17th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 01-08-2023

Exodus 33:7-11; 34:5-9, 28 / Matthew 13:36-43     

If we have to summarise the teachings of our faith in a simple way, it could be like this.

1. God is love and He created us with love.

2. God forgives us when we commit sin

3. There will be a judgement day and a time of reckoning for all that we have done.

Certainly, we believe that God is love and that He is merciful and compassionate.

He will forgive us when we repent of our sins, and He keeps calling out to those stubborn sinners.

As much as we believe in a loving and forgiving God, we also need to see that He has set out a way of life for us.

That way of life is found in the 10 Commandments, or as what the 1st reading calls it “the Ten Words”.

So we know what God wants of us and how we should live our life.

God has made it clear for us what is right and wrong, and we can’t claim to be ignorant.

God has sown seeds of goodness in our hearts, and we must not let the evil one poison our hearts with sin.

And when we fall into sin, then we also cannot blame anyone, but take responsibility for the wrong we have done.

So we have a choice as to how we want to live our lives, and we know that God has shown us how to live our lives.

May we listen to God and be responsible for our choices and actions.

17th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 31-07-2023

Exodus 32:15-24, 30-34 / Matthew 13:31-35   

Whenever there is a crisis, one thing will be exposed, and that is a person's character.

Crisis does not build character, but it reveals character.

And when a time comes for accountability and responsibility, that is also where a person’s integrity is revealed.

In the 1st reading, the people sinned against the Lord by worshipping the golden calf.

That grieved Moses, and he went before the Lord to make atonement for the people.

He begged the Lord for forgiveness and he even offered to be punished for the people’s sin.

This Moses was certainly a different man from that young Moses who ran off after he was discovered for killing an Egyptian.

Moses had grown and matured, and in a situation of crisis, accountability and responsibility, his character and integrity were revealed.

May we too grow in character and integrity, so that we can be models and living witnesses of how God’s love has grown in us.

17th Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 30.07.2023

 1 Kings 3:5, 7-12 / Romans 8:28-30 / Matthew 13:44-52

There are many things in life that we are busy with. And these are not trivial things. They are important and they require our attention. 

So, we are busy with work, and we do spend a lot of time at work, and also with our work. 

And we also busy with family matters. We need to look into our parents’ welfare and well-being, as they will need more attention in their senior years. 

We also need to look into our children's development and nurturing, and so we have to arrange tuition, enrichment classes and weekend activities for them. 

So, we are busy, weekdays as well as weekends, and at times we wish that there are more than 24 hours a day. 

Yes, we are busy with so much to do that we feel so tired and worn out. 

With all that busyness and tiredness, we may not have much time or energy to deepen our faith and for prayer. 

But we know that the seed of faith that is planted in our hearts needs attention and nurturing before it can bear fruit in our lives. 

And we can also hear the soft and gentle voice of Jesus calling out to us to come to Him and find rest for our souls. 

Yes, we know that faith and prayer are important, but there are so many things that call out for our attention. 

So, as much as we want to pray, we just can't find the time, or the energy, to be at prayer. 

And here is where king Solomon has something to teach us in the 1st reading. 

He succeeded his famous father David as king of Israel. But he knew he was young and unskilled in leadership to govern the people that was entrusted to him. 

So he prayed to the Lord to grant him a heart of understanding and wisdom to be the king of God's people. 

King Solomon could have asked for intelligence, so that he could be a shrewd ruler and be able to outwit and overcome his enemies. 

So, what is the difference between intelligence and wisdom then? 

Intelligence may help us to understand what the problems are. 

Wisdom helps us to know what are the problems to understand. 

So, king Solomon prayed for a wise and understanding heart. 

And the Lord God was pleased with his prayer and granted him what he asked for. 

So, whenever we have time to pray, what is it that we pray for, or what is it we pray about? 

Following king Solomon's example, let us pray for a wise and understanding heart to know what God wants to give us. 

God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding to rule and govern his people. 

God will also grant us wisdom and understanding to know what is really important in our family, in our work and in our life. 

Prayer is the treasure that we have, a treasure that brings peace and joy in our lives and in our relationships. 

St. Francis de Sales said this about prayer: Usually, half an hour of prayer a day is sufficient. But if you are busy, then make it one hour. 

We may be surprised at that, but when we make time for prayer, God will help us to know what are the problems to understand. 

Then we will be able to separate the necessary from the unnecessary, and our hearts will be at rest, and we will have peace in our lives.

