33rd Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 20-11-2025

1 Maccabees 2:15-29 / Luke 19:41-44   

When faced with a threat or a danger, there are usually two options to consider.

It is either we fight or we take flight.

Both options require courage and wisdom.

In the 1st reading, Mattathias and his family were faced with a difficult situation.

They were told that if they renounced their faith and obeyed the king’s commissioners, they would be rewarded.

Mattathias declared that he and his family will remain faithful to the covenant of his ancestors.

He also fought and killed the king’s commissioners who were sent to enforce the king’s orders.

He had the courage to fight for his faith, but he also had the wisdom to take flight and escape into the hills.

Those who had the courage and wisdom also followed him, leaving all their possessions behind in the town.

In the gospel, Jesus warned of an impending mortal danger.

For those who heeded the signs and recognized their opportunity when God offered it, they would have saved themselves.

May we too have the wisdom to heed the signs from God and recognize the opportunity when God offered it.

May we also have the courage to leave the unnecessary behind and walk towards salvation.

33rd Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 19-11-2025

2 Maccabees 7:1, 20-31 / Luke 19:11-28  

There is a word for someone who has lost his or her spouse, and that is widow or widower.

There is a word for someone who has lost his or her parents, and that is orphan.

But for a parent to lose their child or children, there is no word for it.

There is no word for it because the pain of losing a child or children is beyond words.

In the 1st reading, the mother of seven sons saw all her sons died in one day.

Their deaths were also horrible and gruesome; they were tortured to death.

The mother was the last to die, after her sons.

Still, the pain and grief of seeing her sons go before her cannot be described or put into words.

But there is a word that would make us feel for that mother and her sons, and that world is “humanness”.

In our humanness, we are able to feel, to love, to understand, to be kind and gentle, to be reliable and responsible.

The parable in the gospel makes us think about our life and our response to God’s love for us.

Jesus came to show us how to be truly human and how to respond to God’s love.

May we remember that we are made in God’s image and to be truly human is our calling.

33rd Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 18-11-2025

2 Maccabees 6:18-31 / Luke 19:1-10   

As we grow with age, we also will have more life experiences.

And from the experiences of life, we also gain some wisdom about life.

But it is when we learn from our experiences of life that we may also become wiser.

in the 1st reading, the 90-year-old Eleazar found himself in a difficult situation.

As a teacher of the law, he was made to eat something forbidden, so that the rest of the people will give in since Eleazar had done so.

Eleazar could have followed the suggestion of pretending to eat the forbidden food so as to save his life.

But his years of life experiences has taught him that honour and integrity cannot be traded away easily for some temporary gain.

So he rather die with honour than live on with shame. 

He lost his life, but he gained the respect of the people.

In the gospel, the moment of reckoning for Zacchaeus came when Jesus looked up and called him down because He wants to stay at his house.

All his years of life’s experiences had made Zacchaeus wise enough to embrace salvation.

May we too continue to reflect on life’s experiences in our prayer.

May we see in those experiences the hand of Jesus leading us in wisdom and salvation.

33rd Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 17-11-2025

1 Maccabees 1:10-15, 41-43, 54-57, 62-64 / Luke 18:35-43   

By and large, we would prefer to live ordinary and quiet lives.

Never mind if life is rather routine and mundane.

We would rather be in a nice quiet place and live our lives peacefully.

We don’t see ourselves as leading any radical change, nor be the voice of the minority or majority.

But at times, we may have to shout in order to be heard.

Like how that blind man in the gospel called and shouted for Jesus.

The people around him scolded him and told him to keep quiet.

But that blind man shouted all the louder until Jesus stopped and asked the people to bring the blind man over to Him.

The 1st reading told of a dreadful wrath that came upon the people of Israel.

The voice of faith and prayer was suppressed by the threat of death.

As for us, we may not need to shout out our prayers in order for God to hear us.

God will listen to the prayers of the poor, the simple and the humble.

So, whether we softly offer up our prayer, or say it aloud, let us trust that the Lord our God will listen and answer to our prayer whenever we are in need.

33rd Sunday, OT, Year C, 16.11.2025

Malachi 3:19-20 / 2 Thess 3:7-12 / Luke 21:5-19

In almost every kind of sport, strength and stamina are required. 

Strength and stamina can only be achieved in one way, and that is by pushing the body, and the mind, when tiredness and fatigue set in. 

Strength and stamina cannot be developed if we were to stop the moment we feel tired. 

Of course, we need to stop when we feel exhausted, otherwise we might injure the body. 

So, strength and stamina can be built and developed progressively and gradually. 

In a way, it is like boiling water. The fire isn’t turned off just when the water is getting warm. 

The fire is kept burning as the water gets warmer and warmer until the water reaches boiling point. 

So it is with strength and stamina. We keep going when we are tired in order to increase strength and stamina, but at the same time being careful not to over-exert. 

But all this requires time, because nothing happens quickly or instantly. 

In fact, nature teaches us that growth and development requires time. 

And nature also teaches us that growth and development comes about through challenges and difficulties. 

Listening to the gospel passage can be rather challenging, difficult and even disturbing. 

At first, Jesus predicted the destruction of the Temple, which was the most holy place for the People of God. 

Then, He talks about the chaos of war and calamities. 

And then, He talks about violence and persecution, but He also assures His protection to those who are faithful to Him. 

And finally, Jesus urges us to have endurance so as to overcome the turmoil and tribulation. 

But what Jesus said about the destruction of the Temple will leave a graphic image in our minds: Not a single stone will be left on another; everything will be destroyed. 

The Temple was like a fortified city with high and thick walls. To breach a fortified city, the walls must first be broken through and then the destruction will begin. 

The walls of the Temple brings to mind the tale of two walls. 

The first is the walls of Jericho, the first city that blocked the Israelites when they entered into the Promised Land. 

The fortified walls of Jericho were high and mighty, almost impossible to breach and break-through. 

The Israelites turned to God for help, and they were told to march around the city for seven days. 

Then on the seventh day, they were to blow trumpets and horns and God will make the way. 

As much as it sounded nothing like a battle plan, the people obeyed. 

And on the 7th day when the trumpets and horns were sounded, the mighty walls of Jericho simply crumbled and the city of Jericho was taken. 

So, it can be said that the walls of Jericho fell by faith and not by force. 

Marching on in faith and prayer requires endurance, but that will bring about the awesome power of God.

That is the first of the tale of the two walls.

The second is the Western Wall, or the Wailing Wall, which is a surviving remnant of the Temple of Jerusalem, that was destroyed by the Romans in 70AD.

A Jewish legend has it that when the Temple was being built, the work was divided among different sectors of the population. 

The building of the Western Wall fell to the poor, and they worked hard to construct it, as they could not afford to hire labourers to do their work for them.

When the enemy destroyed the Temple, the angels descended from on high and spread their wings over the Wall, because God said: "This Wall, the work of the poor, shall never be destroyed."

The tale of these two walls tells us this. In the case of the walls of Jericho, it was by the simple act of faith and not by might of force that brought down the walls of Jericho. 

As for the Western Wall, or Wailing Wall, it can be said that the simple and humble prayer of the poor will endure. 

In life, there will be chaos, but with faith in God, out of chaos will come forth creation. 

In life, there will be tribulation, but every tribulation has a revelation. 

That revelation for us is that endurance will prevail over the chaos and turmoil. 

The walls of pride and might will be broken down. 

But the simple and humble prayer of those who endure in their faith in God will go up to heaven and bring forth God’s salvation.

32nd Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 15-11-2025

Wisdom 18:14-16; 19:6-9 / Luke 18:1-8  

In life, we will face disappointments and failures.

Disappointments and failures dishearten us and make us want to give us our goals and objectives.

But if we can see the purpose and meaning of our goals and objectives, we would push on.

In the gospel, Jesus told a parable about an unjust judge and a persistent widow.

The unjust judge had neither fear of God nor respect for men.

The widow wanted justice against her enemy and she kept pestering that judge to give her justice and her rights.

In the end, the judge relented from the widow’s persistence and gave her what she wanted.

Yes, persistence will prevail over reluctance and indifference.

So, we must persist in our faith and persevere in the face of disappointments and failures.

But the parable also tells us something about the nature of God.

God persist in His love for us because He wants to save us.

We are weak and feeble and when we think that God does not answer our prayers, we may be reluctant to keep praying and become indifferent in our faith.

