Mary, Mother of God, 01.01.2023

Numbers 6:22-27 / Galatians 4:4-7 / Luke 2:16-21

Today we stand at a significant moment in time. 

On this first day of the new year, we welcome a new beginning with well-wishes and celebrations. 

We have said goodbye to 2022 and hello to 2023. 

But we have not closed the door on 2022 just yet, as we will look back at 2022 with remembering and reminiscing. 

Many things have happened in 2022. We have learned to live with Covid, we have gotten used to wearing masks and some even like to wear it, we don't make a fuss anymore with using hand sanitizers. 

On a brighter note, we don't have to book a place to come for Mass, we can sit wherever we want, and we get to see each other more often. So, we should be happier. 

Yes, 2022 was a year of change, and we too have changed. So, is it a change for the better, and are we happier? 

And now we are looking at 2023, and we wonder what will 2023 be like? Will it be better than 2022 or will it be otherwise? 

So, today is a significant moment in time, as we wonder at the future of mystery, while we ponder on the past of history. 

Today as we celebrate the feast of Mary the Mother of God, the gospel speaks of her as treasuring and pondering in her heart all that has happened.

And many things have happened for her, from the angel Gabriel appearing to her at the Annunciation, to the Visitation, and now in joyful wonder at the mystery of the Incarnation, the Word made flesh, the Emmanuel, who is the little tender baby Jesus in her arms. 

For Mary, there is much to ponder, much to wonder and much to treasure. 

For Mary, every moment is a divine moment in the appointed time of God.

As the 2nd reading tells us: At the appointed time, God sent His Son, born of a woman. 

Yes, every moment is a divine moment in the appointed time of God. 

And in this significant moment in time, as we look forward to 2023, we still look back at 2022, and we ponder and we wonder. 

We wonder at the future of mystery, and we ponder at the moments of our history. 

Those moments could be a mixture of good and bad, some were happy, some were sad, some could be better, some we would rather not remember. 

But good or bad, it is hard to say. Maybe this this story can help us to understand.

Once upon a time, there was a king. The king liked one of his servants very much because he was wise and always gave useful advice. Therefore, the king took him along wherever he went.

One day, the king was bitten by a dog. His finger was injured and the wound got worse and worse. He asked the servant if that was a bad sign. The servant said, "Good or bad, hard to say". In the end, the finger of the king was so bad that it had to be cut off. The king asked the servant again if that was a bad sign. Again, the servant gave the same answer, "Good or bad, hard to say". The king became very angry and sent the servant to prison.

One day, the king went hunting in the jungle.. He got excited when he was chasing a deer. Deeper and deeper he went into the jungle. In the end he found himself lost in the jungle. To make things worse, he got captured by natives living inside the jungle.

They wanted to sacrifice him to their god. But when they noticed that the king had one finger missing, they released him immediately as he was not a perfect man anymore and not suitable for sacrifice. The king managed to get back to his palace after all. 

And he finally understood the servant's wise quote, "Good or bad, hard to say". If he hadn't lost one finger, he could have been killed by the natives.

He ordered to release the servant, and apologized to him. But to the king's

amazement, the servant was not angry at him at all. Instead, the servant said, “It wasn't a bad thing that you locked me up.” “Why?” the king asked. The servant replied, “Because if you didn't lock me up, you would have brought me along to the jungle. And since the natives found that you were not suitable, they would have used me for the sacrifice.

So, good or bad, hard to say …

So, with Mary, we ponder on our past moments so that we can see that those moments are moments of blessing in the appointed time of God. 

And as we wonder about the future, let us also remember that all will happen in God's appointed time. 

Whether good or bad, happy or sad, let us remember that Jesus will be with us in all those moments. 

Jesus is our Saviour. His name means “God saves”. 

May the Lord our God bless us and save us. May He let His face shine upon us and be gracious to us and grant us peace. 

And may Mother Mary pray for us.

Seventh Day Within Octave of Christmas, Saturday, 31-12-2022

1 John 2:18-21 / John 1:1-18

In life, there is always a beginning and an ending, an opening and a closing.

Twelve months ago, we began a new year with wondering and pondering what lies ahead as the year unfolds.

Today as we come to the last day of the year, we close off with recalling and reminiscing about the experiences of the past twelve months.

But in life, every ending leads to a new beginning, and every closing follows on to a new opening.

So tomorrow we begin a new year and we will wonder and ponder about how the year will unfold.

But with God, there is no beginning or ending, no opening or closing.

And His love for us is everlasting and His love took on flesh in Jesus Christ.

May our beginning and ending be with Jesus, and whatever we open or close be in Jesus.

Then, from His fullness, we will receive grace upon grace and blessing upon blessing.

With that, we will journey on with faith and into the future with hope.

The Holy Family, Friday, 30-12-2022

Ecclesiasticus 3:2-6, 12-14 / Colossians 3:12-21 / Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23

By nature, human beings are social beings.  

As social beings, we develop relationships with one another.

The closest and deepest relationships are to be found in the family, because blood is thicker than water.

But as we know, no family is perfect, and as much as we desire for happiness and harmony in our families, we also must be prepared for the family relationships to face trials and troubles.

As much as there are quarrels and squabbles among family members, it must be balanced off with understanding and forgiveness.

We must not let resentment lead us into sin, and if blood is thicker than water, then let it not be bad blood between family members.

