13th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 01-07-2022

Amos 8:4-6, 9-12 / Matthew 9:9-13   

It is not really easy for someone who has done wrong to get back onto the track of life again.

Even if they truly repent of their wrong-doing, their guilt remains etched on the minds of people.

For example, for those who have been released from prison, the label "ex-prisoner" will always be in the minds of those who know them.

And as long as people keep harping on guilt, then life is being drained away. Even if one has repented and made amends for the guilt, the chains of the past bind them again when others recall the guilt.

Often, those with a guilty past are made to feel that self-respect and self-worth count for less than zero.

That was the case with Matthew the tax-collector. He gained his wealth but he lost his worth. He got his revenue but lost his respect.

And it is indeed surprising that of all the virtuous people, Jesus would call such a person who is less than zero in the eyes of others.

It will take some time for us to understand that the Divine Healer came for the sick.

It will take some time for us to understand that the Saviour came for the sinner.

But in the meantime, what we need to show to those who have done wrong is to show them the mercy of God.

Because we ourselves will need that mercy when we fall.

13th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 30-06-2022

Amos 7:10-17 / Matthew 9:1-8  

Whenever we listen to someone speaking, we would surely want to understand what the other person is saying.

But are we trying to understand what is being said from our own interpretation?

Or do we try to understand what the person really means?

Of course, it would be easier to understand what is being said from our own interpretation.

To try to understand what the other person really means would entail further questions and clarifications, and more time and effort will be needed.

In the gospel, when Jesus said to the paralytic that his sins are forgiven, the scribes immediately denounced it as a blasphemy.

In the minds of the scribes, only God can forgive sins. And they would rather hold on to their opinion and judgement rather than to seek clarification and enlightenment.

Likewise, in the 1st reading, if only Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, had wanted to understand the prophecy of Amos, he could have averted a tragedy for the nation. 

So to truly understand what someone is saying, then time and effort is needed on our part. 

And to truly understand someone, then love will be needed.

God will give us that love, if only we truly want to understand

Sts. Peter and Paul, Apostles, Wednesday, 29-06-2022

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

Many things in life are closely connected but yet they are in some sense distinct as well as different.

A coin has two sides, there is night and day, there is left and right, and other analogies that reflect a similarity and yet there is a difference.

The feast of St. Peter and St. Paul brings up many similar aspects between the two saints, yet at the same time, there are also distinctions.

Their characters and personality can be said to be different.

Their status in life before becoming disciples were also different.

And how the Lord called them and how they responded were also different.

But despite all these differences, they had one great similarity, and that is they had a deep conviction about who Jesus is and were deeply committed to Him, even to laying down their lives in witnessing to Jesus.

St. Peter and St. Paul are like reflections of the Church, which in many aspects are distinct and different.

But as the Church founded on Jesus and built on the Rock of the confession of Peter's faith, we must be united in love and in the conviction that Jesus is the Saviour and to be committed in loving God and others.

Then the gates of the underworld cannot hold out against the Church and we the members of the Body of Christ must go forth courageously to proclaim the Good News of salvation to the world.

 

13th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 28-06-2022

Amos 3:1-8; 4:11-12 / Matthew 8:23-27

When things happen all of a sudden, there is usually not much time to think about what to do next.

We will react with our instinct, and what will happen next depends on the course of action we take.

For example, when the stove catches fire, we may immediately run away to safety and let the fire die down by itself.

But that is certainly not a good course of action because it may result in the fire spreading and burn the house down.

Or we may try to put out the fire to the best of our ability in order to prevent the fire from spreading.

In the gospel, a violent storm broke over the lake without warning and the waves were breaking right over the boat that the disciples were in.

With that sudden mortal danger, they have to decide what course of action to take immediately.

And they had that sensibility to call on Jesus, and to wake Him up.

When danger suddenly appears and fear strikes, let our first course of action be to call upon the Lord Jesus for help.

May we have that little faith to believe that Jesus will help and save us.

13th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 27-06-2022

Amos 2:6-10, 13-16 / Matthew 8:18-22     

No one, in the right frame of mind, would want to do something with nothing to gain.

No one would want to work without getting paid.

And no one would follow a leader who does not promise them some form of security and a future.

Jesus seems to be saying to those who were thinking of following Him that not only there is no security, it is also not going to be easy.

This should make us think about our faith and why do we still want to believe in Jesus.

Whether we are just an ordinary Catholic in the pew or serving in some church ministry, are we expecting anything from Jesus?

Jesus did not promise us any material gain or worldly rewards.

But He did promise us something that the world cannot give, and that is His peace.