But God will keep prompting us and nudging us and keep calling out to us.

May we see the signs that God is showing us, may we listen to His promptings.

When we keep our hearts open to God, we will receive God’s answer to our prayers and receive His blessings.

32nd Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 14-11-2025

Wisdom 13:1-9 / Luke 17:26-37  

The purpose of religion is not to prove the existence of God.

The primary purpose of religion is to state that there is a God, and religion helps believers to come to know God.

In Christianity, we come to believe in God because it was God who revealed Himself to us.

We believe that God created everything, and through creation, God continues to reveal His presence among us.

So, we know God from what He has revealed to us, and also that all creation points to the existence and the presence of God.

The 1st reading tells us that human beings can be so attracted to the beauty and wonders of this world that they make creatures and creation into gods that they worship.

As for us Christians, there is a weakness and a failing to be aware of.

We can be so caught up with the busyness of life and the things of this world that we can forget about God.

We can even neglect our duty to God and forget about prayer and be numbed to His promptings in our life.

As Jesus says in the gospel, during Noah’s day and during Lot’s day, people were so caught up with the things of life that they didn’t see what God is showing them or hear what God is saying to them.

May we always remember the teachings of our faith and be faithful in prayer.

Let us read the Bible so that we will hear the voice of the Lord God and be able to see what He is showing us.

32nd Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 13-11-2025

Wisdom 7:22 - 8:1 / Luke 17:20-25 

We have our expectations in life.

We try to manage our expectations so that we will not be faced with too many disappointments.

But we will wish that we can know something about the future so that we can be prepared for what will happen.

So we will plan for the future and then wait to see how life will turn out.

But our faith will tell us that the present and the future lie in the hands of God.

In the gospel, the Pharisees asked Jesus when the kingdom of God will come about.

For the Pharisee, and the people in general, the kingdom of God means freedom from oppression and independence as a nation.

But what Jesus told them is beyond their expectations.

Jesus told them that the kingdom of God is already here among them, but they need to be wise enough to recognize it.

As for Jesus, He knows that He must suffer grievously in order to bring the kingdom of God to fulfilment.

As for us, let us ask God to grant us the Wisdom who will lead us to truth and love.

Where is there is truth and love, there the kingdom of God will be.

When we live our lives in truth and love, there will be peace and joy in our lives.

32nd Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 12-11-2025

Wisdom 6:1-11 / Luke 17:11-19 

Illnesses and diseases are the realities of human life.

They do not respect personages or titles or status.

We do not deny that some of the illnesses or diseases are of our own doing.

Unhealthy lifestyles like excessive eating and unhealthy habits can contribute to the rise of illness and diseases.

In the biblical times, illness and disease were thought of as punishments from God, and there are also traces of such thinking in our modern times.

When the ten lepers approached Jesus, they saw Him as someone sent by God and that He can heal their leprosy.

When Jesus saw them and heard their pleas, He told them to go and show themselves to the priests.

So if those ten lepers had the thinking that the leprosy is a punishment from God, then Jesus is also telling them that God has forgiven them and God will heal their disease.

And indeed as they went on their way, they were cleansed of their leprosy.

But only one, the foreigner, a Samaritan, came back to Jesus to give thanks.

And even Jesus wondered why only one came back to give thanks.

That reminds us that when we are afflicted with illness and disease, we turn desperately to God for help and healing.

But with a thankful and grateful heart, we will also know how much God loves us and cares for us.

May our faith in God lead us to always give thanks to God, for in thanking God, we will also be filled with the saving love of God.

32nd Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 11-11-2025

Wisdom 2:23 - 3:9 / Luke 17:7-10  

Human beings have the tendency to be ambitious.

They desire to be better than the rest and to even rise above the rest.

In other words, human beings want to be masters instead of being servants.

They want to be served and not to serve.

But when God created man, God made him in the image of His own image.

God even entrusted man to be the master of all creation.

Yet, as the 1st reading tells us, it was the devil’s envy that brought about the fall of man.

In the gospel, Jesus reminds us that we are merely servants and we have a duty to fulfil.

But beyond that, we are also called to serve, just as our Master Jesus came to serve and not to be served.

May our service to others express the love of God for them.

And by our service, may we also discover our dignity in Jesus, that we too serve just as Jesus our Master came to serve.

32nd Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 10-11-2025

Wisdom 1:1-7 / Luke 17:1-6 

When there is an obstacle in our path, there can be two possible options.

One is to find a way around the obstacle, if there is a way around it.

But the obstacle can be turned into an opportunity of learning to overcome the obstacle.

But an obstacle often poses a challenge to our abilities to overcome it.

More so if the obstacle is a difficult person and our patience and tolerance are tested to the limits.

In the gospel, Jesus gave an example of a person who does something wrong to us.

Jesus teaches us to forgive and keep forgiving, but we will wonder if any good can come out of that.

Here is where faith comes in. Jesus says that if our faith were the size of a mustard seed, we would be able to even uproot mulberry trees.

The 1st reading tells us to have the Spirit of wisdom when faced with people who are obstacles in our path.

Wisdom teaches us to pray with faith and trust in the ways of the Lord.

With the Spirit of wisdom, with faith and with prayer, obstacles will be turned into opportunities of learning the ways of the Lord.

Dedication of Lateran Basilica, 09.11.2025

Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12 / 1 Cor 3:9-11, 16-17 / John 2:13-22

Today, the Church celebrates the dedication of the Lateran Basilica. 

Officially it is called the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, and it is dedicated to St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist. 

It is the cathedral of the diocese of Rome, and so it is the official Church of the Pope, who is the Bishop of Rome. 

Built in the year 324AD, it is the oldest church in the West, and it is considered the mother and the head of all the churches of Rome and of the world. 

In celebrating the dedication, we also celebrate the deep spiritual aspects of our faith. 

We celebrate unity, that we belong to the One Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. 

We believe that through the Church, God is offering the world the gift of forgiveness and salvation. 

We also profess that the Church is human and divine. 

We are the living members of the Church, the Body of Christ, and Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church. 

In the gospel, Jesus drove out all those merchants and money changers and said: Take all these out of here and stop turning my Father's house into a market. 

When the people challenged Him to justify what He did, Jesus said: Destroy this sanctuary and in three days I will raise it up. 

The people didn’t understand that Jesus was referring to the sanctuary that is His Body. 

So, the Church, the living Body of Christ, is holy, and the Church building is also holy.

The Church is the House of God, and a House of prayer. 

So, the building is sacred and it stands on holy ground. 

In this sacred building, worship is offered, prayer is heard and answered, and God’s love flows like the healing waters described in the 1st reading. 

The Church, the House of God, is like the Temple described in the 1st reading, where the waters of God’s healing love flow into the hearts of all believers. 

It is the waters of God’s love that brings about life, that brings about healing and forgiveness, that makes us bear fruits of love for others and for the glory of God. 

The celebration of the dedication of the Lateran Basilica also reminds us that we all have a spiritual home. 

So, the Church is the House of God, as well as our spiritual home, and we have come home to be with God. 

So, if Pope Leo XIV is asked where is his spiritual home, he will say that it is the Lateran Basilica. 

And if we were asked where is our spiritual home, we will say that it is the Church of Christ the King. 

Yes, here we are at home with our King and our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Here at home, we receive blessings from Jesus, we receive forgiveness for our sins, we are healed and strengthened with Holy Communion. 

Here at home, in the House of God, we offer worship and prayer, and we believe that our prayers will be heard and answered. 

And we go forth from the House of God with the mission of calling others to come back home. 

No matter how far they have gone, no matter what they have done wrong, no matter how angry or disappointed they are with the Church, God is calling them to come back home and to talk to God. 

And we are to be the voice of God to call them home. 

The feast of Christ the King will be in two weeks’ time. 

Before that, there will be a triduum, the three days of prayer in preparation for the feast day. 

Let us take some prayer cards and petition forms and ask others to come to the triduum to offer up their prayers to God. 

Everyone, whether young or old, everyone has a need, everyone has a prayer, and everyone needs to come home and to know that their prayers are heard. 

Let these prayer cards and petition forms be like God’s invitation. 

Regardless of how near or how far we are from God, let us come home to the House of God.

Let us come home and receive love, forgiveness, healing, and to let God make His home in our hearts.

