew that the people were hungry and He felt sorry for them.

So besides the spiritual and physical wellness of the people, He also cared about their basic need for food.

In the miracle of the multiplication of bread, Jesus showed that God is also concerned about the small and little needs of the people, which is just as important.

As we come for the Eucharist, we are nourished spiritually and physically.

The Eucharist we receive is a sign that God will provide for all our needs, big and small.

May we put our faith and trust in God that He loves and cares for us.

That is what Jesus came to show and tell us.

St. Francis Xavier, Patron of Missions and Missionaries, Tuesday, 03-12-2024

1 Cor 9:16-19, 22-23 / Mark 16:15-20  

The Major Seminary in Singapore is dedicated to the patronage of St. Francis Xavier.

In the first year of formation, the seminarians had to read about the lives of the saints, and St. Francis Xavier was one for compulsory reading.

And even priests and religious and missionaries who read about his life and his work will admit that he is one model that is very difficult to match up to.

His missionary zeal, his perseverance and his persistence in preaching the gospel amidst the political clutter, his courage and determination were all very inspiring.

And it seemed that he spent so much time in the East in places like Goa, Malacca, China and Japan and learning the local languages so that he could preach to the local people that he eventually forgot his own mother tongue (Spanish).

He took the trouble to learn the local languages and in that sense he really went out and preached everywhere.

In St. Francis Xavier, we can see the words of today's gospel being fulfilled.

And the words of the gospel, the Good News, will continue to be fulfilled in us as long as we are willing to proclaim the Good News in word and in action.

We must always remember that it is not so much our suitability for the task but rather our availability for the mission.

1st Week of Advent, Monday, 02-12-2024

Isaiah 2:1-5 / Matthew 8:5-11   

When night falls, and when it becomes dark, anything that gives out light would be useful.

It may be a candle, or an oil lamp or an electric bulb, light is certainly appreciated in the darkness.

As we begin the season of Advent, the first candle of the Advent wreath is lighted.

Even though the light from that candle is not so significant, yet it symbolizes the meaning of the season of Advent.

The coming of Christ is like a light in the darkness, and that light slowly becomes brighter and stronger.

That light points and leads us to God, and it also shines on us so that we can see who we really are in the eyes of God.

When we look at what the light reveals to us, then we will hammer our swords of anger and spears of bitterness into ploughshares of service and sickles of love.

With the light of Christ, we will recognize His power and authority to change humanity and bring about healing and peace.

Let us walk in the light of Christ as we journey on in this season of Advent.

1st Sunday of Advent, Year C, 01.12.2024

Jeremiah 33:14-16 / 1 Thess 3:12 -4:2 / Luke 21:25-28, 34-36 

Human beings are such that they will usually follow what the majority or what the crowd is doing, or where the majority or the crowd is going. 

That is also sometimes called the “herd  mentality”. 

To follow the majority or the crowd would be certainly a safer option. 

At least we won't feel left out, or left alone. It is always safer to be with a crowd or in a crowd. 

But doing what the crowd is doing, or going where the crowd is going, would make us lose something. 

It would make us lose our sense of judgment, as we would do without thinking and go without looking. 

Then there is also the peer pressure that will numb our discernment and judgment. 

But that would be what we have to give up if we want to be with the “in-crowd” and so as not to be left out. 

So, when the crowd says that that is the way, then we will also follow along and say that is the way. 

And when the crowd is in chaos and panicking because of some danger, then we too will also be frightened and begin to panic. 

In the gospel, Jesus talks about disturbing and frightening signs and happenings. 

But He also says that in those fearful and frightening times, He will come with power and great glory. 

Jesus tells us to stand erect, and hold our heads high, because our liberation is near at hand. 

Jesus wants to liberate and free us from the conformity and the confusion of this world. 

So, the world says that we must stay low and protect ourselves, and to take cover from danger. 

But Jesus tells us to stand erect and hold our heads high. 

Practically, it means that we must know what is right and wrong. 

Right is right even if nobody is doing it. And wrong is wrong even if everybody is doing it.

But, that would be challenging and difficult because of the herd-mentality and the peer pressure. 

As we begin the season of Advent, the first candle of the Advent wreath is lighted. 

It is just one lighted candle, but that one little light is sufficient to make us think and reflect. 

As we journey further into Advent, eventually all the four candles of the Advent wreath will be lighted. 

And it began with just one lighted candle. 

So when we stand up for what is right and true, and what is good and loving, we also must stand erect and hold our heads high. 

We do what is right and true, what is good and loving, even if no one is doing it. 

We stand on the promise of Jesus, and we hold our heads high because Jesus will shine His light on us and liberate and light up our lives. 

We don't follow the crowd, because we follow Jesus. 

We can only follow Jesus when we stay awake and pray. 

With the light of Jesus shining on us, we will be able to stand erect and hold our heads high. 

