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.

26th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 30-09-2025

Zechariah 8:20-23 / Luke 9:51-56   

Very often, a simple question does not necessarily mean that there is only one simple answer to it.

And because there can be many answers to a simple question, it may also mean that the question indicates a complexity.

So, a simple question can be like “Why do people come to Church?”

And yet, there can be as many answers as there are people responding to it.

But even before giving a quick answer to that simple question, let us think about the question.

Because that question makes us think of who God is, who we are, what is the purpose and mission of the Church, and who are the people coming to Church.

So to that question “Why do people come to Church?”, one response could be that people need God, so they come to Church to pray and they hope that their prayers will be answered.

That could be a reflection of what is said in the 1st reading when the Lord of hosts says this: In those days, ten men of nations of every language will take a Jew by the sleeve and say, “We want to go with you, since we have learnt that God is with you”.

For those who are in need of God, may we tell them to come to Church and we pray that their prayers will be answered.

But for those who don’t come to Church anymore and who no longer practice their faith, let us pray for them.

Let us not reprimand or threaten them with fire from heaven to burn them up.

Let us pray for them, and may God hear our prayers and bring them back to Church.

Sts. Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Archangels, Monday, 29-09-2025

Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 or Apocalypse 12:7-12 / John 1:47-51    

The Bible has many passages referring to angels, both in the Old Testament as well as the New Testament

Furthermore the New Testament mentions frequently of angels in the significant moments.

There were angels giving messages to Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds; angels ministering to Christ after his temptation in the wilderness, an angel visiting Christ in his agony, angels at the tomb of the risen Christ, and the angels who liberated the Apostles Peter and Paul from prison.

However, it makes only two references to "archangels." They are in Jude 9 where Michael is an archangel and in 1 Thessalonians 4:16, where the "voice of an archangel" will be heard at the return of Christ.

The Roman Catholic Church honours three archangels - Michael, Gabriel and Raphael.

Michael in the Hebrew language means "Who is like unto God?" or "Who is equal to God?" St. Michael has been depicted from earliest Christian times as a commander, who holds in his right hand a spear with which he attacks the devil, and in his left hand a green palm branch which symbolizes victory over evil.

Gabriel means "Man of God" or "Might of God." He is the herald of the mysteries of God, especially the Incarnation of God and all other mysteries related to it. He is depicted as holding a lighted lantern to symbolize that only God can shed light to the mysteries.

Raphael means "God's healing" or "God the Healer". He is mentioned in the book of Tobit (3:17; 12:15). Raphael is depicted leading Tobit with his right hand, and holding a physician's alabaster jar in his left hand.

The celebration of the feast of the three Archangels focuses on three aspects of God.

It reminds us that God is almighty and is victorious over evil. Also the mystery of life and death, and suffering and evil is in the hands of God who is the source of all mystery.

God is also our Healer who forgives us our sins and strengthens us with His love.

May God also strengthen our faith so that as we gather together in this Eucharist, we will also become aware of the presence of angels and archangels joining us to worship and praise the Lord.

26th Ordinary Sunday, Year C, 28.09.2025

Amos 6:1, 4-7 / 1 Tim 6:11-16 / Luke 16:19-31

We know that Singapore is a small country and without much natural resources. 

And more than that, Singapore does not produce much food, certainly not enough to feed the population.

And yet, there is one rather surprising phenomenon, and that is we have a thriving food culture. 

Almost everywhere and anywhere, we can find restaurants, eateries, food courts and hawker centres. 

For a country that does not produce much food, we are noted for a variety of foods from different cultures. 

We are really spoiled for choice when comes to food, and we can also be as adventurous as we like. 

So, the habit is that we go to the counter or food stall to order our choice of food, eat the meal, and then look forward to the next meal. 

But there is one important factor that we may have missed in our food culture. 

And that is the people who prepared the ingredients, cooked the food and gave us a meal as well as a good taste. 

Without these people, we won't have a thriving food culture. 

If we eat to live, then we also must be grateful to the people who are involved in cooking and producing our meals.

In the gospel, Jesus told a parable that points to the need of awareness, of the people around us.

There was this rich man who used to dress in purple and fine linen, and feast magnificently every day. 

At his gate there was a poor man called Lazarus, covered with sores, who long to fill himself with the scraps that fall from the rich man's table. 

We may wonder, why didn't the rich man see Lazarus who was lying at his gate. Is the gate that far off? 

Or maybe the rich man was just too focused and obsessed with his clothing and food, that he could not see, and also could not hear anything else. 

But later in the parable, when the rich man was tormented in Hades, he begins to see who Lazarus is, and he can even begin to think of the welfare of his five brothers. 

The parable gives us a glimpse of what the afterlife is about, of what the next world is like. 

But it also teaches us what life is about here in this world. 

Life is more than food and clothing and shelter, although these are the very basic human needs. 

God will provide for us. Jesus did tell us that God clothed the flowers in the fields with beauty and splendour, and God also feeds the birds of the air even though they don't sow and reap. 

The parable calls us to look beyond our needs of food, clothing and shelter, to the needs of the people around us, especially those who are at the so-called gates of our lives. 

We see them, they may not be in need of food or clothing or shelter. 

But they may be in need of some encouragement and affirmation. 

They may be in need of direction and motivation. 

They may need to hear a voice to give them a word of hope. 

They may need a little act of gentleness to know that God cares for them. 

I remember this one particular occasion when I went home for lunch, and my mother as usual, cooked a simple meal. 

So, there I was, at the table with my mother, and gobbling away at the food. 

Then my mother asked, “Is the food okay?”

I nodded my head, and then she said, “Oh, I thought it was not good because you didn't say anything about it.” 

At that instant, I realized that I was just too focused on eating the food, that I forgot about talking with my mother. 

So, the next time, when we go to an eatery or restaurant, or to a food court or hawker centre, let us remember this. 

Let us remember to look at the people cooking and serving us, and to thank them and even to encourage them. 

Let us put into practice what the 2nd reading is telling us: You must aim to be saintly and religious, filled with faith and love, patient and gentle. 

Life is more than just food and clothes. 

Life is also about seeing who is at the gate, and sharing with them the love and blessings of God.

25th Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 27-00-2025

Zechariah 2:5-9, 14-15 / Luke 9:43-45  

The Church exists primarily for the salvation of souls.

The Church is to be the sign of God’s call of salvation to humanity.

And when people hear that call, they will come to Church and offer prayer and worship to the Lord.

God is our Saviour, and He is also our Protector and Provider.

In the 1st reading, the Lord God says this:

Jerusalem is to remain unwalled, because of the great number of men and cattle there will be in her.

But I will be a wall of fire all round her, and I will be her glory in the midst of her.

God showed that He is our Saviour by sending Jesus to proclaim the Good News of God’s saving love for us.

And Jesus sacrificed Himself on the Cross to save us, and that showed how great God’s love is for us.

May the Church be the House of God where we will feel safe and at peace.

May the Church also be a House of prayer, where our cries for God’s help and blessings be heard and answered by God.

May God be the wall of the Church and may we also live holy lives to show our gratitude and thankfulness to God.

25th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 26-09-2025

Haggai 1:15 -2:9 / Luke 9:18-22  

For any project to start and to be completed, there are at least two factors that are necessary.

One is the ability, which means the proper planning and the necessary equipment.

The other is the money which is needed to finance the project.

So, both the ability and the money are needed, and one can’t do without the other.

In the 1st reading, the people were getting disheartened and discouraged about the progress of the building of the Temple.

Both the ability and the money, as well as the materials, were lacking.

And here is where the Lord had to encourage His people, proclaiming that He will be with them to help them.

God will shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land, to show His people that He is the builder of the Temple.

Indeed, if the Lord does not build the Temple, in vain will the builders labour.

Similarly, in the gospel, if Jesus did not reveal His identity to Peter, they can only guess and still not able to know who Jesus really is.

Let us remember that if God does not help us, we will labour in vain.

If God does not reveal His will and His ways to us, we will be searching in vain.

Let us pray for God’s help and He will show us that He is our God and that He will provide for us.

25th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 25-09-2025

Haggai 1:1-8 / Luke 9:7-9   

In order to have a deeper understanding about our situations in life, there is one thing that is necessary.

And that is we need to take some time to do some observation and reflection.

But it can be rather challenging to do this because there are just too many distractions.

We fill our lives with many things to do and we keep ourselves busy.

And yet we say we don’t have time to rest and reflect upon what we are doing and where we are heading.

