1st Week of Advent, Tuesday, 01-12-2020

Isaiah 11:1-10 / Luke 10:21-24      

The festive decorations this year is certainly different from the previous years.

At least, it can be said that the decorations are not as lavish. Even the festive or Christmas music is rather toned down.

Maybe the reason is that it is the sign of the times, with an underlying anxiety and worry about how things are going to turn out.

With eyes on the dollars and cents, it is obvious that the festive decorations and also the festive mood are subdued.

But is that all we are seeing? Is there something more and beyond this so-called bleak situation?

In other words, God is revealing something to us and we will see with the help of the Holy Spirit.

The 1st reading mentions about the Spirit of wisdom, of insight and of knowledge.

At least we can see that the light of faith is burning and will burn brightly to radiate the light of Christ so that we will see what Jesus wants us to see.

May this time of Advent be a time of prayer and reflection so that we can see what is to be revealed to us and to listen to what God wants to tell us.

St. Andrew, Apostle, Monday, 30-11-2020

Romans 10:9-18 / Matthew 4:18-22

In the gospel account, we hear of Jesus calling St. Peter along with his brother St. Andrew.

But there was something else about St. Andrew.

In the gospel according to St. John, St. Andrew was initially a disciple of John the Baptist.

And when John the Baptist pointed out Jesus as the Lamb of God, Andrew in turn followed Him.

So we can say that St. Andrew was the first disciple of Jesus.

And it was St. Andrew who brought St. Peter to see Jesus, after telling him that he had found the Messiah.

We can learn much from St. Andrew, especially his attitude as a disciple.

After staying with Jesus and coming to know Him, St. Andrew did not keep this experience to himself, but shared it with his brother St.Peter.

So saints are not nicely sculptured statues, or just pretty colourful pictures on the stained-glass of churches.

They are common people who are opened to Jesus when He came into their lives, and after experiencing Him, they also shared Him with others, just like St. Andrew did.

Let us pray that we will continue to experience Jesus daily and like St. Andrew we will go forth to share Him with others.

1st Sunday of Advent, Year B, 29.11.2020

Isaiah 63:16-17; 64:1, 3-8 / 1 Cor 1:3-9 / Mark 13:33-37

Whenever we talk about memory, we would presume that it is associated with the mind. 

Yes, the mind has a memory, but it is not about how much memory and certainly different from the computer memory which can be measured in gigabytes. 

The memory of the mind is about how deeply things are remembered, as well as how often things are repeated, so that they go deeper and deeper into the memory. 

It is from the memory of the mind that our habits and routines are formed and the more we do them, the more our lives are shaped accordingly. 

That is how dancers remember the choreography. They listen to the music, they learn the steps and the movements, and then they practice until the dancer and the dance become one. 

Sometimes it is called “muscle memory” where each part of the body responds to the music accordingly. 

But it is not just in dancing. It is also in speech and in singing. The mind remembers how the words are pronounced, or what the note sounds like, and then subsequently and consequently the tongue and the vocal cords produce the sound. 

So we see “muscle memory” being activated in speaking, in singing and in dancing, and also in the wider spectrum of our habits and routines. 

And with repetition, there will come about a union, where the person and the action become one. 

Today’s Gospel passage is so appropriate as we begin the new liturgical cycle of Year B. 

Jesus says this: Be on your guard, stay awake, because you never know when the time will come. 

That message of Jesus is so appropriate for us the Church, because for a number of months this year, our habits and routines have been drastically disrupted. 

It is not just our daily habits and routines that are disrupted and changed. Our spiritual habits and routines have been disrupted and changed.

The churches have been closed for some time earlier this year, and we can’t come to church for our weekly Sunday Mass or for other religious activities. 

Even though Masses have resumed, we can come only once or twice a month for Mass. 

And even then, Mass is not like before. There is no singing and we can’t sit at our favourite pews. 

Yes, so many things have changed and things keep changing, so much so that we are forgetting what it was like before. 

Yes, we are slowly forgetting our spiritual habits and routines. We are also slowly forgetting the names of our fellow parishioners because we have not met them for some time already. 

Yes, we are forgetting and forgetting, and then with nothing much to remember, we are slowly getting sleepy and then we start sleeping and sleeping. 

So on this 1st Sunday of Advent, Jesus does not ring the “Jingle Bells”, but He rings the alarm bells. 

Jesus tells us to be on our guard, to stay awake, to keep watch and prepare for a joyful renewal of our faith and our lives. 

And we must cry out to the Lord in the words of the 1st reading: Lord, do not leave us to stray from Your ways and harden our hearts against fearing You. 

And we also implore the Lord: Oh that You would tear the heavens and come down. 

So let us remember the Advent hymns, and we cry out: “O come, O come, Emmanuel and ransom captive Israel”. Oh yes, remember how we have been like captives in our own homes. 

We remember as we sing “O Come Divine Messiah, the world in silence waits the day, when hope shall sing its triumph, and sadness flees away. 

