23rd Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 06.09.2026

Ezekiel 33:7-9 / Romans 13:8-10 / Matthew 18:15-20      

God created this world and it is a beautiful creation.

This world is beautiful because God created it with His love.

And God's best and most beautiful creation is human beings.

God created human beings with the best and in the best of His love, because God created human beings in His image.

So, the world and all creation point to the creative power of God who makes all things beautiful.

But it is in human beings that God's image is reflected.

And that image is expressed in love, holiness, kindness, goodness, gentleness, compassion, forgiveness, peace, wisdom, and truth.

In other words, that image expresses all the attributes of God.

And because human beings are created in the image of God, each person has a dignity that is to be respected.

A person's dignity cannot be taken away by others because it is a God-given dignity.

But the surprising thing is that a person can disrespect and disregard his own dignity.

He does that when he commits wrongdoing and sinful acts against others.

In doing so, he also disregards and disrespects the dignity of others.

In the Gospel, Jesus said, "If your brother does something wrong, go and have it out with him alone, between your two selves."

Jesus continues, "If he listens to you, you have won back your brother."

The purpose of addressing the wrongdoing is to win back the other person.

It is to win him back to God so that he could see himself as being made in the image of God.

But we also have to be aware that our human nature has been disfigured and distorted by sin.

And this is where “having it out” or addressing the wrongdoing may end in accusation and confrontation.

And here is where we have to pay attention to what Jesus says at the end of the gospel passage. 

Jesus said, "I tell you solemnly, if two of you on earth agree to ask anything at all, it will be granted to you by my Father in heaven. For when two or three meet in my name, I shall be there with them." 

That is a solemn promise of Jesus to us, and that promise is fulfilled when we gather in prayer. 

In prayer, God renews His image in us, the image of love, holiness, kindness, gentleness, goodness, forgiveness, compassion, patience, wisdom, and truth. 

In prayer, our human nature is recreated into the image of God, so that we can listen to the voice of God and know what His will is. 

And when we agree to ask for anything in prayer, it is not about what we want, but about what the Lord our God wants. 

Because the word "agree" in the original language has the meaning of symphony and harmony. 

So, it is not that two or three people happen to pray for the same thing. 

It is about being gathered in Christ to understand His will, and to be united in prayer so as to carry out God's will. 

In other words, we pray so that we will know what to do and to do it in God's way. 

When we address a wrongdoing in God's way, there will be love, there will be peace, there will be reconciliation. 

So, where two or three meet, Jesus will be there, and their prayer will be heard and answered. 

It is not about the power of numbers, but the power of the presence of Jesus. 

A pilgrim shared a beautiful example of this at the World Youth Day in Lisbon in 2023.

About 1.5 million young people gathered for the final celebration. 

Imagine the noise! Young people were singing, talking, eating, laughing and walking around.

The scene as chaotic and full of activity.

And then the Blessed Sacrament was exposed.

And something extraordinary happened.

1.5 million young people became silent.

The enormous crowd became calm. Many knelt down in adoration. Why?

Because they knew that the One who was in their midst was more important than the one million people around them.

They had not gathered just to see the Pope.

They had not gathered just to meet other young Catholics.

They had gathered for Christ.

And when Christ became the focus, the crowd became a community of worship.

That is the power of gathering in the name Jesus.

But whether it is 1.5 million people, or 15 people, or 5 people or less, let us remember what Jesus promised.

Jesus promised that where two or three are gathered in His name in prayer, He will be there.

And when the Church, the Body of Christ, is united in prayer, then beautiful things will happen. 

Because united in prayer in the presence of Christ, there will be conversion and repentance, there will be forgiveness and healing.

And the world will be beautiful, and humanity (people) will also be beautiful.

So, let us be united in prayer, and Jesus will show us how beautiful and how powerful prayer can be.

22nd Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 05-09-2026

1 Corinthians 4:6-15 / Luke 6:1-5 

A maxim is a written set of principles or rules of conduct.

In the 1st reading, St. Paul stated a simple principle or rule and that is "Keep to what is written".

Most probably he was referring to the Scriptures and to the written set of teachings that were handed to the Christian community at Corinth.

He made recourse to that maxim because the Christians at Corinth were beginning to interpret the teachings to their own convenience and advantage.

