St. Therese of the Child Jesus, Patroness of Missionaries and the Missions, Saturday, 01-10-2022

Isaiah 66:10-14 / Matthew 18:1-5    

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

St. Thérèse was declared co-patron of the missions with St. Francis Xavier in 1927.

This is quite astonishing because she was a nun in the enclosed Carmelite community of Lisieux, Normandy in France.

Unlike St. Francis Xavier who travelled far and wide to spread the Gospel and baptized many people, St. Thérèse spent all her religious life in the cloistered convent.

Though she had thoughts of going off to the mission lands, her ill health forbade her from doing so.

Nonetheless she offered prayers for the missions and also her every little act was offered to God in prayer.

In her memoir The Story of a Soul, she said that she was just a very little soul and so she could only offer God very little things.

But it was doing these very little things with great love that  that she offered it to God for the salvation of souls.

That is also precisely the message in today' s gospel - childlike humility is the way to the kingdom of God.

It is the small childlike humble heart, one that is like that of St. Thérèse, that is considered great in the eyes of God.

26th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 30-09-2022

Job 38:1, 12-21; 40:3-5 / Luke 10:13-16     

The words “listen’ and “silent” are made up of the same letters.

More than just having the same letters, there can also be another connection.

When we reflect upon the words "listen" and "silent", we may come to see that in order to listen, we have to be silent.

To be silent does not merely mean that we do not say anything, because we may be silent and yet in our minds, we are already formulating a response or thinking about something else.

To be truly silent is to listen so as to truly try to understand what we are listening to.

In Psalm 46:10, there is this verse: Be still and know that I am God.

It means that when God speaks to us, we will listen and we will understand.

In the 1st reading, God finally spoke to Job. All this while Job and his friends had be talking and trying to find reasons for Job’s afflictions and misfortunes.

As God spoke, Job had to be truly silent and to listen so that he could understand what God is telling him.

Job had his questions, but what mattered as God spoke was not Job’s questions but his realization.

God speaks to us in so many ways and in so many instances and experiences.

May we be silent so that we can listen to the voice of God speaking to us in various ways and in other people.

As Jesus said in the gospel, when we listen to what God is saying to us, and when we let God’s word be in us, then others will listen to what we will say to them.

The Holy Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Thursday, 29-09-2022

Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 or Apocalypse 12:7-12 / John 1:47-51    

The first verse of the Nicene Creed states that God is the maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.

So the things that are invisible are not just what the eye cannot see.

The things that are invisible leads us to the awareness of the spiritual world.

Today as the Church honours the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, we are led to a deeper awareness and reflection of the reality of the spiritual world.

The Bible mentions about angels, and the Bible reveals the names of three archangels who are called Michael, Gabriel and Raphael.

They are called archangels because they carried out a specific mission in God’s plan of salvation.

St. Michael was given the task to drive out of heaven the devil and the angels who rebelled against God.

And he and the army of angels are given the task to protect those who are faithful to God.

St. Gabriel was sent to announce the Good News of salvation to Mary, and he guides those who preach the Good News on earth.

St. Raphael led Tobit to find the cure for the blindness of his father Tobias.

The three-fold mission of the Archangels is also a reflection of our mission as Christians.

We call upon God’s protection for those who are in danger. We are messengers of the Good News of salvation for those who want to be saved. And we pray for healing for those who are sick.

As we honour the Archangels St. Michael, St. Gabriel and St. Raphael, may we also continue their mission on earth so that we can help others to be aware that even though they are not able to see God, yet they can believe in Him and to turn to Him for protection, for healing and for salvation.

26th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 28-09-2022

Job 9:1-13, 14-16 / Luke 9:57-62     

Whenever we speak publicly about God, we will speak with reverence and use respectful language, especially in public prayer.

But when we do an examination of our conscience, we may have to admit that we are not always that respectful.

Especially in the privacy of our own space, we will be more personal with God.

And when life is spiraling in chaos and things are falling apart, our conversations with God will be sharp and direct.

To say the least, we will be angry with God and even demanding explanations from Him, or even to the extent of accusing God for not listening to and answering our prayers.

In the 1st reading, when Job spoke of God before his friends, he was certainly respectful of God and acknowledged God is almighty in every sense of the word.

Job knew where he stands before God, that he is a mere creature and that he has no case against God, even though he may not know the reason for his tribulations.

That was how Job portrayed God before his friends, and that could also be his conviction about God.

What Job said about God in the 1st reading is certainly necessary for our reflection and meditation.

As much as God will forgive us when we are disrespectful or even dared to defy Him, yet let us ask the Lord God to grant us a humble and contrite heart.

And when we speak to others about God, they will know what is our conviction about God.

26th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 27-09-2022

Job 3:1-3, 11-17, 20-23 / Luke 9:51-56      

To believe in God requires faith, and that faith is a gift from God.

