17th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 27-07-2026

Jeremiah 13:1-11 / Matthew 13:31-35

Whatever that is told to us, we want it to be as clear, as specific, and maybe as detailed as possible.

Although we have the ability to reflect and ponder and maybe even imagine, but we think that it is too troublesome.

It is more effective and more efficient to just have the gist of it in as short a time as possible.

Well, in the first reading, the message was as clear as the sun in the eyes and even too detailed.

Images of the loin cloth around the waist and the spoilt loin cloth left almost nothing to imagination.

So, the message is clear and do not need any further elaboration, i.e. just as a loincloth clings to a man’s waist, the House of Judah must cling to the Lord God.

Because the people refused to listen to God’s Word, they follow the dictates of their own hard hearts, and they even followed alien gods and served them and worshipped them.

And so obviously, there will be punishment and that is obvious.

In the gospel, Jesus spoke to the people in parables.

Indeed, He would never speak to them except in parables.

As we listen to those parables, as much as they have an obvious meaning, there is also a message.

But we need to ponder, meditate and reflect on the parables before we can understand the message.

When we understand the message, then we have heard the voice of the Lord speaking to us.

And we will want to cling to the Lord our God and walk by His ways.

17th Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 26.07.2026

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

To go shopping can be a relaxing experience.

It is a form of retail therapy from the stress of life.

To do that, we would usually go to the shopping centres or shopping malls where it is more comfortable and more organized.

We will take our time to walk around and do window shopping.

Along the way, there may be something that will catch our attention and we might consider buying it.

But we don't usually have much time for casual window shopping.

Often, it is shopping with a purpose and with a limited time, and we may already have a shopping list in our minds or in our hands.

But that does not mean that we will always get whatever we want.

On a good shopping day, we will be able to find what we are looking for.

So, we will be able to get our favourite drinks, our favourite snacks, and maybe even get it at a discounted price.

But there are days when we can go from shop to shop and whatever we want is not available or out of stock.

We get this frustrated feeling that we have wasted our time and energy.

Even with online shopping, we may not get what we want and have to settle for a substitute or an alternative.

So, shopping can be relaxing and even enjoyable, but it can also be tiring and frustrating when we cannot get what we are looking for. 

In the Gospel, Jesus told two parables that give an idea of what the Kingdom of God is like. 

One is about a treasure hidden in a field which someone has found. 

He hides it again, goes off happy, sells everything he owns, and buys the field. 

Another is about a merchant looking for fine pearls. 

When he finds one of great value, he goes and sells everything he owns and buys it. 

So, it can be said that for those two characters in the parables, it was a good shopping experience of finding what they are looking for. 

But as with every parable, there is also a spiritual dimension, as well as a mystery that reveals who God is. 

The parables did not say how that person found the treasure in the field. 

And neither does it say how the merchant found that pearl of great value. 

Here is where we go back to the first reading and recall the dialogue between God and king Solomon. 

The Lord God asked king Solomon what he wanted, and king Solomon asked for this. 

King Solomon knew that he was young and unskilled in leadership, and he had to govern God's people. 

So, king Solomon asked for this: He asked for a heart of understanding. 

He asked for a heart to understand how to discern between good and evil. 

In other words, king Solomon asked God to grant him wisdom. 

It is a wisdom that understands the ways of God and to discern the revelations of God. 

It is wisdom that enables a person to pray and discern before getting into action. 

And it is with wisdom that we can understand the meaning of the parables. 

It is through the revelation of God that the man found the treasure hidden in the field. 

It is through discernment that the merchant found the pearl of great value. 

It is with the Spirit of wisdom that we will understand what God is revealing to us and how to walk in His ways. 

And this Spirit of wisdom will show us how God is speaking to us. 

God speaks to us in many ways and especially through nature. 

And one example is the trees. The trees don't talk, but they tell us this. 

Their roots teach us what holding on looks like, and their leaves teach us how to let go. 

May the Spirit of wisdom help us to let go of the things of earth and hold on to God above. 

When we hold on to God alone, then we already have what we are looking and longing for. 

St. James, Apostle, Saturday, 25-07-2026

2 Cor 4:7-15 / Matthew 20:20-28

There is a popular pilgrimage in Europe that is known as the Compostela.

It is a traditional pilgrimage to the grave of St. James and it is known as the "Way of St. James".

According to legend, the remains of St. James are held in Santiago de Compostela in Galicia (Spain), and St. James is also the patron saint of Spain.

And according to the local tradition, St. James went as far as Spain to preach the gospel, and there he had a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary and then he returned to Judea where shortly after he was beheaded by King Herod Agrippa in the start of the persecution of the Church.

Hence he was the first of the apostles to be martyred and the first of the apostles to offer his life in witnessing to Christ.

Yes, St. James drank the cup that his Master drank and like his Master, he also offered his life as a ransom for many.

This feast of St. James also reminds us that our life is a pilgrimage on earth in a journey towards our eternal home in heaven.

In this pilgrimage we understand what St. Paul said in the 1st reading - We are only earthenware jars that hold the treasures of God.

Like St. James, let us pour out our life in service of God and others, so that, as the 1st reading puts it - the more grace is multiplied among people, the more thanksgiving there will be to the glory of God.

16th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 25-07-2026

No matter have far we have gone for the day, we will still return back home.

Home is where we came from, and home is where we will return to.

And if we go too far from home, we will lose our roots and may even forget how to go back home.

In the first reading, the Lord said this to His people, “Come back, disloyal children, for I alone am your Master.”

It is quite difficult to comprehend the love of God for His people.

They were stiff-neck hard-headed people who doesn’t seem to be grateful for the wonderful things the Lord has done for them.

It even seems like the more God loved them, the further they turned away from Him.

And the Lord God even promised to give His people shepherds after His own heart and they will teach the people knowledge and discretion.

But the strange tendency of people is that as much as they know what is the right path, they seem to be attracted by the road of desires and pleasures.

In the gospel, Jesus explained about the parable of the sower.

The seeds fell on the edge of the path, on patches of rock, among thorns and also on fertile soil.

If we are the seeds, we ought to fall on the fertile soil, which is like our home.

But like the people of God, we too may give in to distractions and temptations and wander far off.

Let us heed the call of God in the first reading and come back to God.

It is only in the rich soil of God’s home that we will bear good and abundant fruit.

16th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 23-07-2026

Jeremiah 2:1-3, 7-8, 12-13 / Matthew 13:10-17    

We have eyes to look and ears to hear.

So we may look at many things but we may not pay much attention to everything.

We may hear a lot of sounds and voices, but we may not pay attention to all of them.

We have this ability to select what we want to see and what we want to listen to.

But we also may see what we need to see but remain indifferent to it, and listen to what we need to listen to, but we can also disregard it.

In the first reading, the Lord God tells of how much He loved His people but they turned away from Him.

The priests see the signs of God’s presence but paid no attention to it. 

Those who are to uphold the Law have no knowledge of God. 

The shepherds rebelled against God, and the prophets prophesied in the name of idols.

The people have committed a double crime by abandoning the Lord God and worshipped idols that have no power in them.

And yet the people refused to see it, and they refused to listen to the voice of God.

In the gospel, Jesus said that anyone who has will be given more, and he will have more than enough.

But from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

We are given the gift of faith. May our faith lead us to see what God is showing us and to listen to what God is saying to us.

With obedience and humility, God will reveal to us what we need to know.

St. Mary Magdalene, Apostle of the Apostles, Wednesday, 22-07-2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

16th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 21-07-2026

Micah 7:14-15, 18-20 / Matthew 12:46-50

Two professors were discussing about their lectures and how many students they have.

The first said that he has about three hundred students for his lectures.

The second said that he also had about three hundred people coming for his lectures.

And then he said, “Though I have about three hundred attending my lectures, I don’t really know how many are my students.”

What the second professor said may sound rather odd.

But what he meant is that though anyone can come for his lectures, he can’t be certain how many of those really understood what he is teaching and putting it into practice.

"Anyone" is an indefinite pronoun meaning any person or anybody.

But what comes after that would specify the conditions or requirements for that “anyone”.

So anyone can be a Christian, but the requirement or condition is that he must carry the cross and follow after Jesus.

