12th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 30-06-2023

Genesis 17:1, 9-10, 15-22 / Matthew 8:1-4   

Those with a sense of humour not only make us see the funny side of life.

Their sense of humour also makes us reflect about life.

What we think are so serious and urgent and important may not really be so.

After all, how many things about life are really so critical that they are life threatening?

In the 1st reading, when Abraham was already 100 years old and his wife Sarah was already 90 years old and they were still waiting for the child that God had promised them.

So, when God said that Sarah will conceive and bear a son, Abraham can’t help but laughed at the thought of a 90-year-old woman bearing a child.

Even though he was already quite disappointed with waiting such a long time, Abraham was also tickled by the thought of Sarah being pregnant.

But what man thinks is impossible is certainly not impossible with God.

So, even though we may be going through and having a rough and tough time, let us take a look at ourselves, and may we be able to laugh at ourselves for our immature reactions.

May that lead us to laugh with joy at how God comes to help us to solve those problems that we thought were so serious and urgent.

Sts. Peter and Paul, Thursday, 29-06-2023

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

St. Peter and St. Paul are two great apostles who strengthened the faith of the early Church and kept it in unity.

But these two saints were as different as night and day and they even had their differences recorded in Galatians 2: 14.

Although it was St. Peter who affirmed the identity of Christ, his character and actions did not quite reflect the meaning of his name, which means "rock".

Peter was rash and impulsive and we can certainly remember his triple denial of Jesus.

St. Paul was a brutal opponent of Christians before his conversion and he had a fiery character.

But it was strange that Jesus chose these two men who were far from perfect or even suitable to be the leaders of His Church.

Yet, that showed who was the spiritual and guiding force behind the Church.

But in spite of their differences and shortcomings, Sts. Peter and Paul were united in a common goal and mission.

Both died as martyrs, an act which showed that the purpose of their lives were not for their own glory but for the glory of God.

This feast of Sts. Peter and Paul shows us that despite the differences and failures in personalities and characters, the Church can be united for a common goal and mission.

The lives of Sts. Peter and Paul show us that God can choose the weak and imperfect persons to be the leaders of His Church.

Because it is through these imperfect human instruments that God shows the Church and the world that what is impossible for man is not impossible for God.

12th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 28-06-2023

Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18 / Matthew 7:15-20   

If we say that we trust in God, then it would mean that we must have a firm faith.

To have a firm faith would also mean that we understand the ways of God.

And indeed, the ways of God can be quite a mystery to us.

Because the mysterious ways of God can be difficult to understand, as well as difficult to follow.

In the 1st reading, Abram was getting anxious about when the promise of God would be fulfilled.

God promised him a son, his own flesh and blood, but he had waited and waited, and he had to ask God about it.

Then, God took him outside and said: Look up to heaven and count the stars if you can.

Of course, counting the stars would be quite impossible, even with modern technology.

So, that would already tell us of our human limitations when it comes to creation and nature.

And the posture of looking up tells us that God is our Creator and we are His creation.

So, we have to humble ourselves and to accept the mysterious ways of God and His authority over us.

When we submit to God, then He can be our shield, and in God, our reward for trusting in His ways will be great.

12th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 27-06-2023

Genesis 13:2, 5-18 / Matthew 7:26, 12-14  

When it comes to a matter of choice, the human instinct is to go for the best, the biggest and the most beneficial.

Using our logical judgement, we would certainly choose the obvious.

The human instinct is oriented towards winning and gaining, and no one would really choose to be a loser.

In the 1st reading, we see that instinct in Lot as he chose what he thought was better.

At the same time, we could also see the humility of Abram as he let Lot make the first choice.

Being the elder, Abram could have demanded that he chooses first, but by letting the younger and junior Lot have it first, we could see the character of Abram.

More than that, Abram’s faith in God’s blessings is admirable.

And God’s blessings are bestowed on those who walk in the ways of humility, simplicity and charity.

It may mean walking by the narrow path and entering by the narrow gate.

But as Jesus said in the gospel, it is a narrow gate and a hard road that leads to life.

12th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 26-06-2023

Genesis 12:1-9 / Matthew 7:1-5   

In life, we have to make decisions, and often they can be quite difficult decisions.

And some decisions are like irreversible and some decisions are like irrevocable.

When Abram made the decision to leave his country and his father’s house, it was a difficult decision.

And because it was God who was calling him to make a choice, he knew that it was going to be a once-and-for-all decision.

So whether to stay or to go, it was going to be irreversible and irrevocable.

Abram made the decision to follow the call of God, and God assured him of His blessings.

So when we have to make decisions in life, let us look at what is the will of God for us.

