17th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 01-08-2024

Jeremiah 18:1-6 / Matthew 13:47-53  

Thursday 01-08-2024

In life, there are things that we think we would understand immediately because it is simple and obvious.

But the simple and obvious may have deeper shades of meaning than what we would initially think.

An example would be language. The same words may have different means when said or read in different ways.

The gospel parable may seem clear and simple enough.

We would understand it as the judgement between the good and evil.

Jesus then asked His disciples if they understood  the parable, and they said yes.

Then He said that every scribe who becomes a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his storeroom things both new and old.

We may wonder what that means in relation to the parable.

It may mean that as much as there is judgement between the good and evil, there can also be a further understanding of the judgement of God.

The 1st reading gives us an image of the potter and the clay.

Whenever the vessel that the potter is making came out wrong, he would start afresh and work with the clay again. 

The potter does not discard the clay, but works on it again.

The gospel parable reminds us that there will be the final judgement.

But meanwhile, God continues to work on us to mold us into His beautiful image.

So, the final judgement is something we already know and that is not new to us.

But God’s love continues to mold us, so as we approach the day of our own judgement, may we come before the Lord our God as beautiful and new images of His love.

17th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 31-07-2024

Jeremiah 15:10, 16-21 / Matthew 13:44-46  

The phrase “give and take” is a phrase that is often heard and used.

A further reflection of that phrase means that there is a giving first before there can be any taking.

But the human inclination is to take first, or what we can get first, before we think of what we want to give.

In the gospel, Jesus used the images of a treasure and a fine pearl to teach about the kingdom of God.

But in order to possess that treasure or fine pearl, one has to give up all he owns.

So, true to that phrase, we have to give or give up something, in order to take or receive something.

In the 1st reading, the prophet Jeremiah laments of his sufferings as a prophet of God.

He had responded to God’s call and given his life to God for the prophetic misson.

Although Jeremiah suffered, God consoled him and in turn gave him the power and the strength to continue his mission.

As we respond to God’s will for us, it will be difficult for us to give up our will to follow God’s will.

But what we give to God cannot be more than what God wants to give to us.

More than any treasure or fine pearls, we will receive the love of God, and that is the greatest treasure and most precious gift.

17th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 30-07-2024

Jeremiah 14:17-22 / Matthew 13:36-43

We like to see the beauty of the world in its splendid colours.

The colours of nature expresses the magnificence of creation.

From the hills and the trees, to the birds and animals, their unique colours blend together in harmony.

But when it comes to life, we somehow may lean towards monochrome, or simply black and white.

We tend to see life and people in simple but contrasting shades of black and white.

We see the world as divided between good and bad, and we look forward to the good being rewarded and the bad being punished.

That seems to be the message of the parable in the gospel.

But between the reward for the good and punishment for the evil, there is vast mixture of faithfulness and sinfulness.

So, as long as the world continues to revolve, there is the beauty of repentance and conversion.

When evil people turn to God in repentance and conversion, life  and the world will be filled with the beauty of the colours of love.

Sts Martha, Mary and Lazarus, Monday, 29-07-2024

1 John 4:7-16 / John 11:19-27 or Luke 10:38-42

Whenever we talk about St. Martha, the image of an active and work-oriented as well as task-oriented person comes to mind.

That may be because of that occasion (Luke 10:38-42)when she invited Jesus to her home and she was caught up with all the serving.

And then she complained to Jesus about getting her sister Mary to help her with the work.

But Jesus told her that she worried and fretted about so many things and yet only one is important, and Mary had chosen the better part.

Martha must have remembered what Jesus said to her, and so despite the sadness and grief over her brother's death, she knew that only Jesus could comfort her.

And true to her personality, she made the move to go out and meet Jesus and to express her faith in Jesus.

But on this occasion, she also made a profound proclamation.

Martha proclaimed Jesus to be Christ, the Son of God.

Only St. Peter had made that similar proclamation.

Hence, St. Martha, despite her active and work-oriented and task-oriented personality, came to slowly recognize who Jesus is.

St. Martha is an example for us of someone who is active and busy but yet took the time to reflect and to discover who Jesus is.

Like St. Martha we may also have very active lives and busy with a lot of things.

But let us not forget the one important thing - prayer!

And that is what St. Martha’s sister, St. Mary, reminds us of. She gives us this example of sitting at the Lord’s feet and listening to Him. Prayer is about listening to the Lord.