What was too demanding and affected them personally they would give leeway for themselves and go with the broadest possible options.

St. Paul wanted to bring them to their senses and to help them see the truth and the reality of their spiritual deterioration.

Yet in the gospel, it was the Pharisees who were harping on keeping to the Law of the Sabbath.

But their intention was to reinforce and propagate their religious fundamentalist ideas.

But it is not a question of rigidity or laxity when it comes to religious teachings.

Jesus came to teach us the Truth so that we will have freedom when we keep to His teachings.

In Jesus, we have the Truth who will lead us to the Way of Life.

Let that be our spiritual maxim.

22nd Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 04-09-2026

1 Cor 4:1-5 / Luke 5:33-39    

Our actions are carried out with intentions.

Our actions are visible and others can have opinions and even make judgements about it.

But our intentions are not visible to others and only we ourselves know the motives of our intentions.

We may be seen as doing a noble act or a charitable deed, but our real intentions may have vested self-interests.

In the first reading, St. Paul reminds us that people must think of us as Christ’s servants, stewards entrusted with the mysteries of God.

So what is expected of us as stewards is that we should be found worthy of what is entrusted to us by God.

It means that what we do must be done with pure intentions and what we say must be the truth.

But temptations are always lurking around and in our weakness our intentions can be flawed with hidden ulterior motives.

The first reading also tells us that God will light up all that is hidden in the dark and reveal the secret intentions of our hearts.

When we let the light of God scatter the darkness of our hearts, then we will be the clean new cloak and the new wine in the gospel parables.

And with the light of God in us, then others will know what are the intentions of our words and deeds.

22nd Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 03-09-2026

1 Cor 3:18-23 / Luke 5:1-11

Between professionals and amateurs, it is obvious who will do a better job.

Professionals are paid to do the job, they are trained, they have the knowledge, the skills and the tools.

On the other hand, amateurs may have some knowledge and skills, but they do things as a hobby and not as a professional job.

In the gospel, Simon Peter and his companions were fisherman, and they make a living out of it.

But on that occasion, they worked hard all night and caught nothing.

Jesus was preaching to the crowds, and then He got into Simon Peter’s boat and continued to preach from there.

When He had finished, Jesus told Simon Peter to put out into deep water for a catch.

Peter may know that Jesus was not a fisherman, and he could have ignored what Jesus said, but for whatever reason, he decided to do as Jesus says.

That miraculous catch of fish made Peter realise that there are some things that are beyond his understanding or his expertise, and he was humbled by it.

And he also came to see that Jesus has more to reveal to him, and so he decided to follow Jesus.

As the first reading tells us, there is nothing to boast about in anything human, be it knowledge, or wisdom, or expertise, or professionalism.

When we realise how limited, or even foolish, human knowledge or wisdom can be, then let us be humble and follow the ways of God.

With humility and trust, God will show us how wonderful and fruitful it can be in following His ways.

22nd Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 02-09-2026

1 Cor 3:1-9 / Luke 4:38-44

A place has a purpose. It determines the activity to do done there.

So if we go to school, it is to study and learn about the subjects taught there.

If we go to the office, it is to do the work that is required of us.

And when we go to church, it is to pray and to grow spiritually as disciples of Jesus.

But in the first reading, St. Paul pointed out to the Corinthians that despite being Christians, they were still unspiritual.

It was obvious from all the jealousy and wrangling and behaving like ordinary people.

He reminded them that they are God’s building and they should behave like Christians.

In the gospel, Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law by rebuking the fever.

And after sunset, Jesus also healed the sick and cast out devils.

So if we come to church and we are still behaving like the people of the world, then we are as unspiritual as the Christians in Corinth.

And it may be that we too have a “fever” and other types of sickness that we need to bring to Jesus for healing.

Let us follow Jesus to that lonely place and pray for healing, so that in the house of God and when we go into the world, we will truly be Christians, sharing with others the love of Jesus.

22nd Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 01-09-2026

1 Cor 2:10-16 / Luke 4:31-37     

Whenever something happens in the world, there will be numerous opinions and comments coming forth.

From wars to disasters, from scientific developments to technological advances, from social trends to sports, there will be many people saying many things.