The 2nd reading reminds us that we are God’s chosen race, and so we did not choose who are to be our family members. It is God who chose us to be in a particular family.

Mary and Joseph accepted the call to be the family and parents of Jesus.

In the gospel, we heard that they faced trials and troubles but they remained together and kept faith in God and in each other.

May Mary and Joseph pray for us and our families that we will have compassion, kindness and forgiveness for our family members so that Jesus will make His home with us and that in our families, the Good News will be proclaimed.

Fifth Day Within Octave of Christmas, Thursday, 29-12-2022

1 John 2:3-11 / Luke 2:22-39     

We would certainly like to have lights in places that are dark and that have nooks and corners, as well as places that do not have natural lighting.

The lights need not be bright; a soft warm light would be good enough for visibility as well as a sense of security.

Yes, lights need not be too bright or need to be like search-lights or flood-lights.

A soft warm light or even a candle-light is good enough to feel comfortable.

One of the symbols of Christmas is the light.

Jesus comes as the light to shine on the world so that people can find their way to God.

Jesus is the divine light that reveals the truth to us and helps us to walk the way of His commandments with love.

Jesus is also the light that opened the eyes of Simeon to see the salvation which God has prepared for all the nations to see.

In this Christmas season, Jesus shines His light on us, so that we will acknowledge ours sins and turn to Him for forgiveness.

Then we can live joyfully in His light and also be that little soft and warm light to lead others to God.

Holy Innocents, Martyrs, Wednesday, 28-12-2022

1 John 1:5 - 2:2 / Matthew 2:13-18     

One of the most tender signs of love are babies and toddlers.

Not only are they cute and lovable, they are also signs of life and hope that God gives us so that we can believe that there is a future for us and for them.

Indeed, children are God’s gift to us so that we can prepare a future for them.

To harm children, or even to kill them, is really atrocious and unthinkable.

That was what king Herod did to the children who were under the age of two in Bethlehem.

In his madness and obsession to kill the infant king of the Jews, he went to that extent.

What he did not realise was that he was actually preparing a death sentence for himself, as history would record of his eventual tragic end.

The Church honours these babies and infants martyrs because that act of Herod was a direct violent and hostile aggression to innocent and the helpless. 

Let us always protect the unborn, the babies and the children.

They are innocent and helpless against any act of aggression towards them.

More that that, children are God’s gift to us. When we care for them and nurture them with love and faith, they will be God’s blessings to us.

St. John, Apostle and Evangelist, Tuesday, 27-12-2022

1 John 1:1-4 / John 20:2-8  

From traditional sources, St. John was the last surviving Apostle who died a natural death, while the other Apostles were martyred.

The gospel and the letters were accredited to him, or at least his thoughts and reflections are found there.

The main message of St. John in those writings are about the love of God that was made flesh in the person of Jesus Christ.

As a witness to that divine love, his purpose in his writings is to share the joy of that love so that people will come to know the love of God.

But the love of God for humanity and even for us who believe does not come about as an intellectual knowledge.

That love is a mystery and it is a love that keeps revealing itself to us.

In other words, the love of God for us is unconditional and everlasting.

So for us, we experience God’s love in every moment of our lives, and we are to share that love with others like St. John.

May St. John pray for us, that we will always deepen our understanding of God’s love, may we also experience God’s love in every moment of our lives.

May God’s love bring us a deep joy so that as we share that love with others, they too will come to know and experience God’s love for them.

St. Stephen, The First Martyr, Monday, 27-12-2022

Acts 6:8-10,; 7:54-59 / Matthew 10:17-22   

Today, the Church honours St. Stephen, the First Martyr.

To begin with, St. Stephen had not expected to be a martyr.

He was a devout man and he was chosen to be one of the seven deacons to serve in the distribution of food for the widows and the poor of the early Christian community.

He wanted to be faithful to his duties, and at the same time, he also knew that he had to proclaim Christ as he carried out his deacon duties.

And that was where he was filled with grace and power and began to work miracles and great signs among the people.

But that was also where he met resistance, persecution and eventually martyrdom.

St. Stephen reminds us that as a Christian, we too must proclaim Christ in our work, so that our work will also be filled with grace and even with power.

And when we face resistance and even persecution just because we want to proclaim Christ in our work, then let us entrust ourselves to the power of God.

The will of God will not take us where the grace of God cannot sustain us.

Christmas, 25.12.2022

It can be said that among all the Christian festivals, Christmas has the most decorations. 

The decorations are not just in church. It is also in the business and commercial sectors, as well as in other public places. 

Regardless of whether the decorations have any spiritual meaning, whether the words are spelled “Christmas” or “Xmas”, most of the decorations are unmistakably Christmassy. 

So, in Church, there is the Nativity scene, the Christmas tree, the Christmas wreath, the Star of Bethlehem. 

The secular decorations would have fancy fairy lights, maybe Santa Claus and reindeers and whatever. 

But to admire Christmas decorations, we need to take a few steps back in order to appreciate it. 

And some decorations can only be appreciated from a distance. Anyway, if we go too near the decorations, we may see that it can be rather messy, can be rather dusty, and when there are electrical wiring around, there are also concerns about safety. 

But it is not only Christmas decorations that can be appreciated from a distance. 

Things like art and sculpture, floral arrangements and designs, as well as life and relationships, all that make sense when we step back to appreciate it and to understand it. 

When it comes to life and relationships, we can say that up close, it looks like misery and tragedy. 