There are planks in our eyes that will block us from seeing what God wants of us.

So before we make a decision, let us pray and ask the Lord to remove the planks from our eyes.

Then we will be able to decide, and our decision will be for God’s blessings on us.

12th Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 25.06.2023

 Jeremiah 20:10-13 / Romans 5:12-15 / Matthew 10:26-33

We have come to the last week of the month of June. 

Let us take a moment to ponder and see if we can think of anything that we can remember of the month of June. 

Oh yes, it is the month of school holidays, and parents would be busy thinking of how to keep their children occupied. 

There is also Father's Day, which was celebrated last weekend, and we hope that the fathers are happy with their Father's Day presents. 

For our parish, it was the Feast Day celebrations last week, and we thank God for His wonderful blessings on us. 

And there are more blessings coming up next week before the month of June comes to an end. 

Father Adrian Danker will be celebrating his 10th sacerdotal anniversary on Thursday. And on the same day, two deacons will be ordained to the priesthood at a Church of the Holy Family.

So, the month of June has many good and wonderful things to remember. 

And also, not forgetting that the month of June is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. 

And as we meditate on the Sacred Heart of Jesus and His love for us, let us also ponder on what is in our hearts. 

Can we say without hesitation, that our hearts are at peace and that we are happy with life? 

Or, is it that our hearts are weighed down by worries and anxieties, resentment and disappointment, failures and frustrations that make our hearts freeze with fears. 

If that is so, then the Good News in today's Gospel is that Jesus tells us this: Do not be afraid. 

And Jesus wants to go deep into our hearts to uncover what is covered, to bring to the light what is hidden, so that we are able to face our fears. 

The world has a force to be reckoned with. It has a force, and that makes us succumb to fears. 

So, we fear for our security and our future, and we look to wealth and possessions to protect us from uncertainties. 

We fear that our image does not give a good impression because the world says that good looks give a good prospect. 

We fear for our reputation, and the world tells us to go with the flow and to play safe, and not to swim against the tide. 

But Jesus tells us not to be afraid, because He will protect us and keep us safe. 

Because when we keep thinking of problems and obstacles, then we will only see problems and obstacles. 

But when we let Jesus uncover what is covered, and to let His light shine into what is hidden in us, then we will proclaim the marvels of God from the rooftops. 

Then, instead of problems and obstacles, we will look for possibilities and opportunities. 

Instead of being beaten by the world and its ways, we want to offer our hearts to Jesus, so that our hearts will beat with love and peace. 

Jesus tells us not to be afraid, and He won't leave us alone to fight our battles in life. 

He will go ahead of us, and fight our battles for us, so that we can sing about how great is our God. 

So, the month of June has many blessings, and we want to count the blessings, and to sing of God's blessings that are poured into our hearts from the Sacred Heart of Jesus. 

Then, we will proclaim what is said in the 1st reading: Sing to the Lord, praise the Lord, for He has delivered the soul of the needy, from the hands of evil men.

The Nativity of St. John the Baptist, Saturday, 24-06-2023

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

We might be wondering why the birth of St. John the Baptist is such a big feast-day, in fact a solemnity.

Maybe we can get an idea from the meaning of his name.

John, or in Hebrew "Yehohanan", means "the Lord is gracious" or "the Lord shows favour".

Indeed, in St. John the Baptist, God had shown His favour, not just to Zachariah and Elizabeth by blessing them with a child.

He has shown favour to the whole of humanity.

Because before St. John the Baptist came into the scene, the prophetic voice in Israel has been silent for 400 years.

When St. John the Baptist came into the scene, he breathed fire and preached thunder.

All that was to prepare the way for Jesus the Christ, the Anointed One of God.

So St. John the Baptist prepared the people to receive the graciousness from God.

He prepared the people to receive Jesus who is filled with grace and truth.

What St. John the Baptist did for the people of his time, we too are to do for the people of our time.

We too are to prepare our people to receive the graciousness and the favour of God.

The name John means "God is gracious" and "God shows favour".

We have an even more important name.

We are called Christians. It means the "anointed ones". It means that we are to be another Christ to the world.

May we be filled with God's grace and favour to fulfill our mission.

11th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 23-06-2023

2 Cor 11:18, 21-30 / Matthew 6:19-23   

The purpose of our eyes is to give us sight so that we can interact with other people and our surroundings.

With our eyes, we are able to admire what is beautiful and pleasant.

But with our eyes, we may also begin to desire and to crave for more than we need.

So as much as we admire something that is beautiful and elegant, we may also begin to desire for it and want to possess it.

But we need to remember that what we want to possess will, in turn, eventually possess us.