It is in prayer that we will attain the peace to know that Jesus is truly the Son of God, our Saviour.

When we have that peace, we won’t worry and fret about the unnecessary.

17th Ordinary Sunday, Year B, 28.07.2024

1 Kings 4:42-44 / Ephesians 4:1-6 / John 6:1-15

By the expectations of the world, there are at least two things that will capture attention. 

One is this: the bigger the better. In other words, size does matter. 

The other is this: the more the better. 

So, attention will be given to something big, whether it is a car, or a house or a building. 

And when it comes to more, that is measured in terms of numbers. 

Like how much is a business is worth, or how much is a celebrity is worth.

By current expectations, even millions are considered ordinary, because it is those in the billions that will get the attention. 

So, the bigger the better, the more the better. That is the influence and the expectation of the world, that is the measurement and the direction of the world. 

And as Christians in the world, we can also be influenced by such expectations, and even conform to such measurements and directions. 

Today's gospel points out some of these worldly influences. 

But today’s gospel also reveals the mysterious love of God in the simple and humble. 

In the gospel, a large crowd was following Jesus because they were impressed with the signs He gave by curing the sick. 

And the gospel tells us that the large crowd numbered around 5,000. That is quite a crowd. 

And then Jesus asked His disciples if they could buy some food for the crowd to eat. 

One of His disciples, Philip, looked at their finances, and told Jesus that they could hardly buy enough bread to feed the crowd. 

Another of His disciples, Andrew, said that there is a small boy with five barley loaves and two fish. 

But that is obviously not enough for such a large crowd. 

And here is where the mysterious power of God's love is revealed beyond human reckoning. 

Jesus took the five Loaves and the two fish, gave thanks to God, and gave it out to the crowd. 

The crowd ate as much as they wanted, and what was even more surprising was that 12 baskets of leftovers were collected. 

The crowd was so impressed by it, that they wanted to take Jesus by force and to make Him king. 

The crowd wanted to make Jesus king because they saw that He could provide more for them. 

They see Him with worldly expectations, but they did not see the sign. 

They did not see that in the simplicity and humility of that small boy with five loaves and the two fish, God's blessings came in abundance. 

In the simple and humble, God reveals the mysterious power of His love and providence. 

There's this story of Pope Francis when he visited a particular country. As expected, there were detailed preparations, and an impressive altar was constructed for the celebration of the Mass. 

When Pope Francis arrived at the venue, it started to rain heavily, and strong winds blew the rain onto the altar. 

Finally, the rain stopped, and it was possible for Mass to commence. 

But that impressive and elaborate altar and it's surrounding area was drenched and soaking wet. 

The alternative was the Credence table, or the side table, which is used to put all the accessories for the Mass. 

So that simple and humble side table became the altar for the Pope’s Mass. 

That is one of the many instances when the simple and humble became a sign of God's mysterious choice to show His love and providence. 

So, while the world looks at what is more and bigger, let us pay attention to the simple and humble. 

The simple and humble is the sign that God wants us to look at.

Annual Priests Retreat 2024

My Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The priests of the Archdiocese of Singapore will be having their annual retreat from 22nd July, Monday to 26th 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 17th Ordinary Sunday, 28th 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

16th Ordinary Sunday, Year B, 21.07.2024

Jeremiah 23:1-6 / Ephesians 2:13-18 / Mark 6:30-34

There is a question about life that we wish we could answer, and yet, we can't. 

And that question is this: If we can live life all over again, would our life be different from what it is now? 

As much as we wish we could answer that question, we can only dwell on it with imagination. 

That is because we cannot go back in time and live life all over again.

But there are times when we do imagine about the “what if”question.

What if I were born into a rich family? What would my life be like now? 

What if I were more intelligent and had better qualifications? What would my profession be like now? 

What if I did not respond to God's call to the priesthood? What would I be doing in life now? 

The “what if” question brings us into the imaginary world of imaginary possibilities. 

However, it may also lead us to regret about some choices and decisions that we have made in life. 

But, snapping out of our imagination, and coming back to the reality of our situation, we ask ourselves this question. 

And the question is, what do I feel about life? Am I happy? Am I contented? What is it that I am looking for in life? 

In the gospel, when the apostles rejoined Jesus, they told Him about all they had done and taught. 

Jesus had sent them out to preach repentance, cast out demons and to cure sick. 

With the authority and power of God, they accomplished amazing signs and wonders. 

