11th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 15-06-2026

1 Kings 21:1-16 / Matthew 5:38-42

Fire is a good servant, but a bad master.

Power is also a good servant, but also a bad master.

And when power becomes the master and uses fire as its servant, the result will be disastrous. 

In the first reading, king Ahab sulked and was gloomy when Naboth refused to give him the vineyard to be a vegetable garden.

Then his wife Jezebel came along and came to know about the matter.

She came up with a plot and then had Naboth put to death.

It was like power and fire becoming masters and causing death and disaster.

Yet the death of the innocent Naboth meant nothing at all to king Ahab, Jezebel and the elders and nobles of the town.

If we can take the law into our own hands, then we will see justice done to those evil people.

But again, let us remember that justice and vengeance belong to the Lord.

As Jesus said in the gospel “offer the wicked man no resistance”.

Let us not become that kind of power and fire that will burn and destroy and even create a bigger fire and destruction.

The way of the Lord is peace and gentleness.

That is the greatest power. 

May we understand that so that we will be able to forgive those who have done wrong to us.

11th Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 14.06.2026

Exodus 19:2-6 / Romans 5:6-11 / Matthew 9:36 – 10:8  

Whenever we communicate with others, we compose statements in our minds.

And when we know what we want to say, then we speak. 

So, the process is the mind thinks and then the mouth speaks. 

It is certainly not the other way around. 

And it cannot be. 

But if the mouth says something that is illogical, irrational, or irresponsible, it only expresses the state of the mind. 

So generally, when we speak, we make statements that either convey facts, or information, or opinions. 

We make statements that are an assertion, or a claim, or to give an account. 

In the context of religion, we also make statements of faith. 

In the Mass, we make these statements of faith: “I confess”, “I believe”, “I am not worthy”, “my soul shall be healed”. 

And outside of Mass, we also make other statements of faith. 

The more common ones are, “God is love”, “God will forgive”, “God will help us”, “God will provide”. 

In the Gospel, Jesus said this to His disciples, “The harvest is rich, but the labourers are few.” 

Jesus tells His disciples of the reality, and that is, there is a labour shortage in the harvest of the Lord. 

This is often quoted in vocation promotion, where the emphasis is on the need for more priests to serve the people of God. 

But as much as Jesus pointed out the problem, He also presented the solution. 

And it is not just a solution. Jesus made a profound statement of faith. 

Jesus said, “Ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest.” 

Jesus reminds us that everything belongs to God, the harvest, as well as the labourers. 

We just need to ask, and God will provide. 

There is this famous bedtime prayer from St. Pope John XXIII. 

The prayer is this: Lord, this is Your church. I am going to bed. Good night. 

St. Pope John XXIII learnt how to let go of worry and anxiety by reminding himself that God is ultimately in control. 

So, at the end of the day, his simple and comforting act of surrender is this, “Lord, this is Your church, I'm going to bed. Good night.” 

Yes, the Church belongs to God, the harvest belongs to God, the labourers belong to God, the whole world belongs to God. 

So, if everything belongs to God, then God will provide for everything. 

When we say that God will provide, it is a statement of faith. 

And we are also echoing what Abraham said to Isaac when Isaac asked where is the lamb of sacrifice because they did not bring along the sacrificial lamb. 

Abraham told Isaac: God will provide. 

And when the angel stopped Abraham from sacrificing Isaac, Abraham saw a ram that was caught by its horns among the bushes. 

Abraham sacrificed that ram and called the place “Jehovah Jireh”, which means “God will provide”. 

And that is also our faith statement, “God will provide”, because Jesus tells us to ask and we will receive. 

So, we ask that God 

- send labourers to His harvest, 

- that God calms our worries and anxieties and - grants us a good night's rest, 

- that God will grant peace to the world and to our families and to the Church, 

- that God heals us from our pains and illness, - that God will protect us from harm and danger. 

For anything and for everything, let us turn to God because everything belongs to God. 

In His time and in His way, God will provide for us and grant us what we need. 

And when God has provided for our needs, let us also bear testimony to God by telling others about the goodness of the Lord.

The Immaculate Heart of Mary, Saturday, 13-06-2026

Isaiah 61:9-11 / Luke 2:41-51   

The heart of a mother is a heart that is so loving and understanding, and yet it is also so mysterious.

We may think that we understand our mothers, but they actually know more about us that we can ever imagine.

After all, we were conceived in the womb of our mothers, and hence we are a part of them and nothing can ever eradicate this mother-child relationship.

And it can be said that nothing can ever separate a mother from her child. A mother's bond to her child is something that goes beyond logic and explanation.

In today's feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the gospel reading gives us a good reflection of the heart of Mary.

Mary made it a point that Jesus had a religious upbringing and that was why she and Joseph brought Jesus to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover.

Mary had a heart for God and she wanted Jesus to have what she treasured most - a heart for God.

When Mary and Joseph lost contact with Jesus, Mary would have felt that void most deeply.

Yet when they found Jesus, Mary was like a typical mother reprimanding her son. That makes her so lovable and understandable.

Yet when she did not understand the reply of Jesus, she kept quiet and stored it in her heart. Mary knew how to respond in the face of mystery.

May we too have a heart like that of Mary, lovable and understandable by others. And may our hearts be also open to mystery and to store and reflect in our hearts what we cannot understand immediately.

The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Friday, 12-06-2026

Deuteronomy 7:6-11 / 1 John 4:7-16 / Matthew 11:25-30  

The human heart is an important and an amazing organ.

It pumps blood throughout the circulatory system to deliver vital oxygen and nutrients to every cell in the body.

That is essentially the physical function of the heart.

But the heart also has a spiritual function.

Spiritually, the heart is considered the core of a person’s being, serving as the bridge between the physical body and the divine.

On the Cross, when the Heart of Jesus was pierced with a spear, blood and water flowed out.

The Heart of Jesus was revealed; the Heart of God was revealed.

For those who see that it is the Heart of God, they will understand what the blood and water means.

It is the love and forgiveness of God that flowed out of the broken Heart of Jesus.

It was the Heart of Jesus, flowing with love and forgiveness, that saved us.

On this feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, may God’s love and forgiveness flow into our hearts.

May the love of God make our hearts love God and neighbour.

May the forgiveness of God make us also forgive others.

May the Sacred Heart of Jesus make our hearts like His.

St. Barnabas, Apostle, Thursday, 11-06-2026

Acts 11:22-26; 13:1-3 / Matthew 10:7-13 

St. Barnabas was not one of the twelve Apostles chosen by Jesus, but the book of the Acts of the Apostles named him as an apostle (Acts 14:14).

Together with St. Paul, they preached the Good News to the gentiles. But there are some distinct characteristics about them.

St. Paul wrote epistles but there was none from St. Barnabas in the New Testament. There are quotes from St. Paul in Acts and in other passages in the New Testament, but there seems to be nothing written of what St. Barnabas said.

Yet it can be said that St. Barnabas was as much a man of words as he was of action.

His name means "son of encouragement" and he was given that name when he converted to Christianity and sold his goods and property and gave the money to the apostles.

Indeed he lived up to that name as he was the first to take in St. Paul after his conversion when others were still suspecting him.

In the 1st reading, we heard that St. Barnabas was sent to Antioch to look into the great numbers of conversion, and when he was there, more people were won over to the Lord.

He then went to look for St. Paul to help out in the work in Antioch and it was there that the disciples were first called "Christians" and that became the most identifiable term.

In word and in deed, St. Barnabas was a sign of encouragement for others in their faith and in their lives.

May we follow the example of St. Barnabas and be for others an encouragement and consolation in word and in deed.

10th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 10-06-2026

1 Kings 18:20-39 / Matthew 5:17-19

When we go to a restaurant, there will be a menu of what food is available.

Salt is not on the menu, but it is taken for granted.

But when it is missing from the food, we will immediately notice it.

And we won’t be silent about it. We will call for the waiter or even the chef and ask for an explanation.

In the first reading, the prophet Elijah asked the people:

“How long do you mean to hobble first on one leg then on the other? If the Lord is God, follow him; if Baal, follow him.’ 

But the people never said a word. 

They were like eating tasteless food but not saying anything about it.

The people forgot about the taste of the goodness of the Lord.

Jesus came not to abolish the Law or the Prophets, but to complete them.

He came to give us the taste of the goodness of the Lord.

When we know how good the Lord is to us, we won’t want the tasteless life.

With the goodness of the Lord in us, we will be the salt of the earth that will give others the taste of the goodness of the Lord.

