4th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 01-02-2021

Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19 / Mark 4:35-41       

Human frailty is a condition that we have to acknowledge that is a reality in our lives.

No matter how healthy we are, we will fall sick now and then or feel pains here and there.

Even in the spiritual aspect, we are also frail as we succumb to temptation and sin.

But St. Paul would say that when he is weak, then he is strong.

It means that he admits to and acknowledges that he is weak, both physically and spiritually, but it is Jesus Christ who gives him the strength to run the race to the finish and keep the faith.

The 1st reading mentions of great biblical figures like Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets.

They performed great deeds, but it also said that they were weak people who were given strength by God to carry out the marvels of God.

The man in the gospel who was possessed by an unclean spirit was also weak but cleansed of the evil, he was commissioned by Jesus to go and proclaim all that the Lord in His mercy has done for him.

Yes, it is when we admit and acknowledge that we are weak and sinful that the Lord comes to our help to give us strength.

Then we will be able to go forth and accomplish the marvels of God.

4th Ordinary Sunday, Year B, 31.01.2021

Deut 18:15-20 / 1 Cor 7:32-35 / Mark 1:21-28

In the Catholic Church, there is this “Book of Blessings” which is used by priests to invoke God’s blessings. 

These prayers of blessings are for persons as well as for objects. 

So there are prayers of blessings for birthdays, wedding anniversaries, expectant parents, children, travellers and religious gatherings. 

There are also prayers of blessings for religious objects and articles like holy water, candles, crucifixes, holy pictures, statues and rosaries. 

There are also prayers of blessings for vehicles, electrical equipment, food, animals and even a general blessing for anything. 

The purpose of the blessing is to place the persons and objects under the protection and guidance of the Lord so that whether persons or objects, all will be used for the glory of God. 

The prayers are formulated based on Scripture, and so it can be said that every prayer of blessing is a proclamation of the power of God and the wonders He will do for His people. 

In the gospel, we heard that when Jesus taught in the synagogue, His teaching made a deep impression because He taught with authority. 

Jesus is the Word of God made flesh. His teaching brought about blessings from God and that is why people followed Him to hear His teaching. 

But in the synagogue just then, there was a man possessed by an unclean spirit, and it shouted: What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us?

As Jesus proclaimed the Word of God, He nourished the people with truth and love, and gave them hope and inspiration. 

But it also pierced the darkness of sin and evil, such that evil is to be driven out and sin is to be cleansed. 

The man who was possessed by an unclean spirit went to the synagogue to pray and to hear a teaching from Jesus. 

Coming into direct contact with the Word of God, the evil that was hidden in him was disturbed and eventually revealed itself. 

Its reaction to Jesus was with anger and hostility. Confronted with truth and love, evil is revealed and it was defensive.

Jesus responded calmly but firmly: Be quiet! Come out of him! 

And making a dramatic exit, the evil spirit was driven out, and the man was cleansed and freed of the evil. 

That will make us think about the Word of God that we hear at Mass or at prayer gatherings or when we read the Bible. 

The Word of God is a blessing for us. It enlightens us, nourishes us with truth and love, and gives us hope and inspiration. 

But the Word of God would also reveal the darkness of sin in us. 

Jesus wants to cleanse the sin in us and scatter the darkness of evil so that we can receive God’s blessings. 

As God’s People, we are also called to be a channel and instrument of God’s blessings for others. 

That is why we must read the word of God and be attentive to the voice of Jesus in the Scriptures, so that enlightened by truth and cleansed by love, sin will be forgiven and darkness will be scattered. 

When the Word of God takes root in our hearts, then we will bear the fruit of being a prophetic people. 

Then we will speak in such a way that others will love to listen to us. And we will also listen in such a way that others will love to speak to us. 

So let us listen to the Word of God, let us read the Word of God, let us speak the Word of God, so that we will receive a blessing and in turn be a blessing for others.

3rd Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 30-01-2021

Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19 / Mark 4:35-41      

Ever since we came in this world, life has been a journey from one stage to another.

From infancy to adulthood and to the senior years, we have moved on from the arms of our parents to the arms of our spouse and we also cradle the next generation in our arms.

As we journey and move on in life and in years, we have crossed many stages and occasions.

But we also know that we will eventually come to that final destination of our journey in life.

What is beyond is certainly a mystery. But with faith in God, we have an idea of what is beyond this life on earth.

The 1st reading tells us that Abraham and Sarah lived by faith and journeyed on in life by faith.

It was faith that guaranteed the blessings that they hoped for, and it was enough for them to believe in the existence of the realities that they could not see.

May we too journey on in faith, and let us keep our eyes on the gift of eternal life with God that is promised to us.

3rd Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 29-01-2021

Hebrews 10:32-39 / Mark 4:26-34      

Trying to grow a plant from a seed is certainly not as easy as we think, and those who have tried to do so or done so will surely attest to that.

When we first get the seed, we have dreams and expectations of what it will be like when it grows into a plant and bear flowers or fruit.

Eagerly we will sow the seed in the soil and then wait expectantly for to see it sprout and grow.

But that is where the fairy tale ends and the reality begins.

It may not germinate, or insects will eat it up as it grows and we will realise the simple truth that growth is not easy at all.

