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.