So, experts and academicians, politicians and ordinary persons, all will have something to say about whatever is happening.

There is whole array of reasoning and philosophies, such that we are often left wondering what is right and true.

In the first reading, St. Paul says that we have received the Spirit that comes from God to teach us to understand the gifts that He has given us.

We have become spiritual persons who are able to judge what is good, what is right and what is true.

In the gospel, Jesus taught in the synagogue and He made a deep impression because He spoke with authority.

And right there in the synagogue, there was a man who was possessed by a devil and it caused a commotion because it knew who Jesus is.

But Jesus silenced it and cast it out of the man.

We have heard many voices from the world, and as we come to Church we may even echo those worldly and unspiritual voices.

Let us be aware of the worldly and unspiritual voices of resentment, pessimism, discouragement that are coming out from us.

Let us ask Jesus to silence those voices and cast them out of us.

Then we can speak the truth with love, and do what is right and just.

22nd Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 31-08-2026

1 Corinthians 2:1-5 / Luke 4:16-30        (2026)

One of the primary tasks of the priest is to preach the Word of God. Preaching the homily at Mass is his duty and he is obligated to prepare for it.

Yet the task of preaching is indeed challenging because the people of God thirst for the Word to be made flesh in their lives. They yearn to experience scriptural teachings translating in their everyday life.

So priests and preachers will understand what St. Paul meant when he said: I came among you in great fear and trembling in the speeches and sermons that I gave.

But  he also quickly added that none of his preaching belonged to philosophy.

Rather it is a demonstration of the power of the Spirit.

It was with the power of the Spirit that Jesus went back to Nazareth, and at the synagogue, He read the passage from the prophet Isaiah.

And the people were astonished by the gracious words that came from His lips.

But it is so easy to let human thinking as well as criticism come into the way of the Word of God.

As we could see it from the gospel, the people started to make a judgment about Him and subsequently rejected Him.

Human beings may be endowed with knowledge and intelligence, but we must also remember that God's ways are not man's ways.

May our minds and hearts be opened to God's revelation as He speaks to us through His Word.

May our faith be not dependent on human philosophy but on the power of God.

22nd Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 30.08.2026

Jeremiah 20:7-9 / Romans 12:1-2 / Matthew 16:21-27  

We are quite familiar with the story of the race between the hare and the tortoise.

The hare was always making fun of the tortoise for being so slow and even mocked him by saying that the tortoise will never get anywhere.

The tortoise retorted by saying that he can get anywhere sooner or later, and even challenged the hare to a race.

The hare was much amused that the tortoise is challenging him to a race, and for the fun of it, he accepted.

On the day of the race, from the word “Go!”, the hare was off to a flying start and soon was out of sight.

Halfway through, the hare spotted a vegetable garden, and since he was way ahead and rather hungry, he decided to have a meal and a nap.

The hare slept so soundly that the tortoise caught up and continued towards the finish line.

When the hare woke up, he saw that the tortoise was reaching the finish line.

The hare ran as fast as he could, but it was the tortoise who crossed the finish line first and won the race.

The moral of the story is that slow and steady will win the race.

Other lessons are that persistence matters, and arrogance and bragging will result in failure. 

But let's say, if we had not heard of the story before, we will certainly think that the hare will win.

Because human logic and reasoning will tell us to be on the side of the top dog instead of the underdog.

In the Gospel, Jesus began to make it clear to His disciples that He was destined to go to Jerusalem and suffer grievously at the hands of the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes. 

He will be put to death, but will be raised up on the third day. 

While the disciples were trying to understand what Jesus was saying, Peter decided to do something. 

He took Jesus aside and started to remonstrate with Him and said, "Heaven preserve you, Lord! This must not happen to you." 

But Jesus turned round and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle in my path, because the way you think is not God's way but man's." 

We may be just as startled and even just as shocked as Peter was when Jesus said that. 

Jesus is not calling Peter “Satan”. Jesus is pointing out that what Peter suggested is not God's way but Satan's way. 

Satan's way is to tempt us to reject the cross and suffering, and to preserve one's life by being selfish and self-centred. 

As Jesus would ask His disciples, "What then will a man gain if he wins the whole world and ruins his life? