32nd Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 14-11-2026

3 John 5-8 / Luke 18:1-8    

In the world, efficiency is held in high regard.

The measure for efficiency is usually about the speed or how fast jobs or projects can be done.

And those who can get things done quickly are praised for their efficiency, as well as their productivity.

In the gospel parable of the unjust judge, we know why that unjust judge didn’t act quickly on the widow’s case.

It was simply because he had neither fear of God or respect for man.

But that parable also makes us think deeper.

We know that God is truth and justice, and He will hear the cries of the oppressed and those who had injustice done unto them.

Jesus said this, “Now will not God see justice done to his chosen who cry to him day and night even when he delays to help them? I promise you, he will see justice done to them, and done speedily.”

But we also see much injustice and oppression and God does not seem to answer our prayer for justice and His intervention.

Let us remember that God sees, and God knows, and He will act.

But it will be in God’s time and in God’s way.

Let us have faith in God and we will see justice done that will bring about peace and reconciliation.

32nd Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 13-11-2026

2 John 4-9 / Luke 17:26-37    

Routines are helpful in that they give us some stability in life.

When we have a routine for our daily lives, we get a sense of normalcy.

So, we wake up at a particular time, have our morning routines, go to work, meet our schedules, come back in the evening and then rest for the night.

As much as routines are helpful, we may also become monotonous with life and become like machines running on a program.

In the gospel, Jesus cited two figures from the Old Testament, and the situations they were in.

During the time of Noah, people were eating and drinking, marrying wives and husbands, right up to the day Noah went into the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.

Similarly during the time of Lot, people were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, but the day Lot left Sodom, God rained fire and brimstone from heaven and it destroyed them all.

Jesus cited these two examples to give a warning on living life with just routines and monotony, and forgetting about the presence of God in their lives.

Jesus tells us to always be prepared for the time when God reveals Himself so that we will know what God is showing and telling us.

To be prepared is, as the first reading tells us, to live our lives in the truth of God’s Commandments.

To live in the truth of God’s Commandments is to live a love as Jesus has shown us.

By living in God’s truth and love, we will see and know what God is telling us even as we go on with the routines of our life.

32nd Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 12-11-2026

Philemon 7-20 / Luke 17:20-25  

The phrase "man is made to be on the move" means that human beings have a natural, built-in inclination or biological drive to stay active, travel, explore, or continuously progress rather than remain static or sedentary.

Staying completely still or inactive for too long often goes against our physical well-being.

People often feel restless, mentally drained, or stagnant when they are stuck in one place or routine for too long.

On the other hand, we also can get too busy and all stressed up.

But we may prefer to be busy and stressed because we may not be comfortable with silence and stillness.

In the gospel, when Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was to come, He gave them this answer, “The coming of the kingdom of God does not admit of observation and there will be no one to say, “Look here! Look there!” For, you must know, the kingdom of God is among you.”

In order to be able to be aware and see the signs of the Kingdom of God, we need to be still and to be silent.

To be silent is also to listen, to listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and to see what God is showing us and do what He want of us.

In the first reading, St. Paul urges Philemon to see Onesimus not as a useless slave but a dear brother in the Lord.

That can be possible when noises in the mind and heart are cleared by silence and stillness.

Let us also take time away from the noisiness and busyness to be in prayer.

In the stillness and silence of prayer, may we also see the Kingdom of God in us and around us.

32nd Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 11-11-2026

Titus 3:1-7 / Luke 17:11-19   

Most of us are generally healthy, though we have to bear with some aches and pains.

We know that health is wealth, and so we try to keep ourselves healthy by watching what we eat, keeping fit with exercise and doing what is good for us.

But still, that is no guarantee as illnesses and diseases may afflict us, and may come as a surprise.

For the ten lepers in today’s gospel, they were afflicted with leprosy, which was a dreaded disease.

They came before Jesus and begged Him for a cure.

All ten were cured, but only one came back to thank Jesus.

Nine of them received restoration of their bodies, but one of them experienced salvation.

Nine of them happily hurried back to their lives, but only of them gave thanks because he knew he didn’t merit or deserve the cure.

The first reading reminds us that when the kindness and love of God our Saviour for mankind were revealed, it was not because He was concerned with any righteous actions we might have done ourselves; it was for no reason except His own compassion that He saved us in Jesus Christ.

We may try to keep healthy but when illness or disease afflicts us, let us turn to Jesus our Saviour.

We can’t demand for a cure, but we must trust in His mercy and compassion.

So that even in our pain and suffering, we will give thanks and receive His saving love.

32nd Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 10-11-2026

Titus 2:1-8, 11-14 / Luke 17:7-10    

The word “entitled” seems to be more frequently used nowadays.

The general reference is to those who think that they are entitled to some privileges, or some rights, or something more than the rest.

They may have this thinking because of their status, or their achievements, or their reputation, or whatever.

If a person has a legal or official right to something, the word can be applied to that person respectfully.

But when a person behaves with an undeserved sense of superiority or privilege, then it is embarrassing, to say the least.

The first reading pointed out that the older men and women of the Christian community should behave in a dignified manner and be models of faith.

In that way, they teach the younger men and women the right behaviour and discipline as Christians.

Above all, it should be understood that it was by God’s grace that salvation was made possible for everyone who believes.

As the parable in the gospel tell us, the servant cannot expect to be rewarded just because he did his duty.

There can be nothing we could do to deserve any merit, because all is God’s grace.

With sincere thanksgiving, let us give glory to God in all we do.

