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.