They were very much sought after by the peoples, so much so that they had no time even to eat. 

It was then that Jesus told them that they are going away to a lonely place by themselves to rest for a while. 

Besides the need for physical rest, there is something else that needs to rest. 

They need to have a spiritual rest, to rest their minds and hearts. 

They need to put to rest their excitement, their ambitions and their imaginations. 

They need to rest so that they can clear away all the distraction and people's attention, and focus on God’s mission. 

We too have our share of distractions, we look for people's attention, and we have our imagination about what we want in life. 

We too need to have a rest, so as to clear our minds and hearts. 

We too need a time to be alone with Jesus, as He shows us the meaning and the mission of our lives. 

There's this story of “The Giving Tree” (by Shel Silverstein). It is a simple story, but it tells us a lot about life as well as about ourselves.

Once there was a tree. And she loved a little boy. And every day the boy would come and he would gather her leaves, and make them into crowns and play king of the forest. 

He would climb up her trunk and swing from her branches, and when he was tired, he would sleep in her shade. And the boy loved the tree very much. And the tree was happy. 

But time went by, and the boy grew older. And the tree was often alone. Then one day the boy came to the tree and the tree said: "Come, Boy, come and climb up my trunk and swing from my branches and eat apples and play in my shade and be happy. 

"I am too big to climb and play," said the boy. "I want to buy thing and have fun. I want some money. Can you give me some money?" 

"I'm sorry," said the tree, "but I have no money. I have only leaves and apples. Take my apples, Boy, and sell them in city. Then you will have money and you'll be happy." 

And so the boy climbed up the tree and gathered her apples and carried them away. And the tree was happy... 

But the boy stayed away for a long time and the tree was sad. And then one day the boy came back and the tree shook with joy, and she said: "Come Boy, come and climb up my trunk and swing from my branches and eat apples and play in my shade and be happy”. 

"I am too busy to climb trees," said the boy. "I want a house to keep me warm," he said. "I want a wife and I want children, and so I need a house. Can you give me a house?" 

"I have no house," said the tree. “The forest is my house," said the tree, "but you may cut off my branches and build a house. Then you will be happy." 

And so, the boy cut off her branches and carried them away to build a house. And the tree was happy. 

But the boy stayed away for a long time and the tree was sad. And when he came back, the tree was so happy she could hardly speak. 

"Come, Boy, " she whispered, "Come and play."   

"I am too old and sad to play,” said the boy. "I want a boat that will take me away from here. Can you give me a boat?" 

"Cut down my trunk and make a boat," said the tree. "Then you can sail away and be happy." And so the boy cut down her trunk and made a boat and sailed away. 

And the tree was happy … but not really. 

And after a long time, the boy came back again. "I am sorry, Boy, " said the tree, "but I have nothing left to give you — my apples are gone."

"My teeth are too weak for apples, " said the boy. 

"My branches are gone," said the tree. "You cannot swing on them."

"I am too old to swing on branches," said the boy. 

"My trunk is gone," said the tree. "You cannot climb."

"I am too tired to climb," said the boy. 

"I am sorry," sighed the tree. "I wish that I could give you something. . . but I have nothing left. I am just an old stump. I am sorry..." 

"I don't need very much now," said the boy, "just a quiet place to sit and rest. I am very tired." 

"Well" said the tree, straightening herself up as much as she could. "Well, an old stump is good for sitting and resting. Come, Boy, sit down... and rest." And the tree was happy...

And the same can be said of the Boy; he would be happy just to sit and rest.

And that is also what Jesus is telling us today.

Let us come to Him and rest in prayer.

That is really what we need in life to be happy.

15th Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 20-07-2024

Micah 2:1-5 / Matthew 12:14-21  

To fight fire with fire is a saying that we hear quite often.

But with a deeper reflection, we may wonder if that is a good way to go about addressing evil in the world.

It may stop evil doers momentarily, but when we fight fire with fire, it will end up with a bigger fire and we might also get burnt.

And of course, with the cunningness of evil, we may be tricked from being fire-fighters to becoming fire-starters.

In the gospel, the Pharisees began to plot against Jesus and wanted to destroy Him.

However, Jesus didn’t react with fighting fire with fire.

Instead, He withdrew from the district, and this is to fulfill the prophecy:

He will not brawl or shout, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets.

So whenever we are taunted, or insulted, or mocked, or being made fun of, let us not fight fire with fire.

Rather let us walk away and withdraw from that fiery moment.

