13th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 01-07-2021

Genesis 22:1-19 / Matthew 9:1-8     

If there is one thing more painful than one's own suffering, it is seeing the suffering of a loved one.

We would rather suffer for our beloved and we may even offer our lives in place of theirs.

If there is one story in the Bible that we can't quite understand, it is the story of how God wanted Abraham to sacrifice his only son.

There are many explanations for that, like obedience and faith, but still if we didn't know how the story would end, we would be seriously questioning God's demands.

As for Abraham, it seemed that he was so stoic and emotionless about it. He didn't protest, and he did exactly what he was told.

But we can imagine his pain, and he would rather die instead of sacrificing his only son.

Abraham is called "the father of faith" and he certainly deserved to be called so.

It was his faith in his most painful moment that saw him through, and he received abundant blessings from God.

Jesus also saw the faith of the paralytic and his friends, and He granted them a miracle.

Let us remember the faith of Abraham and the paralytic in our most painful moments and keep faith in God. We will receive blessings and see miracles.

13th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 30-06-2021

Genesis 21:5, 8-20 / Matthew 8:28-34          

It shouldn't come as a surprise to say that in life we will meet some unpleasant persons.

Unpleasant may not be the only adjective to describe these persons.

Some can be unkind, selfish, greedy, or even malicious and vicious.

We certainly won't want to go near them or have anything to do with them.

In the gospel, when Jesus reached the country of Gadarenes, two demoniacs came towards Him and were shouting at Him.

Jesus could have turned and walked away. But He came to look for and to save those who were lost.

We may not have demoniacs coming our way but we will certainly come across despicable people.

It would be easy to walk away and don't bother about them. 

But the least we could do is to pray for them. 

And if Jesus wants to send us to them, may we ask Jesus to make our hearts like His so that we will be able to show them the love of Jesus.

 

Sts. Peter and Paul, Apostles, Tuesday, 29-06-2021

Acts 12:1-11 / 2 Tim 4:6-8, 17-18 / Matthew 16:13-19    

There are two features of the Church that are the foundations on which she stands on.

One is the authority that is divinely bestowed on her and we heard about that in the gospel.

The other is the mission of salvation that she is to carry out and proclaim to the world.

It was to St. Peter that Jesus bestowed upon the Church the authority of the truth and St. Paul was called to be the "Apostle to Gentiles" who will carry out the Church's mission to the nations.

Even though Jesus said that the gates of the underworld can never hold out against the Church, that does not mean that there will be no danger or attacks on the Church.

In the 1st reading, St. Peter was imprisoned and faced certain death but the angel of the Lord rescued him out of the prison.

In the 2nd reading, St. Paul testified that the Lord stood by him and gave him power, so that he can continue to proclaim the message of salvation to the pagans.

This feast of St. Peter and St. Paul affirms our faith and that the Lord will rescue us from all evil and danger.

Let us put our trust in the Lord, and may St. Peter and St. Paul pray for us that we will continue to proclaim the message of salvation with truth and with love.

13th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 28-06-2021

Genesis 18:16-33 / Matthew 8:18-22    

The city of Sodom was a relatively big city during the time of its existence.

A reasonable estimate of the population of that city could be about 50,000 or more

Abraham pleaded with God that if there were 50 just persons in that city, would God spare that city?

50 out of 50,000 is only 0.1%, so in theory 50 just persons should not be too difficult to find.

Abraham could have immediately gone in search of those 50 persons.

Instead he went on to so-called "bargain" with God until it was settled at 10 persons.

We may admire Abraham's boldness to keep pleading with God and reducing the number to 10.

But what must come across is God's mercy and compassion. 

God will forgive us our sins when we turn to Him in repentance and in humility.

Let us not take God's mercy and compassion for granted and may He find us living just and virtuous lives.

13th Ordinary Sunday, Year B, 27.06.2021

Wisdom 1:13-15; 2:23-24 / 2 Cor 8:7, 9, 13-15 / Mark 5:21-43

By now, we would have gotten quite used to staying at home, although it is not by choice but by circumstances. 

Staying at home may not be as exciting as going out and socializing with others, but we still can make the best out of it. 

We can spend all the time watching movie after movie but that would make us become like movie zombies. 

Or we may wish to revive that traditional habit of reading books. If we had done literature in school, we may still have a collection of those books that were used, books like “The Merchant of Venice”, “Far from the maddening crowd”, “Tom Brown's schooldays”, “The Count of Monte Cristo”. 

At that time, those books were read to pass the exams. But it would certainly be good and enlightening to re-read those books. 

A good read would be “A Tale of Two Cities”. Reading it in school then and reading it now is certainly different in terms of perspectives and insights. 

The opening lines are about opposing dualities: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity”, and that sets the stage for the rest of the book and the unfolding of its characters. 

The book has themes of contrasting dualities like reellion and revolution on one hand, and restoration and resurrection on the other. Indeed, the title of the book is often used to express differing fortunes. 

In the gospel, it is not “A Tale of Two Cities”, but a story of two persons of different status. 

One was a synagogue official by the name of Jairus, while the other was a woman who was not named. 

Though both were of different status, bothhad something in common. They had a need, a desperate need. 

