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

Isaiah 66:10-14 / Matthew 16:1-5   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Zechariah 8:20-23 / Luke 9:51-56   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

26th Ordinary Sunday, Year C, 28.09.2025

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

They may be in need of direction and motivation. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Life is more than just food and clothes. 

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

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

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

The Church exists primarily for the salvation of souls.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

25th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 26-09-2025

Haggai 1:15 -2:9 / Luke 9:18-22  

For any project to start and to be completed, there are at least two factors that are necessary.

One is the ability, which means the proper planning and the necessary equipment.

The other is the money which is needed to finance the project.

So, both the ability and the money are needed, and one can’t do without the other.

In the 1st reading, the people were getting disheartened and discouraged about the progress of the building of the Temple.

Both the ability and the money, as well as the materials, were lacking.

And here is where the Lord had to encourage His people, proclaiming that He will be with them to help them.

God will shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land, to show His people that He is the builder of the Temple.

Indeed, if the Lord does not build the Temple, in vain will the builders labour.

Similarly, in the gospel, if Jesus did not reveal His identity to Peter, they can only guess and still not able to know who Jesus really is.

Let us remember that if God does not help us, we will labour in vain.

If God does not reveal His will and His ways to us, we will be searching in vain.

Let us pray for God’s help and He will show us that He is our God and that He will provide for us.

25th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 25-09-2025

Haggai 1:1-8 / Luke 9:7-9   

In order to have a deeper understanding about our situations in life, there is one thing that is necessary.

And that is we need to take some time to do some observation and reflection.

But it can be rather challenging to do this because there are just too many distractions.

We fill our lives with many things to do and we keep ourselves busy.

And yet we say we don’t have time to rest and reflect upon what we are doing and where we are heading.

Could it be that we are avoiding to do this because we may come to see things we don’t want to see.

In the 1st reading, the people had lost the interest and the urgency in building the Temple.

Instead, they were building their own houses and were more interested in their own comfort and their own plans.

But the Lord tells them this: Reflect carefully how things have gone for you.

You have sown much and harvested little. You eat but never had enough, drink but never have your fill. Put on clothes but do not feel warm.

So if the people feel that there are so many problems in their life, they just need to reflect carefully on how things have gone for them.

In the gospel, Herod was puzzled when he heard about Jesus and was anxious to see Jesus.

But if he only took time to reflect carefully, he would come to know what God is showing and telling him.

May we have time to pray and reflect and God will also tell us what we need to know and show us what we need to see.

25th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 24-09-2025

Ezra 9:5-9 / Luke 9:1-6  

Life is such that when we are having a good and peaceful time, we take so much for granted.

We forget the great and little blessings that God grants and we are indifferent with ingratitude.

But when we face troubles and life begins to spin into a chaos, we cry out to God for help.

In the 1st reading, Ezra the priest, came to see how much his people had sinned, higher than their heads, and even piled up to heaven.

They have been punished severely, but now God looks upon them with favour.

God has cheered their eyes and given them respite in their slavery.

They were even granted permission to go back to their homeland and rebuild the Temple of God.

So, the people should be thankful and grateful and be always faithful to God.

Then they will receive blessings upon blessings.

In the gospel, Jesus sent His disciples to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom and to heal.

We continue this mission even though there are difficulties and dangers.

But God assures us of His blessings and protection.

May we not take God’s blessings and protection for granted, but always do what the Lord wants of us and to wherever and whoever He sends us to.

25th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 23-09-2025

Ezra 6:7-8, 12, 14-20 / Luke 8:19-21    

Buildings are not just made of bricks and stones.

Buildings provide shelter and security.

A building becomes a home for a family to return to when the day comes to an end.

For the people of God in the 1st reading, the building of the Temple and its completion was a moment of great joy.

The Temple was the House of God, a symbol of God’s presence, as well as a symbol of their identity and unity.

It is in the Temple that the people offer worship and prayer.

In other words, the Temple was the focal point of the relationship between God and His people, as well as the relationship between the people.

But if that relationship is broken by unfaithfulness and injustice, then the Temple does not have any meaning whatsoever.

In the gospel, Jesus says that those who hear the Word of God and put it into practice are truly His relations.

When we hear the Word of God and put it into practice in our relationships, beautiful things happen.

The Church becomes a House where God meets His people and imparts His blessings on them.

The house becomes a home where family relationships are strengthened and deepened.

Let us read and meditate upon the Word of God, and may it flow into our relationships and may it also bring us God’s abundant blessings.

25th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 22-09-2025

Ezra 1:1-6 / Luke 8:16-18   

We would think that if everything in life happens as planned and happens as expected, then we will have no anxieties and worries.

We wish that life runs like a computer program, so that everything is predictable and manageable.

But life is always full of surprises and with unexpectedness.

In the 1st reading, no one would really had expected that king Cyrus would be so favourable to the people of God in exile.

He not only issued a proclamation to let the people of God return to their homeland, he even supplied materials and resources to help them built the Temple.

Of course, it was God who roused the spirit of king Cyrus and stirred his heart to do so.

And it was also to fulfil the promise spoken through the prophet Jeremiah.

But it was such a surprise and so unexpected of the foreign king to do that.

So when God comes up with an unexpected surprise, it is like a lighted lamp held high.

And everyone who sees it would say that it is a wonderful sign from God.

May we be the first to recognize these God-given wonderful surprises and help others to know the God of surprises.

25th Ordinary Sunday, Year C, 21.09.2025

Amos 8:4-7 / 1 Tim 2:1-8 / Luke 16:1-13

To be deceived and to be cheated is certainly an unpleasant feeling, to say the least.

In deceiving and cheating, something wrong is done, and we resent and detest that wrong that is done to us. 

Also, in deceiving and cheating, something is lost. 

The loss can be in several forms. It can be a financial or a monetary loss, or a loss of property and belongings. 

Or it can be a loss of a relationship. When one party deceives or cheats the other party, the trust is broken, and the relationship is fractured and even shattered. 

And that is why we are not only wary of scammers, we are afraid of them, because they are brutal and ruthless. 

We may or may not hear their voices, or see their faces, but one thing is certain. 

They don't need to have our trust, nor would they even want to know us. 

They just want to bleed us, literally and figuratively, until we are as dry as the desert sands. 

In Singapore, the total scam losses for the first half of 2025 were approximately $450 million. 

In the gospel, Jesus told a parable about a dishonest steward who was found out by his master, and dismissed that dishonest steward.

Then that dishonest steward did an audacious thing by rewriting the accounts of his master's debtors. 

He did that so as to gain favour with his master's debtors, and also to have some security for the future. 

What is puzzling is when Jesus said this: The master praised the dishonest steward for his astuteness. 

In other words, even the master who was cheated by that dishonest steward, was impressed by that dishonest steward’s keen insight and clever manipulation. 

But Jesus did not end there. He also said this: For the children of this world are more astute in dealing with their own kind than are the children of light. 

We may wonder what did Jesus mean when He said that. 

Jesus acknowledged that the children of the world are more astute, in that they are clever in reading people and quick to manipulate others to their advantage. 

But Jesus is also asking us, are we children of the world, or are we children of light? 

If we say, if we declare, that we are children of light, then we are children of God, then we follow the ways of God. 

We will not be impressed or influenced by the children of the world, to the so-called intelligent manipulating and scheming of the dishonest stewards of this world. 

Because we believe in the God of truth and justice, and the Lord says this in the 1st reading: Never will I forget a single thing you have done. 