Could it be that we are avoiding to do this because we may come to see things we don’t want to see.

In the 1st reading, the people had lost the interest and the urgency in building the Temple.

Instead, they were building their own houses and were more interested in their own comfort and their own plans.

But the Lord tells them this: Reflect carefully how things have gone for you.

You have sown much and harvested little. You eat but never had enough, drink but never have your fill. Put on clothes but do not feel warm.

So if the people feel that there are so many problems in their life, they just need to reflect carefully on how things have gone for them.

In the gospel, Herod was puzzled when he heard about Jesus and was anxious to see Jesus.

But if he only took time to reflect carefully, he would come to know what God is showing and telling him.

May we have time to pray and reflect and God will also tell us what we need to know and show us what we need to see.

25th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 24-09-2025

Ezra 9:5-9 / Luke 9:1-6  

Life is such that when we are having a good and peaceful time, we take so much for granted.

We forget the great and little blessings that God grants and we are indifferent with ingratitude.

But when we face troubles and life begins to spin into a chaos, we cry out to God for help.

In the 1st reading, Ezra the priest, came to see how much his people had sinned, higher than their heads, and even piled up to heaven.

They have been punished severely, but now God looks upon them with favour.

God has cheered their eyes and given them respite in their slavery.

They were even granted permission to go back to their homeland and rebuild the Temple of God.

So, the people should be thankful and grateful and be always faithful to God.

Then they will receive blessings upon blessings.

In the gospel, Jesus sent His disciples to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom and to heal.

We continue this mission even though there are difficulties and dangers.

But God assures us of His blessings and protection.

May we not take God’s blessings and protection for granted, but always do what the Lord wants of us and to wherever and whoever He sends us to.

25th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 23-09-2025

Ezra 6:7-8, 12, 14-20 / Luke 8:19-21    

Buildings are not just made of bricks and stones.

Buildings provide shelter and security.

A building becomes a home for a family to return to when the day comes to an end.

For the people of God in the 1st reading, the building of the Temple and its completion was a moment of great joy.

The Temple was the House of God, a symbol of God’s presence, as well as a symbol of their identity and unity.

It is in the Temple that the people offer worship and prayer.

In other words, the Temple was the focal point of the relationship between God and His people, as well as the relationship between the people.

But if that relationship is broken by unfaithfulness and injustice, then the Temple does not have any meaning whatsoever.

In the gospel, Jesus says that those who hear the Word of God and put it into practice are truly His relations.

When we hear the Word of God and put it into practice in our relationships, beautiful things happen.

The Church becomes a House where God meets His people and imparts His blessings on them.

The house becomes a home where family relationships are strengthened and deepened.

Let us read and meditate upon the Word of God, and may it flow into our relationships and may it also bring us God’s abundant blessings.

25th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 22-09-2025

Ezra 1:1-6 / Luke 8:16-18   

We would think that if everything in life happens as planned and happens as expected, then we will have no anxieties and worries.

We wish that life runs like a computer program, so that everything is predictable and manageable.

But life is always full of surprises and with unexpectedness.

In the 1st reading, no one would really had expected that king Cyrus would be so favourable to the people of God in exile.

He not only issued a proclamation to let the people of God return to their homeland, he even supplied materials and resources to help them built the Temple.

Of course, it was God who roused the spirit of king Cyrus and stirred his heart to do so.

And it was also to fulfil the promise spoken through the prophet Jeremiah.

But it was such a surprise and so unexpected of the foreign king to do that.

So when God comes up with an unexpected surprise, it is like a lighted lamp held high.

And everyone who sees it would say that it is a wonderful sign from God.

May we be the first to recognize these God-given wonderful surprises and help others to know the God of surprises.

25th Ordinary Sunday, Year C, 21.09.2025

Amos 8:4-7 / 1 Tim 2:1-8 / Luke 16:1-13

To be deceived and to be cheated is certainly an unpleasant feeling, to say the least.

In deceiving and cheating, something wrong is done, and we resent and detest that wrong that is done to us. 

Also, in deceiving and cheating, something is lost. 

The loss can be in several forms. It can be a financial or a monetary loss, or a loss of property and belongings. 

Or it can be a loss of a relationship. When one party deceives or cheats the other party, the trust is broken, and the relationship is fractured and even shattered. 