But take a step back, or few steps back, life and relationships may reveal beauty and mystery. 

When God created the world, He saw it as good. When He created humanity, He saw it as very good. 

But when humanity committed sin, there came about misery and tragedy. 

But God still saw the world and humanity as beauty. And here comes the mystery. 

God became man in Jesus Christ, and He came into this world and into the misery and tragedy. 

God did that because He so loved the world and Humanity, and God wanted to restore back the beauty. 

And this is the mystery of Christmas, that the Divine became human, so that humans can become like the Divine. 

To become like the divine means to love as God loves, and to see as God sees. 

So if we think that our life and our relationships are described as messy, misery and even tragedy, then Christmas is the Good News. 

When we stand back and look at the Nativity scene, we remember that God took on human flesh and entered this world as a little baby, then we may come to realize that life has tender beauty and mystery. 

So, we stand back and we look at life and our relationships. 

We stand back and remember the people who are near and dear to us, and also those who are near but not that dear to us. 

We stand back and we look at God and the world. 

Yes, we need to stand back because when we go too close, things become blurry and messy, and we see only misery and tragedy. 

The Christmas celebration is about God becoming man so that man can become like God. 

Jesus came to lift us up from the misery and the tragedy so that we can see beauty and mystery in ourselves, in others and in the world. 

When we can see beauty in humanity, then we will know why Jesus came into this world. 

Jesus is the Saviour. The celebration of Christmas is the celebration of our salvation. 

To be saved means that we can see as God sees, and that is to see love and beauty in ourselves, and others and in the world.

24 December 2022, Saturday

2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8-12, 14, 16 / Luke 1:67-79   

The morning Mass of the 24th December is often overshadowed by the Christmas Eve Mass which will be held later this evening.

Some may not know that there is a morning Mass on the 24th, and some may even think that it is a Christmas Eve Mass that is held in the morning.

But the Mass of the 24th morning is the last Mass of the Advent season and it has unique significance as the Church crosses over from Advent to Christmas.

Throughout the season of Advent, it was a time of meditation and reflection of the prophecies of the Old Testament about the Promised Saviour.

It is a time of silent preparation for the celebration of the birth and coming of the Saviour.

The 4 lighted candles of the Advent wreath tell us of our Advent journey from darkness into the light.

As Zechariah said in the gospel: the tender mercy of our God who from on high will bring the rising Sun to visit us, to give light to those who live in darkness and the shadow of death, and guide our feet into the way of peace.

As we draw near to the celebration of Christmas, let us spend this time in silent preparation with meditation and reflection on God’s gift of salvation.

May the light of the coming of Christ shine in our hearts and forgive our sins so that we will be filled with the peace and joy of Christmas.

23 December 2022, Friday

Malachi 3:1-4, 23-24 / Luke 1:57-66    

We would like to be notified when something important is coming up.

Not only would we like to be notified, we would also like to know what the matter is and how it would concern us.

We would like to be given a notice or a “heads up” so that we will set aside the date and be prepared for the meeting.

These last couple of days of the season of Advent bring us to think about the prophecies of the Old Testament where God promised His people a Saviour who will free them from their enemies and bring them salvation of peace.

The 1st reading from the prophet Malachi was one of many prophecies that foretold of the coming of the Saviour, and that a messenger will be sent to prepare the way.

So God’s people already knew of this Good News and they looked forward to that messenger who would announce the coming of the Saviour.

As for us, we already know that the messenger was John the Baptist and he prepared the people then for the coming of Jesus.

But the prophetic voice does not stop with John the Baptist, or that we don’t have to wait for Jesus since He already came.

God continues to send people who will speak the prophetic voice to remind us that Jesus comes to us over and over again to bring us salvation and peace.

Let us recall and reflect on the voice of God spoken by those whom God has sent to us, and let us listen and prepare to let Jesus come into our heart so that we can be filled with peace and salvation.

22 December 2022, Thursday

1 Samuel 1:24-28 / Luke 1:46-56    

It is difficult to give up something that we really like.

It may be a project that we have interest and conviction about but our superiors may not share our passion in it.

Or it may be a valuable possession like our cozy home that we have to sell because of a financial situation.

But it would be really difficult when that giving up becomes a sacrifice.

In the 1st reading, Hannah offered her son Samuel to the service of the Lord.

It was truly a sacrifice of love, as she said to Eli: Now I make him over to the Lord for the whole of his life.

And with that she left him for the Lord, because she believed that the Lord had better plans for Samuel.

In that sense, Hannah’s sacrifice was for the good of Samuel and for her own good too, and she believed that it was the best thing she had done.

For Mary in the gospel, her offering of herself to the Lord to be at His service was also the best thing that she believed she had done with her life.

And hence she was able to say: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord and my spirit exults in God my saviour, because he has looked upon his lowly handmaid.

So whenever we are called to give up something that we treasure, or even something that we love, may we also know that it is the best thing for us because it is to God that we are offering it to.

And God will reward us with blessings that are way beyond what we have offered to Him.

After all, God gave us His only Son. What is it that we cannot offer in sacrifice to Him?

And when we offer it to God with love, then we can be assured that we will receive God’s love beyond what we can ever imagine.

21 December 2022, Wednesday

Songs 2:8-14 or Zephaniah 3:14-18 / Luke 1:39-45   

Advent is a time of preparation for the celebration of the birth of Christ as well as His second coming.