16th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 28-07-2023

Exodus 20:1-17 / Matthew 13:18-23      

The Christian faith is not so complicated or sophisticated.

There is a moral code, or the code of conduct for a Christian.

That is expressed in the 10 Commandments, which we heard about in the 1st reading.

So essentially, it can be said that to be a good Christian, we just have to keep the 10 Commandments.

Each Commandment is like a seed that will bear good fruit in our lives when we understand what it means for us.

And just like seeds that will germinate and grow healthily when we nurture them, the 10 Commandments help us to grow and live well.

But more than that, we must remember who the Sower is.

It is God who sows good seeds into our hearts so that we will grow to become a good person and a good Christian.

The 10 Commandments help us to understand the divine nature of God and to enter into a relationship with Him.

So, more than just keeping the letter of the Commandments, we embrace the spirit of the Commandments.

In doing so we embrace the divine nature of God and we will want to be like God.

And just as God sowed good seeds into our hearts, we in turn will want to reflect the goodness of God and sow seeds of holiness so that others will want to know who God is.

16th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 27-07-2023

Exodus 19:1-2, 9-11, 16-20 / Matthew 13:10-17      

To believe in God and in His love is not a simple and easy thing to do.

We need to have the faith to believe that God also wants to correct us when we go wrong.

And when we have sinned, we cannot try to get away with it lightly by saying that God is merciful and forgiving.

In fact, with faith in God’s mercy, compassion and forgiveness, then we will accept correction and punishment so as to learn our lessons.

In the gospel, Jesus quoted this text from the prophet Isaiah:

You will listen and listen again, but not understand,

see and see again, but not perceive.

For the heart of this nation has grown coarse,

their ears are dull of hearing, and they have shut their eyes,

for fear they should see with their eyes,

hear with their ears,

understand with their heart,

and be converted

and be healed by me.

The people have sinned and was unfaithful to God. 

As much as God will forgive them, the lessons of sin must be learnt.

So the people will have to accept the punishment in order to soften their hearts, and to open their eyes and ears to what God is showing and telling them.

With faith, we believe that punishment leads to conversion and reconciliation with God.

That is what we truly believe, and let us turn away from sin and be faithful to God always.

16th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 26-07-2023

Exodus 16:1-5, 9-15 / Matthew 13:1-9     

God is all-loving, and He cares for us and provides for us.

That is our faith in God who is our Father.

And God our Father sent us Jesus to be our greatest blessing.

Jesus is our Saviour and in Him and through Him, we receive God’s abundant blessings.

As much as God wants to bless us abundantly, we must be receptive to His blessings.

Because we can resist God’s blessings when we are too concerned with what we want instead of what He is giving us.

In the 1st reading, the Israelites complained about their discomfort and the uncertainty of survival in the desert.

They didn’t quite believe that God cares for them and will provide for them.

We too have our concerns and uncertainties about life.

But let our hearts not be hardened or thorny with complaints.

Let us always choose to see God’s blessings in every situation and we will receive God’s blessings.

God always blesses those who put their faith and trust in Him.

St. James, Apostle, Tuesday, 25-07-2023

2 Cor 4:7-15 / Matthew 20:20-28    

During His life on earth, Jesus singled out three apostles out of the twelve apostles to be with Him in the special and unique moments of His ministry.

They were Peter, John and James, whose feast day we celebrate today.

They were with Jesus in His healing ministry as well as at the Transfiguration.

Although James had the privilege of being in the inner circle of the apostles, he did not quite understand the mission and purpose of Jesus.

As we heard in the gospel, he and his brother John had ideas about getting special positions in the earthly kingdom that they thought Jesus was going to establish.

But for all his misconceptions, James wanted to be with Jesus.

He had found the one whom he wanted to follow, even though he had yet to understand fully that his Master came to serve and to eventually give His life as a ransom for many.

Nonetheless, in the end, St. James would be the first among the apostles to give up his life in witness to his Master.

So even though St. James was in the inner circle of the apostles, he was an earthenware jar that holds the privilege of being chosen by Jesus.

The 1st reading reminds us that like St. James, we are also earthenware jars holding the treasures of God.

Like St. James, let us pour out these treasures in love and service to God and neighbour.

We can only inherit the kingdom of God when we give up our lives for others.

16th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 24-07-2023

Exodus 14:5-18 / Matthew 12:38-42   

Whenever we are faced with difficulties and problems, we will dig into our resources and abilities to find solutions.