The peace of Jesus will help us realise what is true contentment and happiness.

The peace of Jesus will help us realise that Jesus is all we need on earth.

Jesus is our security here on earth, and He will be our reward above.

13th Ordinary Sunday, Year C, 26.06.2022

1 Kings 19:16, 19-21 / Galatians 5:1, 13-18 / Luke 9:51-62

In life, we need to have some convictions, or at least a conviction. 

When there is a conviction, then there will be goals and objectives in life. When there is a conviction, then what we think and what we do will be focused and directed. When there is a conviction, there will also be determination. We won't waste our time doing nothing or just lazing away. 

But convictions need not be lofty or profound. They can be simple and practical, so that in every situation, we will have recourse to our convictions and move on in life. 

For example, a simple practical conviction in life can be this: Walking is a good exercise. 

That sounds simple and practical enough. Walking is good for our health and physically it is an exercise that we can maintain in our senior years.

In the emotional aspect, it would be good to walk away from anger, resentment and bitterness, so that we will be at peace with ourselves. 

And in the spiritual aspect, we walk away from sin and we walk towards God. 

So, convictions in life can be simple and practical and achievable, yet it does not make us look obsessive or compulsive. 

The first line of the gospel passage begins with this: As the time drew near for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely took the road for Jerusalem. 

To be resolute is to be admirably purposeful, determined and unwavering. 

Jesus knew what His mission was. He came to save sinners. He came to teach the truth, to show the way of love, and to give us life to the full on Earth and also eternal life in Heaven. 

That was His conviction, and He was focused, determined and unwavering. So, when He faced rejection from the Samaritans, He did not retaliate. 

Even when His disciples wanted to call down punishment on the Samaritans, Jesus turned and rebuked them and they went to another village. 

And even for those who wanted to follow Him, Jesus asked them if they were resolute enough. 

To follow Jesus, one has to be focused, determined and unwavering. To follow Jesus is to have the conviction that He is the Saviour. To follow Jesus, we too need to have a conviction and to be resolute about it, just like Jesus was resolute. 

And just as Jesus walked away from the rejection of the Samaritans, and walked resolutely to Jerusalem, we too need to do some thinking and to do some walking.

Yes, walking is a good exercise. 

We walk away from arguments that lead to anger. We walk away from people who put us down. 

We walk away from anyone who does not see our worth. 

We walk away from mistakes and fear so as to learn from them. 

The more we walk away from the things that poison our souls, the healthier and happier we will become. 

Jesus walked away from rejection and walked towards the Jerusalem and to the Cross for our salvation. 

Let us walk away from sin, let us walk with Jesus, let us walk in the way of truth and love.

Let us walk with life and walk towards eternal life in heaven. 

The Immaculate Heart of Mary, Saturday, 25-06-2022

Isaiah 619-11 / Luke 2:41-51   

The heart of a mother is a heart that is so lovable and understandable, and yet it is also so mysterious.

We may think that we understand our mothers, but they actually know more about us that we can ever imagine.

After all, we were conceived in the womb of our mothers, and hence we are a part of them and nothing can ever eradicate this mother-child relationship.

And it can be said that nothing can ever separate a mother from her child. A mother's bond to her child is something that goes beyond logic and explanation.

In today's feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the gospel reading gives us a good reflection of the heart of Mary.

Mary made it a point that Jesus had a religious upbringing and that was why she and Joseph brought Jesus to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover.

Mary had a heart for God and she wanted Jesus to have what she treasured most - a heart for God.

When Mary and Joseph lost contact with Jesus, Mary would have felt that void most deeply.

Yet when they found Jesus, Mary was like a typical mother reprimanding her son. That makes her so lovable and understandable.

Yet when she did not understand the reply of Jesus, she kept quiet and stored it in her heart. Mary knew how to respond in the face of mystery.

May we too have a heart like that of Mary, lovable and understandable by others. And may our hearts be also open to mystery and to store and reflect in our hearts what we cannot understand immediately.

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Friday, 24-06-2022

Ezekiel 14:11-16 / Romans 5:5-11 / Luke 15:3-7   

The human person is still a mystery as more is yet to be discovered of the human person.

The human mind, the seat of the intellect, has more potential than what was discovered.

The human heart, the seat of emotions, is more complex than can ever be imagined.

If such is the heart of a human person then what about the heart of God?

The heart of God is revealed through Jesus as He tells us about what is in the heart of God.

In the gospel passage, Jesus begins with “What man among you … “

He goes on to tell a parable about a shepherd leaving the 99 in the wilderness in going in search of the one lost sheep.