31st Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 08-11-2025

Romans 16:3-9, 16, 22-27 / Luke 16:9-15  

The reality of death happens everyday. Not one day has passed where there are no obituaries in the newspapers.

Yet, because it happens so frequently, we have become immune to it, we are not that affected by it anymore, unless it happens to our close ones.

As it is, most of us believe that we will see tomorrow, that we won't die so soon.

There is a poster in the office of a hospice and it reads like this : We are not here to add days to our life, but life to our days.

Indeed, it is so true. Our days are limited and we should really live out those days fully.

Not just enjoying life, but to discover in this life, what eternity is all about, and to discover in this life what really has eternal value.

In the secular sense, it may be seen as a choice of value. But in the spiritual sense, it is about the choice of masters.

So the question from today's gospel is this : Who is the master in charge of my life?

If money is my master, then I will be dishonest, I will cheat, i will lie, I scheme and do anything and everything just to have money for my security. But of course in doing so, I might still exist but I am spiritually dead.

On the other hand, when I choose Jesus to be my Master, then I also will choose to be loving, to be forgiving, to be compassionate, to be honest.

Life for me might be difficult and I might seem to be like a loser, but I will be at peace with God and with the people around me.

So life essentially is a series of choices.

Life is not lost by dying.

Life is lost, minute by minute

day by day

in all those unloving, uncaring and unforgiving ways.

31st Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 07-11-2025

Romans 15:14-21 / Luke 16:1-8  

We cannot deny that one of the top priorities in life is our security.

By security, it means material and financial security, which is expressed in a comfortable home and a healthy bank account.

It also means emotional and physiological, and that is expressed in being at peace with others and having a stable reward job.

But life has its bumps and we get shaken up here and there, and sink into the darkness of the potholes of life.

We begin to lose our sense of security and we may even resort to whatever means to stay afloat.

That dishonest steward in the gospel parable resorted to dishonest means to ensure his security.

We will also be tempted to do the same when our security is threatened.

But we need to remember that what we have and made us feel secure is given to us by the Lord.

When we get shaken and trip over the bumps and potholes of life, we must turn back to the Lord Jesus.

It is only in Jesus that we will be safe and secure.

Jesus is also the light who will lead us out of the darkness of fear so that we can live as children of the light.

31st Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 06-11-2025

Romans 14:7-12 / Luke 18:1-10  

In life, we see and hear a lot of things about situations and about persons.

Some of the things that we see and hear may be factual or they may be just opinions and interpretations.

Even if what we see and hear are factual, it does not mean that it is the truth.

Because not all facts tell the truth.

In the gospel, the Pharisees and the scribes saw the tax collectors and sinners seeking the company of Jesus to hear what He had to say.

What the Pharisees and scribes saw was a fact, and their interpretation was that Jesus welcomes sinners and even eats with them.

That interpretation formed their conclusion that Jesus was also a sinner, just like those tax collectors and sinners.

And here is where Jesus connected the fact to the truth, and that is the tax collectors and sinners were seeking repentance and conversion.

They came to Jesus to look for hope in order to change their lives.

The 1st reading also teaches us that we should never pass judgement on another or treat him with contempt.

Because we may know all the facts, but we may not know what is the truth of the facts.

The fundamental truth of our faith is that Jesus is our Saviour.

Let us ask Him for forgiveness and healing and we will come to know the truth of life.

31st Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 05-11-2025

Romans 13:8-10 / Luke 14:25-33  

A young plant asked a big tree: How did you grow to become so tall and strong.

The big tree gave just a one-word answer: Storms.

When we were young, we were brought up in a loving environment.

We experienced love and we had an idealistic view about a world of loving people.

And then the storms of life came.

It was people who brought about those storms in our lives.

We encountered people who were unloving, unkind and unforgiving.

The storms of life shook our understanding of love and tested our roots of love.

But there were also loving people who came along our way and they helped us to believe in love.

We also came to know Jesus who showed us God’s love and taught us to love our neighbour as ourselves.

The 1st reading also tells us that love is the answer to every one of the commandments of God.

So, if we really want to follow Jesus, we must believe in love and walk the way of love.

There will still be storms, but with Jesus, those storms will make us strong.

And we will also tell others that love is the answer to every storm in life.

31st Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 04-11-2025

Romans 12:5-16 / Luke 14:15-24  

To always tell the truth is difficult, because there are many factors to consider.

To always live the truth is also difficult, because we cannot say that our motives and purposes are always noble.

Whether in words or in deeds, we are always tempted with motives or interests that are self-centred or for self-gain.

It is like those who were invited for the banquet in the gospel parable, they made up excuses for not going.

But excuses being excuses, they are not the truth.

In the 1st reading, St. Paul says this: Do not let your love be a pretence, but sincerely prefer good to evil.

St. Paul also teaches us this: Bless those who persecute you. Never curse them, bless them. Rejoice with those who rejoice and be sad with those in sorrow. Treat everyone with equal kindness. Never be condescending but make real friends with the poor.

The truth of life is that when we are honest and sincere in our words and actions, God will bless us.

And when others are not honest and sincere to us, or when they do wicked things to us, let us pray for them.

Let us ask God to bless them, and we will inherit a blessing for ourselves.

31st Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 03-11-2025

Romans 11:29-36 / Luke 14:12-14   

Human beings have a nature which is generally call the human nature.

When we think about our human nature, we will think about how our lives have been and what we have been doing.

Because human nature is generally understood as the general psychological characteristics, feelings, and behavioural traits of humankind.

So, we will come to see that at times we can be kind, gentle, compassionate and generous.

But at other times, we can be proud, conceited, selfish, stingy and other behaviours and actions that are embarrassing.

When God created us, He created us in love and with love.

Our human nature is to reflect the divine nature of God.

When sin came in and our human nature was wounded and hence our human nature became prone to sin.

Jesus came to save us and to restore our human nature with love so that we can reflect the divine nature of God.

As the 1st reading tells us: God never takes back His gifts or revokes His choice.

So, as much as our wounded human nature makes us inclined to be selfish and to do things with a vested or ulterior motive, God's healing love prompts us to be generous and to help the poor and needy.

Let us be open to the love of God which will heal our wounded human nature.

Then we will be truly human and reflect the goodness of God in our lives.

All Souls 02.11.2025

Isaiah 25:6-9 / Romans 5:5-11 / John 7:11-17

There are two important days in our life. 

One is, of course, our birthday, the day that we came into this world. 

That day appears in all our personal documents, and we also celebrate that day in various ways. 

The other day that is important is the day that we leave this world. 

For all of us here, we do not know when that day will be. 

And because we don’t know when that day will be, it leaves us rather curious and also anxious. 

Today we remember and we also pray for the faithful departed. 

We also remember especially our departed loved ones, and we pray that they will rest in peace. 

When we visit them at the cemetery or in the columbium, we see the date of their birth, as well as the date that they left this world. 

Between those two dates, they were with us, and they have left fond and warm memories in our hearts. 

We remember what they said to us, what they did for us, how they have loved us, and how they have helped us become better persons. 

Yes, on this day, we remember our departed loved ones and we pray for them. 

And on this day, our faith also leads us to think about the other world. 

Those who have died have left us and left this world. 

They have passed on from this world to the next world, or, to the other world. 

For them, life is changed, not ended. 

For them, life is changed and changed forever because they have gone back to the Lord. 

And God has prepared for them an eternal home so that they can rest eternally in His presence. 

The 1st reading gives this image of a mountain where the Lord has prepared a banquet of rich food. 

The departed have gone up to that mountain of the Lord, where He will wipe away the tears from every cheek. 

So, we believe that the departed have gone back home to be with God forever. 

It is with this belief that we remember our departed loved ones with love. 

Our faith and our hope tells us that God has prepared a place for each of us in our eternal home. 

So, although we do not know when will be the day that we will have to leave this world, let us not be too curious or be too anxious about it. 

When that day comes for us to leave this world, let us believe that we will pass on from this world to the next world, where God is waiting for us. 

As for the departed, we remember them and we also miss them, and we will also grieve as we mourn for them. 

The deeper the relationship we had with them, the deeper will be the grief and with tears. 

But the Lord Jesus will console us just as He consoled the widow who lost her son. 

The departed will not come back to life in this world. 

But the goodness of their lives will continue in our lives as we remember them. 

And our hope is that we will meet them again in the homeland in heaven.