It may be financial difficulties, or relationship problems, or work challenges.

We will seek help from people whom we think will be able to assist us.

But the acid test of our limitations and the limitations of the people whom we think can help us is when we are faced with mortal danger.

In the 1st reading, when the Israelites saw that the Egyptian army was closing in on them, they knew they were in grave mortal danger.

They were certainly no match for the Egyptian army and they cried out in fear.

And in that fear and chaos, they even blamed Moses and said all sort of disparaging things.

But Moses knew who will come to their rescue when he said this:

Have no fear! Stand firm, and you will see what the Lord will do to save you today. The Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. The Lord will do the fighting for you. You have only to keep still.

Let us remember these words of Moses, and when we face difficulties and problems, let us remember to keep still and say a prayer.

Let the Lord our God be always our first option, our last option and also the in-between option.

The Lord our God is more than just an option. He is our salvation. Let us put all our trust in Him.

16th Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 23.07.2023

Wisdom 12:13, 16-19 / Romans 8:26-27 / Matthew 13:24-43

Generally speaking, there are two things that we don't quite like to do, unless it is really necessary. 

One is going to the doctor because we are ill, or for a medical checkup. 

The other is to go to the dentist because of a toothache, or for a dental check-up. 

We go to the doctor not for just a slight illness but because we couldn't self-medicate anymore. 

Even for the regular medical check-up, we would procrastinate in making an appointment. 

Because whenever we go for a medical check-up, the doctor will usually find some problems with our health. 

It may be high cholesterol, or high blood pressure, or high blood sugar and whatever and we will have to follow up with medication or treatment. 

And when we go to the dentist, there will usually be some problems with the teeth. It can be anything from treating a decay to extraction, and there will also be follow-ups. 

But whether it is a medical check-up or a dental check-up, the purpose is to address health issues and to prevent health problems. 

It does not necessarily mean that any part of the body or organ that has problems must be removed. 

Health problems can be treated, so that health and well-being can be maintained and even improved. 

In the gospel parable, the good seed was sown in the field by the owner. 

Then when everyone was asleep, the enemy came and sowed darnel all among the wheat. 

Just some background information, the wheat and the darnel look alike when sprouting. Only when they are maturing will they look different. 

Darnel is poisonous, and there is an ancient Roman law that prohibits the sowing of darnel on the wheat field of an enemy. 

So, the gospel parable is realistic, and it is also true that once the wheat and the darnel begin sprouting, it will be difficult to weed out the darnel. Only at harvest time then it can be done. 

The gospel parable points out the reality of life in that this world has good and evil. 

But good and evil can be so closely intertwined that it can be difficult, if not impossible, to separate. 

It exists in situations that are very close to us, like in our families, in the work-place and even in church. 

So as much as the logical thing to do is to remove the problem, the gospel parable points out the difficulty. 

Because we are also connected to these difficult and troublesome people in a relationship that cannot be easily cancelled away. 

And it happens in marital relationships, family relationships, working relationships, community relationships, and the situation can be toxic and hostile. 

But we are also reminded that there is also an internal struggle within us. 

We too have our own wheat and darnel in our hearts.

The gospel parable ends off with the separation of the wheat and the darnel at harvest time. 

But the message for us is that we are to get rid of the sin in our lives first. 

It is through the help of God that we can do that. 

And when we have experienced the grace of conversion and repentance, then we will be able to accept the sinfulness of the people around us. 

We will not only just accept, but we will commit ourselves to praying for their conversion, and we will even respond to evil with the goodness of God. 

So, we pray for ourselves to be healed of our own sinfulness, and then we can be converted sinners to those who are deep in the toxic of sin. 

We can't wait till harvest time; the work must begin now. Because the salvation of toxic sinners depends on the commitment of converted sinners.

St. Mary Magdalene, Apostle of the Apostles, Saturday, 22-07-2023

Songs 3:1-4 or 2 Cor 5:14-17 / John 20:1-2, 11-18     

Mary Magdalene's appearance in the gospels was rather sudden, her name may mean that she was from the town of Magdala (thought to have been on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee).

According to Luke 8:2 and Mark 16:9, Jesus cleansed her of "seven demons". That could mean that she was under some kind of serious diabolic possession or influence.

But despite her centuries-old infamous reputation which was depicted in religion, art, literature, and in recent prominent fictional books and movies, it is largely agreed today that there was no solid biblical or extra biblical evidence that suggests she was ever a prostitute,  or a secret lover or wife of Jesus, or mother of His children.