There will be all sorts of challenges and difficulties, but through it all the fight for survival will grow stronger and stronger.

The 1st reading reminds us that our faith also needs to grow and there will be challenges and difficulties.

It also reminds us that we will need endurance to do God's will and gain what God has promised us.

We are reminded not to be drawn back by challenges and difficulties and to be lost by it.

Like the gospel parables about the seeds, let us keep faithful to the grace God has given us and strive to bear fruits of love in our lives.

 

3rd Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 28-01-2021

Hebrews 10:19-25 / Mark 4:21-25      

It is presumed that light is always welcomed.

Especially when it is dark, light will give some comfort and security.

That is why Jesus said in the gospel that a lamp is not to be put under a tub or under the bed.

The lighted lamp is to be put on a lamp stand so that its light can shine for all to see.

But is light always welcomed?  When people are fast asleep in a darkened room, and when the light is suddenly switched on, it can be a rather rude awakening.

Or even when a bright torchlight is shone on people in a dark corner, they will immediately shield their eyes from the light.

Under the light, nothing is hidden and all is disclosed, and nothing is kept secret.

But the question is do people want to see what the light reveals. Would they shield their eyes from the light, or even turn rude and hostile towards the light?

The light of God always shines, but it shines with love. People will slowly open their eyes to the truth when there is love.

May we see the love of God first and then we will be able to see the truth, and then we will be able to lead others in the way of truth and love.

3rd Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 27-01-2021

Hebrews 10:11-18 / Mark 4:1-20       

There are certain things that we do every day whether it is out of necessity or out of routine or ritual.

So we sleep, we eat, we bathe, we work and there are other things that are quite specific in the individual sense.

We do all these day in day out but have we ever reflected on them and asked ourselves if they have meaning and if they are doing us any good.

So we sleep but are are we really rested? We eat but are we getting healthier? We work but are we getting better at our work and happier with our work?

Even in the spiritual sense, we pray and mediate on the Word of God but are we getting holier and becoming more the person of love that God has created us to be?

The gospel parable reminds us that God continually sows His seeds of love on us and into our hearts.

Sometimes those seeds of love fall on the edge of the path and on rocky ground. Sometimes those seeds of love fell among thorns.

We may feel rather stagnated and not really moving and growing in our spiritual life and we feel discouraged and disheartened.

But God continues to sow His seeds of love on us and some of those seeds will enter into our hearts and bear a harvest of love.

We just have to be faithful and keep praying every day and trust that the Lord God will make His seeds of love bear fruit in us.

Sts. Timothy and Titus, Tuesday, 26-01-2021

2 Tim 1:1-8 or Titus 1:1-5 / Luke 10:1-9       

Today's memorial of St. Timothy and St. Titus is celebrated after yesterday's feast of the Conversion of St. Paul.

St. Timothy and St. Titus were disciples of St. Paul, and he calls them affectionately as a "child of mine".

St. Paul saw himself as their spiritual father and he had formed them in the faith and he had appointed them as leaders of their respective communities.

More than just for the purpose of continuity and succession, what was urgent was the mission of the proclamation of the Good News.

As Jesus said in the gospel, "The harvest is rich but the labourers are few." And Jesus also added, "So ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to the harvest."

So for St. Paul it was not just about appointing capable and efficient people to be the leaders of the communities that he had founded.

He had to pray to the Lord and to see who the Lord was sending as labourers for the harvest.

Let us remember to pray for those in formation for the priesthood and the religious life.

May they answer the call of the Lord and offer themselves generously to be labourers in the harvest of the Kingdom of God.

Conversion of St. Paul the Apostle, Monday, 25-01-2021

Acts 22:3-16 / Mark 16:15-18      

For the early Church, it was a time of abundant blessings and growth.

Even though they were under persecution and had difficulties, there were signs and wonders and people joined the Church even though it was rather dangerous to do so.

There were also unexpected surprises and the Church also learnt that God's ways are not man's ways and it may also not be the way the Church thinks.

Saul, before he changed his name to Paul, was there at the martyrdom of St. Stephen and he totally approved of it.

He even became one of the dreaded persecutors of the Church, arresting Christians and throwing them into prison, which was as bad as a death sentence.

The Church would have certainly prayed to God for protection from such a blood-thirsty persecutor.

But the Church may not have expected Saul to be converted suddenly and go on to become one of the greatest missionaries of the Church.

The Church learnt that God's blessings are more abundant than can be expected and that God's ways are so wonderful that He can change anything bad into something good and for His purposes.

This feast of the conversion of St. Paul tells us that people and situations can change.

We don't have to take things into our own hand. We just have to put it into God's hands through prayer, and wait for signs and wonders and even unexpected pleasant surprises.

3rd Ordinary Sunday, Year B, 24.01.2021

Jonah 3:1-5, 10 / 1 Cor 7:29-31 / Mark 1:14-20

Whenever someone asks us “What is the time?” we will instinctively look at our wrist watch and announce the time. 

It is not likely that we will look at the sky and say “daytime” or “night-time”. 

Time is important especially in our busy schedules, so that there will be time management for the tasks ahead and that things will run on time. 

