2nd Week of Lent, Friday, 06-03-2026

Genesis 37:3-4, 12-13, 17-28 / Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46   

One of the most difficult questions to answer is the question of taking lives, or plainly putting it, the question of killing.

So, what makes a person take another person’s life?

What makes a person kill another person?

It is a very difficult question to answer.

At most, it can be said that something in the human nature just snapped, and then something inhuman erupted.

In the 1st reading, the brothers of Joseph wanted to kill him.

Their jealousy was so intense that it erupted into an intention to kill their own brother.

In the gospel parable, there is also killing – the servants were killed, and even the landowner’s son was killed.

Even though it is a parable, yet it reveals the darkest side of humanity.

But, on the other hand, when we look at the Cross, we see Jesus crucified and died for us.

Actually, He was killed, but in His death, Jesus saved us.

Jesus has already shed His blood for us and died to save us.

Let us not shed any more blood, literally or figuratively.

On the Cross, Jesus taught us this great truth of life.

In the face of inhuman acts, the response is love.

Only with love, will killing and shedding of blood be stopped.

2nd Week of Lent, Thursday, 05-03-2026

Jeremiah 17:5-10 / Luke 16:19-31   

In the spectrum of the social economic status, there are those who are very very rich.

And there are those who are very very poor.

In between is the majority who are neither that rich nor that poor.

But whether rich or poor, the important thing is how does one live life?

If one becomes rich by ill-gotten gains, then it will be of no lasting value, and even lead to ruin.

If a poor person tries to make an honest living, he may not make much money but he will be respected.

That is the teaching from the Lord in the 1st reading as He says:

“A curse on the man who puts his trust in man, who relies on things of the flesh, whose heart turns from the Lord.”

But, “a blessing on the man who puts his trust in the Lord, with the Lord for his hope.”

In the gospel parable, the rich man was in eternal torment because he only wanted to enjoy life while on earth, and didn’t bother that poor beggar at the gate.

The poor Lazarus was in eternal comfort not because he was a poor beggar but because he didn’t complain or protest about his miserable state.

One of the spiritual directions of the season of Lent is almsgiving.

Let us share with the poor in whatever we can afford.

And let us also do it in secret, and God who sees all that is done in secret, will bless us.

2nd Week of Lent, Wednesday, 04-03-2026

Jeremiah 18:18-20 / Matthew 20:17-28   

There is one question that seems to have an obvious answer.

The question is: How is it that we have enemies?

The obvious answer would be that someone has done us a terrible wrong and we can’t forgive that person.

So that person is our enemy, and because the pain and the hurt is too deep, we can’t forgive that person.

In the 1st reading, the enemies of the prophet Jeremiah were plotting against him.

Although Jeremiah had done nothing wrong or harmful to them, they were offended by his call to repentance.

Jeremiah’s enemies were not taking revenge. They just wanted to get rid of a nuisance and silence the truth.

In the gospel, Jesus knew what His enemies would do to Him.

They wanted nothing less than to take His life.

But Jesus and Jeremiah taught us that in the face of adversaries and adversities, they turned to God for help and protection.

Let us not fight against our enemies, but let us pray for them.

God is the Divine Judge and He will see justice done.

Let us stand by God and He will stand by us.

2nd Week of Lent, Tuesday, 03-03-2026

Isaiah 1:10, 16-20 / Matthew 23:1-12   

The saying that “practice makes perfect” is a good motto for improvement and achievement.

It also means that consistency and perseverance will eventually bear results.

Certainly, when it comes to skills and other abilities, then constant practice will develop to perfection.

While it is a good motto to adopt in many areas of life, it needs to be understood correctly in the spiritual life.

Whether in worship or prayer or in works of charity, there is no need for perfection.

The danger of perfection can be limited to just function or achievement.

And it can lead to the erosion of devotion and even reverence.

In the 1st reading, the Lord tells His people to wash, to make themselves clean and to take their wrong-doing out of His sight.

God tells them to get the basics right, and that is to cease to do evil, to learn to do good, to search for justice, to help the oppressed, to be just to the orphan and to plead for the widow.

The people may get all the rituals right and prayers said correctly, and keep to the letter of the law.

But the reality of their lives is not connected with their worship and prayer.

We are reminded in the 1st reading, as well as in the gospel, that the spiritual life is not about external perfection or even to gain the attention of others.

Our worship and our prayer should lead us to the obedience of God’s will.

It is in obedience to God’s will that we will understand what is salvation.

2nd Week of Lent, Monday, 02-03-2026

Daniel 9:4-10 / Luke 6:36-38

The world that we live in is such a volatile world.

Humanity does not seem to want to live in peace.

Another large-scale war has broken out again.

The whole world will be affected, but the biggest tragedy is that lives are lost and there are destructions.

We, the Church, cannot just look away or worry about how badly we will be affected.

That would be the sin of omission, as we need to look at the problems of the world as our problems.

With all this happening in this holy season of Lent, the direction and the mission is clear for us.

We need to have recourse to the greatest power that we have, and that is the power of prayer together with penance.

As the prophet Daniel prayed for his people, so must we pray for peace in the world.

As Jesus taught us in the gospel, let us not judge who is at fault and who started the war.

Let us pray that God will be compassionate on the world and on us.

May our prayers be poured out for the innocent and those who are suffering from the violence and the tragedy of the war.

Let us beg for God’s mercy on the world and on ourselves.

2nd Sunday of Lent, Year A, 01.03.2026

Genesis 12:1-4a / 2 Tim 1:8-10 / Matthew 17:1-9  

In life, we have many desires. And there is no doubt that one of the top desires is the desire for happiness. 

So, putting it simply, in life we want to be happy. 

But the reality is that life is difficult. 

Indeed, life is difficult, but we don’t seem to accept this reality. 

So, we will find ways and means to make life as happy as possible. 

We want to be happy and to enjoy life. 

So, we will try to gain as much money as possible, so that we can do the things we want to do and be happy. 

We would want to go for holidays, and enjoy good food and the luxuries of life. 

We dream of enjoyment and happiness, but life turns up with many difficulties and challenges. 

But it must also be said that life does have its moments of happiness, and that gives us the motivation and inspiration to go on in life. 

In the gospel, Jesus went up a high mountain and brought along Peter, James and John. 

Up there on that mountain, Jesus was Transfigured. 

Jesus was in His divine glory, and Moses and Elijah also appeared and they were talking with Him. 

The disciples saw all that, and they were amazed with what they saw. 

Peter started talking about building three tents and all that. 

Then suddenly, a bright cloud covered them with shadow, and from the cloud there came a voice which said: 

This is My Son, the Beloved, He enjoys My favour. Listen to Him. 

And then, just as suddenly as Jesus was Transfigured in His glory, then it was back to normal. 

Moses and Elijah were not there anymore, and only Jesus and the three disciples were around. 

Then on the way down, Jesus told His disciples not to tell anyone about what they had seen until He is risen from the dead. 

Jesus would go on with His mission of proclaiming the Good News of salvation. 

But He would also face mounting opposition and rejection, that would finally end with Him nailed to the Cross. 

So, it can be said that for Jesus, life was difficult, and His life came to an end with a shameful death on the Cross. 

But the Transfiguration was a bright moment in the surrounding darkness. 

It was in the Transfiguration that Jesus felt the love and affirmation by His Father. 

And it was that one moment that gave Jesus the strength and the courage to go on and complete His mission. 