We may find it difficult to comprehend this but God's ways are not man's ways, and God's thoughts are not men's thoughts.

But when we enter into the Heart of Jesus and want to have a heart like His, then we will understand the ways and the thoughts of God.

Then we will be able to love as God loves us.

Let us ask Jesus to make our hearts like His.

Then we will be able to understand the heart of God, then we will be able to understand ourselves and we will be able to understand others.

The Nativity of St. John the Baptist, Thursday, 23-06-2022

Isaiah 49:1-6 / Acts 13:22-26 / Luke 1:57-66, 80  

In communication, there is a difference between the spoken form and the written form.

Obviously, communication is faster in the spoken form.

The verbal expressions and the choice of words are also varied and fluid.

And things can be better explained and understood when people meet up and speak face-to-face.

The written form is used in stating procedures, policies and principles, and it is the preferred form for legality and validity.

But that is a distinction between what is hand-written and what is type-written.

In the modern-day written communication like text messages and emails, the words are usually typed in with a keyboard.

Hand-writing is limited to just a few words a day, if any at all.

In the gospel, when Zechariah wrote that sentence on the tablet, it was an important and significant moment.

That hand-written sentence “His name is John” was the beginning of a new era of God's grace, and the outpouring of God's blessings of salvation.

May what we say and what we write be a testimony of God's grace and blessings.

May what we say and what we write be words of love that will lead others to God.

12th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 22-06-2022

2 Kings 22:8-13; 23:1-3 / Matthew 7:15-20   

Every country and every nation has its share of good and bad leaders.

Whilst good leaders were far and few between and they are held in honour for the good they did for their country, the bad leaders had caused much damage because of self-interest and greed.

In the 1st reading, we heard of the high priest Hilkiah and the court secretary Shaphan finding and  reading the Book of the Law and decided to inform king Josiah about it.

The Book of the Law had been hidden in the previous tyrannical regimes that had been unfaithful to the Lord in order to save it from being destroyed.

The high priest and the court officials were bold enough to present the Book of the Law to the king probably because they saw in the king a person of integrity and justice.

Indeed, just as a tree is judged by its fruits, a person is judged by his character.

As Jesus taught in the gospel, a sound tree bears good fruit, but a rotten tree bears bad fruit.

Yes, and also a sound tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor a rotten tree bear good fruit.

Yet we have to be alert and examine ourselves constantly for corruption and decay, because a sound tree can also become a rotten tree due to negligence and complacency.

When we realize we have stopped bearing good fruits, or even started bearing rotten fruits in our lives, let us immediately turn back to the Lord for healing and forgiveness.

We can't deceive others; they will know us by our fruits.

12th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 21-06-2022

2 Kings 19:9-11, 14-21, 31-36 / Matthew 7:6, 12-14 

To be a bully, one needs to have some advantage over others. 

It may be size, it may be wealth, it may be status or connections with the high and mighty.

 

Whatever it may be, a bully uses those things to get what he wants from those he is bullying. 

But without all those things to support him, a bully is just as weak and vulnerable as those he is bullying. 

The one who is being bullied has a couple of options. He can try to stand up to the bully, but it may not turn out well for him. 

Or he can have recourse to someone stronger and higher for protection. 

That was what king Hezekiel did in the first reading. When he read that letter from Sennacharib, he would have quivered with fear because he knew what Sennacharib could do. 

But instead of worrying and panicking, Hezekiel went to the Temple, laid that letter before the Lord, and pray for God's help.

And God answered immediately. The prophet Isaiah relayed God’s reply and that same night Sennacharib’s mighty army was wasted. 

The 1st reading reiterated the truth that God does not favour the proud, the mighty and the bully. 

God hears the cries of the weak and the lowly and He will come to their help to be their protector and Saviour. 

So, in the face of bullies or injustice or oppression, let us turn to the Lord for help.

God will hear the cries of the lowly and humble and come to help them and deliver them from danger.

12th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 20-06-2022

2 Kings 17:5-8, 13-15, 18 / Matthew 7:1-5   

When we hear someone says "Enough is enough", we know that it is about something unpleasant.

No one would use that phrase when there is too much food, or having too much fun, or having too much of a good time, or even having too much money.

When some says that "enough is enough", it could be because that person has reached a limit.

That phrase is usually said out of frustration and disappointment.

The 1st reading didn't have that phrase, but it was clear that God was frustrated and disappointed with His people over their repeated unfaithfulness.

God wanted to be merciful and forgiving but His people couldn't be bothered, even though God sent prophets to warn them over and over again.

So when enough was enough, it resulted in Samaria being wiped out. 

