Palm-Passion Sunday, Year A, 29.03.2026

Isaiah 50:4-7 / Philippians 2:6-11 / Matthew 26:14 – 27:66

Today, as we come from Mass, we received palm branches. 

At the beginning of the Mass, we held up and waved the palm branches happily, as the priests sprinkles Holy Water to bless them. 

The palm branches are a symbol of the triumphant entry of Jesus into the holy city of Jerusalem. 

It is also a symbol of our welcoming Jesus into our hearts. 

So, it was a joyful and a happy mood, until we heard the readings, especially the long gospel reading. 

The mood and the atmosphere became solemn and heavy. 

We hear of betrayals and denials, of promises  made but broken later. 

We hear Jesus, in the depths of prayer and submitting to the Father’s will. 

We hear of accusations, of suffering, crucifixion and death. 

But we also hear of mercy and forgiveness as a repentant criminal was promised with entry into eternity. 

Yes, Palm Sunday moved into Passion Sunday, into the suffering and death of Jesus. 

This coming week is called Holy Week, and we journey with Jesus into His suffering and death on the Cross. 

We stay with Jesus and see His heart of mercy and compassion. 

We await with the hope of His Resurrection, when we hear once again the Good News of our salvation. 

Yes, by His suffering and death, Jesus saved us from our sins. 

As we stay with Jesus in prayer, let us also reflect about our lives and the experiences of pain and suffering, of rejection and disappointment and frustration. 

With Jesus, let us accept God’s will, let us carry the Cross with love, so as to receive the gift of salvation from Jesus.

5th Week of Lent, Saturday, 28-03-2026

Ezekiel 37:21-28 / John 11:45-56  

Whenever we think of a good time to embark on a project or an event, there will be several factors that we will consider.

We will think of a good place, and gather the right people, to get started on it.

In other words, when we think that we have the right place and the right people all lined up, then that will be the right time.

When Jesus came into the world, it may seemed to be a wrong time.

The Jewish people were at one of their lowest points in their history, as their land was conquered and occupied by the Romans.

The Roman empire was the most powerful nation at that time and they controlled everything.

As much as the Jewish people were looking forward to the coming of the Messiah, that Messiah would have a lot of resistance and opposition if he were to come at that time.

So, when Jesus came into the world, it was like the wrong time, because His people were under occupation, and with no power and might.

Yet, that was the time that God sent His Son into the world.

Jesus met with rejection, resistance and opposition from even His own people.

So when Caiaphas made that statement that it is better for one man to die for the people, than for the whole nation to be destroyed, he thought of it as an elimination of a threat.

But because he spoke as high priest, it was a prophecy that fulfilled the plan of God.

So it is not about a good time or the right time or the best time.

It is about the appointed time, it is about God’s time, and in that time, things will happen in God’s way.

Let us pray that we will be able to recognize God’s time, and when it is God’s time, let us also follow God’s ways.

5th Week of Lent, Friday, 27-03-2026

Jeremiah 20:10-13 / John 10:31-42   

The test of time often reveals the true nature of things as well as the true nature of people.

So, what may look good and impressive at the beginning may not be so after a period of time.

And what started off with bright lights and big sounds may slowly taper off.

On the other hand, there may be some that start slow and seem to take their time.

One example is plants and trees. They take time to grow, but when they are matured, they are beautiful and also bear fruits.

A person’s work is the expression of his personality and character.

For Jesus, His work and His ministry expresses His nature as well as His relationship with God.

As Christians, we share in the nature of Jesus, and what we do expresses our faith and our relationship with Jesus.

May we always be united with Jesus, and in His time and in His way, we will bear fruits, fruits that will last, fruits that will glorify God, fruits that will be for the good of others.

5th Week of Lent, Thursday, 26-03-2026

Genesis 17:3-9 / John 8:51-59 

In the Bible, the most profound name of God is spelt with four letters – YHWH.

That name cannot be pronounced without vowels, and it is also not to be pronounced because it is a sacred name.

Moses asked God what is His name so that he can tell the people the name of God who is calling the people out of Egypt.