So yes, life is difficult, but God will give us moments of happiness to rise above the difficulties and challenges. 

We may have heard of the baby monkey named Punch who was born in the Ichikawa zoo in Japan. 

Punch was rejected by his mother at birth, but somehow he kept surviving. 

Videos on the internet about his story have gone viral with viewers rooting for him. 

The zookeeper came to his help, he was given a plushie, a soft toy, in the form of an orang-utan.

But he was also bullied by the other monkeys and chased around. 

His heart-wrenching story touched the human experiences of rejection, opposition, suffering, survival and resilience. 

But in the midst of all that difficulties and challenges, an older female monkey came around and took Punch, the baby monkey, into her care. 

And then another male monkey also took Punch under his care and taught him how to live as a monkey. 

The story of Punch is still developing, but his story also touched the depths of our human experiences and taught us lessons about life. 

The Transfiguration of Jesus also taught us many lessons about the difficulties and challenges of life. 

Through the Transfiguration, we learn this:

In difficult moments, let us keep something beautiful in our hearts. 

For Jesus, He remembered His Father’s voice from heaven and those words of love. 

May we also remember the voices of love and the words of love that others had spoken to us. 

And may we be a voice of love that speaks words of love to others who are facing challenges and difficulties in life.

1st Week of Lent, Saturday, 28-02-2026

Deuteronomy 26:16-19 / Matthew 5:43-48   

When we look at the people around us, we will certainly have some opinions about them.

In our minds, we will put labels on them.

It can be labels like: trustworthy, reliable, honest, sincere, etc.

Or it can be labels like: fair weather friend, unreliable, dishonest, insincere, etc.

So when we look at the people around us, we not only have our opinions about them, we will also put judgement tags on them.

It can be said that we look at others with tainted eyes.

We look at them from our perspective and how they fit or do not fit into our ideas.

On the other hand, we have heard it said that love is blind.

Love is blind in that it does not see faults and failings in others.

So it can also be said that love is not only blind, it is also kind to all persons that it sees.

May the Lord open our eyes to see as He sees, and to be kind just as He is kind to all.

And may we also be able to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us.

1st Week of Lent, Friday, 27-02-2026

Ezekiel 18:21-28 / Matthew 5:20-26   

The changes in life are almost like how the weather changes.

Bright sunshine can turn into a thunderstorm in just half an hour.

And the ups and downs of life have also made us respond and react differently.

When we are up and about, and all seems bright and shiny, we will have happy thoughts and nice things to say.

But when we are down and out, and all seems dark and gloomy, then our thoughts will be dark and our words will be sharp.

Those dark and gloomy moments make us frustrated and when things go wrong, we will look for someone to blame.

It is then that sharp and cutting words come out of our mouths, and we will even use abusive words and disparage others.

In the gospel, Jesus teaches us even using words like “Fool” and “Renegade” are so abusive that the punishment is hell fire.

Words reveal the state of our minds and hearts.

When we find ourselves swearing and using abusive words on others in our minds, then we also know what is in our hearts.

Let us ask Jesus to heal our hearts of anger and resentment, and to grant us peace.

With the peace of the Lord in our hearts, may we also have loving thoughts of others and also speak words of peace.

1st Week of Lent, Thursday, 26-02-2026

Esther 4:17 / Matthew 7:7-12  

 

Prayers are said in Church, and as usual, we say the prayers in a sober and solemn way.

But not all prayers are said in Church.

Some of the most fervent and desperate prayers are said in hospitals.

To be warded in hospital would mean that the illness or sickness required specialized treatment.

And the patient would be desperately praying for a cure and relief from pain.

But it is not expected that desperate prayers be heard in palaces.

In the 1st reading, queen Esther was facing a mortal peril which had overtaken her.

But she took refuge with the Lord and she besought the Lord God with fervent prayers from the depths of her heart.

And it was the final sentence of her prayers that expressed the depth of her prayer:

“come to my help, for I am alone and have no one but you Lord”.

Yes, our prayers are most fervent and desperate when we have only God for our help.

In the gospel, Jesus said this: Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.

Let us always ask the Lord first, so that we will search at the right places and the right door will be opened for us.

And may prayer be our first option and our last option when we are in a desperate situation.

1st Week of Lent, Wednesday, 25-02-2026

Jonah 3:1-10 / Luke 11:29-32    

When something unexpected happens, we may think of it as an exceptional occurrence.

More so when it cannot be explained logically or reasonably, we may just keep it aside and continue to ponder on it.

Although it may not be able to be understood logically or reasonably, but if it is wonderful and heart-warming, then we will attribute it to the workings of God.

Yes, when God works wonders, we will know that it is not the work or the abilities or the efforts of man, but it is from the hand of God.

In the 1st reading, the conversion of the Ninevites was unexpected and beyond human reasoning.

What is even more astounding is that from the king right down to the animals, all did penance and fasting for their sins.

Certainly it was not because of Jonah, because Jonah himself was skeptical that the Ninevites would repent.

In fact, he had secretly wished for them to be punished because of the horrors they did to God’s people.

But the conversion of the Ninevites was so amazing that it can be none other than the work of God.

Only God can change hearts and minds.

During this time of Lent, let us have the hope that those who commit wicked and evil deeds will repent, and we must pray for them.

We also pray for ourselves that God will open our minds and hearts to see the wonders that He will show us so that we will know that our God is merciful and compassionate.

1st Week of Lent, Tuesday, 24-02-2026

Isaiah 55:10-11 / Matthew 6:7-15   

The world usually puts its focus on quantity and size.

So the bigger the better. The more, the merrier. The higher, the happier.

So, in the end, the measurement is in numbers, percentages and profits.

Those will indicate the effectiveness, efficiency and productivity of the work done.

But in the gospel, Jesus tells His disciples not to babble in their prayer and think that by using many words, they will make themselves heard.

He then taught them the prayer of the “Our Father”, a prayer that is short and simple enough even for children to recite it.

But that prayer is not just about being short and simple.

It has to be prayed with humility and charity.

We need to be humble to pray that simple prayer and not to impress others by saying many other prayers.

Prayer should also make us charitable and compassionate, and to forgive others their failings, just as we ask God for forgiveness.

Jesus taught us that prayer to help us come closer to God and to be like God in His love for us.

And just as God loves us, may we too love others, and may we keep praying that we grow deeper and stronger with God’s love.

1st Week of Lent, Monday, 23-02-2026

Leviticus 19:1-2, 11-18 / Matthew 31-46   

The general purpose of religion is about the search for peace and happiness in life.

And if there is a belief in the afterlife, then by living a good life on earth, there will be reward in the afterlife.

But if one lives a life of wickedness and evil on earth, then there will be punishment in the afterlife.

As Christians, we too have these basic beliefs.

And the 1st reading, as well as the gospel parable, tells us how to live a good life here on earth.

In the 1st reading, the Lord spoke through Moses as He tells us not to steal nor deal deceitfully or fraudulently with others.

Besides that we are not to exploit or rob others, or curse others.

Besides that, there are also other laws that essentially direct us to live good and upright lives.

Those are basic and fundamental for us as human beings.

Similarly, in the gospel parable, Jesus teaches us to respect the dignity of those in need and to help them to have their basic needs in life.

We adhere to these not because they are laws or commandments that we must obey.

It is in these basic and fundamental laws and commandments that we strive for holiness.