The daughter of Jairus was desperately sick and he came before Jesus and fell at His feet and pleaded with Jesus go and cure his daughter and to save her life. 

The woman who was not named was suffering from haemorrhage for 12 years and was desperately looking for a cure. 

But instead of coming before Jesus, she came up behind Him to touch His clothes, believing that if she could do that she would be well again. 

Although it was like a story-within-a-story, it was also a story of two persons, with different status, with different approaches, but bound by a common desperate need, and eventually they were rewarded for their faith in the saving power of Jesus. 

The story of Jairus and the woman with the haemorrhage, is truly a good read and it is the story of our times and a story about ourselves. 

No matter of what status or how famous we are, no matter what abilities or achievements we had, no matter how healthy or how strong we are, we must realize this by now. 

And that is we are not “A Tale of Two Cities”, it is not about us and them, it is not even about you and me. 

It is about us, we who are bound by a common circumstance, we who are bound by a common need, and particularly for us, who are bound by a common faith. 

Like Jairus, we too come before Jesus on our knees to pray for God's protection and blessings, not just for ourselves but also for those who are drastically affected by the current circumstances. 

We are bound to pray for people who are like the woman who had haemorrhage. She represents those who can't book for Mass because of one reason or another. We are duty-bound to pray for them too. 

We pray for those who like the daughter of Jairus, who have lost everything and also lost the meaning of life, that God will give them something to hope for. 

Yes, the salvation of many depends on the sacrifice of a few, and we are called to make that sacrifice and to make it with a faith like that of Jairus and the woman with the haemorrhage. 

When we make that sacrifice for others with faith, then we will understand those last words of the book “A Tale of Two Cities” when that character Sydney Carton said this: It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done. It is a far, far better rest that I go to than I ever known.

Let our prayer for the good of others be our sacrifice of faith, and may Jesus also grant us our needs.

This is best thing that we could ever do for others and for ourselves.

12th Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 26-06-2021

Genesis 18:1-15 / Matthew 8:5-17

It is quite obvious that wherever Jesus went, people would come and approach Him with their requests.

Today's gospel gives us a glimpse of a typical day of Jesus.

But we can be sure that whatever Jesus did for the people, whether He healed them, or whether He taught them, energy was required and He would get tired.

So when He went to Peter's mother-in-law's house, probably it was to take a break. He needed to rest for a while.

But when He saw Peter's mother-in-law in bed with a fever, He immediately attended to her need.

So whether in public or in private, whether it was in the presence of a centurion, or before a demanding crowd or attending to a poor feeble woman, Jesus poured out all His love and power.

Jesus was not certainly the type who would be at their best in public but are at their worst in private.

Hence, for us, there must also be consistency in our actions and our attitudes.

What we are in public should be a reflection of who we are in private and vice versa.

In other words, what we are on the outside should be a reflection of what we are in the inside.

So whether it is outside or inside, let us know that we are to reflect God's love and care always.

12th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 25-06-2021

Genesis 17:1, 9-11, 15-22 / Matthew 8:1-4    

If something good takes time to come along, then the wait is worth it.

So if we had ordered something online and the delivery would take a few weeks, then it is either we wait out the time or we find other quicker alternatives.

For Abraham, he had been waiting for God to fulfill his promises and he had been waiting for 25 years already.

He had been waiting for the son that God had promised him and he had been waiting since he was 75 years-old, so time was not on his side as he reaches 100.

So even though God renewed His promises to him, Abraham was already thinking of other possible alternatives.

But Abraham would eventually see that God is indeed faithful to His promises and that He would do as literally as He said He would.

In the gospel, the leper who came before Jesus could also be suffering from the disease for a long time.

He had hoped for a cure, but time was wearing out his faith.

So with boldness, he said to Jesus, "If you want to, you can cure me." And Jesus said, "Of course I want to. Be cured."

And of course, God wants to fulfill His promises to us and to let us know that He loves us.

But as in anything that is really good, let us ask for the faith and patience to wait. In God's time, all will be well and good.

The Nativity of St. John the Baptist, Thursday, 24-06-2021

Jeremiah 1:4-10 / 1 Peter 1:8-12 / Luke 1:5-17      

It is said that the two most important days in your life is the day you were born and the day you found out why.

As much as there are many important and special days in our lives, we will remember that day when we had to undertake a life-long commitment, be it in marriage, in the religious life or in the priesthood.

When we know why we exist and for what unique reason, then it can be said that we were born for that.

Today as we celebrate the birth of St. John the Baptist, we celebrate the greatest of all the prophets because it was he would point out who the Saviour is.

The mission of St. John the Baptist was planned by God even before he came into existence.

When we think deeper about it, our existence is in God's plan even before we came into existence in this world.

God has a plan and mission for each of us just as He had a plan and a mission for St John the Baptist.

St. John the Baptist went on to fulfill his mission in life and prepared the way for the Saviour.

May we too fulfill our mission in life so that we will be able to see the beauty and wonder of God's plan in our lives.

12th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 23-06-2021

Genesis 15:1-12, 17-16 / Matthew 7:15-20     

One of the necessary things to do in the spiritual life is the practice of discernment.