The gospel of Luke has it that after Jesus delivered her of the "seven demons", she followed Him and joined the band of women who supported Jesus and His disciples out of their own means.

But it was at the crucifixion, burial and Resurrection that Mary Magdalene became prominent.

She was there at the foot of the cross with Mother Mary and the beloved disciple John; she was at that burial of Jesus; and she was there at the tomb very early on the first day of the week.

And it was there and then that Jesus appeared to her and called her by name.

In Mary Magdalene, we see a slow and silent transformation from the moment she was delivered by Jesus to the moment He called her by name at His resurrection.

She had a dark past, and maybe even after that was disregarded and labelled with rejection.

But in the events of the crucifixion, burial and Resurrection, Mary Magdalene displayed faithfulness, courage and love even beyond death.

The Risen Jesus also sent her to the disciples and to announce to them that He is risen, and that is also why she is honoured as Apostle of the Apostles.

So if every saint has a past, then every sinner also has a future. But just as Mary Magdalene put her future in Jesus, may we also put ours into the hands of Jesus and hear Him call us by name.

15th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 21-07-2023

Exodus 11:10 - 12:14 / Matthew 12:1-8   

One powerful aspect of being human is that we can make decisions.

Yes, we have the freedom to make a choice and to make decisions.

That freedom is uniquely ours, and no one can take away that freedom because it is a divine gift to humans.

So, we may find it rather astonishing in the 1st reading when it said that the Lord made Pharaoh’s heart stubborn, such that Pharaoh won’t free the Israelites.

But that is the Bible’s way of saying that God already knew that Pharoah was too proud to let the Israelites go free.

And so, Pharoah’s heart was stubborn and hardened, not so much made so by God, but by his own decision.

So even despite the many wonders worked by Moses and Aaron, Pharoah was unmoved.

When our hearts are stubborn and hardened, we too will not see the wonders and miracles that God is showing us.

But when we choose to understand the ways of God and to submit to His will, then we will see how wonderful God’s love is for us.

God’s love is always for our good. In choosing to see that is a great blessing for us.

15th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 20-07-2023

Exodus 3:13-20 / Matthew 11:28-30   

Most, if not all, of our problems arise from our disappointment and frustration. 

That happens when things don’t go our way and when things don’t meet up to our expectations.

But when we reflect deeper about our problems, we may come to realise that those problems are actually created by ourselves.

We think our way is the best way, and we expect others to think like how we think, but when things turn out otherwise, we get flustered, disappointed and frustrated.

In the 1st reading, when Moses received the mission that God was sending him to, he may have been worried, and maybe even rather disappointed.

He was given no army to face up to Pharaoh, no weapons, and he may not even understand what the name of God means (I Am who I Am)

If Moses had continued thinking about his own worries, anxieties, apprehensions and expectation, he would have tired himself out.

So Moses had to go by faith and believe in God in order to carry out his mission.

When we find ourselves complaining about this and that, and getting flustered, disappointed and frustrated, we only tire ourselves out because our hearts become heavy.

Jesus calls out to us to come to Him and find rest.

In Him, our hearts will find peace and be at rest. 

In life, that is what we really need.

15th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 19-07-2023

Exodus 3:1-6, 9-12 / Matthew 11:25-27    

Most of the time, faith goes along with reason.

The aspects of faith can be understood with reason, but up to a point.

Beyond that point is what is called the leap of faith.

And that leap of faith is a leap into the mystery of God.

In the 1st reading, when Moses saw the burning bush, he was astonished because the bush was blazing but it was not burnt up.

It was a strange sight and beyond reason, so he went on to see what was happening.

And with that, he went on to encounter the mystery of God.

When certain aspects of our faith go beyond our reasoning, let us know that God is inviting us to a revelation of His mystery.

Let us be like little children who will wonder at the mystery of God and who are open to encountering God’s revelation.

Then we will be enlightened by the mystery of God’s wonderful ways.

15th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 18-07-2023

Exodus 2:1-15 / Matthew 11:20-24    

We believe that God all-powerful and with Him nothing is impossible.

We believe that God will help us when we turn to Him for help in our troubles

As much as we are to surrender all to God, it does not mean that we just sit there and wait for God to act.

God will help those who help themselves.

That was what the mother of Moses did in the 1st reading.