Faith is God’s gift to us, and with faith, we respond to God’s call to be His People.

So to be a Christian is certainly a higher calling and it is a call to be like Jesus Christ.

To be like Jesus is to follow His way of love, which is essentially the way of the Cross.

In the gospel, we see that the way of Jesus is indeed a difficult and challenging way.

When the people of the Samaritan town would not receive Jesus, His disciples wanted to retaliate.

His disciples, James and John, want to call down fire from heaven to burn up the Samaritans of that town in order to punish them.

But Jesus turned and rebuked them and they went off to another village.

Jesus had taught about love, to love our enemies, to pray for those who persecute us and to bless those who curse us.

It would be easier to love those who love us and do good to those who are good to us.

But the call to be a Christian is a higher calling to live and love like Jesus, a calling that is above the ways of the world.

Let us ask Jesus for His blessings so that we will be faithful to our Christian calling and to be witnesses of His love and forgiveness.

 

26th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 26-09-2022

Job 1:6-22 / Luke 9:46-50     

We often say that everything happens for a reason, and we usually come to that conclusion after it has happened.

So, when the dust is settled, we will remember and reflect upon what has happened, and when we see the reason behind it, then we are prepared to learn from that experience.

But when we are experiencing the chaos of that moment, when everything seems to be falling apart, we will ask piercing questions.

We may even feel that God has abandoned us because He didn’t seem to answer our prayers for help.

From the 1st reading, we may have a glimpse of the reason as to why Job was put to the test.

But for Job, when tragedy struck one after another, he didn’t ask why it was happening to him, and neither did he know the reason.

Rather he put his life into the hands of God as he says: Naked I came from my mother’s womb, naked I shall return. The Lord gave, the Lord has taken back. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

When we are faced with the adversities of life, let us hold on to our faith in God.

God knows how much we can endure, and He won’t abandon or forsake us in our sufferings.

With faith and trust in God’s love for us, we will believe that everything happens under God’s watchful eyes, and that there is something to learn from everything that happens.

26th Ordinary Sunday, Year C, 25.09.2022

Amos 6:1, 4-7 / 1 Tim 6:11-16 / Luke 16:19-31

The five senses that we have help us to relate and interact with the people around us, as well as what is around us. 

From what we are able to see, hear, smell, taste and touch, we will react and respond accordingly. 

So, when we see something beautiful, we will respond with admiration. When we hear something pleasant and mellow, we will be delighted. When we smell a sweet fragrance, or taste something delicious, or feel something soft and smooth, we will be happy and excited. 

Yes, when we see, hear, smell, taste and touch the good things of life, we respond with good and positive emotions. 

But life is not always about the good and nice things. When we encounter something that calls for our attention, or something that is disturbing, or something that requires our immediate action, how will we respond, or how will we react? 

When we see a person in a desperate need, or come across a sad situation, we will be moved with kindness and compassion. 

The human heart can be moved to help those in need and to have compassion for those in despair. 

Because the human heart is created by God with love, and created to be loving. 

In the gospel parable, we heard of a rich man who cared only for himself and enjoyed life in a selfish manner. 

He seems to have no feelings for others, or care about others, even if they are poor and hungry, or sick and in a desperate need. 

At his gate was Lazarus, who was obviously poor and hungry, sick and needed help. But the rich man left Lazarus outside, at his gate.

He didn't let Lazarus come in, or let him into his comfort zone. 

Although it is just a parable, it reveals a number of divided human realities. So there is the rich and the poor, the powerful and the oppressed, the plenty and the needy, those who are inside and those who are outside.

As human beings, we have hearts of flesh, hearts that have the capacity for kindness and compassion, hearts that can move us into acts of love and to help others. 

But our hearts may have been hardened by disappointment and frustrations, by resentment and bitterness, by pain and hurt. 

So, we look, but we only see ourselves. We hear, but we listen only to ourselves. We want everything good, but only for ourselves. We look inward and not outwards. 

But we are not created to be like that. Whatever we see, hear, smell, taste and touch, are revelations and promptings from God, so that we will open our hearts to others, to love them, to help them and show them kindness and compassion. 

So, how does God reveal Himself to us and send signs into our hearts? The following is for our reflection: 

A man whispered, “O God, speak to me.” A bird sang, but the man did not hear. So, the man yelled, “O God, speak to me.” And the thunder rolled across the sky, but the man did not listen. 

The man looked around and said, “God, let me see You.” And a star shined brightly, but the man did not notice. And the man shouted, “O God, show me a miracle.” And a baby was born. But the man did not care. 

So, the man cried out in despair, “Touch me, O God, and let me know that You are here.” Whereupon God reach down and touched the man. But the man brushed the butterfly away and walked away in disappointment.