Often we forget that, and so whatever we see desirable, we want to possess, because we think that the more we have, the happier we will be.

But in the 1st reading, St. Paul tells us what his happiness is.

While others boast of their worldly achievements and possession, he “boast” about his feebleness and poverty.

But in having nothing, he had Christ, who is his everything, and that is his happiness.

Let us ask the Lord to open our eyes to see that Jesus is our everything, and He is all we need to be happy.

11th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 22-06-2023

2 Cor 11:1-11 / Matthew 6:7-15

A prayer that we should be saying everyday should be the “Our Father” or the Lord’s Prayer.

It is also a prayer for all occasions. It is prayed at the Mass, the celebration of the Sacraments, and it also should be prayed at all Devotions and para-liturgical services.

The Our Father is the primary prayer of the Church, and it is also called the Lord’s Prayer because it is taught by our Lord Jesus Christ.

It is a prayer of adoration, of thanksgiving, for needs, for forgiveness, for healing and for protection.

It is a divine prayer, a profound prayer as well as a powerful prayer.

But it may also become a routine prayer, so much so that it can become a casual prayer and we may lose the sense of reverence for it.

We hear Jesus teaching that prayer in today’s gospel.

But He also added the aspect of forgiveness when we pray that prayer.

When we need to be forgiven, and when we want to forgive those who have hurt us, or find difficulty in forgiving, then let us pray the Our Father slowly and reverently.

When we call God “Our Father”, He will certainly listen to us, and He will forgive us our sins, and also give us the grace to forgive others.

11th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 21-06-2023

2 Cor 9:6-11 / Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18    

We certainly won't like it when others think of us as a "show-off" or that we like to brag and boast about the things we do.

As much as we don't like it, yet we also cannot deny that we have this tendency or an urge and even impulsion to try to impress people and to give ourselves a good standing.

It happens in job interviews, in presentations, and even in ordinary conversations with others, we like to impress and to make an impact on others.

Some people may even be so obsessed with it that they will even exaggerate and even go to the extent of lying.

The 1st reading talks about sowing - thin sowing means thin reaping; the more you sow, the more you get.

But there is also another proverb - what you sow is what you get. When one sows lies in order to impress and to make an impact, then when the time for reaping comes, others will know who is the liar.

Jesus taught about the spiritual disciplines of almsgiving, prayer and fasting in the gospel.

Yet, there is also the temptation to twist these three spiritual disciplines with our ulterior motives so as to make an impression and impact on others.

Hence Jesus cautioned us - everything we do must be done in secret, and God our Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward us.

Let us embark on the "secret way" and that is to avoid attracting attention to ourselves and to turn our attention to God.

In doing so, we will help others to turn their attention to "the One who provides seed for the sower and bread for food" and to give thanks to Him and to give glory to Him in our humble and quiet ways.

11th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 20-06-2023

2 Cor 8:1-9 / Matthew 5:43-48   

To be a Christian is indeed challenging.

When others know that we are a Christian, they would have an expectation of us.

And when we don’t meet their expectations, then there will be criticisms.

And of course, when we fall short of living out our Christian identity, then we will also be called hypocrites.

So, why do we still want to be a Christian and subject ourselves to such stress and pressure.

But we remember that it is not us who chose Jesus, but it is Jesus who called us and chose us to be His own.

And hence, we want to be a Christian and live out our commitment to Jesus.

We need not do big and spectacular or impressive things.

We only need to do things, whether big or small, with a great love for Jesus.

And may that love for Jesus also flow out to others, so that they will see what it means to be a Christian.

11th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 19-06-2023

2 Cor 6:1-10 / Matthew 5:38-42    

The connection between theory and practice is that the theory guides the practice and the practice confirms the theory.

In every profession, theory and practice go hand in hand, and with that, the professional skills are enhanced.

That same can be said about faith.

Faith is to be expressed in good works and that is how we witness to the Lord and carry out the mission that He is calling us to.

In the 1st reading, St. Paul urges us not to neglect the grace of God that we have received.

And he quoted the Lord as saying: At the favourable time, I have listened to you; on the day of salvation I came to your help. Well, now is the favourable time, this is the day of salvation.

Every day, and every moment, there will be occasions when we need to exercise our faith, and there will even be times when our faith is put to the test.

In the gospel, Jesus gives some examples when our faith is going to be tried and tested.

Let us not forget or neglect the grace that God has given us.

In times of test and trials, let us not forget that God will listen to our prayers, and He will save us because of our faith in Him.

11th Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 18.06.2023

 11th Sunday OT A-2023                                                                                     18-06-2023 

Exodus 19:2-6 / Romans 5:6-11 / Matthew 9:36; 10:8

Last Friday, we celebrated the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It is also our Parish feast day. 