The Lord our God tells us to be holy, just as He is holy.

It is because we want to be holy that we live by God’s laws and commandments.

It is in living holy lives that we will have peace and happiness here on earth, as well peace and happiness with God forever in heaven.

1st Sunday of Lent, Year A, 22.02.2026

Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7 / Romans 5:12-19 / Matthew 4:1-11  

Over the festive period of the last few days, we may have done the annual visitation of our elders and relatives. 

Of course, we will be able to collect “ang pows” from them, but that will also come at a price. 

Because we will have to bear with those usual questions, or interrogation, like:

Which school are you in? 

When are you getting married? 

How many children do you have?

Other than bearing with that, the next best thing to do will be to stay at home and watch movies on TV. 

There are Chinese New Year movies, blockbuster movies and those cute animated movies like “Kung Fu Panda” and “Finding Nemo”. 

Animated movies are not just computer-generated graphics and drawings and images. 

Animated movies have human voices behind the characters. 

And those voices often belong to movie stars and celebrities. 

It is only when we read the movie credits at the end that we will know the face of the voice behind the character.

Otherwise, it can be difficult to guess the face behind the voice. 

Similarly with songs. We may not know the face of the singer until we see the picture of the singer. 

And quite often, our imagination of the face behind the voice is quite different from the reality. 

The gospel begins with this line: Then Jesus was led by the Spirit out into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 

Jesus came to save us from our sins, and to free us from the snares of the devil. 

He wants to face the devil and whatever the devil is going to use as temptations. 

The devil did not disguise himself or hide behind any of his operatives. 

It was a face-to-face confrontation. 

It was unlike the 1st reading, when the devil disguised himself as a snake to tempt Eve. 

Eve, as well as Adam, may not have seen through the devil’s disguise. 

They saw the snake and they heard the voice, but they may not have seen the face of the devil, or realised that it was him. 

And they fell into the temptation. They wanted to believe that they can be like God. 

So, the core of the temptation is about pride. 

The pride of men is to think that they are God, or want to be like God. 

In the confrontation with the devil and his temptations, Jesus turned to Scripture, and with humility, He overcame the devil. 

The devil could not tempt Jesus, but he knows he can tempt Adam and Eve, and he knows he can also tempt us. 

The devil also knows what our main weakness is, and that is our pride. 

And so, the devil will tempt us through using the voices of other people. 

Instead of asking us to turn stones into bread, we might hear people comment about why our children didn't go to an elite school, and we feel our pride hurt.

Or we may hear snide remarks about our state of life and our profession and feel belittled.

So, it is the game of pride. 

Or we may hear voices questioning our faith and luring us into an argument, then we lose our self-control and fall into the trap.

Again, it is the game of pride. 

But Ephesians chapter 6:10-13 tells us this:

“Grow strong in the Lord, with the strength of His power.

Put God's armour on so as to be able to resist the devil's tactics."

For it is not against human enemies that we have to struggle, but against the Sovereignties and the Powers who originate the darkness in this world, the spiritual army of evil in the heavens.

That is why you must rely on God's armour, or you will not be able to put up any resistance when the worst happens, or have enough resources to hold your ground.”

At the core of the temptations of the devil is the question of pride. 

For the devil it is a game of pride and he makes use of other humans to lure us to play by his rules, which means that we will lose. 

But when we put on God’s armour of humility, we will be able to see that the devil makes use of people who are often our human adversaries or enemies, and we will be able to discern their voices.

For this season of Lent, let us embark on almsgiving, fasting and prayer so that we will learn humility, and be protected by God. 

May the Lenten disciplines of almsgiving, fasting and prayer also lead us to forgive those who have hurt us and done us wrong. 

Let us follow Jesus in His prayer on the Cross: Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.

Saturday after Ash Wednesday, 21-02-2026

Isaiah 58:9-14 / Luke 5:27-32  

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

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

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

With love, we can move from sinfulness to holiness.

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

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

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

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

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

Jesus came to save and to call sinners.

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

Friday after Ash Wednesday, 20-02-2026

Isaiah 58:1-9 / Matthew 9:14-15   

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

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

And also we eat to live.

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

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

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

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

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

Fasting has the benefits of denying earthly pleasures and desires.

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

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

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

Thursday after Ash Wednesday, 19-02-2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ash Wednesday 2026, 18-02-2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

To have money is to have a sense of security. 

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

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

The need for food is a basic human need. 

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

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

By God’s love, we came into existence. 

But one day our life will come to an end. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Numbers 6:22-27 / Matthew 6:31-34  

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

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

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

And the horse also stands for strength and endurance. 

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

Warriors ride on powerful horses to win battles. 

Chariots are pulled by horses to attack the enemy. 

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

The gospel talks about blessings of the Kingdom of God.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

James 1:1-11 / Mark 8:11-13   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Other than that, there is nothing else to prove.

6th Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 15.02.2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

So, we tell the Lord Jesus this: 

I don’t know what to do.

I don’t know where to go from here. 

I don’t know what is happening. 

I don’t know how to handle this situation. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Anniversary of the Dedication of the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, Saturday, 14-02-2026

1 Kings 8:22-23, 27-30 / Matthew 16:13-19   

Today the Archdiocese of Singapore celebrates the anniversary of the dedication of the Cathedral.

The Cathedral is dedicated to Jesus the Good Shepherd, hence it is called the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd.

The story behind that name is that in 1821, an MEP priest, Fr. Laurence Imbert was sent to Singapore to see if there was a possibility of opening a missionary station in the island. He spent about a week here and he could have been the first priest to celebrate Mass on the island.

In 1837, after being ordained bishop, he crossed secretly from Manchuria to Korea. During this time, Korea was going through a period of Christian persecution.

He secretly went about doing his missionary work, but the authorities found him out and before they captured him, he wrote a note to two other fellow missionaries.

He urged them to give themselves up to the authorities because he believed in doing so, the flock will be spared from persecution, and he wrote that a good shepherd must give up his life for his sheep.

So eventually the three of them were captured and tortured and beheaded. They were canonized in 1984.

When the Cathedral was to be dedicated, the name "Good Shepherd" was chosen in memory of Fr. Laurence Imbert and his two companions.

Today as the Church in Singapore celebrates the dedication of the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, we are called to renew our faith and we must strive for the spirituality with which we can understand and perceive the will of God so that others will see the presence of God in the Church and also hear the voice of God in the prayer of the Church.

This would require a deep and firm faith in God who always provides and watches over His Church.

May Jesus our Good Shepherd lead us and guide us to God's living signs of salvation to all peoples.

5th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 13-02-2026

1 Kings 11:29-32; 12:19 / Mark 7:31-37  

To suffer a fractured bone or a broken bone, it is needless to say that it is very painful.

The pain can be intense and sharp, and often described as a “screaming” or deep, throbbing ache.

For relationships to be fractured or broken, it is certainly painful.

For a family to be divided or fractured or broken, the pain increases.

For a country to be divided or fractured or broken, it is difficult to find words to express the pain.

As a nation, Israel reached the heights of glory with king David and king Solomon.

But from king Solomon onwards, the country spiraled down in unfaithfulness and idolatry, and finally into division.

And all that tragedy is because the king and the people did not listen to the voice of the Lord God. 

In the gospel, Jesus opened the ears of the deaf man by putting His fingers into the man’s ears.