So, let us not walk away from a blessing just because it didn’t come in a way we expected.

Similarly, let us not walk away, or look away from others, in their need.

May we reach out to love them, to help them, to show them kindness and compassion and understanding.

When we reach out to those in need, we will be able to see that God is also reaching out to us in our time of need.a

25th Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 24-09-2022

Ecclesiastes 11:9 - 12:8 / Luke 9:43-45   

How we feel about life depends on our expectations about life.

If we expect life to be all roses and rainbows, then we will certainly be disappointed and frustrated.

That will also affect our relationships with others because we would have certain expectations about them, and that would usually strain the relationships.

On the other hand, when we understand that life is difficult, then we will be prepared to face the struggles and troubles of life.

In the gospel, when the people were full of admiration of Jesus, He said something that is rather astonishing to His disciples.

He said: For your part, you must have these words constantly in your mind – The Son of Man is going to be handed over into the power of men.

Jesus wanted to prepare His disciples to face the harsh reality of life, and He also wanted to prepare them for the reality of the Cross.

Jesus is also telling us that life is difficult, and that we must accept the sufferings of the Cross of life.

When we understand that, then we will be prepared to face the struggles and troubles of life and with the help from God, we will grow in faith and overcome the difficulties.

25th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 23-09-2022

Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 /  Luke 9:18-22    

Having to do spring-cleaning or tidying up the place can be burdensome for people who are not that particular about arranged neatness.

Some may be like an “absent-minded professor” who leaves things everywhere, but still somehow they will be able to find the things they need to get the job done.

When it comes to cleaning or tidying up, some may have a regular schedule and hence their environment is usually neat.

Some will know that cleaning and tidying up is necessary but just couldn’t find the time to do so.

But a time will come when the necessary needs to be done, and things just happen and the cleaning and tidying up will go full speed ahead.

The 1st reading talks about such a time, as it says that there is a season for everything, a time for every occupation under heaven.

The 1st reading reminds us that everything happen in God’s time, as it says that “all that God does is apt for its time”.

In the gospel, the time came for Jesus to ask His disciples about their opinion of Him.

They could be uncertain at that time, but they will be certain and clear when the time came for them to put their faith and trust in Jesus.

We too may have our doubts and questions about our faith. 

The journey of faith would also require us to do some cleaning and tidying up of our lives.

When the time comes, we will be clear and certain about who Jesus is and what God’s will is for us.

25th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 22-09-2022

Ecclesiastes 1:2-11 / Luke 9:7-9     

There may be one common trait among the seniors and elderly.

And that is they repeat certain things with a certain regularity.

And after some time, we could almost guess what they will be saying with their first few words .

Whatever we may want to call it, the seniors and elderly keep repeating these stories because those were the lessons that they have learnt in life.

And they want the next generation to learn those lessons because they see the same mistakes being made again and again.

In the 1st reading, there is this profound lesson of life as the Preacher says: Vanity of vanities. All is vanity. For all his toil, his toil under the sun, what does man gain by it?

For those who understand the wisdom of the seniors and elders, they will follow the lessons that they are teaching and find peace and happiness in life.

But for those who give in to vanity and want to gain all in this life, then like Herod in the gospel, they will be anxious and worried.

In fact, Herod eventually got to see Jesus, but it was for his entertainment and there was no enlightenment.

Let us keep repeating the lessons we learnt from the seniors and elders, so that we will live life wisely and happily.

St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist, Wednesday, 21-09-2022

Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13 / Matthew 9:9-13  

Have we ever wondered what were the thoughts that crossed the mind of St. Matthew as he got up from the customs house to follow Jesus?

Is it the uncertainty of abandoning a stable and profitable job, although it is not a respectable one?

Or is it the apprehension that from that moment on, things are not going to be the same anymore?

But over and above all these thoughts is the great up-lifting feeling that someone had given him respect, dignity and self-worth.

In Jesus, St. Matthew saw the mercy and love of God, who came not to call the virtuous, but sinners.

What St. Matthew saw in Jesus, he too wanted to emulate.

That is also what the 1st reading is telling us : that united in faith and knowledge of the Son of God, we strive to be the Perfect Man, fully mature with the fullness of Christ.

Jesus showed St. Matthew who and what he can become.

In turn, St. Matthew showed us in his gospel who and what we can become.

As the call of Jesus crosses and echoes in our hearts, let us answer the call like St. Matthew.

Because it is a call to the fullness of Christ Himself.

25th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 20-09-2022

Proverbs 21:1-6, 10-13 / Luke 8:19-21   

In life, we need to have some control over some immediate events.

It may not be for the future which has so much uncertainties, but at least for the near future, so that there can be some stability in our lives.

Yes, we need to plan for our near future and that is a responsibility to ourselves.