Time is not just necessary for schedules and tasks. The word “time” also appears frequently in our vocabulary. 

We talk about the “first time” which can be an anxious time, a time of initiation and a time of discovery. We talk about the “next time”, which can mean a time of preparation and a time of anticipation. Parents will use that “one more time” on their children as a warning and a deterrent. There is also the “last time” which could mean the end or finale, or it could be about reminiscing the past. 

What it might be, time is important and precious to us so much so that it is even divided into hours, minutes and seconds. That also reminds us not to waste time. 

In the three readings, there is a mention about time. In the 1st reading, the Word of the Lord was addressed a second time to Jonah. Why a second time? 

That was because when the Word of the Lord was addressed the first time to Jonah, he didn’t want to listen. He was told to go East to Nineveh but he went West and tried to run away. But at the second time he obeyed the Word of the Lord. 

In the 2nd reading, St. Paul tells this to the Corinthians: Our time is growing short. St. Paul wanted to stress on the urgency of his message. 

In the gospel, Jesus announced this: The time has come and the kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent and believe in the Good News. 

So, it was not about how much time, or what is the time or when is the time. Rather the time here is understood as God’s time, it is an appointed time, a time that is in God’s plan. 

It is a time when things happen and people move, not by human will or human determination, but by the power of God’s will. 

It is said that when it is not God’s time, we cannot force it. But when it is God’s time, we cannot stop it. 

But how do we know when it is God’s time? 

For Jonah, as he tried to run away by sailing off in the opposite direction, the ship got caught in a storm and he was swallowed by a big fish, and he was in the belly of that big fish for three days and then the fish threw him up on the beach. 

So Jonah moved at the second time when the Word of the Lord was addressed to him. He didn’t need a third time. 

For Jesus, the time had come when He heard that John the Baptist was arrested. It was time for Him to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom of God and the message of salvation and repentance. 

As for us, we should realise by now that we cannot force people to get things done even if it is for their own good. 

It is just like the egg. If the egg is broken by an outside force, life is ended. But if the egg is broken by an inside force, life begins. 

Yes, great things always begin from within, from the inside. 

Jesus proclaimed the message of repentance, but it is also in God’s time that repentance and conversion happens, and it happens from within. 

As we think about what is God’s time for us and the signs that He is showing us, let us heed the call to repentance and remember that things can only happen with prayer and it must begin from the inside, it must begin from the heart.

So, our prayer to God :

Cannot be PART TIME 

Cannot be SOME TIME 

Worse if NO TIME 

Must always be ON TIME 

Can be OVER TIME 

Because God can call us ANY TIME.

2nd Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 23-01-2021

Hebrews 9:2-3, 11-14 / Mark 3:20-21

If you have children of your own, then let us speculate on this scenario.

Let's say that one of your children tells you that he or she wants to go to some under-developed country to do missionary work and to help the people improve their lives and to share with them the love of Jesus.

What will be our reaction? Whatever our reactions might be, they are certainly more than mixed.

We might be asking questions like : Why can't you do something more normal like most people? What is there to gain from it? How does it help your future? What would people think?

Maybe that was why the relatives of Jesus were worried about Him and thought that He was not thinking right.

He had already done certain things that they were not prepared for and didn't know how to handle.

He threw away the security of a job and a home to become an itinerary preacher.

He hung up His safety when He took on the scribes and Pharisees. (You can't get away with that and in fact He didn't.)

He didn't bother about what would people say regarding His company of friends.

Following Jesus involves taking risks. We may have to throw away our superficial security, hang up our flimsy safety precautions and turn a deaf ear to the criticisms and discouragement around us.

But when others think that we are out of our minds, or maybe when we wonder if we ourselves are out of our minds, then Jesus will come and take charge of us.

2nd Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 22-01-2021

Hebrews 8:6-13 / Mark 3:13-19         

An analogy for the Old Testament and New Testament can be this: The Old Testament is like the radio and the New Testament is like the television.

That can give us an idea of the connection between the Old Testament and the New Testament.

In the Old Testament, the Word of God came upon priests, prophets and kings, and they proclaimed what they had heard from God.

They may not have "seen" the face of God but they know His voice. 

In the New Testament, the Word of God became man in the person of Jesus, and people saw God in Jesus.

Jesus brought about a new covenant between God and mankind. The old covenant "disappeared" with the establishment of the new convent.

But just as radio sets have given way to television and computer sets, the transmission over air waves is still needed as in the case of wi-fi or wireless transmission, and even developed further.

With Jesus establishing the new covenant between God and man, what has essentially remained of the old covenant is the relationship between God and His people, a relationship that was brought to a deeper level by Jesus on the Cross.

Even at the individual level, the covenant between God and us must be renewed everyday through prayer and penance. Without daily prayer and penance, the covenantal relationship between God and us will disappear and might be gone forever.

2nd Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 21-01-2021

Hebrews 7:25 - 8:6 / Mark 3:7-12       

Whatever we might say or think about those super-hero movies, we may silently wish that there can be a super-hero(s) to save the world from its distress and danger.

It may be some evil overlord who want to control the world or some meteorite on a collision course with Earth that will exterminate humanity.

