1st Week of Advent, Wednesday, 01-12-2021

Isaiah 25:6-10 / Matthew 15:29-37     

As much the basic needs of life are food, clothing and shelter, there is one fundamental and essential need that is presupposed above these needs.

That fundamental and essential need is to be healthy and well enough to live life.

Because when there is illness or diseases, then the best food, or clothing, or shelter, do not really matter that much.

What is most needed is to be cured and to be well enough to get on with life.

In the gospel, Jesus cured the sick who were brought to Him and the people praised God.

But the next need came in, and that was hunger, and again Jesus miraculously provided food for the people.

But more than just curing illness and diseases and providing food, there is a fundamental human need that was fulfilled.

Jesus showed God's love by curing illness and diseases and providing food for the hungry.

Indeed, when there is love, we will be able to bear whatever pains and difficulties and the burdens of life.

May we always be filled with God's love and may we also share that love with those in need so that they too will know that God loves them.

St. Andrew, Apostle, Tuesday, 30-11-2021

Romans 10:9-18 / Matthew 4:18-22    

We have heard of the term "sibling rivalry". 

It is not just a concept but a reality that can exist between siblings.

But on the other hand, there is also sibling unity, and it is heart-warming when siblings look out and care for one another.

According to Christian tradition, Andrew is the older brother of Peter.

But Peter is the more prominent sibling and also more vocal and impulsive.

Andrew may seem to the quieter one, and maybe more pensive and thoughtful.

And it was he who brought Peter to Jesus, and that was how Peter got his calling.

St. Andrew gave us an example of not just being a caring sibling and a thoughtful person.

He also gave us an example of being a missionary of Christ and bringing people to know Christ.

May we follow his example of being a caring brother or sister to others and to let them know who Jesus is by our actions.

1st Week of Advent, Monday, 29-11-2021

Isaiah 2:1-5 / Matthew 8:5-11   

A soldier is one who is engaged in military service and commonly in the army.

So it can generally be presumed that a soldier is trained to fight with weapons and will do so in a battle.

But what is really the role of a soldier and what does he fight for?

A good soldier can be said to be one who fights, not because of what he hates is in front of him.

Rather, a good soldier fights, because of what he loves is behind him.

So, a good soldier fights to defend and not so much to destroy.

What humanity needs to understand is that war and violence does not prove who is right.

What is right is the need for reconciliation and to work for peace.

Then swords will be hammered into ploughshares and spears into sickles.

And we pray that those with military power and might will be like the centurion who recognises and acknowledges the authority of Jesus.

For Jesus is the Prince of peace. And we will have peace when we listen to His Word.

1st Sunday of Advent, Year C, 28.11.2021

Jeremiah 33:14-16 / 1 Thess 3:12 – 4:2 / Luke 21:25-28, 34-36

One of the easily available nutritious tropical fruit is the humble papaya. 

The papaya has a sweet taste and a vibrant colour and the wide variety of health benefits make the papaya a popular fruit. 

It is available at most times of the year and it is also not that expensive. In fact, it may be called a budget fruit. 

And it can be eaten in many ways. It can be sliced up and refreshing to eat when it is chilled. It can be added to salads, or blended into smoothies, or for toppings on the ice cream, or even added into soup. 

The nutrients found in the papaya are thought to have a range of health benefits, and may help to protect against a number of health conditions. 

But of course, having said all that, as in everything that is good and beneficial, it has to be eaten in moderation. 

What is usually done when we want to eat the papaya, is to cut it up and the roundish black seeds are removed and discarded. 

But here is where we might just want to take a moment to do a reflection. 

The seeds, unlike the skin of the papaya, is not useless just because we don't consume them. 

In fact, each seed, if planted and nurtured, has the potential to germinate and grow into a tree and bear fruit. 

So, each seed is a sign of life, and it is up to us whether we want to do something about it. 

In the gospel, Jesus talked about signs when He said that there will be signs in the sun and the moon and the stars. He goes on to give a disturbing and terrifying picture of what might seem to be the end times. 

But Jesus also added by saying that it is in those times that the Son of Man will come in a cloud with power and great glory. 