In the gospel, Jesus used the word “anyone” but He also specified what this “anyone” must do.

And that is to do the will of God the Father.

So anyone can be a Christian, but he must carry his cross and follow after Jesus to do will of God.

When we carry the cross and follow Jesus to do the will of God, then we become truly the brother or sister of Jesus.

16th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 20-07-2026

Micah 6:1-4, 6-8 / Matthew 12:38-42

The World Cup 2026 has been going on for a couple of weeks now and it has captivated many people in the world.

Football is an exciting game and it has been called a beautiful game.

But it is also a contact sport, which means that there will be heavy and rough tackles, pushing and shoving, pulling and kicking (other than the ball)

It is a game that demands sportsmanship, which is defined as the ethical and honourable conduct when playing the game.

That requires the players to play fair, respect officials and respect the dignity of teammates and opponents.

However, that is not often the case, and even in the World Cup matches, there are controversies, and accusations of favouritism and match fixing.

The beautiful game is not that beautiful after all, primarily because of the flawed human desires and failings.

In the first reading, what could have been a beautiful relationship between God and His people was broken down because of the sinfulness and unfaithfulness of the people.

But the truth is that God was not demanding too much from His people.

What God is asking of His people is only this: to act justly, to love tenderly and to walk humbly with God.

That is also what God is asking of us, but we also know that at any one time, we have failed in at least one, if not all three of what God is asking of us.

Let us focus on acting justly, loving tenderly and walking humbly with God.

Then our relationship with God and with others will be beautiful.

16th Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 19.07.2026

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

The presence of wicked and evil people in this world is a reality.

That reality is also painfully near to us as we come across such people in the various areas of our lives.

So, we see such people in the news, and they come in the form of terrorists, murderers, and those hardcore criminals.

We pray that we won't ever have to come face-to-face with such people.

But more often, what we will encounter are people like scammers who will mercilessly cheat all our money away.

Or at the workplace, we may come across people who will sabotage our plans and projects.

Or others who will do evil and wicked deeds ranging from backstabbing to slandering to gossiping about us.

And then there are also those who make life miserable and difficult for us, and they may even hate us.

There is no need to go into details or descriptions, but we know that those people are around and we can't seem to avoid them or get rid of them.

In the Gospel, Jesus tells us a parable that points to this reality of wickedness and evil in the world.

A man sowed good seeds in his field.

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

Darnel is a poisonous, weedy grass that looks very much like wheat.

And when the wheat sprouted and ripened, the darnel appeared as well.

When the servant saw it, he immediately asked if the darnel is to be weeded out.

The man's reply was to leave it till harvest time and then the wheat and the darnel will be separated.

The wheat will be gathered into the barn and the darnel will be burnt.

Jesus went on to explain the parable that there will be vindication for the just and punishment for the wicked.

That should give us some consolation that God will reward the good and punish the bad.

But as we reflect deeper on the parable, there are a couple of underlying lessons that we can learn.

Going back to the beginning of the parable, we can see that God sowed good seeds into the world.

God created everything good and He created mankind to be the best of His creation.

And then the enemy, the devil, came along and tempted Adam and Eve and they fell into sin.

That was how sin entered the world and we continue to face temptations and fall into sin.

So, we see in ourselves the wheat of goodness as well as the darnel of wickedness.

But the devil does not stop at just sowing the darnel in us.

He even wants to make us his tools of destruction, by tempting us to go around to sow the darnel of sin into others.

But on the other hand, we might also be like the servant, who is so eager to get rid of sin, that we fall into the devil's temptations of criticizing and condemning other people's sins.

This parable is a reminder for us to constantly turn to Jesus for protection.

The Bible tells us that the devil is like a roaring lion looking for someone to eat.

We have stand by our faith in Jesus and to ask Him to save us.

Also, when others do wrong and bad things to us, the Bible again tells us not to let resentment lead us into sin. 

The sunset must not find us still angry.

We must not give the devil his opportunity.

But the deeper reality is the transforming power of God.

We must let the good seeds in us bear a harvest of love for God.

And with the power of God's love, the darnel of sin can also be changed into a harvest of goodness and love.

Yes, it is by the power of God's love that the darnel of sin can be changed into the wheat of goodness.

With God, the biologically impossible becomes the spiritually possible.

It is by the power of God's love that sinners can be turned into saints.

And it is by the power of God's love and by our prayer that we will bear a harvest of love and peace for the world.

15th Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 18-07-2026

Micah 2:1-5 / Matthew 12:14-21     

The existence of wickedness and evil in the world is a reality that we cannot deny.

And we also cannot deny that there are people who are just so obsessed with committing wickedness and evil.

The first reading gives us a glimpse of what is in the mind of those evil and wicked people.

They lie in bed planning mischief, seizing fields that they covet, they take over houses as well, owner and house they confiscate together, taking both man and inheritance.

But wickedness and evil do not have a free hand and to do whatever and whenever.

Because the Lord says this: Woe to those who plot evil.

Yes, the Lord restrains those who are wicked and evil because He protects the good and the upright.

In the gospel, it was the Pharisees, of all people, who began to plot against Jesus, discussing how to destroy Him.

But Jesus did not confront them or retaliate against them.

The prophet Isaiah says this of Jesus: He will not break the crushed reed, nor put out the smouldering wick.

In the face of wickedness and evil, let us put our trust in Jesus.

He will lead the truth to victory, because in the end love and truth will prevail.

15th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 17-07-2026

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

As we go on day by day, we may feel that life is rather routine and mundane.

We do the ordinary things like waking up, get ready for the day, take our meals and at the end of the day, we rest for the night.

But when this so-called monotony of life is broken by an unexpected mortal illness, then something that seems so abstract will become so real.

And that is, life is fading away and coming to an end, just like the sand in the hour-glass that is trickling away.

In the first reading, king Hezekiah was told to put his earthly affairs in order, for he was going to die.

King Hezekiah was a powerful king but even that could not stop death from coming to take him away.

He pleaded with God in tears, and God heard his prayer and added fifteen years to his life.

And that was because God had a purpose, that through king Hezekiah, the Assyrians will be defeated.

In the gospel, the Pharisees questioned Jesus about His disciples picking and eating corn on the sabbath.

The reply of Jesus can be summed up as this: people eat to live, and hunger is also a sign of the desire for life.

We too desire for life, but let us also hunger for God.

When we hunger for God, then we will give thanks to God for the ability to do the routine and mundane things in life.

15th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 16-07-2026

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

It can be said that human beings have a contradiction within themselves 

We want peace for ourselves, but we are prepared to fight with our enemies, thinking that by eliminating them, we will have peace.

We want to make ourselves look good and be happy, and we think that by putting others down, we will be better than them.

All this do not result in any good for ourselves or for others.

Yet, we keep fanning this contradiction within us with all sorts of warped strategies.

So what we really want is to have peace in our hearts and to live good lives.

But as the first reading tells us, the path of the upright man is straight and follows the way of the Lord.

It is only when we long for the Lord and seek Him, then we will learn the meaning of integrity and justice.

In the gospel, Jesus tells us to come to Him when we are tired and overburdened.

He will give us rest but we must turn away from our sinfulness and carry the cross of purification.

When we learn from Jesus to be gentle and humble of heart, then we will not be tired out and burdened by the contradictions of our lives.

15th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 15-07-2026

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

In order to achieve success, power, wealth or a specific goal, a person needs to be ambitious.

With ambition and the willingness to put in effort, then goals and targets can be achieved.

But ambition without principles and discipline can be dangerous.

And ambition fanned by pride and ego can make a person think that nothing can stop him from getting what he wants.

In the first reading, the Lord used Assyria to punish His people for their sinfulness.

The Lord sent Assyria against His people who had become like a godless nation.

But ambition, pride and ego made Assyria go on destroying and cutting nations to pieces without limit.

Assyria was like an axe that claimed more credit than the man who wields it. Assyria was just over-ambitious.

So the Lord of host had to show Assyria who is the Master, and He sent a wasting sickness to Assyria’s stout warriors and burned up their wealth.

In the gospel, Jesus says that the true meaning of life is revealed to mere children.

As much as it is good to have an ambition in life, may we also be like simple and humble children.

