7th Week of Easter, Wednesday, 01-06-2022

Acts 20:28-38 / John 17:11-19    

Every ending has a new beginning.

But moving on can be quite difficult especially when what is going to be left behind has many fond memories.

When we really care and love the people that we are going to say goodbye to, it can be difficult, especially when we don't really know if we are able to see them face-to-face again.

Such was how St. Paul were feeling as he said his goodbye to the Christians at the church of Ephesus.

Not only did St. Paul knew that they would not see him again, he was also worried about the dangers that they will be facing.

But he did the best thing he could for them - he commended them to God and he assured them that God will protect them and watch over them.

In the gospel, Jesus knew that He had to leave His disciples and go back to the Father.

He did the best thing for them and that was to leave His word with them and to share His joy with them.

And His word to them was that He will send the Holy Spirit who will be their Advocate.

That is also the promise of Jesus to us.

With the Holy Spirit, it is a new beginning for us and we can move on with the fond memories of those we love and care for.

For those whom we have to say goodbye to, we know that God will watch over them, and when we pray for them, our love for them and their love for us will only grow stronger.

Visitation of the BVM, Tuesday, 31-05-2022

Zeph 3:14-16 or Romans 12:9-16 / Luke 1:39-56 

As much as we make plans for our lives, we cannot determine how life unfolds.

And as life unfolds moment by moment, we will have to make changes to our plans accordingly.

It is also futile to fret when there are changes to our plans and there is also pointless to resist the changes.

But with faith, we will be able to accept the changes and let God reveal His plans for us.

Mary may have her plans changed at the Annunciation and she may not have planned or intended to visit her kinswoman Elizabeth.

But when she heard from the angel that Elizabeth was in her sixth month of pregnancy, she set out and went as quickly as she could to see her.

Elizabeth wasn't expecting anyone to be with her or to be able to understand her extraordinary pregnancy.

But she would be pleasantly surprised by the visit from Mary, who was also in her early stages of pregnancy.

Both women found comfort and understanding in each other because they accepted to go along with God's plan.

So when there are unexpected changes in our own plans, let us trust that there will be pleasant surprises and revelations from God.

When we say that we want to do God's will, then let us also be prepared to accept changes to our plans in life.

God's plan for us is always for our good and we will also rejoice at the wonders and marvels He will do for us when we follow His plan.

7th Week of Easter, Monday, 30-05-2022

Acts 19 : 1-8 / John 16 : 29-33

Fear is usually seen as a negative force which diminishes the human ability.

Fear has a sort of paralysing effect on people.

Yet the positive aspect of fear is that we also experience an increase in the flow of adrenaline, a sort of "rush" so to speak.

That enables us to face the fear and do things that we that we are not usually capable of.

Maybe that was what the disciples in the 1st reading experienced.

They experienced the "rush" of the Spirit when St. Paul laid hands on them after they were baptized.

The experience of the Spirit made them the pioneers in the church in Ephesus.

It will be an experience they will have to fall back on as they meet with difficulties and trouble.

In gospel, Jesus said that in this world we will have trouble.

It seems to come as a package deal in being a Christian.

Coming along with trouble is also fear.

Yet Jesus sends us the Spirit to help us overcome any trouble that we will face so that there will be peace in our hearts.

Let us prepare ourselves with prayer to receive the Holy Spirit who gives us peace and courage to overcome the fear and the troubles of life.

7th Sunday of Easter, Year C, 29.05.2022

Acts 7:55-60 / Apocalypse 22:12-14, 16-17, 20 / John 17:20-26

When it comes to personal hygiene, one of the habits that we would observe is what we put into our mouths. 

If we are what we eat, then we need to be careful about what goes into our mouths because it will go into our digestive system. 

So, other than good clean food, and things that are good for our body and health, there shouldn't be much else that would go into our mouths. 

With that being said, let us now think about what comes out of our mouths. 

If only what is good should go into our mouths, then what comes out from our mouths should only be good. 

If what goes into our mouths is good, but what comes out is bad, then obviously there is something wrong. 

We have the ability to speak, and what comes out of our mouths are words that are a means of communication with others. 

The number of words we use in a day is interesting, but even more amazing is the power of the words we use. 

Because words can make or break a person, and words can create a situation or environment that is comfortable or irritable. 

The gospel passage is about a long prayer of Jesus. In that prayer, Jesus prayed for His disciples and also for those who through the words of His disciples will come to believe in Him. 

As Christians, what comes out of our mouths are prayers of praise and thanksgiving to God. 

So, what comes out of our mouths are good, it is for worship and prayers. 

But it is not only in Church that we do that. Outside of Church, what comes out of our mouth should be for the good of others and help them to be better persons and to get on with life. 

We must reflect on what kind of words are coming out of our mouths. Are our words kind and gentle, or are they angry and abusive? 

Do our words help others and give them hope, or do we badmouth others and end up arguing and quarrelling with them? 

Jesus reminds us of the power of our words. By our words, others will either believe in Him or turn away from Him. 