10th Week. Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 09-06-2026

1 Kings 17:7-16 / Matthew 5:13-16   

There are times when we say things out of desperation without really knowing what it can mean.

It could be just an utterance of desperation and we say it because we don’t know what else to say.

So it can be an utterance like “Oh my God!”, though we do not intend to use God’s name in vain.

It seems like we want to tell God something, but words fall short, and we are also not sure what we want God to do for us.

In the first reading, the prophet Elijah asked the widow at Zarephath for water and food.

But it was a time of famine, and the widow said to Elijah, “As the Lord your God lives, I have no baked bread but only a handful of meal in a jar and a little oil in a jug.”

She was going to prepare the last meal for her son and herself and then they will wait for death to overcome them.

She may have said “As the Lord your God lives”, just like how we say “Oh my God”

But the God of life heard her, and even gave her the miracle of the jar of meal shall not be spent and the jug of oil shall not be emptied.

So, in desperate moments, when we say “Oh my God”, let us also finish the sentence by saying:

“Oh my God, save me” or “Oh my God, help me” or “Oh my God, protect us”

When we use God’s name, then let us also say what we need from God.

And our God who lives forever, will hear and answer our prayer.

10th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 089-06-2026

1 Kings 17:1-6 / Matthew 5:1-12  

We have often heard it said that this is a beautiful world.

As much as it is true, the contrary may also be true.

Because there are some creatures that could hardly be called beautiful.

So when we say that the world and creation is beautiful, we are just looking at the nice and pretty side of the world.

We can’t really explain why some creatures are not that pretty or pleasant to look at.

In the first reading, when the prophet Elijah was taking refuge from the famine, it was the ravens that brought bread to him in the morning and meat in the evening.

Ravens are unsightly birds and they make a sound that is not pleasant to the ears, and they are also scavengers.

Yet it was these lowly and unfavoured birds that brought food for Elijah and sustained him.

So, it can be said that the ravens brought God’s blessings to Elijah.

God’s blessings often come in unexpected forms and ways.

But when we accept to be poor in spirit, to be gentle and humble, to be kind and generous, then we will be blessed by God.

And may we be a blessing for others by showing them the ways of God.

Corpus Christi Year A, 07.06.2026

Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 14-16 / 1 Cor 10:16-17 / John 6:51-58

Whenever the topic of food is discussed, it will certainly generate a lot of interest. 

It will range from what is the best food, to where to go for the best food, and what is the best value for money. 

Food is one of the most basic human needs. Food also brings people together and relationships are also built and renewed. 

The act of eating is also a profound act. 

Just as we have to be careful about what comes out of our mouths, we have to be equally careful about what goes into our mouths.

Because what we put into our mouths will go into our bodies. 

So, good, clean and healthy food will nourish our bodies and keep us healthy. 

When we come for Mass, we will sing hymns and say prayers as we worship and praise the Lord. 

Then at Holy Communion, we come forward to receive the Body of Christ. 

We receive the Body of Christ in the consecrated host and we will eat it. 

It is with a deep act of faith that we believe it is the Body of Christ. that we are eating. 

As much as the appearance is only a round white wafer, the reality is that it is the Body of Christ. 

And when we say it is the Body of Christ, it specifically points to the Heart of Christ. 

We remember that passage in the gospel, when the soldier pierced the side of Jesus with a spear, and then blood and water flowed out. 

It was at that moment when the Heart of Jesus is revealed, the Heart of God is revealed. 

The blood and water are symbols of the love and forgiveness of God. 

So, when we receive the Body of Christ, we are actually receiving the Heart of Christ, and we also receive God's love and forgiveness. 

So, that humble, white, round, consecrated host has those profound meanings of God's Real Presence and His love and forgiveness. 

So, in receiving the Body of Christ, we receive the Heart of Christ, and that shall make our hearts more like that of Christ. 

When we are aware that we are eating the Body of Christ at Holy Communion, then that should also make us grateful for the food that we eat. 

That is why we say “Grace before meals” at the beginning of a meal. 

We thank God for the good, clean, and healthy food that He has provided for us. 

Jesus promised us that when two or three are gathered in His name, He will be there. 

And when a family is gathered for a family meal, then Jesus is also there with them. 

At Holy Communion in the Mass, we are united with Jesus. 

As we receive the Body of Christ, we also become the Body of Christ. 

Similarly, at family meals, Jesus is also there to unite the family members. 

Because if a family that prays together, stays together, then when a family eats together, they will also stay together. 

So, the food we eat, and also who we eat with, has a deep significance. 

When we eat as a family, we become united as a family. 

When we eat the Body of Christ, we become a member of the Body of Christ, and we are united in the Heart of Christ. 

May the feast of Corpus Christi, or the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ, help us to become more aware of the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. 

May we receive the Body of Christ reverently, and may we also have a heart like that of Christ, a heart that loves others, a heart that forgives others.

9th Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 06-06-2026

2 Tim 4:1-8 / Mark 12:38-44 

It is in the tainted human nature that there is a tendency to be proud and egoistic.

In giving in to pride and ego, we want to get the attention to ourselves.

We want to be the loud sound so that everyone has to listen to us.

We want to be the bright light so that everyone has to look at us.

It is like what Jesus said about the scribes in the gospel.

Those scribes like to walk about in long robes, be greeted obsequiously by others, take the front seats in the synagogues and the places of honour at banquets.

But they are ones who swallow the property of widows while making a show of lengthy prayers.

And Jesus also gave this warning: The more severe will be the sentence they receive.

That warning from Jesus is also no less for us.

Pride and ego are like bottomless pits that cannot be filled.

They are also like a fire that burns up everything.

May that poor widow be the image and the message that we will remember from today’s gospel.

And may that image and message help us to be simple and humble before God and before others.

9th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 05-06-2026

2 Tim 3:10-17 / Mark 12:35-37  

The sacred book of the Church is none other than the Bible.

The Bible is also called the Word of God, and we believe that God speaks to us in the Bible.

In the first reading, St. Paul emphasized to Timothy that from the Bible, he can learn wisdom that leads to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

St. Paul goes on to say that all Scripture is inspired by God and can be used for teaching, for refuting error, for guiding people’s lives and teaching them to be holy.

St. Paul is certainly saying all that out of his own experience of facing hardships and persecutions.

He also tells Timothy that anybody who tries to live in devotion to Christ is certain to be attacked.

The attack comes from wicked impostors who will go from bad to worse, deceiving others and deceived themselves.

But let us not be afraid of living out our lives as Christians.

God will protect His People and save them from danger.

But we need to continue to believe in the saving power of Jesus.

And by reading and meditating on the Word of God in the Bible, we will be strengthened in faith.

And with God’s love we will be able to stand up to the hardships and the persecutions of life.

9th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 04-06-2026

2 Tim 2:8-15 / Mark 12:28-34  

It is often said that a picture tells a thousand words.

In many ways that it is especially when the picture conveys the message as it is.

Still the picture may not convey the entire message, or in some cases, the picture may be interpreted with a number of meanings.

And when that happens, then many words are used to interpret the picture, and so instead of clarification, there could be confusion.

In the first reading, St. Paul tells this to Timothy: Tell them, in the name of God, that is no wrangling about words. All that this ever achieves is the destruction of those who are listening.

 

The issue was about the Good News and how it was interpreted by some people who had their own opinions.

In the gospel, when the scribe asked Jesus about the first of all the commandment Jesus used words to explain it.

After that scribe could only reiterate what Jesus said.

Because in Jesus, the scribe heard the words of love, and he also saw the reality of love, and he had no further questions.

Let us live our lives according to the commandment of God’s love, and others will see in us the image of God’s love.

9th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 03-06-2026

2 Timothy 1:1-3, 6-12 / Mark 12:18-27    

Life with its many complex relationships is difficult to understand.

How did people fall in love, and then some fall out of love.

For some people, blood is thicker than water, but for other, blood relationships are like water under the bridge, i.e., they are passing moments.

If life on earth is already so complex and difficult to understand, then the eternal life is left very much to imagination.

For the Sadducees in the gospel passage, they don’t believe in the resurrection nor in eternal life.

So they came up with a complex situation about relationships in eternity and then questioned Jesus about it.

They hoped that by doing that, the belief in eternal life would crumble and so they don’t have to worry about what happens after death.

But Jesus proclaimed the truth about God, and that He is not the God of the dead but God of the living.

With that, we will understand that God is in our relationships in this world as well as in the next.

