34th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 28-11-2025

Daniel 7:2-14 / Luke 21:29-33 

Some people have an extraordinary calling in life.

They are given gifts that have a particular purpose, and these gifts are to be used for the good of humanity.

In the 1st reading, the prophet Daniel had visions that indicated what was to come.

At first, he had the vision of turmoil and chaos and scenes of violence.

But as he continued to watch and gazed into the visions of the night, he saw something glorious.

There was a figure and on him was conferred sovereignty, glory and kingship, and his rule shall never pass away or destroyed.

That vision was a prophecy, that in the midst of violence and turmoil and distress, God will be victorious in the end.

We may not have visions but we understand the prophecy that points to the eternal kingship of God.

Still, we are able to see the signs of God’s kingdom in the world of nature.

In the gospel, Jesus used the example of the fig tree that is budding, and that is a sign that summer is near.

As we see the life and growth around us, let us also know that God is revealing His kingdom and His kingship to us.

And may God’s Word also grow deeper into our hearts and may we bear fruits for the Kingdom of God and for the good of humanity.

34th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 276-11-2025

Daniel 6:12-28 / Luke 21:20-28   

A peaceful world is what we long for, hope for and pray for.

Although there are some moments of peace, but more often it is distress and tribulation.

And that makes us wonder if all our longing, hoping and praying are going anymore.

And it also makes us wonder if we can continue to believe in God.

In the 1st reading, some wicked people have ganged up against Daniel and they wanted him dead.

They used the king’s edict against him and so, even the king was unable to help Daniel.

When Daniel was thrown into the pit of lions, that would be another case of wickedness overpowering goodness.

But wickedness and evil cannot overcome goodness and justice, because God will always have the last say.

And when Daniel was pulled out of the pit unharmed, it was the pagan king who testified to the goodness and the saving love of God when he said:

He is the living God, he endures for ever, his sovereignty will never be destroyed and his kingship never end.

He saves, sets free, and works signs and wonders in the heavens and on earth, he saved Daniel from the power of the lions.

If a pagan king can testify to the saving love of God, then all the more we must believe Jesus when He says: 

When these things begin to take place, stand erect, hold your heads high, because your liberation is near at hand.

Evil and wickedness can never have the last say.

God will always have the last word, and it is His saving Word. 

When darkness and wickedness seem to rule the earth, let us stand erect and hold our heads high, because God will free us and save us and work signs and wonder in the heavens and on earth.

34th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 26-11-2025

Daniel 5:1-6, 13-14, 16-17, 23-28 / Luke 21:12-19  

One of the ways to say that the problem or the issue is so obvious is to say that “the writing is on the wall.”

And that phrase is taken from the account in the 1st reading.

King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for his noblemen, a thousand of them.

As they feasted, king Belshazzar ordered that the gold and silver vessels which were looted from the sanctuary in Jerusalem be used in the banquet.

Now, those were sacred vessels that were used in the Temple for rituals and serving offerings, and symbolised the holiness and the majesty of God.

But king Belshazzar had no regard for the sacredness of those vessels and so he, his noblemen, his wives and singing women drank out of them.

What happened next was frightening, to say the least.

A human hand appeared, and began writing on the wall, and the king could see the hand as it wrote, and he turned pale.

The prophet Daniel was brought in to interpret the writing on the wall.

It spelt judgement for king Belshazzar for having defiled the Lord of heaven and abusing the sacred vessels, and he died that very night.

In the gospel, Jesus said something that was also frightening and terrifying.

He spoke of persecutions and suffering and even death.

But Jesus also said something that is not written on walls but on the pages of the Bible and on the hearts of His disciples.

He said to us: Your endurance will win you your lives.

May those words be written in our hearts and may those words give us courage to hold on to our faith in times of trials and tribulations.

34th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 25-11-2025

Daniel 2:31-45 / Luke 21:5-11   

If we were ever granted the opportunity to have a glimpse of the future, would we want to take it up?

It would just be a glimpse of one event after event, with no words or comments.

As much as we would be curious to have a look into the future, will we be able to handle what comes along with it?

Probably we would have to think about the anxiety and the stress of knowing too much of the future.

In the 1st reading, king Nebuchadnezzar had a vision which he wasn’t able to interpret or understand.

He may have been curious about the future but that vision made him anxious.

And with Daniel’s interpretation of the vision, king Nebuchadnezzar’s anxiety about the future could have increased.

In the gospel, the people also asked Jesus about the future, when they questioned Him about what is going to happen in the future and when will it happen.

Jesus told them to take care not to be deceived.

As we reflect deeper on what Jesus said, we may realise that we are curious and maybe even anxious about the future.

But may we also realise that we should reflect on the present and how we are living our lives now.

When we have grip on the present, and know Jesus is with us here and now, then we will be at peace with the future.

34th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 24-11-2025

Daniel 1:1-6, 8-20 / Luke 21:1-4 

It is difficult to understand what faith is really about.

Because faith is intangible, so it cannot be measured or weighed, nor can a number or quantity be put to it.

Faith is like a tea bag. We will only know how strong it is when it is put into hot water.

Then we will know how strong it is.