Jesus prayed for us and also for those who by our words will come to believe in Him. 

May our words always be a prayer of worship, praise and thanksgiving to God. 

May the words that we speak to others be a prayer for them. 

When we speak to others, let it be a form of prayer that will help them and lift them up from the troubles of life and give them hope. 

May what we say to others help them to come to believe in Jesus. 

In other words, let us pray to God and let us pray with others. 

When the words that come out of our mouths are prayers to God and prayers for others, then the voice of God's love will be heard in Church and in the world.

6th Week of Easter, Saturday, 28-05-2022

Acts 18:23-28 / John 16:23-28  

A "blank cheque" means a signed cheque with the amount left for the payee to fill in.

Figuratively, it means an unlimited freedom of action.

So, if we were ever handed a blank cheque, what is the amount that we would write in, presuming that whatever amount we write in will be honoured and given to us.

That would sound like too good to be true and we know in reality that it won't ever happen to us.

In the gospel, Jesus said that anything we ask for from the Father will be granted in Jesus' name.

We have asked for many things in prayer, and some have been been granted, and others will probably be granted.

But if we were given a spiritual blank cheque, what would we really ask for.

But the question is not what we would ask for. Rather it should be that do we know what God really wants to give us.

God wants to give us the Holy Spirit, which He will send in Jesus' name.

When we have the Holy Spirit, then we won't ask for anything else.

Because the Holy Spirit is the greatest gift of love from God which is given in Jesus' name.

With the Holy Spirit in us, we will have everything which money can never buy.

6th Week of Easter, Friday, 27-05-2022

Acts 18:9-18 / John 16:20-23        

Christianity would not have spread from where it began to the far distant lands if not for continuous line of men and women who offered themselves for the mission of spreading the Good News.

More than just their efforts to bring Jesus to those who do not know Him, there is also the divine dimension.

God blessed and worked with these missionaries and confirmed their message with signs and wonders.

But it does not mean that being missionaries of the Good News of salvation is going to be smooth and easy and without trouble and danger.

As we heard in the 1st reading, the Lord appeared to St. Paul in a vision to assure him of help and protection.

So even for St. Paul, there were times when he felt tired and discouraged and even frightened, and the Lord came to strengthened him.

For us, we may not be missionaries going to foreign lands, but we are called to be witnesses of the Good News of Jesus Christ our Saviour.

God will help us in our weaknesses when we want to bear witness to our faith by our words and actions.

We also need to pray to the Holy Spirit who is our Advocate and who will work the signs and wonders to confirm our message and our witnessing.

May our hearts be filled with joy of the Holy Spirit as we keep doing the will of God.

Ascension

Acts 1:1-11 / Ephesians 1:17-23 / Luke 24:46-53

In the two thousand years of the existence of the Church, there were many changes, some for the better, and some could have been better. 

But for better or otherwise, the Church has seen the good and the bad, the happy and the sad, the ups and downs. 

At times, the Church was a model and a source of inspiration. But at times, the Church was in the pits of desperation and desolation. 

As we celebrate the feast of the Ascension, this question may come across our minds: Why did Jesus leave His church in the hands of weak and unworthy people who will fail and fall? 

Certainly, it would be good if Jesus had remained on Earth to lead the Church. Then there will be no problems, and the whole world would be drawn to the Church and be saved. 

With Jesus in the Church, then our task as Christians would be so easy as we just have to direct those who need help to Jesus, and the problems of the world would be solved. 

But, such is not the case, and so we have to walk by faith along the journey of life. 

On this Feast of the Ascension, we celebrate the faith that keeps us going and moving. 

We have not seen Jesus and yet we believe in Him. In believing, we are given the gift of the Holy Spirit who will help us to be witnesses of the saving love of God, and to help others to believe in Jesus.

For those who have not seen Jesus and do not believe in Him, we have this mission of being Jesus to them and to lead them to respond to the love of Jesus. 

The Holy Spirit will help us, just as He had done so for the Church during the past 2000 years. 

Let us ask for forgiveness for the times we had failed and fallen as Christians. 

Let us rise with the Holy Spirit and be witnesses of the repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 

Let us be witnesses of the saving love of God, and may others come to know Jesus and have their sins forgiven.

6th Week of Easter, Wednesday, 25-05-2022

 Acts 17:15, 22 - 18:1 / John 16:12-15 

The advancements made by science and technology have given much information about life and the world.

The discoveries have even been extended to outer space and the other planets of the solar system.

But despite the abundance of the information and knowledge, it still has to be said that we do not know everything and there are still things that we do not understand or know about.

From the faith perspective, we believe that God will reveal to us what we need to know.

As Jesus said in the gospel, there are many things that He would want to say to His disciples but it would be too much for them to comprehend at that time.

But Jesus also promised to send the Holy Spirit who will lead them to the truth.

So information and knowledge are not just to satisfy our curiosity or to show how intelligent we are.

Whatever information and knowledge that we have is a revelation from God and it must lead us to a deeper understanding of the truth of God.

With that truth, we will be able to understand the ways of God and live according to His will.