Jesus also reminded us that the one who can be trusted in little things can be trusted in great, and the one who is dishonest in little things will be dishonest in great. 

As children of God, and as children of light, we carry the little lights of truth and love in our hearts, and we become living images of honesty and responsibility. 

In the Bible, there is a book called the Book of Numbers, and there is this story of a pagan prophet Balaam, who was enticed by the enemies of Israel with wealth, so as to put a curse on Israel.

God forbid him to lay a curse on Israel, but he defied God and rode on his donkey to discuss with the enemies of Israel, the curse that he would lay on Israel. 

On the journey, Balaam's donkey sees the angel of God with a sword in the hand blocking the path, but Balaam cannot see the angel. 

Three times the donkey saw the angel with a sword and tried to veer off the path to avoid the angel, but Balaam beats the donkey for doing so. 

Then, God opens the donkey's mouth, and it speaks to Balaam, rebuking him for his cruelty. 

Then, God opens Balaam's eyes, revealing the angel with the sword, and the angel said that it was the donkey who saved Balaam's life.

The angel then instructed Balaam to say only what God wants him to say, and that is to bless Israel. 

In this world, there are true prophets and false prophets, there are honest and dishonest stewards, there are children of the world and children of light. 

To be truthful and to be honest, the world may think that we are like donkeys who can be deceived and cheated. 

But may we be trusted with truthful and honest lives, and when we speak, may the children of the world begin to look at the light.

24th Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 20-09-2025

1 Tim 6:13-16 / Luke 8:4-15  

The world runs on chronological time.

We wear watches to keep time, there are clocks here and there.

Time is important, time is also like money, and time is also controlled by deadlines.

Time is important, but timing is what puts everything together and gives meaning.

So, with timing, what is meant to happen, will happen at the right time and for the right reasons.

As much as our lives revolve around time, but with God it is about timing.

In the 1st reading, there is this line that states: the Appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who at the due time will be revealed …

That “due time” belongs to God and it is also often called the “appointed time”.

God revealed His Son as our Saviour at the appointed time.

God will also reveal His will for us at the appointed time.

And at the appointed time, we will understand the parables, the signs and the promptings from the Lord.

Let us pray and wait for the appointed time from God, and may we also know what God’s will is for us.

24th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 19-09-2025

1 Tim 6:2-12 / Luke 8:1-3   

We know that God provides for us and that He is generous in providing for our needs.

And from what God has given us, then out of gratitude, we ought to offer Him something in return.

But God will always be more generous than we can ever think.

Because from the little that we offer back to God, He will even bless us more.

In the gospel, when Jesus went about proclaiming the Good News, the Twelve went along with Him.

With them were also some women who provided for Jesus and His disciples out of their own resources.

For those women, that was their offering to God as they supported Jesus in His ministry.

And we would also believe that God would also bless them more for what they have offered.

But the 1st reading also reminded us that religion cannot be used for making a profit or for selfish gains.

Let us remember that we cannot expect anything in return for what we have offered to God.

Because a love offering does not expect anything in return.

But God in His generosity will always bless a cheerful giver abundantly.

24th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 18-09-2025

1 Tim 4::12-16 / Luke 7:36-50   

It is often said that actions speak louder than words, and indeed it is.

Most actions convey an unmistakable message, especially when it is an act of compassion, or kindness, or gentleness, or patience.

But there are also actions that are difficult to interpret, because we may not know the context or the intentions.

And there are actions that generally are considered as crude or crass or even offensive.

In the gospel, the woman with a bad name in the town came up to Jesus who was having a meal at a Pharisee’s house.

She waited behind Himn at His feet, weeping, and her tears fell on His feet, and she wiped them away with her hair, and covered His feet with kisses and anointed them with the ointment.

Simon, the Pharisee, as well as the others present, would be confused and wonder what that woman’s actions can mean.

And since that woman had a bad name in town, the people would also wonder why Jesus was letting her to that to Him.

If not for His explanation, it would be difficult to understand that it was all about love and forgiveness.

So when there are things in life and also people’s actions that we don’t understand, let us bring it before the Lord in prayer.

Let us also ask the Lord to help us look at people with love and forgiveness, and the Lord will also look at us with love and forgiveness.

24th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 17-09-2025

1 Tim 3:14-16 / Luke 7:31-35   

As much as we are human beings, there is also a spiritual dimension in our humanity.

We live in a physical and material world and our senses help us to relate with this world.

But there is also a spiritual world and with our faith we can understand this world that our eyes cannot see, and our ears cannot hear.

In the 1st reading, St. Paul reminds us how we ought to behave in God’s family.

We belong to the Church of the living God, and we live by God’s truth and love.

St. Paul goes on to say that the mystery of our faith is indeed very deep.

So when we come to church for Mass or for prayer, we have come into a spiritual house where God is present in everything and everyone we see.

And we pay attention to what we hear because God is speaking to us in the prayers and in the Word of God.

And we carry this mystery of God’s presence in what we do and what we say.

Even in what we eat and drink, we know that it is God who provided all these for us and so we give thanks to God for these simple and ordinary blessings.

May we share these blessings so that our world will come to know that God is always present and granting His blessings to those who acknowledge His presence.

24th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 16-09-2025

1 Tim 3:1-13 / Luke 7:11-17   

We live in a modern world that has progressed rapidly over the last century.

This progress is primarily in the areas of science and technology, as well as industry and even in the military.

So humanity has progressed but has humanity become more civilized?

The bad and sad news that we see and hear everyday may even make us wonder if humanity has gone mad.

The 1st reading begins with St. Paul quoting this saying: To want to be a presiding elder is to want to do a noble work.

He then states the requirements for someone who wanted to serve in the community.

By the same token, in this modern world, to be a Christian is to want to do a noble work.

Christians have this mission of restoring the world to a civilized humanity.

In the gospel, as much as the raising of the dead man was a miracle, it was the humanness that must also be noted.

Jesus felt sorry for the widow as it was her only son, and that emotion showed the humanness of all characters in that gospel account.

And since God became man in Jesus Christ and He lived among humanity, let us also be truly human to each other.

Let us be compassionate, gentle, kind, forgiving and understanding towards each other.

Then we will know what love is when God became a human being and lived on earth.

Our Lady of Sorrows, Monday, 15-09-2025

Hebrews 5:7-9 / John 19:25-27 or Luke 2:33-35 

We may wonder why the Church picks those moments of grief and sorrow and suffering and turns it into a celebration.

Yesterday we celebrated the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.

Today we bring our hearts back to the foot of the Cross and enter into the grief and sorrow of our Lady.

Maybe there are certain things in life that can be learnt through sorrow and suffering.

The Cross, which was an instrument of suffering and death is turned by Christ into a symbol of life and glory.

As Mary stood by the cross in sorrow and pain, she was also changed and transformed.

In that moment of her greatest sorrow, Christ proclaimed Mary to be the Mother of the Church.

By dying on the cross, Christ gave life to us and gave Mary to be our Mother.

So when sorrow and suffering are put into the hands of God, something beautiful happens, something glorious happens.

When we meet with troubles or distress, or sorrow and suffering, let us go to Mary and stand with her at the foot of the cross.

Even when we sink into the depths of sorrow and suffering, God assures us this: a beautiful moment is about to happen, a glorious moment is about to begin.

Let us stay close to Mary and we will share in the glory of the cross.