Whatever it might be, those super-hero movies arouses our imagination and our subtle wish for a hero (super or otherwise) to eliminate the world's problems and also our problems.

But we do have someone, who is not a superhero that is left to imagination or fantasy, and He has the power to save us from our problems and difficulties.

The 1st reading states that the power of Jesus to save is utterly certain, since He is living for ever to intercede for all who come to God through Him.

The people in the gospel recognised Jesus as the Saviour who had come to drive out evil and to cure diseases and to bring about the reign of the Kingdom of God.

Jesus is not just one of the solutions to the world's problems and our problems.

He is the Saviour of the world and our Saviour. Let us follow Him and no other.

2nd Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 20-02-2021

Hebrews 7:1-3, 15-17 / Mark 3:1-6      

When we look at the problems that we face in life, we will have to see what are the causes of these problems.

And we look at it objectively and soberly, then we will be able to see that most, if not all, of the problems stem from relationships.

It can be a personal relationship, marital relationship, family relationships or social and workplace relationships.

When there is friction and tension in these relationships, then there will be problems and other issues like emotions distress, disagreements and arguments will come in.

We have to come to realise that what we need is to be at rights in our relationship with everyone so that there can be peace in our hearts.

The 1st reading mentions of this mystical figure of Melchizedek, king of Salem, a priest of God.

His name means “king of righteousness” and he is also the “king of peace” (Salem).

Melchizedek is a prefiguration of Jesus who is the Prince of Peace and who came to reconcile us with God and with one another.

Yes, what we truly desire and yearn for is peace in our hearts and that comes from a right relationship with God and with others.

Let us go to Jesus with our withered hearts so that we will be healed by His love and have peace in our relationships.

2nd Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 19-01-2021

Hebrews 6:10-20 / Mark 2:23-28   

Human beings have a tendency to do things to get the attention of others.

We like to get the attention of others so that they will look at us and give us the affirmation and praise for what we are doing, or maybe we just want to please them and give them a good impression.

So it matters to us who is looking at what we are doing.

But St. John Vianney reminds us of this: Do not try to please everybody. Try to please God, the angels, and the saints – they are your public.

We must remember that while others might be looking at what we are doing, God is also looking at what we are doing and He knows the intentions of our actions.

The 1st reading reminds us of this: God would not be so unjust as to forget all you have done, the love that you have for His name or the services you have done and are still doing.

Yes, God sees and He remembers what we have done and why we did it.

Let us go humbly and quietly go about doing good and offering up prayers and penance, like fasting, for the good of others and not to get their attention.

What really matters is that God sees and He knows and He will reward us for doing what is good and doing it humbly and quietly.

2nd Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 18-01-2021

Hebrews 5:1-10 / Mark 2:18-22   

As much as we believe in God and we pray to Him, yet praying to God may not be our first recourse or option.

Very often we try to solve our problems and difficulties with our own resources and abilities first.

And when everything else has failed then we turn to God in desperation and we storm heaven in the hope of an immediate answer to our prayer.

But that would mean that God is that last option for a solution, when all other options have failed or didn't work.

The 1st reading tells us that during His life on earth, Jesus offered up prayer and entreaty, aloud and in silent tears, to the One who had the power to save Him out of death, and He submitted so humbly that His prayer was heard.

We may tend to think that Jesus turned to God when He was literally at a "dead-end" on the Cross.

But the 1st reading tells us that during His life on earth, Jesus prayed all along as He faced rejection and threats to His life until He finally ended up on the Cross.

For Jesus, God was always the first option and also the only option, and it was His trust in God that saved Him out of death.

Let us learn from Jesus to let God be the first and only option in our lives because He has the power to save us and raise us up from our troubles and difficulties.

2nd Ordinary Sunday, Year B, 17.01.2021

1 Sam 3:3-10, 19 / 1 Cor 6:13-15, 17-20 / John 1:35-42

The current requirement to wear face masks whenever we are going out of our homes has its advantages as well as disadvantages. 

One thing for sure is that as long as we are wearing a mask, we are compliant and law-abiding good citizens. 

We can also mouth a lot of words and expressions and others will not know it, especially if those expressions and words are not that pleasant. 

And if we ever forget to brush our teeth, then we better keep the mask on at all times. 

But if our devices and gadgets have face recognition, then we may be locked out if we are wearing a face mask. 

And with the mask on we can’t really recognize people with a glance, especially if they’re wearing a cap or change their hairstyle. 

We will have to look hard and even stare hard at the person, and it is not that polite to do so for too long. 

Oh yes, nowadays we have to look carefully before we know who the person is, or who it is that we are talking to. 

In the gospel, we hear of three incidents that required visual discernment. 

When John was with two of his disciples, Jesus passed by and John stared hard at Him. 

And then he said, “Look, there is the Lamb of God.” Hearing this, the two disciples followed Jesus. 

When Jesus saw them following Him, He asked, “What do you want?” And they replied, “Rabbi, where do you live?” And Jesus replied, “Come and see.” So, they went and saw where He lived and stayed with Him the rest of that day. 

And then the next day, when Andrew brought Simon to Jesus, Jesus looked hard at him and said, “You are Simon, son of John; you are to be called Cephas (meaning Rock).”