 

6th Week of Easter, Tuesday, 24-05-2022

 Acts 16:22-34 / John 16:5-11    

It is often said that whenever God closes a door, He will open the windows.

But it would be more correct to say that whenever God closes a door, He will open all the other doors and all the windows as well.

God won't take away something and leave almost nothing in turn.

In His plan for us, God is more generous that we can ever think or imagine.

This is what Jesus meant when He told the disciples that it was for their good that He was going away, because unless He goes, the Advocate will not come to them.

So in going back to heaven, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to the Church to be her Advocate.

And the Holy Spirit is in each of us, and united in the Holy Spirit, we will be able to use our gifts for the glory of God and for the mission of salvation.

So whenever something is taken away from us, or when we lose something, let us know that God is telling us this.

Something better will be given, or that something better will happen.

Let us ask the Holy Spirit, our Advocate, to guide us so that we can see the wonder of God's gifts and to give thanks to God for it.

6th Week of Easter, Monday, 23-05-2022

 Acts 16:11-15 / John 15:26 - 16:4   

Life is like a cycle of day and night.

During the day, we walk with confidence under the sunshine.

In the night, we would rather stay put as we do not know what dangers are there out in the dark.

We can say that such is the cycle of our faith too.

It is like a cycle of day and night.

In the 1st reading, as the disciples preached the Good News, they were warmly welcomed by devout people who offered to take care of their needs.

But in the gospel, we hear of Jesus telling His disciples of persecution and expulsion and martrydom..

But Jesus tells us that we must hold firm in order that our faith will not be shaken.

So, there will be the good and the bad, the happy and the sad, the ups and the downs.

But just as in the cycle of day and night, may we also know that when thing change, let us put our faith in God who is changeless and everlasting.

He will guide us along the day and protect us in the night.

6th Sunday of Easter, Year C, 22.05.2022

Acts 15:1-2, 22-29 / Apocalypse 21:10-14, 22-23 / John 14:23-29

The presence of evil in this world is an undeniable reality. That evil is manifested in the bad and evil happenings that we see around us. 

There are wars and violence where many innocent lives are lost and much blood is shed. And then there are murders and killings, greed and poverty, cheating and stealing, and the list goes on and on. 

And if ever the question is asked as to what is the origin of evil in the world, then obviously it all points to the devil, who is the prince and the instigator of evil. 

But that does not mean that we are innocent. As much as we see the bad and evil happening around us, we too have to admit that we have collaborated with evil and committed sin. 

So, there is evil around us and there is evil within us. When we sin, then evil is manifested in us and we add on to the big, bad and ugly reality of evil. 

But not all is so dark and gloomy because goodness is also a reality in the world. 

In fact, goodness should be the bigger reality in this world because God created this world and saw it as good and beautiful. 

And when God created man in His image, man was the best and most beautiful of God's creation. 

So, when we say that we believe in God, we are also saying that we have the ability and the capacity for goodness and to be that expression of God's love and beauty for the world. 

In the gospel, Jesus said that anyone who loves Him will keep His word. 

So, we the People of God, come to church, we listen to God's Word of love and we unite ourselves with Jesus, the Word of God in Holy Communion. 

We may have sinned and given in to temptation, but God's Word lifts us up so that we can love again and be the goodness of God. 

God's Word wants to make its home in us and fill our hearts with love so that we can have peace. 

Yes, we are troubled and afraid by the bad and evil in this world. But the world is also crying out for peace and love. 

And we, the People of God, who have heard the Word of God, must rise up in love in the face of the bad and evil. 

God's Word teaches us to be humble, and that is how we will be able to stop the pride of the devil. 

God's word teaches us not to return evil with evil, but to return evil with good, so that in being the goodness of God in the face of evil, we will bring about God's blessings into a troubled and fearful world. 

And God's Word teaches us to offer the sacrifice of love by bearing the faults and failings of others just as Jesus bore the pain of our sins on the Cross. 

God's word will always remind us of the power and beauty of love, that will overcome evil. 

Yes, God's Word of Love gives us peace because God wants us to be happy. 

And we will be happy, not because everything is good, but because we see the good in everything.

5th Week of Easter, Saturday, 21-05-2022

Acts 16:1-10 / John 15:18-21

It might be interesting to know what non-Catholics think about us Catholics.

Do they think of us as rigid and ritualistic religious traditionalists, or that we are a loving and caring people who show our religious beliefs by living holy lives.

Though the opinions and views of non-Catholics about Catholics are not critically important, yet they certainly give us a view of ourselves that we can't see or maybe don't want to see.

Whatever the case may be, we must constantly remember that we are chosen to be God's holy people.

Yes, we are called and set apart to walk and live in God's ways, especially when we are faced with the attraction and the lucrative ways of the world.

Yet, we have a choice - the way of God, or the way of the world.

Jesus made a choice for the way of God and to save us when He faced the cross.

May we also make a choice for Jesus and walk in the way of God, so that others will truly see us as a loving and a caring God-fearing people.