The Exaltation of the Holy Cross, 14.09.2025

Numbers 21:4-9 / Philippians 2:6-11 / John 3:13-17

Two pieces of wooden sticks may not have much meaning, other than resembling like chopsticks. 

But two pieces of wooden sticks placed at right angles to each other, may mean something, especially to Christians. 

When two pieces of wooden sticks are placed at right angles to each other, it may look like a “plus” sign. 

But for Christians, it will look like the easily identifiable Christian symbol of the Cross. 

The symbol of the Cross is the most common, as well as the most profound symbol of Christianity. 

It is also a sacred symbol, and it can be found on items and objects used for worship and for prayer. 

The symbol of the Cross is sacred primarily because Jesus Christ died on it. 

By His suffering and death on the Cross, Jesus saved us from our sins and conquered sin and death. 

The Cross which was meant to be an instrument of pain and death has become a sign of salvation because of Jesus Christ. 

Today, we the Church celebrates the triumph and exaltation of the Holy Cross. 

We proclaim Jesus is our Saviour, and we also obey His command to take up our cross and follow Him as His disciples. 

But the 1st reading gives a rather puzzling account of a bronze serpent on a standard. 

Preceding that, the people had spoken against God and Moses, and so as punishment, fiery serpents appeared and their bite caused suffering and death. 

The people repented, and asked Moses to intercede for them to the Lord to save them. 

The Lord instructed Moses to make a bronze serpent and put it on a standard. 

Anyone who was bitten by a fiery serpent would just have to look at the bronze serpent on the standard and be saved. 

It is rather puzzling because the very thing that caused death has now become a means of salvation. 

That account in the 1st reading can be rather puzzling, but in it is the hidden mystery of the ways of God. 

Because in the gospel, when Jesus said that He must be lifted up just as Moses lifted up that bronze serpent, then that mystery is revealed. 

Jesus was lifted up on the Cross, and He fulfilled His mission as the Saviour, and the Cross has now become a symbol of salvation. 

A priest was sharing this story about the saving power of the Cross. 

A young man was disillusioned about his Christian faith, and so he went to a priest to say that he wanted to renounce his faith, and to have his baptism records revoked. 

The priest looked at the young man and told him that he will do as requested, on one condition. 

He asked the young man to follow him to the church, and there was a big crucifix behind the altar. 

The priest said to a young man, “Look at Jesus on the Cross and say this: You died for me and I don't care. 

The young man looked at the priest, and then looked at the Crucifix, and so he said, “You died for me and I don't care.”

The priest said to him, “Say that again with more conviction.” 

So, the young man said that again, “You died for me and I don't care.” 

The priest said, “Look straight at Jesus and say that again.” 

The young man said that again, but his voice began to quiver, and he lowered his eyes. 

The priest then said to the young man, “I would like to leave you alone for now. You can come to see me again anytime.” 

The priest who was sharing that story concluded with this: By the way, I was that young man. 

The saving power of the Cross is a deep and profound mystery. 

Because the Cross is the symbol of the love of God for us. 

God loved us so much that He gave us His only Son, so that we can be saved from our sins and have eternal life. 

So, let us take up the Cross, let us look at Jesus on the Cross.

Let us hold the Cross, for we are holding the hand of our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Let us hold the Cross, in our pain, in our suffering and in our distress, for we are holding the hand of our Healer Jesus Christ.

Let us hold the Cross, and look at Jesus on the Cross and say:

Thank you, Jesus, for saving me. Help me to love You.

23rd Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 13-09-2025

1 Tim 1:15-17 / Luke 6:43-49  

If we had to show something as a testimony of who we are and what our life is all about, what would that be?

Probably we would think of our achievements and show our certificates and photos of our illustrious moments.

There is no doubt that St. Paul was a great figure in the New Testament.

But his testimony to us is not some great achievement or illustrious missionary zeal, but rather a humble admittance that he is the greatest of sinners.

His testimony is that Jesus made him the greatest evidence of His inexhaustible patience for all the other people who would later have to trust in Jesus to come to eternal life.

So it was not what he did for Jesus but rather what Jesus did for him.

And that is so with us. The fruits that we bear will be the testimony of our lives.

As much as good fruits are a sign of the goodness of our lives, yet we must be humble enough to acknowledge that the goodness in us is not of our own achievement.

Like St. Paul, it is because Jesus has shown us His mercy and cleansed us and filled our hearts with His love.

So from what fills our hearts may our mouths proclaim the inexhaustible mercy and patience of Jesus and continue to bear the good fruits of love.

23rd Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 12-09-2025

1 Tim 1:1-2, 12-14 / Luke 6:39-42   

Whenever we feel pain, it is usually a sign of a problem that needs our attention.

If it is a physical pain, then we will have to go consult a doctor to see what is the problem.

But there can be pains that are not physical and they affect us, if we take notice of them.

In the gospel, Jesus told a parable about seeing the faults in ourselves first before looking at the faults of others.

Jesus gave the imagery of having a plank in our own eye and yet we divert our attention to the splinter in the eyes of others.

The imagery of a plank in the eye is obviously to make the point of the parable.

But it can be unimaginable for such an object in the eye and not notice it or feel a piercing pain from it.

Yet, we rather distract ourselves with the problems of others than to look at our own problems.

In the 1st reading, St. Paul was humble to admit that he used to blaspheme and did all he could to injure and discredit the faith.

But God showed him mercy, he saw that mercy, and he is now filled with faith and love that is in Christ Jesus.

May we see the plank in our eyes, but may we also see the mercy of God.

And filled with faith and love, may we also guide others to Jesus Christ, our Saviour and our hope.

23rd Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 11-09-2025

Colossians 3:12-17 / Luke 6:27-38   

It is often presumed that people like it easy and convenient.

That is quite true because we are always looking for ways to do things easy and fast.

When it comes to religion, we may not think that building a church in some obscure and far away place is a good idea.

The presumption is that people like it easy and convenient, so no one would really consider going to a church that is difficult to have access to.

But it also cannot be denied that there are people who want to be challenged.

For them, it is like no pain then no gain, and the challenge makes them stronger and better persons.

In the gospel, the message of Jesus seems to be difficult and even illogical.

But to those who are listening, to those who are searching for the truth of life, they will understand what Jesus meant when He said this:

“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who treat you badly.”

It may not make much sense initially, but when we are listening to a deeper calling in life, we will understand.

As the 1st reading puts it: Let the message of Christ, in all its richness, find a home with you. And never say or do anything except in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Let us pray that God will bless us with His love and accept the truth of the message of Christ, so that we will live our lives truly as children of God.

23rd Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 10-09-2025

Colossians 3:1-11 / Luke 6:20-26   

We know that we should avoid anything that is not good for us.

And depending on the degree of the severity, then we will adopt the corresponding attitudes.

So for foods that we will react to with allergies, we will avoid, no matter how delicious or tempting they are.

But for the curiosity or addiction to substances, drugs or alcohol, we will have to resist and fight it.

In the 1st reading, St. Paul used a strong word when it comes to temptations to sin.

He used the word “kill”, as he says this: You must kill everything in you that belongs only to earthly life – fornication, impurity, guilty passion, evil desires, greed.

That word obviously is used in the metaphorical sense, but it also shows the severity of sins.

It is either we kill the sin, or the sin will kill us.

And when sin kills us, we die a spiritual death in darkness and decay.

But when we follow the teachings of Jesus and walk in His ways, then we will find our strength in Him.

By His death on the Cross, Jesus was victorious over sin and death.

