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

James 1:1-11 / Mark 8:11-13   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Other than that, there is nothing else to prove.

6th Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 15.02.2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

So, we tell the Lord Jesus this: 

I don’t know what to do.

I don’t know where to go from here. 

I don’t know what is happening. 

I don’t know how to handle this situation. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1 Kings 11:4-13 / Mark 7:24-30   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

5th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 11.02.2026

 1 Kings 10:1-10 / Mark 7:14-23     

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

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

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

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

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

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

His life would also express goodness, simplicity and humility. 

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

The opposite of wisdom is foolishness. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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