We may feel crushed but we will not be broken. 

Let us believe that the way of Jesus is the way of truth that will eventually lead to victory over the fire.

Let us remember that fire will eventually burn itself out. Let us be wise enough not to be burnt by it.

15th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 19-07-2024

Isaiah 38:1-6, 21-22, 7-8 / Matthew 12:1-8  

In the circle of life, we have many concerns to look into, as well as many matters to handle.

The busyness of life leaves us not much time to think about the spiritual aspects or about the afterlife.

But the time will come when life is about to come to a complete circle.

When that moment comes, we certainly hope for a peaceful death and in the company of our loved one.

That will truly be a blessing for us as life comes to a complete and beautiful circle.

In the 1st reading, king Hezekiah fell ill and was at the point of death.

The prophet Isaiah told him to put his affairs in order as his life is about to come to a full circle, although it may not a perfect and beautiful circle.

Hezekiah pleaded with the Lord, and the Lord heard his prayer and granted him another 15 years.

Hezekiah is indeed blessed to know that he has another 15 years for his life to come to a full and beautiful circle.

We do not know when the circle of our lives will be completed.

But let us draw a beautiful circle of life and love, and not a vicious circle of anger and resentment.

May we always remember that when the circle of life ends on earth, another circle of life in heaven begins.

15th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 18-07-2024

Isaiah 26:7-9, 12, 16-19 / Matthew 11:28-30  

We know how it feels like when there is something bothering us.

It could be some work that we have been procrastinating.

Or it could be something improper that we have done and we keep covering it up.

Whatever it may be, it bothers us and our hearts are not really at peace.

The 1st reading says that the path of the upright man is straight and smooth.

And it says that the Lord wants to give us peace when our spirit longs and seeks to learn the meaning of integrity.

But we can only have that peace when our deeds express what we long for.

So when we feel that something is bothering us, let us listen to what Jesus is saying to us.

Jesus calls out to us to come to Him, we who labour and are overburdened, and He will give us rest.

In that restful silence before the Lord, He will teach us how to face our burdens with a gentle and a humble heart.

With a gentle and a humble heart, we will learn integrity, and we will be able to put to rest whatever is bothering us.

15th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 17-07-2024

Isaiah 10:5-7, 13-16 / Matthew 11:25-27   

It is certainly good to acknowledge the work and the contributions of people and to give them credit.

It is a form of affirmation and encouragement.

It is also a recognition of their talents and abilities.

In receiving acknowledgement and recognition, there is also a need for humility.

Because we can be easily carried away with pride to think that we did it on our own abilities and resources.

In the 1st reading, God had used Assyria to inflict punishment on His people in order to make them come to their senses and turn back to God.

But Assyria went too far in destroying and killing and even took pride in having such power.

So, God pronounced judgement on Assyria, and it will be Assyria’s turn to face what they did to others.

In the gospel, Jesus says that God reveals Himself to children.

The wonderful spirituality of children is their humility, simplicity and dependence on others.

May we understand that spirituality of humility and simplicity and know that we depend totally on God for our existence and sustenance.

And God will use us to do wonderful and marvelous deeds for His glory.

15th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 16-07-2024

Isaiah 7:1-9 / Matthew 11:20-24   

In the history of humanity, we can see a certainty.

Kingdoms rise and fade, personalities want to make a name for themselves and the legacy they leave behind is only a memory.

In other words, all things will pass, whether it is kingdoms or persons.

The cities that Jesus mentioned in the gospel were great and famous during their time.

But as it is now, those cities are in ruins and that is the only proof that once upon a time, they existed.

For all their glory, wealth and prosperity, all that has passed and what remain are lifeless monuments.

In the 1st reading, the enemies of God’s people joined forces and wanted to conquer them.

God announced through the prophet Isaiah that it would not happen.

But Judah, and the House of David, can only survive if they believe and do what God says and it is this:

If you do not stand by me, you will not stand at all.

As it was with Judah and the House of David then, so it is now for us.

Let us stand by God and be faithful and trust in Him and in His ways.

Because all glory and power belongs to God alone, and in God we will stand firm and have a future.

15th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 15-07-2024

Isaiah 1:10-17 / Matthew 10:34 - 11:1  

We believe that God hears our prayers and will answer them.

At times, our prayers are answered immediately.

At other times, our prayers are answered in God’s time.

Yet at other times, God answers our prayers in His way and not in a way that we expect.