In that heavenly homeland, we will see the God in whom we hoped for salvation. 

Yes, we will be reunited with our departed loved ones, and we will exalt and rejoice in God who saves us. 

That is our faith, that is our hope, as we remember and pray for the departed on this All Souls Day.

All Saints, 01.11.2025

Apocalypse 7:2-4, 9-14 / 1 John 3:1-3 / Matthew 5:1-12

One of our core beliefs is that there is a heaven, and we should want to go there. 

There is also a hell, but we certainly don’t want to consider that as an eternal option. 

So, whether it is heaven or hell, the reality is that it is about an eternity. 

As Christians, we not only believe that there is heaven, but we also want to be there for eternity. 

God promised heaven to be eternal reward for those who are faithful to Him. 

So then, what is life on earth all about? 

Life on earth can be said to be a preparation for the life in heaven. 

So, when we live a good life, a life that is pleasing to God, then the promise of heaven will be fulfilled for us. 

But we know that it is so difficult to live a good life on earth. 

Because we face anxieties and worries, we face challenges and difficulties, we face struggles and troubles. 

Yes, life is difficult and so we look for ways and means to be comfortable and happy. 

We desire for life to be smooth and easy. 

And here is where the devil comes in. 

The devil tempts us to desire for wealth so that we can enjoy the luxuries of life. 

We are tempted with power, to be on top of others, so that others will be at our service. 

We are tempted to have the most of life here on earth, and we slowly forget about heaven. 

All that seems to be the temptations that Jesus Himself faced. 

Jesus overcame the temptations of the devil and He makes us think about the promise of heaven. 

Jesus came to make us think about life and who we really are. 

Jesus makes us think about dying to sin, to carry the cross and to remember the promise of God’s blessings. 

In the gospel, Jesus teaches us about the true blessings in life. 

He tells us that it is a blessing to trust in the providence of God, especially when we are poor. 

He tells us that to be truly human is to be gentle, to be merciful, to be righteous and to be pure in heart. 

He tells us that we will be blessed when we are at peace with God and with others. 

And when we follow Jesus and walk the way of the cross and enter by the narrow door, God will bless us. 

The Saints did that and God blessed them with the eternal reward of heaven. 

Let us also ask the Saints to pray for us, that we keep our hearts focused on heaven and on the promises of God. 

When we do what God wants of us and live the life that Jesus is teaching us, our reward will be great in heaven. 

That is what we believe in, that is also our hope, as we celebrate the feast of All Saints.

30th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 31-10-2025

Romans 9:1-5 / Luke 14:1-6  

A telescope, as we know, gives an enlarged view of a distant object.

But that depends on which end of the telescope we are looking through.

Because looking through the wrong end would greatly reduce the size of the object.

Hence, the two different ends of the telescope give two completely opposite views of reality.

In the gospel, the Pharisees seemed to have looked through the wrong end of the telescope and they only saw a narrow, restrictive picture of reality.

They were like saying: To heal is to work, and to work is to violate the Sabbath. See for yourself, look through our telescope!

But when Jesus offers them a view from the other end of the same telescope, they were reluctant to see it; they were silent, because for them there was only one way of looking through the telescope, there was only one way of looking at things and it was their way.

So we can imagine how frustrated and annoyed Jesus was with the Pharisees, to say the least.

Surely Jesus was anguished to see their obstinacy.

St. Paul, in the 1st reading shared the similar sentiments as Jesus, and he said that his sorrow was so great and his mental anguish so endless over his people's rejection of Christ.

Indeed, our obstinacy can cause frustration and anguish and even sorrow in others.

All because we stubbornly refuse to look at things from another point of view.

We only have to let go and ask God to help us see wider and clearer; then we will become wiser.

30th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 30-10-2025

Romans 8:31-39 / Luke 13:31-35  

In life, we will meet all kinds and all types of people.

Some are kind, gentle and helpful.

Some are difficult to relate with, and we rather avoid them.

And then there are some whom we can’t be sure about.

Because sometimes they are for us and other times they seem to be against us.

In the gospel, some Pharisees came to warn Jesus about the evil intentions of Herod.

It seems that those Pharisee meant well by warning Jesus.

But we can’t be sure about their intentions, and neither does Jesus get disturbed by what they said.

In life, people can be quite unpredictable, in that we cannot be certain about what their intentions are.

As for us, the 1st reading tells us that if God is for us, who can be against us.

And it goes on to say that nothing can ever come between us and the love of God made visible in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Let us put our faith and trust in our Lord Jesus, and He will show us who are those that we can trust.

30th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 29-10-2025

Romans 8:26-30 / Luke 13:22-30  

There is no doubt that we are influenced by the people around us.

So, with the people that we spend a considerable amount of time with, their words and behaviour will also influence our words and behaviour.

So obviously, we need to choose our friends and who we want to be friends with.

But there are also some people who wish to be acquainted with influential or famous people.

They do so for vested interests and maybe even for ulterior motives.

Jesus was a well-known figure and noted for His authoritative teachings and wonderful miracles.

Naturally, some people would want to be associated with Him for personal gains.

Probably these are the people who ate and drank in His company, and even followed Him in His ministry.

But they only wanted to make use of Jesus for their own interest and motives.

We need to remember that it was Jesus who chose and called us to follow Him.

As the 1st reading says: those that God has called according to His purpose, they are the ones God chose specially to become true images of His Son.

Let us respond to God’s call by drawing close to Jesus and listening deeply to His Word.

May His Word be our word, and may we also reflect the loving actions of Jesus.

Sts. Simon and Jude, Apostles, Tuesday, 28-10-2025

Ephesians 2:19-22 / Luke 6:12-19   

The feast of St. Simon and St. Jude is celebrated on the same day probably because they both preached the Gospel in Mesopotamia and Persia where it is said they had both been sent.

But nothing certain is known about them besides the fact that they were called as Apostles by Jesus.

The letter of Jude which forms part of the New Testament is accredited to St. Jude, in which he encouraged the early Christian community to be firm in the faith.

Like most of the other apostles, St. Simon and St. Jude were literally unknowns and could be said to be very ordinary and simple people.

Yet God chose them to be instruments of the proclamation of the Good News and to be the foundations of His Church.

Both also suffered martyrdom. St. Simon is often represented in art with a saw, the instrument of his martyrdom.

As for St. Jude, nearly every image depicts him wearing either a medallion or a portrait with an image of Jesus.

St. Jude is also the patron saint for those in a desperate and urgent need, and many have benefitted from his intercession.

As we celebrate the feast of St. Simon and St. Jude, let us also ask for their prayers that we live out the Good News of salvation in our simple and ordinary lives.

And may we always carry the image of Jesus in our hearts and be a witness to His love in our lives.

30th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 27-10-2025

Romans 8:12-17 / Luke 13:10-17    

The importance of physical appearance cannot be denied.

With that being said, then image grooming is a big business.

But does the external appearance reflect the internal spiritual state of the heart?

In the gospel, the woman was double bent for eighteen years and that left her enfeebled and unable to stand upright.

Jesus saw that woman, He also saw more than just her state of infirmity.

Jesus saw the state of her heart, her heart that is calling out for healing and freedom.

And when Jesus healed that woman of her infirmity, she straightened up at once and she glorified God.

God created us and He also sent the Holy Spirit into our hearts to make us the temples of God’s glory.

As the 1st reading says, it is by the Spirit that we put an end to the misdeeds of our bodies.

And everyone moved by the Spirit is a child of God, and the Spirit also makes us cry out “Abba, Father”.

When we live and move with the Spirit, then our external appearance will also reflect the love and the glory of God.

30th Ordinary Sunday, Year C, 26.10.2025

Ecclesiasticus 35:12-14, 16-19 / 2 Tim 4:6-8, 16-18 / Luke 18:9-14

The phrase “fair and square” is a common phrase and we know what it means. 

Generally, it means that there is no biasness, no dishonesty and there is no cheating.

Whenever that phrase is used, it is expected that all parties are happy and satisfied with the final result or outcome.

So, it seems that it is a win-win situation for all involved parties because all is fair and square.

But, is the world really that fair and square? 

Is life really that fair and square?

Because the fact is that there is a disparity or a difference in all aspects of life. 

And we have accepted these disparities and differences as a fact of life. 

Some people are richer, while some are poorer. 

Some live in private property, others in flats. Some are talented and gifted, while others are just ordinary or even less than ordinary. 