The Gospel highlighted the power of sight, and with visual discernment comes about a revelation. 

In other words, there is more than meets the eye, and we may have to look hard, or even stare hard before we can see clearer and even see deeper. 

It is just like nowadays, with people wearing masks, we have to look hard before we can recognize who they are. 

What we see only their eyes, and so nowadays we can say that there is a lot of eye contact. 

And eye contact is important in communication because the eyes are the windows to the heart. 

With or without mask, our eyes and the eyes of the other person can say quite a bit and even reveal quite a bit. 

John looked into the eyes of Jesus in saw Him as the Lamb of God. The two disciples look into the eyes of Jesus and saw Him as the Messiah. Jesus looked into the eyes of Simon and saw him as the Rock on which He will build the Church. 

Our eyes reveal to us what we desire in what we are looking at. The 2nd reading warns us about fornication, but it begins with looking which turns into lusting. 

We must have custody of our eyes and to train our eyes to see only what God wants us to see. 

When we read the Bible, we are like having an eye-to-eye contact with God. We read God’s Word, and God’s Word enters into our hearts through our eyes, which are the windows of our hearts, and we enter into a union with God. 

When we look into the eyes of the other person, we may also come to see that what we really desire is for a sincere and honest communication that will lead to understanding and communion. 

We may realise that when we are in an argument with a person, we avoid looking into the eyes of that person because our eyes are burning with anger.

May we also see that every person is created in the image of God. 

Let us look at them with eyes of love and we will see Jesus looking at us with His eyes of love.

1st Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 16-01-2021

Hebrews 4:12-16 / Mark 2:13-17     

Most of us would not call ourselves virtuous. At most we will say we try to be good.

Even if others were to call us virtuous, we might be rather embarrassed by it.

But even if we try to be virtuous and do our best to live good lives, we still have to admit that we struggle with sin.

Though sin is certainly not a good thing, yet sin should make us humble enough to see that we are no better than those who are publicly labelled as sinners.

When the scribes of the Pharisee party called those who were eating with Jesus as tax collectors and sinners, it implicitly meant that they thought of themselves as virtuous, although they didn't say it.

But as Jesus declared, "It is not the healthy who need the doctor, but the sick. I did not come to call the virtuous but sinners."

It takes humility to admit that we are not that spiritually healthy and that we struggle with sin of one kind or another.

But as the 1st reading tells us, let us be confident then, in approaching the throne of grace, that we shall have mercy from Him and find grace when we are in need of help.

Jesus came to call us even in our sinful state. Let us follow Him and find our peace in Him.

1st Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 15-01-2021

Hebrews 4:1-5, 11 / Mark 2:1-12       

Currently, one of the hot topics in the news is about privacy. 

The privacy that is highlighted here is the personal data that is transmitted over messages and contacts.

Privacy is certainly important to us especially when it concerns personal privacy.

Who we know and the contents of the messages that we have with them, where we have been, what we have done are not for public knowledge.

But in the gospel, when the paralytic was brought before Jesus, the first words that Jesus said to him was: My child, you sins are forgiven.

That may have surprised the paralytic as well as the crowd who were there. Some may be puzzled, others may be agitated.

They may have wondered: why did Jesus talk about such a private thing like sin and was there something He knew about the paralytic that only the paralytic himself knew.

Of course, God knows our sins, but it is something between us and God. We certainly won't publicise our sins nor would we like others to publicise our sins.

But sin is not really a private matter. The effects of sin breaks our relationship with God and with others, beside being self-destructive.

Yes, we all have sinned, and no one can say that he has no sin.

What we need is not the privacy about our sins but our need for forgiveness.

Jesus wants to forgive us and heal us. Let us acknowledge our sins, ask for forgiveness and be healed by Jesus.

1st Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 14-01-2021

Hebrews 3:7-14 / Mark 1:40-45       

To underestimate a person might mean that we don't really expect much from that person, nor expect much of that person.

It could be that the person had disappointed us or did not live up to our expectations.

Or it could simply mean that we don't think much of that person's capabilities and so we "look down" on that person.

When the leper came up to Jesus and pleaded on his knees, he wasn't underestimating the ability of Jesus to heal him.

But it could be that he had suffered too many disappointments and rejections in life and so even as he came before Jesus, he wasn't expecting much.

Hence his words to Jesus was "If you want to, you can cure me", words that had a tone of pessimism and dejection.

The response of Jesus was astonishing as He said to the leper, " Of course I want to. Be cured!"

That might make us recall those times when we thought that Jesus didn't answer, or even didn't listen, to our prayer.

We felt disappointed and frustrated and we even get angry with Jesus.

Jesus wants to tell us that He certainly heard our prayer and even answered them.

But as the 1st reading says, let us not harden our hearts such that we cannot see how God has answered our prayer.

Let us also keep encouraging each other to keep faith in Jesus and to trust in Him.

For where two or three gather in His name in prayer, the prayers will be heard and answered.

 

1st Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 13-01-2021

Hebrews 2:14-18 / Mark 1:29-39    

In our busy lives, and with so many tasks and schedules lined up for the day, we would certainly need to plan and prioritise what needs to be done.