Let us focus on God and live our lives well and have good relationships with others while we are on earth.

And when we cross over to the eternal life, God will give us life and life to the full.

9th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 02-06-2026

2 Peter 3:11-15, 17-18 / Mark 12:13-17  

Whenever people ask us questions to find out something from us, it will make us annoyed and irritated.

Because we think that they are rather cunning and slippery.

We want to avoid them so as to avoid getting into a sticky situation.

But at the same time, we also don’t want to offend them or tell them off.

But upon a deeper reflection, if there is nothing to hide, then there is also nothing to fear.

Still, it is not as simple as that, and life and people can be quite complicated.

In the gospel, the Pharisees and some Herodians were sent to catch Jesus out on what He said.

They were seemingly courteous, and even praised Jesus for being an honest man and teaches the way of God in all honesty.

Then they asked the question of paying taxes to Caesar.

But Jesus saw through their hypocrisy, and He even said it straight to their faces, “Why do you set this trap for me?”

We may be able to tell people off like Jesus did.

But if we don’t like people to be hypocrites, then let us not be one ourselves.

Let us learn from Jesus to be honest and keep walking in the ways of God and to ask questions in a loving way.

9th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 01-06-2026

2 Peter 1:2-7 / Mark 12:1-12  

One of the main challenges of being human is that we are always unsatisfied.

We may have more than enough yet we keep wanting for more.

In other words, we don’t seem to know when enough is enough.

The first reading tells us that God in His divine power has given us all the things that we need for life and for true devotion.

So, as Christians we should know when enough is enough.

Because when we come to know our Lord more and more, then we will be given more grace and peace.

But if we ever find ourselves like the tenants in the gospel parable, then we must know that we are in trouble.

Especially when we find ourselves resorting to worldly ways to get what we want.

We must realise that what we really want in life is peace.

It is a peace that only Jesus can give.

Let us pray for that peace, and then we will be satisfied.

Trinity Sunday, Year A, 31.05.2026

Exodus 34:4-6 / 1 Cor 13:11-13 / John 3:16-18  

In the Church, there are objects that have a religious or spiritual meaning. 

While we may be familiar with these religious objects, we may not be aware of its spiritual meaning. 

Let us take, for example, at the entrances of the Church, there are these unique objects. 

It is a figure of an angel holding a seashell. 

We know that it is a Holy Water font. 

We may know something about angels, that they are always in the presence of God, and at times, they are sent to be messengers and also to protect us from evil. 

But what about the seashell? What is the reason for putting Holy Water into the seashell? 

The seashell is a deeply symbolic object in Christianity. It is linked to the Sacrament of Baptism, the journey of faith and also the mysteries of God. 

The most famous story of the seashell and the mystery of God is from St. Augustine, who lived during the 5th century. 

He was walking along the beach, trying to comprehend the mystery of the Holy Trinity. 

Then he saw a young boy using a seashell and repeatedly carrying water from the ocean and pouring it into a small hole in the sand.

When St. Augustine asked what he was doing, the boy replied that he was trying to pour all the water of the ocean into that hole in the sand. 

St. Augustine told the child that it is not possible to do so. 

The boy looked at St. Augustine and said, “It is no more impossible than what you are trying to do, to comprehend the immensity of the mystery of the Holy Trinity with your small human intelligence. 

The boy then vanished, leaving behind the seashell, and a lasting lesson for St. Augustine about the greatness of the mystery of God and the limits of human understanding and intelligence. 

Today, as the Church celebrates the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity, we go back to the very core and foundation of our faith. 

We believe that God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit, three Persons, one God, or in short, the Most Holy Trinity. 

And we look at the Gospel to see what God wants to tell us about this feast. 

And this is what God wants us to know: God loved the world so much that He sent His only Son so that anyone who believes in Him may not be lost but may have eternal life. 

For God sent His Son into the world not to condemn the world, but so that through Him the world might be saved. 

The Gospel does not tell us why God is Holy Trinity or how God is Holy Trinity. 

The Gospel tells us that God loves us, He wants to save us and that He wants us to have eternal life with Him. 

So as much as God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, then for us, God is love, salvation, and eternal life. 

The simple seashell symbolizes the great mystery of God, the Sacrament of Baptism, and the journey of faith. 

We see that symbol of the seashell and its meaning at the entrance of the Church. 

But as we come into the Church, we see the big and great sign of God's love for us. 

We see Jesus on the Cross, the sign of God's love, the sign of our salvation, the sign of our eternal life with God. 

The Cross may seem like foolishness and a contradiction for others, but for us, it is the wisdom and the power of God. 

The world tells us that human beings have learned to fly like birds in the air and to swim underwater like fishes. 

But there is something else that we need to learn. 

The Cross teaches us that God loves us, He wants to save us, and He wants us to have eternal life with Him. 

To be loved by God, to be saved by God, and to live with God for eternity, that is what it means to be children of God. 

As children of God, we are the signs of who God is. 

By our love for others, by our forgiveness, gentleness, and kindness, others will know who God is. 

Others may not know or understand the Holy Trinity, but they will know who God is from us and through us. 

And when they know who God is, they will want to be loved by God, to be saved by God, and to have eternal life with God.

8th Week, Saturday, 30-05-2026

Jude 17:20-25 / Mark 11:27-33  

With every action there will be a reaction.

And with every question, there will be an answer.

With regards to the action and reaction, it can be difficult to predict what the reaction will be.

But with regards to the question and answer, the one asking the question should know what the possible answers are.

The one asking the question would have already narrowed down the possible answers so as to have the upper hand.

In the gospel, the chief priests, scribes and elders asked Jesus this question:

What authority have you for acting like this? Or who gave you the authority to do these things?

But Jesus answered them with this: I will ask you a question, only one. John’s baptism: did it come from heaven, or from man?

That question from Jesus threw the chief priests, scribes and elders into confusion.

They couldn’t answer Him, so He also didn’t tell them where His authority came from.

But for us, we believe that Jesus is our Lord and King, and that He has authority over us.

We belong to Him, and that He is our Saviour and Master.

We may have our questions about life and about our faith.

But in Jesus, we believe that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. 

We don’t need to question that. We only need to believe.

8th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 29-05-2026

1 Peter 4:7-13 / Mark 11:11-26   

Whenever we go to a foreign place, we would certainly like to visit its famous or tourist-attraction spots.

Those places of interest have a history and a story to tell, and they may also express the character and the meaning of the people there.

In the gospel, when Jesus entered Jerusalem, the first place that He went to was the Temple.

He looked all round Him, and since it was late, He went out to Bethany.

We may wonder what Jesus looked at, and what He was thinking of.

The next day, Jesus went again to the Temple, and what He did is called the cleansing of the Temple.

And then He taught the people, quoting from Scripture: My house will be called a house of prayer for all people. But you have turned it into a robbers’ den.

With that, then the incident and the meaning of the leafy but fruitless fig tree can be understood.

The religious authorities have turned the Temple into a place of business activity and religious rituals, but lacked the "fruit" of true righteousness, justice, and devotion to God.

The gospel passage is also a sharp reminder that as we come to the House of God, we also have come to the house of prayer.

And true prayer bears the fruit of forgiveness for others, just as God will also forgive us when we pray for mercy.

As Jesus said, everything that we ask and pray for will be given to us.

Let us pray and ask God for forgiveness, and may our prayer also bear fruit of forgiveness, compassion and understanding for others.

8th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 28-05-2026

1 Peter 2:2-5, 9-12 / Mark 10:46-52  

Everyone has some kind of physical deficiency.

A physical deficiency refers to any bodily impairment, abnormality, or condition.

That affects a person's physical functioning, mobility, dexterity, or stamina. 

Along the way, we learn to cope and to live with it.

But for Bartimaeus, his blindness had limited his abilities and he ended up begging.

But his hearing was sharp enough to know that Jesus was passing by.

And his voice was loud enough to catch the attention of Jesus.

And he also had enough courage to overcome the scoldings of the people around him to tell him to keep quiet.

And his persistence was rewarded with Jesus giving him his sight.

We have our disadvantages and deficiencies that may have limited our abilities.

But the first reading tells us that we are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation, a people set apart to sing the praises of God who called us out of the darkness into His wonderful light.

With faith, we will look beyond our disadvantages and deficiencies, and turn to Jesus and call out to Him for His blessings.

With God’s blessings, we will bear witness to the wonders that God does in our lives.