But for Mary and Elizabeth, it was a time of preparation of motherhood.

As these two expecting mothers met in the gospel passage, we can sense a spike of revelation.

For Elizabeth, the sad barren period of her life is over as God revealed His blessings on her.

For Mary, a joy filled, yet anxious future, has just been revealed to her.

In Mary and Elizabeth, we can see the cycle of life and the cycle of joy and anxiety.

Yet even in our joys and anxiety, God will still reveal Himself to us, just as He did to Mary and Elizabeth.

In our joys and anxiety may we still sing the songs of love and thanksgiving.

May our hearts always leap with joy with each revelation from God.

20 December 2022, Tuesday

Isaiah 7:10-11 / Luke 1:26-38   

We have this inclination to take the path of the least resistance.

And we also have this inclination to what is sweet and nice.

So, instinctively, we will avoid what is difficult and disturbing.

But we also know that any good medicine is bitter to the taste but will be good as a cure.

In the 1st reading, it may sound surprising that king Ahaz did not want a sign from the Lord, and it seemed like he had faith not to put the Lord to the test.

But in reality, he was rejecting the Lord’s offer of salvation, and he rather put his trust on some earthly power to rescue him from the enemy.

King Ahaz knew that the price of salvation would be his repentance and he was not willing to turn away from the idols and turn to the God of Israel. King Ahaz didn’t want to be disturbed by the Lord.

In the gospel, Mary was disturbed by the angel’s greeting. Even more disturbing was the angel’s message for her to be a significant part in the plan of salvation.

Even though Mary was disturbed by the message from God, she submitted to His will.

We too know that God’s will is disturbing and even bitter at times.

But in doing God’s will, like Mary did, we will have the peace of heart and we will also receive the grace from God to fulfill what He has planned for us.

19 December 2022, Monday

Judges 13:2-7, 24-25 / Luke 1:5-25       

It requires patience to wait for something to happen or for something to arrive.

So if we had ordered a meal at a restaurant or ordered something online, we just have to wait for it arrive.

But we have some certainty that it will arrive, unless there were unforeseen circumstances.

For Manoah and his wife in the 1st reading, and for Zechariah and Elizabeth in the gospel, they had waited for children to come about in their marriage.

At first, they had waited in expectation. But as time went on, their patience was put to the test, and their hope was slowly fading away.

There was no assurance that they will have children, but they still kept faith with each other, and together they kept their faith in God.

In the end they were rewarded with sons who would have a mission in a saving plan of God.

As we enter into the last week of Advent, let us also remember that things happen in God’s time.

As much as we need to have patience, we also need to have faith to believe that as we wait, God is preparing something beautiful and wonderful for us.

So let us pray as we wait patiently for God to reveal His beautiful and wonderful plan for us.

4th Sunday of Advent, Year A, 18.12.2022

 Isaiah 7:10-14 / Romans 1:1-7 / Matthew 1:18-25

We would think that life would be easy and stress-free if everything goes according to our plans. 

We have our plans in life, we have our ideas about how life would be, and if life goes according to our plans and our ideas, then we would be happy. 

So, some will get down to writing out their plans in life. They would study diligently and go to a good school and then to a good university. Then they would find a good job and get promoted and earn big money. Then they would get married and start a family. And when everything is in place, they would retire and live happily. 

Call it a plan, or call it a dream, that may be our idea of life and how we would like our future to be. 

But just as a river winds its way from the mountain to the ocean, life is never a straight path that goes according to our ideas. 

Life is a winding journey with unexpected surprises. It is like a TV drama with all its twists and turns. 

And because life is not a straight smooth path, we often get angry, disappointed and frustrated, when things don't turn out according to our plans and ideas. 

In fact, one of our common complaints when things don't go our way is that we get angry with God. 

Yes, we get angry with God when there are sudden turns and changes in life, and we get angry with God when our prayers to make it straight again are not answered. 

The gospel account is about how Jesus Christ came to be born. But at the end of the account, we should be amazed and astonished about how things turned out. 

Mary was betrothed to Joseph, and they had expected to get married and live happily to ripe old age. 

Then Mary was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit, and Joseph was bewildered by it. 

So, he decided to call off the marriage informally, but then he had a strange dream in which an angel spoke to him. 

We can try to imagine how Joseph felt about all this, but in the end, when he woke up, he did what the angel told him and he took Mary to his home. 

If this had happened to us, just how would we have reacted? 

All of a sudden, our plans are changed, our ideas of a rosy future melted away, our hope for a pleasant outcome in life had crumbled. 

Certainly, we would be angry, to say the least, besides being disappointed and frustrated. 

Anger is a common emotion and a reaction, when things don't go our way, or when there are unexpected changes. 

And we vent out that anger at people and at God. 

But we need to realize that anger is such a dangerous emotion because it burns up our insides, and it is also the cause of our pains and illnesses. 

And when we vent out that anger, we burn others and we also burn up our faith in God. 

But the gospel passage teaches us that as it describes how Jesus Christ came to be born, there was so many changes and unexpected surprises in the lives of Mary and Joseph. 

But through the responses of Mary and Joseph, Jesus Christ came into this world. 

Let us know that when there are unexpected changes and surprises, it is an Emmanuel moment. 

When we are getting angry, Jesus is also telling us that God is with us, and something beautiful and wonderful is going to happen. 

May we not let our anger cause destruction to others and to ourselves. 