So, the reality is that not all is fair and square.

But we have accepted this reality of life and we don’t make a fuss out of it. 

But we are also obligated to keep the gap as close as possible between these disparities and differences, and not to widen it.

In the gospel, Jesus told a parable to address the pride of some people. 

In their pride, those people thought they were virtuous and even despised everyone else.

In a parable, Jesus used the Temple as the setting, and there was a Pharisee and a tax-collector in the Temple. 

The Pharisee stood there and said this so-called prayer to himself. 

In that prayer which he addressed to God, he was actually bragging, that he was not grasping, unjust and adulterous like the rest of mankind. 

As if that was not enough, he even compared himself to the tax-collector, so as to put him down. 

But the tax-collector did not retaliate. 

Rather with lowered eyes and beating his breast, he said: God, be merciful to me, a sinner. 

Although it is only a parable, yet Jesus brought out the reality and the disparity of life, that all is not that fair and square. 

In terms of status and religious standing, the Pharisee and tax-collector are like from two different worlds. 

Yet in the Temple, they are equal in the eyes of God. 

As the 1st reading tells us, God is no respecter of personages. 

And God shows no respect to personages to the detriment of a poor man. 

God listens to the plea of the injured party. 

He does not ignore the orphan’s supplication, nor the widow as she pours out her story. 

Yes, with God, all is equal, all is fair and square. 

And the 1st reading also tells us that God listens to the prayer of a humble person. 

As we come to Church, we come before God who loves us and will listen to our prayers. 

We all have come to Church with a prayer in our hearts. 

We pray for healing from illnesses or diseases. We pray for peace and harmony in our families. 

We pray for reconciliation in our strained and broken relationships. 

And like St. Paul in the 2nd reading, we pray that we will also fight the good fight, to run the race to the finish and to keep the faith. 

So, we don’t stand around in Church and point out the faults and failings of others. 

Rather, we kneel with the tax collector and say: O God, be merciful to me, a sinner. 

In life, all may not be that fair and square. 

But let us be humble, and do what is right and just, and God will look on us with love, and He will listen to our prayer.

29th Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 25-10-2025

Romans 8:1-11 / Luke 13:1-9  

Human beings have a body and a soul.

So human beings are physical beings and because human beings have a soul, human beings are also spiritual beings.

But very often we are too absorbed in the physical and material aspects that we forget that we have a spiritual dimension.

Jesus Christ came into the world to save us from our sins.

He also showed us that besides our physical aspect, we also have a spiritual aspect.

Jesus also sent us the Holy Spirit to help us become aware of our spiritual dimension so that we can be in communion with God.

The 1st reading reminds us of the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives, so that we can look beyond this world to the spiritual world.

So even though we may often forget about the spiritual world, the gospel parable tells us that God is patient with us.

May we always be aware of the Holy Spirit leading us to repentance so that even though we live in this world, our hearts are always aware of the presence of God so that we can live our lives in the Spirit.

29th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 24-10-2025

Romans 7:18-25 / Luke 12:54-59  

It is a good practice to have an annual medical checkup.

It is also a good practice to go to the dentist every six months or so to have our teeth examined.

These are good practices that help us to prevent any illness or toothache that might spring a surprise on us.

These checks will give us some signs or indication about the state of our health.

As for our spiritual health, it will be good to go for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, of Confession, regularly.

When we do an examination of conscience, we will become aware of the signs in our life where we are weak and prone to sin.

As Jesus said in the gospel, we know how to interpret the signs of nature. 

Then we should also know how to interpret the signs of our spiritual life.

In the 1st reading, St. Paul states clearly that he knows what is good and right, yet he slips easily in doing what is wrong and sinful.

And here, St. Paul tells us that we are not helpless in the face of temptation and sin.

Jesus Christ is our Saviour. When we heed the signs that He is showing us about our spiritual life, we will be healed and strengthened to live the life that He is showing us.

29th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 23-10-2025

Romans 6:19-23 / Luke 12:49-53  

Although to blush is not a common experience, but when we blush we know the reason for it

We blush when we are shy, or when we are embarrassed.

But to become red and hot in the face because of shame would mean that what we had done had affected us greatly.

Thinking about it would make us hang down our heads.

And if others remind us about it, our faces would burn with shame.

In the 1st reading, St. Paul reminded the Romans about the sinful deeds of their past that would make them blush and burn with shame.

But now that they have come to believe in God, they are forgiven and have found life.

In the gospel, the fire that Jesus talked about is a fire that does not punish or destroys.

Rather it is fire that purifies, and it burns away sin and wicked deeds.

It is a fire that enlightens and warms the heart with God’s love.

Let us not burn with shame and sin.

Rather may the gentle fire of God’s love warm our hearts to accept forgiveness and healing.

29th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 22-10-2025

Romans 6:12-18 / Luke 12:39-48  

Every part of our body has a function and so every part of our body is important.

And when one part of our body hurts, then the whole body also feels the pain.

And it is not just the external parts of our body that need to be taken care of.

Internally, there are also organs that are equally important and have critical functions.

In the 1st reading, St. Paul used the human body in the spiritual sense to emphasise two points.

Either the human body can be used as an unholy weapon fighting on the side of sin.

Or it can be used as a weapon of righteousness fighting on the side of God.

And since we are freed from the slavery of sin, then we are to become soldiers of righteousness fighting on the side of God.

To be on the side of God also means that we are servants of God who will always be ready to obey and serve God.

God will always give us the grace to be ready to obey and serve Him.

Yes, a great blessing has been given to us.

Let us be ready to respond with love for God by serving others for their good and also lead them to God.

29th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 21-10-2025

Romans 5:12, 15, 17-21 /  Luke 12:35-38   

No matter how sinful, or wicked, or evil the world may be, there is one thing for certain.

Because no matter what, evil can never be greater than the good that God has created the world with.

In other words, the world and all its goodness belong to God and evil can never overcome good.

The 1st reading acknowledges that sin entered the world through one man, and through sin, death, and thus death has spread through the whole human race because everyone has sinned.

But the 1st reading also says this: But however great the number of sins committed, grace was even greater. And so, just as sin reigned whenever there was death, so grace will reign to bring eternal life.

In other words, the grace of God is much greater than the sin of man.

And that grace of God was expressed in its fullness in Jesus Christ our Lord, who came into the world to save us from our sins.

But the salvation that Jesus Christ is offering also needs a response from us sinners.

We respond by turning away from sin and, as Jesus says in the gospel, to be dressed for action and have our lamps lit.

When we are tempted to sin, let us also know that Jesus is knocking at the door of our hearts.

Let us be awake and listen to the knock of His voice and we will see the power of God’s saving love for us.

29th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 20-10-2025

Romans 4:20-25 / Luke 12:13-21   

To consider is usually understood as to think carefully about something, usually before making a decision.

So we will consider situations, circumstances and other factors before deciding on the next step.

But another deeper and more personal meaning would be to consider persons.

Again it would usually be about whether a person is suitable or capable for a task or a job.

In the 1st reading, it said that it was faith that was considered as justifying Abraham.

But the consideration here is not about whether Abraham is suitable or capable for a task or a job.

Abraham had faith in God and that faith led him to have a relationship with God.

And that faith also led Abraham to consider God in all his decisions and directions in life.

But in the gospel parable, the rich man did not consider God at all when deciding what to do with the good harvest.

For that, God calls him a “Fool” because that rich man thought only about himself and not about God at all.

Let us be wise and think about God first when considering situations, circumstances, factors and even about people.

May our faith lead us into a love relationship with God and may our faith also lead us to love others.

29th Ordinary Sunday, Year C, 19.10.2025

Exodus 17:8-13 / 2 Tim 3:14 – 4:2 / Luke 18:1-8

There is a particular sport that will put every muscle and bone in the body to the test. 

And because it is such a challenging sport, not many people take it up at the competitive level. 

But it was in that sport that Singapore won her first Olympic medal. 

That sport is weightlifting. In the 1960 Olympics, Tan Howe Liang won the silver medal in the lightweight category in weightlifting. 

Whatever we may think of that sport, not many of us would be that keen to take it up. 

But more practical than weightlifting would be weight training. 

Weight training helps to build up muscle mass, and will also strengthen the body to lift heavy objects. 