We will share in the victory of Jesus when we are obedient and faithful to Him.

23rd Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 09-09-2025

Colossians 2:6-15 / Luke 6:12-19     

There are a few words that express an unfortunate situation.

To be cheated would probably mean that some money or belongings are lost.

To be deceived would probably mean that trust or hope is shaken or broken.

But to be trapped would probably mean more than just being unfortunate.

To be trapped may mean that there is no escape and probably be doomed to die.

In the 1st reading, St. Paul warns the Colossians not to let anyone trap and deprive them of their freedom by some secondhand, empty, rational philosophy based on the principles on this world instead of being based on Christ.

Although it is not a physical trap, but spiritually, they would have lost their freedom and live in fear and doubt.

Jesus Christ came to proclaim the Good News of truth and love.

He is the truth who sets us free, and He is the love who will save us.

Jesus is our Saviour who will heal us from physical infirmities and spiritual fears.

Let us put our trust in Jesus and live by His truth and love.

The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Monday, 08-09-2025

Micah 5:1-4 / Matthew 1:1-16, 18-23  

The Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary was celebrated as early as from the seventh century.

From early sources there were stories of the birth of Mary, and from these sources we also learnt the names of Mary's parents, Joachim and Anne, as well as the tradition that the couple was childless until an angel appeared to Anne and told her that she would conceive.

The birth of Mary was also miraculous. She was conceived without sin as a special grace because God had chosen her to become the mother of His Son.

Hence the birth of Mary is also closely connected with the feast of her Immaculate Conception which is celebrated on December 8.

The significance of the feast of the birth of Mary emphasizes that the birth of every person is a sign of hope and a renewal in faith in the God of life and love.

For Mary, God has chosen her and prepared her to be the channel and the instrument through which the Saviour Jesus Christ would come into the world.

So in celebrating Mary's birthday, we celebrate our faith and hope in God who is the source of all life and love.

We rejoice with Mary for the marvels that God has done for her and done through her.

Because through Mary, God sent us His only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Through Mary, we know that God is with us always.

For that, we rejoice and celebrate with Mary and together with her, we give thanks and glory to God.

23rd Ordinary Sunday, Year C, 07.09.2025

Wisdom 9:13-18 / Philemon 9-10, 12-17 / Luke 14:25-33

Human beings are intelligent beings, and they have the highest intelligence in the order of creation. 

With this intelligence, human beings have progressed and developed in leaps and bounds. 

In the area of science, human beings have made many discoveries in the understanding of nature through physics, chemistry and biology. 

In the area of technology, the living standards have improved tremendously and laborious time-consuming work is made easy. 

Yes, human intelligence has made life and work become easier. 

Life may have become easier, but the pace of life also seems to have gone faster, and we are somehow getting busier. 

It seems that human intelligence is focused on what is pragmatic, on what is efficient and on improvement. 

Even at the level of ordinary life, we use our intelligence to think about what is practical and pragmatic, as well as on development and improvement. 

In the gospel, Jesus gave us two examples that point to the thoughts of men. 

One is the building a tower, and the other is about going into battle. 

These two examples point to the desires of the human mind. 

We want to build towers to show the height of our achievements and successes. 

We also want to overcome any competition and opposition that gets into our way. 

We think that by building and conquering, we will be happy and contented. 

So, we will use our intelligence to achieve whatever we desire. 

These are our thoughts. But what does God think about this? 

The 1st reading tells us this: What man indeed can know the intentions of God? Who can know the will of God? 

The reasonings of mortals are unsure and our intentions are unstable. 

So, our thoughts may not be the same as the thoughts of God. 

And what we desire to do may not be what God wants us to do. 

So, instead of focusing on building and conquering, let us use our intelligence to do what God wants of us. 

There is a story of a young man who was trekking across the country and he came across a piece of barren land. 

Then he noticed a man walking around that piece of barren land with a metal tube in his hand. 

After every few steps, he would stop and poke the metal tube into the ground and drop something into the metal tube. 

The young traveller was curious so he came up to the man and asked what he was doing. 

The man replied: When I was younger, I worked as a lumberjack and made my money by cutting down big and tall trees. 

Then one day after cutting down a tree, I saw some seeds lying on the ground. I picked up those seeds, and then a thought came to my mind. 

I cut down trees, but who is going to plant trees? With that thought pressing on my mind, I gave up my lumberjack job, and I now go around planting seeds. 

I may not see them grow into big trees, but I am planting for the future. 

Many years later, that traveller came back to see that once barren land. 

It is now a flourishing land of young trees and plants, and with the melodious singing of birds.

So, instead of building towers and fighting to put down others, let us do some planting and sowing and growing. 

Let us plant and sow seeds of hope, and God will make them grow into trees that will bear fruits of love.

Let us ask the Spirit to grant us wisdom, so that God will guide our thoughts and teach us how to carry out His will. 

May we use our intelligence to know what is right and good and loving, so that our lives will be holy and that we will be happy.

22nd Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 06-09-2025

Colossians 1:21-23 / Luke 6:1-5  

Whenever we ask what life is about, there is somewhere we need to start from.

And that is we need to ask what we are all about.

We need to ask what being human is all about.

Yes, we are human beings, but we can also forget what being human is about.

In the gospel, some Pharisees questioned Jesus about His disciples picking corn and eating them on the sabbath.

Jesus responded with instances when the hunger of men was more important than keeping to the rules and regulations.

Jesus ended off by saying that the Son of Man is master of the sabbath.

So, the sabbath, or rules or regulations are not directives that must be obeyed.

There has to be a human face to all that and Jesus is that human face.

Then the sabbath, or rules and regulation, or laws and directives, are made to help and free humanity, and not for humanity to be enslaved by it.

Let us be human beings of kindness and compassion, of forgiveness and gentleness, of patience and understanding.

When we are being truly human, we will also reflect the face of Jesus. 

22nd Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 05-09-2025

Colossians 1:15-20 / Luke 5:33-39    

The parables of Jesus are always full of images and that is why they are easily understood in the practical sense.

The parables are also easily understood at the first encounter in that they make sense and are logical.

For example, the parable that Jesus told in today's gospel passage is easily understood in the practical and logical sense.

Certainly a piece from a new cloak sown onto a old cloak would look awkward, and new wine would certainly be too strong for old wine skins.

But at a deeper and in a spiritual sense, it is not so much about the difference but rather about the similarities.

Because, as the 1st reading would put it, God wanted all perfection to be found in Christ and all things to be reconciled through Him and for Him.

By His death on the cross, He brought about peace and reconciliation.

So today's gospel parable acknowledges the existing differences between persons and communities, between races and countries, and between religions and religious practices.

But because of Jesus and His death on the cross, we know that acceptance in the midst of differences is possible.

Let us begin by accepting and adjusting to the ways of the people around us, so that there will be peace,  harmony and understanding.

22nd Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 04-09-2025

Colossians 1:9-14 / Luke 5:1-11   

The world that we live in is so orderly that we often take it for granted.

The laws of nature and the wonders of the world are like little miracles happening before our eyes.

The rising of the sun and its setting are so glorious yet we might be too busy to admire it.

The melodious singing of the birds is often drowned out by the noise of the world.

So, the little wonders and miracles of life and nature are often blocked by the noise of the world and also our eyes keep looking at the small screens of our mobile phones.

But there are times when God works a sign that is big enough and loud enough for us to see and hear.