Rather, in the midst of changes and surprises, let us be ready for a revelation, so that it will be an Emmanuel moment for us and for others.

17 December 2022, Saturday

Genesis 49:2, 8-10 / Matthew 1:1-17

We can divide our lives into three general categories.

One category can be called moments of greatness,  the other category can be called moments of weakness and the last can be called moments of grace.

Moments of grace are instances when we experience the hand of God moving profoundly in our lives.

The history of Israel may also be divided into these three categories and we can see it in the genealogy that is presented in the gospel.

From Abraham to David, it was an era that was filled with moments of greatness, with Israel becoming the Chosen People of God and developing into a great and mighty nation.

The second era, from David to the Babylonian exile recalls Israel's fall from greatness. It was also about how Israel turned away from God and turned to sin.

The third era, from the Babylonian exile to Jesus, recalls God's promises to Israel and its fulfillment in Jesus, who is the fullness of grace.

It is this moment that we are preparing to celebrate - a time of grace, a time of restoration, a time of re-creation.

We had our moments of greatness and our moments of weakness.

What we need is to live our days in God’s grace.

It is a time to witness to the world that because of Jesus, we can lift our heads and our hearts and take pride in being the chosen people of God.

3rd Week of Advent, Friday, 16-12-2022

Isaiah 56:1-3, 6-8 / John 5:33-36         

We may think that more than half of the population in this country have heard of Jesus, or at least heard of that name.

Furthermore, with Christmas around the corner, some people may bother to look up on the meaning of Christmas and come to know something about Jesus.

Besides that, we may think that religion is a rather sensitive subject for an ordinary conversation so we will avoid mentioning the name of Jesus.

But could it be that there are people who wish to know more about Jesus from us who are Christians, but they are waiting for us to open up that discussion.

It is just like what Jesus said of John the Baptist in the gospel, that he bore testimony to the truth for the people and he paved the way for the coming of Jesus.

So it could be that there are people who are keen to know more about Jesus and like John the Baptist, we are to bear witness and testimony to Jesus.

The 1st reading reminds us that foreigners who have attached themselves to the Lord to serve Him and to love His name and be His servants will be gathered before the Lord.

And the Lord also says that He will gather the outcasts of Israel, as well as others besides those He had already gathered.

The Lord has gathered us as His People. But He also wants us to bear witness and testimony to Jesus to those who are not yet Christians.

For all we know, there are more people who would want to know about Jesus than we think.

3rd Week of Advent, Thursday, 15-12-2022

Isaiah 54:1-10 / Luke 7:24-30   

The four weeks of the season of Advent is often understood as a time of waiting, and of course a time of prayer.

It is also a time to enter into a period of silence, which is much needed especially in this time of busyness.

But the main purpose in this time of prayer, silence and waiting is to read and meditate on the Scripture readings, and there are readings for each day of the season of Advent.

Special attention should be paid to the prophecies of the Old Testament which point to the promise of the Saviour.

In the gospel, it was the John the Baptist who was the prophet voice for the people, and he prepared the people for the coming of the Saviour through the baptism for repentance.

For us who already believe that Jesus had come to fulfill the promise of God, we need to remember that promise of His second coming.

What God had promised His people in the Old Testament is also promised to us in our present times.

Let us listen again and meditate on this verse from today’s 1st reading:

For the mountains may depart, 

the hills shaken, 

but my love for you will never leave you, 

and my covenant of peace with you will never be shaken, 

says the Lord who takes pity on you.

3rd Week of Advent, Wednesday, 14-12-2022

Isaiah 45:6-8, 18, 21-26 / Luke 7:19-23   

No one can ever say that there are no questions about life, especially when there are contradictions and disappointments.

Life is not as clear and straight-forward as we would like it to be or expect it to be.

And when it come to the aspect of faith in God, we can also say that we have our doubts especially when our desperate prayers are not answered and our hopes for a favourable outcome turn out otherwise.

In the gospel, even the great prophet John the Baptist has his doubts and uncertainties.

He was in prison and in the darkness of his cell and alone and cut off from the rest of the world, his faith was put to the test.

He wasn’t sure about Jesus anymore, even though he had pointed Jesus as the Lamb of God.

We too will have our moments of doubts and uncertainties, especially when our faith is tested and we feel that God has forsaken us or forgotten about us.

But it is in times like these that we must persist and persevere in our faith, turn to the Bible to see what God wants to tell us.

In the 1st reading, God says this: Apart from me, all is nothing. I am the Lord, unrivalled, there is no other god besides me, a God of integrity and a saviour.

God’s Word is truth, and His Word gives us strength and life and His Word shows us the way.

This Advent, let us take up the Bible and listen deeply to the Word of God.

May the Word of God be our light and our life in times of doubts and uncertainties.

3rd Week of Advent, Tuesday, 13-12-2022

Zephaniah 3:1-2, 9-13 / Matthew 21:28-32      

When we reflect on our daily use of words, we may become aware that  we use the word “No” more than we use the word “Yes”.

It simply means that it is easier to say No than say Yes.

When we say No, we close all further discussions with no commitments made and no obligations to fulfill.

Even if we don’t say the word No, our disobedience to authority or defiance to a law is an expression of it.

But of course, the 1st reading tells of the price for disobedience and for the rebellious, and that is trouble.

Yes, trouble always comes with disobedience, and it is a lesson that we somehow have to learn over and over again.