God told Moses to tell the people this name: I Am

It is a rather mystical and mysterious name, but that is how God wants to be known to His people.

But it is also a name to be used with reverence and respect.

So, when Jesus says this “I tell you most solemnly, before Abraham ever was, I Am”, the people reacted violently as they picked up stones to throw at Jesus.

Jesus was telling the people that His name is “I Am”, and, in effect, telling the people that He is God.

The people cannot accept that, because for them, no human being can ever be God.

But we believe that Jesus is divine, He is God.

We must also use the name of Jesus with reverence and with respect.

The name “Jesus” means “God saves” or “God is salvation”.

Let us call upon Jesus to forgive our sins and save us, and we will see the signs and wonders of His love for us.

Annunciation of the Lord, Wednesday, 25-03-2026

Isaiah 7:10-14; 8:10 / Hebrews 10:4-10 / Luke 1:26-38  

St. Augustine was quoted as saying : God does not ask of us the impossible. He may ask us to do the difficult thing, but He will make it possible.

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Annunciation, the proclamation of the Good News of salvation.

It is not only a joyful event, it is also a very profound event in God's plan of salvation.

Yet for Mary, it was not just an event ; it was for her a mission.

And if she said "Yes" then it was going to be a life-long mission. And it was going to be difficult.

But God assured her it was not going to be impossible.

Mary put her faith and trust in God as she accepted her mission.

We live in difficult and fragile times. We have wars here and epidemics there and all sorts of weird things everywhere.

Trying to believe and live out the Good News is not only difficult, but seemingly impossible.

Believing that there can be peace, that there can be joy, that there can be love, can be difficult.

But let this celebration of the Annunciation, the celebration of the Good News of our salvation, remind us that difficulty is not synonymous with impossibility.

We join Mary to say "Yes" to God because we want to believe that God is greater than any difficulty and impossibility.

5th Week of Lent, Tuesday, 24-03-2026

Numbers 21:4-9 / John 8:21-30   

In the Church we see many religious symbols.

Most of these religious symbols have meanings that are obvious.

The Cross is the most profound sign of Christianity.

It symbolizes the sign of salvation, that Jesus died on the Cross to save us.

But in the 1st reading, God told Moses to fashion a bronze serpent and put it on a standard.

And anyone who was bitten by a fiery serpent would just have to look at it and will live.

It can be rather puzzling to make an image of a creature that caused death with its bite.

Even more puzzling is that the image is raised up on a standard and then it became a means of healing.

But that can only make some sense when seen with the image of the Cross.

The Cross was an instrument of torture and death.

But with Jesus raised on it, the Cross becomes a sign of salvation.

So in the 1st reading, God sent the fiery serpents to punish the people for their sinfulness.

The image of the fiery serpent on a standard is to remind the people of their sinfulness and also the healing forgiveness of God.

God sent His Son Jesus to save us. 

When Jesus died on the Cross, it is also to remind us of the cross of our sins but Jesus died on it to save us.

Let us ponder, reflect and meditate on the Cross and give thanks to Jesus for saving us.

5th Week of Lent, Monday, 23-03-2026

Daniel 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62 / John 8:1-11 

No one can ever say that they have never done wrong.

It may be just a small mistake, or it can be a serious offence.

Whatever it may be, the question is what happens after that.

Generally, there are two possible consequences.

One is punishment, the other is correction.

In the 1st reading, the punishment of the two wicked elders was inevitable.

They not only had done wrong, they even wanted to end the life of an innocent woman.

But divine justice prevailed through the young man Daniel, and it was an expression of God’s protection on the innocent.

But in the gospel, the situation was rather complicated.

The woman had done wrong, but the scribes and Pharisees wanted to use her to test as well as a trap.

And in this case, it was divine wisdom that prevailed as Jesus says: If there is one of you who has not sinned, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.

It was a wisdom that did not judge or punish, but it taught everyone about God’s mercy and compassion.

So when a mistake is made or a serious offence is committed, let us turn to the Lord to see what He is teaching us.

May we learn that God is truth and justice, but He is also merciful and compassionate.

And for all the wrong we have done and the sins we have committed, let us beg the Lord for forgiveness and healing.