Let us not think of ourselves as being entitled or deserving, and let us also not do anything that we cannot offer to God.

The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica, Monday, 09-11-2026

Eze 47:1-2, 8-9, 12 or 1 Cor 3:9-11, 16-17 / John 2:13-22 

Today the Universal Church celebrates the Dedication of the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome because it is the head and mother church of all churches in the world.

The fact is that the Basilica of St. John Lateran is the Pope’s cathedral because St. John Lateran's Basilica is the Cathedral of the Diocese of Rome, and the official ecclesiastical seat of the Bishop of Rome, who is the Pope.

The first basilica on the site was built in the 4th century when the Roman emperor Constantine donated land he had received from the wealthy Lateran family.

That structure and its successors suffered fire, earthquake and the ravages of war, but the Lateran remained the Church where popes were consecrated until the popes returned from Avignon in the 14th century, after which they resided in St. Peter's.

The dedication of this Church is a feast for all Roman Catholics because St. John Lateran is the parish church of all Catholics since it is the pope's cathedral.

This church is the spiritual home of the people who belong to the Roman Catholic Church.

In celebrating the dedication of the Pope’s cathedral, we show our unity with the Pope and our love and respect for him, as well as our obedience and faithfulness to the teachings of the Catholic Church.

It also shows that we are united with each other in the  Universal Church. St. Paul described this unity in the Church in the 2nd reading as God's Temple with the Spirit of God living in us and uniting us.

Henceforth it is our duty and mission to keep ourselves free of sin and defilement so as not to turn God's house into a market or, worst still, into a thieves' den.

More importantly, we must be united in heart and mind, and worship in Spirit and truth, so that the Church would be like what is described as the Temple in the 1st reading - with living waters flowing out to bring about healing and reconciliation, and bearing fruits of life and love.

32nd Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 08.11.2026

Wisdom 6:12-16 / 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 / Matthew 25:1-13                  

We know that learning is a lifelong process. Already we spend the first 20 years or so of our life in school acquiring knowledge. 

And as we continue to journey in life, we also learn new things every day. 

We learn a bit more about ourselves, about the people around us, about the things around us, and also about life in general. 

Along with knowledge, comes another aspect which is called IQ or Intellectual Quotient. 

Putting it in simple terms, IQ is like the hardware of the brain and knowledge is the software and data installed in the brain. 

Or IQ is like the speed and the RAM of the computer, while knowledge is the files, documents, and programs stored in the hard drive. 

And so it can be assumed that a higher IQ enables knowledge to be acquired faster. 

But life is not just about knowledge and IQ. As human beings, we also have EQ. 

EQ or Emotional Quotient is about how the brain handles human experiences and relationships. 

In simple terms, knowledge is the map and EQ is the driver's composure and navigation skills. 

Besides knowledge and IQ and EQ, there is also a seldom mentioned SQ or Spiritual Quotient. 

Again, putting it in a simple example, knowledge is like a car, IQ is the engine, the EQ is the steering and handling, and SQ is the compass. 

The SQ is the compass which determines why we are driving, where we want to go, and whether the destination is truly worth reaching. 

Putting knowledge and IQ and EQ and SQ together, may indicate the depth of wisdom in a person. 

The gospel parable is about 10 bridesmaids who took their lamps to meet the bridegroom, but five of them were foolish and five of them were sensible. 

The foolish ones brought along their lamps but no extra oil. The sensible ones also brought along their lamps and also extra flask of oil. 

The bridegroom was late and the bridesmaids grew drowsy and fell asleep. 

When the bridegroom finally arrived, the five foolish bridesmaids realized that they do not have enough oil. 

They went to get it, but when they returned, it was too late and they were shut out. 

The teaching point of the parable is to be prepared for unexpected situations, like the five wise and sensible bridesmaids did. 

So, when we use our knowledge, our IQ, our EQ, and also our SQ, we will be wise enough to go through life. 

We will know what to do to be prepared for sunny or rainy or even hazy days. 

We will want to be at peace with ourselves and with others, fostering mutual understanding, patience and harmony in our relationships.

We will look before we leap. 

We will be careful about what we sow because we reap what we sow.

And we will even be prepared to expect the unexpected. 

But as much as we want to be prepared to expect the unexpected, we may need to think deeper about it. 

All our knowledge, our IQ, EQ, or SQ may help us to expect the unexpected. 

But when God comes up with the unexpected, then it is because He wants us to learn something new. 

For example, we always say that God won't give us more than we can handle. That is like what we expect. 

But the unexpected could be this: God will give us more than we can handle. Why? 

Because in those impossible situations, God is inviting us to move from self-reliance to God-reliance. 

There is a difference between our human wisdom and the divine wisdom.

And the difference is expressed in this poem (by Grace L. Naessens):

I got up early one morning

and rushed right into the day;

I had so much to do

that I didn't have time to pray.

Problems just tumbled about me,

and heavier grew each task.

"Why doesn't God help me?" I wondered.

He said, "But you didn't ask."   

I wanted to see joy and beauty,

but the day toiled on, grey and bleak.

I wondered why God didn't show me.

He said, "But you didn't seek."   

I tried to come into God's presence; 

I used all my keys at the lock.

God gently and lovingly chided,

"My child, you didn't knock."   

I woke up early this morning, 

and paused before starting the day;

I had so much to do

that I had to take time to pray. 

When our knowledge, our IQ, EQ, and SQ are placed before the Lord in prayer, then He will teach us His ways, and how to walk in His paths. 

And we will also be able to share the wisdom of God with others, and also teach them how to pray.