In preparation for the feast day, we had a triduum, in which we had Masses, Devotion to the Sacred Heart and Holy Hour. 

We prepared the “Jesus invites” in which there is a petition slip to write our petitions, which are to be offered during the triduum and feast day. 

And there was also the “Roses for Jesus”; it is for us to contribute to the roses that will decorate the sanctuary on the feast day. 

It was quite a bit of preparation, and there is quite a bit of work involved to get these ready. 

The “Jesus invites” were folded by loving hands of the members of our Parish community. 

The roses had to be trimmed and arranged within a short period of time to be ready for the feast day. 

But in preparing all these for the feast day celebration, we also wondered what the response would be. 

This would be the first focused feast day celebration after nearly four years of restrictions. 

We sensed that some people have lost the routine and the rhythm of their faith. 

We were uncertain whether people were as fervent as they were before the pandemic. 

But still, we embarked on the feast day preparations as a means of inviting people to come back to the Church and to renew their faith in God. 

And over the triduum and feast day celebrations, God showed us something. 

To quote from the words of today's Gospel, God saw that His people were “harassed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd”. 

God wanted His people to come back to Him. 

He needed laborers for His harvest, and the harvest is rich indeed. 

And over the triduum and feast day, we saw how rich the harvest is. 

We saw that the people needed God as they offered up their prayers and petitions. 

We don't know what were written in the petitions, but when people took the trouble to write prayers on paper, those are certainly prayers of the heart. 

So, despite being harassed and dejected, the people still have faith in God. 

Their devotion and their prayers show that they need Jesus as their Shepherd to lead them in the road of life. 

And from the offerings of the “Roses for Jesus”, it showed that people want to be part of the Church, and may even want to offer themselves in service to the Lord. 

So, over the triduum and feast day celebrations, God has revealed and showed us something. 

One of which is that people need God, and they have faith in Him. 

And we, as labourers of the harvest, are to help them to come back to the Lord. 

We are to pray for them and to pray with them, and to accompany them to come for Mass and for the Friday Devotion to the Sacred Heart. 

And just as laborers deserve their wages, God will reward us with His blessings. 

He will answer our prayers so that our faith in God will be strengthened and deepened. 

Then we will be able to witness to others that being labourers in God's harvest is indeed a blessing and a reward.

The Immaculate Heart of Mary, Saturday, 17-06-2023

Isaiah 61:9-11 / Luke 2:41-51

The feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary is closely connected to the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus which was celebrated yesterday.

This feast highlights the joys and sorrows of Mary in doing the will of God, her virtues of obedience and humility, her love for God and for Jesus, and not least, her love for all people.

In Christian art, the Immaculate Heart of Mary is depicted with a sword pierced through the heart, and wrapped with roses or lilies.

In the gospel of Luke, Simeon prophesied that a sword will pierce through her heart (Lk 2:35) because of the sorrows and sufferings she will have to go through with Jesus.

Hence, closely connected to the devotion of the Immaculate Heart of Mary is the seven sorrows of Mary :

1. The prophecy of Simeon (Lk 2:35)

2. The flight to Egypt (Mt 2:13-14)

3. The finding of Jesus in the Temple (Lk 2:43-45)

4. The meeting of Jesus and Mary on the way of the cross

5. The crucifixion

6. The taking down of the body of Jesus from the cross

7. The burial of Jesus (Jn 19:38-42)

Usually seven Hail Marys are also said while meditating upon the seven sorrows of Mary. Furthermore, the devotion to the Immaculate Heart would also include going for Confession before or after the first Saturday of every month, receive Communion and the praying of the Rosary.

All this is in reparation for the sins committed against her Immaculate Heart, which are also the sins committed against the Sacred Heart of Jesus, because the two Hearts are closely and intimately connected.

It is also a way of expressing our union with the Hearts of Jesus and Mary and sharing in their love for all people and praying for the conversion and salvation of sinners.

Yes, we and all peoples are in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. May Jesus and Mary be in our hearts and in the hearts of all peoples too so that all will be saved.

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Friday, 16-06-2023

Deuteronomy 7:6-11 / 1 John 4:7-16 / Matthew 11:25-30

The mind is the seat of knowledge and hence the mind seeks to be filled and nourished by learning. 

The human mind also thinks logically and rationally, as well as sensibly.

And so the human mind embarks on the noble pursuits of science, medicine, engineering, law, business, etc.

All that is necessary for life.

But what we stay alive for, and keep alive for, is love, truth, beauty, goodness, poetry, dance, art, etc.

All that is what the heart yearns for, and in that, the heart finds its rest.

