4th Sunday of Lent, Year A, 15.03.2026

1 Sam 16:1, 6-7, 10-13 / Ephesians 5:8-14 / John 9:1-41   

A basic computer system would be made up of a central processing unit or CPU, a keyboard, a mouse and a monitor. 

For a laptop, all that would be compacted into one unit. 

No one part is more important than the other. 

The CPU processes all the data so it would need the keyboard and the mouse for input and navigation. 

The monitor is needed to see what is going on in the system. 

Computers are so much a part of our lives that we might feel a bit lost without them. 

Although every part of the computer system is important, there is one part there we interact with often, and that is the monitor, or, the computer screen. 

The monitor or screen tells us what is happening in the computer and with the computer. 

Oh, by the way, studies have shown that Singaporean adults have high screen usage, often exceeding 10-12 hours, including work and leisure time.

That is really a lot of time looking at screens.

And a blank screen, or blue screen, would mean trouble, and sometimes big trouble. 

For the blind man in today’s gospel, his world was a blank and black screen. 

He can hear and feel what is happening, but he can’t see faces and expressions, or body language, or silent gestures. 

So, he didn’t know who was this Jesus who opened his eyes and enabled him to see. 

When he was not able to see, there was also nothing much for him to say. 

But now that he could see, he also began to say what he thinks and what he sees. 

When questioned by the Pharisees, the man declared that Jesus is a prophet. 

When pestered by the Pharisees to repeat the whole account, he even dared to ask them if they too wanted to be disciples of Jesus. 

In the gospel account, Jesus declared that He is the light of the world. 

He is the light that lights up the lives of people. 

When lives are lighted up, then thoughts are also revealed. 

In the gospel, the light of Christ shines on the man born blind and opened his eyes. 

And then, the light of Christ, through that man, shone onto others, revealing their inmost thoughts. 

The thoughts of the man's parents were revealed, that although they knew the truth, they were afraid of the Pharisees. 

The thoughts of the Pharisees were also revealed, for as much as they tried to deny the truth, they were also confused by their own denial. 

So, the light of Christ shines on the man born blind and opened his eyes. 

And through him, the light of Christ shone on others, and revealed their thoughts. 

The light of Christ shines on us to purify our thoughts and to see the truth. 

The light of Christ also shines through us, and it also reveals ourselves to others. 

It is like now, everyone can see our computer and handphone screens, and they know what we are thinking and what we are doing. 

But we don't like to share our screens.

When people come close, we will close the laptop or handphone screen. 

We would even paste screen covers or download screen shields so that others can't see the content on our screens.

But with the light of Christ shining on us and through us, we would not be afraid of what others see in our laptop or handphone screens.

In other words, we will not be afraid of what others will see in our lives, as we have nothing to hide.

With minds and hearts purified by God’s light and love, we will also do what the man whose eyes were opened did. 

He declared Jesus to be the Saviour. 

His words of truth revealed the thoughts of others. 

Light does not argue with darkness. It just shines silently, and scatters the darkness. 

May the light of Christ shine on us and through us. 

By the light of our lives, may we bring truth, love and joy to the world.

3rd Week of Lent, Saturday, 14-03-2026

Hosea 5:15 - 6:6 / Luke 18:9-14  

The one truth that we often forget is that we are no better than everyone else.

In other words, in the eyes of God, all are equal and He has no favourites.

Even if a person is granted gifts and talents, it is to be used to help others and to give glory to God.

In fact, the more the gifts and talents, the more service is required of that person.

So, even when we pray, it is not about how long our prayer is or how many words we put into our prayer.

And we will also remember that Jesus taught us that when we pray, we go into that secret room and pray there.

In the gospel, Jesus told a parable to some people who prided themselves on being virtuous and despised everyone else.

Jesus used prayer as His teaching example, and how the Pharisee prayed and how the tax-collector prayed.

While one was a religious figure, the other was a despised as a public sinner.

But it was not the status of the person, or what was the content of the prayer, but the humility of the person in coming before the Lord in prayer.

So, let us remember that in prayer, in ministry, in service and in everything else in life, let us be humble and God will look upon us with love.

3rd Week of Lent, Friday, 13-03-2026

Hosea 14:2-10 / Mark 12:28-34   

Important and essential teachings and instructions need to be repeated every now and then.

Even basic healthy lifestyles and practices need reminders.

So, we will hear it every now and then to have regular sleep pattens, to eat moderately, to exercise regularly and to go for yearly medical checkups.

We may hear it but we may be too distracted with other things, and so we don’t really listen to it and act on it.

But there might come a time when it will somehow catch our attention and we act on it immediately.

In the gospel, the scribe asked Jesus a question that has an obvious answer.

Whatever the intentions the scribe had in asking the question, Jesus gave the answer that summarizes the core of the Law.