8th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 27-05-2026

1 Peter 1:18-25 / Mark 10:32-45   

From young, we have been told to do our best in everything.

So, from studies, to sports and in whatever activities, it is going to nothing less than to be the best.

The stress to be the best may come from some survival instinct where only winning counts.

The second place or the loser don’t mean anything and won’t have anything.

Maybe that was what James and John had in mind when they approached Jesus with the request.

For them, the kingdom was about positions and they had their sights on being above the rest.

And when the other ten heard about it, they were indignant with the two brothers.

So, even for the disciples of Jesus, greatness is seen in terms of status and position.

But the first reading reminds us that all flesh is grass and its glory like the wild flower’s. 

The grass withers, the flower fades, and all is transient. 

Maybe instead of wanting to be above all, let us be of service to all.

There is no need to be the best. It will give glory to God when we desire to be better persons by serving others.

8th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 26-05-2026

1 Peter 1:10-16 / Mark 10:28-31   

The phrase “give and take” means that in life, we have to make mutual concessions so as to share benefits.

It means that adjustments and cooperation have to be made in relationships or teamwork.

Each person gives up some of their preferences so as to get some rewards.

But the rewards have to be real and achievable, otherwise there might be no point in making sacrifices

In the gospel, Peter asked Jesus, “What about us? We have left everything and followed you.”

So, it is a human tendency to want to know what is there to gain, what are the benefits or rewards in giving up something or making sacrifices.

Even the first reading says that the prophets were looking and searching for what they foretold.

They tried to find out at what time and in what circumstances their prophesies would be fulfilled.

But as Jesus said in the gospel, there will be rewards when we make sacrifices or when we give up something for God.

So, we can also apply the “give and take” saying to our lives.

We give up our lives to Jesus, and we take up His promises to us.

Happy are we when we realise that our greatest reward is Jesus Himself.

Mary Mother of the Church, Monday, 25-05-2026

Acts 1:12-14 (or Genesis 3:9-15, 20) / John 19: 25-34      

The most profound title of Mary is "Mother of God".

That is not just a honorific title but a reality because she bore the Jesus in her womb, and Jesus is God.

Similarly, the title "Mother of the Church" is not just another honorific title for Mary.

On the Cross, Jesus turned to Mary and told her that the beloved disciple is her son.

And then Jesus turned to the beloved disciple and told him that Mary is his mother.

So on the Cross, Jesus decreed that Mary is to be mother of the Church, which is represented by the beloved disciple.

Mary carried out that role faithfully as she joined the disciples in continuous prayer and serving the Church as a mother would take care of her child.

As Mother of the Church, Mary is also in continuous prayer with us and taking care of us as our Mother.

May we be always with her in prayer and be with her to serve God and each other.

Pentecost Sunday, Year A, 24.05.2026

Acts 2:1-11 / 1 Cor 12:3-7, 12-13 / John 20:19-23  

The most basic human needs are often said to be food, clothing, and shelter.

And depending on the circumstances, it may or may not be in that order.

These are what is called the physiological needs, and when these needs are met, then we move up the hierarchy of needs.

But there is one fundamental need that is often taken for granted. 

To know what that need is, we just have to do this, and that is to just hold our breath.

Yes, we hold our breath and see how long we can hold it without breathing.

If we don’t breathe, or can’t breathe, or if there is no air to breathe, then we may last only for three to seven minutes.

That obviously tells us how critical and necessary breathing is, as well as the availability of clean fresh air.

Yet, we take breathing and air for granted, and we only realise the importance when we are deprived of it. 

Today as the Church celebrates the Feast of Pentecost, we reflect on the signs and manifestations of the Holy Spirit. 

From the Bible, we see five signs of the Holy Spirit. 

They are water, oil, fire, wind, and the bodily form of the dove. 

We see two of these signs, in the readings of today. 

In the first reading, there is a powerful wind from heaven, and then there were tongues of fire that appeared and rested on the heads of the disciples.

They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak foreign languages as the Holy Spirit gave them the gift of speech. 

And then in the Gospel, Jesus did something that was a unique reminder of the story of creation. 

Jesus breathed on His disciples and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” 

That act of Jesus recalled the creation of man when God blew into the nostrils of man and then man became a living being. 

Indeed, the Holy Spirit is Lord and the Giver of life, as we profess in the Creed.

And as we celebrate the Feast of Pentecost, Jesus also breathes the Holy Spirit on us. 

It is a divine breath that blows away the dirt and the dust of sin and faults and failings from our hearts. 

It is a divine breath that blows a cooling and healing wind on the wounds that are hurting from sin and pain.

The simple act of Jesus breathing on His disciples and on us has a deep and profound meaning.

Because it is the divine breath of the gift of the Holy Spirit, the breath of life and love.

Yes, Jesus breathes the Holy Spirit on us so that we can be sent forth and be the breath of the Holy Spirit. 

Yes, we are to be the breath of the Holy Spirit for others.

Filled with the Holy Spirit, we are to be a good breath for others.

But a good breath can be turned into a bad breath. 

It is a bad breath that won’t go away by brushing teeth or with mouth wash.

When we have bad breath, it means that we are sick or that there is something that is not right

In the spiritual sense, we are talking about sin that causes decay, and corrupted our spiritual health. 

When that happens, we breathe the bad breath onto others. 

Out of our mouths comes the bad breath of foul and vulgar words, criticisms, condemnations, and all sorts of smelly rubbish. 

Even if we don't breathe that out, there is no fire of love in us. 

Cold tea and cold rice can be bearable, but cold looks and cold words are like bad breath. 

Today, on the Feast of Pentecost, Jesus breathes on us the Holy Spirit. 

The Holy Spirit heals the wounds of our sin and gives us life and love, and sends us forth with a divine breath. 

With that divine breath of the Holy Spirit, let us speak words that are kind and gentle, words that affirm and encourage. 

When words are spoken with the breath of the Holy Spirit, they will remain in the hearts of the listeners for a long time.

7th Week of Easter, Saturday, 23-05-2026

Acts 28:16-20, 30-31 / John 21:20-25  

We are often told to look where we are going, so as to avoid accidents.

To say it in another way, it is also to go where we are looking.

As much as it is good to look where we are going, and to go where we are looking, we often do otherwise.

Because we may be walking in one direction, and then something else caught our attention.

So, we will be walking in one direction, and yet we are looking at another direction.

And in such moments, that is when accidents will happen.

Peter had earlier professed his love for Jesus, and he did it three times.

Jesus told him to follow Him. Then almost immediately, Peter turned and saw the disciple Jesus loved following them.

Seeing him, Peter said to Jesus, “What about him, Lord?”

Jesus had to say to Peter, “What does it matter to you? You are to follow me.”

That would have brought Peter back into focus, and that is keep his eyes on Jesus and follow Him, and not to be distracted by other things or other people.

That would also remind us to look where we are going, and to go where we are looking.

Let us not be distracted by other things or other people, and keep our focus on Jesus and keep following Him.

7th Week of Easter, Friday, 22-05-2026

Acts 25:13-21 / John 21:15-19     

When bringing up an issue or a problem, it is best to follow procedures.

Even when filing a complaint, it is good to raise the issue or problem to the next level first.

That would show that we respect the procedures and the levels of organization.

In the 1st reading, the discussion was about St. Paul’s case.

The Roman governor Festus had thought that St. Paul was charged with some crime.

But upon further investigation, Festus realised that it was a religious issue and about Jesus whom St. Paul alleged to be alive.

Festus had wanted St. Paul to be tried in Jerusalem, which was the next level of investigation.

But St. Paul appealed for his case to be reserved for the judgement of the august emperor.

Obviously, that would mean Caesar, but St. Paul could have someone else in mind.

Because in St. Paul’s mind, the highest emperor and king would be none other than Jesus Christ.

For St. Paul, Jesus Christ is the Divine Judge, and his life was in the hands of the Divine Judge, and not any other judge on earth.

So, when we have a problem, or an issue, or a complaint, let us first turn to Jesus and put our case before Him.

When we commend our lives into the hands of Jesus, let us also let Jesus show us how to resolve problems, issues and even complaints.   

7th Week of Easter, Thursday, 21-05-2026

Acts 22:30; 23:6-11 / John 17:20-26     

Being "caught between a rock and a hard place" is an idiom that means we are stuck in a very difficult situation where we must choose between two equally unpleasant, unfavorable, or risky options.

It is having to choose between the frying pan and the fire.

And it is in relationships that this often happens.