And we will be able to do what is right and true, and what is good and loving, even if nobody is doing it.

St. Andrew, Apostle, Saturday, 30-11-2024

Romans 10:9-18 / Matthew 4:18-22   

The New Testament states that Andrew was the brother of Simon Peter. The gospel of John states that Andrew was a disciple of John the Baptist who pointed out Jesus as the Lamb of God to him.

Andrew followed Jesus and recognized Him as the Messiah, and hastened to introduce Him to his brother Simon Peter, and from then on the two brothers became disciples of Jesus.

But in today's gospel, we heard Jesus called them, while they were casting their nets in the lake, for they were fishermen.

Jesus called them to be His disciples, saying that He will make them "fishers of men".

Yet both gospel accounts complement each other in that we can see the faith of St. Andrew and his openness to the mission of a higher calling than just being a mere fisherman.

Besides bringing Peter to see Jesus, St. Andrew also accepted that he was to bring others to encounter the person of Jesus and that would be his mission and purpose in life from then on.

Of course as the 1st reading puts it, everyone (and anyone) who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

But, they will not ask for His help unless they believe in Him, and they will not believe in Him unless they have heard of Him, and they will not hear of Him unless they get a preacher, and they will never have a preacher unless one is sent.

Like St. Andrew, we too are called and sent to the deep and cast the net of the Good News of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Like St. Andrew, we too must speak about our Lord Jesus Christ.

We speak about our Lord Jesus Christ, because we believe, and we speak so that others will believe.

34th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 29-11-2024

Apocalypse 20:1-4, 11 - 21:2 / Luke 21:29-33

Life is like drawing a line with a pen.

The line may not be that straight, but such is life.

As much as we try to draw it straight, life is curly and wavy.

Nonetheless, we still continue to draw that line as best as we could and as straight as we could.

But the time will come when that pen which we are using to draw the line runs out of ink.

That is where the line stops, and as much as we may want to continue drawing, the ink in the pen has run out.

That also tells us that our life on this earth will run out sooner or later.

But unlike the pen that had run out of ink, our life does not run out and come to a dead stop.

Because the God of life and love has saved us and we continue into eternal life.

That is the promise of Jesus to us who are faithful to Him.

Heaven and earth will pass away, but the promise of Jesus and His Word to us will never pass away.

34th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 28-11-2024

Apocalypse 18:1-2, 21-23; 19:1-3, 9 /  Luke 21:20-28   

No one likes to face a disturbing and distressful time. Even just thinking about it makes us uneasy and anxious.

Yet, if we do not have a good grip on our faith, we might just fall into the two-pronged trap of the devil.

This two-pronged trap is called deception and disappointment.

In the midst of trials and turbulent times, it is easy to be deceived by false promises of security and safety, and we may be disappointed when these securities and safety nets break and fail us and we begin to lose our faith in God.

Yet, in the midst of this fear and disappointment, Jesus comes to proclaim the Good News.

He tells us that we see disturbing and distressful things happening around us, that is a sign that the kingdom of God is approaching.

Even the 1st reading gives a similar portrayal - after the persecutions, those who suffered are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.

So let us overcome the deception and the disappointment of the evil one by asking the Lord to renew our hope and strengthen our faith.

Only in trusting in the Lord do we dare to look hopefully into the future and journey on in faith.

34th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 27-11-2024

Apocalypse 15:1-4 / Luke 21:12-19  

We will remember with embarrassment or regret those occasions when we use the wrong words and said the wrong things.

We think about why those kind of words come out of our mouths and try to understand so as not to make the same mistake again.

One of the reasons could be that we talk before we think.

Another reason is that in order to get out of a tight situation, we say things that are either half-truths or not true at all.

In today’s gospel, Jesus reminds us in the face of persecution and opposition, we must keep this carefully in mind:

We are not to prepare our defence, because Jesus Himself will give us an eloquence and a wisdom that none of our opponents will be able to resist or contradict.

But that means that we need to pray before we speak so that the Lord will speak through us.

It also means that we will always stand on the side of truth and speak the truth.

And it also means that we let our “yes” be a yes and our “no” be a no.

May we always let the Lord speak to us first before we speak to others.

34th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 26-11-2024

Apocalypse 14:14-19 / Luke 21:5-11  

Generally speaking, we are quite slow to respond to warnings.

But in the first place, our attitude towards warning can be one of indifference.

So if it is a recurring pain in some part of the body, we will still try to self-medicate instead of going to consult the doctor.

But often, we delay for too long and then it is too late and we can only regret.

In the gospel, Jesus sounded out a warning when He said that the time will come when the things that the people were admiring will all be destroyed.

But instead of getting alarmed and turning to God for mercy and forgiveness, the people asked about when would it happen, and what are the signs.