And all that the heart is yearning for, and finds its rest in, is found in Jesus.

As we celebrate the love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, let us offer our hearts to Him.

Our hearts will not rest, until we are rested in Him, for Jesus is the fullness of love, truth, beauty, goodness.

10th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 15-06-2023

2 Cor 15 - 4:1, 3-6 / Matthew 5:20-26

Most of us have a pair of sunglasses, but we may not always carry it around.

We may put it in the car, or in the bag or somewhere in our desk drawers.

One thing is certain is that we don’t always wear the sunglasses.

Because sunglasses are a form of protective eye-wear designed to prevent bright sunlight and high-energy visible light from causing any injury or irritation to your eyes.

So we only wear it when needed; we don’t wear it always, and certainly not at night.

And we certainly don’t wear sunglasses when we are reading.

So, if we are wearing sunglasses and then say we can’t read something clearly, the problem is not in the print.

The problem is obvious, but if we insist on wearing the sunglasses, then we will just keep putting the blame on something else.

When we read today’s gospel and other challenging passages of the gospels, we may think that the teachings of Jesus is too tough to follow.

But we may need to ask ourselves what is it that is blocking us for understanding the teachings of Jesus.

May Jesus reveal to us what the blockage is, because only we ourselves can willingly remove that blockage.

10th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 14-06-2023

2 Cor 3:4-11 / Matthew 5:17-19   

Every language has written form, or at least most languages have written form. 

In the written form, the simplest stand-alone character can be a stroke or a dot. 

In the Chinese language, there may not be dots but there are strokes. 

Every character has a number of strokes, and the addition or absence of a stroke changes the character. 

In the English language, the simplest punctuation mark is either the comma or the full stop. 

But whether it is a stroke in a character, or whether it is a comma or a full stop, it tells us that small and little things are important. 

In the gospel, Jesus says that He came to complete the Law and the Prophets. 

Jesus also said that till heaven and earth disappear, not one dot, or one little stroke, shall disappear from the Law and the Prophets. 

In our lives, there are a number of significant events and we remember these occasions. 

Yet, at the same time, there are also numerous small and little events that shaped our lives. 

These small and little events are like dots and commas and little strokes that make us who we are. 

As much as the big events are significant, these dots and commas and strokes are important. 

Some dots, when joined together with some commas and strokes, form a picture of ourselves and an image of our character. 

Some pictures and images of ourselves and our character are nice and pleasant. 

Others could be something that we are rather embarrassed about, and we may not even want to give it a second look. 

As we reflect on the healing that Jesus wants to give to our hearts, let us look again at all the dots, and the commas and strokes of our lives. 

With these dots and commas and strokes, Jesus wants to form a new image and a new picture and character. 

Then we will be able to see a healed and renewed Image and character of ourselves that reflect the image and character of God. 

Let us offer to Jesus the dots and commas and strokes of our lives. 

Let us be healed and renewed to reflect the goodness and the glory of God.

10th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 13-06-2023

2 Cor 1:18-22 / Matthew 5:13-16    

To make a promise is certainly not something casual or to be taken lightly.

To make a promise would require commitment as well as a conviction.

Because words have to be put into action, and our integrity is also put on the line.

When we break a promise, we lose the trust that others have in us.

When St. Paul preached about the promises of God, he affirmed that God will not go back on His promises.

However many promises God made, the Yes to them is all in Him.

Because God is faithful and He will not go back on His word.

God promised to save us and certainly He will.

God even sent His only Son to fulfill that promise of salvation.

In our baptism, we promised to be faithful to God.

Like salt, we are to preserve the gift of faith.

Like light, we are to keep shining with good works for all to see.

Let us keep our promise to be faithful to God, and He will reward us with abundant blessings.

10th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 12-06-2023

2 Cor 1:1-7 / Matthew 5:1-12    

When the Bible talks about peace, it means something more than just feeling comfortable and happy.

The Jewish word for peace is “shalom”. 

Shalom describes a holistic and all-consuming peace that changes everything.

When Jesus says that He gives us peace, it is a peace that the world cannot give.

In the 1st reading, one of the descriptions of that God-given peace is in the form of consolation.

God consoles us and comforts us in our sorrows.

And in turn, we offer others, in their sorrows, the consolation that we have received from God ourselves.

When we are consoled and comforted by God, we will have peace.

That God-given peace is truly a blessing.

And that blessing is expressed in the Beatitudes that are taught by Jesus in the gospel.

Let us ask the Lord our God to bless us with His peace. 

With God’s peace in our hearts, let us also be a blessing of peace for others.