5th Week of Easter, Friday, 20-05-2022

Acts 15:22-31 / John 15:12-17    

Some of us are cradle-Catholic, i.e. we were baptised when we were infants.

Some of us are converts, i.e. we were baptised when we are adults.

But whether cradle-Catholics or converts, our religious status is Christian.

If  we ever had a choice, would we want to be belong to another religion? Or maybe just be an agnostic. 

Such thoughts would have crossed our minds especially when we are angry with God or with the Church, or think that our religious belief has no meaning whatsoever.

But in today's gospel passage, we are reminded that it is not we who chose to believe in God and be a Christian.

It is Jesus who chose us and called us with His love to go and bear fruits of love.

Hence the call to love and to be loving must be at the core of our Christian identity.

The more we want to love, then the more we will receive and experience love from God and from others.

Then we would really want to be a Christian and want to love as Jesus did.

5th Week of Easter, Thursday, 19-05-2022

Acts 15:7-21 / John 15:9-11    

The ability to speak is an important means for communication.

And that ability to speak has also been developed into the power of speech.

So for anyone who wants to do well in delivering a presentation or marketing, it would certainly be an advantage to harness that power of speech.

As much as the art of public speaking is important, so is the art of attentive listening.

Quite often, we listen not so much to understand but to respond or to rebut.  

In the 1st reading, the discussion about the practice of circumcision went on for a long time.

Probably there was a lot of talking. But was there attentive listening?

Then Peter spoke and addressed the apostles and elders. 

And after he spoke, the entire assembly was silenced and they listened to Barnabas and Paul describing all the signs and wonders God had worked through them among the pagans.

This teaches us that when we speak, it is not so much with the power of speech to impress but with the humility of love that will inspire.

And when we listen, may we also be silent so that we will hear what God is saying to us.

5th Week of Easter, Wednesday, 18-05-2022

 Acts 15:1-6 / John 15:1-8   

Towards the end of a manufacturing or fabrication process, the products undergo an inspection.

The rough and sharp edges are deburred and polished down to make the products neat and presentable.

But rough and sharp edges are not just with unfinished products.

In societies, organisations and in communities, there can be rough and sharp disagreements and views and opinions.

In the 1st reading, there was this issue of circumcision and there was disagreement and long arguments.

So although the early Christian Church was often held as a model of faith, unity and love, yet there were rough and sharp edges.

But the early Church had also learnt from such experiences and the need to refocus on who is the Head of the Church.

Jesus is the true vine and the Church and the members are like the branches of the vine.

With faith and united in love will the Church be able to overcome the rough and sharp edges and be pruned.

Then united with Jesus, we will be able to bear fruits of unity and love.

5th Week of Easter, Tuesday, 17-05-2022

Acts 14:19-28 / John 14:27-31   

Whenever we say that we hope, it may imply that we are hoping for the favourable outcome.

So we hope that our prayers are answered, we hope that things will be better, we hope that people will change.

Generally when we say that we hope, we are also implying that we are wishing that things will turn out our way.

But when things don't turn out our way, will we lose hope, and will our faith be shaken?

When we say that we hope, we must remember that we are not merely wishing for a good and favourable outcome.

We hope in the Lord because we believe in God and that God's plan will be carried out according to His will.

That was the hope of the early Church that was portrayed in the 1st reading.

It was their hope in God that gave them the faith to go another step into the next day and into the future.

May we have the same hope in God so that we will have peace in our hearts, knowing that everything is in God's hands.

Hope and peace are truly gifts from God. Let us always be thankful for it.

5th Week of Easter, Monday, 16-05-2022

Acts 14:5-18 / John 14:21-26   

Pop stars and movie stars and also sports stars have something in common and it is called the "fan-club".

These fans of these stars can be so caught up with these stars that it can be quite puzzling to say the least and can even seem quite crazy at time.

As for those stars, having a fan-club would certainly boost their popularity and the more fans that follow them will mean that there will be more money coming in for them.

For Paul and Barnabas, when they worked a miracle in curing the crippled man, the crowd was full of admiration and even thought of them as god disguised as men.

Paul and Barnabas could be given in to the temptation of popularity and admiration, and they really tried to tell the crowd that it was the living God who should be thanked and not them.

And just like Paul and Barnabas, we too will be tempted to boost our pride and ego when we get praises and recognition for doing some work, whether at our jobs or in Church.

May we always remember that whatever we do, let it be for the glory of God and to lead others to God.

As Jesus said in the gospel, if we keep His word, God will love us and God will make His home in us.

When God makes His home in us, we will bear fruits for God and not for ourselves.

5th Sunday of Easter, Year C, 15.05.2022

Acts 14:21-27 / Apocalypse 21:1-5 / John 13:31-35

Among all the precious stones and jewels, there is no doubt that the diamond stands at second to none. 

In stories and in movies, the diamond is often used to represent beauty and value and even desire. 

Even if we don't own a diamond, we would have come across a saying that “diamonds are a girl's best friend”, maybe because diamonds are forever. 