For example, it can happen when a man had to choose between listening to his wife or to his mother.

That is a situation that no man wants to be in.

In the 1st reading, St. Paul was freed by the tribune so that he can be brought before the chief priests and the Sanhedrin for questioning.

It was a situation that no one wanted to be in, especially having to face the big guns of the religious establishment.

But the Holy Spirit inspired St. Paul to see a crack in the beliefs between the Sadducees and the Pharisees, and he used it to his advantage.

Whenever we get caught between a rock or a hard place, or between the frying pan and the fire, let us turn to Holy Spirit who is our Advocate.

The Holy Spirit will see us through those difficult situations, so that we will bear witness to the wonderful and marvellous love of God for us.

7th Week of Easter, Wednesday, 20-05-2026

Acts 20:28-38 / John 17:11-19    

The greatest danger for a community or an organization is not a danger from the outside.

Dangers from the outside can be threatening and fearful.

But when the community or organization is united within, then the danger can be warded off.

But the greatest danger is from within the community or organization.

Because it is from within that traitors and betrayers may, and will arise, and that is what St. Paul is saying in the 1st reading.

And these traitors and betrayers will cause the greatest damage to the community or organization.

But why would some people become traitors and betray the unity of the community?

There can be many reasons but mainly it would be pride and selfishness.

They would break away from the truth and think that they are right.

They would tend to love themselves and also want others to love them.

Jesus said this in the gospel: I kept those you have given me true to your name. I have watched over them and not one is lost except the one who chose to be lost.

We belong to the faith community of the Body of Christ.

Jesus watches over us and protects us from the evil one and from the dangers of pride and selfishness.

Let us keep united in the truth and love of Jesus, and we will be at peace even in the face of dangers.

7th Week of Easter, Tuesday, 19-05-2026

Acts 20:17-27 / John 17:1-11  

It is difficult for us to imagine a life filled with misfortune and hardships.

If that is really the case, we would surely be moaning and groaning.

After all, what is there to look forward to, except to take one hit after another.

If we think that it is highly unlikely there would be such a person or such a life, then we may need to look again at the first reading.

After his conversion, St. Paul seemed to be going down the road of suffering, hardship and persecution.

He himself said that he had no idea what will happen to him when he goes to Jerusalem.

But the Holy Spirit had made it clear enough that imprisonment and persecution awaited him.

But St. Paul said this: Life to me is not a thing to waste words on, provided when I finish my race, I have carried out the mission the Lord Jesus gave me – and that is to bear witness to the Good News of God’s grace.

By his life, and with his life, he witnessed to what he said about himself.

We may not have to face the suffering, hardships and persecution that St. Paul faced.

But by our life, and with our life, may we be like St. Paul, bear witness to the Good News of God’s grace.

7th Week of Easter, Monday, 18-05-2026

Acts 19:1-8 / John 16:29-33    

A fundamentalist is a person who strictly and literally adheres to a set of basic, foundational principles.

But that set of basic, foundational principles may just be a part of the whole picture.

So, to stick strictly and literally to those limited principles can cause problems and even troubles.

In other words, a little bit of knowledge can be rather dangerous.

In the gospel, the disciples could see that Jesus knows everything and do not have to wait for questions to be put into words.

And because of that they believed that Jesus came from God.

But Jesus warned them that though they believed that He came from God, their faith will be put to the test.

And their faith will be shaken and they will be scattered, each going his own way and leaving Jesus alone.

If the disciples’ faith can be shaken, so can our faith be shaken too.

We may say that we believe in Jesus, but when troubles come our way, we will find it difficult to keep believing.

For all that we say about what we believe in, let us also admit that our faith is not that strong.

It is only when we admit that we are weak, then Jesus who conquered the world will make us strong.

7th Sunday of Easter, Year A, 17.05.2026

Acts 1:12-14 / 1 Peter 4:13-16 / John 17:1-11  

The month of June is just two weeks away. That might be important to know because the school break is in June. 

And along with the school break, then it is holiday time. 

Even though the current worldwide situation is unstable, even though prices from fuel to food has risen, the urge for going on holiday has grown greater. 

Maybe it is the “in” thing to do, and we want to be with the “in” crowd. 

Maybe it has got something to do with the syndrome called FOMO. 

FOMO stands for “fear of missing out”, and it is not just about going for holidays. 

It is the feeling of anxiety or worry that other people are having a great and exciting and enjoyable time without us. 

This often happens when we see things on social media like friends travelling, partying and having a good time and we are left out, or that we have missed some “in” thing. 

So, the fear of missing out stems from some insecurity that we are being left out, or that we are forgotten, or that we are not with the “in” crowd doing the “in” thing. 

For the disciples of Jesus, they were looked upon with suspicion, and consequently they faced rejection, and subsequently persecution. 

They were not with the “in” crowd doing the “in” thing, but they were not affected by the fear of missing out. 

Instead, they formed for themselves a community of faith that united them in prayer.

The 1st reading says that after the Ascension of Jesus, the apostles and disciples went back to Jerusalem and gathered in the upper room. 

Together with the apostles and disciples were several women, including Mary the mother of Jesus. 

This last mention of Mary together with the apostles and disciples, was an important and significant detail. 

Because Mary was together with the apostles and disciples in continuous prayer. 

The image of the early Church at prayer expressed what Jesus said in the gospel about knowing the one true God. 

And knowing the one true God and Jesus Christ whom He sent leads us to eternal life. 

Mary and the apostles and disciples were united in prayer because of their faith in Jesus Christ and in the one true God. 

With faith and prayer, the early Church was not affected by the fear of missing out. 

They didn’t have to be with the “in” crowd or doing the “in” thing. 

And it can be said that they were the opposite of FOMO, and that is JOMO, which stands for the “joy of missing out”. 

If they were missing out on what the rest of the world are doing, it is because they had the joy of being belonged to God. 

As Jesus said in His prayer to the Father: They were Yours and You gave them to me, and they have kept Your word. 

We are in the world, but we are not of the world. 

There is no fear of missing out, but we must be a people of prayer and be a Church at prayer. 

It is at prayer then we profess our faith in the one true God and in Jesus Christ whom He has sent. 

It is in prayer that we proclaim that God is above all. 

God must be above all, especially in the Church, or we will be nothing at all. 

May Mary and the Saints pray for us, that we can miss out on everything, but we must not miss out on God.

6th Week of Easter, Saturday, 16-05-2026

Acts 18:23-28 / John 16:23-28

We might think that if things go our way, life would be easy and we would be happy.

That would, of course, be very nice to imagine, that everything would be as we wanted it to be.

But we know that such is not the case, and it won’t ever be the case.

When we reflect and think deeper about it, if everyone has it their way, this world would be chaotic.

Because everyone has a personal opinion and wants things his way.

In the gospel, Jesus says this: I tell you most solemnly, anything you ask for from the Father, he will grant you.

That might sound too good to be true, but we also know that not everything that we asked God for was granted to us.

God will give us what is good for us because He loves us.

And if we love God, then we should ask Him to give us what is good for us, as well as what is good for others.

Let us pray that we will always love God and know what His will is for us.

When we are united in the love of God, then we will do things His way, and not want to have it our way.

6th Week of Easter, Friday, 15-05-2026

Acts 18:9-13 / John 16:20-23 

We may want to think about that last sentence of the gospel passage that we have just heard when Jesus said: When that day comes, you will not ask me any questions.

Yes, we will always have our questions about life, about our faith, about God and about eternity.

And of course we want answers. Yet we only want the answers we want to hear.

For example, when we are having it difficult or when we are suffering, we only want others to sympathize with us and to hear our complaints as we wallow in self-pity.

We feel that everybody is against us and everything is so bleak, and hence the only thing we want to hear is that everybody is wrong and that we are right.

Yes, that is the answer we want to hear when we are having it rough.

But as we heard in the 1st reading, St. Paul had it rough and tough.

He could have just called it quits and not even bothered to listen to the Lord.

But he listened to the Lord and had faith in the Lord and believed that the Lord was with him.

Indeed the Lord was with him and protected him from harm.

The Lord will also protect us from harm and we will even be able to rise from our troubles and difficulties and find joy in life.

When we listen to the Lord's answer, then indeed we will have no more questions.

Ascension (Year A), Thursday, 14-05-2026

Acts 1:1-11 / Ephesians 1:17-23 / Matthew 28:16-20

One of the boring and frustrating moments in life is when we have to wait. 

We don’t like it when we have to wait for someone who is late. 