But the 1st reading talks about another kind of future as it says this: Like flowing water is the heart of the king in the hand of the Lord, who turns it where he pleases.

Yes, we say that our future is in the hands of the Lord God, but do we still trust in God’s plan for us when things suddenly change?

In the gospel, the family and relatives of Jesus couldn’t quite understand the change in Him and in what He was doing and they wanted to see Him.

But Jesus said that those who hear the Word of God and put it into practice are His mother and brothers.

May the Word of God soften our hearts so that our hearts will be like flowing water in the hands of God who turns it where He pleases.

When our hearts are in the hands of God, we will have true freedom and feel the joy of life.

25th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 19-09-2022

Proverbs 3:27-34 / Luke 8:16-18  

The 1st reading is taken from the Book of Proverbs.

It is one of the earliest books in the collection of wisdom literature, and it is attributed to the authorship of King Solomon.

There are many similarities to the general wisdom sayings that reflect on how one should live life.

But the Book of Wisdom is not just about how we should relate and treat others.

There is always the aspect of the accountability to God.

So the 1st reading talks about kindness, not to plot harm against other, not to pick up a quarrel against the innocent, not to emulate violence.

But it draws back to God when it says this: for the wilful wrong-doer is abhorrent to the Lord, who confides only in honest men.

When we read the Book of Wisdom as a source of guidance from the Lord, then our lives will shine like a lamp on a lamp-stand.

And we will also be able to show others how to live life wisely.

25th Ordinary Sunday, Year C, 18.09.2022

Amos 8:4-7 / 1 Tim 2:1-8 / Luke 16:1-13

In life, we would have come across many wise sayings that are actually quite easy to remember. 

But when we don't hear them often enough, we will not remember them that easily. So, if out of sight may lead to out of mind, then when we don't repeat it, we will not remember it. 

One wise saying that has just five simple words, and it is this: Honesty is the best policy. 

When was the last time that we heard that saying? Or when was the last time that we said it? 

When a person has honesty as a principle in life, then he will do what is right and just, he will be responsible and accountable. 

That is the kind of person that we will put our trust in. 

But have we been able to find an honest person or a couple of honest persons to put our trust in? 

Or, turning the question around, do we think that we are honest enough for others to put their trust in us? 

And if honesty is the best policy, then is honesty also our policy, especially when it comes to money? 

In the gospel parable, we heard of a steward who was wasteful with his master's property, or in other words, that steward was dishonest. 

The master found out, and the steward was to be dismissed, but he quickly did something to secure his future, and it was at the master’s expense. 

But Jesus said something that is rather astonishing and maybe even confusing. Jesus said this: The master praised that dishonest steward for his astuteness. 

To be astute, is to have the ability to accurately assess a situation or a person and to turn it to one's advantage or gain. 

So, Jesus said that the master was impressed by the steward’s astuteness, even though he was dishonest. 

What Jesus is saying is that the world will be impressed when a person is able take advantage of others and to gain by crooked means, be it by lying or cheating, or by wheeling and dealing. 

But as Jesus emphasized, honesty is not just in big things; rather it begins with little things. 

One test of honesty is having to queue up. We don’t like to queue up. To cut queue may not be deemed as a moral issue, but it says a lot about the character of the person. 

We may have heard about the long queues of people who want to pay the last respects to the late Queen Elizabeth. 

There is an edifying story about a famous football player who queued for 12 hours to pay his last respects. 

He didn't use his celebrity status to get things his way, but he joined the rest of the people to wait for their turn to pay respects. And he got respected for that. 

Yet there were other stars or big names who used their status to cut the queue. They may have gotten what they wanted, but it came with the price of negative comments. 

As for us, we want to take honesty as our policy not because people are looking at us. 

We want to do what is right and just, and even when we falter, we want be responsible and accountable. 

Because, the 1st reading reminds us of what God said to His people: Never will I forget a single thing that you have done. 

But God is not watching us to see if we are doing the wrong thing. 

He wants us to believe in His love and goodness, so that if honesty is our best policy, it is because we believe that God loves us and that He wants us to do what is right and just and loving. 

So let us keep our eyes on the Lord, as we speak with honesty, think with sincerity and act with integrity.

24th Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 17-09-2022

1 Cor 15:35-37, 42-49 / Luke 8:4-15  

The imagery of a seed being sown in the ground and then germinating into a plant is really amazing and astounding.

And to realize that the plant bears almost no resemblance to the seed that it came from is also very intriguing. Maybe perhaps the only visible connection is in the seeds that it bears.

Hence we can say that nature bears an indication to the mystery of life, here as well as hereafter.

And that was why in the 1st reading, St. Paul used that imagery of the seed and what it will grow into as a means of explaining the mystery of the afterlife and the resurrection.