May we listen to the Lord our God and do what He wants of us.

15th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 14-07-2026

Isaiah 7:1-9 / Matthew 11:20-24  

It is easier to believe in things we can see and know, rather than to believe in what cannot be seen and difficult to believe.

What our senses can perceive, we are able to make an assessment and judgement.

But if our senses cannot perceive, then our knowledge is limited and uncertain.

In the first reading, the two kings of Aram and Israel joined forces to lay siege on Jerusalem.

When the news reached Jerusalem, the heart of the king and the hearts of the people shuddered as the trees shudder in front of the wind.

They shuddered because of the imminent danger at the gates, and if the walls of the city are breached, it will be a tragedy and a disaster.

But the hearts of the king and the people shuddered because their hearts had swayed away from the Lord.

Still, the Lord did not abandon His people to the enemy and sent the prophet Isaiah to calm the heart of king Ahaz and not to fear.

The Lord will protect Jerusalem. But the Lord also gave this warning:

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

In the gospel, Jesus also warned the towns of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum.

Those town are now in ruins because they rather believed in their power and wealth than in the message of repentance.

Let us heed the message of repentance and stand by the Lord.

When we stand by the Lord with faith, He will protect us and fight our battles for us.

15th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 13-07-20267

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

It can be said that one of the most profound expressions of our faith is in the worship.

When we are gathered in the Eucharist, we worship God and offer prayer for ourselves, for the Church and for the world.

The worship, or the liturgy, is a formalized set of rituals to help us to encounter the presence of God and to come into communion with Him.

While there are rules and guidelines for the liturgy, it is kept simple and dignified for everyone to follow and understand.

But in the first reading, the people’s sacrifice was frowned upon by the Lord.

In the Lord’s words, He said, “I am sick of the holocausts of rams and the fat of calves. The blood of bulls and goats revolts me.”

The Lord detested the sacrifices because the people’s worship was not an expression of their faith.

Their worship became like a ritual festival with solemnity, and at the same time they were committing wickedness, injustice and oppression.

So the Lord turned away and did not listen to their multiple prayers, unless they repented.

May we not treat our worship and liturgy as a sort of ritual festivity with empty solemnity.

May our worship be a true expression of our faith done with humility and simplicity.

Then the Lord our God will listen our prayers and grant us His blessings.

15th Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 11.07.2026

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

The present age can be called, among other things, the age of robots. 

And with each passing age, the features have become more and more fascinating and amazing. 

At present, we are already used to devices and appliances with robot technology. 

So, there is the robo-cleaner, the robo-vacuum, the robo-car, etc. 

It brings back memories of those sci-fi movies of the 80s like “RoboCop” and the Terminator movies, like “The Rise of the Machines”. 

That was like nearly 40 years ago, and it seemed like fiction and rather futuristic. 

Well, that fiction has become a fact, and that future has arrived. 

And the age of robots is already giving way to the age of humanoid robots. 

Because with the rise of artificial intelligence, the robots are not just getting intelligent, they are becoming more and more human. 

So, there are humanoid robots that can walk, run, carry loads, do housework, and even perform surgery. 

And then there are humanoid robots that can do sports like boxing and martial arts. 

So, maybe in the near future, the World Cup football games may feature 22 humanoid robot players. 

So, it seems that machines are taking over the tasks of mankind. 

If that is going to be the case, then what is left for the human race? 

In the gospel, Jesus told the parable of the Sower and the seeds. 

It is a parable that has an obvious meaning. 

But when His disciples asked Jesus why does He speak in parables, Jesus quoted from the prophet Isaiah: 

"You will listen and listen again and not understand, see and see again but not perceive. 

For the heart of this nation has grown coarse, their ears are dull of hearing, and they have shut their eyes, for fear they should see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and be converted and healed by me." 

That quote from the prophet Isaiah is what the Lord God said about His people. 

That also makes us think about the parable that Jesus told us in the Gospel. 

What may have caught our initial attention are the seeds that fell on rich soil and bore a harvest of 100 or 60 or 30. 

But what about the other seeds? We may think, "Well, too bad, they have to be written off." 

But why did the Sower carelessly sow the seeds in places that seem to have no chance of germinating? No chance at all actually. 

The parable of the sower and the seeds makes us listen and listen again, see and see again. 

The parable makes us wonder and ponder about the reality of life and the reality of our humanity. 

As much as the seeds of the Word of God must take root in our hearts and bear fruits in our lives, that is not the only focus. 

Because if results are the only focus, then it is about productivity, efficiency, and proficiency.

In that aspect, robots and humanoid robots assisted by AI can do a much, much better job. 

But the parable reminds us of some people who are like the seeds that fell on the edge of the path and eaten up by birds. 

They exist, but they are forgotten. It is like “out of sight, out of mind”. 

And then there are some people, who are like the seeds that fell on patches of rock and among thorns. 

They dry up, they wither, they are choked by the demands of life to be economically productive and to produce a harvest. 

Theirs is the silent cry for help to those who can produce a harvest in life. 

Some need financial aid, some need respect and dignity, some just need to see the goodness of humanity. 

But all need the seeds of God's love to be sown again in their hearts so that they can have hope for the future. 

The hope of the future is not in robots or humanoids. 

The hope of the future is in us, human beings made in the image of God. 

Yes, human beings who will listen and understand, see and perceive what God is revealing to us. 

14th Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 11-07-2026

Isaiah 6:1-8 / Matthew 10:24-33 

There is this quote from St. John Vianney: Here is a rule for everyday life – do not do anything which you cannot offer to God.

It is a rule that is clear and simple enough to follow.

But it is also a rule that is difficult to keep.

To do something that is pleasing to God requires a strong faith and love for God.

But when we do something that is wrong and not pleasing to God, certainly we want to hide it.

We can hide it from others, but we certainly cannot hide it from God.

As Jesus said in the gospel : For everything that is now covered will be uncovered, and everything now hidden will be made clear.

So, sooner or later, everything we do, whether in the light or in the dark, will be made known.

Since God sees everything we do, then let us always live in the light and do what is loving.

Let us do what always gives glory to God and we will also inherit a blessing.

14th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 10-07-2026

Hosea 14:1-10 / Matthew 10:16-23  

It is understandable that there are people who don’t like us, even though we may or may not have done anything against them.

And when their dislike turns to hatred and even want to harm us, surely we will take precautions and think of how to defend ourselves.

Certainly, we would want to avoid them at least so as to avoid any confrontation or conflict.

But in the gospel, Jesus said to the Twelve, “Remember, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves, so be cunning as serpents and yet as harmless as doves.”

And to think that Jesus is also saying that to us would make us shudder with fear.

To be among wolves is like asking for a painful death.

And yet, Jesus tells us to be cunning as serpents and to be as harmless as doves.

To be as cunning as serpents is to be wise enough and not to retaliate with eye for eye and tooth for tooth.

To be wise is to have recourse to the protection and the strength of the Lord.

As the first reading tells us, the ways of the Lord are straight and virtuous men walk in them, but sinners will stumble.

So the wicked and the evil may want to harm and hurt us, but they will stumble.

Because when we walk in the ways of love and forgiveness, then God will fight our battles for us.

God had promised that He will protect us. 

Let us put our trust in the Lord and we will see the marvellous power of His love for us.

14th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 09-07-2026

Hosea 11:1-4, 8-9 / Matthew 10:7-15  

Human beings are social beings, and this means that in life, we enter into human relationships with one another.

But human relationships are quite complex as it involves emotions as well as expectations.

In a parent-child relationship, parents are expected to care and provide for their children, and children are expected to obey and respect their parents.

In the other interpersonal relationships, there are also expectations that can be spelt out and understood by all parties.

But relationships are not lived out based on logical and rational principles.

Because in relationships there are also emotions, and when expectations in a relationship are not met, then there can be anger, frustration and resentment.

So as much as relationships can be built with love and understanding, relationships can also break down with misunderstanding and even with betrayal.

In the first reading, the Lord God recalls how He loved His people and brought them out of slavery.

But it seems that the more He loved them, the more they turned away from Him.

That is beyond all human understanding, and with the breakdown of the relationship, God can easily punish His people and reject and discard them away.