When she couldn’t hide him anymore, she did whatever she could for him, and then left the matter into the hands of God.

Through the faith and action of the mother of Moses, his life was saved.

So when we are down to nothing, God will come up with something.

So let us pray as if everything depends on God.

But let us also work for solutions, as if everything depends on us.

15th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 17-07-2023

Exodus 1:8-14, 22 / Matthew 10:34 - 11:1   

A bully can be seen as someone who seeks to harm or intimidate those whom they perceive as vulnerable.

Obviously, a bully would use some advantages that he has over those whom he is bullying.

It may be his bigger size, or that he has a gang with him, or that he has some higher backing.

The bully also knows that the ones he is bullying are not able to fight back or retaliate.

But the sinister side of bullies is that they have underlying motives like oppression, extortion and even enslavement.

In the 1st reading, the Pharaoh can be called a big bully. 

He had power and authority, as well as an army, and he used it to oppress and to enslave the Israelites.

And he even resorted to infant genocide so as to preempt any future opposition.

But whether it was the Pharaoh or the present-day bullies, they forget that there is a God, and God is watching them in their misdeeds.

And God will deliver those who are oppressed and tormented.

Let us pray that those in authority and those who have power will realise that they will have to be accountable for what they have been given.

May they use their authority and power for justice and for the good of the lowly and helpless.

15th Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 16.07.2023

Isaiah 55:10-11 / Romans 8:18-23 / Matthew 13:1-23

One of the setbacks in life that can be difficult to overcome is failure. 

Failure puts a sudden stop and shatters our dreams of success and achievement. 

Failure breaks our confidence and creates fears in our hearts. 

Failure can even shake our faith in God, especially when we have prayed for success or for a positive outcome. 

We certainly don't like to fail, or to be a loser. 

We want to achieve and to succeed in life, and better still, if we can do it at the first attempt. 

And putting in the faith aspect, we will also pray for God's blessings to succeed in whatever we do. 

But failure is something that we must face in life. 

And like the saying goes: Whatever that can fail, will fail. 

By the very thought that there is a possibility of failure, means that it can happen. 

For example, going for a driving test. Not many people will pass at the first attempt, and so we must be prepared to retake.

We may be hoping for a promotion, but somehow we fail to get it. So, better to be prepared for that. 

But as the proverb says: Failure is the mother of success. 

So, sometimes we win, sometimes we learn. And often, we learn more from our failures than from our success. 

In the gospel parable, the sower seems to be a rather careless. Because he sows the seeds all over the place.

Some seeds fall on the edge of the path, some seeds fall on rocky soil, and some seeds fall among thorns. 

And some seeds fall on rich soil and that produced a harvest. 

In terms of productivity and efficiency, that sower is a failure. In terms of a competition, he is a loser. In an assessment, he is careless and not competent in the job. 

So, what is the gospel parable telling us? What is Jesus saying to us? 

One reflection is that the parable points at the spiritual condition of our heart. 

There are times we listen to the Word of God, and it just bounces off our heart. 

Sometimes we hear but we don't really listen. Sometimes we listen, but we don't move into action. 

But there are times we get an inspiration, and we embark on a mission.

But in the 1st reading, the Lord says this: The Word that goes from My mouth does not return to Me empty, without carrying out My will and succeeding in what it was sent to do. 

The Word of God is spoken to the Church and also proclaimed by the Church. 

The core and the strength of the Church lies in worship and prayer. 

It is in worship and in prayer that we hear the Word of God. 

How we listen to it depends on the spiritual condition of our hearts. 

But God's Word will not fail in us. It will bear fruit. 

So, as we listen to the Word of God, let us keep faith in prayer that God will reveal His plan for us. 

The seeds eaten by the birds may land up at the rooftops, and God's word will be proclaimed there. 

Seeds that don't germinate on the rocky soil and among the thorns, will be preparing the ground for the next sowing. 

With God there is no failure, we just have to persevere. 

In God there is no ending, we just have to keep praying and believing.

14th Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 15-07-2023

Genesis 49:29-33; 50:15-26 / Matthew 10:24-38   

If we were to ask ourselves this question - Am I afraid of death? - how honestly can we answer that question?

Whatever the answer may be, it is inevitable that there is some apprehension, if not fear, about death.

Because no one whom we know of (except Jesus of course) ever came back to tell us of what lies beyond the door of death.

In the 1st reading we hear of two people who knew that the time of their death was coming up.