The Lord will hear our cries and He will tear the heavens and rain down abundant blessings. 

So let us not sleep and forget. Let us stay awake and remember. 

Let every tongue cry out to the Lord, and let us prepare to sing “Joy to the World” as we look forward with hope that our hearts will dance in celebration of the birth of Jesus our Saviour.

34th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 27-11-2020

Apocalypse 20:1-4, 11 - 21:2 / Luke 21:29-33

If we had lived or spent time in a place or a country where there is a winter season, we will know how dreary it is.

It can be wet, cold, gloomy, and life comes to almost like a standstill.

But winter will slowly give way to spring, and spring is beautiful.

The sun would be shining but yet it is cool. Everything has a bright tinge to it, from the colour of the grass to the colour of the sky.

So winter does not have the last say in the cycle of the seasons and in the cycle of life.

Out of an apparent lifelessness comes about new life.

Jesus had been talking about the disturbing signs of the end times, signs of violence and distress.

But in today's gospel, He talks about yet another sign, the sign of the kingdom of God.

Hence the disturbing signs are inevitable, but they do not have the last say.

Because the last say belongs to the kingdom of God and to the glorious coming of Jesus.

So when we face a turmoil in life, let us know that the turmoil or distress do not have the last say and neither is it the deciding factor.

The deciding factor rests on our hope in Jesus, who will come and reveal Himself to us in the calm after the storm.

It is in that calm that we know the final word belongs to Jesus.

34th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 26-11-2020

Apocalypse 18:1-2, 21-23,; 19:1-3, 9 / Luke 21:20-28   

We may have known that after a great tribulation, there will be a restoration and maybe even a celebration.

Usually after a dark period of despair and distress, there will be light and there will be a revelation, and maybe we may even come to see why things happened.

But when we are going to that dark distress and despairing period, it it difficult to see beyond the pain and the suffering.

In the gospel, Jesus talks about a dark and disturbing time. He talked about a great misery that will descend on the land and wrath on the people.

But at the end of the gospel passage, Jesus also gave hope and encouragement when He said: When these things begin to take place, stand erect and hold your heads high, because your liberation is near at hand.

The 1st reading talks about the defeat of evil and the victory of God.

Those who were faithful to God were not only restored but there is a celebration awaiting them - they will be at the wedding feast of the Lamb.

That is the revelation for us, that after a time of tribulation, there will be a celebration.

It also reminds us that the sufferings of this world is nothing compared to the eternal celebration and happiness that is awaiting us.

Let us believe in it and persevere in our faith and hope.

34th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 25-11-2020

Apocalypse 15:1-4 / Luke 21:12-19

When we read about the Passion (the sufferings) of Jesus in the gospel, we can see that He underwent three types of tortures.

The first was the scourging and that is to whip the convicted person 39 times (which was seldom needed) with leather straps that has lead balls at the ends.

The purpose was to whip the person till within an inch of his death and then stop so that the other forms of torture can continue.

The third was the crucifixion - make Jesus carry the cross, march Him to Calvary and then execute His slowly.

Those were the soldiers' orders and they carried it out precisely.

What was difficult to understand was the in-between torture, the second torture.

The soldiers wanted to mock and make fun of a half-dead Jesus. So they put a purple robe on Him, put a crown of thorns on His head, put a stick in His hand, and hailed Him "King of the Jews".

And then they spat Him. Spittle is not intended to hurt the body; it can't. Spitting at a person is meant to degrade, to insult, to humiliate.

As disciples of Jesus, we can be assured that we will never be spared of the spittle of humiliation.

It comes in the form of gossips, slandering, accusations and all those tribulations that we heard Jesus talked about in the gospel.

We have had our share and in retaliation, we also have given others our share.

But let us remember what Jesus told us - Our endurance will win us our lives.

Others may spit at us but we don't have to spit back. Jesus didn't. In fact He endured the spittle and the pain all the way to the cross and there He won life for us.
                                                                                                                                   

34th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 24-11-2020

Apocalypse 14:14-19 / Luke 21:5-11       

The word "procrastination" means to keep delaying something that needed to be done immediately.

There may be an urgency to it but it may not necessarily be an emergency.

In other words, to procrastinate is to sit on something urgent and telling ourselves, and others, to wait.

Though it may need immediate attention, it is not an emergency, so we wait, and we also make others wait.

The 1st reading gives a rather disturbing image of judgement and punishment.

That phrase "the winepress of God's anger" cuts into our comfortable and complacent idea that God is love and forgiveness.

We begin to take God's love and forgiveness for granted and so we delay and procrastinate the need to cleanse our hearts of sin.

We get used to sin just like how we can get used to dirt if we don't it up often.

So we make God wait as we delay and procrastinate our repentance and conversion.

But let us remember that " winepress of God's anger" and not to test God's patience.

Let us turn back to the Lord and ask for mercy and forgiveness. Let us wait no longer.