With that, Jesus tells us what we should do for now, and that is to watch ourselves, or our hearts will be coarsened with the unimportant things of life. 

Jesus ends off by urging us to stay awake, praying at all times and to stand in confidence. 

Yes, we have to watch ourselves and stay awake and keep our hearts from being coarsened and hardened by the cares of this world, and ignoring the signs that God is showing us. 

As we begin the season of Advent, we light the first candle of the Advent wreath. This first Sunday of Advent marks a new beginning in the liturgical life of the church. 

The lighted candle is a sign for us to reflect deeper about life, so that we can see more signs that are pointing to life and love. 

There is this story of a traveller who came upon an empty plot of land. He noticed an elderly man walking about in the barren land with a metal pipe in his hand. 

As he walked around, he would stop now and then to poke the metal pipe into the ground and then he would drop a seed from the other end of the pipe. 

The traveller was curious and asked the elderly man what he was doing. The man replied, “When I came into this world, there were fruit trees and I enjoyed the fruits that others before me had planted. I want to do the same, so that the next generation can have fruits to enjoy.” 

So, the next time when we cut up a papaya, let us take a moment to look at the seeds. 

We may know the number of seeds in a papaya, but only God knows the number of papayas there can be in a seed. 

The signs that God wants us to look at are not in the sun or moon or stars. 

God wants us to look at the signs in the people that we encounter. 

God wants us to see that in each person, there is a potential to bear fruits of life and love. 

When we can see that, then the season of Advent would prepare us for a joyful celebration of life and love.

34th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 26-11-2021

Daniel 7:2-14 / Luke 21:29-33       

Every generation faces a crisis that seemed like the end of the world.

The generation that faced WW II had thought that the end of the world was near.

Those who survived became more resilient and grew stronger to face the challenges ahead.

We have to learn from that generation and to know that we can only grow stronger when we persist and persevere.

In the 1st reading, the visions of the prophet Daniel began with terrifying and disturbing signs. 

But those signs gave way to a glorious triumph of good over evil.

In the end, God triumphed over evil. Evil may cause much distress but it will be destroyed in the end.

Jesus promised that evil does not have the last say.

Heaven and earth may pass away, but His words will not pass away.

Let us believe that eventually God will triumph over evil.

Let us persist and persevere and we will only grow stronger with each crisis.

34th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 25-11-2021

Daniel 6:12-28 / Luke 21:20-28   

In a time of danger or distress, it is only natural that we face and try to overcome the danger, or if possible, to find a way out of the danger or distress.

It is inevitable that our focus and energies are concentrated on avoiding the danger or overcoming the distress.

But faith tells us not to just look at the things of earth, but also to look at the things above.

In other words, with faith, we believe that God will come to our help and save us from the danger and distress.

In the 1st reading, the prophet Daniel was about to be thrown into the lion's pit.

The king had tried to save him but in vain, and he could say to Daniel, "Your God, whom you have served so faithfully, will have to save you."

So Daniel was thrown into the lions' pit and the opening was sealed, and with that, so was Daniel's fate.

But the next morning, Daniel was found to be still alive and unharmed by the lions.

This story tells us that as much as we will face danger and distress on earth, let us lift our eyes and hearts to God above.

And the God that we believe and put our trust in will save us from the dangers and distress that we face.

34th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 24-11-2021

Daniel 5:1-6, 13-14, 16-17, 23-28 / Luke 21:12-19    

There are many written words that we read everyday.

We read words written in the papers, in text messages, in emails, in notes, in signboards, etc.

But no one would write anything serious on the wall. 

That would be considered as graffiti or even vandalism.

But in the 1st reading, a hand appeared and wrote something on the wall.

And it shocked king Belshazzar and he knew the message was for him.

Those four words "Mene, Mene, Tekel, Parsin" meant that God had measured the kings's sovereignty and will put an end to it. 

He has been weighed in the balance and found wanting. His kingdom will be divided and given to others.

It was a message that the king could not ignore.

God will also write messages on the walls of our hearts.

Let us not ignore His messages, and let His message of love enter into our hearts and let us listen to His voice in the messages.

Then we will live our lives according to His will and we will have peace in our hearts.