The diamond can be said to be forever because it is a very hard stone. Besides being a precious stone, it is also used in industry for cutting, drilling and polishing purposes. 

As a precious stone, the diamond catches the attention and admiration, because it sparkles and glitters at every angle. 

But the diamonds that we see and know of, is actually the end product of a long and intricate process of cutting and polishing by master craftsmen. 

So, it is only in the hands of a master craftsman, and a long process of cutting and polishing, that the diamond becomes beautiful and have value. 

But if there is anything more beautiful and precious than a diamond, then certainly it is love. In fact, diamonds without a love story, is just a pretty thing without any meaning. 

Love makes everything beautiful and precious, so even a humble simple stone can be precious because of a beautiful love story. 

In the gospel, Jesus gave us a new commandment. It does not begin with “thou shalt not … “ 

Rather, Jesus says this: Love one another; just as I have loved you, you too must love one another. 

What is new about this commandment is that it is based on love, and the source of that love is Jesus Himself. 

To follow that commandment of Jesus is certainly not easy at all. Because we know that to love and to be loving is difficult and tiring and draining. 

Furthermore, we are faced with the bad and evil things of this world and we can become affected by it. 

We want to love and to be loving, but instead we become tarnished, disfigured and contorted by the bad and the evil. 

But Jesus comes to renew our hearts and to cleanse and heal it of the bad and evil. 

Oddly enough, the gospel passage begins with “when Judas had gone … “ 

We confess that our hearts are tarnished, disfigured and contorted; we confess that we have betrayed and denied the love that God has put into our hearts. 

But Jesus is the Divine Healer who will cleanse and purify our hearts of sin and impurities. Jesus is the Divine Craftsman who will polish our hearts like how a master craftsman will polish the diamond, and Jesus will make our hearts shine with His love. 

But just as a diamond needs to be cut and polished to make it sparkle and glitter, Jesus will use the cross to purify our hearts and make it shine. 

Because on the Cross, Jesus showed how beautiful and precious God's love is for us. 

When we accept the crosses that come into our lives, let us remember that Jesus is cleansing and purifying our hearts. 

When we embrace the crosses of our lives, then our hearts will shine brighter than any precious diamond. 

And the new commandment from Jesus becomes a new love story shining from our hearts, a story that will tell others of God's beautiful and precious love for the world.

St. Matthias, Apostle, Saturday, 14-05-2022

Acts 1:15-17, 20-26 / John 15:9-17

Drawing lots to get someone to do a job can be seen as a simple and convenient and also fair way to make a choice.

But to draw lots in order to select someone to ascend to an important position may seem rather primitive and undiscerning method by modern standards.

But yet that was how Matthias was chosen to replace Judas as one of the apostles.

However in using such a method of selection, it only shows that the apostles left the choice to God.

They have done their part by proposing the candidates and commending them to to the Lord in prayer.

They then let the Lord guide them in making the choice by the drawing of lots.

Jesus said in the gospel that it is not we who chose Him.
Rather it is He who chose us, and He commissions us to go forth and bear lasting fruit.

Hence it is not so much our suitability for the task at hand but rather our availability for God.

Our availability is our response to God, just as St. Matthias made his availability his response to God.

To be available for God and to do His will is not a matter of drawing lots within ourselves, or tossing a coin to decide whether we will be available for God or not.

To be available for God is a personal decision; we have to decide.

May our decision be always for God and to do His will in our lives.

4th Week of Easter, Friday, 13-05-2022

Acts 13:26-33 / John 14:1-6     

We know how important it is to be healthy.

We need to take care of our health because to be well is to live life fully and be witnesses of the goodness of God.

But we also know how fragile health can be.

We experience pain and aches, and these can drain our energy and life away.

But pain is usually a sign of something else.

And if what is internally is expressed externally, then physical pain could be a sign of some trouble within, that there is something wrong emotionally or spiritually.

In the gospel, Jesus said, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God still, and trust in me."

Besides the worldly anxieties and worries, our hearts are also troubled by anger, frustration, resentment and all those other afflictions that drains out our energy and our life.

Jesus tells us not to be burdened by all these troubles of life.

The Good News, as St. Paul said in the 1st reading, is that God has fulfilled the promise He made by raising Jesus from the dead.

Jesus wants us to rise from the troubles of this world by trusting in Him.

To trust in Jesus is to walk His Way of the Cross, to believe in the Truth of Love and to live our lives according to the will of God.

Then the pains and troubles of this earth will fade away when we desire for the life and love from above.

4th Week of Easter, Thursday, 12-05-2022

Acts 13:13-25 / John 13:16-20  

To be a teacher is not just a profession.

It is a calling to be an educator and to form the minds and hearts of children and adults.

It is a vocation to use the God-given gifts to help others to be responsible and to have good values in life.

People usually remember and respect their teachers.

Even if they were to surpass their teachers in capabilities and abilities, they will be grateful for the knowledge their teachers have imparted to them.

In the gospel, Jesus told His disciples that no servant is greater than his master, and no messenger is greater than the man who sent him.