In the gospel, when Peter did what Jesus said and put out into deep water, he thought it was rather futile and it would come to nothing.

Then before his very eyes was that huge catch of fish.

But his eyes saw more than just fish. His eyes saw a revelation, he came to see himself as a sinner, and then left everything to follow Jesus.

So too, our eyes should see deeper into this world and see the signs and wonders that He is showing us.

And the 1st reading reminds us of this:

God has taken us out of the power of darkness and created a place for us in the kingdom of His Son whom He loves, and in Him, we gain our freedom and the forgiveness of our sins.

Let us see that the greatest wonder is to be loved by God and that our sins are forgiven.

22nd Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 03-09-2025

Colossians 1:1-8 / Luke 4:38-44   

 

Whenever we buy a gadget, or a device or an electrical apparatus, we would be more interested in getting it working immediately.

But enclosed in the packaging is something else which is important and useful. 

And that is the operating instructions or the operating manual.

It may be just a piece of folded paper or a little booklet, and it provides instructions for safely and efficiently using, operating, and maintaining a product.

But often we just glance through it or don’t even look at it.

We just want to use the product immediately and we are not too interested about the product’s details.

When Jesus healed the people’s diseases and cast out devils, He did not allow the evil spirits to announce who He is.

Jesus wanted the people to discover His true identity and not just think of Him as a miracle healer and deliverer.

So when Jesus went off early in the morning to a lonely place to pray, the crowds came looking for Him.

They even wanted to prevent Him from leaving them, because they wanted more from Him.

But Jesus knew who He is and what He was sent to do.

Jesus wants to answer our prayers and give us what we need.

But He also wants us to know who He is and that He came to proclaim the Good News to us so that He can make His home in our hearts.

Let us take time to go off to a lonely place and enter into the Heart of Jesus.

22nd Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 02-09-2025

1 Thess 5:1-6, 9-11 / Luke 4:31-37   

There is a game that is played often in parties, or functions, or in radio and tv shows.

Generally that game is called " Name the tune", and the contestants try to guess the title of the song with the fewest notes or bars that is played.

When Jesus spoke, His words carried authority and power.

But more than that, His words also carried a peculiar resonance, and the evil spirits immediately recognized that it was from the Holy One of God.

In short, the words of Jesus carried a holy and sacred resonance.

The evil spirits were repulsed by it. But we should be moved by it, meaning to say, we should immediately recognize it and respond to it.

But if like what St. Paul said in the 1st reading, if we were living in the dark and are spiritually asleep, then the words of Jesus would not resonate in us.

But we would know if the words of Jesus resonate in us or not.

Because if it does, then we would be able to name the tune, the spiritual tune, that God is playing for us.

In the ups and downs of the music of our lives, there is also a spiritual tune that God is playing gently and softly for us.

When we can recognize that spiritual tune, then we will know what God's will for us is.

That tune is nothing less than holy, because God's will is holy.

22nd Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 01-09-2025

1 Thess 4:13-18 / Luke 4:16-30   

Our life’s directions and purposes are formed by our beliefs.

Because our beliefs shape our principles, which in turn are expressed in purposes and directions of our lives.

So if the belief is that this world is all there is, then when life comes to an end, then everything comes to an end.

But for us Christians, we believe in the message of Jesus Christ, and it is the Good News that He brought to us.

In the gospel, we hear what that Good News is: it is hope for the poor, liberty to captives, new sight to the blind, freedom to the oppressed and downtrodden.

In essence, it is the Good News of salvation, the Good News that God loves and cares for us.

So, we believe in the God of life, we believe in the God of love.

And we will want to live a life of love in this world, so that we will have a life of love in the next world.

That is also the message of St. Paul to the Thessalonians in the 1st reading, so that they can have hope in the face of death.

May our lives be an expression of God’s love here on earth, and may our hope in the eternal life where we will live forever in God’s love.

22nd Ordinary Sunday, Year C, 31.08.2025

Ecclesiasticus 3:17-20, 28-29 / Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-24 / Luke 14:1, 7-14

A cup is used for containing beverages so that it would be easier to drink from it. 

The beverage can be anything from plain water to tea or coffee or other kinds of drinks. 

And cups can be made of any material from paper to plastic to porcelain. 

And it can also be of any size from cute little teacups to big mugs. 

And nowadays, cups have taken on other purposes and meanings. 

There are things like the popular cup noodles, which are like tasty instant meals in a plastic disposable cup. 

And then there are cups that symbolize a status, or to be exact, a trophy. 

So, there are World Cups for various types of sports. 

Those are really big cups usually made of silver or some kind of valuable metal. 

We may wonder why they are called World Cups when nobody brings anything from it. 

In a gospel passage, Jesus told a parable about humility, because He had noticed how the guests picked the places of honour. 

The teaching in the parable is about having the humility to go to the lowest place first, so as not to be embarrassed if we were asked to change places. 

But practically speaking, whether we go to a wedding feast or to a restaurant for a meal, we let the host or the waiter show us to our seats. 

So, out of manners and etiquette, we don't choose the seats, but we choose something else. 

Later, if we go to the canteen for a drink, we would choose the cups. 

Whether we are going to drink water or coffee or tea, we will choose a nice and clean cup. 

We may have our reasons for choosing a particular cup, but this following story may help us do some reflection.

A group of successful graduates once visited their former professor.

They had built impressive careers, held prestigious titles, and lived seemingly perfect lives.

While waiting for the coffee, their conversation turned to the stresses of work, exhaustion, and the pressures of adulthood.

Some laughed.

Some complained.

Some philosophized.

The professor returned with a tray full of mismatched cups —

porcelain and glass, ceramic and plastic, elegant and chipped, minimalist and ornate.

As the guests chose their cups, the professor quietly observed. Then he spoke:

“Notice how you all instinctively reached for the finest cups — the fancy ones.

Not a single person chose the worn-out or plastic ones.

And that’s the root of much of your stress.”

“You wanted the coffee — not the cup.

But you focused on the cup’s appearance, not the essence of what you came for.”

He continued:

“Life is like coffee.

Career, salary, status, home, car — those are just cups.

They don’t define the richness of life itself.”

“Sometimes we get so distracted by the ‘cup’,

we forget to savour the coffee.”

So drink your coffee with joy.

Not by comparing.

Not by competing.

Not by glancing sideways.

Because the happiest people aren’t those who have the best of everything —

but those who know how to make the best of what they are having.

Still, the cups are important. Because we don't want to drink from a chipped cup. 

And a broken cup is of no use. It is to be discarded. 

But even a broken cup can also be a subject of reflection about life.

In the 15th century, a Japanese shogun sent a broken Chinese tea bowl back to China for repairs.

It was returned repaired with ugly metal staples, and that prompted the Japanese craftsmen to look for a more aesthetic means of repair.

The broken valuable pottery was repaired with lacquered resin mixed with powdered gold. It is called kintsugi.

Kintsugi means “to repair with gold”. But the important point in the art of kintsugi is that the broken piece is now more beautiful for having been broken.

It takes humility to acknowledge that we are chipped, and cracked, and even broken, although no one can see it and no one may know about it. 

But Jesus knows, He notices, and He is inviting us to come to Him so that He can heal us. 

But in order for Jesus to heal us, we have to give Him our broken pieces. 

Jesus won't throw us away or discard us. 

He is our Healer, and He is the Master Craftsman. 

He will heal us and even make us beautiful in our brokenness. 

We just need to be humble and let Jesus recreate us back into His image of love.