But can it ever be that God does not respond to our prayers.

And if that is ever the case, could it ever be that a no response is also a sort of response.

When we think that God is not hearing our prayers or not responding to our prayers, maybe we should do some thinking.

In the 1st reading, God made it clear to His people that He has heard their prayers and seen their holocausts.

But He is not responding to their prayers nor accepting their holocaust.

Because as much as they pray and offer holocausts, at the same time they commit injustice and sin, and then expect God to answer their prayers.

Hence God tells them: Take your wrong-doing out of my sight. Cease to do evil. Learn to do good, search for justice, help the oppressed, be just to the orphan, plead for the widow.

So, if we ask God to hear and answer our prayers, then on our part let us do what God wants of us, which is essentially doing what is good, right and just.

15th Ordinary Sunday, Year B, 14.07.2024

Amos 7:12-15 / Ephesians 1:3-14 / Mark 6:7-18

When there is some work to be done, we would look for people who would be able to do the job well. 

So, if we want to renovate our homes, we would look for interior designers and contractors who have a good reputation. 

But of course, we would need to pay for their services. 

But, let's say, if we have a friend who has an interest in interior designing and DIY renovations. 

And he offers to help us with the design and the renovation of our home, would we take up his offer? 

The question is whether our preference is for the work to be done by professionals, or to be handled by amateurs. 

With professionals, we can expect and demand for a job well done. 

As for amateurs, there is certainly an obvious risk. And certainly, we can't entrust an important work or project to amateurs. 

At best, they will be able to deliver a “can-do” or “okay” job.

At worst, they will stumble and fumble, and may even end up creating more problems. 

But that word “amateur” has an interesting origin. The root word is “amare,” which in Latin means love. 

So, it means that amateurs have an interest and an attitude of love in what they do. 

In the gospel Jesus summoned the Twelve, and sent them out in pairs, giving them authority over unclean spirits. 

And He also instructed them to take nothing with them, except a staff, which is the symbol of the authority of Jesus. 

They are to preach repentance, cast out devils, and anoint sick people with oil to cure them. 

So, the Twelve had no instruction manual, no prayer book and no tried-and-trusted medicine. And by Human Resource standards, the Twelve are unqualified and unsuitable for the mission entrusted to them. 

By human expectations and standards, the Twelve look like some odd leftover rag-tag group of amateurs, who won't be able to achieve anything important, or get anything important done. 

We would wonder, why would Jesus choose those kinds of people as His disciples and for such a mission. 

He should have chosen the talented and gifted, the qualified and the certified, for such an important mission. 

But, that is the way of God isn’t it, so unexpected and so mysterious, and yet so enlightening and so unconforming. 

God chooses the lowly and humble, God chooses the amateurs, to show His power and His might. 

God wants to tell us that He will do the best, and we just do the rest. Yes, God will do the best, and we just do the rest.

     There is a story of a conversation between Jesus and an angel, which is purely fictional, but illustrates a good point.

     After Jesus ascended to heaven, an angel approached Him and said, "Master, You must have suffered terribly for men down there." "I did," He said. "And," continued the angel, "do they know all about how You loved them and what You did for them?"

     "Oh, no," said Jesus, "not yet. Right now only a handful of people know." The angel was perplexed. "Then, what have you done to let everyone know about Your love for them?"

     Jesus said, "I've asked Peter, James, John, and the rest of the Twelve apostles to tell other people about Me. Those who are told will in turn tell other people about Me, and My story will be spread to the furthest ends of the world. Ultimately, all of mankind will have heard about My life and what I have done for them."

     The angel frowned and looked rather skeptical. He knew well how weak and poor human beings are. 

"But what if Peter and James and John grow weary? What if the people who come after them forget? What if way down in the  21st century, people just don't tell others about You? Haven't you made any other plans?"

And Jesus answered, "I haven't made any other plans. I'm counting on them”

Well, twenty centuries later...Jesus still has no other plan!

There is no "plan B". Jesus counted on His Apostles and early disciples, and they somehow delivered.

Jesus is calling us and counting on us, even though we feel that we are unworthy, unqualified, unsuitable amateurs. 

But Jesus is telling us that He will do the best and we just need to pray and do the rest. 

Yes, we just need to pray, and as we do the rest, Jesus will show us the marvels and the wonders that He will work through us, His beloved amateurs.