And that is why we are not only wary of scammers, we are afraid of them, because they are brutal and ruthless. 

We may or may not hear their voices, or see their faces, but one thing is certain. 

They don't need to have our trust, nor would they even want to know us. 

They just want to bleed us, literally and figuratively, until we are as dry as the desert sands. 

In Singapore, the total scam losses for the first half of 2025 were approximately $450 million. 

In the gospel, Jesus told a parable about a dishonest steward who was found out by his master, and dismissed that dishonest steward.

Then that dishonest steward did an audacious thing by rewriting the accounts of his master's debtors. 

He did that so as to gain favour with his master's debtors, and also to have some security for the future. 

What is puzzling is when Jesus said this: The master praised the dishonest steward for his astuteness. 

In other words, even the master who was cheated by that dishonest steward, was impressed by that dishonest steward’s keen insight and clever manipulation. 

But Jesus did not end there. He also said this: For the children of this world are more astute in dealing with their own kind than are the children of light. 

We may wonder what did Jesus mean when He said that. 

Jesus acknowledged that the children of the world are more astute, in that they are clever in reading people and quick to manipulate others to their advantage. 

But Jesus is also asking us, are we children of the world, or are we children of light? 

If we say, if we declare, that we are children of light, then we are children of God, then we follow the ways of God. 

We will not be impressed or influenced by the children of the world, to the so-called intelligent manipulating and scheming of the dishonest stewards of this world. 

Because we believe in the God of truth and justice, and the Lord says this in the 1st reading: Never will I forget a single thing you have done. 

Jesus also reminded us that the one who can be trusted in little things can be trusted in great, and the one who is dishonest in little things will be dishonest in great. 

As children of God, and as children of light, we carry the little lights of truth and love in our hearts, and we become living images of honesty and responsibility. 

In the Bible, there is a book called the Book of Numbers, and there is this story of a pagan prophet Balaam, who was enticed by the enemies of Israel with wealth, so as to put a curse on Israel.

God forbid him to lay a curse on Israel, but he defied God and rode on his donkey to discuss with the enemies of Israel, the curse that he would lay on Israel. 

On the journey, Balaam's donkey sees the angel of God with a sword in the hand blocking the path, but Balaam cannot see the angel. 

Three times the donkey saw the angel with a sword and tried to veer off the path to avoid the angel, but Balaam beats the donkey for doing so. 

Then, God opens the donkey's mouth, and it speaks to Balaam, rebuking him for his cruelty. 

Then, God opens Balaam's eyes, revealing the angel with the sword, and the angel said that it was the donkey who saved Balaam's life.

The angel then instructed Balaam to say only what God wants him to say, and that is to bless Israel. 

In this world, there are true prophets and false prophets, there are honest and dishonest stewards, there are children of the world and children of light. 

To be truthful and to be honest, the world may think that we are like donkeys who can be deceived and cheated. 

But may we be trusted with truthful and honest lives, and when we speak, may the children of the world begin to look at the light.

24th Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 20-09-2025

1 Tim 6:13-16 / Luke 8:4-15  

The world runs on chronological time.

We wear watches to keep time, there are clocks here and there.

Time is important, time is also like money, and time is also controlled by deadlines.

Time is important, but timing is what puts everything together and gives meaning.

So, with timing, what is meant to happen, will happen at the right time and for the right reasons.

As much as our lives revolve around time, but with God it is about timing.

In the 1st reading, there is this line that states: the Appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who at the due time will be revealed …

That “due time” belongs to God and it is also often called the “appointed time”.

God revealed His Son as our Saviour at the appointed time.

God will also reveal His will for us at the appointed time.

And at the appointed time, we will understand the parables, the signs and the promptings from the Lord.

Let us pray and wait for the appointed time from God, and may we also know what God’s will is for us.

24th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 19-09-2025

1 Tim 6:2-12 / Luke 8:1-3   

We know that God provides for us and that He is generous in providing for our needs.

And from what God has given us, then out of gratitude, we ought to offer Him something in return.

But God will always be more generous than we can ever think.

Because from the little that we offer back to God, He will even bless us more.

In the gospel, when Jesus went about proclaiming the Good News, the Twelve went along with Him.

With them were also some women who provided for Jesus and His disciples out of their own resources.

For those women, that was their offering to God as they supported Jesus in His ministry.