Yes, God is patient, merciful and forgiving. But God also cannot be taken for granted.

We may not anger God so much that He would do to us what He did to Samaria.

Let us strive to please God by doing what He wants of us and to be loving always. We can never do enough of that.

Corpus Christi, Year C, 19.06.2022

 Genesis 14:18-20 / 1 Cor 11:13-26 / Luke 9:11-17

There are things in life that goes without saying because it is the most natural thing to do. Things like: when sleepy, - sleep; when tired – rest; when thirsty – drink; when hungry - eat. 

These things don't need much thinking as it is obvious what needs to be done next. 

And then there are some things that should not be done concurrently. Things like: when driving don't drink, as in drinking something that will impair judgement and response; when walking don't dream, or accidents will happen. 

All that sounds obvious and sensible and logical. And it is helpful to live life with some things we are certain about or at least have a set of beliefs to go on with life. 

But there are some other things in life that can be difficult to figure out. Like, when living, what should we be doing or having. 

Well, it could be, when living there must be a meaning. In other words, we need to live life with a meaning. 

In today's feast of Corpus Christi, the gospel passage is about the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and the fish and the feeding of the five thousand men. 

There are a few shades of meaning in the gospel passage. One is that God can use whatever little to work a miracle. Another is that God cares for the hungry and feeds them with plenty. 

But what is the meaning of the passage in connection to the Feast of Corpus Christi, which is also known as the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ?

The meaning could be in the five loaves and two fish, and we can look at that in relation to our life and our faith. 

The humble five loaves and two fish became the means of a miracle, because Jesus made something wonderful out of it. 

In the same way, the bread and wine on the altar became the Body and Blood of Christ because Jesus made something wonderful out of it. 

Similarly, when we partake of the Body of Christ, our lives can have a wonderful meaning because Jesus lives in us and makes us His Body. 

There is a story of a poor family and when they ran out of money, the father told the son to take one of his old t-shirts and try to sell it for $2. The boy obeyed but he doubted if anyone would buy an old t-shirt for $2. 

So, he squatted at a corner in the marketplace, put on a sad look and tried to sell the T-shirt. Along came a passer-by who took pity on the boy and bought the t-shirt for $2. The boy went home happily and gave his father the money. 

Then the father told the boy to take another t-shirt and to sell it for $20. The boy cracked his brains and came up with the idea of asking a friend to draw a superhero figure on the T-shirt. 

He then went to a school that is well known to have rich students and he waited outside the school as the students were coming out. 

One student took a fancy to the drawing on the t-shirt and paid $20 for it. The boy was delighted and went home to give his father the money. 

Then the father told him to take another t-shirt and to sell it for, the boy was expecting the price of $200, but the father told him to sell it for $2,000. 

The boy was stunned. Who would buy an old t-shirt for $2,000? As he thought hard about this impossible task he happened to hear that a pop star was in town and will be making an appearance at a famous shopping mall. 

Then he had an idea. He took a t-shirt and went to the mall and he squeezed through the crowd to get to the front until he could see the pop star. 

Then he begged the pop star to autograph the t-shirt. The pop star obliged. Later the boy went to auction the autographed T-shirt and he got the $2,000. 

The proud son went home to give his father the money. And the father asked him, “Son, what did you learn from all this?” 

As the son wondered about what his father meant, the father explained that the t-shirts got the value from the meaning that the boy has put into them. 

So, the value of a t-shirt depended on the unique meaning the boy puts into them. 

Similarly, our lives have a special meaning because of Jesus. 

He gives us His Body in Holy Communion, so that our lives will have a special purpose and meaning. 

The five loaves and two fish became a means of a miracle and fed the 5000 men. 

Our lives in Christ will also have a special meaning and purpose in God's plan. 

May we discover that meaning and may we be a miraculous blessing for others.

11th Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 18-06-2022

2 Chronicles 24:17-25 / Matthew 6:24-34

There are analogue and digital watches and clocks.

Some prefer the analogue timepiece, while others like the digital look.

For the analogue timepiece, there is something worth reflecting about the ticking of the second hand.

If we do some calculations, that second hand goes 60 ticks a minute, 3600 ticks an hour, 86,400 ticks a day, 604,800 ticks a week and 31,449,600 ticks a year.

Now that is a lot of ticking. Yet that humble second-hand shows us something.

It takes one tick at a time.

That is what Jesus is telling us in today's gospel. Putting it simply, it is: Take one tick at a time.

We don't have to worry about how many ticks we have to accomplish in a year, or in a week, or in a day or even in a minute.

That is all taken care of by God.

What we need to do is to let love, joy , peace, patience, compassion, kindness, generosity start ticking in our lives.