As disciples of Jesus, we must always keep in mind that we are the servants and messengers of Jesus.

Whatever we do and say must eventually lead others to Jesus.

We cannot claim any credit for ourselves nor are we to give in to the temptation of seeking glory and attention for ourselves.

May we be humble and obedient servants and messengers of Jesus and may we be able to teach others to do the same.

4th Week of Easter, Wednesday, 11-05-2022

Acts 12:24 - 13:5 / John 12:44-50  

When there is light, things look bright and all seems right.

That might sound nice, but do we really want the light in all the areas of our lives?

It is not surprising that we would rather want some parts of our lives to be in the dark.

It may be those times that are rather embarrassing, or that we feel shameful, or that we feel guilty about.

Whatever it may be, we rather keep those times, those parts and those areas in the dark closet and try to forget about them.

But we can't seem to forget about them and we feel the moans coming out of that dark closet within our heart and we are not at peace.

Jesus said that He is the light that has come into the world.

He is the light that want to come into our lives and shine His warm healing light into our hearts.

Let us not be afraid and open our hearts to the healing light of Jesus.

Because Jesus wants to scatter the darkness of our lives and heal the groans of our hearts.

His light will give us peace. Then our lives will be light and bright.

4th Week of Easter, Tuesday, 10-05-2022

Acts 11:19-26 / John 10:22-30   

The rain falls from the sky and waters the earth and the trees bear fruit and bring beauty to the earth.

From this and from the other expressions of nature, we see how God's plan is brought to fulfilment.

Yes, God's plan will be fulfilled even though evil may try to plot and stop it.

God's plan will be fulfilled even though there may be trials and tribulations.

The 1st reading tells of how God's plan was fulfilled by the Church even though there was persecution.

We may have our own plans but we must also be prepared to change plans according to the ways of God.

Barnabas and Saul may not have intended to stay long at Antioch but as things turned out they were to live there the whole year, instructing a large number of people.

Neither would they expected that it was there that they were to be called "Christians", a term that would remain till this day.

For us who are the modern-day Christians, we must be witness that we belong to Christ and that we listen to His voice.

When we listen to the voice of Jesus the Good Shepherd, then God's plan will bear fruit for the salvation of the world.

4th Week of Easter, Monday, 09-05-2022

Acts 11:1-18 / John 10:1-10  

The unique relationship between the shepherd and the sheep is that the sheep listens to the voice of the shepherd.

The sheep follow the shepherd whenever he calls out to them and they follow him.

That is why is the image of the sheep following the shepherd is used in the gospel.

But there can be instances when a sheep do not listen to the voice of the shepherd and goes astray.

That happens when a sheep is sick and gets disoriented and gets confused by other sounds.

That is why the shepherd has to take care of the sheep and tend to those who are sick.

When we are physically and spiritually healthy, we will be able to keep our focus on the Lord and walk according to His ways.

But when we sin, we become spiritually sick and we get confused and disoriented and lose focus on the Lord.

As much as the Lord wants to heal us, we must also realise that we need His help because we cannot heal ourselves of our sin.

Let us remember to go for the Sacrament of Reconciliation regularly so that we can be forgiven and healed of our sins and be able to listen to the voice of the Lord and have peace of mind and heart.

4th Sunday of Easter, Year C, 08.05.2022

Acts 13:14, 43-52 / Apocalypse 7:9, 14-17 / John 10:27-30

The five senses that we have are very useful and necessary in life. 

To be able to see, hear, smell, taste and feel, helps us to interact with our surroundings and the people around us, and respond accordingly. 

It is difficult to say which of the five senses is the most important or is an absolute necessity. Obviously, all the five senses work together to help us understand others and to have a better understanding and relationship with them. 

From our senses, others may be able to guess what we are doing and even thinking. 

So, others will know from our eyes if we are staring at something, or staring at someone or staring into space. 

And even by looking at our eyes, others may know what is going on within us, as it is said that the eyes are the windows to the heart. 

But it is not that easy to know what a person is hearing or listening to just by looking at the ears. 

Furthermore, we have the ability of selective hearing, so it does not mean that the loudest sound or sweetest voice will capture our attention. 

In the gospel, Jesus said that the sheep that belong to Him listen to His voice. He knows His sheep and they follow Him. 

The unique relationship between the shepherd and the sheep is that the sheep listen to the voice of the shepherd. 

So, even if two or three flocks of sheep were mixed together, the shepherd just have to call out and only his sheep will follow him. 

But it may not be the case with human beings. In this world, there are many sounds and voices that we hear. But what is it that we are listening to? 

We will listen to someone when we know that the person cares for us, protects us and loves us. 

That is why one person that we will listen to is our mothers, although many a times they may wonder if we are listening to them. 

But the fact that we do listen to our mothers, is that every now and then we will say that “my mother told me”. 

And as we celebrate Mother's Day, it is certainly good to let the mothers know that their children do listen to them. It will certainly give them some consolation. 

Yes, our mother's voice is the voice that we heard while we were in her womb and her voice will have an influence on us somehow. 