34th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 23-11-2021

Daniel 2:31-45 / Luke 21:5-11     

When it comes to sight, it is usually understood as what the eyes perceive.

So the eyes see what is the tangible physical and material reality that is around.

But seeing can also mean something intangible as in a vision or something beyond the tangible.

In the 1st reading, king Nebuchadnezzar had a dream in which he had a vision of what was described in the 1st reading.

It does not exist in reality, but it has a meaning, and that meaning was interpreted by the prophet Daniel.

It gave the king of the events that are to come, and as the prophet Daniel said, it was the great God who has shown the king what is to take place.

So what the king will do about it, and whether he believed it, and how he was to prepare for it will be his decision.  

In the gospel, the people were looking at the beauty of the Temple, but Jesus gave a prophecy of what was to come.

All that has passed, and it is now for us to look around and to reflect about what God is showing us in what we see.

But we can only come to know what God wants us to do by reflecting on His Word.

May the Word of God grant peace to our hearts and we live our lives according to His will so that we will live life and live it to the full.

34th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 22-11-2021

Daniel 1:1-6, 8-20 / Luke 21:1-4   

We believe that God sees everything, and He knows everything.

That should make us become more aware of our actions and our intentions, and that nothing is hidden from God.

But that does not mean that God is watching over our shoulders to see if we are doing wrong or that He checks our minds for ulterior motives.

On the contrary, God looks at the good we do, even if no one is looking, and the charitable thoughts we have in mind.

In the gospel, no one noticed the poverty-stricken widow putting in two small coins into the treasury.

But Jesus did, and that tells us that no action, no matter how insignificant, when done in charity, is noticed by God and He will bestow His blessings on the doer.

And God also listens to everything, especially to prayers made with a humble and trusting heart.

In the 1st reading, He listened to the prayers of the four boys and He granted them their petition.

Yes, God sees, God knows, God listens, and He blesses those who love Him and neighbour.

May our thoughts, words and deeds be done with charity, so that our lives will always give glory to God.

Christ the King, Year B, 21.11.2021

Daniel 7:13-14 / Apocalypse 1:5-8 / John 18:33-37

Whenever the word courage is mentioned, there is usually something inspirational that comes along with it. 

The meaning of courage is the ability to do something that is frightening, and that ability may come all of a sudden, or after a decision. 

So, it can be something like running into a burning building to save people, or having that strength in the face of pain or suffering. 

It can be anything as dramatic as a battle scenario where the outnumbered soldiers held the line against the onslaught of an overpowering enemy. 

Or it can be as quiet as a candle in the wind, holding on to its flame. 

These are inspiring images of courage, and often it is in a time of crisis that courage is put to the test. 

Hence, it is said that crisis does not build character. It only brings out the character. 

Another example of courage is to speak out against a powerful person or organisation. 

Quite often, it is only when the person or organization is no more in power or disposed of power, that criticisms come out against that person or organization. 

But it takes real courage to speak out against a powerful person or organisation, and knowing that there will be serious consequences for doing so. 

In the gospel passage, there are just two characters, Jesus and Pilate. Pilate was the one in power and he interrogated Jesus with the first question: Are you the king of the Jews? 

It was a question of curiosity. Pilate was curious as to why others called Jesus the King of the Jews. 

Jesus addressed Pilate’s curiosity and also answered Pilate’s question. 

But Pilate was not prepared for the answer that Jesus gave, that He is a king, He was born for this, He came into the world for this, to bear witness to the Truth, and all who are on the side of Truth listen to His voice. 

That reply of Jesus threw Pilate into a confusion. Pilate thought he was in control but now he was confused. 

Pilot was curious to know who Jesus is, and maybe to learn more about Him and to understand why Jesus was handed over to him. 

It takes curiosity to learn. 

And it takes courage to unlearn. 

Learning requires the humility to admit what we don't know today. 

Unlearning requires the courage to admit that we were wrong yesterday. 

Learning is how we evolve. Unlearning is how we keep up as the world and the people around us evolve. 

We may not be powerful in terms of might and strength, but pride is a powerful force that blocks out what we don't want to see and hear. 

If pride and might are the obstacles that we have put up as our security blocks against others, then humility and courage is what we must pray for if we want to be truly human. 