If there are some indifferences about judgement and punishment, it could be because we are taking God’s mercy and forgiveness for granted.

The 1st reading is a reminder that eventually there will be punishment for sin and wickedness.

There are already enough of warning signs to wake us up and to repent.

Let us heed those signs and turn to God for mercy and forgiveness.

34th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 25-11-2024

Apocalypse 14:1-5 / Luke 21:1-4   

To redeem something means that in the first place, that something was given up for a price.

Whatever the reasons for giving up that something, to want to redeem it means that it has a value.

When we think about redemption and salvation, then we know that Jesus redeemed us by giving up His life on the Cross.

On the Cross, Jesus sacrificed His life for our salvation.

That makes us think about the value of our life.

We are precious to God and He willingly gave up His only Son to save us.

In the 1st reading, the redeemed are described as those who follow the Lamb wherever He goes.

They also never allowed a lie to pass their lips and no fault can be found in them.

We need to constantly reflect on what God did to redeem us from slavery to sin and save us from eternal death.

And may we also live the life of the redeemed so that we won’t fall into sin and be trapped by the devil.

And like the widow in the gospel, may we give our lives totally to Jesus and follow Him as He leads us to heaven.

Christ the King, Year B, 23.11.2024

We live in the world that is always changing. Almost nothing remains the same. Over time, there will be some changes. 

Buildings undergo renovation to have a new look or layout. Some buildings may even be demolished and an entirely new building comes up, and that also changes the landscape. 

In the name of progress and development, natural landscapes are changed, regardless of for better or for worse. 

People also grow in change. Children grow into adults and become parents. Their parents go on to become grandparents. 

So, the world around us, as well as ourselves, are constantly undergoing change. 

Change maybe an indication of growth and progress. 

We also hope that we can change for the better, in that we grow in wisdom and understanding. 

As we celebrate the feast of Christ the King, we celebrate the almighty power and glory of Jesus Christ. 

Jesus Christ is the King of the universe, the King of kings and the Lord of lords. 

His almighty power is eternal and everlasting. 

And His almighty power can change people, can change thinking, as well as situations and circumstances. 

In the gospel, Pilate asked Jesus if He was the King of the Jews. 

And at the end of the gospel passage, Pilate answered his own question when he said to Jesus: So, you are a king then. 

In between, something about Pilate has changed. At first, he interrogated Jesus, then he pondered about Jesus, and in the end, he was rather intrigued about Jesus. 

It was Pilate who wrote that inscription on the Cross: Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews. 

Pilate may not have intended it, but he declared it in writing that Jesus is the King of the Jews. 

So, in the gospel passage, the encounter and exchange between Jesus and Pilate revealed something.

Pilate had the power, but Jesus is the Divine Authority. 

Pilate had the first say, but Jesus had the last Word. 

Pilate had the status, but Jesus has the truth. 

In fact, Jesus is the Truth as He tells Pilate this: Yes, I am a king. I was born for this, I came into the world for this, to bear witness to the truth, and all who are on the side of truth listen to my voice. 

One of the images of Christ the King is then he is carrying the cross with the left hand, and his right hand is raised to impart a blessing. 

That image tells us that the Cross is the truth of our lives if we want to be disciples of Jesus our king. 

Like Jesus, we will carry the cross of truth and stand on the side of truth and to bear witness to the truth. 

And in carrying the cross of truth, Jesus blesses us with His right hand of power and glory. 

Yes, we listen to the voice of Jesus Christ our King and we carry the cross of truth and bear witness to it. 

And in carrying the cross of truth, Jesus Christ will bless us with His almighty love. 

Yes, we believe and we follow Jesus Christ the King of Truth and Love. 

The world will keep changing, but the truth and love of Jesus Christ Our King will never change.

And the eternal truth is that Jesus Christ our King will love us and He will love us forever.

33rd Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 23-11-2024

Apocalypse 11:4-12 / Luke 20:27-40  

When we talk about death and the after-life and heaven, we are obviously talking about matters  that are beyond human comprehension.

But at the same time, we also try to use human understanding and experience to describe the after-life and heaven.

So we will use terms like eternal rest, eternal joy and happiness, the heavenly banquet, in order to have an idea of what it is like.

But one of the most difficult topics to discuss is about relationships in the after-life.

What will happen to family relationships and spousal relationships and friendships in the after-life?

It is truly intriguing and we can speculate and wonder about the question that the Sadducees posed to Jesus.

But if we are going to speculate on that question and try to formulate possible answers, then we may have missed the point.

The important point is that in the after-life in heaven, everything is focused on God. Nothing else matters.

God is the God of life, for in God all are alive, and it is from Him that all will continue to draw life, even in the after-life.

Even on earth, it is the God of life that unites us together with His love.

So our relationships must be rooted in God who gives us the fullness of life and love.

Only in God will we be fully alive and our relationships will also be loving and life-giving.