And from our mother's voice, we hear the voice of Jesus, and through our mothers, we feel the care, the protection and the love of Jesus for us. 

This Sunday is also known as a Vocation Sunday. It reminds us that Jesus is calling us to a particular state of life as He has a particular mission for each of us. 

On Vocation Sunday, we highlight the call to the priesthood and also to the religious life. 

In seven weeks’ time, on the Feast of the Sacred Heart, Deacon Simon Ho will be ordained to the priesthood. 

He has heard the call of Jesus and responded to His voice. And it can be quite certain that his mother's voice also echoed the call of Jesus and helped Deacon Simon to deepen the call.

We pray that the voice of all mothers also echoes the voice of Jesus the Good Shepherd. 

May mothers speak in a way that their children will want to listen to them, and may they listen in a way that their children would want to speak to them. 

And may mothers help their children discern the call of Jesus, and to help them find their vocation in life.

3rd Week of Easter, Saturday, 07-05-2022

Acts 9:31-42 / John 6:60-69  

When we take time to reflect about life, then certain truths about life may dawn upon us.

For one, we may come to realise that all things in this life will pass.

So all our achievements, our successes, our trophies, our awards, our popularity, our fame will diminish and fade away with time.

And finally our life will also slowly fade away and eventually pass on.

When we can realise that, then we will want to look beyond the temporal to the eternal.

In order to be able to have a glimpse of the eternal we must believe in something beyond this world.

In the gospel, Peter gave a glimpse of that eternal when he said, " Lord, who shall we go to?  You have the message of eternal life, and we believe."

So when we pass on from this life on earth, it is not that there will be nowhere to go.

Here and now, let us believe that Jesus is calling us to believe in Him as He leads us to eternal life.

If we don't believe and don't listen to His message of eternal life, then there is really nowhere to go to in this life and in the life hereafter.

3rd Week of Easter, Friday, 06-05-2022

Acts 9:1-20 / John 6:52-59   

One of the things that the Scriptures talk about, whether it is in the Old Testament or the New Testament is about visions.

In those visions, God appeared to some people and talked with them as in an ordinary conversation between two persons.

And then there are some dramatic visions and the conversation are more serious in content.

In the 1st reading, there were two visions.

Saul heard a voice that identified itself as the Lord Jesus. The conversation was short but Saul knew there was a message for him.

And then the Lord appeared to a disciple Ananias in a vision. And Ananias knew that the Lord had a message for him and what the Lord wanted him to do.

We may not hear voices like Saul did, or have visions like Ananias had.

But the Word of God has a message for us.

Jesus speaks to us in the gospel and tells us that anyone who eats His flesh and drinks His blood is in union with Him in a spiritual and mystical way.

When we are in union with Jesus, we don't really need to hear voices or see visions.

From the Scriptures, we already hear His voice.

He had a message for each of us and it is about ourselves. May we listen and do what He wants of us.

3rd Week of Easter, Thursday, 05-05-2022

Acts 8:26-40 / John 6:44-51     

Mornings are usually rush-hour for most of us. There are so many things to be done in so short a time.

Yet mornings are also a beautiful time if we just take a moment to reflect.

Night is giving way to the light, and everything is cranking up and coming to life.

Yet there is so much of unseen power that is working non-stop, even during the night.

For one, there is the power of the air-waves which we get to hear on the radio and our mobile phones, etc.

In the gospel, Jesus speaks of an awesome and immense power.

It is the power of God that draws the hearts of people to Himself.

For Jesus said: No one can come to me unless he is drawn by the Father who sent me.

It was the same power that drew the eunuch to be baptized, as we heard in the 1st reading.

The power of the love of God can soften and open hearts, even the most hardened and obstinate.

Because it is a power that is filled with love.

In our busyness and haste, let us be aware of this power of God's love that wants to fill our hearts.

3rd Week of Easter, Wednesday, 04-05-2022

Acts 8:1-8 / John 6:35-40      

To be in a comfort zone certainly gives a nice feeling of safety and security.

It is like a nest where the nestlings are huddled together and their parents bring them food.

In the safety and security of the nest, the nestlings grow under the care of their parents.

But the day will come when the nestling must learn how to fly and that means that they have to step out of the nest.

And sometimes the parents have to push the nestlings out of the nest in order to make them learn how to fly.

For the early Church, things seemed rather peaceful until the persecution started, as was told in the 1st reading.

Suddenly, it was chaos and turmoil and everyone fled to the country districts of Judaea and Samaria.

But the good thing that came out of that terrible situation was that the early Christians went from place to place preaching the Good News.

For those who have faith in God, they see countless blessings even when their comfort and security were disturbed and broken.

May we too have that faith to know in every turmoil and tribulation, there is always God's invitation to growth and revelation.

Sts. Philip and James, Apostles, Tuesday, 03-05-2022

1 Cor 15:1-8 / John 14:6-14   

Today we celebrate the feast of two apostles, St. Philip and St. James.