That is what is meant by setting our hearts on the Kingdom of God and on His righteousness.

11th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 17-06-2022

2 Kings 11:1-4, 9-18, 20 / Matthew 6:19-23   

In life, we often take a lot of things for granted.

So much so that we forget what are the necessities and we get distracted by the accessories.

We need to always remember that we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain that we can carry nothing out when the time comes for us to leave this world. 

So we ought to be contented with having food, clothing and shelter.

And we are certainly aware that health is better than wealth, and we must give thanks to God that we are reasonably healthy and fit to work and to serve God and others.

But the human failing is that we take the necessities for granted and keep chasing after the accessories of life and wanting more and more.

It seems like we have difficulty in knowing when enough is enough.

Jesus pointed this out in the gospel, and that also shows us the cause of our anxieties and worries in life.

But Jesus also went deeper into the matter as He says that where our treasure is, there will be our heart.

If our hearts are darkened by the things of this world, then all we care about will be the things of this world.

But at Baptism, we have received the light of Truth to help us see, not just what is necessary for life on earth, but also the treasure of eternity of heaven above.

Let us ask Jesus to grant us contented and thankful hearts, so that we will be happy on earth and that we also look forward to the rejoicing of above.

11th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 16-06-2022

Ecclesiasticus 48:1-14 / Matthew 6:7-13   

Using a computer may be easy for most of us, but we may not really understand how a computer works.

Driving a car may be easy for some of us, but we may not know how a car works.

A number of things in the world may seem to be easy when we learn how to do it, yet how they work or operate is not as simple as it seems.

Similarly for prayer. It would be easy to learn how to say the prayer of the "Our Father" and other structured prayers and we can remember them by heart.

And to say the "Our Father", the prayer that Jesus taught His disciples, would not take more than a minute.

But it would take a lifetime to understand what that prayer means.

And it also take a long time to understand what Jesus said after teaching that prayer.

Jesus emphasised on forgiveness after teaching the prayer of the "Our Father".

So forgiveness is the one of the first fruits of prayer.

Praying may sound easy, but forgiveness is certainly not as easy.

We need to continue to pray the "Our Father", reflect and meditate on it, and may it bear the fruit of forgiveness in our lives.

11th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 15-06-2022

2 Kings 2:1, 6-14 / Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18    

It is said that when our life flashes before our eyes, it means that life is coming to an end.

That is how stories and movies portray it, but whether that is true or not is another matter.

Nonetheless, we can still think about it and do some reflections about life.

If ever we were to have this experience, what do we think would be the images and memories that will be flashed before our eyes?

Would we be proud of those moments? Or would we rather not be reminded of those moments?

In the gospel, Jesus gave a basic teaching about life, and that is God sees and God knows what we are doing and what are our intentions and motives.

But God is watching us, not so much to judge us or to catch us in the act.

Rather He wants to reward us when what we do is for love of Him and for love of neighbour.

At the end of the day, when we close off with a prayer, let us also think about the deeds and intentions of the day.

For those that have been for the glory of God, we give thanks and praise.

For those in which we have failed and were selfish and self-centred actions and intentions, we ask for mercy and forgiveness and pray that we will do better for the next day.

11th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 14-06-2022

1 Kings 21:17-29 / Matthew 5:43-48  

The world is like a coin. There are two sides to it.

There is the good and the bad, and there is quite a bit in between.

But there is also a mystery in this world.

Despite the existence of the bad and evil in the world, the good still continue to exist.

In this sense, we see the truth in the gospel passage as Jesus says that God the Father causes the sun to rise on the bad and the good alike, and the rain fall on the honest and dishonest alike.

In that we see the depth of the mercy of God.

In the 1st reading, we see God's unconditional mercy on Ahab even though Ahab's repentance was out of fear of punishment and the sincerity was questionable.

Still God had mercy on him and spared his life.

But why did God said that He will punish Ahab's sons?

It was not so much of a delayed punishment but a warning actually. 

If Ahab and his sons do not repent, then they will have to face the consequences of their evil deeds.

When we understand God's mercy, then we will pray for our enemies and those who do evil.

The duty of the good is to be instruments of God's mercy.

And the prayers of the good can bring about conversion and repentance.

That is what it means to be good and to be the children of God the Father.

11th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 13-06-2022

1 Kings 21:1-16 / Matthew 5:38-42   

To take the path of least resistance means to take the easiest and convenient way.

It could also be the smartest way out of a difficult situation.

It also sounds like a neat way without getting into too much trouble.

What Jesus said in the gospel sound like the path of least resistance.