In trying to understand the will and the plans of God, it is certainly necessary to pray.

And in prayer, it is would also be necessary to discern what the Lord is showing us, otherwise our thoughts might be confused with what the Lord wants to show us.

In the 1st reading, Abram was childless and since that meant that there were no descendants, then he thought that some man in his household will be his heir.

But he had to discern further and he had to have faith and trust in the ways of the Lord and the plans He had for him.

In the gospel, Jesus warned against false prophets and He also gave an indication of how to discern.

Jesus said that by the fruits we will be able to tell.

We too need to discern the fruits of our lives. By our words and actions we will know whether we are doing the will of God and what He wants of us.

We certainly need to pray and then discern what God is showing us.

12th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 22-06-2021

Genesis 13:2, 5-18 / Matthew 7:6, 12-14         

Anyone who enters a competition would hope to be a winner.

No one would enter a competition just to be a loser or to come in last. That doesn't make sense.

The human tendency is to strive to win, to be first, to gain the most and be the best.

That is also apparent in making choices. We choose what seems to be the best and the most beneficial to us.

In the 1st reading, when it came to the choice of the land, Abram let Lot make the first choice, although as the elder, he could have make the choice first and he would have chosen the land to his advantage.

As expected, Lot chose the choice part of the land, but God rewarded Abram for his generosity and humility.

The way of generosity and humility is the narrow gate, but it is a hard road that leads to life.

Let us choose that narrow gate and hard road and we will find God's blessings on our choice.

12th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 21-06-2021

 Genesis 12:1-9 / Matthew 7:1-5    

In Singapore, a person attains the status of "senior citizen" when he or she reaches the age of 60.

Along with that status are some benefits like public transport concessions, grocery discounts and medical subsidies.

But with that age, it also means that life is going to slow down and the need to relax and enjoy life.

Not many people would really think of doing something new and challenging when they are 75 years-old.

But in the 1st reading, God called Abram to leave his country and his relations and set off to an unknown land that God will show him.

God also promised him that a great nation will descend from him.

Abram responded and did what the Lord told him even at the age of 75.

Abram is not just a model of faith but also an example of availability to the call of the Lord.

God does not look at our suitability and capabilities.

He asks for our availability. Let us like Abram, respond with faith.

12th Ordinary Sunday, Year B, 20.06.2021

Job 38:1, 8-11 / 2 Cor 5:14-17 / Mark 4:35-41  

There was something that happened in this church 79 years ago that didn't happen in any of the other churches in Singapore. 

On 15th February 1942, the Japanese Army attacked Singapore, and from Johor mortar shells were fired with Fort Canning as the target. 

At least two mortar shells dropped short and fell directly on this church. The mortar shells went through the roof and exploded in the centre of the church. 

Some furnishings and electrical lights and fittings were damaged, and the explosions caused a large crater in the centre of the church. 

Other than that, the church was quite intact, and there was no serious damage to the Altar and other religious items. Surprisingly, the stained glass wasn't damaged. 

Even though there was a written account, it sounded like an incredible story. Fortunately, this was verified by a couple of living witnesses who were able to describe the damage that was done. 

But more than just a true story of how a church suffered damage during a war, it was a story of faith. 

It was a story of how faith was tested and shaken in the midst of a critical situation. 

Some of the probable questions that could be asked was, “Why didn't God protect the church and allow this to happen? Since God did not protect the church, would He protect His people?” 

These are hard questions when faith is tested and shaken. But that generation of Sacred Heart Church parishioners held on to the faith and continued to live out that faith and that is the legacy that was left for us. 

The gospel account is also one of the stories of faith that is tested and shaken. 

Jesus and His disciples were in a boat, and then it began to blow a gale and the waves will breaking into the boat so that it was almost swamped. 

But Jesus was in the stern, His head on a cushion, fast asleep. And as expected in the situation of a faith crisis, when faith is tested and shaken and fear grips the heart, His disciples woke Jesus up, and they said, “Master, do you not care? We are going down!” 

Well, Jesus had to wake up and after He had ordered the sea to be quiet and to be calm, He said to His disciples, “Why are you so frightened? How is it that you have no faith?” 

Just as we ask hard questions when our faith is tested and shaken, questions like, “Lord, do you not care?” Jesus is also asking us hard questions about our faith, “Why are you so frightened? How is it that you have no faith?” 

Jesus is telling us that we have been given the gift of faith. So, we have the seed of faith in us. It is for us to nurture that faith and to strengthen it. 

And certainly, that faith will be tested and shaken. Just a year ago there was the “Circuit Breaker”. It was a challenging time for everyone. 

Our faith was also put to the test as worship and religious activities were suspended and churches were closed. 

It was a crisis of faith, but as in every crisis, it was an opportunity for faith to be explored and to grow in other ways and means. 

Faith tells us that God is not just in churches and at Mass, but He is also out there in our homes, our workplaces, and we have also discovered new ways to be spiritually connected and nourished. 

Today as we honour our fathers for loving us, caring for us, providing for us and protecting us, we are also aware that we call God “our Father”. 