34th Week,Ordinary Time, Monday, 23-11-2020

Apocalypse 14:1-5 / Luke 21:1-4    

We would certainly be elated or delighted if our names were being mentioned for some good deed or accomplishment.

It is a good feeling to be recognised for doing something that is commendable and extra-ordinary.

In the gospel, Jesus noticed a poverty-stricken widow putting in two small coins into the treasury, and it was all she had to live on.

It was certainly an awe-inspiring deed and an act of total dependence on God as well as an act of total self-giving.

But the poor widow was not mentioned by name.

She and the other many figures in the gospels who have been an inspiration to us were however not mentioned by name.

Although it may not be that important for them to be mentioned by name, it also goes to show who the gospels were focusing on - Jesus.

In the 1st reading, the Lamb had with Him a hundred and forty-four thousand people, and all of them had His name written on their foreheads.

They too were not mentioned by name, but what was more important is that the name of the Lamb was written on their foreheads.

May we come to understand that whatever recognition that we received, or desire, is only temporary.

May the name of Jesus be in our minds and hearts always so that what we do is done for Him so as to lead others to Him and to Him alone.

Christ the King, Year A, 22.11.2020

Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-17 / 1 Cor 15:20-26, 28 / Matthew 25:31-46

One of the things that can be said about food is that everyone likes to eat but not everyone likes to cook. 

One of the reasons is that it may just take 3 minutes to eat something but 30 minutes to cook it. 

Of course, the exception is instant noodles. But if we were to take 30 minutes to cook instant noodles, then we need to go back to basic cooking class, and start to learn how to boil water first. 

But if we are the type who like to cook and think that we can cook quite well, then we need to watch the people who are eating the food that we cooked. 

If they have to say “Grace before meals” before eating, and then they have to say “Grace after meals” after eating, then we will know what our cooking tastes like. 

But seriously. If we think we can cook, and can cook quite well, then we may want to compete with those stalls at the hawker centres. 

Hawker food may be considered as some kind of staple food, often sold and eaten in a practical but not necessarily a comfortable environment, and affordable to the pocket of the ordinary man in the street. 

Being a hawker may not be considered a high status, and also requires long hours of hard work. 

Obviously it is a sweaty job, and we have to make sure that the sweat doesn’t go into the cooking and the food. 

But a few days ago, the humble hawker culture was in the news, as it was sent in as an application to be inscribed in the official UNESCO intangible cultural heritage, with a recommendation by an expert body. 

So there is a high chance for the Singapore hawker culture to be recognized internationally.

Where once the hawker culture is seen as lowly and often taken for granted, it is now looked upon as a national heritage, a lifestyle and a shared experience among Singaporeans.

Although not glamorous in cooking or dining styles, hawker food is comfort food for the hungry tummy. 

Today as the Church celebrates the feast of Christ the King, the gospel reminds us of the poor and lowly and needy. 

The Feast of Christ the King is not about pomp and ceremony but about simplicity and humility. 

In the gospel parable, Jesus looks at the simple and humble deeds like feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, welcoming the stranger, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and those in prison. 

Those are not specifically religious and pious deeds. In fact, they are more like ordinary and mundane. 

But in the gospel parable, the king highlights these deeds as important and even essential in this life, as well as for entry into eternal life.

These simple and humble deeds point out once again that spiritual saying, and that is, doing little things with great love. 

It also points out the existence and importance of the poor, which is obvious but often overlooked and left aside. 

And just like how the hawker culture is raised to prominence, Jesus our King, tells us to love the poor and how to serve them, for the poor will inherit the kingdom of God. 

And like how Pope Francis said it, the poor will guarantee our eternal income. That is his way of saying it, but we get the image. 

Yes, the poor will be the ones who will tell Jesus Christ our King about the people who have helped them on earth to go through life in spite of their difficulties and poverty. 

So, we are reminded to treat the poor with respect and with love. 

Jesus wants us to do that, because when it comes to loving our neighbour, the poor is the first on the list. 

Yes, let us love and serve the poor, for in the Kingdom of Heaven, the poor will be cooking for us the feast of the eternal banquet. And what a joyful feast it will be.

Presentation of the B V Mary, Saturday, 21-11-2020

Zechariah 2:14-17 / Matthew 12:46-50    

Today's feast of the presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is not an event that was recorded in the gospels.

But the celebration of this feast of the presentation of Mary goes back to as early as the 6th century. 

It is based on an ancient tradition that says Mary was taken to the Temple in Jerusalem when she was 3-years-old and dedicated to God. 

That tradition also named Joachim and Anne as parents of Mary. They were childless and they prayed to God and they were blessed with a child in the person of Mary.

Mary was a blessing from God to her parents.

Mary was also a blessing from God to humanity as through her came forth the Saviour of the world, Jesus Christ.

Hence it was God chose to dwell in Mary in a very special way. In response, Mary placed her whole self at the service of God. 