And we would also believe that God would also bless them more for what they have offered.

But the 1st reading also reminded us that religion cannot be used for making a profit or for selfish gains.

Let us remember that we cannot expect anything in return for what we have offered to God.

Because a love offering does not expect anything in return.

But God in His generosity will always bless a cheerful giver abundantly.

24th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 18-09-2025

1 Tim 4::12-16 / Luke 7:36-50   

It is often said that actions speak louder than words, and indeed it is.

Most actions convey an unmistakable message, especially when it is an act of compassion, or kindness, or gentleness, or patience.

But there are also actions that are difficult to interpret, because we may not know the context or the intentions.

And there are actions that generally are considered as crude or crass or even offensive.

In the gospel, the woman with a bad name in the town came up to Jesus who was having a meal at a Pharisee’s house.

She waited behind Himn at His feet, weeping, and her tears fell on His feet, and she wiped them away with her hair, and covered His feet with kisses and anointed them with the ointment.

Simon, the Pharisee, as well as the others present, would be confused and wonder what that woman’s actions can mean.

And since that woman had a bad name in town, the people would also wonder why Jesus was letting her to that to Him.

If not for His explanation, it would be difficult to understand that it was all about love and forgiveness.

So when there are things in life and also people’s actions that we don’t understand, let us bring it before the Lord in prayer.

Let us also ask the Lord to help us look at people with love and forgiveness, and the Lord will also look at us with love and forgiveness.

24th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 17-09-2025

1 Tim 3:14-16 / Luke 7:31-35   

As much as we are human beings, there is also a spiritual dimension in our humanity.

We live in a physical and material world and our senses help us to relate with this world.

But there is also a spiritual world and with our faith we can understand this world that our eyes cannot see, and our ears cannot hear.

In the 1st reading, St. Paul reminds us how we ought to behave in God’s family.

We belong to the Church of the living God, and we live by God’s truth and love.

St. Paul goes on to say that the mystery of our faith is indeed very deep.

So when we come to church for Mass or for prayer, we have come into a spiritual house where God is present in everything and everyone we see.

And we pay attention to what we hear because God is speaking to us in the prayers and in the Word of God.

And we carry this mystery of God’s presence in what we do and what we say.

Even in what we eat and drink, we know that it is God who provided all these for us and so we give thanks to God for these simple and ordinary blessings.

May we share these blessings so that our world will come to know that God is always present and granting His blessings to those who acknowledge His presence.

24th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 16-09-2025

1 Tim 3:1-13 / Luke 7:11-17   

We live in a modern world that has progressed rapidly over the last century.

This progress is primarily in the areas of science and technology, as well as industry and even in the military.

So humanity has progressed but has humanity become more civilized?

The bad and sad news that we see and hear everyday may even make us wonder if humanity has gone mad.

The 1st reading begins with St. Paul quoting this saying: To want to be a presiding elder is to want to do a noble work.

He then states the requirements for someone who wanted to serve in the community.

By the same token, in this modern world, to be a Christian is to want to do a noble work.

Christians have this mission of restoring the world to a civilized humanity.

In the gospel, as much as the raising of the dead man was a miracle, it was the humanness that must also be noted.

Jesus felt sorry for the widow as it was her only son, and that emotion showed the humanness of all characters in that gospel account.

And since God became man in Jesus Christ and He lived among humanity, let us also be truly human to each other.

Let us be compassionate, gentle, kind, forgiving and understanding towards each other.

Then we will know what love is when God became a human being and lived on earth.

Our Lady of Sorrows, Monday, 15-09-2025

Hebrews 5:7-9 / John 19:25-27 or Luke 2:33-35 

We may wonder why the Church picks those moments of grief and sorrow and suffering and turns it into a celebration.

Yesterday we celebrated the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.

Today we bring our hearts back to the foot of the Cross and enter into the grief and sorrow of our Lady.

Maybe there are certain things in life that can be learnt through sorrow and suffering.

The Cross, which was an instrument of suffering and death is turned by Christ into a symbol of life and glory.

As Mary stood by the cross in sorrow and pain, she was also changed and transformed.

In that moment of her greatest sorrow, Christ proclaimed Mary to be the Mother of the Church.

By dying on the cross, Christ gave life to us and gave Mary to be our Mother.