For the tax collectors and the prostitutes in the gospel passage, they have known and paid the price for disobedience, and hence they were ready for repentance.

To say Yes to God means that we want to obey God and be committed to follow His ways and do His will.

To obey God would open ourselves to His blessings and we will have peace in our hearts and joy in our lives.

3rd Week of Advent, Monday, 12-12-2022

Numbers 24:2-7, 15-17 / Matthew 21:23-27      

God speaks to us in many ways but it is certainly not in a way that another person speaks to us.

At least, for most of us, God does not speak to us in that kind of way.

But somehow we also know that when God “speaks” to us, we will also know that it is the “voice” of God.

Because it is a voice that is not for our ears.

Rather it is a voice that goes deep into our hearts and we cannot ignore that voice.

For the prophet Balaam in the 1st reading, the voice of God was loud enough for him to declaim his curses on Israel and change them into blessings.

For the chief priests and elders in the gospel, the voice of God as spoken by Jesus left them confused and unable to answer the question from Jesus.

As we begin the third week of Advent, let us be aware of the voice of God that is speaking to our hearts.

Let us be silent, so that we can listen and we will know what God wants of us and how to accomplish His will for us.

3rd Sunday of Advent, Year A, 11.12.2022

Isaiah 35:1-6, 10 / James 5:7-10 / Matthew 11:2-11

We may think that we know enough about a topic or a subject, until we have to explain it, or when we are questioned about it. 

Even when it comes to our faith, there are many things that we think we know, but upon further questioning, we may realize that our knowledge and understanding can be quite lacking. 

For example, the Advent wreath. Why is it circular in shape and not square or some other shape? Why is there a rose coloured candle among the three purple coloured candles? Why is the Nativity scene like half-done and where is Baby Jesus? 

If we can provide good and clear answers and explanations, then we are quite knowledgeable about the practices of our faith. 

But often, it is like we know a bit, and yet we don't seem to know quite a lot, and we may feel embarrassed and frustrated that we can't give reasonable and acceptable answers to what we believe in. 

And even if we are well informed about the various aspects of our faith, it may not mean that we have a conviction. 

Because knowing may not necessarily lead to believing, and when our faith is shaken, then our belief will also be tested. 

In the gospel, we heard that John the Baptist was in prison and he heard about what Jesus was doing, and he sent his disciples to ask Jesus this question: Are you the one who is to come, or have we to wait for someone else? 

We may remember that it was John the Baptist who pointed out Jesus as the Lamb of god, the Saviour. 

But now, in the darkness and despair of his prison cell, doubts are encircling him and his faith is put to the test. 

John the Baptist could be wondering, if Jesus is the Saviour, then why isn't He coming to free him from this prison, and even punish those who have persecuted him. 

That could be the reason why John the Baptist sent his disciples to ask Jesus that question. Because John the Baptist wasn't sure about Jesus anymore.

But like John the Baptist, when our faith is not shaken and put to the test, our faith may shine like daylight with confidence. 

But when we are faced with disappointment and frustration, when anger and resentment burns up our faith, and fear and anxiety cut up our belief in God, then we are like John the Baptist in his prison cell. 

We can sum up the darkness and despair in one word and that is “Why?”, and we want, and even demand answers from God. 

John the Baptist may not understand, why after pointing out Jesus as the Lamb of God, he would end up in prison. 

He could have felt that God had dumped him, or forgotten about him, now that the focus is on Jesus. 

But it was in that prison, that John the Baptist would bear witness and testimony to God as he laid down his life for his belief. 

In that sense, his question about Jesus was answered, and so were his prayers of despair and distress. 

We too will have our questions that begin with “Why?”, and we will have our desperate prayers in darkness. 

But our prayers will be heard, and our questions will be answered, as we listen to this reflection: 

I asked for strength, and God gave me difficulties to make me strong. 

I asked for wisdom, and God gave me problems to solve. 

I asked for courage, and God gave me dangers to overcome. 

I asked for love, and God gave me troubled people to help. 

My prayers were answered. 

In this 3rd Week of Advent, we light the third candle, the rose coloured candle, to symbolize the joy in our time of waiting. 

And as we wait in faith, may God also answer our prayers and our questions about life, so that we will be filled with the joy of having faith in God.

2nd Week of Advent, Saturday, 10-12-2022

Ecclesiasticus 48:1-4, 9-11 / Matthew 17:10-13

Moving mountains may not sound as impossible as it seems.

With modern technology it can actually be possible to flatten one mountain and create it somewhere else.

Come to think of it, mankind has been able to accomplish many great and impressive deeds.

In the 1st reading, the great and mighty deeds of the prophet Elijah was recounted and they were indeed impressive.

But his most important task and mission was to turn the hearts of the people of Israel back to God.

All the great and mighty deeds that he worked were signs that affirmed his mission.

John the Baptist did not work any great miracles. He was only the voice calling for repentance and yet he was very much alike Elijah.

Both these great prophets turned the hearts of the people to God.

That brings us back to the core of our Catholic spirituality and our mission.

Our hearts must be always turned to God. We may not be called to work great and mighty deeds.

Nonetheless we must also help people to turn their hearts to God.

It is easier to move mountains than to move the human heart.

But when our own hearts are moved by God, then will we be able to move the hearts of others.

2nd Week of Advent, Friday, 09-12-2022

Isaiah 48:17-19 / Matthew 11:16-19   

To be self-taught is quite an amazing achievement.