Obviously that would mean to get the important things done first and followed by the rest.

When we don't plan and prioritise, then our day would be chaotic and we will end up stressed and frustrated.

So what is the first important thing that we would do as we begin the day?

In the gospel, we heard that in the morning, long before dawn, Jesus got up and left the house, and went off to a lonely place and prayed there.

The day before was a busy and tiring day for Him and it can be presumed that almost every day would be like that for Him as people would come to Him for healing and hear Him teach and preach.

But Jesus knew what were His priorities and obviously prayer was first and foremost for Him.

Jesus has shown us the priority of prayer in His life and ministry.

He also knows of the temptation to give up prayer in the busyness of life.

Let us remember that prayer helps us to let God be in the centre of our lives. 

When God is the centre, everything else will come together. If not everything will be scattered.

1st Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 12-01-2021

Hebrews 2:5-12 / Mark 1:21-28       

Not all good advice or sound teaching are readily accepted and followed.

Whether it is from parents, or teachers or from some authority, good advice and sound teaching are not immediately adhered to and obeyed.

That is because there is an inherent streak of rebelliousness and defiance in us.

No matter how good or how sound the advise or teaching is, we will challenge it and put it to the test.

When Jesus taught in the synagogue, He taught with authority and His teaching made a deep impression on the people.

His teaching even disturbed the unclean spirit that possessed the man, so much so that it had to reveal itself and shouted, "What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us?"

But with that, Jesus expelled that unclean spirit by saying sharply, "Be quiet! Come out of him!"

If we had tried to give good advice or sound teaching to those who need it and faced resistance, let us not be discouraged by those challenging and rebellious voices.

Let us also listen to the voice of the Lord Jesus to persevere in doing what is right and just. 

Let us also "practice what we preach". The world needs more that just teachers; it needs to see witnesses of truth and love in order for any change or conversion to happen.

1st Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 11-01-2021

Hebrews 1:1-6 / Mark 1:14-20    

Whether we want to embark on a journey or on a project, it might be more convenient and even faster if we do it alone.

We won't need to discuss our plans with others or have meetings and listen to opinions and have discussion that would take up time and energy.

When Jesus began His mission of proclaiming the Good News of salvation, He didn't do it alone.

As we heard in the gospels, He called His first disciples, Peter and Andrew, and then going on, He called James and John.

And He would be calling more along the way.

Jesus could have gone about doing it alone and that would certainly be easier and less troublesome too.

But Christianity is about community, and Jesus called disciples so that they in turn can be His witnesses and continue His saving work to the ends of the earth.

As it is said, if you want to go fast, go alone. But if you want to go far, go together with others.

We need each other in the journey of faith. If we want to go to heaven, we have to do it together.

Baptism of the Lord, Year B, 10.01.2021

 Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7 / Acts 10:34-38 / Mark 1:7-11

Since the beginning of this year, it had been raining almost every day. 

It can be anything from a continuous heavy downpour, like on the first and second day of the year, and that resulted in some serious flooding in some parts of the island. 

Or it can just be a series of showers so much so that we won’t leave home without an umbrella. 

Anyway, with such unpredictable weather, it might be better to stay at home and keep dry and warm. Yes, keep dry and warm, and keep safe as well. 

And with water in abundance, it will make us do some thinking about water. 

Water is truly a good servant, but of course, on the other hand, it can be a bad master. 

Water quenches the thirst and is vital for bodily functions. It is the basic solvent and cleaning agent. Water can also be a means to produce energy as well as many other uses. 

Besides these vital and practical usages, water also has a spiritual purpose. 

In the Church, water is the element that is used for Baptism. It must be clean and flowing water when used for Baptism, to symbolize the cleansing of sin. 

It is also a symbol of the Holy Spirit entering into the heart and making it the temple of God. 

Today as the Church celebrates the Baptism of the Lord, all these symbols are recalled and reflected upon. 

But of course, the meaning and purpose of the Baptism of Jesus is quite different from that of our Baptism. 

Jesus was baptized so as to immerse Himself into our human situation and become one like us in all things, except sin. 

The Saviour was baptized so that through Baptism, we can be saved. 

At His Baptism, Jesus was revealed as the Beloved Son of God. Through our baptism, we become children of God. 

As Jesus came up out of the water, the Holy Spirit descended upon Him. With the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus began His ministry of salvation as He went about doing good and curing all who have fallen into the power of the devil. 

We too are given the power of the Holy Spirit at our baptism, so that we can continue the saving mission of Jesus. 

As baptized Christians, we are anointed with the Holy Spirit and with power to go about doing good and helping those who have fallen into the power of the devil so that they can come back to God. 

So fundamentally, it is clear. It is either we are doing what Jesus is doing or we are not. It is either we are for Jesus or we are against him. It is either we gather all to Him or we scatter and scandalize. 

This Feast of the Baptism of the Lord is so timely because we want to be washed clean of all the defilement and weaknesses and to be empowered again by the Holy Spirit. 

We want to be cleansed of our complains, our arguments, our resentment, our anger, our bitterness and our disappointments. 

We want to be renewed and empowered by the Holy Spirit to be thankful and grateful for the gift of faith so that we will endure and persevere through difficult and challenging times. 