Mary also invites us to join her to present ourselves everyday to God to be at His service.

Like Mary, may God's will be done in us and may we too join Mary in the mission of salvation.

33rd Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 20-11-2020

Apocalypse 10:8-11 / Luke 19:45-48     

One of the things that we will certain remember about this year is the suspension of Masses and subsequent closing of churches to all public religious activities.

That was certainly unprecedented and as far as we can remember, that has never happened before.

Even now as Masses have resumed and churches are opened for religious activities, it is certainly not like before.

Coming to church for Mass or for any religious activity requires us to make a booking and we can't come to church as and when we like.

But where the church is closed, another church is opened, and that is the church of the home.

With online Masses and devotions and prayer sessions made available, the home has now become a "church" and a house of prayer.

But just as in the gospel when Jesus cleansed the Temple and restored it as God's House of prayer, we too have to cleanse our homes to make it into houses of prayer.

As the online prayers come into our homes, let us also ask Jesus to cleanse our homes of all defilement and whatever that is displeasing to God.

Let peace and love, kindness and forgiveness flourish in our homes.

May this year be remembered not just for the suspension of Masses and the closing of churches, but also that our homes have been turned into churches and houses of prayer.

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Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament (with English subtitles)
Every Friday 8.30pm Singapore time (GMT +8)
Join us "live" on Youtube, subscribe to our Youtube Channel
Church of the Sacred Heart Singapore
https://www.youtube.com/c/churchofthesacredheartsingapore

33rd Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 19-11-2020

Apocalypse 5:1-10 / Luke 19:41-44     

Tears form in our eyes when something gets into our eyes, eg. smoke or dust or some foreign object.

Tears also form in our eyes when something gets into our hearts.

When we are really happy about something, there are tears of joy.

When in grief, there are tears of sadness.

In the 1st reading, the one having the vision wept bitterly because there was no one fit to open the scroll and read it, but later he was consoled that the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, the Lamb that was sacrificed came to open the scroll.

But in the gospel, Jesus shed tears over Jerusalem because the people had not understood the message of peace, and hence there bloodshed and destruction.

We would shed tears too when we are in deep distress and despair.

And when we can't find words for prayer, then our tears will be our prayer that will be seen by God.

And tears will also wash our eyes so that we can see life with a clear view again.

We will be able to see where God is and He will come to wipe away the tears from our eyes so that we will be able to understand the message of peace.

--------------------------------------------

Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament (with English subtitles)
Every Friday 8.30pm Singapore time (GMT +8)
Join us "live" on Youtube, subscribe to our Youtube Channel
Church of the Sacred Heart Singapore
https://www.youtube.com/c/churchofthesacredheartsingapore

33rd Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 18-11-2020

Apocalypse 4:1-13 / Luke 19:11-28

Any shrewd person who listens to today's gospel parable will certainly have some questions to ask.

Questions like : Why must that servant be punished for not making more money out of that one pound? Anyhow, the master should be happy enough to get his money back isn't it?

Well, from the logical point of view, yes.

But if we apply this premise to our lives and to our dealings with others, then this world would be a very selfish place.

Because we will become very calculative and ask questions like: why must I waste my time for the benefit of others, or why must I be generous to others..

But let us remember that what we have, be it our time, our resources, our money, all that we have, is a gift from God.

And if gifts are not shared, then this world would indeed be a very poor and sad place.

And if gifts are not shared and used, then those gifts will also deteriorate and be wasted.

So in whatever we have been called to do, let us do it joyfully, because God always blesses a joyful and self-giving servant.

33rd Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 17-11-2020

Apocalypse 3:1-6, 14-22 / Luke 19:1-10    

We have just heard the readings from the Holy Scriptures.

Yes we have heard but have we listened to anything?

In order to listen, we need to be silent, so that we will hear the "voice" of the Word of God.

In the 1st reading, there was an emphasis on the importance of listening, and twice it was mentioned.

At the end of the message to the church in Sardis, it says: If anyone has ears to hear, let him listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.

At the end of the message to the church in Laodicea, it says the same thing too.

We heard of the contents of the message to the two churches - "Wake up, revive what little you have left, it is dying fast"; "Since you are only lukewarm, I will spit you out of my mouth".

There is certainly a message for us in the 1st reading and the gospel, but did we listen to it?

In the gospel, Zacchaeus heard Jesus loud and clear: Zacchaeus, come down. Hurry, because I must stay at your house today.

Let us wake up, let us listen, and let us hurry to do what the Lord Jesus is prompting us to do.

Let us pray for ears to hear and to listen, especially when Jesus says it loud and clear.

33rd Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 16-11-2020

Apocalypse 1:1-4; 2:1-5 / Luke 18:35-43    

The test of our zest and fervour, of commitment and conviction, of love and faithfulness will be over the test of time.

Under the test of time, we will know where we stand in the areas of our work and our relationships, and also in every aspect of our lives.