In the prayer that Jesus taught us, we address God as “our Father”. We believe that God our Father loves us, He cares for us, He will provide for us and He will protect us. 

The prayer of the “Our Father”, or the “Lord's Prayer”, is not only to be said in church or at Mass. 

It is also to be said at home and wherever and whenever our faith is tested and shaken. 

God our Father wants us to know that when the boat of our faith is tossed about in the stormy seas and the waves come crashing in, Jesus is there with us and He will save us.

Yes, we must believe that. That is our faith in God our Father. And that is the legacy of faith that we will leave for the next generation.

Our Father, sung by Fr Stephen Yim

11th Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 19-06-2021

2 Cor 12:1-10 / Matthew 6:24-34  

The current question for the Church and for Catholics is the question of faith in these times.

Are we in a faith crisis with limited numbers for worship and a whole lot of new practices that are quite strange as compared to earlier times?

There is no doubt that some have gotten used to not having to come for the Sunday obligation Mass. 

But even if all religious activities are suspended and churches are closed for health and safety reasons, will the flame of faith still be kept burning with hope in God's blessings?

Yes, this is the time when faith is tested, but let us remember that with every trial there is also the accompanying grace of God.

As it is said, God won't test us beyond our capabilities.

In the 1st reading, St. Paul talks about his struggle with that "thorn in the flesh".

He pleaded with the Lord three times for it to be taken away for him, but the Lord replied with this: My grace is enough for you; my power is at its best in weakness.

Our faith is tested and stretched, but let us remember that it is when we are weak that God's grace will come to give us strength.

Yes, God's grace is enough, and His power is at its best in human weakness. Let us believe that.

11th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 18-06-2021

2 Cor 11:18, 21-30 / Matthew 6:19-23   

There are many beautiful and wonderful things in this world and it is with our eyes that we admire them.

Going beyond admiration, a desire may arise to the possession of these things.

And the more we look at these things, the strong the desire will grow.

It may not just be things. It may be an attraction to another person, or it may be a drive for an achievement.

In the 1st reading, St. Paul says while others boast of their worldly achievements, he will boast of something quite different - he will boast of his own feebleness and nothingness.

In the eyes of the world, that is nothing to boast about. In fact that seems like foolishness.

But only with God given eyes will we be able to look at the things of heaven, where neither moth or woodworms can destroy and thieves cannot break in and steal.

May God give light to our eyes so that we can see what are the things that are eternal and with the grace of God set our hearts on that heavenly treasure.

11th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 17-06-2021

2 Cor 11:1-11 / Matthew 6:7-15    

In the Church, the official worship is called the liturgy, and there are three aspects of it.

There is the Mass, the celebration of the Sacraments and the Divine Office which is the Liturgy of the Hours.

The Mass is what we are most familiar with, and the format of the Mass is a standard ritual.

While the standard ritual of the Mass gives us a certainty and stability, some may find it rather rigid and even boring.

The liturgical law states that the essential parts of the Mass cannot be changed, and neither can there be additions or omissions.

That may bring us to reflect on what is said in the 1st reading about the essence of the gospel that St. Paul preached to the Corinthians.

He lamented that when someone came along and preached a so-called new message that was different from what St. Paul preached, the Corinthians welcomed it with open arms.

St. Paul stated that what he preached was the truth of Christ, and he preached it with love, regardless of how difficult or rigid it may seem to the Corinthians.

In the gospel, Jesus taught us a prayer that we are familiar with and it is the heart of all prayers.

All our prayers should flow from that prayer. That prayer should also lead us to forgive others and may we always find a deeper meaning for our lives in that prayer.

11th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 16-06-2021

2 Cor 9:6-11 / Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18      

A cup that is half-filled with water can give a couple of reflections.

Some say it is half-empty, while others say it is half-filled, depending on the perspective.

But whether it is half-empty or half-filled, it can also be re-filled.

And in order to be re-filled with fresh water, then it would be better to empty the cup, regardless of whether it is half-empty or half-filled.

A cup of water can show us some truth about life, and that is, in order to be renewed, then we also need to pour out our lives in love and in service of others.

The 1st reading reminds us of the practice of generosity, that we are called to give of ourselves for the good of others.

It is in giving that we will also received, we will be renewed with the living water that God will pour into our lives.

The gospel also tells us to empty ourselves of hypocrisy or attention seeking, so that in letting go of ourselves, we let God come and fill our lives.

Let us not be like stagnant water in a cup. When we empty ourselves for God and for others, we will be refilled with the living water of God's love and we will be able to do all the generous things which are the cause of thanksgiving to God.

11th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 15-06-2021

2 Cor 8:1-9 / Matthew 5:43-48   

The word "enemy" is a word of restrictive usage.

We don't use that word often, at least not in every day language.

That may mean that we may not have that many enemies actually.

And when we think about it, how many real enemies do we have?

Hopefully, we can't think of anyone who is a real enemy to us.

But there are people that we don't like, people that we resent, people that we avoid.

And they can be than a handful. And it is certainly not the more the merrier.

In the gospel, we heard that loving our neighbour is expected of us.

But in reality, we treat some of these neighbours as if they are our enemies.

It is these "neighbourly enemies" that Jesus wants us to love.