St. Philip was one of the first chosen disciples of Christ.  He in turn shared his calling with Nathaniel, saying, “We have found Him of whom Moses and the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth.” And when Nathaniel in wonder asked, “Can any good come out of Nazareth?” And St. Philip simply answered, “Come and see,” and brought him to Jesus.

St. James (the Lesser), traditional author of the Letter of James, was the son of Alphaeus. Saint Paul tells us that he was favored by a special apparition of Christ after the Resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:7). As the Apostles went forth among the nations to preach the Good News, Saint James remained as Bishop of Jerusalem, where the Jews held him in high veneration for his purity, mortification, and prayer, that they named him the Just. He governed that church for 30 years before his martyrdom.

Yet, like the rest of the apostles, St. Philip and St. James also took a while to understand who Jesus was and who He really was.

As we heard in the gospel, St. Philip asked Jesus to let them see the Father and they shall be satisfied. We could almost hear Jesus sighing as He commented that they still do not know Him.

As we also heard in the 1st reading, after His resurrection, Jesus seemed to have made a special appearance to St. James and then to the rest of the apostles.

It was after His resurrection that the apostles began to understand who Jesus really was and that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life.

Just like how the St. Philip and St. James and the rest of the apostles were called and sent forth to preach the Good News, we too are called and sent.

Just like the apostles had to slowly come to an understanding of who Jesus is and that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life, we too must come to that understanding of who Jesus is.

The apostles were ordinary men who trusted and loved Jesus and led holy lives worthy of their calling.

May we too love Jesus deeply, pray faithfully and live lives worthy of the Good News of Lord.

3rd Week of Easter, Monday, 02-05-2022

Acts 6:8-15 / John 6:22-29  

The word "sign" is a word that can have many meanings and can also be used as a noun or a verb.

Usually it is understood as a gesture or action used to convey information or an instruction.

But at times, it can also be seen as an object, quality, or event whose presence or occurrence indicates the probable presence or occurrence of something else.

And signs recall or bring about a reaction or a response.

In the 1st reading, the great signs that Stephen worked among the people brought about a hostile and violent reaction from some men.

Somehow those men just can't see that those signs point to the working of the Holy Spirit, and they even arrested Stephen and accused him of making blasphemous statements.

In the gospel, Jesus said this to the people: You are not looking for me because you have seen the signs but because you had all the bread you wanted to eat.

So we may see a sign, we may react to it by ignoring or rejecting it, or that we want to see how we could use it for our advantage.

But let us ponder on the signs and see if God is showing or telling us something about ourselves.

When we respond to the signs from God, then we will know what God wants of us.

3rd Sunday of Easter Year C, 01.05.2022

Acts 5:27-32, 40-41 / Apocalypse 5:11-14 / John 21:1-19

Life can be meaningful when there is a purpose. 

So, in life, we do things with a purpose and for an objective. The purpose and the objective can be anything from the ordinary to the necessary, and from the practical to the noble. 

So, we work at our jobs in order to get paid, or to fulfil an ambition in life. Or we may participate in some voluntary or social work, so as to make good use of our time to serve and to give back to society. 

So, in whatever we do in life, there is a purpose and an objective that gives fulfilment and meaning to our lives. 

In the gospel, we heard that the disciples went fishing all night, but somehow they caught nothing. 

Fishing was their profession before they followed Jesus, but it seems that what they were good at before, now they couldn't get anything out of what they were doing. 

They may have yet to realize that as disciples who have encountered the Risen Lord, they have to move on from their former way of life. 

They are not to be fishermen anymore but to be fishers of men. Their new way of life is the way of discipleship and to be witnesses of the Risen Lord. 

And as it was the third time that Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after rising from the dead, the disciples had better get moving to what they were called to do. 

They had to get on with that purpose and the 1st  reading gives a picture of how the disciples had moved on. 

In the confrontation between the Sanhedrin and the apostles, Peter said that obedience to God comes before obedience to men. 

Peter had the courage to say that because he himself knew what obedience was about. He had denied Jesus three times during the Passion, and after the resurrection, Jesus asked him three times if he loves Him and will obey what he was told to do. 

Obedience to the way of love is obedience to God. 

The voice of God is echoed in the call from the Archbishop to the faithful to come back to church after a disruptive two years when faith became sluggish and some may have lost the routine and the regular practice of coming for Sunday Eucharist. 

Like the disciples, we are called and sent to those who need a gentle nudge to remind them to come back to Church and to encounter Jesus in the Eucharist. 

Certainly, we must not criticize them for losing faith or not having faith. 

The past two years would have taught us to be more patient and tolerant with ourselves and with others. 

These past two years have been disruptive and shaken our lives. 

The lesson learnt from these past two years and from the gospel is that when we complain and criticize, it shows that we don't understand nor sympathize with others. 

Jesus understood Peter's pain and regret. Jesus did not criticize Peter but called him to the way of love. 

When we obey the call to love and live the way of love, that would give meaning and fulfilment to our lives. 

The way of love is not to complain or criticize. 

The way of love is to understand and to sympathize. 

That is the way of discipleship. That is to be our way of life.