So when sorrow and suffering are put into the hands of God, something beautiful happens, something glorious happens.

When we meet with troubles or distress, or sorrow and suffering, let us go to Mary and stand with her at the foot of the cross.

Even when we sink into the depths of sorrow and suffering, God assures us this: a beautiful moment is about to happen, a glorious moment is about to begin.

Let us stay close to Mary and we will share in the glory of the cross.

The Exaltation of the Holy Cross, 14.09.2025

Numbers 21:4-9 / Philippians 2:6-11 / John 3:13-17

Two pieces of wooden sticks may not have much meaning, other than resembling like chopsticks. 

But two pieces of wooden sticks placed at right angles to each other, may mean something, especially to Christians. 

When two pieces of wooden sticks are placed at right angles to each other, it may look like a “plus” sign. 

But for Christians, it will look like the easily identifiable Christian symbol of the Cross. 

The symbol of the Cross is the most common, as well as the most profound symbol of Christianity. 

It is also a sacred symbol, and it can be found on items and objects used for worship and for prayer. 

The symbol of the Cross is sacred primarily because Jesus Christ died on it. 

By His suffering and death on the Cross, Jesus saved us from our sins and conquered sin and death. 

The Cross which was meant to be an instrument of pain and death has become a sign of salvation because of Jesus Christ. 

Today, we the Church celebrates the triumph and exaltation of the Holy Cross. 

We proclaim Jesus is our Saviour, and we also obey His command to take up our cross and follow Him as His disciples. 

But the 1st reading gives a rather puzzling account of a bronze serpent on a standard. 

Preceding that, the people had spoken against God and Moses, and so as punishment, fiery serpents appeared and their bite caused suffering and death. 

The people repented, and asked Moses to intercede for them to the Lord to save them. 

The Lord instructed Moses to make a bronze serpent and put it on a standard. 

Anyone who was bitten by a fiery serpent would just have to look at the bronze serpent on the standard and be saved. 

It is rather puzzling because the very thing that caused death has now become a means of salvation. 

That account in the 1st reading can be rather puzzling, but in it is the hidden mystery of the ways of God. 

Because in the gospel, when Jesus said that He must be lifted up just as Moses lifted up that bronze serpent, then that mystery is revealed. 

Jesus was lifted up on the Cross, and He fulfilled His mission as the Saviour, and the Cross has now become a symbol of salvation. 

A priest was sharing this story about the saving power of the Cross. 

A young man was disillusioned about his Christian faith, and so he went to a priest to say that he wanted to renounce his faith, and to have his baptism records revoked. 

The priest looked at the young man and told him that he will do as requested, on one condition. 

He asked the young man to follow him to the church, and there was a big crucifix behind the altar. 

The priest said to a young man, “Look at Jesus on the Cross and say this: You died for me and I don't care. 

The young man looked at the priest, and then looked at the Crucifix, and so he said, “You died for me and I don't care.”

The priest said to him, “Say that again with more conviction.” 

So, the young man said that again, “You died for me and I don't care.” 

The priest said, “Look straight at Jesus and say that again.” 

The young man said that again, but his voice began to quiver, and he lowered his eyes. 

The priest then said to the young man, “I would like to leave you alone for now. You can come to see me again anytime.” 

The priest who was sharing that story concluded with this: By the way, I was that young man. 

The saving power of the Cross is a deep and profound mystery. 

Because the Cross is the symbol of the love of God for us. 

God loved us so much that He gave us His only Son, so that we can be saved from our sins and have eternal life. 

So, let us take up the Cross, let us look at Jesus on the Cross.

Let us hold the Cross, for we are holding the hand of our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Let us hold the Cross, in our pain, in our suffering and in our distress, for we are holding the hand of our Healer Jesus Christ.

Let us hold the Cross, and look at Jesus on the Cross and say:

Thank you, Jesus, for saving me. Help me to love You.

23rd Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 13-09-2025

1 Tim 1:15-17 / Luke 6:43-49  

If we had to show something as a testimony of who we are and what our life is all about, what would that be?

Probably we would think of our achievements and show our certificates and photos of our illustrious moments.

There is no doubt that St. Paul was a great figure in the New Testament.

But his testimony to us is not some great achievement or illustrious missionary zeal, but rather a humble admittance that he is the greatest of sinners.