33rd Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 22-11-2024

Apocalypse 10:8-11/ Luke 19:45-48   

The phrase “Actions speak louder than words” is truly a profound saying.

And if people believe a person’s words, then it is because of that person’s actions.

The gospel noted that the chief priests and the scribes tried to do away with Jesus.

But they couldn’t do that because the people as a whole hung on His words.

The people hung on the words of Jesus because they saw what He did.

They saw Him went to the Temple and began driving out those who were doing unfair business.

And Jesus took to the Scriptures to emphasize that the House of God is to be a house of prayer.

Yet, those who were doing business there were turning it into a robbers’ den.

What Jesus said were not sweet words, and for those who heard it, certainly made their stomachs sour.

May the words of Jesus make us realise the truth of our lives.

And if we truly believe in the words of Jesus, then let our actions speak louder than our words.

Presentation of the B. V. Mary, Thursday, 21-11-2024

Zechariah 2:14-17 / Matthew 12:46-51

The feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is an event that is not recorded in the gospels.

But it is found in an extra-biblical source called the Infancy Narrative of James.

According to that text, Mary's parents, Joachim and Anne had been childless, but then they received a heavenly message that they would have a child.

In thanksgiving, they brought the child Mary to the Temple to consecrate her to the Lord.

It was believed that Mary remained in the Temple to be formed and prepared for her role as the Mother of God.

The focus of this feast is to show that even in her childhood Mary was completely dedicated to God. It is from this account that arose the feast of Mary's Presentation.

A further reflection on this feast would also make us think about the environment at home and the formation that we are giving our children and our family members.

The Christian home is to be a sanctuary of prayer where the members can grow in holiness and in the ways of the Lord.

When our will is nothing less than to do the will of God, then together with Mary, we will present our lives as an offering that is pleasing to God.

33rd Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 20-11-2024

Apocalypse 4:1-11 / Luke 19:11-28   

We have to be careful about what we put into our mouths.

Of course it is food that we put into our mouths, and the food goes into our digestive system.

If we are not careful and we consume bad or spoilt food, then we are going to be in trouble.

But if we are careful about what goes into our mouths, then we may be quite careless about what comes out of our mouths.

What comes out from our mouths is what is in our hearts.

So, from the words that come out of our mouths, we will know the state of our hearts.

In the gospel parable, the king said this to the third servant: Out of your own mouth I condemn you.

It can also be said that out of that servant’s mouth, he condemned himself.

So let us watch what is in our hearts so that our words will be gracious and loving.

Let us also remember that what comes out of our mouths to praise God cannot also be use to say what is displeasing to Him and to others.

33rd Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 19-11-2024

Apocalypse 3:1-6, 14-22 / Luke 19:1-10  

It is the time of the year for appraisals to be done.

Appraisals are usually done by the superior on the subordinate, or by the boss on the workers.

Appraisals are done to gauge the workers on their work performance and attitude.

But it can also be a time when the superior and subordinate, or the boss and the worker can have a conversation about their views and suggestions about the work environment.

But appraisals can be difficult when there is something sensitive to be pointed out.

But when it is the Lord who is going to point out the faults of His people, as in the 1st reading, there can be no avoiding or denying.

But more than just pointing out the faults of His people, the Lord wants to point His people to heaven.

But in order to make them look to heaven, the people must come down and see their faults and acknowledge them.

In the gospel, Jesus told Zacchaeus to come down from that sycamore tree so that he will come down to the reality of his life.

The Lord does not do an appraisal on us.

Rather He speaks to us in a soft gentle voice and prompts us to look at the signs.

May we hear His voice calling us to repentance so that we can look at heaven and journey towards there.

33rd Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 18-11-2024

Apocalypse 1:1-4; 2:1-5 / Luke 18:35-43 

 

The word “again” implies a repetition.

So to do something again and again means that the task is done repeatedly.

That sounds rather mundane and monotonous.

But in life, there are a lot of things that we keep doing repeatedly and it becomes a routine for us.

And after some time, that routine is becomes so familiar that we don’t even need to think about it anymore.

In the gospel, Jesus asked the blind man what does he want.

The blind man replied, “Sir, let me see again”.

Probably that man could see but something happened and he became blind.

And now he desired to see again and this time he will cherish and treasure his eyesight.

In the 1st reading, the message to the church in Ephesus is this: You have less love now than you used to. Think where you were before you fell; repent and do as you used to at first.

That is also the message for us, that our love for God is not to be routine or mundane.

Let us ask the Lord to help us love again, so that our love will be deepened.

And as we love again and again, may we always cherish and treasure God as our first love.

33rd Ordinary Sunday, Year B, 17.11.2024

Daniel 12:1-3 / Hebrews 10:11-14, 18 / Mark 13:24-32

One of the questions about life that we rather not think about is this: 

What is it that I am afraid of? 