And they even said it as a matter of fact - Jacob said : I am about to be gathered to my people ; and later Joseph would say : I am about to die.

They seemed to talk about and take death as a part of life. They don't seem to be apprehensive or fear death. Maybe because they know who they would be returning to when their life on earth is over.

In fact the ones that seemed to fear death are the ones who are left behind on earth.

Joseph's brothers feared that with the death of their father, Joseph would now take revenge for all the harm they had done to him before.

In the gospel, Jesus urged His disciples not to be afraid (3 times even).

We become afraid when we forget who is looking after us and what we should do in life in order to prepare for death.

Yes, in forgetting we fear. So let us remember what Jesus has taught us about life, and He will remember us when we face our death.

14th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 14-07-2023

Genesis 46:1-7, 28-30 / Matthew 10:16-23

Whenever the word “family” is mentioned, it may give the idea that it is about our close and loved ones.

Certainly, the idea of family presumes the experiences of love, unity, understanding, forgiveness and all those expressions that we expect a family to have.

After all, since blood is thicker than water, then it would be expected that family bonds should be deeper than other relationships.

But, it is also an undeniable fact that the ones that can hurt us most are the ones that are closest and dearest to us.

So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise when Jesus said this: Brother will betray brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death.

That sounds rather disturbing, but that is as real as it can be in life.

But family relationships can also be heart-warming and the family can be a inspiring and edify sign of love and unity.

In the 1st reading, we see how family relationships were tried and tested.

Joseph forgave his brothers for the grave wrong that they did to him.

And the meeting of Israel and his son, Joseph, was such an emotional scene, as they embraced each other and wept for a long time.

Let us ask Jesus to bless our families with love, peace and joy.

May He also protect our families from evil and harm, so that by our family life and family relationships, we will witness to God's love and forgiveness.

14th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 13-07-2023

Genesis 44:18-21, 23-29; 45:1-5 / Matthew 10:7-15  

When we say that we believe that God cares for us, we would be expecting that God will provide us our needs.

Certainly, God will provide for our needs because He loves us.

More so, if we are dedicated to carrying out His will, God will provide for us.

And when we carry out the mission that He entrusts to us, He will also give us what we need.

That is what Jesus is assuring us in the gospel passage.

But more that just material needs, God will also fulfill our emotional and spiritual needs.

In the 1st reading, Joseph was consoled on hearing that his father is still alive.

Joseph also understood that he being sold as a slave had a purpose in God’s plan.

Let us continue to put our faith and trust in God that He will always provide for our material and emotional needs.

And we will also see the wonder of God’s plan when we do His will and carry out what He wants of us.

14th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 12-07-2023

Genesis 41:55-57; 42:5-7, 17-24 / Matthew 10:1-7   

Life may be hard, and work may be hard.

We may not perish from hard work or from a hard life.

But a hard life and hard work can bring about an anger and bitterness.

And that will harden our hearts and we become angry and unhappy.

And that anger and unhappiness can hurt other people.

In the 1st reading, when Joseph’s brothers came before him, he recognized them, although they didn’t recognize him.

Joseph would have remembered how his own brothers stripped him of that multi-coloured cloak and wanted to kill him, but in the end, they pushed him into a dry well and finally sold him off into slavery.

He would have been angry and bitter, and even could have hated his brothers.

So now it was time for revenge. But Joseph’s heart not hardened by what he went through.

He even wept when he knew what his brothers were saying to each other.

Let us ask Jesus to cleanse our hearts of resentment, bitterness and hatred.

May He make our hearts gentle and humble like His.

14th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 11-07-2023

Genesis 32:23-33 / Matthew 9:32-38     

The presence of evil in the world is an undeniable fact.

It can be seen in how people do bad things to others, hatred and violence are manifested between groups, and how crimes are committed against the innocent.

And there is also injustice, oppression, persecution and other forms of evil.

Jesus came to overcome evil through deliverance and casting out evil spirits.

He also cured all kinds of diseases and illnesses.

In all that He did, the Good News of salvation is proclaimed.

Jesus gave hope to the poor and suffering, to the lowly and lost.

He is the Saviour and the Good Shepherd to those who are harassed and dejected.

And He also said this: The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest.

Evil can only continue to manifest and become a brutal force when we Christians do nothing about it.

As we ask the Lord to send labourers to His harvest, let us also be ready to respond to the Lord’s call when He wants to send us into His harvest.

