1st Week of Lent, Wednesday, 01-03-2023

Jonah 3:1-11 / Luke 11:29-32

In our understanding of time, we talk about schedules and deadlines.

So we will talk about timing and the latest time or date by which something should be completed.

In the 1st reading, when Jonah went into the city of Nineveh, the core of the message that he had for the Ninevites was that in 40 days’ time, Nineveh would be destroyed.

Jonah could only see that the Ninevites had only 40 days to live, after which destruction would follow, and he probably won’t be around to see that.

But what Jonah didn’t see and what he was not prepared to see was the time taken by the Ninevites to believe in God and to repent.

And he was probably amazed that God saw all their efforts to renounce their evil behaviour, and God relented – He did not inflict on them the disaster which He had threatened.

So as much as we plan our lives with schedules and deadlines, God is telling us that everything happens in His time.

It can be difficult to understand things in God’s time, just as it can be difficult to understand His thoughts and His ways.

But God will give us the signs and we only need to be sensitive to those signs that are given by God.

The sign for Jonah was the immediate repentance of the Ninevites, and it showed him who God is.

God will also have a sign for each of us, and with that sign, we will come to know who God is and like Jonah, we too will know who God is and what His ways are.

1st Week of Lent, Tuesday, 28-02-2023

Isaiah 55:10-11 / Matthew 6:7-15       

In communication, there are at least two parties and usually it is a two-way communication.

In a good communication, one speaks and the other listens, and vice versa.

When God communicates with His creation, He always take the first initiative.

In the 1st reading, God uses the image of the rain and the snow to show the effect of His Word.

The rain and snow come down from the heavens and water the earth, making it yield and giving growth to provide seed for the sower and bread for the hungry.

Likewise God’s Word goes forth from His mouth and it waits for a response from us.

Jesus, the Word of God, came to teach us how to respond to God.

In teaching us the prayer of the “Our Father”, we respond to God.

We tell God what we are going to do and that we will bear fruit, just like the earth bore fruit when it received the rain and snow.

The fruit that God is looking for is the fruit of forgiveness.

God forgave us our sins and we are to do likewise. 

If we say we pray, then let the fruit of that prayer be forgiveness.

1st Week of Lent, Monday, 27-02-2023

Leviticus 19:1-2, 11-18 / Matthew 25:31-46     

It is often assumed that what seems simple may be easy to do.

After all, if it is simple, then there should be no real difficulty in getting it done.

But the reality is that what is simple may seem so ordinary that we don’t really pay much attention to it.

So, simple things like getting enough of exercise and enough of sleep should seem achievable, but we keep putting it off as we think it is not that high a priority.

In the 1st reading, God told Moses to teach the people about the basic and fundamental laws of life.

Those laws are simple enough to adhere to, yet along the way, those laws were repeatedly broken.

As for what Jesus taught in the gospel, again it is actually not that difficult.

Those are ordinary acts of love but it has a consequence on our eternity.

God looks at how we are faithful to the simple and the ordinary.

What is simple and ordinary may sound easy, but it may determine our eternity.

  

1st Sunday of Lent, Year A, 26.02.2023

Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7 / Romans 5:12-19 / Matthew 4:1-11 

The season of Lent can be called a very spiritual season. Compared with all the other liturgical seasons of the year, the season of Lent has many more spiritual activities. 

And of course, the mood is not as festive as like the season of Christmas; in fact Lent has a rather serious and sombre mood. 

Even decorations are minimized and minimal, and we may have noticed that there are no floral decorations. 

Even the music is sober with hymns invoking God's mercy and compassion for forgiveness and repentance. 

We began the season of Lent on Ash Wednesday when we were marked with ashes and with fasting. 

Ashes and fasting are symbols and acts of penance and we continue with Stations of the Cross on Fridays. 

And for the 40 days of Lent, that will be the mood and direction, plus the call to go for Confession, especially towards the end of the season of Lent. 

So, the season of Lent is a very spiritual season, with enough of spiritual activities to keep us focused. 