Deep within us, we want to be loving, kind, compassionate, forgiving, patient, gentle and also courageous. 

If we truly acknowledge Jesus as our Lord and King, then we will want to be humble and learn to live as a human being who carries the image of God within. 

Let us also ask Jesus our Lord and King for the courage to change, and to be that person who lives in truth and in love.

33rd Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 20-11-2021

1 Maccabees 6:1-13 / Luke 20:27-40     

The topic of death is often an avoided topic and even consider taboo in some cultures.

But the reality of death is unavoidable and when it does happen it usually brings about grief and regrets.

In the gospel, the Sadducees brought up the topic of death, and though they say that there is no resurrection, they came up with a story about the after-life.

But it was a story that could have puzzled those who believe in the resurrection, until Jesus came up with an explanation that ended with the teaching that God is not of the dead but of the living.

As for king Antiochus, he came to a realisation of regrets as his life came to an end.

As for us, let us live our lives in the ways of the Lord and to do His will.

In that way, we won't have regrets towards the end.

Rather we will be always thanking God for the gifts of life and love and to glorify Him with our lives.

33rd Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 19-11-2021

1 Maccabees 4:36-37, 52-59 / Luke 19:45-48   

A building is usually constructed with bricks and mortar.

What gives it its identity is the purpose for which it is used.

So it can be for homes or offices, for shops or factories, for schools or hospitals.

But a building that is designated to be a place of worship has a special significance.

For us we believe that the Church is the House of God and a house of prayer.

It is in Church that worship and sacrifice is offered to God.

It is also a place where prayers are offered and to find rest for the wearied heart.

The Church is the House of God and it is where God is present to His people.

May our hearts be filled with God's presence as we come to Church for worship and prayer.

And may we also bring God's presence back to our homes, offices and to wherever and to whoever that needs to experience God's peace and love.

33rd Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 18-11-2021

1 Maccabees 2:15-29 / Luke 19:41-44    

It is often said that accidents will happen and they do happen.

But accidents don't usually happen all of a sudden or just happen by chance.

Usually there will be warning signs before an accident happens.

So it is with tragedies and disasters. They just don't happen suddenly or by chance.

There will always be warning signs of an impending tragedy or disaster.

When attention is paid to those signs and acted up, then the damage can be lessened or even averted.

But more often than not, those signs are ignored and brushed off, and then after the terrible consequences, the blame game takes place.

In the gospel, we heard of that moving moment when Jesus shed tears over Jerusalem and He said this, "If you in your turn had only understood on the this day the message of peace!"

God speaks to us in the signs and the voices of the people around us. 

When we sense what needs to be done, let us do what is right and good and loving.

Then we won't cry tears of sadness. Instead we give thanks with tears of joy.

33rd Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 17-11-2021

2 Maccabees 7:1, 20-31 / Luke 19:11-28       

To impose something on a person is to force a personal decision or ruling on that person.

Or it can also mean to take advantage of someone by demanding their attention or commitment.

Whichever it might be, it is clear in the 1st reading that the king was not just imposing but he was forcing his demands on the seven brothers and their mother.

So it was either they comply to the king's demands or face death, and the 1st reading tells us what the seven brothers and their mother chose.

God could also have imposed His demands on us and He could also punish us severely when we don't obey or comply.

But God is love. As much as He has made known to us what He expects of us through the 10 Commandments and other precepts, He has given us the free will to choose.

The freedom of choice is what God has entrusted to us. 

We are accountable and responsible for our choices.

May we exercise our freedom of choice with responsibility and choose to love God and to love others.

33rd Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 16-11-2021

2 Maccabees 6:18-31 / Luke 19:1-10    

To say that there is nothing to lose and everything to gain may sound nice but it may not be that true.

Because the reality is that if there is nothing to lose, then there is also nothing to gain.

So whether it is taking a risk or making a choice, there will be something to lose and also something to gain.

The venerable and respectable elderly Eleazar in the 1st reading found himself in that particular situation.

He had to decide what to lose and what to gain. 

So in the end he decided to give up his life but he gained the respect of his people as an example of nobility and a record of virtue not only for the young but for the majority of the nation.

As for Zacchaeus in the gospel passage, his curiosity to see what kind of man Jesus was led him to climb up a sycamore tree, something which was rather embarrassing for a senior tax collector.

But in letting go of his pride, Zacchaeus let Jesus into his life and he gained salvation.

Jesus said that whoever loses his life for the sake of the Kingdom will gain it.

In every loss, there is a gain. May we deny ourselves and follow Jesus and gain eternal life. 

33rd Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 15-11-2021

 1 Maccabees 1:10-15, 41-43, 54-57, 62-64 / Luke 18:35-43  

Between an advantage and a disadvantage, between something to gain and something to lose, the choice is obvious.

We would go for the advantage and for something to gain.

It does not make sense to choose a disadvantage and to be a loser and a laughing stock.

In the 1st reading, it was not a laughing matter when given the choice of the king's decree or to remain faithful and to stand firm in the faith.

It was a matter of life and death, and the choice had to be made and there could be no compromise.

In the gospel, the blind man was scolded and told to keep quiet when he called out to Jesus to have pity on him.

But he persisted and even shouted all the louder and caught the attention of Jesus.

In life, we will have to make choices and often those choices are difficult ones.

But let us make the choice with faith, and even if that may seem like a disadvantage and make us look like losers, let us persist like that blind man did in the gospel.

And like Jesus said, our faith will save us.

33rd Ordinary Sunday, Year B, 14.11.2021

 Daniel 12:1-3 / Hebrews 10:11-14, 18 / Mark 13:24-32

There are a few ways to make it known to others that we are in need of help. 

The most obvious way is to call out for help, or if it is a desperate and urgent case, then it will be to cry out for help. 

Another way is to write, or text a request for help, but that is usually done when help is not required urgently or immediately. 

There can be situations where help is required desperately, but it cannot be communicated verbally and the written form may not be quite enough to obtain the desired response. 

Just a couple of days ago, there was an article in the newspapers with this caption: “Teach children hand signals to seek help if they face abuse as Covid-19 curbs limit social interactions.” 

The article covered a symposium held a few days ago about child abuse. It said that Singapore recorded the highest number of child abuse cases in a decade last year. 

The pandemic has made it harder for children who are victims of abuse to seek help, as home-based learning and more time stuck at home have limited their social interactions. 

Hence it is more important now than before to let children know about non-verbal ways to ask for help. 

So now, there is a campaign to adopt a hand signal as a non-verbal way that victims can use to get help. 

That hand signal is done by first showing one hand, and then tucking the thumb into the palm, and then holding the other four fingers down over the thumb. 

This signal will be a way to seek help for those, whether children or adults, who cannot safely express their need for help verbally. 

When we listen to what Jesus said in the gospel, we would imagine that it was a frightening time. 

There is distress, the sun will be darkened, the moon will lose its brightness and the stars will fall from heaven. 

With those terrifying signs, we would certainly cry out for help. 

And the consolation is that Jesus promised that He will come with great power and glory, and that He will send the angels to gather His chosen from the ends of the world to the ends of heaven. 

But as for that day or hour, we don't know when, and nobody knows it too.

But we don't have to wait for that day or hour to come and then ask for help. 

Now is the time to prepare for it and learn how to ask for help. Of course, we will ask for help in our prayer, and we are able to verbalize our intentions with words and we can also write down our petitions. 

But we have to prepare for a time when darkness clouds our minds and the distress overwhelms our hearts and no words of prayer come out of our mouths. 

That happens when grief and fear leave us paralyzed and we felt like we are frozen. 

Yet it is interesting to note of the several ways of non-verbal prayer, like kneeling and clasping hands in a prayer posture, or stretching out our hands to the One who has the power to save us. 

The most profound act of faith and prayer is when we come forward to receive Holy Communion. 

With one hand over the other, we receive the Body of Christ. Other than saying “Amen”, no other words are necessary as we received Jesus into our hearts, and there He makes His home in us. 

Heaven and earth will pass away, but Jesus will always come and stay. 

We just have to stretch out our hands and say “Amen”. 

That is all that is needed for us to profess that Jesus is our Saviour, and He will come to help us and save us.

32nd Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 13-11-2021

Wisdom 18:14-16; 19:6-9 / Luke 18:1-8     

Wisdom 18:14-16; 19:6-9 / Luke 18 : 1-8    

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Essentially He told them to pray always without becoming weary.

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

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

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

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

32nd Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 12-22-2021

Wisdom 13:1-9 / Luke 17:26-37   

God's plans can seem quite mysterious to us.

But that does not means that there is no indication of what God's plans are, or that we can't discern God's plans for us.

We believe that God's plans for us are for our good and that He wants to grant peace and joy in our lives.

Hence, we must walk in the ways of the Lord and discern what He wants of us as life unfolds.

In the gospel, Jesus reminded the people of two occasions when God had plans to cleanse the world sin and corruption.

God sent signs through Noah and Lot so that if the people had heeded the signs they will repent. But the people did not heed the signs and they were punished.

As the 1st reading puts it - naturally stupid are all men who have not known God, despite seeing His works and the beauty of creation that all point to God.

May we always reflect and meditate on what we see around us and may we also come to see God in creation and also His plans for us.

32nd Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 11-11-2021

Wisdom  7:22 - 8: 1 / Luke 17:20-25   

Our lives are often run according to time and the word "time" is used frequently in our vocabulary.

So we say "don't have time", "not in time", "run out of time", "how much time" etc.

And closely connected with time is the word "when" so as to put a numerical reference to time.

In the gospel, the Pharisees asked Jesus about when the kingdom of God was to come.

What they wished to know was the specific time of the coming of kingdom of God.

Jesus did not say when or what time it will be.

Rather He said that the kingdom of God was already among them.

And it would require the gift of divine wisdom to see that the kingdom of God is already in the here and now.

Wisdom is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. 

With the gift of wisdom, we will be able to live fully in the present and give glory to God all the time.

32nd Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 10-11-2021

Wisdom 6:1-11 / Luke 17:11-19     

Nobody wants to suffer alone. Misery seeks company.

It may not lessen the pain but it does give a little consolation.

In the gospel, there were 10 lepers who came to meet Jesus.

They had the same affliction, and in their suffering, all differences were put aside, whether it was race or language or religion.

They come to Jesus to seek a cure and Jesus granted them their request; all 10 of them were cured.

But it seems that out of the 10, nine of them were locals and only one was a foreigner, and he was the only one who came back to Jesus to thank Him.

It seems that the moment suffering is cured, human differences return, and the Samaritan found himself alone but he still wanted to go and thank Jesus.

Yes, we must learn from the Samaritan that we must be grateful and thankful for what God has given us and done for us.

The other thing to learn is that for those in misery, we offer them our company.

That is one of the ways we express our thanks and gratitude to Jesus.

The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica, Tuesday, 09-11-2021

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

It can be said that the seat of governance in the Roman Catholic Church is at the Vatican City in Roman.

And at the Vatican City, the most prominent church is St. Peter's Basilica.

But today's feast of the dedication of the Lateran Basilica, or also known as St. John Lateran Basilica, brings the focus back on the Church as a mother.

It is the Cathedral of the Diocese of Rome in the city of Rome, and serves as the seat of the Bishop of Rome, the Pope.

It is the oldest public church in the city of Rome, and the oldest basilica of the Western world, and it has the title of ecumenical mother church of the Roman Catholic faithful.

This feast calls to mind the unity of the Church with the Lateran Basilica is the mother of all the churches in world and that the Pope is acknowledged as the head of the Church.

This feast calls for a renewed pledge of obedience and faithfulness to the doctrinal teachings of the Church.

The readings remind us that as members of the Church, we need to be cleansed and renewed in faith so that Church can fulfill her mission as a sign of God's salvation and that we are witnesses of God's love and forgiveness.

May the Lord God grant us this blessing as we celebrate this feast with thanksgiving.

 

32nd Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 08-11-2021

Wisdom 1:1-7 / Luke 17:1-6   

There is a routine that we go through when we wake up in the morning.

We would probably go to the toilet, wash our face and brush our teeth, although not necessarily in that order.

And of course, we would look at our face in the mirror, or at least glance at it.