21st Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 30-08-2025

1 Thess 4:9-11 / Matthew 25:14-30   

There is a story of a rat who fell into a bin of rice. At first it tried to get out but it was not possible as the walls of the bin are steep.

Since there was rice all around, it began to feed itself. And after a while, it was enjoying itself inside the bin.

There was food, there was security, and all it needed do was to literally eat and sleep.

But one day, the rice ran out, and the rat, by then obese and over-weight, realized that it couldn't get out of the bin any more and would eventually die of starvation.

One of the lessons about life that we can learn from this story is that when things are going easy and there are no difficulties and challenges, we got to be careful.

Because we will be getting careless and lax and we might be sliding into a hole in which we would not be able to get out.

In the gospel parable, the servant who buried his one talent in the ground was called "wicked and lazy" by his master.

We may think that the master was rather harsh with his words and in his treatment of that servant.

But it is a pointed reminder for us who are servants of God that we must labour in the field of love and to bear of harvest for the Lord, as St. Paul would remind the Thessalonians in the 1st reading.

Not to struggle and labour for love of God and neighbour would mean that we slowly dry up and waste away the love that God has given us.

The Passion of St. John the Baptist, Friday, 29-08-2025

Jeremiah 1:1`7-19 / Mark 6:17-29  

The life of St. John the Baptist is indeed very dramatic. Even in his mother's womb, he leapt when Mary greeted Elizabeth at the Visitation.

At his birth, there was this amazing occasion of the choice of his name which restored the power of speech of his father Zechariah, and which also left the astonished neighbours wondering what would he grow to be.

His appearance at the river Jordan preaching repentance and baptising people earned him the reputation of "the Baptist" and he even baptised Jesus.

He had an illustrious ministry. Yet in essence, St. John the Baptist was a prophet and his greatest deed as a prophet was to point out Jesus as the Lamb of God.

And as a prophet, he had to fulfil his mission by proclaiming the ways of the Lord and pointing out sin and evil and calling for repentance and conversion.

For that St. John the Baptist paid the price when he pointed out Herod's sin, and for that he was captured and imprisoned in Herod's fortress.

If his life was dramatic and illustrious, his death was equally dramatic, although it was also very gruesome.

His death by beheading revealed the characters of Herod, Herodias, her daughter, and also all the guests present, who did nothing and said nothing to stop the heinous act.

For a great prophet like St. John the Baptist who had such a dramatic and illustrious life and ministry, his death seemed so humiliating.

Yet, today, we the Church honour him. Over and above all else, we honour him for his faithfulness to God and for his courage to accept and fulfil the mission of being God's prophet.

Even for us, in all the drama of life, the spills and the thrills, or even in the mundane and the monotony, what counts for us will be our faithfulness to God.

Because in the end, it is our faithfulness to God that mattered. It mattered to St. John the Baptist. It also mattered to God.

21st Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 28-08-2025

1 Thess 3:7-13 / Matthew 24:42-51    

Quite often we hear this phrase : History repeats itself.

But does history repeat itself? How can history repeat itself?

We can't go back to the stone-age and start life all over again.

No, history does not repeat itself. But the mistakes that were made in history tend to surface again and in a new packaging.

There were many moments in the history of humanity when modern man became like stone-age man.

Just to name a few : World War I, World War II, the Nazi holocaust, Bosnia genocide, Kosovo Conflict, Rwanda genocide.

And many more will be added to the list as the mistakes of history keep surfacing again and again.

Yes, the list of ugly moments of the history of humanity will continue to lengthen as long as we don't heed the call of Jesus to stay awake and to be vigilant.

Because the degradation and destruction of mankind begins with the corruption of the self.

It is the corrupted self who forgets that he is just a creature and a servant, and will one day stand before the Creator to account for his deeds.

Yes we must keep alert and stand ready.

The 1st reading reminds us that while we are waiting for the Lord Jesus Christ, it is He who will keep us steady and without blame until the last day.

Meanwhile as we journey towards that last day, let us make a history of mankind that is known for its beauty and not to make it ugly.

21st Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 27-08-2025

1 Thess 2:9-13 / Matthew 23:27-32    

First impressions are quite important.

Because usually from the first impressions, the opinions are formed, and these opinions might well be permanent.

That is why grooming schools teach people how to dress well, act well, talk well, etc.

The grooming schools focus on appearances and impressions, and whatever that is external.

But can the externals change the internal? Can externals change the heart?

Because we sometimes behave like the Mafia - those gangsters wear Italian fashion suits to commit murder.

Obviously, looking good does not necessarily mean that a person is good.

As Jesus said in the gospel, if we try to make a good impression with ulterior motives, others will eventually see through us.

There is no way that we can keep hiding our ulterior motives and vested interests.

Yet, let us also recognize what is embedded deep in our hearts.

We are created in love and created with love.

Let that love be shown to others and they will know what love looks like.

21st Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 26-08-2025

1 Thess 2:1-8 / Matthew 23:23-26   

What usually calls for attention are the big problems of life.

By big problems, it is often the usual list of war and hostility, injustice and poverty, and all those issues that make it to the headlines.

Yes, those are big problems, big issues, and they would also call for big-scale solutions.

But that does not mean small problems are not problems at all. Because small problems can also manifest into big problems.

By the same token, little acts of love and care can go a long way and remain in people’s hearts for a long time.

In the 1st reading, St. Paul used the image a mother feeding and looking after her own children to express his devotion and protection over the Thessalonians.

That image is simple and humble but it also expressed the love and care of God for His people.

In the gospel, Jesus also pointed out essentials of life, like justice, mercy and good faith.

Those are not big and spectacular acts of faith, but they point to essentials of life and love.

It is a reminder that we are not called to do great things, but to do little things with great love.

When the little essential things of life are looked into with love, the big problems and issues of life will be resolved.

21st Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 25-08-2025

1 Thess 1:1-5, 8-10 / Matthew 21:13-22   

To say that we believe in something, then our actions must also express that belief.

So if we say that we believe that physical exercise is good for the body, then we should be doing it every day.

If we say that organic foods are good for health, then we will be eating organic foods every day.

And if we say that we believe in heaven, then we will prepare to go there by our way of life here on earth.

For the Thessalonians in the 1st reading, they believe that God loves them and that they were chosen by God.

They believed in the Good News not just as words but as utter conviction.

Their lives were changed and they converted to God and became servants of the living God and placed their hope in Jesus.

On the contrary, the scribes and Pharisees were living hypocritical lives.

They know about heaven and the eternal life and yet they were the ones who shut up the Kingdom of God in men’s faces.

So, if we believe in heaven and in eternal life, let our actions express our belief.

Let us love God and our neighbour and live peaceful lives and focused on doing good to others.

Then, by our actions we express our belief in heaven and in eternal life, and we will also be helping others go to heaven.

21st Ordinary Sunday, Year C, 24.08.2025

Isaiah 66:18-21 / Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13 / Luke 13:22-30 

Life is often said to be like a race and a competition. 

It is all about being the first, being the best, and being the most. 

And there is no doubt where the spotlight will shine on. 

It shines on the first, the best and the most. 

Another way of looking at it is like that of a lighted candle. 

What attracts is the flame of the candle that gives out light. 

But what goes unnoticed is the darkness at the base of the candle. 

The same can be said of a lighthouse. In the darkness of the night, only the light at the top of the lighthouse is seen shining brightly. 

And like the candle, it is dark at the foot of the lighthouse. 