The purpose of all that is to make us aware of the spiritual realities in our lives. And the one profound spiritual reality that must come across to us is the spiritual battle between good and evil. 

In other words, it is about the devil going against God, and the Gospel reading tells us about this. 

The gospel tells us that Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, and it was there that the devil took on Jesus. 

In the harsh conditions of the wilderness, Jesus fasted for 40 days, after which He was very hungry. 

The devil took advantage of that weakened condition of Jesus to tempt Him to give in to His human need. 

And that was only the first of the three temptations. The devil tempted the humanity of Jesus by goading Him to use His divine powers as a quick solution to the problem. 

But Jesus showed that self-denial and faithfulness to God are the weapons that will defeat the devil. 

The devil couldn't overcome Jesus, and the gospel ends off with the devil leaving Jesus, and the angels appeared and looked after Him. 

But that is not the end of the battle, because the devil now turns his focus on us, and the season of Lent is to remind us of this devilish threat. 

Just as how the devil tempted Jesus, that will also be how the devil will tempt us. Just as how Jesus fought off the devil with self-denial and faithfulness to God, that will also be how we will be tested. 

But let us remember that we are tested, not so much to expose our weakness, but to discover our strength. 

For us who observed the obligatory fast and abstinence on Ash Wednesday, we will know how we were tested. 

Some may forget the obligation because of the busyness of the day, and only to remember it later. It shows that we are so busy with the things of ourselves, that we forget about the things of God. 

That's a test of self-denial, where we are to look out of ourselves and to turn our eyes to God. 

And on the day of fasting and abstinence, we may feel exceptionally hungry, and begin to think about delicious food, and want to give in to eating. 

That's a test of faithfulness, because we just have to endure in order to be strengthened. 

When we deny ourselves and stay faithful to God, then God will certainly protect us and keep us safe. 

Let us remember how the gospel ended off: Then the devil left Jesus, and the angels appear and looked after him. 

When we deny ourselves and remain faithful to God, then God will send His angels to look after us.

Saturday after Ash Wed, 25-02-2023

Isaiah 58:9-14 / Luke 5:27-32    

There is some truth in this saying: You are what you eat.

And it is not just in what we eat that will affect us.

It is also in what we see, what we hear, what we touch.

In other words, we are influenced by what is around us, and consciously or sub-consciously, we are affected by them in one way or another.

In the gospel when the Pharisees and the scribes saw Jesus eating and drinking with the tax collectors and sinners, they criticised Him for that.

To eat and drink with the tax collectors and sinners is to be like them and nothing good can come about by mixing with that kind of company.

But as Jesus retorted, it is not those who are well who need a doctor but the sick, and that He came not to call the virtuous but sinners to repentance.

Jesus became man and was like us in all things except sin. 

Sin and its evil effects have no power over Him; in fact Jesus came to destroy sin and evil.

When we stay in union with Jesus, we will be aware of sin and its evil effects and we will be able to resist temptation.

If we become who we are with, then let us always be with Jesus and we will become like Jesus, and lead others to repentance.

Friday after Ash Wed, 24-02-2023

Isaiah 58:1-9 / Matthew 9:14-15     

The season of Lent is a season for deeper prayer and a deeper awareness of our sinfulness.

A deeper prayer and a deeper awareness of our sinfulness would lead us to repentance and to do penance for the reparation of our sins.

So in short, the season of Lent is about prayer and penance as a direction for repentance and conversion.

But as much as prayer and penance start with oneself, it does not end there.

Prayer and penance should make us love God and love others.

Prayer and penance should make us want to be loving and do good for others.

Otherwise, the season of Lent, with the emphasis on prayer, penance and almsgiving would have no meaning if it is just to make us look at ourselves.

In the 1st reading, the Lord tells His people what their prayer and fasting should lead to.

It should lead them to act justly and with charity, to share bread with the hungry and shelter the homeless poor.