In the gospel, Jesus also used the imagery of seeds, with the sower sowing seeds in various types of soil.

Yet Jesus also said: Listen, anyone who has ears to hear!

What we hear at Mass, i.e. the prayers, the homily, the hymns, all these are like seeds of the mystery of God that are sown into our hearts.

Whatever the state of our hearts may be, the seeds will remain there and will not go back to God without achieving what they were sent to do.

Yet let us also do what is necessary for the seeds to bear fruit. Just like the seed must die in order to bear a harvest, we too must die to ourselves in order for the Word of God to become alive in us.

But we must first listen to the Word of God, and then our hearts will begin to bear fruit that will last.

24th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 16-09-2022

1 Cor 15:12-20 / Luke 8:1-3   

One thing that is quite certain in life is that there is growth.

Together with growth, there will also be change.

Growth is not just in the physical sense, but also in the emotional and spiritual sense.

We want to be emotionally stable, such that what disturbs and troubles us before will not be such great issues.

We want to be spiritually matured too, that with faith in God, we are able to be more loving and forgiving, and to die to sinfulness and grow in holiness.

In the 1st reading, St. Paul talks about faith in the Resurrection of Jesus, and it is a dynamic faith that empowers him to preach the Good News.

It is also faith in the Resurrection that enables us to put our hope in Jesus, a hope not just in this life but more in the life to come.

It is this faith and hope that keep us growing and changing to be more like Jesus.

We see that faith and hope in the gospel passage when the disciples and women followed Jesus in His mission and ministry.

They saw themselves growing and changing into the persons that they are proud of, and that is not by their own abilities but by their faith and hope in Jesus.

May we too have that faith and hope in Jesus and in His Resurrection, that we will grow and change into the person that God has created us to be and to live life with love and with joy.

Our Lady of Sorrows, Thursday, 15-09-2022

Hebrews 5:7-9 / John 19:25-27 or Luke 2:33-35   

To be human is to have emotions, to be able to feel, to feel for ourselves as well as for others.

And these emotions can be anything from being happy to being sad, from rejoicing to grieving.

Underlying all these emotions is the intensity of love.

The greater the love, the greater will be the joy.

But of course, the greater the love, the greater will be the sorrow.

On the Cross, as well as at the foot of the Cross, the intensity of love is great, because it is the love between a sorrowful mother and a dying son.

Yet, that intense love is not just between Jesus and Mary.

Jesus gave us His Mother so that she will comfort us in our moments of sadness, sorrow and grief.

May we be able to feel the comfort and consolation from Jesus through Mary.

And may we in turn feel for others, especially in their time of sadness, sorrow and grief.

Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Wednesday, 14-09-2022

Numbers 21:4-9 or Phil 2:6-11 / John 3:13-17     

If we were to show the Cross to some people who do not know what the Cross is about and who was nailed on it, their reactions would be anything but indifference.

And to tell them that this is the sign of our salvation and that Jesus died on the Cross to save us from our sin might even astonish them further.

Generally speaking, non-Christians have some idea that the Cross is the sign for Christianity.

But they may not know it was meant to be an instrument of torture and death.

As for us Christians, we know that Jesus suffered and died on the Cross to save us from our sins and from eternal death.

By the Cross, Jesus redeemed us and we are freed from the clutches of the devil.

And by His Resurrection, the Cross has become a sign of victory over sin and death, a sign of salvation, and a sign of the power of God.

Let us give glory to God for saving us through the power of the Cross of Christ.

Let us embrace our own crosses and follow Jesus.

In the Cross, we unite ourselves with Jesus in His suffering; and it is also in the Cross that we will share with Jesus in His victory.

24th Week, Ordinary Time , Tuesday, 13-09-2022

1 Cor 12:12-14, 27-31 / Luke 7:11-17      

When there are tears in the eyes, it can have a few meanings.

It may be tears of joy, and that would be really a moment of great rejoicing.

It may be tears of emotion, as in one is moved to tears.

But more often, it would be tears of grief and sadness.

Those kinds of tears can move others to compassion and sympathy.

When Jesus saw the tears of the widow whose only son had died, He was moved with compassion and felt sorry for her.

And it was through her tears that Jesus brought the young man back to life.

In the 1st reading, St. Paul urged the Corinthians to be ambitious for the higher gifts of the Holy Spirit.

But in order to strive for the higher gifts, we must have the essential gifts of love, compassion, kindness and gentleness.

It is with those gifts that we can dry the tears of those who are pulled down by sorrow and grief.

24th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 12-09-2022

1 Cor 11:17-26, 33 / Luke 7:1-10     

The ability to wait for something or someone without getting angry or upset is a valuable quality in a person.

To be able to wait like that would require the virtue of patience.

Patience is a virtue because it contributes to happiness and living well. 