14th Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 13-07-2024

Isaiah 6:1-8 / Matthew 10:24-33  

We do not know what heaven is really like, although we may have an idea from what we have read or heard.

We know that God is in heaven, together with the angels and saints.

But what really happens in heaven is for us to imagine.

In the 1st reading, we get an idea of what heaven is like from the description of the vision of the prophet Isaiah.

There were angels all around and they were singing this hymn:

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts. His glory fills the whole earth.

So, in heaven, God is the focus and the centre of all that is happening, and the angels are constantly praising Him.

That hymn of the angels also reminds us that we sing a similar hymn at Mass, which is just before the Eucharistic Prayer.

In that hymn, the angels from heaven joins us to praise God in the Mass.

Let us be aware of this when we sing that hymn at Mass.

And we will know what heaven is like when we sing that hymn with all our hearts.

14th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 12-07-2024

Hosea 14:2-10 / Matthew 10:16-23  

The world may not say it aloud, but the world needs to see virtues.

Virtues are what make the world more human and more caring.

Virtuous people are like flowers in the sand.

They struggle to be virtuous and to be faithful to God.

But when they continue to grow in the sand, the world will be amazed and even inspired.

In the gospel, Jesus gave an image of virtuous people.

They are like sheep among wolves.

But they will still stand firm in their faith and keep holding on to their virtues.

To be faithful to God and to live virtuous lives are like flowers growing in the sand and like sheep among wolves.

But let us hold on to the faith and keep living virtuous lives.

Because the world needs to see the power of faith and the beauty of virtue.

14th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 11-07-2024

Hosea 11:1-4, 8-9 / Matthew 10:7-15  

Human beings have their limitations and that is quite understandable.

Physically and emotionally, we are not that strong and good always.

At times we can be at the top of things and be our best.

But at other times, we can fall flat on the ground and can’t get up even if we want to.

So when it comes to love and forgiveness, we fluctuate from moment to moment, and from situation to situation.

In the 1st reading, we hear of how God loved His people, and yet they were always unfaithful to Him.

God was disappointed, and could also be angry with His people.

Still, God loved His people and kept forgiving them for their unfaithfulness and sinfulness.

As God Himself said: I am God, not man. I am the Holy One and have no wish to destroy.

God also loves us and will keep loving and He will keep forgiving us.

Yes, we received God’s love and forgiveness without charge and unconditionally.

Let us also give love and forgiveness to the best of our human ability.

And when we fail and fall, God will raise us and keep us going and giving.

That is the power of God’s love and forgiveness for us.

14th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 10-07-2024

Hosea 8:4-7, 11-13 / Matthew 9:32-38  

We can’t deny that we desire for a comfortable life.

We may not be looking for luxuries or the pleasures of life.

But we do want to sleep peacefully, eat well and be happy.

And if we do prosper and become wealthy, then that would be a bonus.

In short, we hope for a better life.

But would a better life also help us to be better persons?

In the 1st reading, Israel become wealthy and prosperous. 

They were having a good life, better than before.

But that good and better life didn’t help them become a good and better people of God.

On the contrary, wealth and prosperity made them forget about God and they even turned to worship idols.

We hope for a better life, and God would certainly want to bless us with a better life.

And when we get to have a better life, let us also be a better people of God.

Let us not forget that all good things come from God, and let us give thanks to God for His blessings.

14th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 09-07-2024

Hosea 8:4-7, 11-13 / Matthew 9:32-38 

The one main difference between good and evil is in the expression of charity and love.

Evil only loves itself and has no regard for charity towards others.

It is possessive and wants everything for itself and has no concern for the welfare of others.

Evil seeks to destroy the lives of others or to subject them under its control so as to use them as its operatives.

On the contrary, good seeks to love others and care for their welfare.

Good seeks to build up the lives of others and to help them live meaningful lives.

When the Pharisees say that it is through the prince of devils that Jesus cast out devils, it is a contradiction as well as a confusion.

Because a reflection of what Jesus did will clearly point towards love and charity.

He proclaimed the Good News of the kingdom and cured diseases and sickness.

He delivered those who were oppressed by the snares of evil.

He had compassion for the harassed and dejected.

Let us heed the call of Jesus to be labourers of the Lord’s harvest.

Let us be labourers of love and charity so that good will overcome evil.

14th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 08-07-2024

Hosea 2:16-18, 21-22 / Matthew 9:18-26  

It is said that laughter is the best medicine.

Indeed, there are emotional and physical benefits of having a good laugh.