In other words, our prayer and fasting and penance should make us more loving and forgiving, as well as kinder and more compassionate towards others.

Then prayer, fasting and penance will truly be a joy-fill experience of the love of God for us.

Thursday after Ash Wednesday, 23-02-2023

Deuteronomy 30:15-20 / Luke 9:22-25         

Needless to say, we want to live a good and happy life.

That would probably mean a trouble-free and peaceful life.

Better still if there can be a few comforts and luxuries throw in.

That was what Moses was telling the people about God’s promises if they were to remain faithful to the Lord.

But if they stray and were unfaithful, then tragedy will await them.

That was as straight-forward as it could be for the people to make their choice.

But in the gospel, Jesus is telling His disciples that He is destined to suffer grievously and even put to death, but He will be raised up on the third day.

And then He says that if anyone wants to be His disciple, that person will have to take up the cross every day and follow Him.

We might think that it would be really difficult to take up our cross and live a life of sacrifice and suffering.

But Jesus tells us in taking up our cross and accepting suffering, we would gain life instead of losing it.

Let us believe in Jesus and take up our cross and follow Him and we will receive abundant blessings from the Lord.

Ash Wednesday 2023

Joel 2:12-18 / 2 Cor 5:20 - 6:2 / Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18  

As we begin the season of Lent with a day of fasting and penance, we have also come for Mass to beseech the Lord for His forgiveness of our sins. 

And later at Mass, ashes will be imposed on our foreheads as a sign of repentance. 

Besides being a sign of repentance, ashes also remind us of some fundamental truths. 

Ashes remind us of our humanity, that we are weak and frail, and that without God we are nothing at all. 

Ashes remind us of our mortality, that when life comes to an end, we will return to dust. 

Ashes remind us of our Creator, and that we are created by Him, and that we have no merit or credit of our own. 

These ashes remind us to be humble before God, and that all our achievements and possessions count for nothing before God. 

When we realize that we are nothing, then God can do something. 

He will raise us up from the ashes of earth to the glory of above. 

He will raise up our frail humanity to share in the glory of His divinity. 

When we truly repent and know that we are mere ashes and dust, then God will pour out His saving love on us and grant us the reward of His promises.

7th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 21-02-2023

Ecclesiasticus 2:1-11 Mark 9:30-37   

People lose faith for many reasons.

One of the many reasons is that they get angry with God for not answering their prayers.

Especially in a time of desperate need and distress, they prayed fervently and expect a quick answer from God.

And when God doesn’t seem to answer their prayers, they get disappointed and give up their faith in God.

Even if the need is not that desperate and urgent, some people get disappointed when they could not get what they want or wish for.

The 1st reading begins with this advice: if you aspire to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for an ordeal.

That may not sound encouraging or motivating, but essentially the Responsorial Psalm sums it up in the response: Commit your life to the Lord, trust Him and He will act.

In the gospel, when the disciples were arguing about who is the greatest, Jesus set before them a little child.

In welcoming a little child and having the humility and simplicity of a little child, we welcome the great and loving God.

And the great and loving God will help us to overcome the struggles and troubles of life and then we will receive rewards of having faith in God.

7th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 20-02-2023

Ecclesiasticus 1:1-10 / Mark 9:14-29

Human beings are intelligent beings.

By intelligence, it means the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills.

But being intelligent may not necessary mean that it is synonymous with wisdom.

A person may be intelligent and know how to get on with life but may be lacking in wisdom to relate with others and to know what is good for himself and for others too.

The 1st reading says that God pours out wisdom on all His works to be with all mankind as His gift, and He conveyed wisdom to those who love him.

So for those who love God, they will be granted wisdom.

Because they love God, they will have the wisdom to do what is good and loving for others.

In the gospel, the disciples asked Jesus why was it that they were unable to cast out that evil spirit in the boy.

Jesus replied that it can only be driven out by prayer.

For those who love God and have faith in Him, they know that everything is possible.

But they will also have the wisdom to know that they must pray first so that God will guide them to do what is good and loving.