Corpus Christi, Year A, 11.06.2023

Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 14-16 / 1 Cor 10:16-17 / John 6:51-58

We know what the Sunday obligation is, and that is we have to come for Mass on Sundays. 

So, we will come to Church on Sundays to say a prayer, as well as to listen to the Word of God in the readings, and receive Holy Communion. 

For most of us, coming for the Sunday Mass is a weekly routine, and also a part of our weekend schedule. 

Then the pandemic came along, and that routine and rhythm was broken.

The Sunday obligation became an option of either on-site Mass or online Mass. 

Although the Sunday obligation has been reinstated, the pre-pandemic routine and rhythm have been broken. 

Some have a difficulty fitting in the Sunday obligation into their weekend schedule, while some have lost it all together. 

For most of us who observe the Sunday obligation faithfully, we may need to reflect on what we are doing. 

The Sunday obligation can become a habit and a routine that we are familiar with. 

We may begin to take things for granted, because routine can be the death of reverence. 

Today, as the church celebrates the Feast of Corpus Christi, we need to ponder and reflect. 

The Mass is not just about going through some religious ritual. 

At Mass, God speaks to us through the Scriptures. So, we hear the teaching from heaven to tell us how to live holy lives on Earth. 

And then we will receive Holy Communion. What we received at Holy Communion is something holy from heaven. 

We are receiving the Body of Christ, and Jesus enters into our hearts, and makes His home in our hearts. 

So, something very holy is happening at Mass. It can be said that heaven comes down to earth at Mass. 

And we participate of the Divine banquet, in which we partake of the Body of Christ at Holy Communion, and hence this Feast is called Corpus Christi. 

Jesus gives us His heart at Holy Communion, so that our hearts can be like His, and that we can live our lives like Him. 

But all these profound aspects of the Mass take the form of the simple and humble and ordinary. 

The Sacred Host, or the Blessed Sacrament, looks so simple and ordinary, that we might lose reverence for it and treat it casually. 

But that Sacred Host, the Blessed Sacrament, the Body of Christ, is nothing less than the very Sacred Heart of Jesus. 

We are given the faith to believe that, and we must have utmost reverence for the Body of Christ in that humble form. 

There are many accounts of the Miracles of the Eucharist, and there is one about St. Anthony with the Blessed Sacrament and the hungry donkey. 

The story goes that there was a man who openly mocked those who believe that Jesus is present in the Blessed Sacrament. 

St. Anthony tried to convince that man, but he was stubborn. So St. Anthony prayed and received an inspiration.

He challenged that arrogant man, “If the donkey you ride adored the Body of Christ in the Eucharist, would you believe in the truth of the Blessed Sacrament?” 

The man agreed, but decided to raise the stakes. He would starve his donkey for three days and then bring it to the town square. 

St. Anthony would bring the Blessed Sacrament to that same square. The donkey then would be put in front of a pile of hay and St. Anthony would stand a few yards away with the Blessed Sacrament. What happened next would decide the victor.

To prepare for the challenge, St. Anthony fasted for three days, and the man in turn told everyone in the town of the contest. He was convinced that the donkey would think nothing of the Eucharist and ravenously eat the pile of hay.

On the day of the contest, the man brought his donkey and placed the hay under the donkey’s nose. 

St. Anthony came and stood a distance away with the Holy Eucharist. 

Defying all odds, the donkey turned its head and walked over to St. Anthony. When the donkey was near, it bent its front legs and knelt in adoration! 

When the man saw this miraculous change of events, he immediately knelt down and professed his belief in the truth of the Real Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.

For us who believe in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, let us not think of coming for Mass as an obligation.

If animals can sense the divine presence, may we have utmost love and reverence for Jesus who comes to us in the humble Sacred Host.

9th Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 10-06-2023

Tobit 12:1, 5-18, 20 / Mark 12:38-44   

Though we say that we believe in God, we cannot say that our belief is unshakable.

Especially so when we meet with rough and rocky patches in life, we will begin to doubt.

And when our prayers don’t seem to be answered, our faith will be shaken.

And when the good we do is not appreciated or even criticized, we may get angry with God.

We may also think that there is no point being a good person and trying to walk the ways of the Lord.

But in the 1st reading, God tells us through the archangel Raphael, that He sees all that we do and He knows our thoughts.

God sees all the good we do for others, God knows how we feel, God hears our desperate prayers.

He also sees the widow in the gospel putting in the two small coins, all she had to live on.

And God will answer in His own ways and in His own time.

God will reward those who do good with His abundant blessings.

We only need to believe in God’s love for us and trust in His ways and wait with hope in God’s time.

9th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 09-06-2023

Tobit 11:5-17 / Mark 12:35-37  

The world may seem rather dark with so much of bad news.