And here comes something that is beyond our human understanding and expectation when God said this:

“I will not give reign to my fierce anger, I will not destroy Ephraim again, for I am God not man. I am the Holy One in your midst and have no wish to destroy.”

So, God’s ways are not man’s ways, and God’s thoughts are not man’s thoughts.

When we remember this, and act in the ways of God and think of His love and mercy, then we will build loving relationships with God and with others.

14th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 08-07-2026

Hosea 10:1-3, 7-8, 12 / Matthew 10:1-7  

To be prosperous and wealthy can be seen as a blessing from God.

To have received such blessings, one must always give thanks to God and be faithful to Him.

But prosperity and wealth can also be a distraction in that one can become complacent and begin to take blessings for granted.

And it would be tragic that in receiving all the good things of life, God is forgotten.

In the first reading, we heard that Israel was blessed by God and became a luxuriant vine yielding plenty.

But the more the fruit increased, the more divided was Israel’s heart.

Because sin was always lurking around the heart to distract it and make it unfaithful to God.

In the gospel, Jesus summoned His disciples and sent them out with authority and power to cast out unclean spirits and to cure all kinds of diseases and sickness.

Sin and evil are always present to make us forget about God and to be unfaithful to Him.

Let us pray for God’s protection and also for His blessings to be humble and to walk faithfully in His ways.

14th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 07-07-2026

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

In almost every organization, there are levels of hierarchy.

In this hierarchy, there is a superior-subordinate relationship at every level.

The subordinate has the responsibility of carrying out the instructions of the superior.

The subordinate also has the responsibility of informing the superior of any development, as well as seeking permission for any initiatives.

Tensions will arise when the subordinate disobeys the superior and does whatever he wants without informing the superior.

In the first reading, the Lord says this of His people: 

They have set up kings, but not with my consent, and appointed princes but without my knowledge.

In other words, the people disobeyed God and were unfaithful to Him.

Punishment was inevitable, and it is the people who brought the tragedy upon themselves.

In the gospel, Jesus cast out the dumb demoniac from a man, and he began to speak.

It was also a sign that the people should open their mouths in prayer and communicate with God.

Jesus taught us how to pray. In the gospel, He also taught us what to pray for.

He said, “The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest.”

The Lord our God has called us and He is sending us into the world.

May we teach the world to acknowledge God as Creator and to obey Him and do His will.

14th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 06-07-2026

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

There can be many ways to solve a problem.

But the interesting point is the ingenious ways to look for solutions.

That also brings about the ability to think of original, creative solutions to problems.

And usually it is in desperation that conventional procedures and even cautious measures are put aside.

In the gospel, an official came up to Jesus and even bowed low in front of Him.

The official’s daughter has just died, but he believed that Jesus can save her life.

So, regardless of status and everything else, the official humbled himself before Jesus.

While all this was happening, a woman who suffered from haemorrhage for twelve years came up from behind Jesus. 

She believed that even by touching the fringe of His cloak, she will be well again.

We may not know how the official or the woman came up with those ideas.

But we believe that God heard their prayers and prompted them to do something that was rather unconventional.

When we are in need and in desperation, let us pray to God for help.

And God may answer our prayers in a way that will even surprise us. 

14th Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 28.06.2026

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

The future is a mysterious thing, and we are certainly quite curious about it. 

Because we want to know what the future is like. 

While some of us would like to know what the future is like, some people also want to know when the future will end. 

So, those end-time prophecies can still get people to be curious and nervous.

Nonetheless, predictions about the future can arouse our curiosity. 

We may just glance at the horoscopes for the day, just for fun, but we may end up thinking seriously about it. 

There is this story of a young man who was poor and single. 

He went to see a wise man for some advice to change his life. 

The wise man looked carefully at him and said, "You will be poor and single until you are 40." 

The young man was curious and asked, "Until 40? After that? After that?" 

The wise man replied, "After that, you will get used to it." 

But the curious and adventurous side in us makes us want to discover, to speculate, to imagine, and to dream about the future. 

While the motives can be noble and good, the objective may only be for self-gain. 

We use our intelligence and knowledge to see how we can grow our wealth and increase our possessions.

Because we think that to be wealthy would also mean that we could be happy. 

Well, it cannot be denied that wealth can buy some moments of happiness.

But what we are seeking for and longing for is peace in our hearts that will bear fruits of happiness in our lives. 

And Jesus wants to teach us about the mystery of life so that we can find true happiness and peace. 

In the Gospel, Jesus tells us to come to Him, we who are tired out and have many burdens in life. 

Maybe we overthink and try too hard to be happy, to succeed, to achieve, to accomplish, and to impress others. 

But Jesus tells us to shoulder the yoke and learn from Him, by taking the long road and entering by the narrow gate. 

He tells us that gentleness is strength, although the world tells us that power is might. 

There is this story about a bandit who threatened to kill a wise man because the wise man was discouraging others from joining the bandit. 

The bandit said, "To have a sword is to have power, power over life and death." 

So, the wise man told the bandit, "Cut off that branch from the tree." 

With one stroke of the sword, the branch fell to the ground. 

The wise man then told the bandit, "That is impressive. Now, join the branch back to the tree." 

The bandit laughed and said, "That's ridiculous." 

The wise man said, "So, your sword can only cut and bring about destruction and death. True strength is to restore and bring about life." 

So, it takes no effort to destroy, but it takes immense grace and gentleness to restore.

To understand humility, let us take a look at the tree. 

No matter how tall or how strong the tree grows, its leaves and its fruits will still fall down to the ground and to its roots. 

Similarly, no matter how successful or accomplished we become, humility reminds us of our roots and our dependence on God.

As we heed the call of Jesus to come to Him, we come before the Lord Jesus in prayer. 

With a gentle and a humble heart, we will know that prayer is the greatest power that the Lord has granted to us. 

With prayer, we will follow Jesus to restore and to heal. 

With prayer, we will listen to Jesus and to forgive others and be reconciled with them. 

With prayer, we will commend our lives into the hands of Jesus because the future is in His hands. 

With prayer, we will be like little children being loved by God the Father. 

That is true happiness. That is true peace. 

13th Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 04-07-2026

Amos 9:13-15 / Matthew 9:14-17  

To have pioustic practices to express our devotion to the Lord is certainly a good thing.

These religious practices also let others know how we pray and how we practice our faith.

So, it may be practices like going for Mass, praying the Rosary or other devotions, spending time with the Lord in the adoration chapel, almsgiving and fasting.

All these practices express our faith and also express our relationship with God.

While we may be devoted in our religious practices, it also needs to be said that not everyone must do what we do.

Some practices may appeal to some and we cannot and should not impose our religious practices on others.

In the gospel, John’s disciples asked Jesus why His disciples do not fast, while they and the Pharisees practice it.

It seems like John’s disciples and the Pharisee think that fasting is one of the best ways to practice the religion.

Not to do it might mean that one is not serious with the religion or taking it lightly.

But let us remember that God relates to us in a personal way and there are also many ways to express our relationship with God.

More that just religious and pioustic practices, it is the fruits of love that we bear with our faith.

And one of those fruits is when we understand that each person has his own way to relate with God and that we need to be less critical of how others practice their faith.

St. Thomas, Apostle, Friday, 03-07-2026

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

St. Thomas was one the the Twelve Apostles called by Jesus, although the gospels did not give details of how he was called.

At the Last Supper, Jesus told His Apostles that He was going to prepare a place for them to which they also might come because they knew both the place and the way.

But when St. Thomas said that they did not know the way, Jesus had to plainly and clearly say that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Yet St. Thomas was best known for questioning the resurrection of Jesus when the rest of the Apostles testified to it.

He even demanded to touch the wounds of Jesus before he would be convinced.

And because of that he was often called "Doubting Thomas". Yet when the Risen Christ appeared before him, it was St. Thomas who proclaimed the truth of the Resurrection when he addressed Jesus as "My Lord and my God".

St. Thomas was chosen as the instrument to make the first proclamation of the truth of the Resurrection and the Lordship of the Risen Christ.

He may have been skeptical and cynical and labelled as "Doubting Thomas", but we also must acknowledge that he was the first among the apostles to proclaim Jesus as Lord and God.

