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. 

31st Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 07-11-2026

Philippians 4:10-19 / Luke 16:9-15

One of the lessons in life is to be contented when we have enough.

Yet, it is a lesson that we may not have fully learnt, or that we don’t quite understand when or what is enough.

Because there is this recurring sense of inadequacy, which is the state or quality of not being enough, sufficient, or good enough for a particular purpose, or a personal sense of lacking the required skills, confidence, or qualities to cope with a situation.

Also when we begin to compare ourselves with those who have more than us or are better than us, then we begin to feel anxious and want to keep up with them.

In the first reading, St. Paul gives us a reflection about his state of life.

He had learnt to manage on whatever he had, he knew how to be poor and he knew how to be rich too, with full stomach or empty stomach, in poverty or plenty.

And he tells us why – because there is nothing he cannot master with the help of the One who gives him strength.

In the gospel, Jesus taught us this: “No servant can be the slave of two masters: he will either hate the first and love the second, or treat the first with respect and the second with scorn. You cannot be the slave both of God and of money.”

Surely, we need money to get the basic necessities of life. But we also know that we cannot get enough of it. We gradually become the slaves of money.

To let God be our Master will certainly mean that we must put our faith and trust in Him.

God will provide for our needs and He will also just give us enough of what we need.

As we keep learning the lessons of life, may we also learn that God is all we need, and with God as our Master, that will be more than enough.

31st Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 06-11-2026

Philippians 3:17 - 4:1 / Luke 16:1-8 

The world that we live in, despite the distress and turmoil of the times, is still a beautiful world.

And the beauty of this world can be so captivating that we desire to enjoy as much of the goodness of this world.

So much so that we can get obsessed with the things of this world.

In the first reading, St. Paul describes some of these obsessions: There are many who are behaving as the enemies of the cross of Christ; they are destined to be lost. They make foods into their god and they are proudest of something they ought to think shameful; the things they think important are earthly things.

And then St. Paul reminds us that our homeland is in heaven, and from heaven comes the Saviour we are waiting for, the Lord Jesus Christ.

But our eyes are often looking at the good things of this world, and we desire to possess as much of the good things as possible.

But that also reveals our deep sense of insecurity.

Like that dishonest steward in the gospel parable, we want to secure our future so that we can continue to enjoy the good things of life.

But life is not just here on earth. Beyond the life on earth is also the life in heaven.

Heaven is our true homeland, and our life on earth is to see that the good things of this earth are given by our loving Father in heaven.

To see and even to enjoy the good things of this earth is to also see the eternal glory and goodness of heaven.

So let us not give in too much to our earthly desires, but to remain faithful and continue to believe that God has much more better things for us in heaven.

31st Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 05-11-2026

Philippians 3:3-8 / Luke 15:1-10   

There are two phrases that say a lot about human attitudes and human behaviour.

One is “look up” and the other is “look down”.

More than just a physical movement of the eyes, it says a lot of how we look at people and what we think of them.

The world looks up to those with credentials, with status, with wealth, with influence, as well as good looks and appearances.

In other words, the world looks up to those who are impressive by the world’s expectations.

But those who do not meet the world’s expectations will be looked down upon.

In the first reading, St. Paul recalls his life before his conversion.

He was better and even fully qualified as a Pharisee, he was perfect and faultless, and everyone looked up to him.

But after he came to know Jesus Christ as his Lord, whatever he thought was an advantage is now a disadvantage.

But because Jesus Christ looked for him, and found him, that was all that mattered to him.

In the gospel, the Pharisees and the scribes looked down on Jesus because He was in the company of sinners and eats with them.

The two parables that Jesus told were not about looking up to others or looking down on others.

Rather it pointed to God who looked for the lost, the least and the last.

May we always look at God and may God lead us to look for those who are searching for God.

31st Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 04-11-2026

Philippians 2:12-18 / Luke 14:25-33  

We would like to think that life would be so comfortable if we are free and easy.

We would think that life would be so enjoyable if there is no stress, no commitments and no responsibilities.

But life is not as such, and even if it is really so, we will feel stagnated and that we are wasting away.

We are created to be active, to work and to have goals and directions in life.

And as Christians, more is required of us and we also cannot expect faith to be free and easy.

In the first reading, St. Paul tells the Philippians to work for their salvation with “fear and trembling” as it is so easy to want to enjoy life and be free of commitments and responsibilities.

And even when we face challenges and difficulties, struggles and troubles, then we still have to do all that has to be done without complaining or arguing.

Only then we will be innocent and genuine, perfect children of God among a deceitful and underhand brood, and we will shine in the world like bright stars because we are offering it the word of life.

And that essentially means that we accept the cross and carry it as we follow Jesus.

The Cross is a blessing and we carry it because we believe in the peace and joy that Jesus gives us as His disciples.

Discipleship comes with price of the Cross, but we believe that the blessings from the Cross are more than we can imagine.

31st Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 03-11-2026

Philippians 2:5-11 / Luke 14:15-24   

There is this famous saying that opportunity only knocks once; or that opportunity never knocks twice.

That saying means that major, or valuable, or life-changing chances may not come around a second time.

In such cases, it is often about timing. 

When the timing is right, then the opportunity or the chance is clear for us to take it.

But when the timing is wrong, then we will not be able to see that opportunity or that chance.

But how do we know when is the right time?

Or, in Christian terms, how do we know when is the appointed time?

The first reading says this about Jesus Christ: His state was divine, yet He did not cling to His equality with God but emptied Himself to assume the condition of a slave.

And in doing so, He was humble to accepting death when the time came.

But in doing so, God raised Him high and gave him the name which is above all other names

So, like Jesus Christ, when we empty our minds and hearts of our desires, urges and longings in life, we will know the appointed time.

For the invited guests in the gospel parable, they were invited to the banquet, but they were not interested and made excuses.

May we empty ourselves of our desires, urges and excuses so that we will see the wonderful blessings of God for us when the appointed time comes.