We may start of something with zest and fervour and profess our commitment and declare our conviction.

But as the days go by, with its monotony and repetitiveness, we get bored for lack of variation and variety.

We are not as excited and energetic as when we first started.

It can happen with marriage, with care-giving to the elderly, with a job and even in our relationship with God.

In the 1st reading, we hear of this peculiar complaint from the Lord about the church in Ephesus as He says this: You have less love now than you used to. Think where you were before you fell; repent, and do as you used to at first.

We too must think about our relationship with God and renew our love for Him every day so that our love for God will grow deeper each day.

Like the blind man who has his sight restored by Jesus, may we "see again" and love God and others deeper.

33rd Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 15.11.2020

Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31 / 1 Thess 5:1-6 / Matthew 25:14-30

Every situation has pros and cons. Every situation has advantages and disadvantages. In other words, there is no perfect situation. 

Besides pros and cons, advantages and disadvantages, there are also conveniences and inconveniences. 

For example, attending Mass online is convenient. We don’t have to dress up and get out of the house, we don’t have to take the transport to church and go through the trouble of booking for Mass and to scan this and scan that. 

But of course, coming to church for Mass is an experience. We get to see familiar faces (or at least familiar eyes), we get to pray in a conducive environment, we get to receive Holy Communion and we get a feel of some spiritual normalcy. 

So the fact is that there is no perfect situation, there are pros and cons, advantages and disadvantages, conveniences and inconveniences. 

And no matter how we try to solve or reduce the disadvantages and inconveniences, we also need to remember that if that is no perfect situation, then there is no perfect solution. 

And since there is no perfect situation and no perfect solution, then obviously there are no perfect persons. 

The first reading has this to say: A perfect wife - who can find her? 

Oh yes, can we ever find a perfect wife, or perfect husband, or perfect children, or perfect in-laws? 

Everyone has their flaws and imperfections. That’s the reality of the situation. 

Even the gospel parable gives an example of an imperfect situation. 

The master entrusted his three servants with a large sum of money, or talents, each in proportion to his ability. 

The first servant went and traded with them and made double the amount. The second servant did the same. 

It would have been a perfect ending if the third servant had done likewise. However, that servant went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. 

And when the time for the accounting came, the master denounced that third servant for being wicked and lazy. 

So, among other things, the gospel parable shows the imperfection of the situation, and also the imperfection of persons. That is the reality of life. 

The attention is often drawn to that third servant and his deserve punishment for being wicked and lazy. 

But let us not forget the first and second servants for their goodness and faithfulness and that they were faithful in little things. 

They used whatever they were given and they made it into a better situation. 

We too are entrusted with the goodness of God and we are called to make it better.

There is this story of a boy had a very bad temper that was getting out of hand.

His father thought about it and prayed about it and came up with this idea to help him.

He gave his son a hammer and a bag of nails, and he told his son: Every time you lose your temper, go to that wall and hammer in a nail.

So the boy did just that – every time he lost his temper he took the hammer and hit a nail into the wall.

And if you have tried hitting a nail into the wall, you will know it is not that easy. Because you often end up hitting your thumb.

After a while, the boy thought that it was easier to control his temper than to keep hitting nails into the wall.

Then one day, the boy told his father that he could now control his temper because he had stopped hitting nails into the wall.

The father said: Well done, my son.  Now for every occasion that you felt like losing your temper but managed to control it, pull a nail out of the wall.

The son thought it was strange but did as he was told. So slowly the nails came out of the wall. And after some time, all the nails were pulled out of the wall.

The son reported this to his father, and the father brought the son to look at the pock-marked wall.

He said to his son: My son, every time you lose your temper, it is like a nail being hammered into someone’s heart.

You may have apologized and the nail taken out, but the crack and the hurt remain, like this pock-marked wall. But learn this lesson, and you will be a better person.

It is interesting to note what the father did. He thought about it, prayed about it, and then he called upon whatever wisdom and experience he had to help his son overcome his bad temper. 

Today’s Gospel parable reminds us that God has given each of us all the goodness, wisdom, experience that we need to make the most out of life.

That is God’s gift to us. Our gift to God will be to use His gifts to us to help others make the most of their lives.

In other words, we are not called to bury hopes and joys. Rather we are called to share life and love.Life and love are God’s gifts to us. What we do with that life and love is our gift to God and to others.

32nd Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 14-1-2020

3 John 5-8 / Luke 18:1-8    

There are many things that we don't seem to get tired of doing.

For example, we don't get tired of watching TV, eating good food, surfing the internet, shopping, travelling or whatever.

However when it comes to praying and the things of the spiritual life, we somehow tire out easily.

The disciples of Jesus might have felt the same way. They didn't get tired of watching Jesus work miracles day after day, e.g. curing the sick, expelling demons, making the blind see and the lame walk, etc.

These were spectacular and extraordinary events and they were exciting to watch.

But Jesus called His disciples not just to watch how He worked miracles but to follow Him.