And then Jesus said “Ephphatha” which mean “be opened”, and the man’s ears were opened and he was able to hear again.

May our ears and hearts be opened to the Word of God that is proclaimed.

May the Word of God find a home in our hearts, and may we share the Word of God to those who are hurting from broken and fractured relationships.

5th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 12-02-2026

1 Kings 11:4-13 / Mark 7:24-30   

The gift of faith is a beautiful and also a powerful gift.

With faith, we will know who God is and His great love for us.

With faith, we will also see the wonders that God will work for us, especially in our time of need.

King Solomon knew who God is and he was also given the gift of wisdom.

But despite being blessed abundantly by God, king Solomon got swayed by his foreign wives.

He even worshipped their gods and offered sacrifice to those idols.

He lost his faith in God, and probably his wisdom too, and it had tragic consequences in the breaking up of the kingdom.

But in the gospel, it was a Syrophoenician woman who came up to Jesus and begged Jesus to deliver her daughter from an unclean spirit.

Even though Jesus tested her faith, that woman was steadfast and firm in her conviction that Jesus was the one who could cast out the evil from her daughter.

So it can be said that from the one who was expected to be faithful to God, that person did not live up to the faith.

From someone who did not belong to God’s chosen people, she had that sense of faith.

May we not take our faith for granted or we will lose it.

May our faith lead us to depend on God’s providence, and let us also share our faith with those who want to know more about Jesus.

5th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 11.02.2026

 1 Kings 10:1-10 / Mark 7:14-23     

The average IQ (intellectual quotient) of a person is around 100. 

That means a person of average IQ would be able to do problem-solving, be logical, have a good memory, and able to comprehend situations. 

King Solomon would have all that. But when the Lord God asked him what he wanted as a king, Solomon asked for wisdom.  

And the Lord God granted him such a wisdom that no man ever had before. 

Even the queen of Sheba was left breathless and overawed by king Solomon’s wisdom. 

Indeed, a wise person will be known by his words and actions. 

His life would also express goodness, simplicity and humility. 

For king Solomon, he used the God-given wisdom for the glory of God and for the good of the people.

The opposite of wisdom is foolishness. 

A person may have an average IQ, but if he is foolish, then his life is a mess.

In the gospel, Jesus says what will come out of a foolish man: fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, malice, deceit, indecency, envy, slander, pride, folly.

Those are signs of a dark foolishness that will eventually lead to self-destruction.  

Let us choose to walk in the ways of the Lord, and let us also ask the Lord to grant us the wisdom to do what is right and good.

5th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 10-02-2026

1 Kings 8:22-23, 27-30 / Mark 7:1-13   

In our conversations with others, it can be anything from casual to formal.

When we are socializing with our friends, we talk casually.

At work, especially at meetings, we will certainly talk formally.

But whether casually or formally, we also need to ask ourselves if we are sincere and honest in our conversations.

Depending on who we are talking with, we will either be guarded with our words or we are quite careless.

But in the 1st reading, king Solomon was offering a prayer to the Lord God.

He was humble with his words, and he was also sincere and honest before the Lord God.

As he ended off his prayer, he implored the Lord God to hear his prayer and he also prayed for forgiveness.

In the gospel, the Pharisees questioned Jesus about His disciples not respecting the tradition of the elders by eating food with unclean hands.

Jesus replied with a quote from the prophet Isaiah about people offering only lip-service but their hearts were far from the Lord.

That makes us reflect on our words, especially our prayer, and also our actions.

When we are sincere and honest in our prayer to God, then our actions will be sincere and honest.

And let us also remember that when we come before the Lord God, we must acknowledge that we are sinners and we can only beg for mercy and forgiveness.

5th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 09-02-2026

1 Kings 8:1-7, 9-13 / Mark 6:53-56   

In this world, what is visible is what we often call the visible reality.

But there is also what is invisible to the naked eye.

With visual aids like microscopes and other devices, these so-called invisible objects can then be seen.

And then there is the other world, the spiritual world, which is often invisible because it does not have form and matter.

There are times when the spiritual world would manifest itself, and then we can see it, although it is not a permanent feature.

In the 1st reading, king Solomon and all Israel offered a great sacrifice to the Lord God in the Temple.

The priests brought in the ark of the covenant which contains the two tablets of the Law.

The Lord God accepted the sacrifice and manifested His presence as a cloud and that the Temple is His dwelling place.

In the gospel, Jesus and His disciples came to land at Gennesaret.

No sooner had they stepped out of the boat than people recognized Jesus and brought to Him the sick and those who suffered from illness.

Even touching His cloak brought about a cure from the sickness.

Although we may not be able to see the spiritual realities, but like the people of Gennesaret,  may we have faith in the divine presence,

And Jesus will affirm our faith by answering our prayers and granting our needs.

5th Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 08.02.2026

Isaiah 58:7-10 / 1 Cor 2:1-5 / Matthew 5:13-16  

When it comes to preferences, we are certainly inclined to go for what is real. 

Because when we say that something is real, some thoughts will immediately come to mind. 

When we say that something is real, it means that it is authentic, it is genuine. 

So, more than just saying that it is real Chinese food, we may say that it is authentic Cantonese cuisine, or authentic Hakka cuisine, or authentic Teochew cuisine. 

When we say that something is real, it is not just a slogan, like a brand of soft drink is called “the real thing”. 

To be real is also to be truthful, to be honest, and to be sincere. 

But as much as we are inclined to go for what is real, we often settle for less. 

In that less can be anything from the substitute to the artificial. 

The attraction here is that the substitute, or the artificial, can seem to be better than the real, or the genuine or the authentic. 

So, the substitute like the artificial sweetener can give the benefits of a sweet taste without all those health concerns. 

But the word artificial has taken on a more extensive role in the development of consumer and industrial electronics. 

Because artificial intelligence is inserted into home appliances like the vacuum cleaner, washing machine, cooker, air con and almost everything we can think of. 

In the area of industrial electronics and manufacturing, artificial intelligence is not just found in robotics, but it has also given rise to humanoids. 

So, all those robots in the movies of the past like Star Wars and Terminator are becoming a reality. 

But it is a reality that is showing concerns about the future of humanity and about humanness. 

In the gospel, Jesus calls us to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. 

Salt and light are realities as well as everyday examples that we can immediately relate with. 

Salt gives taste to the food. The uniqueness of salt is that we can’t see it but we can taste it. 

And of course, too much salt will also ruin the taste of the food. 

So, when Jesus calls us to be the salt of the earth, we are also reminded our presence should be pleasant and peaceful for others. 

Similarly, light scatters the darkness, and gives out a warm and welcoming glow. 

But when the light is too bright, it will cause a blinding effect on others. 

So, when Jesus calls us the light of the world, we will remember that instead of complaining about the darkness, let us be the light that shines brightly and warmly to bring about sight and comfort. 

But there are also such things as artificial salt and artificial light. 

Artificial salt, like that of the artificial sugar, gives taste without those health concerns. 

Artificial light, like torchlights, can be very useful in dark and hidden corners that are devoid of natural light. 

But, Jesus calls us to be like the real salt and the real light. 

To be like real salt, let us first taste our own words. 

As it is said, may our words always be sweet, in case we ever have to eat them. 

But more than just sweet and tasteful words, let us also remember that others can also taste the real meaning of our words. 

So, we have to be honest and sincere in our words, words that will encourage and affirm others. 