And the bad news doesn’t seem to taper off; in fact it is like more and more bad news every day.

So it may seem that the world is getting darker and darker.

And yet there are good news, though these good news are like little sparks in the darkness.

But these sparks of good news are enough to sparkle in the darkness to give hope to humanity.

In the 1st reading, Tobit and his wife Anna, as well as Tobias and his wife Sarah, had gone through a period of agonizing darkness.

But the little sparkles began to appear – Tobias got married to Sarah and their marriage was blessed by God; Tobias also recovered the silver for his father; Anna rejoiced at Tobias’ safe return; and Tobit regained his sight.

That was enough for them to see the glorious light of God’s wonderful blessings.

Tobit summed it all up as he said: Blessed be God! Blessed be his great name! Blessed be all his holy angels! Blessed be his great name forever more!.

We too may be scourged with bad news and darkness.

But it is a holy darkness, because that will prepare us to see the sparks of God’s blessings.

And then we will rejoice, and like Tobit, we will truly bless God for His wonderful love for us.

9th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 08-06-2023

Tobit 6:10-11; 7:1, 9-14; 8:4-9 / Mark 12:28-34     

Human beings are social beings, and as social beings, they form relationships with one another.

Relationship is really important because it is the foundation for communication and understanding between persons and communities.

These relationships have beginnings in a marital union, which goes on to building a family, and then to a community and to a society.

And God wants to be intimately involved in these human relationships.

Also relationships without the presence and involvement of God may not be fruitful or enriching.

In the 1st reading, Tobit and Sarah were about to enter into a marital relationship.

Tobit knew about what happened to Sarah, but he also believed that God has brought them together.

So, he asked Sarah to pray with him for God’s blessings and protection as they begin their married life.

As we think about the relationships we have with others, may we also know that it is God who initiated these relationships.

Let us pray for God’s blessings and protection on our relationships, so that together with others, we will enrich each other and bear fruits of love for God and for others.

9th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 07-06-2023

Tobit 3:1-11, 16-17 / Mark 12:18-27

Our faith tells us that while we have a life in this world, we also have an eternal life in heaven.

In fact, with faith and hope, we can see that our life in this world is a preparation for the eternal life of the next world.

So we can say that we have two lives – one in this world, and the other one in the next.

But, another way of looking at it is that we have two lives in this world.

And the second one begins when we realise that we have only one life in this world.

In the 1st reading, Tobit and Sarah had thoughts about ending their lives in this world.

They were in despair and distress, but they also prayed to the Lord for help.

And their prayer found favour before the Lord and Raphael was sent to bring remedy to them both.

In a way, it can be said that their second life on earth is about to begin.

In the gospel, Jesus gave a teaching about life on earth and life in heaven.

His most profound statement is that God is not God of the dead, but of the living.

When we put our faith and hope in God, then Jesus will lead us to live life to the full, and we will walk confidently from the life of this world to the life of the next.

9th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 06-06-2023

Tobit 2:9-14 / Mark 12:13-17   

In life, we wish to be self-sufficient and independent.

But the reality of life is that we are always some indebted to someone.

And it is not about owing money to someone or to a bank or an organization.

It is usually about owing gratitude for a service or favour.

We may not openly admit it, but we certainly do not like being indebted to someone.

We desire to be free from being beholden to someone.

It is most probably the pride and ego that is working up in us.

In the 1st reading, Tobit was suffering from blindness and he had to be dependent on the charity of others.

But even then, his reluctance to be dependent and his pride was manifested when he suspected his wife of stealing other people’s goods.

But in the gospel, the Pharisees and Herodians tried to trap Jesus with the question of paying taxes.

Jesus gave them a reply that took them completely by surprise.

As much as Jesus is telling them to give back to Caesar what belongs to him, He also brought them to another realization.

They have to give back to God what belongs to God, and that is love, truth, justice, mercy, compassion.

We too must realize that we are indebted to God for His love and blessings on us.

We must give thanks for what we have received from God and also do what God is asking of us.

9th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 05-06-2023

Tobit 1:3; 2:1-8 / Mark 12:1-12    

To do what is good, right and loving may not be as clear as it seems.

As much as we desire to do what is good, right and loving, there are distractions and obstacles that will cause us to deviate.

Among them are self-considerations, other people’s opinions, misunderstanding of intentions, etc.

In the 1st reading, when Tobit took the duty to bury the dead man, he was taking a risk at the expense of his own life.

Even his neighbours laughed at him and mocked at him.

But Tobit held firm to his beliefs to do what is the good and right thing.

He did what he believed that God wanted him to do.

In contrast, the tenants in the gospel parable did what they wanted to do, and it was certainly not the good and right thing.