So, even the brightest light casts a shadow at its base. 

Adding on to that, when the light is brightest, the shadows are also the darkest. 

The gospel passage begins with Jesus going through the towns and villages, and He went about teaching. 

And then someone asked Him: Sir, will there be only a few saved? 

That question is like asking a teacher: How many students will score an A? 

This weekend, the Church in Singapore highlights Catholic education in Catholic schools. 

Whenever education is discussed, the general inclination is about examinations and results. Good results will mean entry into good schools, and also towards a bright career path. 

But education is more than just a means to making a living. 

Education is a means to living life with dignity and meaning. 

So, as much as results are an indication, the formation of character and integrity of life is important. 

There is a story of two professors who were discussing about their lectures. 

One professor said: They are about 200 students attending my lectures. How many students are there in your lectures? 

The other professor replied: There are also about 200 who are attending my lectures, but I don't know how many are really my students. 

This may help us to understand what Jesus said: Try your best to enter by the narrow door, because many will try to enter and not succeed. 

So, to attend the lectures does not mean that that is true knowledge and understanding. 

To hear the gospel does not mean we have listened to the voice of Jesus. 

To be in the spotlight, or to be in the limelight, does not mean that we are enlightened. 

As we reflect on Catholic education in Catholic schools, we pray for the teachers and the students. 

The mission of the teacher is to proclaim the light of truth and love in the sharing of knowledge and understanding. 

Teachers are like a lighted candle. The light may not be seen by everyone, but it will reach those who are seeking it. So, keep shining.

Because there are students who need to see the light. 

They need to know that it is dark at the base of the candle. 

They need to know that the first can become the last, and the last can become the first. 

They need to be shown the narrow door, but it is the door that leads to life and love.

May teachers and students, and parents, be blessed with wisdom, knowledge and understanding by Jesus, who is our Teacher and who is the Light of the world.

20th Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 23-08-2025

Ruth 2:1-3, 8-11; 4:13-17 / Matthew 23:1-12  

Everything happens for a reason and with a reason.

That is because when God created the world and every living creature, He had a plan.

Everything was planned and created orderly.

So nothing really happens by chance.

 

In the 1st reading, Ruth went to glean in the fields after the reapers.

And it chanced that she came to that part of the fields which belonged to Boaz.

But if everything happens for a reason and with a reason, then it was certainly not by chance.

Later Boaz would take Ruth as his wife and they would have a son, Obed, who was the father of David’s father, Jesse.

So God had it all planned, and we humbly accept the mystery of God’s plan.

Yet, God also creates chances for us to be humble and to recognize His signs and wonders.

When we think we know it all and have everything under our control, then pride comes in and we will be blind to God’s revelation.

But when we know that there is only so much that we know and understand, then God will reveal more to us of His ways.

And with humility, we will see the signs and wonders that God will show us.

The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Friday, 22-08-2025

Isaiah 9:1-6 / Luke 1:26-38  

Eight days ago, the Church celebrated the feast of the Assumption of Mary into heaven.

In the course of the 8 days, the Church reflects deeper about the mystery of the Assumption, and on the Octave of the Assumption (8 days later) the Church concludes her reflection with the celebration of the Queenship of Mary.

In summary, it could be said that God assumed Mary into heaven to reign in glory with Christ the King.

So the proclamation and celebration of Mary's queenship in essence points to the Kingship of Christ.

In celebrating the queenship of Mary, we are also reminded that we are the Chosen people of God and thus royal children.

So as God's Chosen and royal children, all that we do and say must be geared towards giving glory to God.

Mary showed us how to do that in the gospel when she responded to God's call by accepting God's will.

In doing so, Mary gave us the concrete example of obedience in the form of servanthood.

We are not just the Chosen and royal children of God.

We are also the chosen and royal servants of Christ the King.

With Mary as our queen, let us offer ourselves in service to the Church, so that in all that we do and say, God will be glorified and exalted.

20th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 21-08-2025

Judges 11:29-39 / Matthew 22:1-14    

It is understood that when more is given, then more is expected.

This is often the thinking when a person is given power and authority.

That person has the responsibility of living up to the expectations of others.

In the 1st reading, the Spirit of the Lord came on Jephthah, and he was given the power by the Lord to overcome the enemies.

Then Jephthah made a vow to the Lord, that if he is victorious over the enemies

He would offer the first person of his household to greet him when he comes home victorious as a holocaust.

As Jephthah returned victorious to his house, the first person in his family to come and meet him is his own daughter.

As much as it is heart-breaking for Jephthah, a vow is a vow, and it is made to the Lord.

He cannot undo what he had promised the Lord, although it must be said that the Lord did not ask for a vow to be made, or a life to be sacrificed.

Jephthah was given much by the Lord, but it must also be remembered that the Lord did not ask back for much.

The Lord does not ask for holocaust or a life to be sacrificed.

The Lord only asks for obedience and faithfulness.

Let us obey and be faithful to the Lord our God, and He will give us what we need.

20th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 20-08-2025

Judges 9:6-15 / Matthew 20:1-16  

Whatever gifts and talents that we have, it is more than just for our own good.

As Christians, we believe that those gifts and talents are given to us by God.

Our mission as Christians is to develop our gifts and talents and to use them for the glory of God and for the good of others.

But we may be so focused on our gifts and talents that we end up being self-centred.

In the 1st reading, the story is about the trees choosing a king to rule over them.

The olive tree, the fig tree, the vine rejected the task to become the king of trees because they were not willing to give up what they had.

So eventually the trees asked the thorn bush, and it accepted.

But it would be a bad choice, and that is what Jotham was trying to warn the people when they chose Abimelech to be the king.

In the gospel parable, it was a different situation.

The workers were willing to work. Some were hired earlier, but there were also others who were hired later, even some at the last hour.

The teaching from the two readings is that whatever we have comes from God and it is for us to use our gifts and talents for the good of others.

And regardless how useful our gifts and talents may be, let us offer it to God and let us rejoice that God has called us to serve Him in others.

20th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 21-08-2025

Judges 6:11-24 / Matthew 19:23-30    

When a person is last on the list, having the least compared to the rest, and looking like a loser, then not much is expected of him.

So as much as we should look kindly on the last, the least and the lost, but that is often not really the case.

So while we cheer for the underdog, we will still put our bets on the top-dog.

In the 1st reading, the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon and said: The Lord is with you, valiant warrior!

But Gideon replied: Forgive me, my Lord, but how can I deliver Israel? My clan, you must know, is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least important in my family.

But the Lord insisted that He will be with Gideon, and so Gideon asked for a sign.

He brought offerings to present to the Lord, and before his very eyes, the offerings were consumed by fire.

God often chooses the weak and the least, but He will also make them strong to show His power working through them.

So let us not be too smug about how much we have, or about our resources and abilities.

Let us offer them to the Lord and ask Him to show us how to use them for His glory.

Whatever we give up for the Lord, He will certainly reward us.

May we see the wonder of how much God will do with the little that we offer to Him.

20th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 20-08-2025

Judges 2:11-19 / Matthew 19:16-22  

As Christians, we believe in God and the expression of this belief is to keep His Commandments.

In its very essentials, to keep the Commandments of God is to love God and to love neighbour.

To love God is to keep to what He has stated in the Commandments and also to do what is right, just and good to our neighbour.

But the temptations of the pleasure and desires make us lose focus on our faith.

In the 1st reading, the people of God did what displeases the Lord and served the Baals or idols.