And of course, if we have nothing good to say then let us be silent, so as not to be distasteful with our words. 

To be the light, we need to remember that we are not the source of the light. 

We are called to reflect the true light which is Jesus Christ. 

Jesus shines His light on us, so that we will reflect His light to others. 

Just as the light does not argue or fight with the darkness, may we also not get distracted or disturbed by the wickedness and the evil that we see around us. 

Like the moon that reflects the light, let us just keep shining in the dark. 

And when we speak, may we give others a sweet taste on the Good News of salvation, so that they too would want to give a good taste and a warm and comforting light to the world.

4th Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 07-02-2026

1 Kings 3:4-13 / Mark 6:30-34  

When we think about what are our basic needs, then it will surely come down to food, clothing and shelter.

That is essentially what we need to go on day to day.

When these needs are available and secured, we will begin to look at other needs.

Depending on what is our state of life and our direction in life, we will then determine our needs.

It may be emotional needs, like look for a life-partner and starting a family.

It may be intellectual needs, like going for further studies to achieve our ambition.

In the 1st reading, the Lord God asked Solomon what he wanted in life.

Solomon chose to ask for wisdom so that he will be able to govern God’s people.

God granted Solomon his request and other blessings besides.

In the gospel, Jesus and His disciples wanted to go off to a lonely place to rest and to be by themselves.

But the people kept following them, and when Jesus stepped ashore, He took pity on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd.

Although the people did not say what they wanted from Jesus, they are already saying something by following Jesus.

More than anything else, they wanted to hear the Word of life and the Word of love from Jesus.

The people showed us what it is that we really need, and that is life and love.

And they also showed us that Jesus can give us these two gifts.

Let us follow the people by listening to Jesus, and then we will have life and love.

4th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 06-02-2026

Ecclesiasticus 47:2-11 / Mark 6:14-29   

Most of us may think that we are just ordinary people living ordinary lives.

Some of us may even think that our lives are so ordinary and simple that we won’t leave any impression in this world.

On the other hand, public figures like leaders, may wonder about what kind of legacy they will leave behind.

But it is not about what impressions they want to leave behind after they have passed on.

Rather, it is what people will think of them and how they will be remembered in the minds of people.

The 1 reading recalls the life of David, the great king of Israel.

David was remembered by how he defeated Goliath and won glory for God and for Israel.

Although David had sinned, he was repentant and God took away his sin.

On the other hand, king Herod was remembered as the man who gave in to the request of a dancing girl and ordered the execution of John the Baptist.

That also makes us think about not just what we leave behind after we have passed on.

We also need to think about what we leave in the minds and hearts of others.

May we leave in others experiences of God’s love and how we shared God’s love with them.

4th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 05-02-2026

1 Kings 11:4-13 / Mark 7:24-30    

The book of Wisdom has this to say about life:

Length of days is not what makes age honourable, nor number of years the true measure of life (Wisdom 4:8-9)

The book of Wisdom goes on to say that understanding the truths of life and living an untarnished life, that is what makes a life well lived.

Putting it simply, a life well lived is a life that seeks to please God, and God will bless that person with His love.

In the 1st reading, as David comes to the close of his life, he wants to impart to his son Solomon the truths of life.

As much as David ruled over Israel for a length of time, he is considered as the greatest king who brought Israel to its glorious state.

But he also showed that as a king, he wanted to live a life that is pleasing to God, and God blessed David such that the Saviour would come from his line.

In the gospel, Jesus summoned His disciples and sent them off to preach the Good News of salvation.

They were to bring nothing with them except a staff to show the authority that was given to them.

They went off to preach repentance, cast out many devils and anointed may sick people with oil and cured them.

In short, the Good News brought people the truths of life and forgiveness and healing.

May we too live our lives according to the Good News and live a life pleasing to God and to be blessed by Him.

4th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 04-02-2026

2 Samuel 24:2, 9-17 / Mark 6:1-6    

If we had listened and reflected on the 1st reading, we might have asked this question : what is the problem with doing a census of the population?

That is a logical thing to do so as to know the size of the population and especially the size of the army.

Yet it was David himself who called for the census; it was a form of pride.

Already in his time, Israel was the most powerful nation in the region.

In counting the people, and especially the army, David wanted to show-off his might to other nations.

But he forgot he was counting God's people, and God's people is not about numbers but rather their faith and trust in Him.

In a way, we could also see in the gospel how the people of Jesus home town "counted" Jesus and He fell short of their opinions, and hence they did not accept His wisdom and abilities.

So, when it comes to counting, let us count our blessings, but let us also give thanks and praise the Lord at all times.

With grateful and thankful hearts, we will not be thinking about what we have done for the Lord but rather what the Lord has done for us.

4th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 03-02-2026 (Memorial of St. Blaise)

2 Samuel 18:9-10, 14, 24-25, 30 - 19:3 / Mark 5:21-43  

About St. Blaise (memoria of the saint of the day)

He was bishop of Sebastea in Armenia in the early 4th century.

He was born of rich and noble parents, received a Christian education and made a bishop while still quite young.

When persecution arose, he was given a divine direction to withdraw to a cave in the mountains which was frequented only by wild animals.

But these wild animals did him no harm and when they were sick or wounded, they would come to him for his blessing and he healed them.

Meanwhile, hunters who had been sent to capture animals for the amphitheater, found him surrounded by these animals.

Although greatly amazed, they seized him and took him back to the authorities.

On their way, they met a poor woman whose pig had been carried off by a wolf.

At the command of St. Blaise, the wolf restored the pig unhurt.

On another occasion a woman brought to him a little boy who was at the point of death owing to a fishbone stuck in his throat, and the saint healed him with a prayer and the sign of the cross over his throat.

On account of this and other similar cures, the intercession of St. Blaise has been invoked for all kinds of throat trouble.

St. Blaise was scourged and thrown into prison and deprived of food. But the woman whose pig had been restored secretly brought him provisions and little wicks to light up his dark dungeon.

St. Blaise was further tortured with iron combs tearing away his flesh and finally he was beheaded.

Although the intercession of St Blaise is invoked in the blessing of throats, the message and relevance of the prayer is in the expression of our faith in God our Saviour and Healer.

Through the intercession of St. Blaise and the saints, we turn to God and ask for His blessings of health in mind and body so that we can be of service to others especially those who are ill and need our care.

So we ask for God's blessings not just for ourselves but also for those in need of healing so that they too will experience the healing love of God

Prayer of blessing of throats :

"Through the intercession of Saint Blaise, bishop and martyr, may God deliver you from every disease of the throat, and from every other disease. In the name of the Father and of the Son, + and of the Holy Spirit.

R. Amen."

The Presentation of the Lord, Monday, 02-02-2026

Malachi 3:1-4 / Hebrews 2:14-18 / Luke 2:22-40 

A major part of our lives is spent on waiting.

We wait for the baby to be born, we wait for our children to grow up and be independent, we wait for our retirement; we wait to return to the Lord. Indeed, we spend a lot of time waiting.

Besides that we also have to wait for people who are late, we wait for the bus or train and whatever.

But there is something interesting about waiting. Most of the time, whatever we are waiting for shows up sooner or later.

For Simeon and Anna, they had waited for a long time, and finally their hope was fulfilled.

When Mary and Joseph presented Jesus in the Temple, God's ancient promise of sending a Saviour was fulfilled and the Covenant was ratified with the presentation of Jesus in the Temple.