But the fact of life is that we spend a lot of time waiting. 

We wait for the bus or the train to arrive. 

We wait for the service man or the delivery man to come. 

We wait for our turn to be called to the service counter. 

When we have to wait, we want to know how long we have to wait. 

We want to know what time the things or the people will come. 

In other words, we want to be in control of our time and our schedules. 

We don’t like to waste time or wait for things to happen or for people to arrive. 

In the 1st reading, Jesus told His disciples not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for what God had promised, and that is the Holy Spirit. 

The pressing question that the disciples would want to ask is, when will it be, what time will it be, what day will it be. 

Jesus said: It is not for you to know times or dates that the Father has decided on His own authority, but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and then you will be my witnesses. 

In other words, all will be in God’s time, and all will be done in God’s way. 

Jesus assures us in the gospel that He will be with us always, to the end of time. 

Jesus has ascended into heaven, and He is the Lord of all creation, and he is the Lord of all time. He is Beginning and the End, He is the Alpha and the Omega.

Knowing that Jesus is with us always, let us continue His saving mission on Earth. 

Let us use the time we have to share the gospel teachings with others and help them to be disciples and to be baptised. 

Even in waiting, let us spend that moment to talk with the Lord Jesus.

There are many things that we want to tell Him, and there are also many things that He wants to say to us.

So, the time spent in waiting is best spent praying and listening to the gentle voice of the Lord Jesus.

May our time be in God’s time. 

Then our time on Earth will be meaningful to ourselves, and we will use our time to be helpful to others.

6th Week of Easter, Wednesday, 13-05-2026

Acts 17:15, 22 - 18:1 / John  16:12-15  

Nature teaches us about the many aspects of life.

Nature is like a mother, and that is why we call nature “Mother Nature”.

A mother nurtures her children slowly and helps her children to understand life.

So, our knowledge about life and nature does not come only from books or that we can learn everything at one go.

We learn about life and nature slowly and gradually by what we see and by what we experience.

In the 1st reading, Paul mentioned about how God raised Jesus from the dead.

At this, some of his listeners burst out laughing, while others were interested in knowing more about it, and followed him and became his disciples.

In the gospel, Jesus said that He still has many things to say to His disciples, but they would be too much for them to grasp at that moment.

We too may not understand the mysteries of our faith.

But let us be patient and keep pondering and one day, the Holy Spirit will reveal to us what we need to know.

Then our faith will grow and be strengthened, and we will bear fruits of faith accordingly.

6th Week of Easter, Tuesday, 12-05-2026

Acts 16:22-24 / John 16:5-11  

There are many things in this world that are beyond our knowledge and understanding.

Yet, we often think that we know a lot and with science and technology, we are able to find an explanation to everything and have a solution to every problem.

But when something baffles us and we can’t find an explanation or a solution, we may still not want to admit that we don’t know.

In the 1st reading, who could really give an explanation for the doors of the jail that flew open and the chains that fell off from all the prisoners?

Of course, earlier on there was an earthquake that shook the prison to its foundations.

But could that be an acceptable explanation?

Or how about when the gaoler and his whole family were converted and baptized there and then? 

These events are of the past and though they are recorded, we also do not know all the facts.

But we also have to admit that one of the most difficult things to explain is when people have a change of heart.

When people, or even ourselves, admit that we are wrong, it is not necessary that it was mere human intervention or that there was a spectacular event.

As Jesus said in the gospel, He will send the Holy Spirit who will show the world how wrong it was about sin, about who was in the right and about judgement.

Yes, it is by the power and by the light of the Holy Spirit that God will reveal to us about the mysteries of life.

And it is by the revelation of the Holy Spirit that we will know who we are and who God is, and then we will know what God wants of us.

6th Week of Easter, Monday, 11-05-2026

Acts 16:11-15 / John 15:26 - 16:4  

We human beings naturally want to have peace.

But the strange thing is that in order to have peace, we do the defensive.

As the saying goes, in order to have peace, we prepare for war.

And in order to secure peace, human beings even go on the offensive to eliminate all threats and possible dangers.

So, human beings want peace, but the strange thing is that they use violence to try to achieve it.

Jesus sent us the Holy Spirit to be our Advocate to protect us.

The Holy Spirit is also the Spirit of truth.

The truth is that no armour or security can protect us or give us peace.

Jesus wants us to know that the Holy Spirit is our Advocate and we will be protected from danger and harm.

In other words, God is our Protector, and when we live our lives in truth, we will be at peace.

6th Sunday of Easter, Year A, 10.05.2026

Acts 8:5-8, 14-17 / 1 Peter 3:15-18 / John 14:15-21  

Last Thursday, 8th May, was a significant and meaningful day for the Church. 

If we are wondering about the significance and meaning of that day, then we need to recall the events of one year ago. 

On the 8th May 2025, Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected as the new Pope. 

The pre-election and post-election stories were interesting and maybe even amusing. 

We may remember the family of seagulls perched on the roof of the Sistine Chapel, just before the white smoke bellowed from the chimney. 

There was also a baby seagull in that family, and some commented that the seagulls were having a bird’s eye view of the Conclave. 

And those seagulls appearing before the white smoke was interpreted as a good sign. 

And some people also remembered that seagulls were also present on the roof at the election of Pope Francis. 

That was the pre-election event. When Cardinal Robert Prevost was presented as the new Pope, the comments came in fast. 

So, he is the first American Pope. But he was literally an unknown candidate, and he was not among the so-called favourites. 

And the American Cardinals don’t quite know who he is. 

For all that had happened one year ago on 8th May, the meaning and significance are now being slowly unfolded. 

And there is no doubt that the process of the election of Pope Leo XIV was guided by the Holy Spirit. 

In the gospel, Jesus says that God will send another Advocate, the Spirit of truth, to be with us forever. 

An Advocate is a protector, an Advocate also means a person who speaks in favour of or plead for someone. 

The Spirit of truth protects us from falsehood and from going the wrong way. 

And the Spirit of truth is also the Spirit of love, for truth and love are like the two sides of the same coin. 

Truth without love is cold and hard, and it can be used to accuse, to judge and to condemn. 

Love without truth has no principles or directions, and it is like a kite that is not grounded with a string. 

Through the Spirit of truth and love, God has chosen Leo XIV to be the Pope to lead the Church in this anxious and challenging times.

With the Spirit as the Advocate, Pope Leo XIV has spoken out for the respect of the dignity of the person, as well as the dignity of nations, in the midst of hostilities.

Pope Leo XIV has taught us to speak the truth with love. 

The truth is the truth and nobody can deny it, even if nobody admits to it. 

And the truth spoken and acted with love is like a light that silently scatters the darkness. 

And as we celebrate Mother’s Day, we honour our mothers for being our advocate, just as Holy Spirit is the Advocate of the Church. 

Very often, our mothers have the first say and also the last say. 

But we also acknowledge that whatever they say, they say it with truth and love. 

That is why we often say this: My mother used to tell me ... 

Yes, we remember the truth because it was spoken with love. 

May God bless our mothers as they teach us about the truth of life with love in their hearts. 

And may the Holy Spirit, our Advocate, protect us from danger and evil. 

And may the Spirit of truth help us to be witnesses of the truth that is lovingly proclaimed with the love of God.

5th Week of Easter, Saturday, 09-05-2026

Acts 16:1-10 / John 15:18-21   

The world has come to such a state that doing good may lead to some kind of misunderstanding.

Maybe there is just too much bad and wickedness around and the world is getting used to it.

So even if it is said that this world is bad and wicked, it is acceptable and no one would really make a fuss about it.

Maybe that is the obvious and glaring reality and we think it is normal.

However to be good and to do good is like an oddity and an exception.

Even to have a religion and to be religious may look like suspicious.

But that kind of world view should not deter us from being who we are and what we are called to do.

We are disciples of Jesus and we live according to His teachings and His way of life.

After all, even when Jesus was in this world, He was rejected and persecuted right to being crucified on the Cross.

But for those who accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour, He gives them power to face and to overcome the evil in this world.

Evil and wickedness can only grow and multiply when good people do nothing about it.

By being disciples of Jesus, we want to bring goodness back into the world.

It is in doing good, that we be the witnesses of the holiness of God in this world.

5th Week of Easter, Friday, 08-05-2026

Acts 15:22-31 / John 15:12-17    

It is understandable that we have the tendency to do what is easy.

After all, why would we choose to do what is challenging and difficult?