We hear of some people who are self-taught chefs, self-taught mechanics, self-taught musicians or artists.

But we must also remember that no matter how self-taught a person is, the knowledge or skill is not something that is buried within that person and waiting to be discovered.

There is a process of acquiring the knowledge, whether it is from books, or from pictures and videos, or from the opinions and suggestions of others.

So there are always external sources or factors that teach us and form us into whatever we hope to be or want to be.

To say that someone is self-taught means that the person was willing and determined to learn and be committed to it. That is actually quite amazing.

In the 1st reading, the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel has this to say to His people: I, the Lord, your God, teach you what is good for you, I lead you in the way you must go.

God wants to teach us what is good for us so that our happiness will flow like a river and our integrity like the waves of the sea.

We must believe that God’s ways are much better than our ways and that His ways are for our good and for our happiness.

Let us learn from Jesus to be humble and gentle of heart, and we will grow in the wisdom of God to live good and happy lives.

Immaculate Conception of the BVM, Thursday, 08-12-2022

Genesis 3:9-15, 20 / Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12 / Luke 1:26-38    

We believe that everything happens for a reason.

And with faith, we also believe that everything happens in God’s plan

And with that, we also believe that each of us is created for a reason, and that reason is rooted in the mystery of God’s plan.

In the celebration of the feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we could see that when God created Mary, He had a plan for her.

In creating Mary, God also chose her to have a significant reason in His plan of salvation.

God chose Mary to be the first of the redeemed, to be holy and pure, so that through her, the Son of God would come into this world to be the Redeemer and for the plan of salvation.

This feast also reminds us that we are created for a reason and that we too have a part to fulfill in God’s plan of salvation.

Mary responded to her call and fulfilled her mission in God’s plan of salvation.

May Mary pray for us that we too will know what God’s will is for us, that we respond to God’s call and to be faithful in carrying out our mission in God’s plan of salvation.

2nd Week of Advent, Wednesday, 07-12-2022

Isaiah 40:25-31 / Matthew 11:28-30  

Whenever we talk about a balanced lifestyle, it has to be understood as balanced in every aspect of our lives.

So there is the balanced diet, in that we eat moderately and regularly, we don’t eat too much of one thing even though it may be good for health, and of course we don’t eat too much of what is called “sinful” foods like fried foods and ice-cream.

And besides the balanced diet, there is also the balanced rituals for the day, like regular sleeping hours, exercise schedules, regulated work hours, as well as leisure and recreation times, and also not forgetting prayer times.

All that sounds like common sense, but like it is always said, what makes sense is somehow not that common.

Because we let our lives go on the roll with irregular eating habits, sleeping late, sleeping too much, wasting time or spending too much time on the unimportant things, and draining ourselves with unnecessary negative emotions.

So when Jesus invites those who labour and are overburdened, and He will give them rest, let us ask ourselves what are we frustrated about, or burdened about, because that is tiring us out physically, mentally and spiritually.

We need to ask ourselves in this time of Advent, what is causing us the imbalance in our lives and making us lose focus and lose direction.

When we rest our bodies, minds and hearts in prayer and let the silence of God’s presence fill us, then as the 1st reading puts it: 

Those who hope in the Lord renew their strength, they put out wings like eagles. They run and do not grow weary, walk and never tire.

May we find rest in the Lord, and even though life will have its labour and burdens, we will never be tired or worn out.

2nd Week of Advent, Tuesday, 06-12-2022

Isaiah 40:1-11 / Matthew 18:12-14    

One of the things in life that can be difficult to handle and control is distraction.

Because distractions don’t often appear as bad. 

In fact they often appear as something that we might need, or that they seem to be helpful or useful.

So distractions appear as attractions, and they do seem attractive.

But as we know, distractions always make us lose focus and also make us lose our way in life.

When Jesus told the parable of the shepherd looking for the lost sheep, we may want to think about what made that sheep become lost.

Whatever it may be, that sheep could have been distracted by some grass over the other side that seems greener and ventured off to graze there and eventually got lost.

But as the 1st reading tells us, all things attractive is like grass and its beauty like the wild flower. The grass withers, the flower fades.

What was attractive may turn out to be distractive, and when we give in to the distraction, then we will lose our direction.

Advent is a time to re-focus on God’s love for us as we meditate and reflect on the coming of His only Son Jesus Christ.

Let us keep our focus on Jesus Christ so that we will keep our direction and find salvation.

2nd Week of Advent, Monday, 05-12-2022

Isaiah 35:1-10 / Luke 5:17-26

Not many of us like to be in crowded places, such as at a sale or a fair, where there are greatly discounted prices.

Being in a sea of humanity can be stressful and tiring, and manners and etiquette are being trampled underfoot.

Also it is difficult if not impossible to get what you want or take your time to browse or have time to think.

For the paralyzed man and his friends in the gospel passage, to get to see Jesus is almost next to impossible, given the crowds.

It was futile and maybe even hopeless, we might say.

Yet their determination found a way to Jesus. Jesus may even be looking at their innovation with amazement.

And we see in the paralyzed man and his friends a determined human unity, a human solidarity seeking healing and salvation.

It was a sign of a hopeful human race, and Jesus came to fulfill that hope.

It was the same hope that the prophet Isaiah talked about in the 1st reading when he said - Courage! Do not be afraid.

Yes we need the courage and hope to believe that conversion is possible, that differences between people can be resolved, that forgiveness can be granted.