In the 1st reading, St. Paul was addressing a rather serious matter with regards to the attitude of the Christian community in the Lord’s Supper.

He had to reiterate the instruction regarding the Lord’s Supper that he had received and handed down to the Christian community.

And he addressed the matter with this simple instruction: Wait for one another.

It may sound simple enough to just wait, but it calls for patience and charity.

Waiting also gives us time to reflect on the situation and our emotions.

Waiting attentively also involves discerning what God is showing and saying to us.

In the gospel, the centurion had waited for his servant’s recovery.

But when he heard that Jesus was in the vicinity, he knew it was time for an encounter.

So when we had to wait for something or for someone, let us take it as a prayer-break.

God is using that pause to prepare us for an encounter with Him.

24th Ordinary Sunday, Year C, 11.09.2022

Exodus 32:7-11, 13-14 / 1 Tim 1:12-17 / Luke 15:1-32

Our country has a unique way of categorizing the age groups, and especially that of the seniors. A citizen who is above the age of 60 is termed as a “senior”. 

In that senior age group, are the “Pioneer” generation and the “Merdeka” generation. The percentage of seniors in Singapore is just below 20%. It means that one out of five Singaporeans is a senior. 

There is a saying that a senior or an elder in the family is valued as a treasure. If so for the family, then it is so for a country. 

So, is there anything that can be learned from these seniors? What are their contributions to society in their senior years? 

If anything, it will be this, and that is: Listen to your elders’ advice. Not because they are always right, but because they have more experiences of being wrong. 

Well, practically speaking, the seniors and the elders have crossed more bridges and eaten more salt, so some credit and respect must be given to them. 

And the scriptures also tell us something about the seniors and elders, that they have a deeper and wiser view of life. 

In the 1st reading, we heard how Moses pleaded for the people when God wanted to punish them for their disobedience and unfaithfulness. 

Moses himself knew what it was to be exiled and persecuted, and he didn't want his people to go through that painful experience. 

God heard his pleas, and God relented and did not bring on His people the disaster He had threatened. 

That tells us that when the elders plead for mercy and forgiveness, God will listen to them.

In the gospel, the parable of the Prodigal Son teaches us many things, but the central figure in the parable is not so much the wayward son but the compassionate father. 

The father sadly accepted the son’s leaving, but he also joyfully accepted the son’s return. The father also pleaded with the elder son to forgive his younger brother. 

So, the scriptures tell us about the comforting and consoling cries of the elders for the nation and for the family. 

So truly, God is teaching us to listen to our elders, because He can speak through them.

And on this Catholic Education Sunday, God is telling us, whether we are students or parents, to listen to the voice of the teachers, because He will speak through them. 

Teachers don't only impart the three R's of education, which is reading, writing and arithmetic. 

Teachers also want to impart the deeper aspects of the three R's of life, which is responsibility, respect and reverence. 

Responsible teachers will also want to form their students to be responsible for their actions and to be responsible to others by doing what is good, right and loving. 

Teachers want to instil respect in their students so that they will respect their parents and obey them, for that is the Commandment of God. 

And teachers also want to form their students in the faith, so that they will have reverence for God and walk in the ways of the Lord. 

So, teachers are not just about teaching the three R’s of Education. They also form the young in the three R’s of life, which is responsibility, respect and reverence. 

Like the seniors and the elders, teachers may not be always right, but they surely have learned from the experiences of being wrong. 

So let us listen to the seniors, the elders and the teachers. They stand together with Moses and father of the Prodigal Son to plead before God for the good of the people. 

Let us listen to them because God can speak through them. 

And when we listen to God, God will also listen to us.

23rd Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 10-09-2022

1 Cor 10:14-22 / Luke 6:43-49

When we think about the word “integrity”, we may know that the root word is “intact”

So, a person of integrity will have his values and principle intact, like honesty, accountability, accepting responsibility and transparency.

All these are the foundations of a good character, and a person of good character will do what is the good and right and loving thing.

As what Jesus said in the gospel, “There is no sound tree that produces rotten fruit, nor again a rotten tree that produces good fruit. For every tree can be told by its own fruit”.

But integrity can be easily lost when there is dishonesty and immorality.

In the 1st reading, St. Paul warns against idolatry, which is the root of immorality.

While with integrity, a person is like a good tree that bears good fruit, with idolatry, a person becomes a tragedy.

Let us pray to the Lord that He will keep our faith intact and live our lives with integrity so that we will be good trees bearing good fruit for the Lord.

23rd Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 09-09-2022

1 Cor 9:16-19, 22-27 / Luke 6:39-42    

Somehow the word “free” seems to always catch our attention.

When we hear that word being mentioned, or see that word in flyers or advertisements, we may not be able to resist the curiosity of wanting to know what is free.

But as we know, and we will eventually find out, there is no such thing as a free meal.