So, to love God and to love neighbour needs no further elaboration, and the scribe knows it and has heard it multiple times.

But this time round, the words of Jesus seems to enter into the heart of the scribe.

And the scribe even reiterated what Jesus said and seems to understand it deeper and with conviction.

As we journey on in this Lenten season, let us listen attentively to the Word of God.

May the Lord grant us the wisdom and the intelligence to grasp the meaning, and may we walk in the ways of the Lord with love and conviction.

3rd Week of Lent, Thursday, 12-03-2026

Jeremiah 7:23-28 / Luke 11:14-23    

Phrases like these are heart-warming and encouraging: 

I will be here for you, or, I will journey with you no matter what, or, I want to grow old with you.

Such phrases are usually used between good friends and loving couples.

When we use such phrases, we want to mean what we say and say what we mean.

But humans are only humans, with fragility, weaknesses and failings.

Even with all good intentions, we may not be able to completely fulfill what we say.

But where and when we fail, we need to come to this realization.

God will not fail us. And when we follow His ways, He will fulfil His Word to us.

But the 1st reading also tells us that the people did not want to follow God’s ways.

They want to have it their way, only to fail over and over again.

So, that is why God says this of them:

Here is the nation that will not listen to the voice of the Lord its God, nor take correction. Sincerity is no more, it has vanished from their mouths.

In the gospel, Jesus says it plainly: He who is not with me is against me; and he who does not gather with me scatters.

Let us pledge our obedience and faithfulness to Jesus and may He help us to keep our word to Him.

And when we fall and fail, let us remember that Jesus will still fulfil His promise to us that He will help and save us.

3rd Week of Lent, Wednesday, 11-03-2026

Deuteronomy 4:1, 5-9 / Matthew 5:17-19   

To follow instructions and procedures can be quite straight-forward.

Whether we like it or not, whether we agree with it or not, we just need to go along with it.

And if we don’t want any trouble, then we keep to the letter of the law.

And we can become so focused on it that we may not think deeper about it or reflect about the purpose of it.

In the 1st reading, Moses taught the people the laws and the customs that came from God.

And if the people were to keep the laws and customs faithfully, they will become a great nation.

They will also demonstrate to other nations the wisdom and the prudence that came from God.

But they also must not forget that those laws and customs came from God.

Those laws and customs demonstrate that God is with them and they have a relationship with God through those laws and customs.

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

Jesus completed the Law and the Prophets by becoming man and putting flesh and blood into the Law and the Prophets.

May we too understand not just the letter of the Law but also the spirit of the Law.

Through Jesus, we enter into a relationship with God.

It is in this relationship with God through Jesus, that we will be wise and prudent in our way of life.

3rd Week of Lent, Tuesday, 10-03-2026

Daniel 3:25, 34-43 / Matthew 18:21-35   

Which is easier to do? To forgive or to ask for forgiveness?

It may depend on the situation and the circumstances.

At times, the hatred is so deep that forgiveness is out of the question.

And also to forgive makes us feel vulnerable.

What if we forgive that person and then he hurts us again?

That seems to be the question that Peter is asking Jesus in the gospel.

Must we keep forgiving someone knowing quite well that he will do us wrong again?

But what if that person keeps asking us for forgiveness?

On the other hand, it is also not that easy to ask for forgiveness.

We would have to lay aside our pride and humble ourselves to admit that we have done wrong.

But the prayer of Azariah in the 1st reading tells us God accepts a contrite soul and a humbled spirit.

If we can kneel before God to beg for forgiveness, then we also need to bend a little to forgive others, regardless of their sincerity.

Because it is in forgiving and asking for forgiveness that God’s peace will slowly but surely prevail.

3rd Week of Lent, Monday, 09-03-2026

2 Kings 5:1-15 / Luke 4:24-30   

Many commentaries have been made about what is happening in the world.

So, the experts and the analysists give their opinions.

Many people want to have a say and they want to be heard.

But would the world want to hear the truth and accept the truth?

Very often, the truth is in the simple and the humble.

In the 1st reading, when Naaman approached the prophet Elisha for a cure for his leprosy, he expected some elaborate religious rituals.

But when he was told to go and wash himself seven times in the Jordan, he flew into a rage because he felt humiliated.

However, Naaman’s servants reasoned with him that it is not humiliating to do something simple and humble.

In the gospel, when Jesus recalled the two occasions when God helped outsiders, the people of His hometown were enraged.

They couldn’t accept that God will bless outsiders. They wanted to be the sole recipients of God’s blessings.

So, as the world talks and thinks about the complexities and difficulties of the situations in the world, let us turn to God in humility and simplicity.

Let us humbly pray for God’s blessings on the world that God’s truth will prevail.

The simple truth is that kindness and compassion is what the world really needs.

May we be the first to offer kindness and compassion, and then forgiveness and reconciliation will bear witness to the truth.