But of course, it depends on what we are laughing at.

When we are able to laugh at our own mistakes and foolishness, then we are not being too hard on ourselves.

When we see the lighter side of ourselves, it certainly benefits us emotionally and physically.

But when we laugh at others because we think that what they are doing and thinking is ridiculous and foolish, it might be better to hold on first to that laughter.

In the gospel, when Jesus saw the crowd making a commotion about the little girl’s death, He told them to get out, and He said that the little girl is not dead but only asleep.

The crowd laughed at Him, but then later, they were certainly not laughing when they saw the little girl alive and well.

The lesson that we can learn from this gospel account is that it is better to be cautious than to be presumptuous.

There are many things that we don’t understand as well as ignorant about how God can do what we think is impossible.

Let us laugh at our own foolishness and ignorance, and that would be the best medicine for ourselves.

14th Ordinary Sunday, Year B, 07.07.2024

Ezekiel 2:2-5 / 2 Cor 12:7-10 / Mark 6:1-6

When it comes to public speaking, we have the tendency to think that it is about addressing a group of people or a crowd. 

Public speaking is often thought of as a skill that is acquired through training and practice. 

It is a necessity for presenters and public figures to have some basic public speaking skills in order to communicate well. 

When a person says something, there will be three aspects that we will observe and pay attention to. 

First is what the person is saying, which is the content. It can be anything from information or advice, to an announcement or explanation. 

The second aspect is how the person is presenting it, whether it is confidently and clearly, or casually and indifferently. 

And finally, and maybe most importantly, it is about the person who is saying it. 

When it comes to the person, we will pay  attention. 

We will ask if the person is respectable and trustworthy. We will recall what others said about that person, and other matters that are connected to that person. 

When Jesus went back to His hometown, He did something unusual. 

He went to the synagogue and He taught there, and the people were astonished when they heard Him. 

They have not heard Him teach before, and they wondered. Where did Jesus get all that wisdom, and also how did He work all those miracles? 

And so, what they did was to do a background check. 

They dug up the information about His next-of-kin, who His mother is, and what was His profession. 

And with that, the people made a conclusion, and that is, a carpenter cannot be anything more than a carpenter. 

Regardless of how wise His teaching is, or how impressive His miracles were, they have already made up their minds about Jesus. 

In short, Jesus cannot be better than any of them, and in a way, they don't want Him to. 

It is like, what is called, the “basket of crabs” syndrome. 

It is said that when crabs are put in a basket, and as much as they want to climb out, they can't because when one starts to climb higher, the others will pull it down. 

But still the crab has a story to tell us. 

When St. Francis Xavier was on a boat in the Straits of Malacca, there was a heavy storm and it was getting dangerous. 

So, St. Francis Xavier stood at the bow of the boat, and held up his mission cross to say a prayer to calm the storm. 

But the cross slipped from his hand and fell into the sea. 

The storm subsided, and St. Francis Xavier landed on the beach. 

As he was walking on the beach, wondering if he could ever find his mission cross, he saw a crab at a distance carrying something with its pincers. 

As he came up to the crab, he saw that it was carrying his mission cross with its pincers. 

He gave thanks to God, and he blessed the crab, and it is said that the crab received a marking of the cross on its shell, and it is said to be the ancestor of the species called the “crucifix crab”. 

The story of the crucifix crab is also the story of our mission as God's prophets. 

We carry with us the prophetic Word of God to the world. 

We may experience rejection and being pulled down. 

But like Jesus we must continue to carry God’s Word, and to speak it to those who want to hear it, and to those who need to hear it. 

The world must know that God speaks, either through the mouths of unexpected prophets, or in silent actions like that of the crucifix crab.

13th Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 06-07- 2024

Amos 9:11-15 / Matthew 9:14-17  

Every action has a reaction, and every action has a reason.

No action is done without a reason, regardless of whether the reason is logical or not.

To the question of why the disciples of John the Baptist fast, but the disciples of Jesus do not, Jesus gave this reply.

Surely, the bridegroom’s attendants would never think of fasting while the bridegroom is with them.

To do that would be like an insult to the bridegroom.

But Jesus also added that the attendants would fast when the bridegroom is taken away from them.

That short parable reflected the history of the relationship between God and His people.

When the people sinned and were unfaithful and turned away from God, there was tragedy and devastation.

Then the people repented and God forgave His people.

This was expressed in the 1st reading as God promised His people restoration and peace.