May we too pray for the gift of divine wisdom so that God will guide us to do what is good and loving.

7th Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 19.02.2023

Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18 / 1 Cor 3:16-23 / Matthew 5:38-48 

A person's religious affiliation is not that obvious, especially in a country where there are a number of religions. 

In other words, what religion does a person officially embrace is not publicly stated, besides the fact that a person can also change religious affiliation. 

But a person may exhibit some signs that might indicate a person's religious orientation. 

So, if a person is seen going to church, or wears some Christian religious objects like a cross, then that person could possibly be a Christian. 

To make a fairly correct guess as to whether a person is a Catholic, is not that difficult actually. 

Catholic religious objects and articles are quite unique and distinct, and if a person uses them, it is quite likely that the person is a Catholic. 

And it is also relatively easy to identify a vehicle, especially a car, that is owned by a Catholic. 

Because hanging on the rear view mirror, would be a Rosary, or at least a Crucifix, and on the dashboard, there would be something like a mini altar. That is how we identify whether the cars in the car park belong to our parishioners or not. 

So, it can be said that Catholics, or those who have an orientation towards the Catholic faith, can be quite distinctly identifiable. 

In a sense, we can be quite proud of that, and yet in a sense, that can make us quite vulnerable. 

Because when others come to know that we are Catholics, they could be quite inquisitive and start asking us about this and that. 

Or, they may be quite intrusive and ask piercing questions like, “why pray to Mary”, or “why pray to statues and holy pictures”, or “where is this found in the Bible?”. 

It can be an opportunity to evangelize, but by and large, Catholics are not that good in answering questions about the faith, and also in a way, Catholics are not that well versed with the Bible, which is something we have to work on. 

But when others know that we are Catholics, then in a way we are being observed, and also put under a so-called scrutiny. 

Because they would expect something different from us, and that something is to be expected. 

Because they would expect us Catholics to be charitable, kind and compassionate, much like what Jesus said in the gospel. 

And Jesus said this in the gospel: Offer the wicked no resistance, offer the other cheek, offer more than what is asked for. 

As if that is already not enough, Jesus continues to say: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. 

To say the least, that is difficult, actually, very difficult. But it is in striving to do what is difficult then we will make a difference. 

Jesus made a difference because He not only taught what is difficult, He also did the difficult. 

He forgave His prosecutors and He died for sinners. 

So, to be a Catholic, we just can't be mediocre, or just be mundane in our way of life. 

In many ways, the world looks at those who profess a religious affiliation to show something different. 

And as Catholics, the world looks at us to show them the God that we believe in. 

It is said that to err is human, to forgive is divine. 

We may have our human shortcomings and failings, but we still must show the world the divine power of love and forgiveness. 

Yes, we are human, but we are called to be like the divine, we are called to be like God who created us and called us to be His beloved children. 

When we listen to the Divine call, then we can be the echo of the Divine voice to the world.

6th Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 18-02-2023

Hebrews 11:1-7 / Mark 9:2-13     

The mission of the Church is to be the proclaimer of the Good News of salvation and also to be the sign of salvation for the world.

Hence the Church proclaims Jesus Christ is the Saviour and that through Him, those who believe will have the eternal life of heaven.

For us who are baptized, we need to constantly reflect on how we came about to believe in God and the Church.

We realise that we didn’t come to believe in God through our own thinking and analysing.

Rather it was God who called us and when we responded, we were given the faith to believe in God and that Jesus Christ is our Saviour.

The 1st reading recalls the faith of the great Biblical figures like Abel, Enoch and Noah.

By their faith, they were saved. By our faith, we too are saved and also commissioned to go out and proclaim the Good News of salvation.

God has called many to faith and to salvation.

Our mission is to echo God’s call to them so that they too will respond and join us on the road to salvation.

6th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 17-02-2023

Genesis 11:1-9 / Mark 9:2-13  

One of the essential aspects of human relationship is communication.