From St. Thomas we can see that out of a great doubt comes a deep faith.

So if we come across people who are skeptical or cynical about who Jesus is, let us also know that these very same people can be great witnesses of Jesus.

And even from our own doubts and darkness, we will also proclaim Jesus as Lord and God when we see the light.

Annual Priests Retreat 2026

My Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The priests of the Archdiocese of Singapore will be having their annual retreat from 29th June, Monday to 3rd July, Friday.

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

As such, the next homily post will be for 14th Ordinary Sunday, 5th July 2026.

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

Thank you. May God bless you!

Msgr. Stephen Yim

13th Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 28.06.2026

2 Kings 4:8-11, 14-16 / Romans 6:3-4, 8-11 / Matthew 10:37-42 

Whenever there is a job opening or a project at hand, the qualifications and requirements of the applicants will be stated.

Applicants for the job or the project will not only know what it is about, they will also know whether to send in their applications or not.

So, the job description or project requirements should be clear and specific.

And the qualifications and suitability of the applicants should also be stated so that not anyone and everyone can apply.

And if there is only one opening, then only someone will get it.

But if no one applies for it, then either it is a bad joke or that something is really wrong.

Broadly speaking, people can be generalized as anyone, everyone, someone, or no one.

How it is used depends on the situation, the requirements, and the qualifications.

In the gospel, the word that is repeated a number of times is "anyone."

Jesus made six statements which began with that indefinite pronoun, "anyone."

In those six sentences, Jesus stated His requirements for those who want to follow Him.

And it is quite clear that "anyone" does not mean that no requirements are needed.

In short, it is about choosing between following Jesus or following our preferences.

So, if we prefer the comfort of human relationships, or if we prefer to live life our way, then we would rather not hear about what Jesus is requiring of those who are to follow Him.

Especially when Jesus said that anyone who does not take up his cross and follow Him is not worthy of Him.

That is challenging enough for us to consider.

And needless to say, there is no need to think about that part when Jesus said that anyone who finds his life will lose it, and anyone who loses his life for the sake of Jesus will find it.

It seems like the requirements of discipleship are too much and the bar is too high.

Yet when we look around at the others present here in this Church, then how many of us actually met the requirements of Jesus?

The Church is the House of God, and anyone can come in.

The House of God is also the House of prayer.

Anyone coming into the House of God would want to pray.

In fact, that is the only requirement.

In the House of God and in the House of prayer, sinners seek forgiveness and salvation.

In the House of God and in the House of prayer, the sick ask for a cure and pray for healing.

In the House of God and in the House of prayer, we remember the promises of God as we present our problems and petitions.

It is in the House of God and in the House of prayer that the prophecy of Isaiah about Jesus is fulfilled: "He took away our sicknesses and carried our diseases for us."

So, anyone who admits that he or she is a sinner and unworthy to follow Jesus, then that person is most welcome into the house of God.

Because it is in the House of prayer that repentance and conversion can begin.

And we know that we are changing to be disciples of Jesus when we become gentle and kind enough to let people be.

We will not criticize them when they mispronounce a word or sing a wrong note.

We will understand when they look burdened and disheartened and did not notice our greeting and smiling at them.

We will bear with those who are rude and selfish and not to fan their anger into a fire.

Anything is possible for anyone to be a disciple of Jesus in the House of God.

Because in the House of prayer, Jesus can change sinners into disciples.

12th Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 27-06-2026

Lamentations 2:2, 10-14, 18-19 / Matthew 8:5-17   

No one would want to defy those in authority or those who have earthly power.

To dare to defy or challenge or resist authority or earthly powers would mean two things.

Either it is because the defiance or challenge or resistance comes from someone or a group of a great power.

Or that they are taking a risk and think that they can match the other authority or power.

But the price of defeat is none other than punishment.

The people of God had known the authority and power of God.

Yet, they dared to disobey and disregard the Lord their God.

The first reading is about the lamentations of a people who had gone against their God, and they had to bear the consequences.

But in the gospel, it was a military commander, a centurion, who acknowledges the power and the authority of God.

His servant was paralysed and in great pain.

The centurion knew that no earthly power or authority can cure his servant and bring him back to health.

And so with a humility that even astonished Jesus, the centurion pleaded with Jesus for his servant.

Let us plead with Jesus when we have sinned and gone astray and away from God.

With God’s mercy, forgiveness and healing, let us always be obedient and faithful to God so that we will always rejoice in His love for us.

12th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 26-06-2026

2 Kings 25:1-12 / Matthew 8:1-4

It is quite unimaginable and even horrific at the barbaric behaviour of human beings in this civilized age and time.

The atrocities of WWII and the other barbaric crimes of subsequent wars and violence will certainly raise questions about the sanity of humanity in this modern age.

It seems that history is repeating itself in updated methods of torture and killing.

In the first reading, the enemy laid siege on Jerusalem for about two years before capturing it.

King Zedekiah was captured together with his family and king Nebuchadnezzar treated him and his sons in a horrible and barbaric way.

But that was only just the beginning. The Temple of the Lord was also burned down together with the palace and all the houses of Jerusalem.

The burning question was this: Why did God allow His Temple to be burned down and looted of all its treasures?

And why was the People of God subjected to such humiliation, tragedy and disaster?

The only possible answer is that the People of God rebelled and defied God in His face, and they may even think that God would still protect them from their enemies and not let anything destroy the Temple.

But they were so wrong, and hence they were subject to the full fury and insanity of the enemy.

When God is insulted, rejected and disregarded, then humanity has lost all its sensibility.

But the gospel shows that when humanity turns to God for healing and salvation, God will certainly grant His blessings.

Let us always revere God in His House and always be a People of prayer.

Then we will be able to show humanity how to be sensible and be civilized.

12th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 25-06-2026

2 Kings 7:15-20 / Matthew 7:21-29

There are times when we think that life is rather unfair.

For example, the rich get better treatment, whereas the poor are ignored and disregarded.

But it is the poor and the underprivileged who need to be supported with means that they are not able to get on their own.

And the rich already had their resources. So it is like the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

In the first reading, the king of Babylon and his army laid siege on Jerusalem.

The king of Judah eventually surrendered to the king of Babylon and with that the king of Judah and his people went into exile.

So all the nobles and all the notables, the blacksmiths and metalworkers and all those who were rich and comfortable were exiled.

Only the poorest people in the country were left behind.

God listened to the cry of the poor and He came to their help.

The nobility, the rich, those of distinction and high society did not need to cry to God because probably there was no need to.

But in the end, it is in exile that they learned how to cry to God for help.

When we are comfortable and having it easy in life, let us remember those who are underprivileged, disadvantaged and disregarded.

They may be the ones who will cry out to God to help us in our time of need.

Nativity of St. John the Baptist, Wednesday, 24-06-2026

Isaiah 49:1-6 / Acts 13:22-26 / Luke 1:57-66, 80

Today the Church celebrates the birth of John the Baptist. John the Baptist has a special place in the story of salvation because it was he who pointed out Jesus the Saviour to the people.

It was he who also baptised Jesus in the Jordon before Jesus began His ministry.

John the Baptist was like a forerunner who prepares the people for the coming of the Messiah in the person of Jesus Christ.

If it can be said of John the Baptist, he was like that sharpened arrow that was concealed in the quiver that was described in the 1st reading.

As in ancient warfare, the shooting of a volley of arrows signals the impending attack of an army, John the Baptist was that one single arrow that carried a message of repentance and conversion.

Like an arrow that is concealed in the quiver, John the Baptist was hidden in the desert until the appointed time came for him to be the prophet who proclaimed the message of repentance in preparation for the coming of the Messiah.

We too are like arrows in the quiver of God. Concealed in the quiver, we prepare ourselves in prayer for whatever mission that God has for us.

And just as an arrow has only one target, so may we be focused on what God's will is for us just as John the Baptist was focused on what his mission was.

When his mission ended, John the Baptist also gracefully decreased in order that Jesus would increase.

May we too carry out our mission faithfully so that God's love will increase in the hearts of those whom we serve.

12th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 23-06-2026

2 Kings 19:9-11, 14-21, 31-36 / Matthew 7:6, 12-14   

Whenever we get bad news, it is inevitable that we will be rattled.