Let us be at peace with them, and then we will be at peace with God and with ourselves.

11th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 14-06-2021

2 Cor 6:1-10 / Matthew 5:38-42      

We have this instinct for self-preservation and survival.

When we come face-to-face with danger or a threat, this instinct will kick in.

So it is either we fight or we run away. That is our instinct.

What Jesus said in the gospel is a teaching that goes against our instinct, when He tells us to offer the wicked man no resistance.

And even going further than that, it is letting the wicked do whatever they like to us.

That does not make sense, until we listen to what St. Paul tells us this in the 1st reading.

For God says: At the favourable time, I have listened to you; on the day of salvation I came to your help.

We don't not just act on instinct alone. We also live by faith.

Faith tells us that God will listen to us and come to our help when the wicked want to threaten or harm us.

Resisting the wicked will only result in loss of eyes and teeth.

We must let God come to our help and we will see His saving power protecting us.

11th Ordinary Sunday, Year B, 13.06.2021

Ezekiel 17:22-24 / 2 Cor 5:6-10 / Mark 4:26-34     

We may have noticed that there are some things that are pleasantly unusual around the sanctuary area this weekend, and it is only just for this weekend. 

We can't miss the statue of the Sacred Heart over there. It was brought out for the celebration of the triduum and the feast day which was last Friday. 

We would have also noticed the red roses at the side of the statue. There are 400 stalks of roses because there was this offering of roses for Jesus for the feast day. 

Besides that there are also more floral decorations at the foot of the main altar, at the side-altars and around. 

The extra floral decorations are for the Feast Day celebrations. They certainly had more colour and ambience to the sanctuary, which is already quite beautiful in itself. 

Come to think of it, the three stained-glass images also have floral designs around them, which made the stained-glass images quite unique as well as beautiful. 

In a way, we can say that these flowers have fulfilled their destiny. When they were in the nursery, no one could really know where and how they would eventually end up. 

Some may end up gracing the sanctuary of churches and homes. Some may be part of a bridal bouquet. Some may be part of a wreath. Some may just be floral decorations at events. 

Whatever it might be, the flowers were grown, then when they bloomed, they were cut and used for decorations and their destiny was fulfilled. 

That is the story of the flower. In the gospel, we heard about the parables of the seeds. 

The seeds were sown in the soil, and they germinated. Some bore fruit for the harvest, some grew and put out big branches so that birds can shelter in the shade. 

Jesus used the parable of the seeds to point to the kingdom of God. When creation fulfills its destiny, God has given the glory. 

The parable of the seeds reminds us that God created us in love, and He has sown the seeds of His kingdom in the depths of our hearts. 

As the 1st reading says of those seeds: It will sprout branches and bear fruit. Every kind of bird will live beneath it, and every winged creature will rest in the shade of its branches. 

So, we know what our destiny is. We must let the seeds of God's kingdom and germinate and sprout and bear fruit in our lives and beautify the world for the glory of God. 

It is about a spiritual growth for the kingdom of God, so that the world can see the beauty of God's love, and the salvation that Jesus is offering to the world. 

But as we know, growth is not without challenges and difficulties. The challenges and difficulties that we experience in life is also what a young fragile seedling has to go through. 

There is a scorching sun, the heavy drops of rain, and the piercing wind. All these elements of nature threaten the young seedling, but at the same time, these elements of nature are necessary for growth. 

The sun is needed to make it grow upwards. The rain waters it and the wind make it firm. 

We too will experience similar elements in our lives. 

But as the 2nd reading tells us, we live and grow by faith and not by sight. 

We believe that the scorching and hurting issues of our lives are meant to burn away the unnecessary so that we can see clearly. 

When we feel that we are sinking into murky Waters, we cry out “Lord save me”. 

And when the winds of change blow away our comfort and security, then we must turn to God who is our refuge and our hope. 

Yes, we live and grow by faith and not just by sight. 

We are not flowers or seeds that depend on circumstances to determine their destiny. 

We are created in love, and with faith we make the decisions that will shape our destiny, and we place our hope in God who will guide us.

Like the flower, may we grow in beauty and give God glory. 

Like the seed, may we also bear fruit and a harvest for God's Kingdom so that the world can taste and be filled with the goodness of the Lord.

The Immaculate Heart of Mary, Saturday, 12-06-2021

Isaiah 61:9-11 / Luke 2:41-51

The feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary is closely connected to the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus which was celebrated yesterday.

This feast highlights the joys and sorrows of Mary in doing the will of God, her virtues of obedience and humility, her love for God and for Jesus, and not least, her love for all people.

In Christian art, the Immaculate Heart of Mary is depicted with a sword pierced through the heart, and wrapped with roses or lilies.

In the gospel of Luke, Simeon prophesied that a sword will pierce through her heart (Lk 2:35) because of the sorrows and sufferings she will have to go through with Jesus.

Hence, closely connected to the devotion of the Immaculate Heart of Mary is the seven sorrows of Mary :

1. The prophecy of Simeon (Lk 2:35)
2. The flight to Egypt (Mt 2:13-14)
3. The finding of Jesus in the Temple (Lk 2:43-45)
4. The meeting of Jesus and Mary on the way of the cross
5. The crucifixion
6. The taking down of the body of Jesus from the cross
7. The burial of Jesus (Jn 19:38-42)

Usually seven Hail Marys are also said while meditating upon the seven sorrows of Mary. Furthermore, the devotion to the Immaculate Heart would also include going for Confession before or after the first Saturday of every month, receive Communion and the praying of the Rosary.

All this is in reparation for the sins committed against her Immaculate Heart, which are also the sins committed against the Sacred Heart of Jesus, because the two Hearts are closely and intimately connected.

It is also a way of expressing our union with the Hearts of Jesus and Mary and sharing in their love for all people and praying for the conversion and salvation of sinners.

Yes, we and all peoples are in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. May Jesus and Mary be in our hearts and in the hearts of all peoples too so that all will be saved.

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Friday, 11-06-2021

The word love is such a powerful word. 

Logically there are many definitions of love, but emotionally, the implications are far and wide and deep. 

Love that is offered and accepted is beautiful. 

In 1 Cor 13, love is expressed as patience, kindness, generosity, humility and forgiveness. 

Love that is offered and accepted is truly beautiful. On the other hand, love that is offered but rejected is really sorrowful. 

Unrequited love is one of the themes for TV soap operas and sob stories. 

But in reality, unrequited love has the consequence of everything that is the opposite of what is expressed in 1 Cor 13, and that is selfishness, jealousy, pride and conceitedness. 

In other words, unrequited love results in a heartbreak and a heartache. 

One of the revelations of Jesus to St. Margaret Mary is this when He said: Behold the Heart that loves humanity with so much love, but in return what I received is ingratitude, coldness and contempt. 

But the Sacred Heart of Jesus continues to burn furiously with love and mercy for humanity. 

The 1st reading expresses that love like this: I myself taught Ephraim to walk, I took them in my arms. Yet they have not understood that I was the one looking after them. I led them with reins of kindness, with leading strings of love. I was like someone who lifts an infant close to his cheek, stooping down to him I gave him his food. 

But as the 2nd reading tells us that the love of Christ is planted in our hearts, and build on that love, we are able to respond with love. 

And that is what we have done for the past 3 days and that is what we are doing as we celebrate the Feast of the most Sacred Heart of Jesus. 

We give thanks and praise to Jesus for His love. We offer prayers of reparation and atonement for our sins and the sins of the world. 

We offer petitions to Jesus for His love to be poured out on our prayers so that we will feel His great love for us. 

We offer roses as a humble sign of our love for Jesus. 

And speaking of roses, we didn't have the offering of roses for Jesus on the Feast of the Sacred Heart last year. 

Well, last year, the churches were closed for public worship so we can't come to church for Mass or to offer roses to Jesus to express our love. 

In fact, there were no floral decorations in church. 

Even when public Masses were resumed in church, floral decorations were deemed as non-essential. 

After all, the floral decorations will wither in a couple of days and had to be discarded. 

So, pragmatically speaking, and to save costs, the floral decorations can hold on for a while. 

But the roses at the Statue of the Sacred Heart and the floral decorations at the altar and around the church have something to tell us. 

Though these flowers will wither in a couple of days, we use them to show our love for Jesus, and Jesus accepts them with love, just as parents will accept any simple gift from their children. 

The flowers are also an expression of the frailty and fragility of our love and our lives. 

Yet Jesus accepts us in our frailty and fragility because He loves us. 

St. Thérèse of Lisieux is also known as the Little Flower of Jesus. 

As a child, she was difficult to please and to appease, but her father knew how to make her happy. 

He gave her a flower. It made her happy. But it also began to make her think. 

If she can be happy with just a flower, then she also wanted to make Jesus happy by being a little flower offered to Jesus. 

And then came another reflection. She can make others happy too, by being a little flower for them and also by doing little things with great love. 

St. Thérèse was also afraid of the dark. But she managed to overcome that by thinking of offering flowers to Jesus, and that helped her to overcome her fear of the dark and to sleep well. 

So the humble flower has a lot to tell us and also a lot to teach us. 

Like the flowers in the field, we will bloom and fade away, just like these flowers will wither in a couple of days. 

We are frail, we are fragile, we too are like a flower. 

But we are not just like flowers that will wither away. We are flowers at the foot of the Cross of Christ. 

And from the open Heart of Jesus Christ, the blood and water will cover our frailty and fragility, and make us into flowers of beauty for God's glory. 

The truth about people is that they are like flowers. They are fragile and they must be handled with care. 

Some people may seem to be like cactus, but cactus can bear flowers too, and their flowers can be quite beautiful. 

Like St. Thérèse of Lisieux, let us also be that little flower for Jesus,  and let us be that little flower for others. 

Let us be little flowers offered to the Heart of Jesus to show our love and gratitude. 

Let us be flowers of God's love and peace, so that we can bring beauty to this world and offer this world as a bouquet of flowers to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

(Join us 'live' on Youtube for the Mass of the Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Link to broadcast is  https://youtu.be/Xmlev7BIZWc )

10th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 10-06-2021

2 Cor 3:15 - 4:1, 3-6 / Matthew 5:20-276    

Adjectives are used to describe a person's character or personality.