We will remember that when the Sacraments are not available and the churches are closed our faith began to waver, it was the Holy Spirit that came to help us in our weakness. 

As we heard in the 1st reading, the crushed reed was not broken, the wavering flame was not snuffed out. 

But like Jesus, we must come out of the murky waters of sin and defilement, so that the Holy Spirit can descend upon us to strengthen our faith. 

Let us break free from the power of the devil, who makes us pessimistic and to criticize everything. 

Let the power of the Holy Spirit rise up in our hearts so that we will go forth and do good and bring back those who have fallen away from the faith and fallen into the power of the devil.

Let us pray to the Lord for showers of blessings that will bring about peace and salvation for the world.

Saturday after Epiphany, 09-01-2021

1 John 5:14-21 / John 3:22-30   

While we can say that we have belongings and possessions, we can't say that they belong totally to us.

In the passing world, we know that when we have to pass over from this life to the next, we will have to leave all these belongings and possessions behind.

So we must be always aware that there is really nothing that we can claim to be our own.

But in the gospel, John the Baptist has this to say: A man can lay claim only to what is given him from heaven.

John the Baptist was clear as to who he was and what he had to do.

He was not going to pretend to be the Christ or claim any credit for what he was doing.

We too have nothing to claim as truly our own.

But we can only claim for God's mercy and compassion and forgiveness.

We can be confident that if we ask Jesus for mercy, compassion and forgiveness, He will grant it to us.

Jesus came to save us. But we also need to ask Him to save us in order to claim our salvation.

Friday after Epiphany, 08-01-2021

1 John 5:5-13 / Luke 5:12-16      

All of us have some kind of weaknesses and fears. That is one of the problems of being human.

We can either do nothing about them and let them control our lives.

Or we can face those weaknesses and fears and try to control them and even overcome them.

When Jesus saw that man covered with leprosy approaching Him, He could have avoided him.

But He let the leper come before Him and He even stretched out His hand to touch him and cured him.

It was out of great love for the sick and the afflicted that Jesus did what He did.

He showed us that with love, we too can overcome our weaknesses and fears.

He also showed us that He came to heal us from the leprosy of sin and to cleanse us so that we can love again.

We cannot overcome our weaknesses and fears, and much less overcome the world, by our own strength and efforts.

We need Jesus to help us. We need Jesus to save us and to help us overcome our sinfulness.

Thursday after Epiphany, 07-01-2921

1 John 4:19 - 5:4 / Luke 4:14-22      

God created us in His image and likeness. It means that He created us with His love and in His love.

He also created each of us unique, so that as much as we have a lot in common as human beings, we are also unique in our own way.

And each of us also has a unique mission in our life and that will be our contribution to the good of humanity.

In the gospel, we heard that Jesus, with the power of the Spirit in Him, returned to Galilee, and His reputation spread throughout the countryside.

When He went to the synagogue and stood up to read, He read this from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah: "The Spirit of the Lord has been given to me"

Jesus knew what He had been given, and with that, what He had to do as His mission.

We too have been given the Spirit of love. As the 1st reading says: We are to love because God loved us first.

We are to carry out the mission of love in our lives and we can only do it with the power of the Holy Spirit.

Let us ask the Holy Spirit to guide us in our mission of love so that as much as our way of loving is different from each other, God's love will be experienced by all.

Wednesday after Epiphany, 06-01-2021

1 John 4:11-18 / Mark 6:45-52     

The Church teaches that Jesus is God and man. He is fully divine and fully human.

As much as there are many theological reflections done on that, how we are to understand it may depend on our encounter and experience of who Jesus is to us.

In the gospel, the disciples had only come to the understanding that Jesus was only human.

They had seen the multiplication of loaves. For them, a hunger problem was solved and they may still be wondering about the deeper meaning of it.

Then as they saw Jesus walking on the water, they thought He was a ghost and they cried out in fear.

It was only when Jesus got into the boat and the wind dropped and all was calm that they were utterly and completely dumbfounded.

They had encountered the humanity of Jesus but they had yet to understand the divinity of Jesus.

As for us, we may understand a bit of both. We acknowledge that Jesus is our Saviour and we also see Him as one who came to be with us.

We turn to Jesus in our difficulties because we know that He will understand because He was human like us. 

We turn to Him for divine assistance for we believe that He can make all things possible.

But more importantly, let us love God and neighbour. That is what Jesus came to show us. That is what He wants us to do if we really believe in Him.

Tuesday after Epiphany, 05-01-2021

1 John 4:7-10 / Mark 6:34-44       

Food is the source of nutrition for the body and also the primary means to address physical hunger.

But food is also a symbol of care and love, especially home-cooked food.

When someone cooks and serves food for others, it is not just to address hunger or to show how nutritious or delicious the food is.

It is a sign and symbol of love and care for others because a sacrifice of time and effort is needed in cooking.

When God wanted to show His love and care for us, He sent His son Jesus to become a man in order to save us.

The infant Jesus was laid in a manger, a feeding trough for animals. He was born in the city of Bethlehem, which means "House of Bread".