They deserted the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and followed the other gods of the peoples around them.

The attraction of worshipping these other gods is that human desires and pleasures are fulfilled, but there is always a heavy price to pay later.

The people of God paid the price when their enemies pillaged and plundered them.

They repented and God sent judges to rescue them, but they still fell into the temptations of pleasure and desires.

In many ways, that is also our story of weakness in the face of temptations.

Like the rich young man in the gospel, we know that wealth and earthly possessions will not make us truly happy.

We have turned away from God, and that has only brought us sadness.

Let us turn back to God, and follow Jesus, and we will receive blessings that will give us true happiness.

20th Ordinary Sunday, Year C, 17.08.2025

Jeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10 / Hebrews 12:1-4 / Luke 12:49-53 

It is often said that we live in a small world, a small world in the figurative sense of the word. 

We will see how true this is when we realize, and are amazed, at how closely we are connected to each other. 

We may have a friend, who is related to someone else, who in turn is related to someone else, and then that someone else is also related to us. 

So, from being a friend, we suddenly realise that we are distant relatives. 

Indeed, this is a small world, and we are more closely connected than we think. 

With these close connections, then people's views and opinions spread faster and further. 

On a personal level, we can't deny that we can be affected by how others see us, and what they think of us. 

And we will be concerned and anxious about people's views and opinions about us, especially when it is not that pleasant.

In the 1st reading, the prophet Jeremiah's reputation was not favourable to the king’s leading men. 

They wanted to put him to death for disheartening the people with the so-called bad news. 

Even the king wasn't able to stop the leading men from throwing Jeremiah into the well. 

Such is the fate of a true prophet who proclaims the Word of God to those who are not willing to listen. 

In the gospel, what Jesus said would certainly disturb us, and make us wonder about what He meant. 

Jesus talks about bringing fire to the earth, and how He wished it were blazing already. 

Obviously, this fire is in the figurative sense, and it has a deeper meaning. 

It is a spiritual fire that burns away impurities and it is also a fire that enlightens. 

In our interactions and connections with family, relatives and friends, we are very much concerned about their views and opinions. 

Very often, the question that we ask ourselves is this: What will others say? What will people say? 

So yes, we are concerned about what others say and think about us. We are concerned about public opinion. 

So, we will go with the flow, we will conform, we will stay with the majority. 

But, the question is not “What will others say?”, or, “What will people say?” 

The burning question is this: What will God say? 

In order to hear what God will say, we will have to pray. 

In prayer, we will remember how Jesus responded to others, especially with their snide and disparaging remarks. 

When He was nailed to the Cross, the crowd taunted Him by saying: If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross and save yourself. 

And the other criminal also abused Jesus by saying: If you are the Son of God, save yourself, and us as well. 

But Jesus remained silent and did not do what they wanted Him to do. 

Jesus did what God wanted Him to do, and that is to bear with the abusing and disparaging. 

In listening to God, and obeying God, Jesus won salvation for us. 

The 2nd reading urges us with this: Let us not lose sight of Jesus, who leads us in our faith and brings it to perfection. 

May the fire of God's love enlighten us to listen to what He is saying to us.

And may we obey and follow Jesus, and walk with Him towards salvation.

19th Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 16-08-2025

Joshua 24:14-29 / Matthew 19:13-15  

When we hear it being said that promises are made to be broken, then we know what is the attitude towards promises.

If promises are made to be broken, then is there any more meaning in making promises?

So whether it is a verbal or a written promise, it is meant to be kept.

When a promise is broken, the integrity and character of the person who broke the promise is revealed.

In the 1st reading, Joshua presented to the people a choice as they settled in the Promised Land.

More than just a choice, it is also a promise that they have to make.

Joshua said this: Choose today whom you wish to serve. As  for me in my house, we will serve the Lord.

The people answered: We have no intention of deserting the Lord and serving other gods. We too will serve the Lord, for he is our God.

So, promises have been made, and promises will be put to the test, and integrity and character will be revealed.

As we reflect on the commitment of a promise, may we also know that it is to people that we are making promises to.

And when we make promises to children, let us always keep to our promises.

That will show our integrity and character, and it will also build theirs.

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Friday, 15-08-2025

Apocalypse 11:19; 12:1-6, 10 / 1 Cor 15:20-26 / Luke 1:39-56 

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a great feast in the church. 

It is a Solemnity, and also a day of obligation, equivalent to that of the Sunday Mass. 

To some people, it may seem to be an occasion that is glorifying Mary. 

But for us who understand the meaning of this feast, we will know this:

Any honour, or veneration, or devotion to Mary must point to and lead us to Jesus Christ. 

So, the Assumption of Mary would make us recall the Ascension of Jesus into heaven. 

Jesus ascended into heaven and opened the gates of salvation, and Mary is the first receive the fullness of salvation. 

But Mary's entry into heaven does not mean that her mission is over. 

She still shares in the saving mission of Jesus in heaven. 

There she prays for us as the Mother of God and the Mother of the Church. 

Having faced the challenges and difficulties of life, especially in being faithful to God’s will on earth, Mary will pray for us as she knows that we would need God’s help in our journey of life and overcome the struggles and troubles of life.

Mary would also know that the evil one would tempt us to stray away from God and from heaven, but just as a mother would protect her children, Mary will also be with us to keep us close to Jesus and guide us to heaven.

Let us keep our devotion to Mary, and pray to her, that one day we will join her in heaven, and there together with her, we will praise and glorify God forever.

19th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 14-08-2025

Joshua 3:7-11, 13-17 / Matthew 18:21 - 19:1   

Every new leader will have to face this challenge or burden.

And that is, the new leadership will be compared with the previous leadership.

So, the new leader is often under some kind of psychological pressure to prove himself and his abilities.

Some new leaders will try to dismantle the structures of the old leadership in order to implement new directions.

Some new leaders might resort to some gimmicks to gain support.

In the 1st reading, as Joshua takes over the leadership from Moses, it is the Lord who assured him with these words:

This very day I will begin to make you a great man in the eyes of all Israel …

And the first thing that the Lord directed Joshua was the crossing of the Jordan river.

It was quite similar to how Moses lead the people across the Red Sea when the Lord parted the waters.

As it was with Moses, so it was with Joshua, that the Lord worked signs and wonders through them.

They only have to put their faith and trust in the Lord, and do what the Lord directed them to do.

May we too, put our faith and trust in the Lord when we are given responsibilities and tasks.

We don’t have to worry about proving ourselves or making an impression on others.

We just have to do what the Lord directs us and the Lord will show us the way.

19th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 13-08-2025

Deuteronomy 34:1-12 / Matthew 18:15-20   

No one likes to be left behind by others. It is a bitter depressing feeling.

More so when that person has been doing all the thankless work of getting the others together and getting them to move along.

For Moses, he had led the people in the desert for 40 years and he had to bear the brunt of their complaining and their demands.

And now, he had finally brought the people in sight of the land that God had promised them.

But as the Lord told him: I have let you see it with your own eyes, but you shall not cross into it.

We may have felt sorry for Moses, that despite the hardships that he went through, he could only see the Promised Land but could not step into it.

Moses may have felt that he was left behind.

But his true reward was in the Lord God. To be buried by the Lord God is to say that the Lord God has gathered Moses to go to his eternal reward.

The life and death of Moses tells us God does not forget those who faithfully carried out His will.

So, like Moses, let us not look at earthly rewards. And may the Lord our God be our eternal reward.