It may be some bad talk against us, or some complaint against us, or a warning letter against us.

Whatever it may be, we will be anything from being annoyed and upset, to being worried and anxious.

When Sennacherib, king of the Assyrians, sent the letter to king Hezekiah, we can imagine how king Hezekiah felt when he read it.

Because the letter read: “Do not let your God on whom you are relying deceive you, when he says: Jerusalem shall not fall into the power of the king of Assyria. You have learnt by now what the kings of Assyria have done to every country, putting them all under the ban. Are you likely to be spared?”’

Instead of giving in to fear, king Hezekiah took the letter, went up to the Temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord.

And then he prayed: ‘O Lord of Hosts, God of Israel, enthroned on the cherubs, you alone are God of all the kingdoms of the earth, you have made heaven and earth.

Give ear, Lord, and listen. Open your eyes, Lord, and see. Hear the words of Sennacherib who has sent to insult the living God.

But now, O Lord our God, save us from his hand, I pray you, and let all the kingdoms of the earth know that you alone are God, Lord.’

God hear his prayer and God acted. That same night the angel of the Lord went out and struck down a hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp. Sennacherib struck camp and left; he returned home and stayed in Nineveh.

Yes, God listens to the prayer of the humble and the helpless.

When we have sinned, let us ask for forgiveness.

When we are wrongly accused or threatened, let us pray for God’s help.

Let us be still and keep praying, and we will see the wonderful and loving hand of God upon us.

12th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 22-06-2026

2 Kings 12:5-6, 13-15, 18 / Matthew 7:1-5  

Whenever we talk about time, we usually refer to it as chronological time.

That is to say, we usually think of time as dates and duration.

And then we also talk of time that has a purpose.

For example, it takes time to heal, it takes time to forget, and maybe it even takes time to awaken.

In the first reading, the Assyrians invaded Samaria and laid siege to it for three years.

Three years is a long time to be cooped up and surrounded by enemies.

Yet, during those three years, God sent prophets to give the people warning after warning and to repent.

Yet after three years, the people did not listen, they did not repent, and in the end disaster and tragedy fell on the people.

Out of the 12 tribes of Israel, only one tribe remained, and that is the tribe of Judah.

It may seem incomprehensible that even after three years of sufferings and warnings, the people still did not awaken and repent.

But let us not come to judgement so quickly.

Let us not talk about the plank in their eyes and forget that we too have a plank in our eyes.

Let us open our eyes and be awakened to our sins and repent.

Otherwise we can only blame ourselves when tragedy and disaster fall upon us.

12th Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 21.06.2026

Jeremiah 20:10-13 / Romans 5:12-15 / Matthew 10:26-33 

There is a saying that a picture tells a thousand words.

But the world, with the advancement of technology, has moved to more than just pictures. 

By pictures, it may mean just depictions of drawings and paintings.

But with photographs, that have high resolution and vibrant colours, lesser words are needed, compared with drawings and paintings. 

And when it comes to videos, then there is no need for words, because videos usually come with the audio, and so the words are already there. 

So, with videos, we can see moving images and we can hear the sounds and conversations. 

And videos have become a daily part of our lives, so much so that we don't pay much attention to the video cameras anymore. 

In the vehicles, there are dash cams, security personnel wear jackets with body cams, streets and buildings have CCTV cameras. 

Even at home, there are cameras that record and monitor the activity inside as well as outside of the home. 

So, at any one time, we may wonder if we are unknowingly being videoed, and also, who is it that is watching us. 

So, as much as video cameras are for security, they also provide a means for others to scrutinize us. 

In the Gospel, Jesus instructed the Twelve as follows: 

Do not be afraid, for everything that is now covered will be uncovered, and everything now hidden will be made clear. 

What I say to you in the dark, tell in the daylight. What you hear in whispers, proclaim from the housetops. 

In other words, Jesus is telling us not to be afraid because God is watching over us. 

Yes, God sees, God hears, God knows, and God will act. 

In the first reading, God sees the danger that the prophet Jeremiah was in, and He heard the prayer of Jeremiah too. 

Jeremiah was surrounded with terror on every side.

But he placed his trust in the Lord, who will deliver him from his enemies,

Jeremiah then says this of the Lord: 

But You, Lord of hosts, You who prove with justice, who scrutinize the loins and the heart, let me see the vengeance that You will take on them, for I have committed my cause to You. 

Jeremiah believes that God sees, God hears, God knows, and God will act.

And with Jeremiah, we too believe that God also watches over us. 

God watches over us because He loves us and He wants to protect us from danger and harm. 

God watches over the good, so that they can continue to believe in the goodness of life. 

And God looks at the bad and the wicked, and He, the Lord of hosts, the Lord of the heavenly armies, will also stop the bad and the wicked from causing more terror and evil. 

So, God watches over us, and we should be consoled and comforted by that. 

And with that, we don't have to worry about who is watching us. 

And when we walk and live under the watchful eyes of God, there is nothing to hide and there is nothing to fear. 

But there is a video camera in our minds that records the moments of our lives when we walk in the light and when we hide in the dark. 

For the moments, when our lives were in the light, we give thanks to God for His love and blessings. 

But there are moments when we are covered by the darkness of sin, covered by anger, resentment, bitterness, jealousy, lust, and other immoral desires. 

We want to hide these moments. 

But we must bring these moments to the Lord in prayer. 

We let the Lord see and hear, we let the Lord know what we want to hide or even what we want to forget. 

But the Lord of love will shine His light into those dark moments of our lives. 

God wants us to hide no more, and to fear no more, and to sin no more, because He comes to heal and save us. 

So that like the prophet Jeremiah, we can say:

Sing to the Lord, praise the Lord, for He has delivered the soul of the needy from the hands of sin and evil.

11th Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 20-06-2026

2 Chronicles 24:17-25 / Matthew 6:24-34

When someone tells us that what we are doing is good, we will certainly feel happy about it.

But when someone tells us what is good for us, we may not feel that happy.

Because what is good for us may not be what we like to hear.

We would rather listen to someone who praises us and says good things about us, even though what they say may not be true.

In the first reading, when king Joash ascended to the throne, the court officials of Judah came and paid respects to him, and he turned to them for advice.

They could have praised the king and found favour with him.

But when Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada the priest, spoke up about the sin of the king and the people, they went against him.

Zechariah was stoned to death in the court of the Temple of the Lord.

Both, king Joash and Zechariah, made their choice and they had to accept the eventual consequence.

In the gospel, Jesus told His disciples that they cannot be the slave of two masters – they cannot be the slave both of God and of money.

With money, we will get praises and we will be pleased.

But when we listen to God, we will understand the truth of life and that love is what will make us truly happy,

11th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 19-06-2026

2 Kings 11:1-4, 9-18, 20 / Matthew 6:19-23

In life, we have possessions and belongings.

When we look at what we have, some thoughts may come to our minds.

There are some things that we yearn to get our hands on.

But after we had gotten it, the excitement lasts a while and now it is left around or forgotten in the storeroom.

Some things were pleasant surprises, and though it may not mean that much to us initially, yet we have kept it close to us and we admit that it has become precious to us.

So it can be said that what belongs to us will come to us.

On the other hand, what does not belong to us will never be ours.

In the first reading, the wicked Athaliah seize control and took power by killing all those of royal stock.

But ill-gotten gains will never last and the final price to pay for it was death.

In the gospel, Jesus said to His disciples: Do not store up treasure for yourselves on earth, but to store up treasures for yourselves in heaven.

Whatever we need, God will give to us. It is not a belonging but a blessing from God.

And the greatest blessing is when we know we need only Jesus.

We belong to Him and it is with this blessing that we will be happy on earth and eternally happy in heaven.

11th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 18-06-2026

Ecclesiasticus 48:1-15 / Matthew 6:7-15  

What often disturbs our peace of mind are resentment and bitterness.

When our minds are disturbed, so too will be our hearts.

And the resentment and bitterness are often about other people.

Those people annoy us, irritate us, upset us, and so we react against them.

We may not express our resentment and bitterness openly against them.

But in our minds and our hearts, the fire of resentment and bitterness rages against them.

And that fire also burns up our energy and our love.