If we have the time, it might be good to pause for a while and take a good look at ourselves in the mirror and think for a while.

And maybe to ask ourselves a couple of questions like "Who is this person going to be for today?" or "Will this person be a good person today?"

Jesus gave us a point for reflection in the gospel with just two words: Watch yourselves!

It may sound like a warning for us to watch ourselves and not to do anything wrong or to be an obstacle for others.

But it can also be a reminder for us to be the person that God has created us to be.

We are created and called to be loving and forgiving, to be kind and gentle, to be patient and understanding.

The 1st reading tells us that to be virtuous, to be honest, to have simplicity of heart are expressions of a person who lives wisely and follow the ways of God.

May the person we see in the mirror be that person that God has created and a reflection of who God is.

32nd Ordinary Sunday, Year B, 07.11.2021

1 Kings 17:10-16 / Hebrews 9:24-28 / Mark 12:38-44

One of the annoying and disappointing things to read is the notice with the words “out of stock”, and it is usually written in red capital letters. 

And that is usually applied to things that are popular, or even needed, and it is like on almost everyone's “must get” list. 

So, when a new handphone model is available, quite quickly it will go out of stock. Well, that can be expected as there is always this craze for new feature-filled gadgets. 

But there are also other things that can go out of stock that leaves us quite puzzled. 

For example, about a year ago, toilet rolls can go out of stock, and there were pictures circulating around of some people with shopping trolleys that are stacked with packets of toilet rolls. 

It seems funny now, but no one was laughing then, and it left us bewildered and frustrated. 

It was also around that time when the shelves of the supermarkets were cleaned out of dried and canned food. There was no need to even put the sign “out of stock”. It was obvious enough. 

At that time, a few other things were also out of stock, like face masks and handheld thermometers. But that is in good supply now. 

Currently, one of the must-have items is the Covid self-test kit. Let us hope that that will not go out of stock. 

But seriously, even if certain things can really go out of stock for a while, yet it must also be remembered that there is enough for everyone's need but never enough for everyone's greed. 

Greed comes from selfishness, and that is essentially a lack of consideration for other people, and concerned chiefly with one's own personal profit or pleasure. 

And selfishness manifest itself most obviously in a time of need, when everyone just wants to think of themselves. 

In the 1st reading, the situation was that there was a famine and food was scarce. 

When the prophet Elijah asked the widow for some bread, she was already at her last meal and then she and her son will just wait for starvation to overcome them. 

But Elijah assured her that God will provide, and so out of her last meagre meal came forth a miracle. 

But the widow in the gospel passage did not have such an assurance. 

Jesus observed that the two small coins that she put in was all she had, all she had to live on. 

There was no further mention of that widow, or where, or when she would get her next meal. 

But we believe that God will provide for her, just as God had provided for the widow and her son in the 1st reading. 

The gospel message for us is that God sees our actions and knows our motives. 

When we give in to greed and selfishness, the world will be poorer, hungrier and sadder. 

But it doesn't have to be like that. In fact, we can change that. 

It calls for us to have faith In God's providence, that He will give us what we need, because He cares for us. 

Yes, God cares for us and He is calling us to care for others by sharing our resources with those in need. 

There is always enough for everyone's need but never enough for everyone's greed. 

The widow in the 1st reading with her last meal, and the widow in the gospel passage with her last two coins, have shown us this truth: 

When we are down to nothing, God will come up with something. 

Let us believe that, and God's miracles of generosity and providence will be shown to the world.

31st Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 06-11-2021

Romans 16:3-9, 16. 22-27 / Luke 16:9-15      

Many things can be bought with money. 

But there are also many things that cannot be bought with money.

One thing that cannot be bought with money is love.

And connected with love are the people who love us. That also cannot be bought with money.

And the people who really love us are those who will even risk their lives for us.

In the 1st reading, St. Paul mentioned a number of people and some of them even risked death to save his life.

To them he expressed his debt of gratitude, and he also knows that all the money in the world cannot buy for him these people who walked with him when the rest walked out on him.

May we also always treasure the people who love us for they are indeed given to us by God.

May we also not choose money over the people who love us.

Money will come and go but the people who love us will always stay with us, especially in difficult times.