14th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 10-07-2023

Genesis 28:10-22 / Matthew 9:18-26    

When life gets rough and tough, it is not that easy to remain calm.

Especially when misfortune falls upon us and on our loved ones, we will certainly get emotional.

We may or will even question God and get angry with Him for not caring for us and not answering our prayers for help.

In the gospel, the official who bowed low in front of Jesus and the woman who was suffering from the haemorrhage for twelve years had their share of pain and suffering.

The official’s daughter had died and he was in sorrow and grieving.

The woman suffering from the haemorrhage was already worn out by pain and helplessness.

Both of them had tasted the bitterness of tragedy and misfortune.

Both of them would have gotten angry with God and even shouted at Him.

Both of them needed to experience the care and the saving love of God.

God looked upon their faith and humility and answered their prayer.

In the face of suffering, misfortune and tragedy, let us hold on to our faith in God.

Let us be humble and ask the Lord God to look with kindness upon us.

And God will surely answer our prayers that are offered with faith and humility.

14th Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 09.07.2023

 Zechariah 9:9-10 / Romans 8:9, 11-13 / Matthew 11:25-30

When we think about what we really want in life, it is essentially about happiness that we are looking for. 

Yes, we want to be happy in life, but we also know that happiness does not last long. 

Happiness is like ice cream that is melting away in the hot weather. After a while, we only have memories of it. 

So, we will try to prolong happiness and even try to make it a permanent feature in life. 

So, we will strive to get a good educational qualification, so that we can get a good job and we think we will be happy. 

We will also try to earn as much money as we can, so that we can buy our dream house, buy a nice car, and get whatever we think will make us happy in life. 

And we will also try to make ourselves as comfortable as possible with financial securities for the future. 

In short, when there are no worries, then we think we will be happy. That is what we think. 

But life is like a series of worries and anxieties, and even ceaseless worries and anxieties. 

We may want to get into the best schools, but we worry about the stress and pressure, and we get anxious about failures. 

We get our dream house and then the roof leaks and cracks appear. 

There is no need to elaborate about the fact that whatever can go wrong will go wrong. 

But our worries and anxieties, as well as our desires and even our failures, reveal something to us about ourselves. 

And that is our hearts don't seem to be contented, that we are not satisfied, no matter how little or how much we have. 

And therefore, happiness is like fleeting moments in life, and we get weary and tired in our search for happiness. 

In the midst of the occasional ups and numerous downs of life, the voice of God calls out to us. 

He calls us to stop and be still, so that we can know that Jesus is looking at is. 

But we can ignore. Yes, we can ignore physical pain and tiredness, until our body breaks down and can’t function properly. 

We can also ignore the pains and burdens of our hearts, until we break down spiritually and become constantly angry and unhappy. 

Today, Jesus calls out to us again as He says to us: Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yoke and learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden is light. 

As we listen to the words of Jesus, we know that He is literally telling us to come to Him and to rest, to relax and to let go of our anxieties, our worries and our burdens. 

And through little children, Jesus reveals something that is so important and necessary in our lives. 

As we look at little children sleeping comfortably and soundly, they can do so because they know they are resting securely under the watchful care of their loving parents. 

Jesus is our loving Saviour. We can always go to Him, whether in Church or in a quiet place, and find rest. 

Even if we can’t pray, or don’t know how to pray, Jesus looks at us and watches over us. 

And even if we end up sleeping, Jesus is pouring His healing love into our bodies, our minds and our hearts. 

We just have to be quiet and be still, and we will know that God is our loving Father, and that Jesus is our Brother and Saviour. 

Then we will know what happiness is. 

Happiness is knowing that Jesus will save us from our troubles, our worries and our anxieties. 

Happiness is being able to rest in the Heart of Jesus. 

Little children are happy when they can rest securely in love. 

Let us be like little children, and we will find happiness by resting in a saving love of Jesus. 

Annual Priest Retreat 2023

 My Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The priests of the Archdiocese of Singapore will be having their annual retreat from 3rd July, Monday to 7th July, Friday.

I will also be at this retreat and I am really looking forward to it for a time of silence and prayer.

As such, the next homily post will be for 14th Ordinary Sunday, 9th July 2023.

Requesting prayers for myself and my brother priests that we will be renewed and re-focused so that we will continue to faithfully serve the Lord and His holy people.

Thank you. May God bless you!

Msgr. Stephen Yim

13th Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 01.07.2023

2 Kings 4:8-11, 14-15 / Romans 6:3-4, 8-11 / Matthew 10:37-42

In life, there are decisions to make, and some decisions can be difficult. 