Yes, God has come to save His people and the blessing and lighting of candles and the procession is to symbolize that the light of salvation is already shining on the Church and on the world.

Yes, the light of salvation is shining and yet we still wait.

We wait for the light of the Holy Spirit to prompt us and lead us to fulfill God's work of salvation in our lives.

Like Mary and Joseph, Simeon and Anna, let us wait for the Lord in prayer, and have our candles lit, and be ready to do His will when He calls.

4th Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 01.02.2026

Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13 / 1 Cor 1:26-31 / Matthew 5:1-12  

It is good to have an ambition in life. 

When we were young, we were often asked what is our ambition, or what do we want to be in life. 

Well, there are many professions to consider, like being a doctor, lawyer, pilot, engineer, police officer, firefighter. 

Those are the usual and regular professions that we are quite familiar with. 

Of course, there are other unique professions that can also be considered. 

So, it could be being a singer, actor, fashion designer, social influencer, content creator, youtuber.

But of course, in the end what we dream of doing and what we eventually end up doing can be quite different. 

Whichever and whatever it is, the question is whether we are happy with what we are doing. 

A story goes that a young man asked a wise man, “Tell me Sir, in which field could I make a good career?” 

The wise men said with a smile, “Be a good human being. Because, there are a lot of opportunities in this area and very little competition.” 

We might want to think about that statement. 

Is it that difficult to be a good human being, such that there are many opportunities and very little competition? 

We know that if we want to be happy, we have to be a good person. 

And yet, we also know how difficult it can be to be a good person, in the midst of sinfulness, wickedness and evil. 

Sinfulness, wickedness and evil are like sharp fires that poke at our goodness and puncture us. 

And when we get irritated and frustrated, we react in retaliation with an eye for an eye, and a tooth for tooth, and we lose our happiness as well as our goodness. 

So, if being a good person is so difficult, then how can we become a good Christian? 

In the gospel, Jesus teaches us the way to happiness and to holiness. 

Happiness is the fruit of holiness. When we are holy, we will be happy. 

In the gospel, Jesus gave a teaching on what is called the Beatitudes. 

Beatitudes means blessings, and Jesus is teaching us the way of holiness so that we can receive the blessings of happiness. 

To be poor in spirit is to trust in the Lord God and to understand the heart of God. 

It can be as simple as choosing to like a flower or to love a flower. 

If we like a flower, we will just pluck it for our own pleasure. 

But, if we love the flower, we will help it to grow beautifully by watering it. 

Similarly, to be gentle is to have control over our anger. 

Just as we cannot see our reflection in boiling water, neither can we see truth in a state of anger. 

The person who can control his anger will also grow in gentleness and happiness. 

But the way to happiness is also not about looking for something external. 

It begins within, just as holiness begins within. 

It is said that if we spend our time chasing butterflies, they will fly away. 

But if we spend our time growing a beautiful garden, the butterflies will come, and we will also have a beautiful garden. 

So, there is no need to look around for happiness or to chase after it. 

Let the Beatitudes be our way of life. 

When we have a beautiful heart of gentleness, kindness, compassion, purity and charity, God will pour His blessings on us, and we will truly be happy.

3rd Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 31-01-2026

2 Samuel 12:1-7, 10-17 / Mark 4:35-41  

To make mistakes is human, and there is no doubt that we have made mistakes before, and maybe even bad mistakes.

And when a mistake is made, then it is also the human tendency to blame someone for it.

And even if we were the one to make the mistake, we would be inclined to push the blame to someone else.

That is our human tendency, and honesty would require a lot of courage.

In the 1st reading, David had committed a grave sin, in fact, two grave sins.

Obviously, no one would dare to confront David on the terrible wrong he had done.

So God sent the prophet Nathan, and even then, Nathan used a parable to bring out the judgement that David would pronounce on himself.

Those four words “You are the man” was enough to wake up David into admitting his sin.

In the gospel, the disciples in the boat met with a storm and they were in a dangerous situation.

They turned to Jesus, who was asleep, and said “Master, do not care? We are going down.

They sounded like as if they were blaming Jesus for the storm.

Jesus got up, rebuked the wind and the sea, and He also rebuked the disciples about their lack of faith.

In life, there will be many storms that we will have to face. 

May we not blame anyone or anything for those storm but turn to Jesus as ask for His help to save us.

Let us also obey the Lord, for even the wind and the sea obey Him.

3rd Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 30-01-2026

2 Samuel 11:1-10, 13-17 / Mark 4:26-34  

To keep a promise is difficult and challenging.

To keep a promise is to be true to the word that we give to others.

Our integrity is upon that promise to others and we keep faithfully to the best of our ability.

But we also admit that there are times when promises were broken and we did not keep our word.

We were not faithful to our promises because we were influenced by other motives and intentions.

In the 1st reading, David remained in Jerusalem while he sent Joab with the army to go fight the enemy.

But while he was in Jerusalem, he happened to see Bethsheba and he desire for her, even though he was told that she was Uriah’s wife.

One wrong led to another and in the end David wrote out Uriah’s death sentence, in other words, David committed murder.

But all that happened because David forgot about how the Lord God raised him up from being a humble shepherd to being a mighty king.

In short, David lost his faithfulness to the Lord God and the consequence was tragedy upon himself and upon others.

Faithfulness is not just a virtue. It is vital for life and in our relationships.

Unfaithfulness will only have tragic consequences.

But faithfulness to God and to others will bring blessings of peace.

3rd Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 20-01-2026

2 Samuel 7:18-19, 24-29 / Mark 4:21-25  

In some of those thriller and action movies, there are times when the drama is over something that is considered a secret.

It may be a national top secret, or some secret project, or some secret operation.

Whatever it may be, the secret is to be protected and to be prevented from being discovered or exposed.

But no secret can ever be hidden for too long, and there is also the curiosity over the contents of the secret.

And as long as two or more persons know about the secret, then it cannot be considered a secret anymore.

In the gospel, Jesus says that there is nothing hidden but it must be disclosed, and nothing kept secret except to be brought to light.

Whatever we think and do is known to God, and He knows our motives and intentions.

And we think we may be able to hide and keep secret our motives and intentions from others.

But just as secrets cannot be kept for too long, neither can our motives and intentions.

May what we do and say be like a lamp put on a lamp stand.

And may God’s love shine in us and through us so that God’s ways will also be revealed through us.

3rd Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 28-01-2026

2 Samuel 7:4-17 / Mark 4:1-20  

Human beings are naturally task-oriented beings.

We do things because there is a need to, as well as to express who we are.

And there is no doubt that some of the things that we do are noble and good.

In the 1st reading, David wanted to build a glorious house for the Lord God.

In his mind, it would be a magnificent temple and a wonderful dwelling place for the Lord.

But the Lord God revealed through the prophet Nathan that instead of David building a house for the Lord, it is the Lord who will build the house of David.

It was a prophecy as well as a revelation for David, that it is the Lord God who will preserve his descendants.

In the gospel, Jesus told a parable of the sower and the seeds.

In that parable is a prophecy as well as a revelation.

The revelation is that regardless of the state of our hearts, God will still sow the seeds of His love into us.

So, our hearts may be stony and rocky and thorny, but God will still sow the seeds of His love.

But one day, our hearts will be softened and become fertile soil and then we will bear fruits of love for God and for others.

3rd Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 27-01-2026

2 Samuel 6:12-15, 17-19 / Mark 3:31-35    

There is this possible presumption to think what is human goodness is the ordinary expectation.

So it is expected that ordinarily, people are kind, gentle, compassionate, understanding, patient and all those virtues.

With that it can also be said that it is out of the ordinary to be wicked, to be cruel, to be brutal, to be aggressive and all those inhumane acts.

But the reality is that those inhumane acts seem to be just as ordinary as those virtuous acts.

So, to be a good human being is not as ordinary as it seems.

And wickedness and evil seem to be so rampant that it has become like the ordinary expectation, and are even getting attention as well as a following.

So it is quite difficult to being just a good human being.

And it is also more difficult to be a good Christian.

We need not do what David did in the 1st reading, dancing with all his might before the Lord.

We just need to do what Jesus taught in the gospel, and that is to do the will of God.

May doing the will of God be our ordinary way of life, and in doing so we are united with Jesus as His brothers and sisters.

Sts. Timothy and Titus (Memorial), Monday, 26-01-2026

2 Timothy 1 : 1-8 or Titus 1:1-5 / Luke 10 : 1-9  

One of the ways to motivate people to take on higher responsibilities is to recognize the contributions they are already making and the potential they have.

They need to be affirmed of whatever gifts that God has bestowed upon them so that what they have and what they are doing with it can be reinforced.

When St. Paul chose Timothy and Titus to be bishops of their respective churches, he was not looking merely at their gifts or abilities.

In fact, Timothy and Titus were rather young to be the bishops of the churches.

But, St. Paul recognized the potential of the faith that they had.

And especially for Timothy, St. Paul reminded him of the sincere faith which was handed down from his grandmother and his mother.

St. Paul affirmed Timothy that he saw this faith in him, and that was sufficient for him to lead the church that was entrusted to him.

Here, it is good to remember that faith, is not so much taught as it is caught.

The faith that we have is "caught" from others - our parents, our teachers, our friends, etc.

Hence we have a faith to share, a faith that others are waiting to catch, so that they too will come to know God and believe in Him.

It may be simple faith, but when we nourish that faith with prayer and good works, then it will grow and bear fruit for the glory of God and for the good of others.

3rd Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 25.01.2025

Isaiah 8:23 -9:3 / 1 Cor 1:10-13, 17 / Matthew 4:12-23  

It can be rather difficult to describe what light is. 

It would be easier to say what light is not. 

So, light is not a substance, nor is it an element. 

We can see it, and we may even be able to feel the effects of it, like as in the warmth of the sunshine. 

And yet, light has no weight, it has no shape, no form, no odour, and no sound. 

But strangely, it can be measured, and the unit of measurement is lumens. 

So, the higher the lumens, the brighter is the light. 

Another interesting aspect of light is that it travels at the constant high speed, which is about 300 million metres per second. 

So, if they say that a planet is 10 light years away, and if we bother to do some calculation, we will come up with an incredible amount of time to reach that planet. 

So far, we have looked at light in the scientific and practical terms. 

But light also has a spiritual side to it. And in the spiritual world, there is this constant battle between light and darkness. 

In the gospel, when Jesus heard that John has been arrested, He went back to Galilee and settled in Capernaum. 

The arrest of John had cast a shadow, but the gospel also quoted a prophecy from Isaiah:

The people that lived in darkness has seen a great light. On those who dwell in the land and shadow of death, a light has dawned. 

In the spiritual sense, Jesus is the light, the divine light. 

He is the light that shines into the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it. 

And with the light comes the message of repentance: Repent, the Kingdom of God is close at hand. 

We may think that we long for the light, but we must also remember that where the light is brightest, the shadows are darkest. 

It can be understandable that a child is afraid of the dark. 

But the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light. 

Although it may sound strange that we are afraid of the light, but that is because the light reveals our shadows. 

And there is a wise saying that goes like this: The moment you are disturbed by insult, or pleased by praise, you are still a slave of the darkness. 

Yes, our pride and ego cast long shadows of darkness in the presence of the divine light. 

And also, to move around in the dark is like asking for trouble. 

We will surely knock into things and break them, and we will also get hurt. 

The reality of this world is that there are shadows of darkness. 

In this darkness, people knock into each other and are left broken and hurting. 

But this is where the Good News of salvation comes as the light of repentance. 

With the light of repentance, we see the broken pieces of our lives, and also the broken pieces of the lives of others. 

With the light of repentance, we pick up these broken pieces and present them to Jesus. 

Jesus the light called His disciples to follow Him and to be fishers of men. 

The Word of God Sunday reminds us that Jesus, the Word of life, is calling us to follow Him, and to be echoes of His Word.

We are to be echoes of God’s Word to bring about healing to broken lives and to be sparks of light in the world that is darkened by shadows. 

Let us be echoes of God’s Word that will scatter the darkness, and let us, with the Word of God, prepare for the Lord the road of salvation for others.

2nd Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 24-01-2026

2 Samuel 1:1-4, 11-12, 17, 19, 23-27 / Mark 3:20-21  

We are called Christians. There are many words that can be used to describe who we are and what we do as Christians.

For e.g. we are to be loving and forgiving, generous and kind, merciful and compassionate, etc.

One simple expression could be to say that we are "big-hearted" people.

Big-hearted people also express love in a big-hearted way.

We not only love our friends and those who are good to us.

We also must rise above our selfishness that tends to make us hate those who hate us and to ignore those who ignore us.

In the 1st reading we could see how David showed he was such a big-hearted person.

He forgave Saul who had persecuted him for so many years.

Not only did he lamented in grief over the death of Saul, he also remembered Saul's good qualities and he also remembered the goodness and love that Johnathan had for him.

Jesus Himself preached and showed the bigness and greatness of love.

But such bigness and greatness of love is not easily understood and accepted by others because they may have become numbed to the selfishness and evil they see so often around them.

Even the relatives of Jesus thought He was out of His mind.

But what is foolishness and madness for the world is indeed the bigness and the greatness of love.

That bigness and greatness is shown on the Cross. It is in the Cross we encounter the unfathomable bigness and greatness of God's love.

2nd Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 23-01-2026

1 Samuel 24:3-21 / Mark 3:13-19   

In life there are two values that point to who we are and who others are to us.

These two values are dignity and respect.

When we are aware of our own dignity, we will respect ourselves.

And we will respect the dignity of others.

And we will also respect all the principles that govern the dignity of others.

In the 1st reading, David had the opportunity to kill Saul for unjustly persecuting him.

But David only cut off the border of the cloak of Saul and went off.

David cut off the border of Saul’s robe to serve as undeniable proof that he had the opportunity to kill Saul but chose not to.

In doing so, David proved his innocence, respect for God's anointed leader, and refusal to take the throne by force. 

This act highlighted his submission to God’s timing rather than his own.

In the gospel, Jesus appointed His twelve Apostles.

In doing so, Jesus respected their dignity, and they were to be His companions.

He would teach them about the dignity of every human person.

He would send them out to preach, and with power to restore the dignity of those who suffer injustice and persecution.

May we also recognize our own dignity as children of God.

May we also respect the dignity of others by letting them know they too are loved by God.

2nd Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 22-01-2026

1 Samuel 18:6-9,; 19:1-7 / Mark 3:7-12   

Power and strength are often exhibited by the exertion of speed and force.

So how a task is accomplished is often measured by how fast it is done and how much power is used to do it.