He called them to personal conversion and to a deeper faith in God.

Jesus knew that He Himself could not work miracles without prayer and a deep intimate love for His Father.

It is because of this that He told the gospel parable in order to teach them the importance of prayer.

Essentially He told them to pray always without becoming weary.

Because prayer is not about getting immediate results ; rather it is about patience and perseverance.

Many people become great saints not because of their sudden experience and vision of God.

Rather, it was because of their prayerful lives that kept them close to God and close to others.

May we also have the patience to persevere in prayer and keep the faith.

32nd Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 13-11-2020

2 John 4-9 / Luke 17:26-37

The "stand-by" state in electrical and electronic equipment like tv sets and dvd players and computers is interesting.

In that state, when the equipment is activated, it immediately jumps to its full operational capabilities without having to go through the start up process and other delays.

But it is also a state in which it uses a considerable amount of energy as compared to when it is totally shut down.

For most of us, life is generally busy, but it is usually busy with monotony.

In other words, we are usually busy with the same stuff - work, chores, assignments, appointments.

After a while, we might just enter a shut-down state as in that we might just exist for function but may not have motivation.

Like Jesus said in the gospel, we just slide into the monotony of eating and drinking, buying and selling, and we shut down to life and meaning.

Yet the 1st reading reminds us to watch ourselves because there are many deceivers in the world.

Hence we must stand firm in faith and stand-by with truth in our hearts, and prepare to witness to the truth. All the time!

32nd Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 12-11-2020

Philemon 7-20 / Luke 17:20-29   

The way that God is present to us is so wonderful and so amazing.

It is so different from how we are present to each other.

Our presence with and for each other is limited. We meet each other for just a period of time. We talk to each other on the phone for just a period of time.

Beyond that we are literally absent from each other in the physical sense.

But God is always present to us, whether we are awake or asleep, whether we are praying or not.

As much as God is always present with us, we are not always present with Him.

Often we are not aware and forget that God is always with us.

In the gospel, Jesus says that the Kingdom of God is among us.

In other words, God is always showing us the signs of His presence around us and also within us.

May we always remember that, may we always be aware of that, and know that God is always there whenever we call upon Him.

32nd Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 11-11-2020

Titus 3:1-7 / Luke 17:11-19   

The word "sin" has just three letters but it is a heavy word and and it has moral implications as well as spiritual consequences.

Sin has damaging effects on how our relationship with God, with each other, with creation as well as how we understand ourselves and about who we are.

But just as big forest fires start with small sparks, serious (or mortal) sins are the result of small and over-looked transgressions.

The 1st reading mentions some of these transgressions: slandering other people, picking quarrels, ignorance, disobedience and being misled and enslaved by different passions and luxuries.

The result is wickedness and ill-will, hating each other and hateful ourselves.

But the kindness and love of God our Saviour was revealed in Jesus Christ, and it was not because of any righteous actions we might have done ourselves, but because of God's compassion and mercy for us.

It is by God's grace that we are justified and we become heirs of His kingdom and we look forward to inheriting eternal life.

In the gospel, Jesus pointed out one necessary attitude that we must have in order to continue to live in God's grace, and also to reject the devil's temptations and fall into sin.

We need to ask God to grant us a grateful and thankful heart so that we will praise God always and give Him glory with our lives.

We must be grateful and thankful for little things so that we will be ready for the gift of eternal life in the Kingdom of God.

32nd Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 10-11-2020

Titus 2:1-8, 11-14 / Luke 17:7-10    

The upbringing of children is one of the main concerns for responsible parents.

More than just food and shelter and education, parents also want to form their children in their character and morals and values.

But as it is always said, you can only give what you have.

Parents need to have their own set of values and principles in life before they can form their children to have the similar value and principles.

In the 1st reading, St. Paul urged Titus to preach the behaviour which goes with healthy doctrine.

The doctrine that St. Paul is referring to is obviously the teachings of Jesus Christ and the gospel values.

It is the teachings of Jesus Christ and the gospel values that must form the character and the moral and values of young and old alike.

But in order to accept and follow the teachings and values of the gospel, then God's grace is needed.

St. Paul tells Titus that God's grace has been revealed, and it has made salvation possible for the whole human race and taught us that what we have to do is to give up everything that does not lead to God, and all our worldly ambitions. We must be self-restrained and live good and religious lives here in this present world.

May the grace of God open our hearts to accept and follow the teachings and the values of the gospel so that we can be instruments to form the world in the ways of God.

That is our duty to God and our service to the world.

The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica, 09-11-2020

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

The Lateran Basilica was built around 324 by the Roman emperor Constantine, and it is the cathedral of the city of Rome.

The Lateran Basilica is the official church of the Pope since the 4th century.

It is also called the "Mother of all churches" and on Holy Thursday, the Pope and priests will celebrate the Eucharist there.

This feast reminds us that we belong to the universal church, with Christ as the Head of the Church which is His Body.