Communication is important not just in casual talk, but also in the exchange of ideas and discussion, and for a common understanding with each other.

There is even the art of communication for those who wish to sharpen their presentation skills and for public speaking.

Good communication will lead to better relationships and deeper understanding between persons.

On the other hand, poor or bad communication will lead to misunderstandings and even arguments and quarrels.

In the 1st reading, when men spoke the same language, they seemed to be communicating well with each other.

They were even united in one objective, and that is to build a town and a tower with the top reaching to heaven, so as to make a name for themselves.

But God was nowhere in their communication as they were only interested in themselves and not interested in God at all.

That leads us to reflect about who we communicate with and the purpose of our communication.

If we are only interested in ourselves and what we can gain from others, we will end up confused and scattered, like the people who tried to build the town of Babel.

Let us remember to always communicate with God through prayer, so that we will know what God wants of us.

Our communication with God will become a union with Him and that is certainly much much better than gaining the whole world.

6th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 16-02-2023

Genesis 9:1-13 / Mark 8:27-33   

Every time we see a rainbow, we can’t help but wonder at it.

Although there are explanations as to how a rainbow is formed, yet there is a mystery about it.

Maybe it is the colours that are attractive; maybe because we wonder what are at the ends of the rainbow; maybe because it is arched over the sky that makes it prominent and at the same time subtle.

Whatever it may be, in the 1st reading, we heard of what the rainbow symbolizes in the Bible, when God said:

“Here is the sign of the Covenant I make between myself and you and every living creature with you for all generations. I set my bow in the clouds and it shall be a sign of the Covenant between me and the earth”.

So the Biblical meaning of the rainbow is that it is a sign of the Covenant between God and man.

In its essence, God states the Covenant as such: I give you everything, with this exception: you must not eat flesh with life, that is to say blood, in it. I will demand an account of every man’s life from his fellow man. 

He who sheds man’s blood, shall have his blood shed by man, for in the image of God, man was made.

So the rainbow reminds us that God has given us everything.

He only wants us to respect the life of every person, for every person is created in the image of God.

We don’t need rainbows to remind us of that. For every person is a mysterious rainbow pointing to who God is.

6th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 15-02-2023

Genesis 8:6-13, 20-22 / Mark 8:22-26   

As much as there are happy moments in life, we also know that happy moments don’t last long.

Happy moments are intertwined with sad and unhappy moments, just like the twines of a rope.

But just as happy moments may not last long, the same also should be said of sad and unhappy moments.

Sad and unhappy moments do not last a long time, although we may groan and say that it seems like forever.

In the 1st reading, it was the end of 40 days of rain and things were beginning to clear up.

Those 40 days were long enough for Noah and the company in the ark, but now they are looking forward to fresh air and sunshine and dry ground.

As for the blind man in the gospel, he had waited long enough in the darkness of his world.

Jesus was going to open his eyes and he will see the world in its beauty and brightness.

So when we are going through a dark and rough time, let us remember that it will come to an end.

With faith in God, let us lift up our eyes and beyond the dark clouds, the sun is shining.

Because God’s love is everlasting and He will not leave us sad and unhappy for too long.

Anniversary of the Dedication of the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, Tuesday, 14-02-2023

1 Kings 8:22-23,27-30 / Matthew 16:13-19    

The celebration of the dedication of the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd brings the Church in Singapore back to that moment in time when the seed of faith is planted in the soil of Singapore.

That seed have grown over the years and from the humble beginnings of the Cathedral, there are now 32 churches in Singapore.

This is certainly not the work of man but the work of God.

It can be seen that God has a plan for the Church in Singapore to be a means of salvation and to be a sign of God’s presence.

Each church is the House of God and the house of prayer where people invoke God’s blessings with prayers and petitions.

Each church is also the House of God and a place of worship where people come to give thanks to God for His love and providence.

Each church is also the House of God where people come to encounter the presence of God and to come into communion with God.

Let us rejoice and give thanks to God for His blessings on the Church in Singapore.