Such adjectives can be positive or negative, and it can be encouraging or insulting.

But when a noun is used to describe a person, it can have quite a different meaning.

While adjectives describe the expressions of a person, nouns indicate what the person is.

So to call a person a "fool" or "renegade" is certainly derogatory and insulting.

That is why in the gospel, Jesus addressed the matter of the use of nouns on a person.

It is not just derogatory and insulting to the person, it is also an insult and a criticism level at God who made all human beings in His image.

So let us be careful and be aware of what nouns we are using on a person.

What nouns we use on a person, we may be saying something about God.

10th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 09-06-2021

2 Cor 3:4-11 / Matthew 5:17-19        

When a sentence begins with "Life is short, .... " there can be so many ways to complete it.

Depending on the view of life and the reflections that come along with it, it can be like "Life is short ... " so be happy, don't worry, enjoy it, treasure it, etc.

In Psalm 90 (89), there is this verse: Lord, make us know the shortness of our days, so that we may gain wisdom of heart.

So the reality is that life is short, that our life on earth is only temporary, and that we can't bring anything along to the next life.

So in Psalm 90, there is a prayer to the Lord to grant wisdom of heart so that we can live life wisely.

In the gospel, Jesus made it clear that He did not come to abolish the Law but to complete it.

And He  also warned that anyone who infringes the least of the commandments and teaches others to do the same will have severe consequences.

To keep the commandments of the Lord would require the gift of wisdom from the Lord so that we can follow the commandments wisely and humbly.

Any glorious achievements on earth can never be as great as living life humbly, simply and peacefully on earth.

May we have the wisdom to remember that and live according to the commandments of the Lord.

10th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 08-06-2021

2 Cor 1:18-22 / Matthew 5:13-16    

  

Between a "Yes" and a "No", the human tendency is to say "No".

To say "Yes" would mean that it will require a commitment and to fulfil what was requested by the other.

To say "No" would be certainly easier. But it also means that the discussion and the direction have come to a stop and a stand-still.

In the 1st reading, St. Paul said that the Christ Jesus that they proclaim was never Yes and No. With Christ Jesus, it was always Yes, and however many the promises God made, the Yes to them all is in Him.

Jesus said Yes to God and it was all the way to the Cross.

And through Jesus, God is also saying Yes to us in forgiving and saving us.

May we too say Yes to God and to be the salt of the earth and light to the world and be witnesses to God's promise to the world.

10th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 07-06-2021

2 Cor 1:1-7 / Matthew 5:1-12       

Generally speaking, we can take a lot of hardships in life.

We have enough of perseverance to bear the hardships of life and to tolerate the difficulties in it.

But it is said that while people can take on the hardships of life, some become hardened of heart.

The hardships of life have hardened their hearts and they become pessimistic and they have little compassion for those who are suffering.

In other words, the hardships of life didn't do them any good. It only hardened their hearts and they also hardened themselves from others.

In the 1st reading, St. Paul gives a Christian understanding to the sufferings and hardships of life.

He says that the God of all consolation, comforts us in our sorrows, so that we can offer others, in their sorrow, the consolation that we have received from God ourselves.

Indeed, God comforts those who in their sorrow turn to Him to find strength and perseverance, and it is truly a blessing to receive God's consolation.

That is also the gospel message - that when we experience difficulties, hardships and sufferings, God is always there to give us His blessing.

Yes, God blesses those who trust in Him in spite of hardships of life so that they can be witness of His consolation and in turn become God's instrument of consolation of others.

Corpus Christi, Year B, 06.06.2021

Exodus 24:3-8 / Hebrews 9:11-15 / Mark 14:12-16, 22-26

There are some words that can be difficult to make a sentence with because of the sensitive implications. 

One of those words is the word “dead”. That word in itself means that there is no more life, or that life has ended. That sounds quite depressive actually. 

And quite often, instead of saying that a person has died or is dead, it may be more polite to say that the person has “passed on”. 

Another word that has sensitive meanings and gives graphic images to the mind is the word “blood”. 

Blood has a specific image because red is the associated colour and the form is usually liquid. 

The phrases that have the word “blood” in them often have negative meanings and implications. 

So, words and phrases like “bloodshed”, “blood is spilled”, “pool of blood”, “blood splattered all over” point to images of violence, injury and even death. 

But then there are other words and phrases that have a spiritual meaning, like “blood brothers”, “blood relations” and “sealed with blood”. 

Today as we celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi, or the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ, the readings mention about blood. 

The image of the blood is certainly graphic enough but the meaning is spiritual. 

In the 1st reading, the Covenant between God and His people was sealed with the blood of bulls. It was quite a sight when we imagine it, as the blood was cast on the altar and also on the people. 

But the meaning of “sealed in blood” is profoundly clear. God and His people were bonded by the symbol of blood as Moses declared: This is the blood of the Covenant that the Lord has made with you”. 

But the 2nd reading tells us of a new Covenant that is also sealed in blood. But it is not the blood of goats or bulls, but the blood of Christ. 

Christ is the high priest of the new Covenant, and with His own Blood, He won an eternal redemption for us as He offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice to God through the eternal Spirit. 

And in the gospel, we heard how Jesus offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice at the Last Supper, as He gave His Body and Blood to His disciples. 

It was a sacrifice that was fulfilled on the Cross. Jesus gave Himself, His Body, to us to be in union with Him, and He poured out His Blood to wash us clean of sin so that we can be saved. 

In short, Jesus has shed His Blood for our forgiveness, so that we don't have to shed our own blood in order to be forgiven. 

And neither should any more blood be shed out of revenge or hatred, or even out of anger and resentment. 

When we give in to anger, resentment and bitterness, we drain out the blood of life in us as well as in others. All the more, that shouldn't be thoughts of hatred and revenge. 

Let us always remember that as we partake of the Body of Christ in Holy Communion, the Blood of Christ also flows into us and gives us new life and washes our sins away. 

When we truly understand the spiritual meaning of the Body and Blood of Christ, then we will always want to be in union with Christ Our Saviour. 

United with Christ, we will also want to be united with each other in love and forgiveness, so that as the body of Christ, we can offer life and salvation to the world. 

As the Body of Christ, as the Church, we must also be witnesses of forgiveness and not to let anger or bitterness or resentment take root in our lives. 

Jesus has shed His Blood for our forgiveness and for the salvation of the world. Let there be no more bloodshed.

9th Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 05-06-2021

Tobit 12:1, 5-15, 20 / Mark 12:38-44        

The test of a person's character and integrity is what will the person do when no one is looking or watching.

When we know that others are looking or watching, we will be acting in a particular way that is expected, and we may also be expecting something out of what we are doing.

But when no one is looking or watching, will there be a difference in our actions?

In the 1st reading, as the story of Tobit and his family comes to a happy ending, the archangel Raphael revealed to them who he is.

It was he who brought the prayers of Tobias and Sarah to God and God gave them His protection.

When Tobit went out of his way to bury the dead, what he did was seen, not just by others, but also by God.

And God heard the prayers of Tobit and Sarah and granted them healing and blessings.

So, let us remember that when we pray and fast, when we offer alms and other works of charity, God sees and He knows the true intentions of our hearts.

May we do all for the glory of God, and only for the glory of God, and we will receive His blessings in return.

9th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 04-06-2021

Tobit 11:5-17 / Mark 12:35-37           

Whenever we sink into the darkness of our troubles, it is understandable that we will moan and groan.

After all, how can we be in any other mood when we are sinking into a deep dark hole.

Although we believe that God will save us out of our troubles, the waiting in the darkness of despair is certainly a test of faith.

For Tobit, whom we heard about in the 1st reading, he was literally in darkness due to his blindness.

And his faith was also dimming as he waited for God to save him from that darkness and despair.

But when God's salvation eventually came, it was blessing upon blessing and with rejoicing.

Tobit, as well as the many other characters in the Bible, have had their trials and their faith was also tested.

They have known the darkness of despair but they put their hope in God's salvation and blessings.

In our times of darkness and despair, let us hold firm in faith and hope in God's blessings.

Then like Tobit, we too will give thanks to God with rejoicing.

9th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 03-05-2021

Tobit 6:10-11; 7:1, 9-14; 8:4-9 / Mark 12:28-34     

There is no doubt that there is the presence of evil in this world.

From atrocities and heinous crimes to cheating and deception, such acts of evil happen every day.

The 1st reading mentions of a particular type of evil, a spiritual evil that took the lives of seven bridegrooms of the innocent Sarah.

On the wedding night of Tobias and Sarah, they were aware of the harm that the evil spirit could do, and so they turned to God and prayed for protection and for His blessings on their marriage.

In a world where we see so much evil happening, there is the temptation to return evil with evil.

But the gospel reminds us of the great commandment, and that is to love God and to love neighbour.

To carry out that commandment will entail facing resistance and opposition by the forces of evil and their agents.

We need to constantly pray for God's protection and help to live out that commandment of love.

May our Lord God protect us from evil and bless us to be instruments of His love for others.

9th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 02-05-2021

Tobit 3:1-11, 16-17 / Mark 12:18-27        

Whenever we talk about the future, we talk about it with so much uncertainty.

We don't know what the future will be like, we can't predict it for sure, and situations can change and things happen with just a blink of the eye.

The future is indeed a mystery. We can only know that much about it and yet there is a lot more that we do not know.

If that is what we say about the future in this life, then what can we say about the after-life?

We believe in the after-life, the eternal life, and it is a promise made by Jesus that when we follow His ways on earth faithfully and serve Him, we will be rewarded with the eternal life in heaven.

In the gospel, Jesus tells us that the God we believe in is God, not of the dead, but of the living.

God is the God of life on earth and in heaven. All life is in His hands for He is the Creator of life.

Knowing that much about the after-life should quell our speculation about whether there is an after-life and what is it like.

But knowing that God is holding our life in His hands even while we are on earth should make us put our faith and trust in Him.

In the 1st reading, Tobit and Sarah put their lives into the hands of God God in their moment of distress and despair.

May we too put our lives and our future into the hands of God and put our faith and trust in Him as He leads us through life.