All this points to the love and care of God who wants to feed the world that is hungering for salvation.

Jesus multiplied the bread to feed the hungry crowd.

But that is a sign that He will be the Bread of Life for the salvation of the world.

Let us hunger for Jesus alone and for in Him we will have life and salvation.

Monday after Epiphany, 04-01-2021

1 John 3:22 - 4:6 / Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25     

The past couple of days has been raining and the skies were overcast.

That also means that there was no sunlight although skies are not dark.

But we can imagine how dreary and even depressing it can be if it is raining continually and it is cold  and the skies are dark.

In the gospel, there is a quote from the prophet Isaiah that read: The people that lived in darkness has seen a great light; on those who dwell in in the land and shadow of death, a light has dawned.

But the lands of Zebulun and Naphtali and the areas around that region are never short of sunshine. In fact it hardly rains.

But the darkness and the shadow of death are in the hearts and lives of the people as they lived under oppression and fear.

As Jesus began His ministry, He went round proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom and curing all kinds of diseases and sickness among the people.

Jesus was the light that gave hope to the people in their pain and sufferings. 

He was the light that warmed the hearts and lives of the people with the love of God.

Let us listen to His message of repentance and we will see that light that will give us hope in our difficulties and the joy of living in God's love.

Epiphany, Year B, 03.01.2021

Isaiah 60:1-6 / Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6 / Matthew 2:1-12 

As we enter into the new year, it will certainly be a good thing to do some housekeeping and some cleaning up. 

After all, it would be good to start the new year with some spring-cleaning and to get rid of the junk and the mess. As it is said “mess is stress”.

And we certainly need to de-stress, and maybe throwing away some junk can help us do that.

But before we bring in the trash bags and clear out everything, let us look at some of the stuff that we might just want to keep for a while. 

Some things are really of no use anymore, but keeping them may help us to do some reflection about life. 

One of the things that we might want to keep, at least for a while, is last year’s calendar.

Why of all things, last year’s calendar? That might be the first thing we want to throw away. We don’t want to be reminded of the year 2020. So why keep last year’s calendar then?

Well, it had been a rough and tough year. The days of 2020 were filled with cancellations, reschedules, new and numerous schedules, online meeting IDs and passwords, and other things. 

But whatever it was, we survived 2020, we lived through it, and we also became stronger and tougher with it, all that of course, thanks be to God. 

So, the 2020 calendar can be like a testimonial for us, reminding us that we stumbled but did not fall, we were down but not out, it was dark but there were little lights to keep us moving. 

Yes, we didn’t stop and stagnate, but we moved on in 2020 and now we are ready to face 2021, no matter how it will be. 

Today the Church celebrates the Feast of the Epiphany, the revelation of Christ to the Gentiles, as represented by the wise men. 

Epiphany also means a moment of sudden and great revelation or realization.

For the wise men, it was a moment of realization. They were comfortable in the homeland, and maybe they were looked up to by their own people as they had knowledge of the stars. 

But it was a star, a peculiar star, that caught their attention. The star caught their attention, and they came to the realization that the star was beckoning them, calling them, to something mysterious and yet wonderful, to look for this infant King of the Jews. 

So they got up and got moving, and yet, they were not that certain how things will turn out. 

They only had the star to guide them and yet the star was not always there for them. 

That was why they ended up in Jerusalem, and they were even used by King Herod to be his agents. 

But they still managed to find their way to Jesus. 

But did they expect to find the infant King of the Jews lying in a manger at the stable in the obscure little town of Bethlehem? 

Whatever their expectations, it was by Divine revelation that gave them the realization that the infant lying in the manger is the one they were looking for. 

They acknowledged that the infant was a King, as symbolized by the gold, is Divine as symbolized by the frankincense, and is human as symbolized by the myrrh. 

What we can learn from the wise men is that they had to look and listen and think about what God was showing them. 

The wise men offered gold, frankincense and myrrh to the Infant Jesus. 

We offer our eyes, our ears and our minds to Jesus. 

Jesus will open our eyes to see what we need to see, open our ears to hear what we need to hear, and open our minds to understand what He is showing us. 

Like the wise men we journey on into 2021, with the only certainty and assurance that Jesus our Lord and Saviour, will guide us through the year, so that we can see Him in all things, and to give thanks to Him for all things.

Weekday of Christmas Time, Saturday, 02-01-2021

1 John 2:22-28 / John 1:19-28    

Some people have role models whom they look up to for inspiration and direction in life.

Some others have "idols" and they usually form a sort of "fan club".

They will try to look like their "idols" and maybe imitated them in the way they dress and mannerisms.

When the priests and Levites asked John the Baptist who he was, he declared that he was not the Christ, not the prophet Elijah, and not the Prophet either.

He didn't even say that he was the Baptist, although he was baptising people with water.

But he said that he was, quoting from the prophet Isaiah, "a voice in the wilderness, who makes a straight way for the Lord."

John the Baptist knew who he was and what he has to do. He knew that he was only a witness to someone who is greater than him.

John the Baptist reminds us of who we are. We are disciples of Christ.

We witness to the presence of Christ by our words and actions.

May we follow what John the Baptist did, and prepare others to experience Christ for themselves.