But the way that Jesus is saying is certainly not an easy or convenient way out of a difficult situation.

In fact the way that Jesus is saying goes against our instinct of revenge and retaliation.

So Jesus is not saying that we take the path of least resistance in order to avoid trouble or difficulty.

Jesus is teaching us the way of love and forgiveness.

Those who believe in the power of love and forgiveness will walk the way of Jesus.

There can be no resistance against love and forgiveness, and those who believe in Jesus will walk that way.

Trinity Sunday Year C, 12.06.2022

Prov 8:22-31 / Romans 5:1-5 / John 16:12-15

The one thing that we can say about life is that life is difficult. Yes, life is difficult to understand, especially when we are faced with difficult problems. 

There are all the problems of the world like diseases and viruses, war and violence, injustice and poverty. 

And we have our own problems to deal with, and we don't seem to have the solutions. There are serious problems, and they are also quirky ones like: 

Why is it that what can go wrong will go wrong? Why is it that when we dialled the wrong number, we won't get an engaged tone? 

Why is it when we changed queue, the one that we left moves faster than the one we are in now? 

That is enough of whys and problems, and we also don't quite have the answers. 

But if life is difficult to understand, then God can seem to be even more difficult to understand. 

Today, the Church celebrates Trinity Sunday. Trinity means Three Persons One God. 

That can be difficult to understand. Why is God Three Persons? It would be easier to understand and to believe that God is just one. 

But Jesus came to reveal to us that God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 

The most important thing about the Trinity is the love relationship between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 

It is because they love each other so deeply and they are so united in love, that in God is true peace and joy, kindness and goodness, compassion, mercy and forgiveness. 

The happiness that we desire so much in life is found in God. 

When we understand that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit love each other and are so united in love, then we can begin to see the solution to all problems in life. 

Essentially, the problems in life spring from our relationships. When we don't love God, and when we don't love others as much as God loves us, then problems will begin and there will be unhappiness and sadness. 

When we can love one another as how the Father, Son and Holy Spirit love one another, we will find happiness in life. 

Life is like an echo. Even though there can be an explanation for echoes, we can’t really understand how an echo happens. 

But the echo can be an example of how we can find happiness in life. 

We are like an echo of God's love. God created us in love. We are to echo God's love in this world by loving others. 

It is in loving others that we will find happiness. When we become like God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit who created us and loves us, then we too must love like God by being an echo of God's love and loving others. 

The problems of life are difficult but the solution is simple, and it is love. 

Love may be simple to understand but it may not be that easy to live out. 

But when we decide to love, then God will help us to be living images and echoes of God's love. 

And we will also find happiness in life.

St. Barnabas, apostle, Saturday, 11-06-2022

Acts 11:21-26; 13:1-3 / Matthew 10:7-13  

St. Barnabas was not one of the twelve Apostles who were chosen by Jesus.

Yet in Acts 14:14, he, together with St. Paul were called apostles, as they were sent by the Church for a mission and to preach or deliver a message.

Yet to be called an apostle was indeed a great privilege for St. Barnabas, considering the fact that he was one of the first converts to Christianity.

And indeed, he lived up to his calling as an apostle. He and St. Paul undertook missionary journeys together and defended Gentile converts against a faction which insisted on circumcision.

We also heard from the 1st reading that they also gained converts in Antioch, and it was there that the  disciples were first called "Christians".

He also participated in the Council of Jerusalem, the first Council, which addressed the status of the Gentile converts and formulated the required religious practices for them.

So St. Barnabas was a great figure of evangelization in the early Church.

Yet the 1st reading described these simple but important qualities in him - for he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and with faith.

For us who are called by God to be His people, let us recognize the goodness that God has created in us.

Let us also ask to be filled with the Holy Spirit and with faith so that like St. Barnabas, we too will be instruments for the great work that God wants us to do.

10th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 10-06-2022

1 Kings 19:9, 11-16 / Matthew 5:27-32

We are usually attracted by cheap sales and special offers.

What we are usually looking for are things at a discounted price, even though we may not really need them.

But we get some kind of gratification in getting something at a discount and cheaply.

On the other hand, there are times when we desire something so much that we just disregard the price in order to possess it.

In the gospel, Jesus warns us against giving in to sin, regardless whether in thought or in deed.

The price of sin is a spiritual death and also an eternal condemnation in hell.

It is certainly not worth it at all to pay that price just for a fleeting moment of gratification.

On the Cross, Jesus paid the price for our sins. The Cross was the price of our salvation.

Let us embrace the crosses of our lives. It will be painful and difficult to carry these crosses.