Let us also go forth and be witnesses of God’s presence to others and to lead them to the House of God and to encounter Jesus our Saviour so that they too will experience the saving love of God.

6th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 13-02-2023

Genesis 4:1-15, 25 / Mark 8:11-13   

Emotions are a daily experience in our lives.

As long as we are conscious, emotions are a regular daily occurrence, though some may feel more emotions that others.

Emotions are neither good nor bad.

They are just an indication of how we are feeling, but it is necessary to pay attention to how we are feeling and what emotions we are having.

In the 1st reading, Cain was very angry and downcast because the Lord looked with favour on Abel’s offering but not on Cain’s.

The Lord highlighted it to Cain when He said: Why are you angry and downcast? If you are well disposed, ought you not to lift up your head? But if you are ill disposed, is not sin at the door like a crouching beast hungering for you, which you must master?

Those words that the Lord said to Cain are also the very words that the Lord is speaking to us when we are feeling the negative emotions like anger, resentment, bitterness, disappointment, frustration, etc.

The Lord wants to help us master the beast of negative emotions so that we will not end up doing something tragic which we will regret later.

More importantly, we let the Lord be greater than our emotions as He speaks through our emotions.

When we offer our emotions to the Lord, He will surely look with favour on us.

6th Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 12.02.2023

Ecclesiasticus 15:15-20 / 1 Cor 2:6-10 / Matthew 5:17-37 

When we were baptized, we are officially called a Christian. 

To be a Christian is not just a term for a religious status, or for belonging to a particular religion. 

To be a Christian means that we are committed to a relationship with Jesus. And this relationship it's not an ordinary relationship with an ordinary person. 

This relationship is between the Creator and the created, between the Saviour and the sinner, between the Master and the disciple.

So, to be a Christian means that our identity is in Jesus Christ. To be a Christian means that we conform our lives to Jesus Christ and we follow His Way and His Truth. 

So, we do not follow what others say or what the world says, but only what Jesus says and what He teaches us. 

In that sense, to be a Christian is not being ordinary; in fact, to be a Christian is to go beyond and even to make a difference in this world. 

By our lives as Christians, our mission is to make Jesus present, as well as to make others wonder about our beliefs and our conviction. 

But of course, that means we are firmly grounded in our commitment. 

The 1st reading tells us that we have to keep God's commandments, and to be faithful to God is within our power. 

Much like marriage vows and religious promises, we remain faithful to Jesus in good times and in bad, and sickness and in health. 

Faithfulness is a powerful form of witnessing to who Jesus is in our lives, because in being faithful, we show that Jesus is our Saviour and we trust in Him alone. 

And when our faithfulness is put to the test, then the 1st reading tells us that God gives us a choice. 

God has set fire and water before us, and we put out our hand to whichever we prefer. And we also have life and death before us; whichever we like better will be given to us. 

When we are firmly grounded in our relationship with Jesus, then we know that faithfulness to Jesus will be the decision and the direction of our lives. 

So, in the gospel when Jesus taught about anger and lust and using the name of the God in vain, we know that it is a teaching beyond the ordinary. 

What others would ordinarily think and do, Jesus is calling us to think and do beyond. 

So, while others would say, “Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose”, we would say “Sometimes we win, sometimes we learn”. 

While others will say, “Win some, lose some”, we will remember the Good Shepherd searching for that one lost sheep, and we will say, “Win some, lose none”, because our mission as Christians is to help everyone go to heaven. 

While the world talks about efficiency and productivity, we should be talking about humility and mystery. 

Well, the mighty Titanic was built by professionals, while the Ark was built by amateurs, but we all know which stayed afloat.

So, as Christians, we should see further, think deeper, and be holier than just being the ordinary. 

To follow the ways of God will demand faithfulness, but when we trust in God and say “Yes” to Him, then we will also show the world the way to the kingdom of God.

5th Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 11-02-2023

Genesis 3:9-24 / Mark 8:1-10

The act of eating is a common human activity and we often do it without much reflection.