His testimony is that Jesus made him the greatest evidence of His inexhaustible patience for all the other people who would later have to trust in Jesus to come to eternal life.

So it was not what he did for Jesus but rather what Jesus did for him.

And that is so with us. The fruits that we bear will be the testimony of our lives.

As much as good fruits are a sign of the goodness of our lives, yet we must be humble enough to acknowledge that the goodness in us is not of our own achievement.

Like St. Paul, it is because Jesus has shown us His mercy and cleansed us and filled our hearts with His love.

So from what fills our hearts may our mouths proclaim the inexhaustible mercy and patience of Jesus and continue to bear the good fruits of love.

23rd Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 12-09-2025

1 Tim 1:1-2, 12-14 / Luke 6:39-42   

Whenever we feel pain, it is usually a sign of a problem that needs our attention.

If it is a physical pain, then we will have to go consult a doctor to see what is the problem.

But there can be pains that are not physical and they affect us, if we take notice of them.

In the gospel, Jesus told a parable about seeing the faults in ourselves first before looking at the faults of others.

Jesus gave the imagery of having a plank in our own eye and yet we divert our attention to the splinter in the eyes of others.

The imagery of a plank in the eye is obviously to make the point of the parable.

But it can be unimaginable for such an object in the eye and not notice it or feel a piercing pain from it.

Yet, we rather distract ourselves with the problems of others than to look at our own problems.

In the 1st reading, St. Paul was humble to admit that he used to blaspheme and did all he could to injure and discredit the faith.

But God showed him mercy, he saw that mercy, and he is now filled with faith and love that is in Christ Jesus.

May we see the plank in our eyes, but may we also see the mercy of God.

And filled with faith and love, may we also guide others to Jesus Christ, our Saviour and our hope.

23rd Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 11-09-2025

Colossians 3:12-17 / Luke 6:27-38   

It is often presumed that people like it easy and convenient.

That is quite true because we are always looking for ways to do things easy and fast.

When it comes to religion, we may not think that building a church in some obscure and far away place is a good idea.

The presumption is that people like it easy and convenient, so no one would really consider going to a church that is difficult to have access to.

But it also cannot be denied that there are people who want to be challenged.

For them, it is like no pain then no gain, and the challenge makes them stronger and better persons.

In the gospel, the message of Jesus seems to be difficult and even illogical.

But to those who are listening, to those who are searching for the truth of life, they will understand what Jesus meant when He said this:

“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who treat you badly.”

It may not make much sense initially, but when we are listening to a deeper calling in life, we will understand.

As the 1st reading puts it: Let the message of Christ, in all its richness, find a home with you. And never say or do anything except in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Let us pray that God will bless us with His love and accept the truth of the message of Christ, so that we will live our lives truly as children of God.

23rd Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 10-09-2025

Colossians 3:1-11 / Luke 6:20-26   

We know that we should avoid anything that is not good for us.

And depending on the degree of the severity, then we will adopt the corresponding attitudes.

So for foods that we will react to with allergies, we will avoid, no matter how delicious or tempting they are.

But for the curiosity or addiction to substances, drugs or alcohol, we will have to resist and fight it.

In the 1st reading, St. Paul used a strong word when it comes to temptations to sin.

He used the word “kill”, as he says this: You must kill everything in you that belongs only to earthly life – fornication, impurity, guilty passion, evil desires, greed.

That word obviously is used in the metaphorical sense, but it also shows the severity of sins.

It is either we kill the sin, or the sin will kill us.

And when sin kills us, we die a spiritual death in darkness and decay.

But when we follow the teachings of Jesus and walk in His ways, then we will find our strength in Him.

By His death on the Cross, Jesus was victorious over sin and death.

We will share in the victory of Jesus when we are obedient and faithful to Him.

23rd Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 09-09-2025

Colossians 2:6-15 / Luke 6:12-19     

There are a few words that express an unfortunate situation.

To be cheated would probably mean that some money or belongings are lost.

To be deceived would probably mean that trust or hope is shaken or broken.

But to be trapped would probably mean more than just being unfortunate.

To be trapped may mean that there is no escape and probably be doomed to die.

In the 1st reading, St. Paul warns the Colossians not to let anyone trap and deprive them of their freedom by some secondhand, empty, rational philosophy based on the principles on this world instead of being based on Christ.