But the pain and sufferings of the cross cannot be compared to the eternal reward awaiting for us.

Let us take up our cross and follow Jesus as He leads us to salvation and to the eternal joy that cannot be found in anything on earth.

10th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 09-06-2022

1 Kings 18:41-46 / Matthew 5:20-26    

When we speak it is presumed that we know what we are saying.

And we should say what we mean and mean what we say.

But when we say things that we don't mean, then it would lead to confusion and misunderstanding.

And when we use rough words, it would also lead to tension and ill-feeling.

Words like "fool' and "renegade" are rough words to use on people.

In a fit of anger, we might have use those and other derogatory words on others.

But do we really know what are the meaning of those words?

In the gospel, Jesus takes a serious stand on those words.

If we use those words and yet if we don't know what those words really mean, then why are we using those words on others.

So let us say what we mean and mean what we say.

But let us also not be mean in what we say.

10th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 08-06-2022

1 Kings 18:20-39 / Matthew 5:17-19

There is one thing about life that we need to believe in, and that is truth will prevail.

It is like a law of life and that gives humanity the hope to continue on with life even in the face of oppression and injustice, violence and even death.

But for us Christians, truth is not just a principle of life or a reality of life.

For us, truth comes from God and truth is found in the person of Jesus - Jesus is the Truth.

That truth was manifested by the prophet Elijah in the 1st reading as he called upon God to accept the sacrifice and God gave the sign of fire from heaven that consumed the sacrifice.

But truth goes alongside with love and in Jesus is the love and truth of God.

Jesus did not come to give a new law. Rather He came to fulfil the Law and the Prophets.

He came to proclaim God's love and truth and that He is God's love and truth.

Because Jesus is Love and Truth, we can hope. Because we know that Love and Truth will always prevail.

10th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 07-06-2022

1 Kings 17:67-16 / Matthew 5:13-16    

To be at the right place and at the right time is not just a nice-sounding phrase.

Because to be at the right place and at the right time, a person will be able to see the meaning and purpose of his life.

For us, being at the right place and at the right time is not about being lucky or by chance.

We believe that God has an appointed time in His plan, and that is why we say that things happen in God's time.

So while we wait for God's appointed time for us in His plan, we need to be like salt that is kept in good condition and like a lamp that is ready to be lit at any time.

When good salt is put into food, the taste is enhanced and the food is delicious.

When a lamp is in operational-ready condition, then when it is needed, its light will shine in the darkness.

So for us, when we are who we are at where we belong, then the time has come for God to use us as His instrument in carrying out His plan.

Meanwhile let us live good lives and be alert for God's appointed time to come for us.

Our Lady, Mother of the Church, Monday, 06-06-2022

Acts 1:12-14 or Gen 3:9-15, 20 / John 19:25-34 

In the 1st reading, we heard that after Jesus was taken up to heaven, the apostles returned to Jerusalem and went to the upper room where they were staying

There they devoted themselves with one accord to prayer, together with some women, and Mary the mother of Jesus.

That was the last mention of Mary. After that there was no more mention of her in the rest of the Bible.

This last mention of Mary is significant because that was also her purpose after Jesus was taken up to heaven.

Mary stayed with the apostles and she was with them in prayer. She was doing this because she was obedient to what Jesus entrusted to her while He was on the cross.

Because Mary remembered what Jesus told her when He was on the cross: Woman, behold your son.

Though she did not reply, her silence was her consent. She not only agreed to be the mother of the disciple that Jesus loved, she understood that she was to be the mother of all the disciples of Jesus.

Today's memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church, is a new addition to the liturgical calendar of the Church.

That title of Mary, Mother of the Church, was officially given to Mary during the Second Vatican Council by Pope Paul VI.

So from Mother of God, she is now also the Mother of the Church. And if we are obedient to what Jesus said on the cross, then we too must embrace Mary as our Mother, which most of us would be more willing to do.

But for us, Mary is not just our Mother, but we would also want to carry out what Jesus entrusted to us and we want Mary to be the Mother of all peoples.

As we celebrate this memorial, let us make our Mother known to all peoples, for in doing so, we are also making Jesus known to all peoples.

Pentecost Sunday, Year C, 05.06.2022

Acts 2:1-11 / 1 Cor 12:3-7, 12-13 / John 20:19-23

There are many things which exists, but just that we can't see them, or that they are not visible to the eye. 

One common element that we can't see but we know it exists is the wind. We can feel the coolness of a gentle breeze, and we see how the leaves of the trees rustling in the wind, and we are amazed at the power of the wind in a storm or typhoon. 

So, if seeing is believing, then we also need to know that there are things that we believe, although we may not have seen or unable to see it yet. 

In the Creed, we profess that we believe in God who created the visible and invisible. And then we also profess our belief in the Holy Spirit, who is the Lord and Giver of Life. 

As much as we profess our belief in the Holy Spirit, we find it rather difficult to describe who the Holy Spirit is, and what He really looks like. 

In the 1st reading, there were signs that manifested the presence of the Holy Spirit - the powerful wind from heaven, the tongues of fire that rested on the heads of the disciples, and the gift of speaking foreign languages. 

In the gospel, Jesus said to His disciples: As the Father sent me, so am I sending you. 

Then He breathed on them and said: Receive the Holy Spirit. 

This action of Jesus recalls the creation story when God blew into the nostrils of man and man became a living being. 

God blew the Spirit of life into man in the creation story. And in the gospel, Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit into His disciples and sent them out to proclaim the good news of salvation. 

In the 1st reading, we heard how the disciples courageously proclaim the Good News and the marvels of God with the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Today on this Feast of Pentecost, we are reminded that the Holy Spirit is in us, that we are the temples of the Holy Spirit, and that we are to go forth with the power of the Holy Spirit to proclaim the good news of salvation. 

As we think about the manifestation of the Holy Spirit, we reflect on the 2nd reading when St. Paul describe how the Holy Spirit works using the example of the human body. 

When we think about the human body, we see it as a healthy physical body, and one part is connected to the rest. 

But what happens when one part is injured, what happens when a bone is broken? 

In primitive times, when the bone if the leg is broken, it spells certain death for the injured person. 

But when the injured person is cared for, and the broken bone is healed, and that the injured person is able to walk and function again, when people can care for one another, we can say that mankind has developed into a civilization. 

Although we say that we live in a civilized world, we cannot deny the brokenness of our civilization. 

As Christians we are sent forth to bring civilization to salvation. 

And with the power of the Holy Spirit, we will bring healing and peace to our world. 

The world may not be able to see the Holy Spirit, or know that the Holy Spirit exists. 

But we have the breath of life, the breath of the love of the Holy Spirit. 

We are called to be living images of the Holy Spirit. 

And we are also called to bring salvation to our civilization.

7th Week of Easter, Saturday, 04-06-2022

Acts 28:16-20, 30-31 / John 21:20-25    

One of the annoying and frustrating things in life is distraction.

It can come in many forms: noise, images, animals, persons, etc.

When we get distracted, we lose focus on what we are doing and what we should be doing.

And in the end, we get nothing done and we also did not get going anywhere.

In the gospel, Peter got distracted by that disciple Jesus loved and started to lose focus on what Jesus had wanted him to do.

Those words that Jesus said to Peter "What does it matter to you? You are to follow me" serves as a sharp reminder for us too, that we should keep our focus on Jesus and that is all that matters.

St. Paul, in the 1st reading had that kind of focus on Jesus.

Even though he was a prisoner in chains, he kept proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching the truth about the Lord Jesus Christ.

May we always keep our focus on Jesus and do what He wants of us. That is all that matters.

7th Week of Easter, Friday, 03-06-2022

Acts 25:13-21 / John 21:15-19    

It is said that people won't die from the hardness of life. But they can die from hardness of heart.

But the hardness of heart is often developed from the hardness of life.

When life is hard, and there is no love in life, then the heart becomes hard and cold.

Christianity is founded on love and centred on love.

That is why Jesus asked Peter about his love.

There must be love in following Jesus and in doing what Jesus wanted him to do.

It is with love that Peter will be able to stretch out his hands and be taken to where he would rather not go.

Similarly, it is with love for God and for others that we will be able to do what we would rather not want to do.

The power of love will ease the hardness of life and soften the hardness of our hearts.

7th Week of Easter, Thursday, 02-06-2022

Acts 22:30; 23:6-11 / John 17:20-26      

No one would like to be in court and be interrogated about an offence.

It is unnerving and anything that comes out of the mouth can be a disadvantage and can be used against the one being interrogated.

Even if that is not the case, to be in front of a group of people who is out to question you about your actions and your beliefs is certainly unpleasant.

That was the situation that St. Paul was in when he had to face the chief priests and the Sanhedrin.

But the words that came out of his mouth were not just because of his intelligence and shrewdness.

Rather it was the Holy Spirit who inspired him to say what he said. 

The Holy Spirit was his Advocate and came to his defence.

The Holy Spirit will also inspire us to say things that will lead others to believe in Jesus.

May we be sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and heed the signs that the Holy Spirit is showing us.

Then bearing witness to Jesus will be a joy-filled experience.