To put it bluntly, we tend to be lazy and choose what is easy, or even to do nothing at all.

But when we try to avoid challenges and difficulties, we will miss out something important in life.

We will not find meaning and direction in life, and after a while we might even feel lethargic and melancholic about life.

In the gospel, Jesus gave us a commandment, and that is to love one another, as He has loved us.

Loving others can be challenging and difficult. 

It can also be tiring and even seem like a thankless task.

But we know that Jesus loved us and He even laid down His life for us.

As we ponder about life and love, we will also remember what Jesus said about life.

If we want to save our lives, we will lose it.

But when we offer our lives to serve and to love others, we will gain meaning and direction.

And most of all, we will gain blessings from God, and we will also see how beautiful life and love is.

5th Week of Easter, Thursday, 07-05-2026

Acts 15:7-12 / John 15:9-11    

Human beings are adventurous.

We like to be on the move to make discoveries.

So we go to new places to see the sights, to taste the food, to wonder at the cultures and practices of other peoples.

But no matter how far we may go, and no matter how excited we may be by our experiences, there is usually one eventuality.

And that is we will usually return home.

We will usually return to our roots and to where we belong.

In the gospel, Jesus said to His disciples:

As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Remain in my love.

But because of our adventurous and curious tendency, we may get tired of the usual faith practices and teachings.

So we may tend to look around for new ideas and other interesting ways to discover the spiritual and the supernatural.

But there is also the possibility that we might end up like a kite without being grounded by the string.

But more importantly, let us remain in the love of Jesus with the prayer forms of the Church.

In remaining in the love of Jesus, we will be able to find the joy of being with the one true God.

5th Week of Easter, Wednesday, 06-05-2026

Acts 15:1-6 / John 15:1-8  

In the 1st reading, there was a disagreement about the practice of circumcision.

There were long arguments, and the apostles and the elders had to meet to look into the matter.

But for a group of people to be united in one faith and one practice, they also must have a common love.

It is only with that common love for Jesus that the early Church can grow and be what it is today.

But as Jesus said in the gospel, He is the vine and we are the branches.

In order to be united in love and bear fruit, we must be pruned.

We must cut off what leads us to sin that will cause disunity and scandals.

Let us remain close to Jesus and make our home in Him.

With the common love for Jesus and united in His love, we will also be able to bear fruits of faith and love.

5th Week of Easter, Tuesday, 05-05-2026

Acts 14:19-28 / John 14:27-31   

The word “peace” is a word that is mentioned often and we may know what it generally means.

It may be generally understood as the absence of conflict.

It may also be understood as calm and stillness.

But it may be helpful to understand what peace means in the Bible.

The Hebrew word “shalom” may be translated as peace.

Shalom has a few meanings: wholeness, completeness, sound health, safety, and prosperity.

To greet another person with the word “shalom” or “peace” signifies a blessing of total well-being.

In the gospel, Jesus said to His disciples:

Peace I bequeath to you, my own peace I give you, a peace the world cannot give, this is my gift to you.

The disciples of the early Church understood and experienced that gift of peace from Jesus.

Paul and Barnabas experienced stoning and persecution, but they went on with the peace of Jesus in their hearts.

They put fresh hearts into the other disciples, encouraging them to persevere in the faith.

They faced many hardships, but they had the peace of Jesus in their hearts.

We too have that peace of Jesus in our hearts.

Let us also share the peace of Jesus with others.

The world cannot give us that peace that Jesus has given us.

5th Week of Easter, Monday, 04-05-2026

Acts 14:5-18 / John 14:21-26  

As Christians, we are disciples of Jesus.

And as disciples of Jesus, we have a mission in this world.

Our mission is to reveal the presence of Jesus for others.

In the 1st reading, Paul and Barnabas went around preaching the Good News.

Then Paul saw a crippled man listening to the Good News and he saw that the man had faith.

So Paul said to the crippled man, “Get to your feet – stand up.”

And the crippled man jumped up and began to walk.

When the crowd saw that, they got excited and thought that Paul and Barnabas were gods disguised as men.

Paul and Barnabas tried to tell the crowd that they were just messengers of God, but the excitement of the crowd was overwhelming.

Although we may not be addressing crowds and performing miracles of healing, our mission is just as important.

We are messengers of the Good News that will also make us signs of God’s presence in this world.

And because Jesus has made His home in our hearts, then our mission is to bring others back home to God.

May we always love Jesus and others will see that love and they will come home to the God of love.

5th Sunday of Easter, Year A, 03.05.2026

Acts 6:1-7 / 1 Peter 2:4-9 / John 14:1-12  

One of the deepest desires in life is to be happy. 

To be happy may mean that we don't have any anxieties and worries. 

It may also mean that we don’t have to face the struggles and troubles of life. 

So, if there are no anxieties and worries, no struggles and troubles in life, then we would be happy in life. 

But happiness in life seems to be so elusive. The moments of happiness are short and few. 

Whereas, anxieties and worries, struggles and troubles, seemed to come one after another. 

All these forms the burdens in our hearts and make us drag our feet along in life. 

We are anxious and worried about our health, our future, our financial security, our work stress, our children, our parents. 

Our hearts are troubled when relationships with family members, relatives and friends become tensed due to some misunderstanding or quarrels. 

That is enough to say what we already know, and that is, life is difficult. 

Sure, life is difficult, but that is not the end of the statement; it is just a pause. 

Because in the gospel, Jesus said this to His disciples: 

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God still, in trust in me. 

Jesus made a promise to us that there are many rooms in His Father’s house, and He has prepared a place for us there. 

That promise is our greatest assurance and consolation from Jesus. 

In short, Jesus is telling us that He has already saved us and that He will bring us to heaven. 

So, it means that while we walk in the struggles and troubles of life, our minds and our hearts should be on the promise of above. 

But we get distracted by the anxieties and worries of life. 

And with that, our hearts become disturbed, and we forget about the promise of that place in heaven. 

Yes, we forget because we get distracted. 

We get distracted by the anxieties and worries, about the struggles and troubles, and our hearts become disturbed. 

And when we look at the distraction, and reflect upon the disturbance, what is the cause of it?

Well, the question is not about what, but about who is the cause of it. 

Needless to say, the devil is the cause of it; he is the cause of our disturbance and distraction. 

He wants to distract and disturb us so that we will forget about the promise of Jesus. 

He wants to bring our minds and hearts down to the things of earth and forget about the promise of above. 

We see that in the 1st reading when there was a problem in the early Church about the distribution of food. 

But, by the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the apostles chose seven men to look into the task of the distribution of food. 

As the apostles pointed out: It is not right for us to neglect the Word of God so as to give out food. 

So, when we don't do what is right, our hearts will be troubled. 

And when we neglect we will also forget. 

So, we need to look at our anxieties and worries, and also our struggles and troubles. 

It is like looking at our reflection in a basin of water. 

We will not be able to see a good reflection when the water is boiling. 

Only when the water is still and calm, then can we see our reflection clearly. 

May the consoling and assuring promise of Jesus put out the sharp flames of distraction and disturbance in our hearts. 

May Jesus our Saviour, who is the Way, the Truth and the Life, lead us towards that place in heaven which He has promised us.

4th Week of Easter, Saturday, 02-05-2026

Acts 13:44-52 / John 14:7-14    

A book is not judged by its cover.

So, appearances can say one thing, but the essence can be something else.

But there is no doubt that much emphasis and importance are placed on image and appearances.

So when image and appearance do not match the essence and character, then it would lead to confusion and contradiction.

In the gospel, Jesus tells Philip that to have seen Him is to have seen the Father.

Jesus goes on to explain that He is in the Father and the Father is in Him.

And the words that Jesus says is not from Himself. It is the Father, living in Him, who is doing all the work.

As disciples of Jesus, we are called Christians, which means that we are a reflection of who Jesus Christ is.

Even if we don’t publicly identify ourselves as Christians, our character and integrity should reflect the person of Jesus Christ.

The one profound expression of our Christianity is the love of God.

When others see us as a person of love, they would see presence of Jesus Christ in us.

Let us love as Jesus Christ loves us, and others will know we are Christians by our words and actions.

St. Joseph the Worker, Friday, 01-05-2026

Genesis 1:26 - 2:3 or Colossians 3:14-15, 17, 23-24 / Matthew 13:54-58   

In 1955, the Catholic Church dedicated May 1 to "Saint Joseph The Worker". 

The Catholic Church considers St. Joseph the patron saint of workers and craftsmen, besides others.