Some decisions can be rather difficult to make because we can't be certain of the impact and the long-term consequences. 

For example, signing a long-term contract or entering into a marriage needs careful consideration. 

If a person chooses a profession and then later finds that there is no fulfillment or satisfaction with the job, then it would be quite a chore to go to work everyday.

Or when a couple enters into marriage and then finds that there are more disputes than delights, then the wedlock becomes a deadlock. 

Just as we cannot predict the future, we also can't really determine the outcome of our decisions. 

Because what we thought was a good decision may not be that good a decision after a while. 

And what we thought was a bad decision may not be that bad after all. 

But from the history of the past, we would have learned how to decide for the future, the future which is a mystery. 

But in the Christian understanding, mystery is not something unknown or even scary. 

Because faith is a mystery, and the mystery of faith is that God has revealed Himself and He keeps revealing Himself so that we will grow in faith. 

And with faith, we will know what kind of decisions to make. 

In the gospel, Jesus teaches us how to make decisions in life. 

He tells us to decide for the cross, if we want to follow Him. 

The cross does not seem appealing at first sight, and we rather avoid it. 

But as Jesus said, if we want to save our life by avoiding the cross, then we are actually losing our life. 

But when we accept the cross and carry it, then, as Jesus promised, we will find life in the cross. 

Indeed, the cross is a mystery, but the cross has revealed God's love for us, and will keep revealing God's love for us, when we decide to carry it. 

And we priests are to show you, the People of God, how to carry the cross in order to follow Jesus. 

Because it is through the cross that the power of God's love is revealed. 

In these 25 years of serving God as His priest, the cross has always been before me. 

When I accept the cross, I also accept the blessings of life and love. 

And as a priest, I'm called to share God's blessings of life and love with you, the People of God. 

And I also know that when I carry the cross, I will be a blessing for the People of God. 

But when I don't carry the cross, I will end up as a burnt offering. 

So, I have learnt, and I'm still learning how to carry the cross and to be a blessing for others. 

The lesson I learned is that in saying “Yes” to the cross and to carry it, the focus has to be on God's blessings. 

The story goes that a king wanted to learn archery, and so he got the best archer to teach him. 

When the king felt that he was skilled enough, he decided to go hunting to test his archery skills, and he brought his teacher along. 

They went into the forest, and spotted a rabbit hopping out of the bush. The king quickly took out his bow and arrow and took aim. 

Then a goat appeared, and the king thought that the goat would be an easier target and set his aim on the goat. 

Then a deer ran past, and the king thought it would be more interesting to shoot a deer and shifted his aim once again. 

Just when he was about to shoot, he spotted an eagle in the sky. He wanted to shoot the eagle but it flew away quickly. 

By this time the rabbit, the goat and the deer had disappeared. 

His teacher, the archer, witnessed all that, and he said to the king, “If you want to shoot your target accurately, you must decide on what you want, and you have to remain focused on it.” 

In the gospel, Jesus tells us to take up our cross and to follow Him. 

The cross is a blessing, the cross is about life, the cross is about love. 

My dear People of God, as a priest, I will choose the cross and carry it, and I will focus on being God's blessings for you. 

I pray that you too will choose the cross and carry it, and focus on God's blessing. 

Let us be God's blessings for each other, and together let us be God's blessings for the Church and for the world.

12th Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 01-07-2023

Genesis 18:1-15 / Matthew 8:5-17  

It is quite obvious that wherever Jesus went, people will come and approach Him with their requests.

Today's gospel gives us a glimpse of a typical day of Jesus.

But we can be sure that whatever Jesus did for the people, whether He healed them, or whether He taught them, energy was required and He would get tired.

So when He went to Peter's mother-in-law's house, probably it was to take a break. He needed to rest for a while.

But when He saw Peter's mother-in-law in bed with a fever, He immediately attended to her need.

So whether in public or in private, whether it was in the presence of a centurion, or before a demanding crowd or attending to a poor feeble woman, Jesus poured out all His love and power.

Jesus was not certainly the type who would be at their best in public, but are at their worst in private.

Hence, for us, there must also be a unity in our actions and our attitudes.

What we are in public should be a reflection of who we are in private and vice versa.

In other words, what we are on the outside should be a reflection of what we are in the inside.

So whether it is outside or inside, let us know that we are to reflect God's love and care always.