But, whether weightlifting or weight training, it is about weights, something that is heavy and bulky, something to be careful with. 

If we lift up something, maybe a book, and keep holding it there, we can manage it for a while, but not for too long. 

Similarly, raising our hands above our heads may not take much effort or strength. 

But if we keep our hands raised above our heads, then fatigue will begin to set in, and we will feel the weight of our hands. 

In the 1st reading, the enemy attacked Israel, and Moses sent Joshua and his men to fight them. 

Meanwhile, Moses went to the hilltop and stood there with the staff of God in his hands. 

For as long as Moses kept his arms raised, Joshua and his men had the advantage over the enemy. 

But when Moses let his arms fall, the enemy had the advantage. 

So, Aaron and Hur helped Moses, and he sat on a stone, and Aaron and Hur supported his raised arms. 

With that, Joshua and his men overcame the enemy. 

This passage teaches us that while God will protect and defend us against our enemies, our efforts are also needed. 

Moses raised his arms in prayer to invoke God’s help, and the assistance of Aaron and Hur helped Joshua to overcome the enemy. 

The teaching is simple, and that is, to persevere in prayer when we are invoking God's help to overcome our enemies and our difficulties. 

The reality is that fatigue wears down the raised hands of prayer and perseverance is eroded. 

The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak, but the combined efforts of Moses, Aaron, Hur and Joshua brought about God's help in that critical moment. 

Yes, perseverance is needed and the raised hands of prayer will bring about God's justice and judgment. 

And that is also the message of the parable in the gospel passage. 

Jesus promises that God will see justice done to His chosen ones who cry out to Him day and night, even if the justice does not come immediately. 

For those who persevere in their trials and tribulations, God promises that He will protect their dignity. 

There is this story that a police station received a call that an elderly woman with mild dementia was missing. 

So, a team was sent out to look for that elderly lady. 

After about an hour or so, they managed to find that lady. 

But instead of getting straight into the matter, they walked along with her and chatted with her. 

She even thought that the police officers were out for stroll, and they stopped by for drinks and snacks. 

They walked on and finally the police officers brought the elderly lady to be reunited with her family. 

The important thing about life is not so much about the facts. 

Rather it is about respecting and protecting the dignity of people. 

The police officers did not bring up the reality of the situation to the elderly lady, because they did not want to disturb her peace of mind. 

Rather, they respected and protected her dignity as a person. 

And that is the dignity of the humanity that God wants us to respect and protect. 

Because God Himself will protect our dignity and He will see justice done to His children who cry out to Him day and night. 

Let us also persevere in prayer, and let us be united in prayer as we invoke the Lord for His blessing and protection.

St. Luke the Evangelist, Saturday, 18-10-2025

2 Tim 4:10-17 / Luke 10:1-9  

To serve God by proclaiming the Good News is never an easy task.

From the 1st reading, we get to see that St. Paul had to struggle and endure a difficult time.

His band of co-workers had split up and some had even gone against him.

His only consolation was that St. Luke was with him, and he made it a point to say it.

From the few occasions that St. Paul mentioned him as his beloved physician, and from what St. Luke wrote in the Gospel and in the book of the Acts of the Apostles, we get to see what the person of St. Luke was like.

He was a committed friend of St. Paul, and he paid special attention to those that were forgotten or pushed aside by society.

He wrote about Jesus reaching out to the poor, the lowly, the outcasts, the sinners and women.

What he knew about Jesus, he wrote it in his gospel, and he certainly carried out in his life.

His commitment to St. Paul in his time of need bore witness to that.

As we read the gospel according to St. Luke and meditate on it, a challenge is also awaiting us.

We too have to write another account of Jesus.

It is going to be an account that is not written in words but in actions for all to see.

From that gospel of our lives, others will be able to see who Jesus is.

28th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 17-10-2025

Romans 4:1-8 / Luke 12:1-7  

There are many things that stand the test of time.

Among them are virtues and values.

Virtues and values won’t go out of fashion.

Fashions and trends will come and go, and so will other current practices.

But if whatever is done that is firmly rooted in good virtues and values, then it will stand the test of time.

The 1st reading tells us about the faith of Abraham, our father in faith.

It was Abraham’s faith in God that justified him, it is his faith that made him righteous before God.

In the gospel, Jesus warned about and told us to be on guard against hypocrisy.

But hypocrisy will be exposed, because everything that is covered will be uncovered, and everything now hidden will be made clear.

But when our virtues and values and rooted in faith, then there is no need to fear or worry about.

And our faith, our virtues and our values will also stand the test of time.

28th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 16-10-2025

Romans 3:21-30 / Luke 11:47-54  

One of the ways to threaten others and make others submit is to use power, might and force.

But obviously, if power, might and force are used on people, then it is for a wicked and harmful purpose.

Wicked and evil people use power, might and force to make others submit.

But they will not be able to convince others to think or believe that what they are doing is right.

On the other hand, the gentleness of love will move hearts and minds and people will know it is for a good purpose.

The 1st reading tells us that the justice of God is not about judgement and punishment.

Rather the justice of God is about the love of God that wins reconciliation through faith.

In the past, sins went unpunished because God held back His hand.

In the present age, it is God’s love that justifies everyone who believes in Jesus.

And Jesus shed His own blood and sacrificed His own life to show how much God loves us.

In the face of evil, people who resort to power, might and force, let us respond with the gentleness of God’s love.

God’s love is the answer to this generation and to generations to come.

28th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 15-10-2025

Romans 2:1-11 / Luke 11:42-46   

A common situation exists where there are leaders and followers, or superiors and subordinates, or teachers and students.

It may be in an organization, or workplace or classroom or even in church.

Whether the person up in the front is a superior or a manager or a teacher or a priest, he/she will treat those under his/her charge differently.

For whatever reason, some will be treated with favour, some will be treated indifferently, some will just be overlooked.

That is understandable when we look at it from the perspective of relational chemistry.

So we have to admit that we are partial and biased in varying degrees.

We often look at people with different and arbitrary standards.

This can be detrimental in situations where the "favoured" people get away with something that others will be severely punished for.

The last line of the 1st reading says that God has no favourites. That means God is impartial, that He loves everyone regardless of whether they are clever or attractive or influential or otherwise.

That does not mean that we cannot have close friends or talk more with people that we can easily relate with.

It means that with those whom we can't easily relate with or even dislike, we still must treat them with fairness and not to impose on them unendurable burdens of mind and heart.

Especially when we are the superiors, we are obligated to be fair and just to all.

This is what God wants of us, and when we do what God wants, He will also be fair and just to us.

28th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 14-10-2025

Romans 1:16-25 / Luke 11:37-41  

Human beings have made many discoveries and have understood more about nature.

But reflecting deeper on these discoveries, would mere human ability and capability be able to make these discoveries?

Certainly, human effort and ability and capability cannot be denied nor underestimated.

But we also acknowledge the revelation of God to humanity that led to the discoveries.

The 1st reading tells us that God reveals Himself to humanity in and through creation.

But the impiety and depravity of men exchanged the glory of the immortal God for a worthless imitation, for the image of mortal man, of birds, reptiles and other animals.

So it is a question of knowing who God is and understanding God’s revelation.

But even for those who profess their belief in God, they can also succumb to wrong thinking and practices.

In the gospel, Jesus pointed out the tendency of focusing on the wrong things.

Instead of focusing on internal spiritual state of purity, religious people can also end up looking at the externals and even think that it is more important.

But the 1st reading reminds us that for the upright, they will find their faith in God who will also reveal and draw them closer to Him.

Let us ask the Lord to cleanse our hearts and to enlighten us so as to see what He is revealing to us.

28th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 13-10-2025

Romans 1:1-7 / Luke 11:29-32  

Most of us have an ordinary memory and we can remember the important things in life.

And there are some people who have an extraordinary memory, like a photographic memory or some kind of “elephant memory”.

But whatever kind of memory we may have, we are also selective in what we want to remember.

We want to remember the good things of life, our success and our achievements.

We try to avoid remembering our failures and embarrassments.

And although we remember our commitments and obligations, we don’t think too much about them, and we may even forget them at times.

In the 1st reading, St. Paul reminds the Christian community in Rome to remember their call to faith.

They are called to be saints, called to holiness, because of their belief in Jesus Christ who is the holiness of God.

In the gospel, the people asked for a sign from Jesus to show who He is from God.