When we put our trust in God and do what is good, right and loving, God will surely bless us.

There will be obstacles, but our good deeds will be like keystones of God’s wonderful doing for other to see.

Trinity Sunday, Year A, 04.06.2023

Exodus 34:4-6, 8-9 / 2 Cor 13:11-13 / John 3:16-18

There are many things in life that we think we know and understand quite well. 

But it is only when we encounter difficulty that we begin to think deeper about it. 

Then we may realize that there is so much more to discover and to learn. 

For example, the English language is something that we use daily. 

We use it to converse, to read and to write. We use it to express ourselves and to communicate with others. 

So, we know how to use the English language and may even know how to use it effectively. 

But can we say that we understand it well, or that we are an expert on it? 

For example, how do we explain eggplant which has no egg in it, or pineapple that does not have any apples, or hamburgers that don't have any ham? 

Or, why is it said that the nose runs, and the feet smell? It should be the other way around, isn't it? 

When it comes to singular and plural, if more than one tooth is teeth then why is more than one booth not beeth? Or if more than one mouse is mice, then why is more than one house not hice? 

So, we speak, read and write English everyday, but we may not really understand the language that well. 

Today the Church celebrates Holy Trinity Sunday. We know that God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 

But we may not really understand why God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 

In fact, it would be easier to understand and believe that God is just One. 

Of course, there are many ways to explain that God is Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 

But the mystery of the Holy Trinity cannot be understood just logically or rationally. 

What we need to believe is that God loves us, He wants to save us and to bring us back home to heaven. 

So, God the Father loves us, He sent His only beloved Son to save us, and Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to unite us in faith, hope and love. 

So, as much as the Bible did not explicitly mention that God is Trinity, yet in the same Bible, God also revealed the intimate relationship between the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. 

The key to the understanding of the mystery of the Holy Trinity is in the intimate relationship between the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

To believe in God the Holy Trinity is to believe that God wants to have an intimate love relationship with us. 

And just as the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are intimately connected with each other in love, we too are called to love like God, and to be united with each other in love. 

To be like God is like how the 1st reading puts it: to be tender and compassionate, slow to anger, rich in kindness and faithfulness. 

To be like God is also to be like Moses, who pleaded with the Lord God to forgive the people for their faults and sins. 

And in the 2nd reading, St. Paul urged us to be united in love and live in peace with each other so that God of love and peace will be with us. 

So, when we are united in love and peace, we are also reflecting the intimate relationship of love and peace between the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. 

To refuse to believe in God is to refuse to accept love from others and also refuse to love others. 

But, when we, who believe in God, strive to live in love and peace with each other, we are already professing our belief in God who is Father, Son and Holy spirit. 

By our unity in love and peace, we will witness to others that God also loves them, and wants to give them the peace and joy of salvation.

8th Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 03-06-2023

Ecclesiasticus 51:12-20 / Mark 11:27-33     

It is not easy to admit that we are wrong, especially when we are confronted with facts.

It is even more difficult for people of authority to admit that they are wrong.

Simply because there is just too much to lose.

When the authorities confronted Jesus, it was Jesus who presented the facts.

But in refusing to acknowledge the facts, and by saying "We don't know", the authorities have exposed themselves.

Ironically, it was the people of authority that had put their own authority into question.

We are all people of authority in some way or another.

Some of us are parents who have authority over our children.

Some of us are supervisors and managers who have authority over our subordinates.

But this authority is given to us to discern what comes from God and to do the right thing.

In other words, authority is synonymous with service.

We serve our children by teaching them the right values.

We serve our subordinates with justice and fairness.

We serve like Jesus did, who came to serve by showing us how to live out the truth with love.

8th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 02-06-2023

Ecclesiasticus 44:1, 9-13 / Mark 11:11-26   

God’s ways are not like man’s ways, and indeed, the mysterious ways of God are much higher and may even go beyond the comprehension of man.

Similarly, God’s time does not go according to man’s time.

Man’s time is chronological, and so there are schedules, time-line and deadlines.

But God’s time is in God’s appointed time, and in the mystery of God’s plan, He decides when will be the time.

In the gospel, it may sound rather surprising and even shocking that Jesus cursed the fig tree just because there was no fruit, and furthermore, it was not the season for figs.

But that serves to show that God has control over His creation, and He can over-ride the natural sequence of time to make things happen in His time.

That is why Jesus tells us to have faith in God, and to submit ourselves to God’s time and to God’s ways.

So even though we may think that the time is not right or conducive, we must pray with faith in order to understand God’s ways and God’s time.

And then we will bear fruit in God’s time for His plan and His purpose.