And also, free cheese is found in mouse-traps.

When St. Paul reflected about his mission of preaching the gospel, he asked this question: Do you know what my reward is?

His answer to his own question is this: In my preaching, to be able to offer the Good News free, and not insist on the rights which the gospel gives me.

To be able to offer the Good News freely means that he does not expect to gain any material benefits from it but only to win as many souls as he could.

To preach the Good News and expect to gain from it, whether materially or for recognition, is like a blind man guiding another blind man.

So in serving the Lord, or to perform acts of charity, let us be free of self-centered motives and desires.

God will be our reward, and when we have God in our hearts, we will be able to guide others to salvation.

The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Thursday, 08-09-2022

Micah 5:1-4  or Romans 8:28-30 / Matthew 1:1-16, 18-23   

We may not be able to comprehend God’s plans immediately, but we believe that God will reveal to us what we need to know about His plans for us.

In God’s plan of salvation, He sent His only Son into the world to be our Saviour.

But Jesus did not appear on Earth just out of nowhere. His coming was prepared, in that Jesus was to be born of a woman.

In the celebration of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we see how God’s plan slowly unfolded.

This feast follows from the teaching of Immaculate Conception, that Mary was conceived in her mother’s womb without sin, and it was by the grace of God.

From Mary’s birth, God’s plan of salvation was taking shape and became a reality when Jesus was conceived in her womb by the power of the Holy Spirit.

In faith, we believe that Mary was immaculately conceived, and it was in her sinless womb that the Son of God took flesh and came into the world.

We thank God for this gift of faith, by which we can now understand how God carried out His plan for our salvation.

As for God’s plan for us, let us ask Our Lady to pray for us, that as God’s plan unfolds in our lives, we too will follow the plan of God.

Mary said “Yes” to God. May we too say “Yes” to God and to our salvation.

23rd Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 07-09-2022

1 Cor 7:25-31 / Luke 6:20-26 

When we say that something is alive, we would expect it to be breathing and moving.

And if we have handled creatures or animals that are alive, then we know that it is not that easy to keep them still and under control.

When we think about life, then we must know that life is dynamic and has its twists and turns, and to expect the unexpected.

And with that, we know that life is not a straight line, but rather life is like a cycle of ups and downs.

In the gospel, we heard of a teaching by Jesus that is similar to the Beatitudes.

That is like a sort of “reversal of fortunes”.

But that is also the reflection of life – there are ups and downs, good and bad, happy and sad. 

Whichever way life goes, let us continue to believe in God for He is unchanging and always faithful to those who trust in Him.

We know that in life, all things will come and go, but God is everlasting.

In God alone, will our hearts be at rest and be at peace.

23rd Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 06-09-2022

1 Cor 6:1-11 / Luke 6:12-19     

For those of us who drive, we know that there are two things that we should do, in order to avoid accidents.

One is that we should keep our focus on the road ahead, and it means our two eyes on the road.

The other is that we should keep our two hands on the steering wheel.

Even one eye on the road and one hand on the steering wheel is certainly not safe enough, like how we try to text while driving.

Yes, two eyes focused on the road ahead, and two hands holding tight on the steering wheel is what is necessary when driving.

In short, it means that we must keep our focus.

And it is not just in driving, but also in the important aspects of our lives.

In the gospel, we heard about Jesus calling the first disciples.

But there is this disturbing line about Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

Somehow Judas lost focus, and he was branded a traitor in every account of the call of the first disciples.

But it was not only Judas who lost focus. The Christian community of Corinth also lost focus and St. Paul had to address the serious matter of division in the 1st reading.

We have been called by God to be disciples and to be witnesses of the Good News of God’s love.

Let us ask the Lord to watch over us and protect us so that we will keep our focus on Jesus and on the mission that He is calling us to.

 

23rd Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 05-09-2022

1 Cor 5:1-8 / Luke 6:6-11

We all know that we have this capacity for charity within us.

That is not surprising because our hearts are created by God and created with love.

Hence, it is almost by instinct that we want to help others in their need.

But what has suppressed this capacity and instinct to be charitable is the sinful human condition.

That condition is not just around us but also has affected us within.

In the gospel, there was this man with the withered hand.

The scribes and Pharisees could see that man, and they could see that Jesus would probably cure that man of his withered hand.

But the scribes and Pharisees chose to watch Jesus and to see if they could find something to use against Him.

Jesus rose above the scheming eyes and minds and reached out to cure the man with the withered hand.

As we reflect on the gospel passage, we are reminded that we are affected by the sinful condition and that has suppressed our capacity for charity.

But let us judge less and help more. 

We are created with love. Let us choose to love and increase our capacity for charity.