In the 1st reading, the four young boys had to turn to their faith in God when they were put into a situation.

They were given food that would defile them so they had to find a way out.

They pleaded with the chief eunuch to put them on a vegetable and water diet for ten days to see how their condition turned out.

And because they were faithful, God helped them out of that situation.

In the gospel, Jesus noticed a poverty-stricken widow offering her two coins, which was all she had to live on.

Although she was not put to the test, the widow’s faith was expressed in her total offering to God.

When we say that we have faith in God, let us also express our faith in our sharing and generosity.

That will also strengthen our faith when it is put to the test.

Christ the King, Year C, 23.11.2025

2 Samuel 5:1-3 / Colossians 1:11-20 / Luke 23:35-43  

The need for attention is a need of every person. 

Every person needs attention for various reasons. 

Basically, we will call for attention because of some need. 

For example, when we are in a restaurant and we are ready to order our food, we will call for the attention of the waiter. 

For babies, when they are in need, whether they are hungry or the diapers need to be changed, they will cry out for attention. 

Even a seemingly ordinary action like pressing the bell in the bus, calls for the attention of the bus captain to let him know that we need to alight at the next bus stop. 

So, everyone calls out for attention because of a need. 

Children will try to get the attention of their parents by doing something or saying something because they need to know that their parents care for them. 

Workers will try to get the attention of their boss or superiors by being impressive in every possible way for job security and stability.

And in the competition for love, boy will try to impress the girl and get her attention, or it can also be the other way around. 

Whatever it is, the reality is that as human beings, we need the attention from others. 

We need attention to impress others and to prove ourselves. 

On the higher and noble levels of life, we call for attention to direct others to safety or away from danger, or to make an important announcement. 

Today, as we celebrate the feast of Christ the King, the gospel passage brings us back to the scene of the crucifixion. 

We may wonder, why is it that on such a grand and joyous feast, the gospel passage is about pain, suffering and death. 

The gospel passage states that fact. 

But not all facts tell the truth. 

The people stood there, but they were looking at Jesus as if they were watching a spectacle, and no response were required from them. 

The leaders jeered at Jesus saying, “He saved others, let him save himself if he is the Christ of God.”

The soldiers also mocked Jesus as they said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” 

And above Jesus there was an inscription: This is the King of the Jews. 

Even one of the condemned criminals hanging there abused Jesus saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself, and us as well.” 

Those were the facts at the scene of the crucifixion. 

But the irony is that those facts point to the truth, a rather mysterious truth. 

Because, all that was said by the leaders, by the soldiers, by that condemned criminal, all that pointed to the truth. 

And that truth was stated silently but profoundly in that inscription: This is the King of the Jews. 

And the King of the Jews didn’t need to prove Himself, or call for the people’s attention to acknowledge Him as the king.

By the fact that Jesus was on the Cross, He was already above the rest and they were looking up at Him. 

At the foot of the Cross, there was so much noise – the noise of jeering, insulting and mocking. 

All were trying to call attention to themselves by trying to put down Jesus.

There was so much of jeering and mocking, but only one person was praying. 

And his prayer is simply this: Jesus, remember Me when you come into your Kingdom.” 

And that simple and humble prayer brought out the divine promise of salvation. 

Although nailed to the Cross, Jesus made this divine promise: Indeed, I promise you, today you will be with me in paradise. 

That is the promise of the King of kings and the Lord of lords. 

It is the promise made to that repentant criminal, and it is a promise made to all of us who believe in Jesus as our Lord and our King. 

That promise is renewed whenever we pray the prayer that is on the prayer card, which is also our parish prayer. 

That promise is renewed when we write our prayers and petitions in the petition forms, as we put our trust in Jesus, our Lord and our King. 

As we call out to Jesus, He turns His attention to each of us, and He says: Indeed, I promise you, today you will be with Me, because I love you, and I want you to be with Me forever. 

That is the promise of Jesus to us, and let us believe in that promise. 

Because it is the truth and the promise is made by Jesus Christ, our Lord and our King.    

33rd Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 22-11-2025

1 Maccabees 6:1-13 / Luke 20:27-40  

We have heard of this word "retribution". We may even have used it before when we see someone getting his dues for the evil he had done.

In casual terms, we would say: What goes around, come around.

That seemed to be the case in the 1st reading.

King Antiochus fell into deep depression and melancholy when everything around him fell apart.

Then he remembered the wrong he had done to the Jews and he was convinced that that was why misfortune had overwhelmed him.

But that was not his greatest tragedy. What was really tragic for him was that in his heyday he had what he wanted and he never thought of a beyond, an afterlife.

He had enjoyed life, and now he was afraid of death. Because he does not know what awaits for him beyond death.

Our central belief is in the resurrection and in eternal life. It is not just a religious precept or a profound concept.

Because justice cries out for the resurrection and for eternal life.

For all the injustice and the victory of evil over good that we see happening in this world, our answer cannot be just in retribution.

We believe that God does not abandon or forget the poor, the suffering, the oppressed, and those that injustice and evil have hammered down.

God's justice will prevail. It will prevail and for eternity. That will certainly happen in the resurrection and in eternal life.