Let us not take sin lightly. Let us do penance like fasting in reparation for our sins and repent of our sins.

Then we will rejoice like the attendants who have the bridegroom with them.

When we are faithful to God and walk in His ways, there will be always be rejoicing.

13th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 05-07-2024

Amos 8:4-6, 9-12 / Matthew 9:9-13  

We won’t feel a loss or an absence of something until we lose it.

And depending on its importance and significance, we will embark on a search for it.

If it is something that can be replaced without too much difficulty, we may search for a while and then we will settle for a replacement.

But if it is something that is valuable or sentimental, then we will certainly keep searching and searching.

In the 1st reading, the Lord warned His people of a famine, a famine not of bread or a drought of water, but of hearing the Word of the Lord.

They will seek and search for the Word of the Lord and yet fail to find it.

Only then will they realise the importance and the significance of what they have lost.

But it was by their own doing that they strayed and did not want to listen to the Word of the Lord, and hence it is their loss.

In the gospel, it was the tax collectors and sinners who gathered around Jesus to hear again what they had lost or forgotten.

We have the Word of God. We read it in the Bible and we listen to it at Mass.

Let us treasure and cherish the Word of the Lord. 

It is the living Word of love, and when we listen and ponder on it, God will bless us with a meaningful and a loving life.

13th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 04-07-2024

Amos 7:10-17 / Matthew 9:1-8  

An amateur is a person who engages in a pursuit on an unpaid rather than a professional basis.

But an amateur may also be seen as incompetent or unsuitable for a particular specialized activity.

The word amateur has its roots in the Latin amator which means ‘lover’, and also from amare which means ‘to love’.

In the 1st reading, Amos tells the Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, that he was not a prophet, and neither does he belong to any of the brotherhoods of prophets.

It was the Lord God who called him to prophesy and he did it out of love for the Lord.

In the gospel, it was the faith of the friends of the paralytic, as well as their love for the paralytic, that made them bring the paralytic before Jesus.

Jesus saw their faith, as well as their love, and with that He cured the paralytic.

Many good and amazing things are brought about by simple acts of faith and love.

We may think that we may be amateurs when it comes to discussions about the faith and religion.

But with simplicity and humility, God will work wonders and marvels through us.

St. Thomas, Apostle, Wednesday, 03-07-2024

Ephesians 2 : 19-22 / John 20 : 24-29   

The attitude of St. Thomas in today's gospel gave rise to the term "Doubting Thomas".

That term, undoubtedly, has a negative connotation, and may not be very fair to St. Thomas.

Nonetheless, the disbelief of St. Thomas has done more for our faith than the belief of the other apostles.

We can surely relate with St. Thomas especially when he showed his human limitations about his faith.

We can surely relate with him especially in his asking for a sign, not just seeing the Risen Christ, but very realistically putting his finger and hand into the wounds.

St. Thomas did not take his faith in Jesus lightly. What he asked for was nothing short of a deep experience of the Risen Christ.

Finally his response to this God-experience was his profound proclamation - My Lord and my God.

We too should not take our faith for granted nor take it too lightly.

God will show Himself to those who deeply desire to deepen their faith in Him.

As we pray for a deepening of our faith, let our prayer also be "My Lord and my God".

And blessed are we who have not seen, and yet believe.

13th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 02-07-2024

Amos 3:1-8; 4:11-12 / Matthew 8:23-27

To meet up with someone is quite different from going for a meeting.

To meet up with someone will more likely to be a time of personal conversations and renewing of relationships.

To go for a meeting would be more likely to be a time of discussion over work matters or for some formal matters.

Whenever we talk about meeting God, we would think of it happening in eternity and it would be a happy and joyful meeting.

But for God to summon us to a meeting is as chilling as our boss calling us up to meet up to him.

We may have an idea of what is the meeting for, and we know that God is going to address a serious issue with us.

In the 1st reading, after pointing out the faults of His people, God says this: This therefore, Israel, is what I plan to do to you, and because I am going to do this to you, Israel, prepare to meet your God.

That will certainly be a stormy meeting, much like the storm that the disciples were in, and they thought they were going to meet their God.

And they did meet God, when Jesus calmed the storm, and they wondered who Jesus  is, that even the winds and the sea obey Him.

Let us not wait for a storm to push us into meeting God.

Let us have a peaceful and joyful meeting with Him in prayer, and He will calm the winds and the storms in our hearts.