More than just wanting to honour the contributions of the working class and the rights of workers, the Church, in this feast, wants to teach about the holiness of work which contributes to creation and gives glory to God.

In the gospel, we heard that Jesus is known as "the carpenter's son". 

It means that St. Joseph was a carpenter and that Jesus would have also followed along in learning the trade.

Hence the gospel tells us, and the Church teaches us as well, that Jesus was indeed involved in the ordinary human life and had to work for a living, with all its satisfactions and drudgery.

But where once upon a time when work was seen as a curse because of sin in that "by the sweat of your brow you shall eat your bread" (Gen 3:19), the Son of God has now sanctified work and now by the work of our hands we give glory to God.

So in whatever work we are doing, in whatever profession we are in, let us put our heart into it because we must know that over and above all, it is God that we serve and work for.

And just as St. Joseph taught Jesus to work with His hands, may St. Joseph also pray for us that by the work of our hands, and through the work of our hands, God will bless the world and may we beautify the world through the work of our hands.

4th Week of Easter, Thursday, 30-04-2026

Acts 13:13-25 / John 13:16-20   

The profession of a teacher is not just a job.

To be a teacher is to answer a call to serve by forming others.

Teachers form their students intellectually and also their character and integrity.

A good teacher will always have a revered place in the student’s memory.

In the gospel, Jesus says that no servant is greater than his master, and no messenger is greater than one who sent him.

Similarly, it can also be said that no student will ever forget the lessons of life that was learnt from the teacher.

But pride can come and distort the order of life and the integrity of life.

Because out of pride and disobedience, a servant can try to overthrow his master and desire to be the master.

Out of pride and vested motives, a messenger might want to distort the original message to make it in favour of him.

Jesus is our Teacher, our Master and He is our Word of life.

May we follow His teachings, and may we be faithful and obedient to Him.

May we understand His Word, so that we can echo His Good News of life and love to others.

4th Week of Easter, Wednesday, 29-04-2026

Acts 12:24 - 13:5 / John 12:44-50   

To know what a business or an organization is about, the thing to look for is its core business or its main activity.

That core business or main activity defines the business enterprise and the purpose of the organization.

And that core business or main activity should be so obvious that it goes without saying and it is also like written on its walls.

As for the early Church, the core spirituality and main activity is praying and fasting and the mission is the proclamation of the Word of God.

Even in the church of Antioch, besides the disciples, there were also prophets and teachers.

It was not just the activities of praying and fasting and proclamation of the Word of God, the people in the church were living images of the church’s core spirituality and mission.

So, when the Holy Spirit spoke, they listened and they also knew God wanted Barnabas and Saul to be set apart for a mission.

May we always be focused on the core spirituality of praying and fasting, and be faithful in sharing and proclaiming the Word of God.

So that when the Holy Spirit speaks, we will be able to listen and do what God wants of us.

4th Week of Easter, Tuesday, 28-04-2026

Acts 11:19-26 / John 10:22-30   

We are quite familiar with the 10 Commandments.

One of the 10 Commandments is “thou shall not steal”, which is the 8th Commandment.

That Commandment prohibits theft, which is widely interpreted to include stealing property, dishonesty in dealings and taking credit for others' work.

So, stealing or theft is a serious sin because it is a disregard for another person’s right of ownership.

And it will also lead to a collapse of law and order in society.

On the interpersonal level, when property is stolen, it leads to suspicion and eventually a breakdown of relationships that are based on trust.

In the gospel, Jesus says that the sheep that belong to Him listen to His voice, and no one will ever steal them from Him. 

God the Father gave the sheep to Jesus and no one can ever steal from the Father.

But we can’t steal anyone from Jesus, yet we can also commit indirect theft.

When a Christian leads another Christian the wrong way, or when a Christian commits a scandal and causes another Christian to lose faith, then stealing or the theft of a soul is committed, and a soul is lost.

Let us always listen to the voice of our Good Shepherd and follow in His ways.

Let us help those who are lost to go back to the Good Shepherd, and together we journey into eternal life.

4th Week of Easter, Monday, 27-04-2026

Acts 11:1-18 / John 10:11-18 (Year A)   

We don’t like it when we are taken for granted by others.

When we go out of our way for others, when we make sacrifices for others, when we do a thankless task that is dumped onto us, we wished that there can be some gratitude shown to us.

Even if not a word of thanks is said, it would be enough for us to know that a difficulty is overcome or a problem is solved.

What will make us angry and bitter is when others expect us to something that no one else would want to.

And when we don’t do it, we get blamed for making things difficult and creating problems for others.

This may not happen all the time, but when it does, we may wonder if being good and doing good is worth it.

In the gospel, Jesus says that He is the Good Shepherd, and the good shepherd will lay down his life for his sheep.

On the Cross, Jesus fulfilled what He said about being the Good Shepherd and laying His life for us to save us.

Yes, Jesus died for us so that we can be saved from an eternal death.

So, are we truly grateful and thankful to Jesus for saving us by dying for us.

Let us not take the love of Jesus for granted, and let us also follow Jesus our Good Shepherd in doing good for others.

Let us focus on following Jesus to make this world a loving place.

4th Sunday of Easter, Year A, 26.04.2026

Acts 2:14, 36-41 / 1 Peter 2:20-25 / John 10:1-10  

The animals in this world are, by and large, beautiful as well as amazing. 

And they also have peculiarities that we have heard of, or have experienced it. 

For example, don’t ever wear red-colour clothes and stand in front of a bull. 

We don’t want to see those horns coming fast at us. 

And also don’t approach a horse from the back. We just might get a kick of our lives. 

As for good eyesight, it goes to the birds, especially the eagles and the hawks. 

They can spot a prey from distances of three to five kilometres. 

As for the sense of smell, it goes to the dogs. A lady wanted to bring some bak-kwa for her daughter who was studying in a country that bans cooked meats. 

So, she wrapped the bak-kwa with layers and layers of plastic, thinking that it can pass through the customs. 

But at the immigration, the sniffer dog went sniffing at the luggage, and then just sat on her luggage. 

She had to surrender the bak-kwa. 

When it comes to sheep, we may not know much about their peculiarities, although we know that wool comes from sheep. 

But we have heard about two of their characteristics, and that is their sense of hearing, and their silence, even in the face of mortal danger. 

In today’s gospel, Jesus says that He is the gate of the sheepfold. 

He goes on to say that the sheep listen to the voice of the shepherd. 

The shepherd leads his sheep, and the sheep follow him because they know the shepherd’s voice. 

The sheep never follow a stranger, but run away from him. 

They do not recognise the voice of strangers. 

Today, the Church celebrates Good Shepherd Sunday, with an emphasis on the promotion of vocations to the priesthood and also to the religious life. 

Yes, the harvest is rich but the labourers are few, and we have to pray to the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to His harvest. 

The Lord of the harvest has called labourers to work in His harvest. 

Many are called, but not that many have responded. 

One of the reasons that not that many have responded is because the world has many loud noises.

These noises are loud, and even attractive, and they appeal to human desires and pleasures. 

Yes, we desire to be rich, famous, popular, successful and to have a high status in life. 

With these comes the benefits of pleasures and luxuries of gratification, although it may be momentary. 

And those cravings for pleasures and desires are like a bottomless pit; there can never be enough of it. 

In the midst of all these loud noises is that soft and gentle voice of the Good Shepherd, calling out to the chosen labourers of His sheepfold. 

More often than not, as well as in most cases, the voice of the Good Shepherd is heard in Church. 

The Church is the House of God and the House of prayer. 

It is in Church that the voice of the Good Shepherd is heard in worship and in prayer. 

And it is in worship and prayer that the chosen servants of the Lord are able to listen and respond to His call. 

On the 1st June, four deacons will be ordained to the sacred order of the priesthood. 

One of them, Deacon Eugene Chan, is from this parish. He was chosen from among us. 

He heard the Lord’s call in Church, and it is back to the Church that he response to the call. 

We pray for him as he makes his final preparation for his ordination.

We do this in the form of spiritual bouquets, and we will receive a spiritual bouquet card on our way out. 

Our little spiritual offering would be a great blessing for Deacon Eugene Chan, and also for the other three deacons. 

And on the 21st May, we will gather in prayer for the four deacons, and also to pray for vocations. 

May those whom the Lord has called be able to listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd. 

And may our prayer give them strength and courage to follow in the steps of the Good Shepherd, who came to give us life and life to the full.