Even in prayer, we may not find the peace that we long for.

In the gospel, after Jesus taught His disciples about the prayer of the Our Father, He also added the teaching about forgiveness.

If we don’t forgive, then we can’t expect to be forgiven either.

If we don’t forgive, the resentment and bitterness in us grow deeper and destroys us.

Let us turn to Jesus in prayer, asking for forgiveness and healing for ourselves, as well as forgiveness and healing for others.

11th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 17-06-2026

2 Kings 2:1, 6-14 / Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18   

Generally speaking, extroverts are comfortable with people around them.

They may even like it when attention is drawn to them.

On the other hand, introverts may tend to avoid crowds and prefer a quieter company, or just a companion.

But an extrovert may not be all out to gain attention.

And an introvert may yearn for attention in some other ways.

But whether we think of ourselves as an extrovert or introvert, there is an aspect in our lives that we need to be aware of.

And that is this – what will we do when there are people watching us.

And what will we do when we think that no one is watching us.

Whether there are people watching us or not, we also need to know this.

And that is, God is looking at us.

God is looking at us not to catch us for doing something wrong.

God is looking at us because He loves us, and He wants us to look at Him in return.

When we look at God, then we will know what He wants of us, and we will also do what is pleasing to Him.

When we look at God with love, then He will also bless us with His love.

11th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 16-06-2026

1 Kings 21:17-29 / Matthew 5:43-48

There are many times when we wonder if horrible and wicked deeds can ever be forgiven.

Because to forgive the offender already requires so much of the letting go of the revenge.

Furthermore, if the offender is not remorseful or repentant of his evil and wicked deeds, then does he even need to be forgiven?

For all the evil and wicked deeds that king Ahab and his wife Jezebel committed, it would be very difficult to forgive them.

It would have to be an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.

But just because king Ahab showed some repentance, God was ready to forgive him.

God’s mercy and forgiveness is as difficult to understand as to why some people commit evil and wicked deeds.

But God’s mercy and forgiveness will be necessary to overcome evil and wickedness.

The teaching of Jesus about loving our enemies and praying for those who persecute us is also difficult to understand.

But when we start practising it, then we will know the power of God’s mercy and forgiveness over evil and wickedness.

11th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 15-06-2026

1 Kings 21:1-16 / Matthew 5:38-42

Fire is a good servant, but a bad master.

Power is also a good servant, but also a bad master.

And when power becomes the master and uses fire as its servant, the result will be disastrous. 

In the first reading, king Ahab sulked and was gloomy when Naboth refused to give him the vineyard to be a vegetable garden.

Then his wife Jezebel came along and came to know about the matter.

She came up with a plot and then had Naboth put to death.

It was like power and fire becoming masters and causing death and disaster.

Yet the death of the innocent Naboth meant nothing at all to king Ahab, Jezebel and the elders and nobles of the town.

If we can take the law into our own hands, then we will see justice done to those evil people.

But again, let us remember that justice and vengeance belong to the Lord.

As Jesus said in the gospel “offer the wicked man no resistance”.

Let us not become that kind of power and fire that will burn and destroy and even create a bigger fire and destruction.

The way of the Lord is peace and gentleness.

That is the greatest power. 

May we understand that so that we will be able to forgive those who have done wrong to us.

11th Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 14.06.2026

Exodus 19:2-6 / Romans 5:6-11 / Matthew 9:36 – 10:8  

Whenever we communicate with others, we compose statements in our minds.

And when we know what we want to say, then we speak. 

So, the process is the mind thinks and then the mouth speaks. 

It is certainly not the other way around. 

And it cannot be. 

But if the mouth says something that is illogical, irrational, or irresponsible, it only expresses the state of the mind. 

So generally, when we speak, we make statements that either convey facts, or information, or opinions. 

We make statements that are an assertion, or a claim, or to give an account. 

In the context of religion, we also make statements of faith. 

In the Mass, we make these statements of faith: “I confess”, “I believe”, “I am not worthy”, “my soul shall be healed”. 

And outside of Mass, we also make other statements of faith. 

The more common ones are, “God is love”, “God will forgive”, “God will help us”, “God will provide”. 

In the Gospel, Jesus said this to His disciples, “The harvest is rich, but the labourers are few.” 

Jesus tells His disciples of the reality, and that is, there is a labour shortage in the harvest of the Lord. 

This is often quoted in vocation promotion, where the emphasis is on the need for more priests to serve the people of God. 

But as much as Jesus pointed out the problem, He also presented the solution. 

And it is not just a solution. Jesus made a profound statement of faith. 

Jesus said, “Ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest.” 

Jesus reminds us that everything belongs to God, the harvest, as well as the labourers. 

We just need to ask, and God will provide. 

There is this famous bedtime prayer from St. Pope John XXIII. 

The prayer is this: Lord, this is Your church. I am going to bed. Good night. 

St. Pope John XXIII learnt how to let go of worry and anxiety by reminding himself that God is ultimately in control. 

So, at the end of the day, his simple and comforting act of surrender is this, “Lord, this is Your church, I'm going to bed. Good night.” 

Yes, the Church belongs to God, the harvest belongs to God, the labourers belong to God, the whole world belongs to God. 

So, if everything belongs to God, then God will provide for everything. 

When we say that God will provide, it is a statement of faith. 

And we are also echoing what Abraham said to Isaac when Isaac asked where is the lamb of sacrifice because they did not bring along the sacrificial lamb. 

Abraham told Isaac: God will provide. 

And when the angel stopped Abraham from sacrificing Isaac, Abraham saw a ram that was caught by its horns among the bushes. 

Abraham sacrificed that ram and called the place “Jehovah Jireh”, which means “God will provide”. 

And that is also our faith statement, “God will provide”, because Jesus tells us to ask and we will receive. 

So, we ask that God 

- send labourers to His harvest, 

- that God calms our worries and anxieties and - grants us a good night's rest, 

- that God will grant peace to the world and to our families and to the Church, 

- that God heals us from our pains and illness, - that God will protect us from harm and danger. 

For anything and for everything, let us turn to God because everything belongs to God. 

In His time and in His way, God will provide for us and grant us what we need. 

And when God has provided for our needs, let us also bear testimony to God by telling others about the goodness of the Lord.

The Immaculate Heart of Mary, Saturday, 13-06-2026

Isaiah 61:9-11 / Luke 2:41-51   

The heart of a mother is a heart that is so loving and understanding, and yet it is also so mysterious.

We may think that we understand our mothers, but they actually know more about us that we can ever imagine.

After all, we were conceived in the womb of our mothers, and hence we are a part of them and nothing can ever eradicate this mother-child relationship.

And it can be said that nothing can ever separate a mother from her child. A mother's bond to her child is something that goes beyond logic and explanation.

In today's feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the gospel reading gives us a good reflection of the heart of Mary.

Mary made it a point that Jesus had a religious upbringing and that was why she and Joseph brought Jesus to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover.

Mary had a heart for God and she wanted Jesus to have what she treasured most - a heart for God.

When Mary and Joseph lost contact with Jesus, Mary would have felt that void most deeply.

Yet when they found Jesus, Mary was like a typical mother reprimanding her son. That makes her so lovable and understandable.

Yet when she did not understand the reply of Jesus, she kept quiet and stored it in her heart. Mary knew how to respond in the face of mystery.

May we too have a heart like that of Mary, lovable and understandable by others. And may our hearts be also open to mystery and to store and reflect in our hearts what we cannot understand immediately.

The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Friday, 12-06-2026

Deuteronomy 7:6-11 / 1 John 4:7-16 / Matthew 11:25-30  

The human heart is an important and an amazing organ.

It pumps blood throughout the circulatory system to deliver vital oxygen and nutrients to every cell in the body.

That is essentially the physical function of the heart.

But the heart also has a spiritual function.

Spiritually, the heart is considered the core of a person’s being, serving as the bridge between the physical body and the divine.

On the Cross, when the Heart of Jesus was pierced with a spear, blood and water flowed out.

The Heart of Jesus was revealed; the Heart of God was revealed.

For those who see that it is the Heart of God, they will understand what the blood and water means.

It is the love and forgiveness of God that flowed out of the broken Heart of Jesus.