Let us thank God for them and let us also show them our gratitude.

31st Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 05-11-2021

Romans 15:14-21 / Luke 16:1-8  

Some of us may be proud of our memory abilities, while other may not.

We may be amazed at how some people can remember so many things with so many details, while we may fret over why we keep forgetting things or why we stepped into a room.

But whether it is photographic memory or a foggy memory, there is another aspect and it can be called selective memory.

We remember the things that we want to remember, especially when it is to our convenience and advantage.

But those things that seem difficult and troublesome, we just keep it aside and we even try not to think about it. But the fact is that we can't forget it.

In the 1st reading, St. Paul says that the reason why he had written to the Romans and put some things rather strongly, was to refresh their memories.

In other words, he wants to remind them of the necessary things for being a Christian and to keep to those precepts and teachings that they have been taught.

In the gospel, the dishonest steward, in his time of reckoning, could only think of his own benefit and he could only remember those whom he could take advantage of.

He could not remember, or he didn't want to remember, that his master trusted him to be his steward, and that he had abused his position.

Let us always remember God's love for us. The Cross and the Sacred Heart of Jesus are reminders of God's love. 

And let us always remember to love God and to love others.

31st Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 04-11-2021

Romans 14:7-12 / Luke 15:1-10    

Usually, people will form an opinion about us from how we present ourselves.

But besides how we behave, what we wear and how we speak, there is also another dimension.

And that is who our friends are and who we keep company with.

In the gospel, the Pharisees and scribes complained about Jesus welcoming sinners and eating with them.

In their opinion, the one who welcomes sinners and eats with them would also be another sinner.

After all, birds of a feather flock together.

But for the tax collectors and sinners, they saw Jesus as a compassionate teacher and they could learn something about life and hence they were seeking His company.

The 1st reading tells us that we should never pass judgement on a brother or treat him with contempt.

The life and death of each of us has its influence on others, and there is always something that we can learn for each other.

Let us speak in a way that others will like to listen to us, and let us also listen in a way that others will like to speak to us.

31st Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 03-11-2021

Romans 13:8-10 / Luke 14:25-33   

Each of us have some practices, or preferences, that we often subscribe to for our directions in life.

We can call them principles or mottos, and these can keep our desired habits or choices on track so that we can have a consistency.

So it can be "health is wealth" or "where there is a will, there is a way" or "practice makes perfect", etc.

The 1st reading reiterates the fundamental Christian principle of life, and that is "You must love your neighbour".

Indeed, love is the one thing that cannot hurt our neighbour, and so that is why it is the answer to every one of the commandments.

But we also know that to love our neighbour is easier said than done.

Some of those neighbours are like crosses, and some of those crosses are heavier than others.

In the gospel, Jesus says that anyone who does not carry his cross and come after Him cannot be His disciple.

We are called to carry our cross and to be disciples of love.

It was with love that Jesus carried His Cross and died on it.

Let us carry our cross with love for God and neighbour. Let that be our fundamental principle of life.

 

All Souls Day, Tuesday, 02-11-2021

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

When a person is alive, he has an identity and he is referred to with a name. 

As long as that person is alive, his existence and presence are acknowledged by a name. 

But somehow, upon death, when a person passes on, he is not identified with a name. 

Terms such as “the body” or “the corpse” are used instead. 

The change in identity, as well as existence, is actually quite drastic, together with the nagging question of what happens to a person after death. 

Today we remember the souls of the faithful departed. 

The word “souls” imply that the departed exist and they are alive, but not in this world. 

Our faith tells us that the souls of the departed are in the hands of God, and He is the God of Life. 

Today we remember especially the souls in purgatory, and we assist them with our prayers, that they will be purified and see God face to face and rejoice eternally in His love. 

Yes, we remember the departed not as dead bodies without any existence, but as souls with names. 

That is why when we offer Mass for the departed, we write in their names, we acknowledge their existence and it is a living existence. 

May our prayers help the souls in purgatory to be purified and to be received into the presence of God. 

The God of life and love will wipe away the tears from their eyes and may they rest in peace. 

God will also wipe away the tears from our eyes as we pray for the souls of the departed with faith and hope.