Of course, there are many things in life that we are afraid of. 

When it comes to insects and such, some are afraid of lizards, others are afraid of cockroaches, and others are afraid of spiders. 

But those are just a part of the spectrum of fears. 

There are some who are afraid of heights, while others have stage-fright and others are afraid of crowds. 

To put it plainly, there is always something in life that we are afraid of. 

In Singapore, there is this general phenomenon of “kia-su” the fear of losing out. But whatever form of fears, the fact is that when it happens, we will lose control, we may even melt down and chaos can set in. 

It is like when the lights suddenly go off, and it is total darkness, and we begin to panic. 

In the gospel, Jesus talked about a rather disturbing and frightening situation. 

He said that in those days, after a time of distress, the sun will be darkened, the moon will lose its brightness, the stars will fall from heaven and other frightening sights. 

As we think about it, distress is already bad enough. 

Distress means that our lives are disturbed and we are displaced by all sorts of problems.

And it is not just about lizards or spiders, and it is more than the fear of heights or crowds. 

It is about chaos and confusion, and our faith is shaken. 

And as if the distress is not bad enough, the sun will be darkened, the moon will lose its brightness and the stars will fall from heaven. 

In other words, after the distress, there will be darkness, a deep darkness that brings out all the fears in us. 

It is like one bad thing happening after another. 

As we think about it, this is not something new that Jesus is talking about. 

We have experienced bad things happening in our lives, and it is one bad thing after another. 

It is like being retrenched, and then getting into debt, and then a serious illness comes along. 

It is one distress after another, and the darkness becomes deeper and tighter. 

But in times like these, let us remember that verse from Psalm 46:10 – “Be still and know that I am God.” 

Yes, we need to be still and that all the distress and darkness will pass. 

Once a powerful king called upon all of his wise men and asked them, "Is there a mantra or suggestion which works in every situation, in every circumstance, in every place and in every time. In every joy, every sorrow, every defeat and every victory? One answer for all questions? Something that can help me when none of you is available to advise me? Tell me is there any mantra?"  

All the wise men were puzzled by the King’s question. They thought and thought. After a lengthy discussion, an old wise man suggested something that appealed to all of them. They went to the king and gave him something written on paper, with a condition that the king was not to see it out of curiosity. 

Only in extreme danger, when the king finds himself alone and there seems to be no way, only then he can see it. The king put the paper in his bracelet. 

Some time later, the enemies attacked the kingdom. The king and his army fought bravely but lost the battle. The king had to flee on his horse. The enemies were following him, and they were getting closer and closer. 

Suddenly the king found himself at the edge of a cliff. Underneath there was a rocky valley thousands of feet deep. If he jumped down, he would be finished, and he could not return because it was a small road, and the sound of enemy’s horses was approaching fast. The king panicked. There seemed to be no way out.

Then suddenly he saw his bracelet shining in the sun, and he remembered the message hidden in the bracelet. He opened the paper and read the message. The message was – “THIS TOO SHALL PASS”

The king read it again and again. Suddenly something struck him - Yes! This too will pass. Only a few days ago, he was enjoying his kingdom. He was the mightiest of all the kings. Yet today, the kingdom and all his pleasures have gone. He is now trying to escape from enemies. Like those days of luxuries have gone, this day of danger too will pass. A calm came on his face. He kept standing there. The place where he was standing was full of natural beauty. He had never known that such a beautiful place was also a part of his kingdom. 

The revelation of the message had a great effect on him. He relaxed and forgot about those following him. After a few minutes he realized that the noise of the horses and the enemy coming was receding. They moved into some other part of the mountains and were nowhere near him.

The king was very brave. He reorganized his army and fought again. He defeated the enemy and regained his empire. When he returned to his empire after victory, he was received with much fanfare. The whole capital was rejoicing in the victory. 

Everyone was in a festive mood. Flowers were being showered on king from every house, from every corner. People were dancing and singing. For a moment the king said to himself, “I am one of the bravest and greatest kings. It is not easy to defeat me.” With all the reception and celebration, an ego was emerging in him.

Suddenly his bracelet flashed in the sunlight and reminded him of the message. He opened it and read it again: “THIS TOO SHALL PASS”. 

Yes, all the distress and darkness will pass but God's Word will not pass away. 

Even heaven and earth will pass away, but God's Word will never pass away. 

So, when we are faced with distress after distress, and the fear and darkness gets deeper and tighter, let us remember this. 

Let us remember to be still and know that God is with us. 

The distress and the darkness and the fear will pass away, but God's Word and His promises will not pass away. 

And God's Word and promise to us is this: God is here to stay, and He will not go away.

32nd Week, Saturday, 16-11-2024

3 John 5-8 / Luke 18:1-8  

To believe in God is to put our trust in Him.

We trust that God will always provide for our needs.