Jesus stated two events that made the people remember that even the pagans believed in God.

The people seemed to have forgotten, or didn’t want to remember, that pagans believed when God revealed Himself to them.

May we always remember that it is God who called us to faith.

May we also remember that it is by our lives of holiness that God will reveal Himself to the pagans.

27th Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 11-10-2025

Joel 4:12-21 / Luke 11:27-28  

Any wrong-doing will certainly be punished.

There is certainly no doubt about that, even if the punishment does not come immediately.

So the truth is that any wrong-doing is not worth it. 

Not only will there be an impending punishment, there will also be no peace of heart.

In the 1st reading, the wicked and the evil-doers face their judgement for the wrong they have done.

As for God’s people, they repented their sins and received restoration and salvation from God.

But the folly of humanity is like a vicious circle of sin, punishment and salvation.

In the gospel, Jesus says that happy are those who hear the Word of God and keep it.

May we keep the Word of God in our hearts, so that we can break that vicious cycle of sin.

And may the Word of God bring about peace and love in our hearts.

28th Ordinary Sunday, Year C, 12.10.2025

 2 Kings 5:14-17 / 2 Tim 2:8-13 / Luke 17:11-19

There is a particular habit that affects most of us, if not all of us. 

That common habit is called procrastination. 

In simple terms, it means to keep delaying something that needs to be done. 

Usually, we will procrastinate because the task at hand is difficult, unrewarding and boring. 

So, we will procrastinate doing housekeeping and spring cleaning, while the mess keeps piling. 

We keep procrastinating our annual medical check-up, though there are nagging pains here and there. 

We keep procrastinating our projects and assignments, although we know that the deadline is approaching. 

The common excuse is that we say we are busy and have no time. 

So, we delay and delay. Maybe we have this notion that if we procrastinate long enough, the problem will resolve by itself, or even disappear altogether. 

But we should know better, that some things must be done, sooner or later. 

In a gospel, when Jesus entered a village, ten lepers came out to meet Him. 

They stood at the distance and called to Him, “Jesus! Master! Take pity on us.” 

Jesus said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” 

It was as simple and as straightforward as that. Those ten lepers just have to go and show themselves to the priests. 

But they could have wondered: Is it just like that, just go and show ourselves to the priests? 

But they didn't procrastinate, and along the way they were cleansed. 

In the 1st reading, Naaman was told to go and immerse himself seven times in the River Jordan.

Naaman did not procrastinate. Rather, he protested, by saying that there were better rivers in his homeland, so why must it be the River Jordan. 

But Naaman's servants urged him to obey by saying it was not a difficult thing to do.

And so, Naaman relented and he was cleansed of his leprosy. 

The gospel and the 1st reading tells us that the wonderful works of God comes about through obeying simple and ordinary instructions. Norman had expected some elaborate rituals for the cleansing of his leprosy, but he just had to immerse himself seven times in the River Jordan. 

The ten lepers may have expected Jesus to come to them and lay His hands on them, but they were told to go and show themselves to the priests. 

This teaches us that we need to be humble and obedient in order to understand and experience the wonderful and marvellous ways of God. 

And God would not procrastinate in showering His blessings on those who trust in Him. 

But there is also another teaching, and that is to be quick in giving thanks. 

Surprisingly, it was Naaman and the Samaritan who were quick to give thanks to God. 

Even Jesus wondered what happened to the other nine lepers who were cleansed. 

That should remind us to give thanks to God for the little simple and wonderful blessings in life. 

There is this story of a holy man who had a vision of an angel carrying two baskets of prayers to heaven. 

The holy man saw that one basket was full of prayers, but the other basket was rather empty. 

So, he asked the angel about the disparity between the two baskets. 

The angel replied: One basket is full of prayers of petitions and needs. The other basket has just a few prayers of thanksgiving. 

And the angel commented: People are quick to offer prayers of petitions and needs, but they procrastinate in offering prayers of thanksgiving. 

The 2nd reading tells us that though we may be unfaithful, God is always faithful. 

We may procrastinate in giving thanks but God will still be quick to answer our urgent prayers. 

But let us remember that when we begin our prayer with thanksgiving, the doors of God's blessings are already opened to our prayers of petitions.

27th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 10-10-2025

Joel 1:13-15; 2:1-2 / Luke 11:15-26   

There are many reasons why people gather together.

One of which is for a celebration, for a happy occasion, like a birthday or wedding anniversary celebration.

Those occasions would require some planning and organizing, and invitations need to be sent out.

But there is also another reason why people would naturally gather together.

It is when there is some imminent danger or crisis, and people need to find strength in each other.

In the 1st reading, the prophet Joel calls on the priests and the people to lament and to repent.

The land was devastated by a locusts plague, which was seen as a punishment from God for the sinfulness of the people.

In order to avert a greater disaster and tragedy, the people were called to be united in penance to repent for their sins.

In the gospel, Jesus proclaimed the Good News of salvation by teaching, healing and casting out devils.

Jesus calls us to be united with Him in His mission of salvation.

May we not allow sin to cause division among us.

Rather may our love for Jesus unite us and by our love, may we gather others into the love of God.

27th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 09-10-2025

Malachi 3:13-20 / Luke 11:5-13   

It is the law of life that we reap what we sow.

And also what goes around comes around.

There are times when we see unfairness or injustice being done, and people getting away with punishment.

That will make us ask ourselves if it is worth doing what is right and just and loving.

That is also the question that the people asked God when they saw evildoers prosper, and the wicked try God’s patience and yet go free.

But the Lord took note and He heard their cries for justice.

The Lord also said this: But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness will shine out with healing in its rays.

It comes down to this: in the end, the just will be vindicated, and evildoers will be punished.

But to be just is also to be generous and kind, and to accept the inconveniences of being charitable.

The gospel parable reminds us that to love others can be troublesome and inconvenient.

But let us also remember that the Lord sees and He takes note, and He will bless us abundantly and generously too.

27th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 08-10-2025

Jonah 4:1-11 / Luke 11:1-4   

In life, it is necessary to step back for a while to look at the big picture.

Because the tendency is to focus too much on ourselves and what we think.

In doing so, we may forget about God and about other people.

In the 1st reading, Jonah was indignant and he was even angry with God.

He resented that God made him go to the Ninevites to preach repentance and they converted.

Jonah hated the Ninevites because they were the arch-enemies of Israel, and he wanted to see them punished, but he was wrong.

God was more merciful and compassionate than he thought.

And God also made Jonah see a bigger picture.

If Jonah felt sorry about a castor-oil plant that grew but perished overnight, how can God not feel sorry for Nineveh in which there were more than a hundred and twenty thousand people when they repented.

In the gospel, Jesus taught His disciples the prayer of the “Our Father”.

When we pray that prayer, we acknowledge that God is our Father and that we are His children.

As God’s children, let us see life and people as God sees them.

Then we will see that God is love, mercy and compassion. 

When we can see as God sees, then we will also want to be like God.

Our Lady of the Rosary, Tuesday, 07-10-2025

Acts 1:12-14 / Luke 1:26-38   

The feast of our Lady of the Rosary is celebrated today to remember the miraculous naval victory at Lepanto.

That victory stopped the advance of the enemy into Europe when Europe was at one of her weakest moments, both politically and spiritually.

But the victory was miraculous because of the intercession of Mary.

The Pope at that time, Pope Pius V, called upon the Church to be united in praying the Rosary for God’s help for the weakened and outnumbered Christian soldiers.

But the power of Mary’s intercession was not just at the naval victory at Lepanto.

Throughout the history of the Church, whenever she was under threat, she immediately had recourse to Mary’s intercession, and God saved the Church.

As it was then, so it is now. The Church faces many challenges internally as well as externally.

But we, the Church, must have recourse to the intercession of Mary for God’s saving help.

And we need to pray the Rosary, and also to teach our children to pray the Rosary.

Psalm 8 says that on the lips of children and of babes, the Lord have found praise to foil the enemy, and to silence the foe and the rebel.

And in times of darkness, let us hold the Rosary and pray, for it is like holding the hand of our Blessed Mother.

And God will also pour forth His love and blessings on us.

27th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 06-10-2025

Jonah 1:1 - 2:1, 11 / Luke 10:25-37   

Between professionals and amateurs, it would be expected that professionals would be more competent, efficient and effective.