Hence we acknowledge that the Church is not just a building, but the body of believers who are scattered all over the world, yet spiritually united in the body of Christ.

We also acknowledge, in the celebration of this feast, that the Pope is the head of the Church and we pledge our obedience to him and our unity with the whole Church.

May we continue to be united as Church and as the Body of Christ and be a sign of salvation to the world.

32nd Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 08.11.2020

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

We have heard about people who say how God speaks to them. We heard it and we wonder and ponder about it. 

Some people say that they hear the voice of God telling them what to do. That is quite unique and unusual. 

Others would say that they heard an inspirational talk or something profound from someone, and they kept thinking about it. 

Others would say that as they read the Bible, a verse would catch their attention and they would meditate deeper about it and sense that God is speaking to them. 

Oh yes, God speaks to us in many ways so as to show us how to carry out His will and His plan for us. 

But what concerns us is that when we pray, we want to know how our prayer is answered. 

We want to know if God has heard our prayer and what He will do about it. 

But let us also believe that every prayer uttered is also every prayer answered. 

If God says “Yes” then the answer is obvious. We get what we asked for and maybe even get it immediately. 

If we pray and then we have to wait for our prayer to be answered, then God is telling us to be patient and to trust in Him. 

If we pray and don’t get what we are praying for, then maybe God is telling us that instead of giving us what we are asking for, He has something better for us. 

But the question is, what is God saying in His answer to our prayer? 

In the gospel parable, we heard of 10 bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 

The parable tells us that five were foolish and five were sensible. The foolish ones took the lamps but they brought no extra oil, whereas the sensible ones took their lamps as well as flasks of oil. 

And there lies the lesson. The foolish bridesmaids would have seen the sensible ones bring flasks of oil. But they did nothing about it, until it was too late. 

The sensible ones thought about it and prepared themselves for the unexpected and they were rewarded. 

The sensible ones can be said to be wise enough to know what to do to be prepared. 

But as we think about it, we are all given that wisdom to be sensible enough to see what God is showing us and even to hear what He wants to say to us. 

There are many good examples to follow but do we want to see it? There are many good advices to listen to but do we want to hear it? 

It is the foolishness in us that blinds us from seeing what God is showing us and also blocks our ears from listening to what God is saying to us. 

Foolishness, in the spiritual sense, is actually a turning away from God. Foolishness, as we heard in the gospel, has a disastrous end. 

One of the main causes of spiritual foolishness is unforgiveness. Because unforgiveness hardens our hearts, blurs our eyes and blocks our ears.

Unforgiveness is really foolishness and that is why fools can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the sensible and the wise, because they have learnt it from God. 

As the 1st reading says: For those who love wisdom, she is readily seen, and found by those who look for her. Quick to anticipate those who desire for wisdom, she makes herself known to them. 

Let us be sensible, let us be wise, let us be forgiving and loving.

And let us pray for wisdom with this prayer:

God, grant me the serenity 
to accept the things I cannot change; 
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference. 

Living one day at a time; 
Enjoying one moment at a time; 
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; 
Taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it; 
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life 
and supremely happy with Him
forever in the next.
Amen. (Reinhold Niebuhr)

31st Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 07-11-2020

Philippians 4:10-19 / Luke 16:9-13    

Many things have been said about the subject of money:

Money makes the world go round; money can't buy happiness but it will pay the bills; money reveals a person's character, etc.

Of course there is the well-known "money is the root of all evil".

Actually money is not the root of all evil, but the obsession and the greed for money is the problem.

That is why Jesus warns us in the gospel: If then you cannot be trusted with money, that tainted thing, who will trust you with genuine riches? And if you cannot be trusted with what is not yours, who will give you what is your very own?

The deeper issue is about contentment. If we are not satisfied with what we have, then we will fall into the trap of greed and avarice.

And when left unchecked, then it will grow into an excessive, extreme desire that will have damaging consequences.

Even though if we have little, then let us listen to what Jesus is saying: The man who can be trusted in little things can be trusted in great; the man who is dishonest in little things will be dishonest in great.

Regardless of how much or how little money we have, let us know that we depend on the Lord God in all things because it is He who sustains our life.

Happy are we who put our trust in the Lord and depend on Him as He leads us in His ways.

31st Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 06-11-2020

Philippians 3:17 - 4:1 / Luke 16:1-8    

The first Friday of the month is usually dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

It is a reminder of the love than Jesus has for humanity, that He offered Himself on the Cross to God for our salvation.

Yet it is also a reminder that for all the love that flowed from the Heart of Jesus to save us, what He got in return is indifference and even ingratitude.

In the 1st reading, St. Paul expresses his grief and sorrow over this as he says: I have told you often, and I repeat it today with tears, there are many who are behaving as enemies of the cross of Christ.

He laments on the sinfulness of men, that they were interested only in the things of this world, and they are proudest of something they ought to be shameful of.