God created us and He will sustain us and provide for us.

In the 1st reading, the early missionaries went about proclaiming Jesus and the Good News of salvation.

The 1st reading reminds the Christian community that it is their duty to welcome these missionaries and contribute to their work for the truth.

It is only right and just in doing so.

And in the gospel, Jesus told a parable that God will provide especially when it is right and just.

God will see justice done to His chosen ones who cry out to Him.

And Jesus promises that God will see justice done and done speedily.

We turn to God and put our trust in His providence.

We also turn to God when injustice or some wrong is done to us.

Justice belongs to God. We only need to put our trust in God who will do what is right and just.

32nd Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 15-11-2024

2 John 4-9 / 17:26-37  

There is one thing about life that can unsettle us.

And that is change. Change can disrupt our routines and schedules.

But change is inevitable, and it happens in fashion, styles, language, etc.

While change can be for the better, it may not be necessarily so.

In the 1st reading, the author says that there is no new commandment but the one which we were given from at the beginning.

And that commandment is as simple and understandable as it can be, and that is: let us love one another.

But the author of the 1st reading also warns of the many deceivers who would try to distract us from that fundamental commandment of love.

These deceivers would deviate from the commandment of love and introduce new ideas and thinking, which would contradict and change God’s commandment of love.

And in the gospel, Jesus also warns of distractions that make us lose focus on God’s commandment of love.

So in the midst of changes in lifestyle, in ideas and in practices, let us keep focused on God’s commandment of love.

God’s love for us will not change because it is an everlasting love.

May God’s love change us to make us love others as God loves us.

32nd Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 14-11-2024

Philemon 7-20 / Luke 17:20-25  

We have heard it said so often, that the ways of God are not the ways of man.

In fact God’s ways are so much higher that the ways of man.

But so often, man thinks that he is smarter than God, and at times man even thinks that he is God.

And so mankind goes about doing things their way and thinks that their way is the best way.

But when things begin to go wrong and really wrong, then mankind starts blaming each other and may also blame God.

In the gospel, Jesus says that the kingdom of God does not admit of observation, and there will be no one to say “Look here, look there!”

And even if there is anyone who tells us to “Look there!” or “Look here!”, Jesus tells us to make no move, and do not set off in pursuit.

So, when everyone is running around looking for solutions to the problems of this world, what we need to do is to be still.

Yes, to be still and to know where God is, and Jesus tells us that God is among us.

And God is truly among us when two or three are gathered to pray for God to reveal His plans for us.

God’s plans may not be a path of roses. Jesus tells us there will be suffering and rejection when we say “yes” to God’s plan.

But we will go with God’s plan, because God loves us and His plans are for our good.

Let us put our faith and trust in God and we will be at peace.

32nd Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 13-11-2024

Titus 3:1-7 / Luke 17:11-19   

Human beings are the most intelligent of all creatures on earth.

We have the ability to be creative and innovative.

But at the same time, human beings also have the tendency to be oppressive and destructive.

In the 1st reading, St. Paul reminds us that there was a time when we too were ignorant, disobedient and misled and enslaved by different passions and luxuries.

We lived then in wickedness and ill-will, hating each other and hateful ourselves.

It was the kindness and love of God our Saviour that woke up us from our sinfulness and we want to be saved and look forward to eternal life.

And that means that we will be obedient to the officials and representatives of the government, and ready to do good at every opportunity.

And we would not want to slander others or picking up quarrels, but to be courteous and always polite to all kinds of people.

The profound expression of our desire for salvation is when we want to always give thanks to God for His abundant love and blessings.

Like the Samaritan leper who came back to Jesus to express his thanks and gratefulness, let us ask God for a thankful heart.

With a grateful and thankful heart, God will grant us His abundant blessings and mercy for us and for the whole world.

32nd Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 12-11-2024

Titus 2:1-8, 11-14 / Luke 17:7-10  

The one undeniable reality in life is that we go on in years, we will age.

In the younger days, we won’t think much about it.

But as we come to the senior years, we will feel the age in our bodies and in our bones.

And we hope that we will age gracefully.

In the 1st reading, St. Paul urges the older men and women to be dignified in their behaviour, and to be sound in faith and love.

And they are to be teachers of right behaviour and be an example of the message of God to the younger people.

In short, the seniors are to teach the younger people that what they have to do is to give up everything that does not lead to God.

That is the duty of the seniors and they must see themselves as servants of God who are merely doing their duty.

It is in carrying out that duty with love and constancy that we will age gracefully.

It is in aging gracefully and lovingly that we will be an example and a model for the younger generation.

32nd Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 11-11-2024

Titus 1:1-9 / Luke 17:1-6 

To be a Christian is difficult because others will observe or even scrutinize our behaviour.

And if we don’t behave as a good Christian, then there will certainly be criticisms.

To be a Christian leader can be even more challenging and demanding.