Power and strength, as well as speed, are impressive as well as attractive to those who desire for it.

In the 1st reading, that was a great admiration for David for leading the Israelites into victory over the Philistines.

That made Saul jealous. He was jealous because he thought that he had the power and might to lead the Israelites in victory over the enemy.

Instead it was a young man with no military experience who defeated the enemy and won the admiration.

So Saul wanted to use his power and might to kill David.

That is the madness and the insanity of jealousy.

In the gospel, Jesus used His power to cure the sick and to cast out evil spirits from those who were possessed.

True power is in the curing and healing of those who are sick and suffering.

May we understand that true power and strength lies in gentleness and kindness, compassion and patience.

That is what the world wants to see in us who call ourselves Christians.

2nd Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 221-01-2026

1 Samuel 17:32-33, 37, 40-51 / Mark 3:3:1-6   

It is always a good practice to be prepared for the unexpected.

And it is even necessary to be prepared for emergencies.

Because what can go wrong can go wrong, or even will go wrong.

We may say that we have faith in God, but God also wants us to use our intelligence and our sense of the situation to be prepared.

In the 1st reading, David offered to go and fight the giant Goliath.

Saul was against it but David said that God will rescue him from the power of that Philistine Goliath, and so Saul agreed and gave him God’s blessings.

David took his staff in his hand, picked up five smooth stones, and with his sling in his hand, went to meet Goliath.

David believed that just with one stone, God will help him defeat Goliath.

But David was also prepared for unexpected and unforeseen dangers.

Also the number “5” in the Bible stands for divine grace, goodness, and favour.

And with sling in hand, David killed Goliath with just one stone, and showed the awesome power of God.

In the gospel, Jesus healed the man with the withered hand.

That also tells us that by the work of our hands, we give glory to God.

Let us also carefully discern what tasks we want to pick up with our hands.

May what we do give glory to God, and may what we do also be for the good of others.

2nd Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 20-01-2-26

1 Samuel 16:1-13 / Mark 2:23-28   

In the animal world, there is a head or the leader of the herd or the troop.

There is one primary requisite to be in that prime position.

And that is size, and with it comes strength. 

So the head or leader of the herd or troop is usually the biggest and strongest male.

In the human family structure, the first-born male has a prime status and a privilege.

In the 1st reading, the God sent the prophet Samuel to Jesse’s home.

From among Jesse’s sons, God had chosen for Himself a king.

Samuel had thought that it was the eldest son or even the tallest and best-looking son.

But in the end, it was the youngest son, David that God has chosen to be the next king.

And from what God said to Samuel, we learn this important spiritual truth:

God does not see as man sees. Man looks at appearances, but the Lord looks at the heart.

Yes, the Lord looks at our hearts and He knows our thoughts.

Let us keep our hearts clean and we will see what God wants us to see, and also to know the thoughts of God.

2nd Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 19-01-2026

1 Samuel 15:16-23 / Mark 2:18-22   

To be pragmatic is to look at things and situations sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations.

And pragmatic views and solutions are easily and readily acceptable because the results are appealing and achievable.

Also to be pragmatic is to act immediately on the opportunities and to “strike while the iron is hot”.

In the 1st reading, Saul was being pragmatic about the booty from his victory over the Amalekites.

Instead of eliminating everything from the king right down to the livestock, which was the practice of that time, Saul kept the best sheep and oxen.

His intention was to offer it as a sacrifice to God.

But Samuel pointed out to Saul with these words:

“Is the pleasure of the Lord in holocausts and sacrifices,

or in obedience to the voice of the Lord?

Yes, obedience is better than sacrifice,

Submissiveness better than the fat of rams.

Rebellion is a sin of sorcery,

presumption a crime of teraphim.”

Those were hard and sharp words that will remind us of this:

That God’s ways are not man’s ways

God’s thoughts are not man’s thoughts.

Instead of being only sensible and practical, let us listen to what the Lord God has to say.

Let us believe that God’s ways are higher than our ways, and when we obey the voice of the Lord, we will be blessed abundantly.

2nd Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 18.01.2026

Isaiah 4:3, 5-6 / 1 Cor 1:1-3 / John 1:29-34

There are many sayings that we have heard and remembered. 

Some are famous and popular sayings, and we remember them because they are like the wisdom sayings of life. 

For example, we will surely know this saying: “Sometimes we win, sometimes we lose.”

That is like the cycle of life, sometimes up, sometimes down. 

Another one is this: “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” That tells us that appearance is only skin deep. There is more to discover when we go deeper. 

And there is this one that states a principle of life: “Honesty is the best policy.” That saying is practical and undeniable. 

Those sayings are short, but they express the truths of life, and they also guide us through life. 

Although actions speak louder than words, yet words are also necessary as they form our thoughts, and our thoughts are then expressed in our actions. 

So yes, actions speak louder than words, yet, what we say, we must do, and that will show the integrity of our words and actions. 

The gospel passage features John the Baptist, and what he says about Jesus. 

John the Baptist is often called the greatest of the prophets, because it was he who pointed out Jesus as the Lamb of God. 

But John the Baptist tells us something interesting. 

He didn’t know that Jesus is the Lamb of God. 

He was sent by God to baptise for the forgiveness of sins. 

And God said this to him: The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and rest is the one who is going to baptise with the Holy Spirit. 

And when John the Baptist saw the Holy Spirit coming down on Jesus after His baptism, then he knew that Jesus is the Lamb of God. 

That was the testimony of John the Baptist, and it also signalled that his mission would soon be over. 

As we listen to the testimony of John the Baptist, we will remember two of his most profound sayings. 

When Jesus began his mission, the disciples of John the Baptist were feeling concerned that John the Baptist was becoming irrelevant and being pushed out of the scene. 

But John the Baptist said this: A man can only lay claim to what is given to him from above. 

John the Baptist knew what he was called to do.

And with the appearance of Jesus, John the Baptist knew that his mission was over, and he had to let go of the attention, and move out of the scene. 

And with that, John the Baptist also made this astonishing profound 6-worded statement: He must increase, I must decrease. 

John the Baptist was the greatest of all the prophets. 

He laid claim to the power given to him by God to accomplish his mission. 

He was the bright light until Jesus the true light appeared. 

With that, John the Baptist knew that Jesus must increase, and he must decrease. 

Those two sayings of John the Baptist are also the foundations of our Christian life. 

They are also the foundations of our relationship with Jesus and with others. 

It is said that human beings long for acknowledgment and appreciation. 

It is like there is a hole in the heart that needs to be filled. 

So, we may look for attention, for praise and compliments, so as to fill that hole in the heart. 

We want to excel, to prove our capabilities, and also, we want to be in the spotlight and in the limelight. 

And yet, even when we have all that, we don’t seem to be contented, to be satisfied, to be happy. 

That is the human tendency that had afflicted famous figures like Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan and Napoleon Bonaparte, right down to ordinary people. 

But then that hole in the heart cannot be filled by worldly achievements and accomplishments. 

It can only be filled by knowing what God has given us and what He wants us to do. 

Whether it is a glorious achievement of making a discovery or invention, or a simple task of caring and serving the poor and the sick, when the task is over and the time is up, let us like John the Baptist, graciously step aside. 

We need to know when to step aside, so that Jesus can increase, and we must decrease.

When we decrease, then the hole in the heart will also decrease, and then our hearts will finally be at rest in the loving heart of Jesus, the Lamb of God.