After all, the professionals are trained, they have the experience, the skills and the equipment for the job.

On the other hand, amateurs have their limitations, but because there are no expectations from them, they can be innovative and maybe even creative.

In religion, there are no professionals and amateurs.

A person is either a practitioner or he is not.

And as a practitioner, that person professes his belief in the religion.

In the 1st reading, Jonah tells the pagan sailors that he is a Jew and that he is trying to escape from the Lord God.

What was surprising is that the pagan sailors tried to save Jonah’s life.

But in the end, when they had to throw Jonah overboard, they begged the Lord God for forgiveness and even worshipped God when the sea became calm again.

It was such a stark contrast to the attitude of Jonah, who believed in God but was indifferent and even tried to run away from God.

In the gospel, Jesus told a parable that surprised the listeners, because they would not have expected a Samaritan to come to the aid of a Jew.

Both readings tell us that even pagans have reverence for God and understand the truth of life and human values.

As for us who profess our belief in God, may we be firm in our faith, so that we share our faith with those who are searching for God.

27th Ordinary Sunday, Year C, 05.10.2025

 Habakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4 / 2 Tim 1:6-8, 13-14 / Luke 17:5-10

Our modern lifestyle is filled with many instant benefits. 

A lot of things are done fast and quickly, and so instant results are expected. 

And so, there are instant noodles, instant coffee and tea, and a variety of instant food and drinks. 

And with money transfers, there is no more waiting for one or two days for cheques to be cleared in order to receive money from the other party. 

With ibanking apps, money transfers are done over the phone, and money can be sent and received instantly. 

So, what is important is speed, it is about how fast and how quickly things can be done. 

Even internet speeds have risen from 100 megabytes per second, which was not that long ago, to 10 gigabytes per second. 

In the world, time is money, and so the world demands efficiency, effectiveness and productivity, and for results to be delivered quickly and even instantly.

And with the world moving so fast, so quickly and even getting results instantly, we have become impatient, and we can't seem to wait anymore. 

And when we come to Church, we may also expect things to be done fast, and things to change quickly.

So, even when we pray, we expect our prayers to be answered quickly and even instantly. 

Maybe that was what the prophet Habakkuk was complaining about in the 1st reading. 

He said this to the Lord: How long, Lord, am I to cry for help when you will not listen, to cry “oppression” in your ear and you will not save?

And then the Lord answered: Eager for its own fulfillment, justice does not deceive. If it comes slowly, wait, for come it will, and without fail. 

So, God will answer, in His time and in His way, and we just have to wait. 

In the gospel, the apostles said to Jesus, “Increase our faith.” 

In their minds, faith is about size, so it can be increased. 

It can also be about speed, so that with faith, the apostles can expect God to answer their prayers quickly and even instantly. 

Jesus gave them this reply: Were your faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, “Be uprooted, and planted in the sea,” and it will obey you. 

That is rather amazing as a mulberry tree has deep roots and grows up to 25 meters. 

The tiny mustard seed is almost nothing compared to the tall and mighty mulberry tree. 

A tiny mustard seed of faith may not move a mighty mulberry tree instantly. 

It may need many mustard seeds of faith before mulberry trees will move. 

So, it comes down to praying and waiting with faith. 

Each prayer is like a mustard seed offered to the Lord. 

And when a faith community prays together, then many mustard seeds are put into the hands of the Lord. 

And in His time and in His way, the Lord will move the mulberry trees. 

Yes, the mulberry trees of injustice, outrage and violence will be uprooted to make way for peace and justice, for faithfulness and salvation. 

So let us pray and wait with faith for the Lord. 

And the Lord will hear our tiny mustard seeds of prayer and grant us His healing love.

26th Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 04-10-2025

Baruch 4:5-12, 27-29 / Luke 10:17-24  

This world is a colourful world and has its beauty and wonder.

But we tend to see this world and its issues with black and white lenses.

We also tend to see the people in this world with black and white lenses.

So we tend to see the people in this world as good and bad people.

But between the good and bad people, there is also this big group of people that are neither black or white.

There are bad people who want to become good.

And there are also good people who have given in to the temptations of this world and are turning bad.

Jesus came to save all peoples by overcoming the evil and wickedness of this world.

And Jesus has entrusted to us His disciples to proclaim goodness in this world and to help people become good.

When we are able to see this mission, then we will know that this world is not just about good and bad people.

We will also see that God loves all peoples and wants all peoples to be saved.

With God’s love, we will be able to make this world into a beautiful and colourful world, and we pray that all peoples will also see the love and goodness of God in us.

26th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 03-10-2025

Baruch 1:15-22 / Luke 10:13-16   

Before any accident or disaster happens, usually there will be warning signs.

But those warning signs can be ignored and dismissed as just odd occurrences.

When the warning signs are not heeded, then there will be consequences.

And then it will be too late to think about those earlier warning signs and why no attention was paid to them.

So, in the final analysis, it comes down to the human factor, that human beings were not sensitive to those warning signs.

In the 1st reading, the prophet Baruch lamented about the tragedy that had fallen upon God’s people.

But he proclaims the integrity of the Lord God and also the shame of the people.

Baruch confessed that the people have sinned in the sight of the Lord, have disobeyed Him, and have not listened to the voice of the Lord God.

Hence, the people deserved the punishment of the disasters and tragedies that have fallen upon them.

In the gospel, Jesus warned the prosperous towns of Chorazin and Capernaum. Those two towns now lay in ruins.

Let us listen to the Word of God and let us look at the signs around us.

May we be able to see and listen to what the Lord our God is telling us and be saved from disasters and tragedies.

The Holy Guardian Angels, Thursday, 02-10-2025

Exodus 23:20-23 / Matthew 18:1-5, 10   

The feeling of loneliness is the distress of being alone or separated.

It is distressing to think that we are all alone when we are facing a big problem.

And the feeling becomes heavier when we feel that we are forgotten and no one cares about the struggles that we are going through.

But the Bible tells us that even if a mother forgets her baby, God will not forget us.

In the 1st reading, the Lord God tells His people this: I myself will send an angel before you to guard you as you go and bring you to the place that I have prepared.

And in the gospel, Jesus says this: See that you never despise any of these little ones, for I tell you that their angels in heaven are continually in the presence of my Father in heaven.

Reflecting deeper upon these Bible passages, the Church also teaches us that each of us have a guardian angel the moment we come into existence.

So from the moment we are conceived in this world to the eternal existence in the next world, we have a guardian angel accompanying us always.

So, we are never alone, but let us remember to give our guardian angel reverence and listen to all that he says, for God speaks though our guardian angels.

And let us also say this prayer to our Guardian Angel and teach others, especially the children, to say it:

Angel of God, my guardian dear,

To whom God’s love, commits me here,

Ever this day be at my side,

To light and guard, to rule and guide.

Amen.

St. Therese of the Child Jesus, Patroness of Missionaries and the Missions, Wednesday, 01-10-2025

Isaiah 66:10-14 / Matthew 16:1-5   

St. Therese of the Child Jesus was a French Carmelite nun. She is also known as "The Little Flower of Jesus".

She lived during the second half the 19th century (1873-1897), a rather short life of only 24 years.

Yet the shortness of years is certainly complemented by the great impact her life had on the spirituality of the Church and also in the life of holiness.

Her spiritual orientation of a hidden life coupled with simplicity and humility endeared her to many who desired to live a life of faith that wants to do small things with great love.

For St. Therese, every little act of love is like a little flower that is offered to Jesus, hence she is also known as "The Little Flower of Jesus".

Her childlike attitude is also an inspiration for many, especially in the area of prayer.

In "The Autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux", she said there were so many lovely prayers and that she could not possibly say them all and did not know which to choose, so she would behave like children who cannot read.

"I tell God very simply what I want and He always understands". "I say an Our Father or a Hail Mary when I feel so spiritually barren that I cannot summon up a single worthwhile thought. These two prayers fill me with rapture and feed and satisfy my soul."

Such is the childlike simplicity of the Patroness of the Missions as she prays for missionaries even though she had never set foot on a foreign land.

From St. Therese we learn that simple prayers are indeed powerful prayers. Yet simple prayers should also form us to have a childlike simplicity and humility.

And like St. Therese, we should be like arrows that remain hidden in the quiver of God. And just as He used St. Therese to fulfill His plan, let us also be ready always to fulfill God's will for us.