In the 1st reading, St. Paul listed out for Titus the requirements for choosing and appointing elders for the Christian community.

And the requirements are so demanding that it would be like a miracle if anyone could ever be chosen.

And if anyone dares to accept the appointment of being an elder in the Christian community, he must be able to accept correction and even criticism.

And if he ever stumbles and falls, and becomes an obstacle for others, then, as Jesus said in the gospel, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone around his neck.

But the critical test for any Christian, and more so for a Christian leader, is in the virtue of forgiveness.

If a Christian cannot forgive others, then being a Christian is a contradiction.

May we always forgive others, just as God has forgiven us in Chirst.

32nd Ordinary Sunday, Year B, 10.11.2024

 1 Kings 17:10-16 / Hebrews 9:24-28 / Mark 12:38-44

Whether people believe in God or not, it cannot be denied that everyone has a conscience. 

Although it also cannot be denied that there are some people who are able to suppress their conscience.

So, their conscience becomes numbed to the bad that they do to others, and evil they commit against others. 

But even with the conscience suppressed, the eyes and the ears cannot be shut off from the realities of life. 

And there is one reality that cannot be denied and that is the reality of retribution. 

Retribution is commonly understood as some kind of “payback”, and it is usually about a punishment that is inflicted for some wickedness or evil that was done in the past. 

The reality of retribution is often portrayed in stories, movies and dramas. 

It is also something that we would talk about in order to dissuade someone from doing something wicked. 

And it may also be something that we have experienced in our lives or in the lives of people we know. 

In the gospel, Jesus did not use the word retribution. 

But in His teaching, He told the people to beware of the behaviour of the scribes. 

Jesus also said that because they swallow the property of widows while making a show of lengthy prayers, the more severe will be the sentence they receive. 

So, Jesus is issuing an unmistakable warning for those who commit wickedness and evil against others. 

More than just retribution, the wickedness and evil committed against others is done before God. 

Yes, God sees, God knows and God waits. 

But even as Jesus issued the warning against the wicked and the evildoers, He also pointed out something inspiring and enlightening. 

No one really noticed that poor widow who dropped the two small coins into the Temple treasury, but Jesus did. 

And how did Jesus know that the two small coins were all that the poor widow had to live on? 

There could be a couple of explanations, but in the end it comes down to this:

God sees, God knows and God waits. 

But if God sees and God knows, then what is God waiting for? 

Well, that poor widow dropped in the two small coins, everything she had to live on, and there were no immediate rewards for her. 

But we believe, that God will bless her and provide for her and that God will sustain her because of her faith and generosity. 

So, God sees, God knows and God waited, so that His blessings will be more than we can expect. 

So, for the good we do, let us do it quietly and humbly, like that poor widow. 

Our reward is not in man's praises and admiration, but in the blessings of God, the blessings of His love and peace. 

As for those who commit wickedness and evil, let us not threaten them with retribution or punishment.

Because God sees, God knows and God waits. 

God waits for our two small coins of prayer for sinners as He waits for their repentance and conversion.

Yes, God sees, God knows and God waits. 

God waits to grant sinners forgiveness, and God waits for our two small coins of prayers, prayers for the conversion of sinners.

Dedication of the Lateran Basilica, Saturday, 09-11-2024

Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12 / 1 Cor 3:9-11, 16-17 / John 2:13-22 

The Lateran Basilica was built around 324 by the Roman emperor Constantine, and it is the cathedral of the city of Rome.

The Lateran Basilica is the official church of the Pope since the 4th century.

It is also called the "Mother of all churches" and on Holy Thursday, the Pope and priests will celebrate the Eucharist there.

This feast reminds us that we belong to the universal church, with Christ as the Head of the Church which is His Body.

Hence we acknowledge that the Church is not just a building, but the body of believers who are scattered all over the world, yet spiritually united in the body of Christ.

We also acknowledge, in the celebration of this feast, that the Pope is the head of the Church and we pledge our obedience to him and our unity with the whole Church.

May we continue to be united as Church and as the Body of Christ and be a sign of salvation to the world.

31st Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 08-11-2024

Philippians 3:17 - 4:1 / Luke 16:1-8   

Many a times, some of our best ideas come about out of a desperate situation.

It takes some urgency or emergency to get us to try out ideas and options that we would not have considered before.

Such was the case with the dishonest steward in today's gospel.

This parable can be difficult to interpret and understand if we don't understand the point that Jesus was making.

Jesus was focusing on the urgency and energy with which a worldly man secures his future when it is in jeopardy.

Jesus is even urging us, the children of light, to have an urgency when it comes to our eternal future.

Otherwise, as the 1st reading puts it, we might end up making food into our god and can even be proud of something that we ought to be shameful and worldly things are the only important things to us.

St. Paul urged his people not to give way but to remain faithful to the Lord.