No human situation is a hopeless situation as long as Jesus is there.

Whether it is a crowd or just an individual, Jesus will still come to forgive, to heal and to save us.

2nd Sunday of Advent, Year A, 04.12.2022,

As we enter into the month of December, we would have put up the Christmas decorations at home, and maybe even at the office or at the workplace.

In Church, the decorations are already up, both inside as well as outside, although the Nativity scene inside the Church would be in its full array on Christmas day.

The Nativity scene would typically have the figurines of the Baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph,the shepherds and the sheep, the cow and the donkey and if there is still space, then there will be the three wise men and their camels.

That would mean that the Nativity scene is already quite crowded enough, and also there is no need to add other figurines.

But let us remember that before Christmas, there is the season of Advent, the 4 weeks of Advent, and today we begin the second week of Advent.

One main feature of the season of Advent is the prophecies that point to the Messiah, the Promised One of God, the coming of the Saviour who would save God's people from their sins.

Besides the prophecies, there is another character that will be showing up in the season of Advent, and it is John the Baptist.

In today's Gospel, John the Baptist makes his appearance with a rather straightforward message of repentance, and also in a unique dressing fashion and rather strange diet.

Besides that, his message was direct and to the point. And if John the Baptist were to come to Church today, he would stand in front of the Nativity scene to block our view and to obstruct photo taking. 

Because for John the Baptist, there is no Christmas celebration without the Advent preparation and repentance.

And he may even have an axe in his hand to show that he means business. The message of the axe is clear: Any tree that fails to bear good fruit will be cut down.

John the Baptist’s Advent message for us is that we take a good look at ourselves and to cut off whatever that does not lead us to God.

And we don't have much time, because Christmas is only 22 days away, and we have to hurry and get down on our knees and pray, so that we can see what to cut off, and to have the courage and determination to do so.

As we get busier and busier and with so much to do as we emerge after the 2 years of restrictions, we have developed a strange attitude.

We seem to have a thirst for “revenge”. So there is revenge shopping, revenge traveling, revenge socializing, revenge holidaying, revenge whatever.

It is like we want to break free and catch up on some kind of lost time, so we are busy taking “revenge”.

We are so “revenge” busy, that we forgot about what the past 2 years had taught us, and that is we have a family.

When our movements were restricted, and we had to stay at home and look at each other, as well as getting into each other's way, we may have realized that when everything is down to nothing, we still have something, and that is our family.

One strange thing about photo-taking is that as much as we take a lot of photos, there are not that many photographs, because most of the photos we take are stored in some media.

One thing that we can do this Advent is to take a family photo and have it printed as a photograph.

We can put that photograph in the Nativity scene along with the other figurines of the Baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph, the shepherds and the sheep, the cow and the donkey, and the three wise men.

We can also gather as a family to pray before the Nativity scene.

That is a sign of repentance, because repentance is not a sad and painful thing to do.

Repentance is a joyful experience, because the Lord is making His path straight into our hearts.

Jesus also wants to help us to make our paths straight into each other's hearts so that we can experience family joy and love.

So let us repent and bear fruits of love for the Lord and for each other.

St. Francis Xavier, Patron of Missions and Missionaries, Saturday, 03-12-2022

1 Cor 9:16-19, 22-23 / Mark 16:15-20

It is interesting to note that the Major Seminary in Singapore is dedicated to the patronage of St. Francis Xavier.

In the first year of formation, the seminarians had to read about the lives of the saints, and St. Francis Xavier was one for compulsory reading.

And even priests and religious and missionaries who read about his life and his work will admit that he is one model that is very difficult to match up to.

His missionary zeal, his perseverance and his persistence in preaching the gospel amidst the political clutter, his courage and determination were all very inspiring.

And it seemed that he spent so much time in the East in places like Goa, Malacca, China and Japan and learning the local languages so that he could preach to the local people that he eventually forgot his own mother tongue (Spanish).

He took the trouble to learn the local languages and in that sense he really went out and preached everywhere.

In St. Francis Xavier, we can see the words of today's gospel being fulfilled.

And the words of the gospel, the Good News, will continue to be fulfilled in us as long as we are willing to proclaim the Good News in word and in action.

We must always remember that it is not so much our suitability for the task but rather our availability for the mission.

1st Week of Advent, Friday, 02-12-2022

Isaiah 29:17-24 / Matthew 9:27-31   

One of the teachings from the Bible is this: what is impossible for man is not impossible for God.

Of course, many things that seemed impossible has become possible, at least in the scientific and technological sense, and one example is man landing on the moon.

Yes, mankind has gone far to explore outer space, but there are still many questions about our inner space, about our faith and our spiritual state.

There are still many areas about our faith in God and about the spiritual life that we are slowly discovering.

The gospel recounts the occasion when Jesus healed the two blind men.

But Jesus is also asking us, just as He asked the two blind men, if we really believe that such a miracle can happen in our modern times.

But miracles aside, do we really believe what the 1st reading says:

The lowly will rejoice in the Lord even more and the poorest exult in the Holy One of Israel; for tyrants shall be no more, and scoffers vanish, and all be destroyed who are disposed to evil.

We don’t really need to see spectacular miracles. What we really want to believe in is that God will save us and protect us from evil and danger.

If we really believe in Jesus, then we will know that all this is possible.

May Jesus be our true hope and may we find true peace in Him.