23rd Ordinary Sunday, Year C, 04.09.2022

Wisdom 9:13-18 / Philemon 9-10, 12-17 / Luke 14:25-33

There are many things that nature can teach us when we observe and reflect upon it. 

And there are many proverbs that are from the wonders of nature, like, “make hay while the sun shines”, “still waters run deep”, “time and tide wait for no man”, “nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished”. 

But we don't have to look that far and wide in nature to see the wisdom of life. 

When we look at the human body, then we may come to realize that the human body is a wonderful teacher of nature. 

The more we learn about it, the greater the appreciation we have about the human body. And every part of the human body has something to teach us. 

For example, our hands, besides being very useful, can be a subject of reflection and meditation. 

The fingers of the hand are of different lengths, but they are all joined together at the palm, and the fingers complement each other. So there is unity in diversity. 

Hands also speak a language of their own and it is called sign language. 

Hands can be creative as they can cook, sew, write, draw and play musical instruments. 

But hands can also be aggressive as they can be used to make vulgar signs, and slap and punch to hurt others. 

A sign of possessiveness is when the fingers of the hand curl inwards into the palm and clenched into a fist. 

That says a lot about possessiveness, and with the fingers of the hand clenched like a fist, it may also show that we can resort to violence in order to protect our possessions. 

When our hands are clenched into a fist, then we are not going to hold anyone's hands, and we don't want anyone to hold our hands either. 

Indeed, the fingers in our hands say so much of who we are and how we look at life. 

In the gospel, Jesus tells us that no one can be His disciple unless he gives up all his possessions. 

But our most precious possessions are not things. The most precious possession is none other than our self. It is about our freedom, our choices, about what we like and what we don't like. 

Yes, it is our self that is most difficult to give up. Because it is about giving up our freedom, giving up our choices, giving up what we want. 

And so, we hold on tightly to our self, like fists that are clenched tightly. But when we clench our fingers tightly into our palms, it will be painful. We are only hurting ourselves. 

Jesus is asking us not to hurt ourselves and open our hands. When we open our hands and let go, then God can do something for us. 

He will put His blessings into our hands so that we can see the wisdom of life with open hands. 

With open hands we can also touch and feel. With open hands, we let go of ourselves so that we can reach out to God and reach out to others. That is what loving God and loving others is all about. 

And with open hands, we can take up the cross and follow Jesus. 

The cross is illogical and foolish for those with clenched fists and they won't take it up. 

But when we open our hands to take up the cross, we take up the power and the wisdom of God. 

As the 1st reading tells us, it is by the power and wisdom of God that the paths of those on earth are straightened, and men are taught what pleases God and be saved. 

One more thing about hands. There are gaps between the fingers. 

Jesus wants to fill those gaps with His fingers by holding our hands as we carry to cross.

And when we have learnt about the power of the Cross, let us also reach out to hold others’ hands and to live life with love and wisdom.

22nd Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 03-09-2022

1 Cor 4:6-15 / Luke 6:1-5 

A maxim is a written set of principles or rules of conduct.

In the 1st reading, St. Paul used this word to state a simple principle or rule and that is "Keep to what is written".

Most probably he was referring to the Scriptures and to the written set of teachings that were handed to the Christian community at Corinth.

He made recourse to that maxim because the Christians at Corinth were beginning to interpret the teachings to their own convenience and advantage.

What was too demanding and affected them personally they would give leeway for themselves and go with the broadest possible options.

St. Paul wanted to bring them to their senses and to help them see the truth and the reality of their spiritual deterioration.

Yet in the gospel, it was the Pharisees who were harping on keeping to the Law of the Sabbath.

But their intention was to reinforce and propagate their religious fundamentalist ideas.

But it is not a question of rigidity or laxity when it comes to religious teachings.

Jesus came to teach us the Truth so that we will have freedom when we keep to His teachings.

In Jesus, we have the Truth who will lead us to the Way of Life.

Let that be our spiritual maxim.

22nd Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 02-09-2022

1 Cor 4:1-5 / Luke 5:33-39  

One comment that is heard every now and then is that the way the Church operates is no different from the way the world operates.

That is certainly not a compliment, especially since there is one big difference between the Church and the world.

The world is secular in its outlook and often the decisions are based on finances and the profit margins.

The Church is essentially spiritual and the directions are primarily pastoral with the focus on the spiritual care and salvation of souls.

And we are not just members of the Church. We are the members of the Body of Christ and Jesus is the Head.

The 1st reading says that the people of the world must think of and see us as Christ’s servants, stewards entrusted with the mysteries of God.

And as stewards, we must be found worthy of the mystery of salvation, which is the Good News.

And so while the world talks about productivity and profits, we, the Church must focus on love and charity, which is needed for the care and salvation of souls.

We are called to be stewards in this mission of salvation. 

May we be the new wine that will give the world the sweet taste of God’s love and salvation.