Still, the Sacred Heart of Jesus continues to beat with love for humanity and pours out His love on sinners as He waits for the repentance and conversion.

On our part, let us not give way and become worldly or indifferent or ungrateful, but let us remain faithful to the Lord and offer prayer and penance for the conversion of sinners.

We must always remember that we are children of God and in union with Jesus, we must pray for the salvation of the world.

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First Friday Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
6 Nov Friday 8.30pm Singapore time (GMT +8)
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31st Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 05-11-2020

Philippians 3:3-8 / Luke 15:1-10    

Saying that we believe in Jesus Christ is one thing.

Proving that belief can be quite another thing.

We will hesitate and even hold back when it come to the tough and hard teachings of Jesus like selling what we own and giving to the poor and in order to follow Him.

Even taking up our cross and following Jesus is already difficult enough.

But let us start by thinking of what St. Paul said about himself in the 1st reading: But because of Christ, I have come to consider all the advantages that I had as disadvantages. Not only that, but I believe nothing can happen that will outweigh the supreme advantage of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.

What St. Paul is saying is that he had come to realise that what he thought was of value in this life had become unimportant and even unnecessary.

St. Paul grew in his spiritual life to see Jesus Christ above all the things that he had thought was important and necessary.

We too must grow in our understanding of Jesus Christ and to see Him as truly our Lord and Saviour above all that we hold important and necessary.

When we, like St. Paul, can truly see Jesus Christ as our real "advantage", then we will also see the rest as "disadvantages".

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First Friday Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

6 Nov Friday 8.30pm Singapore time (GMT +8)

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Church of the Sacred Heart Singapore

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31st Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 04-11-2020

Philippians 2:12-18 / Luke 14:25-33     

We who believe that Jesus is our Lord and Saviour should not be too anxious or worried about the now or the future.

Much less should we fear any distress and turmoil because we believe that Jesus is here to save us.

But that doesn't mean that we can be care-free about life or throw caution to the wind.

In fact, more so as Christians, we should be on our guard against the wiles and snares of the devil, because the devil is like a roaring lion looking for someone to eat.

In the 1st reading, St. Paul tells the Philippians to work for their salvation with trembling and fear.

Indeed, our salvation in Christ is such a precious gift that the devil wants to rob us of it and hence we must hold on to Christ in trembling and fear for only He can save us.

St. Paul also urges us to do all that has to be done without complaining or arguing, and 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.

That is a beautiful and powerful image because we are called to offer the world the Word of Life.

So as much as we should work for our salvation in trembling and fear, let us also be courageous with faith and hope, because Jesus has conquered the world and saved us.

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First Friday Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

6 Nov Friday 8.30pm Singapore time (GMT +8)

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Church of the Sacred Heart Singapore

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31st Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 03-11-2020

Philippians 2:5-11 / Luke 14:15-24    

To down-size or to down-grade is not easy nor is it a pleasant experience.

More often than not, it is done because of unfavourable circumstances, with the only option left of either down-sizing or down-grading.

Or it may be done out of pragmatic reasons or to minimise the problems or the troubles.

But in the 1st reading, we hear of something more drastic than just down-sizing or down-grading.

It says this of 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 became as men are; and being as all men, he was humbler yet, even to accepting death, death on a cross.

Just to think of it is certainly astounding and astonishing.

How can divinity which is so supreme take on humanity which is so lowly?

We are just so confounded by this, and it is God who willingly take on the limitations of humanity.

It only shows how great is God's love for human beings that in order so save humanity, God became a human being and to experience human weakness and mortality.

So let us not take God's love and the invitation to salvation lightly or for granted.

God became man so that man can be raised up to be like God. 

We have to decide and choose what we want to become.

All Souls Day, Monday, 02-11-2020

Isaiah 25:6-9 / Romans 5:5-11 / John 6:37-40

We all have loved ones, relatives and friends who have passed on from this world.

Today we join the Church to remember our departed loved ones, relatives and friends, as well as all the faithful departed.

They have departed from this world, but they live on in our memory and especially on this day we will offer Mass for them and we will also visit them at cemetery or the columbarium.

But they don't just live on in our memory. We don't just merely remember them as a past relationship.

They live on in another realm, and if they are in heaven, they live on in God's love.

If they are in Purgatory, they are in the midst of purification, and they need our prayers as they journey towards that mystical mountain that is mentioned in the 1st reading.

They are journeying to that mountain where God will remove the mourning veil covering them and the shroud enwrapping them.

There the Lord will wipe away the tears from every cheek, and they will be able to see God and their hope for salvation is fulfilled.

On that mountain, they will exult and rejoice in God's presence and in His saving love for them.

As Jesus said in the gospel, it is God's will that whoever believes in Him shall have eternal life because He is our Saviour.

The faithful departed long for eternal life with God. That is also our longing even while we are on.

Let us continue to remember and pray for our departed loved ones and all the faithful departed.

Our hope is that one day we will be united with them and rejoice forever in God's presence.