Hence the urgency is not to get into a flurry of activity to prepare for our eternal destiny.

Rather the urgency is in the ordinary and the monotony of life.

When we can be faithful to the Lord in the small ordinary things and remain focused on the Lord despite the monotony of life, then we are prepared for eternal life.

31st Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 07-11-2024

Philippians 3:3-8 / Luke 15:1-10   

There had been many suggestions as to what is the most important verse or phrase in the Bible.

Well, the top contender seems to be John 3:16-17, followed by a host of profound Bible verses and passages.

Chapter 15 of the gospel of St. Luke may sound rather ordinary and today's gospel passage may just be about parables.

But nonetheless, today's gospel passage reflects the essential message of the Bible, and that is, it emphatically illustrates God's inexplicable and infinite love to save every man and woman whom He created in His image and likeness.

There are only 3 parables in Chapter 15 of the gospel of Luke - the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, the Prodigal Son.

The scribes and Pharisees criticized Jesus for always being in the company of sinners and ritually impure people and the so-called bad company.

But Jesus always had a very deep compassion towards these so-called sinners. He even said that it is not the well who need a doctor but the ill.

Even this aspect of Jesus is not often understood by us who are His disciples.

Because we too have this tendency to criticize and judge others according to our standards or beliefs.

Certainly this is not something new, because even the 1st reading reminds the Romans, as well as reminds us, not to pass judgement on a brother or treat him with contempt.

We may be able to quote the profound verses and remember the important passages of the Bible.

May we also remember to put the core message of love in the Bible into our lives as disciples of Jesus.

31st Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 06-11-2024

Philippians 2:12-18 / Luke 14:25-33  

There is this story about two university professors  who were talking about their students.

One professor said that he has about 200 students who come for his lectures.

The other professor thought for awhile and then he said :

I also have about 200 people who come for my lectures, but I don't really know how many of them are my students.

We might ask : How can one come for the lecture of a professor and not be his student? What is the difference anyway?

That is the same question that Jesus is asking us also : What is the difference between a follower and a disciple?

Great crowds followed Jesus, but He was not just interested about how many people were following Him.

He was more interested about who really wanted to be His disciple.

To be a disciple of Jesus means to learn from Him, to give up everything for Him and to have Him as the center and sole-Master.

So the word "hate" that Jesus used as a condition for being His disciple is not to be understood in the emotional or relational sense but in the degree of priority.

In other words "hate" in that context is understood as to love lesser or to give a lower priority.

So Jesus never meant that to follow Him meant that we must hate our parents or family members.

Our love for Jesus must also be reflected in our love for others. It is a love that will not hurt or harm or hate.

Because it is a sacrificial love. That is the love of a true disciple of Jesus.

So the price of discipleship has to be carefully considered. Because for one to be a disciple, either Jesus is Master of all, or He is not master at all.

31st Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 05-11-2024

Philippians 2:5-11 / Luke 14:15-24   

Happiness and sadness are the two emotions that seem to dominate our lives.

We desire for happiness and we do experience happiness when good things come our way.

But we also know that happiness will just come and go, and the next moment something bad may happen and we sink into sadness and disappointment.

But we also need to remember that sadness and disappointment also will just come and go, and that it won’t remain for a prolonged period of time.

In the gospel, someone said to Jesus that happy the man who will be at the feast of the kingdom of God.

And then Jesus told a parable in which a man gave a great banquet and invited many guests.

But surprisingly, the invited guests turned down the invitation for such a happy occasion.

It goes to show that we may not truly understand what true happiness is about.

The 1st reading tells us that though Jesus is divine, yet He emptied Himself to become a man and subjected Himself to the human condition, and even accepted a painful death.

But because He was obedient, God raised Him up and all creation should bend the knee at His name.

In our happiness and sadness, let us be like Jesus who showed us how to be obedient to God.

Then we will know what is true happiness and in our sadness, God will be our comfort and consolation.

31st Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 04-11-2024

Philippians 2:1-4 / Luke 14:12-14  

In life, there will come about a crisis every now and then.

In happens in our personal life, in an organization and in a country.

Crisis brings along chaos and also a time of tribulation.

The thing about crisis is that it reveals character.

It reveals the character of the person, as well as the unity of the organization and the country.

St. Paul has this to say in the 1st reading:

If our life in Christ means anything to you, if love can persuade at all, or the Spirit that we have in common, or any tenderness and sympathy, then be united in your convictions and united in your love, with a common purpose and a common mind.

What keep us united as Christians and as Church is our love for Christ.

Our love for Christ is the fruit of our life in Christ and it is the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life.

That is our faith and our conviction, and that will also keep us united as Christians and as Church in the face of crisis.

We will face the chaos and the tribulations together when we are united in a common love, and that is our love for Christ.

Our love for Christ will also reveal who we are and how united we will be in a time of crisis.