Especially when food is in abundance, eating can become a sort of consumption.

So we give food reviews and take note of where to go for the best tasting food.

We tend to forget that what we eat goes into our digestive system.

And if we eat something bad, then we are going to have a rough tummy problem.

In the 1st reading, Adam and Eve ate something that they were told not to eat and for that they had to pay a really heavy price.

It may not be bad for the tummy but it certainly corrupted their souls.

The act of eating, in the spiritual sense, is about being in communion with someone.

In eating the forbidden fruit, Adam and Eve allowed sin to enter into their lives and broke their communion with God.

As we come for the Eucharist, we have also come to partake of the Bread of Life that leads us into a communion with Jesus our Lord.

May we always treasure this communion and may we resist anything that will break our relationship with Jesus.

5th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 10-02-2023

Genesis 3:1-8 / Mark 7:31-37    

As much as it is said that ignorance is bliss, is it really so?

There may be some who think that they know enough about life and need not learn anything anymore.

But they may not be that blissful anymore when they realise that they are not keeping up with the time and left way back behind.

Anyway, generally speaking, human beings are curious and desire to learn and acquire knowledge.

But when human beings become too curious and desire the forbidden, then there will be trouble.

In the 1st reading, Eve was tempted by the devil and she gave in to curiosity and even desired for the knowledge that would make her become like God.

As for us, we too are curious about what is strange and mysterious, and we may even venture into the dark side of the spiritual world.

But let us be careful about what we see and hear.

Let us rather read the Word of God and ask the Lord to open our eyes, our ears, our minds and our hearts to know the Way, the Truth and the Life.

Let us desire to know who Jesus really is and He will reveal Himself and His ways to us.

5th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 06-02-2023

Genesis 1:1-19 / Mark 6:53-56     

There is this saying : Don't judge a book by its cover.

In other words, just as we can't say what are the contents in the book just by looking at its cover, neither can we say what a person is really like just by his looks.

Nonetheless, we can't deny that looks do reveal.

Looks do reveal something about the feelings of the person and something about his heart.

For example, the angry look, the hurt look, the loving look, the tender look, etc.

In the gospel, we heard that the people recognized Jesus.

The recognition is more than just the physical features. They saw deeper than just the physical dimension.

They saw in Him, the look of mercy and unconditional love.

They saw in Him, the face of love, the face of God.

In the Eucharist, Jesus shows us the face of His love.

He gives to us who He is and what He is.

When we partake of the Eucharist, we change just as bread and wine is changed.

We too take on the look of love ; we take on the face of love.

May others recognize that look and see that face in us.

5th Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 05.02.2023

Isaiah 58:7-10 / 1 Cor 2:1-5 / Matthew 5:13-16

Everything has a purpose, and when that purpose is achieved and fulfilled, then we can say that it works well and good. 

So, if we buy a mobile phone or computer, we would expect it to work the way we want it to. 

But if it operates in an erratic manner, or when we discover that it has manufacturing defects, then we would demand for a replacement or refund. 

Certainly, we are not going to accept something that is malfunctioning and bear with the inconvenience. 

And if there are no other options, then it would be better to just get rid of it, since it would be good for nothing. 

Obviously when something does not function according to its purpose, then what is the use of having it around? It is just good for nothing and only fit for the rubbish bin. 

In the gospel, Jesus uses two ordinary things in life to give us a teaching. 

One of which is salt. Salt that has no taste is to be thrown away and even trampled underfoot by men, since it is good for nothing. 

It is quite unimaginable for salt to have no taste. Regardless of what is said about the health concerns of salt, if it has no taste, then it is a fake or that it is not salt at all. 

Similarly, to cover up a light does not make sense. Light is for everyone to see, and it should not be covered up or hidden. 

Jesus is just stating the obvious, but that is also His teaching point for us. 

Because what is obvious is often treated with indifference, and that is where malfunction or dysfunction sets in. 

What is obvious is that God created humanity to be the best of all His creation. No one is good for nothing. 