Although it is not a physical trap, but spiritually, they would have lost their freedom and live in fear and doubt.

Jesus Christ came to proclaim the Good News of truth and love.

He is the truth who sets us free, and He is the love who will save us.

Jesus is our Saviour who will heal us from physical infirmities and spiritual fears.

Let us put our trust in Jesus and live by His truth and love.

The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Monday, 08-09-2025

Micah 5:1-4 / Matthew 1:1-16, 18-23  

The Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary was celebrated as early as from the seventh century.

From early sources there were stories of the birth of Mary, and from these sources we also learnt the names of Mary's parents, Joachim and Anne, as well as the tradition that the couple was childless until an angel appeared to Anne and told her that she would conceive.

The birth of Mary was also miraculous. She was conceived without sin as a special grace because God had chosen her to become the mother of His Son.

Hence the birth of Mary is also closely connected with the feast of her Immaculate Conception which is celebrated on December 8.

The significance of the feast of the birth of Mary emphasizes that the birth of every person is a sign of hope and a renewal in faith in the God of life and love.

For Mary, God has chosen her and prepared her to be the channel and the instrument through which the Saviour Jesus Christ would come into the world.

So in celebrating Mary's birthday, we celebrate our faith and hope in God who is the source of all life and love.

We rejoice with Mary for the marvels that God has done for her and done through her.

Because through Mary, God sent us His only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Through Mary, we know that God is with us always.

For that, we rejoice and celebrate with Mary and together with her, we give thanks and glory to God.

23rd Ordinary Sunday, Year C, 07.09.2025

Wisdom 9:13-18 / Philemon 9-10, 12-17 / Luke 14:25-33

Human beings are intelligent beings, and they have the highest intelligence in the order of creation. 

With this intelligence, human beings have progressed and developed in leaps and bounds. 

In the area of science, human beings have made many discoveries in the understanding of nature through physics, chemistry and biology. 

In the area of technology, the living standards have improved tremendously and laborious time-consuming work is made easy. 

Yes, human intelligence has made life and work become easier. 

Life may have become easier, but the pace of life also seems to have gone faster, and we are somehow getting busier. 

It seems that human intelligence is focused on what is pragmatic, on what is efficient and on improvement. 

Even at the level of ordinary life, we use our intelligence to think about what is practical and pragmatic, as well as on development and improvement. 

In the gospel, Jesus gave us two examples that point to the thoughts of men. 

One is the building a tower, and the other is about going into battle. 

These two examples point to the desires of the human mind. 

We want to build towers to show the height of our achievements and successes. 

We also want to overcome any competition and opposition that gets into our way. 

We think that by building and conquering, we will be happy and contented. 

So, we will use our intelligence to achieve whatever we desire. 

These are our thoughts. But what does God think about this? 

The 1st reading tells us this: What man indeed can know the intentions of God? Who can know the will of God? 

The reasonings of mortals are unsure and our intentions are unstable. 

So, our thoughts may not be the same as the thoughts of God. 

And what we desire to do may not be what God wants us to do. 

So, instead of focusing on building and conquering, let us use our intelligence to do what God wants of us. 

There is a story of a young man who was trekking across the country and he came across a piece of barren land. 

Then he noticed a man walking around that piece of barren land with a metal tube in his hand. 

After every few steps, he would stop and poke the metal tube into the ground and drop something into the metal tube. 

The young traveller was curious so he came up to the man and asked what he was doing. 

The man replied: When I was younger, I worked as a lumberjack and made my money by cutting down big and tall trees. 

Then one day after cutting down a tree, I saw some seeds lying on the ground. I picked up those seeds, and then a thought came to my mind. 

I cut down trees, but who is going to plant trees? With that thought pressing on my mind, I gave up my lumberjack job, and I now go around planting seeds. 

I may not see them grow into big trees, but I am planting for the future. 

Many years later, that traveller came back to see that once barren land. 

It is now a flourishing land of young trees and plants, and with the melodious singing of birds.

So, instead of building towers and fighting to put down others, let us do some planting and sowing and growing. 

Let us plant and sow seeds of hope, and God will make them grow into trees that will bear fruits of love.

Let us ask the Spirit to grant us wisdom, so that God will guide our thoughts and teach us how to carry out His will. 

May we use our intelligence to know what is right and good and loving, so that our lives will be holy and that we will be happy.