It was the Heart of Jesus, flowing with love and forgiveness, that saved us.

On this feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, may God’s love and forgiveness flow into our hearts.

May the love of God make our hearts love God and neighbour.

May the forgiveness of God make us also forgive others.

May the Sacred Heart of Jesus make our hearts like His.

St. Barnabas, Apostle, Thursday, 11-06-2026

Acts 11:22-26; 13:1-3 / Matthew 10:7-13 

St. Barnabas was not one of the twelve Apostles chosen by Jesus, but the book of the Acts of the Apostles named him as an apostle (Acts 14:14).

Together with St. Paul, they preached the Good News to the gentiles. But there are some distinct characteristics about them.

St. Paul wrote epistles but there was none from St. Barnabas in the New Testament. There are quotes from St. Paul in Acts and in other passages in the New Testament, but there seems to be nothing written of what St. Barnabas said.

Yet it can be said that St. Barnabas was as much a man of words as he was of action.

His name means "son of encouragement" and he was given that name when he converted to Christianity and sold his goods and property and gave the money to the apostles.

Indeed he lived up to that name as he was the first to take in St. Paul after his conversion when others were still suspecting him.

In the 1st reading, we heard that St. Barnabas was sent to Antioch to look into the great numbers of conversion, and when he was there, more people were won over to the Lord.

He then went to look for St. Paul to help out in the work in Antioch and it was there that the disciples were first called "Christians" and that became the most identifiable term.

In word and in deed, St. Barnabas was a sign of encouragement for others in their faith and in their lives.

May we follow the example of St. Barnabas and be for others an encouragement and consolation in word and in deed.

10th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 10-06-2026

1 Kings 18:20-39 / Matthew 5:17-19

When we go to a restaurant, there will be a menu of what food is available.

Salt is not on the menu, but it is taken for granted.

But when it is missing from the food, we will immediately notice it.

And we won’t be silent about it. We will call for the waiter or even the chef and ask for an explanation.

In the first reading, the prophet Elijah asked the people:

“How long do you mean to hobble first on one leg then on the other? If the Lord is God, follow him; if Baal, follow him.’ 

But the people never said a word. 

They were like eating tasteless food but not saying anything about it.

The people forgot about the taste of the goodness of the Lord.

Jesus came not to abolish the Law or the Prophets, but to complete them.

He came to give us the taste of the goodness of the Lord.

When we know how good the Lord is to us, we won’t want the tasteless life.

With the goodness of the Lord in us, we will be the salt of the earth that will give others the taste of the goodness of the Lord.

10th Week. Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 09-06-2026

1 Kings 17:7-16 / Matthew 5:13-16   

There are times when we say things out of desperation without really knowing what it can mean.

It could be just an utterance of desperation and we say it because we don’t know what else to say.

So it can be an utterance like “Oh my God!”, though we do not intend to use God’s name in vain.

It seems like we want to tell God something, but words fall short, and we are also not sure what we want God to do for us.

In the first reading, the prophet Elijah asked the widow at Zarephath for water and food.

But it was a time of famine, and the widow said to Elijah, “As the Lord your God lives, I have no baked bread but only a handful of meal in a jar and a little oil in a jug.”

She was going to prepare the last meal for her son and herself and then they will wait for death to overcome them.

She may have said “As the Lord your God lives”, just like how we say “Oh my God”

But the God of life heard her, and even gave her the miracle of the jar of meal shall not be spent and the jug of oil shall not be emptied.

So, in desperate moments, when we say “Oh my God”, let us also finish the sentence by saying:

“Oh my God, save me” or “Oh my God, help me” or “Oh my God, protect us”

When we use God’s name, then let us also say what we need from God.

And our God who lives forever, will hear and answer our prayer.

10th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 089-06-2026

1 Kings 17:1-6 / Matthew 5:1-12  

We have often heard it said that this is a beautiful world.

As much as it is true, the contrary may also be true.

Because there are some creatures that could hardly be called beautiful.

So when we say that the world and creation is beautiful, we are just looking at the nice and pretty side of the world.

We can’t really explain why some creatures are not that pretty or pleasant to look at.

In the first reading, when the prophet Elijah was taking refuge from the famine, it was the ravens that brought bread to him in the morning and meat in the evening.

Ravens are unsightly birds and they make a sound that is not pleasant to the ears, and they are also scavengers.

Yet it was these lowly and unfavoured birds that brought food for Elijah and sustained him.

So, it can be said that the ravens brought God’s blessings to Elijah.

God’s blessings often come in unexpected forms and ways.

But when we accept to be poor in spirit, to be gentle and humble, to be kind and generous, then we will be blessed by God.

And may we be a blessing for others by showing them the ways of God.

Corpus Christi Year A, 07.06.2026

Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 14-16 / 1 Cor 10:16-17 / John 6:51-58

Whenever the topic of food is discussed, it will certainly generate a lot of interest. 

It will range from what is the best food, to where to go for the best food, and what is the best value for money. 

Food is one of the most basic human needs. Food also brings people together and relationships are also built and renewed. 

The act of eating is also a profound act. 

Just as we have to be careful about what comes out of our mouths, we have to be equally careful about what goes into our mouths.

Because what we put into our mouths will go into our bodies. 

So, good, clean and healthy food will nourish our bodies and keep us healthy. 

When we come for Mass, we will sing hymns and say prayers as we worship and praise the Lord. 

Then at Holy Communion, we come forward to receive the Body of Christ. 

We receive the Body of Christ in the consecrated host and we will eat it. 

It is with a deep act of faith that we believe it is the Body of Christ. that we are eating. 

As much as the appearance is only a round white wafer, the reality is that it is the Body of Christ. 

And when we say it is the Body of Christ, it specifically points to the Heart of Christ. 

We remember that passage in the gospel, when the soldier pierced the side of Jesus with a spear, and then blood and water flowed out. 

It was at that moment when the Heart of Jesus is revealed, the Heart of God is revealed. 

The blood and water are symbols of the love and forgiveness of God. 

So, when we receive the Body of Christ, we are actually receiving the Heart of Christ, and we also receive God's love and forgiveness. 

So, that humble, white, round, consecrated host has those profound meanings of God's Real Presence and His love and forgiveness. 

So, in receiving the Body of Christ, we receive the Heart of Christ, and that shall make our hearts more like that of Christ. 

When we are aware that we are eating the Body of Christ at Holy Communion, then that should also make us grateful for the food that we eat. 

That is why we say “Grace before meals” at the beginning of a meal. 

We thank God for the good, clean, and healthy food that He has provided for us. 

Jesus promised us that when two or three are gathered in His name, He will be there. 

And when a family is gathered for a family meal, then Jesus is also there with them. 

At Holy Communion in the Mass, we are united with Jesus. 

As we receive the Body of Christ, we also become the Body of Christ. 

Similarly, at family meals, Jesus is also there to unite the family members. 

Because if a family that prays together, stays together, then when a family eats together, they will also stay together. 

So, the food we eat, and also who we eat with, has a deep significance. 

When we eat as a family, we become united as a family. 

When we eat the Body of Christ, we become a member of the Body of Christ, and we are united in the Heart of Christ. 

May the feast of Corpus Christi, or the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ, help us to become more aware of the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. 

May we receive the Body of Christ reverently, and may we also have a heart like that of Christ, a heart that loves others, a heart that forgives others.

9th Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 06-06-2026

2 Tim 4:1-8 / Mark 12:38-44 

It is in the tainted human nature that there is a tendency to be proud and egoistic.

In giving in to pride and ego, we want to get the attention to ourselves.

We want to be the loud sound so that everyone has to listen to us.

We want to be the bright light so that everyone has to look at us.

It is like what Jesus said about the scribes in the gospel.

Those scribes like to walk about in long robes, be greeted obsequiously by others, take the front seats in the synagogues and the places of honour at banquets.

But they are ones who swallow the property of widows while making a show of lengthy prayers.

And Jesus also gave this warning: The more severe will be the sentence they receive.

That warning from Jesus is also no less for us.

Pride and ego are like bottomless pits that cannot be filled.

They are also like a fire that burns up everything.

May that poor widow be the image and the message that we will remember from today’s gospel.

And may that image and message help us to be simple and humble before God and before others.