And because we are created in love and with love, the light of God's love shines in us so that we will be good for that something in God’s plan for us. So that is obvious. 

But when what is obvious is treated with indifference, then what is good for something slowly becomes good for nothing. 

We slowly lose the taste for life, and the light of our lives is slowly covered up and hidden from sight. 

When indifference sets into our lives, malfunction and dysfunction will also slowly set in and we will forget who we obviously are. 

We are in this world as Christians to give the world a taste of life, and to be sparks of light where there is darkness. 

The 1st reading brings us back to the obvious basics in life as it says this:

“Share your bread with the hungry,

and shelter the homeless poor,

clothe the man you see to be naked

and do not turn from your own kin.

Then will your light shine like the dawn

and your wound be quickly healed over.”

And when we cry out to the Lord, He will answer us. When we call out to the Lord, He will say: I am here. 

Let us always remember that God created us to be good for something. Let us never think that we are insignificant or good for nothing. 

And even if we are just a little spark, still we must let it shine. 

Because when people see the good works that we do, they will give praise to God, because He has created something good in us.

4th Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 04-02-2023

Hebrews 13:15-17, 20-21 / Mark 6:30-34  

The need for rest and recreation seemed to be like a missing element in our lives.

In our fast paced society, we can even feel guilty about having some rest and recreation when everyone seems so busy.

We may have become so used to busyness and hurried lives that we forget about the necessity of rest and recreation.

But rest and recreation is about doing nothing and sleeping our time away.

It is about a quiet time for prayer and to refocus our hearts on God.

In the gospel when the disciples came back from their mission and reported what they had done, the response of Jesus was for them to go to a lonely place and rest.

Because the temptation to do more and more especially with success after success can make people lose focus and perspective.

We have to realize that success cannot be created by our own hands.

It is God who will give success to the work of our hands.

Only when we are rested in the hands of God in prayer will our busyness bear fruits that last.

4th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 03-02-2023

Hebrews 13:1-8 / Mark 6:14-29     

There is no doubt that parents have a great influence on their children.

In fact, the first six years of a child’s life is the most impressionable and parents should instill life’s principles and values during that time.

When they become teenagers they may seem rather rebellious and disobedient.

But they would not easily forget the upbringing of their early years and it will be seen in adulthood.

In the gospel, there was no mention of the age of the daughter of Herodias.

But it can be correctly assumed that she was in her late teens or early twenties, since her dancing delighted the guests.

And she didn’t seem to hesitate in repeating her mother’s request for the head of John the Baptist.

Indeed, Herodias had formed her daughter to be as vicious and cold-blooded like herself.

So, if children are a reflection of their parents, then we need to look at what God is telling us through our children.

May we see what God is showing us through our children and do what is necessary so that we and our children will grow in the grace of God.

The Presentation of the Lord, Thursday, 02-02-2023

Malachi 3:1-4 or Hebrews 2:14-18 / Luke 2:22-40    

A revelation of the future would always drew some kind of attention or curiosity.

If someone tells us that he knows about our future, we would certainly be interested and curious.

Yet at the same time, knowledge about our future would also cause us to be anxious and tensed.

In today's gospel passage, we hear about the revelation announced by Simeon.

For Simeon, he was a blessed man because the peace that he was longing for was now his.

But for Mary and Joseph, it may be quite the opposite, and it was beyond their understanding.

Simeon revealed Jesus as the light, not just to the Jews, but to the whole world.

And He will make and break many of His own people.

It was not comforting to know that the baby in their arms was to become a sign that is opposed by those that do not want this revelation.

The revelation of who Jesus is, is also a revelation of who we are.

We are to be the light which will enlighten others (and that is why we bless the candles at the beginning of the Mass), yet we are also to be the sign that is going to be opposed by others.

We are called to shine out the light of Christ, even though the world may prefer to live in darkness.

That is what we are called to be, that is our future, and blessed are we when we continue to focus and walk in the light.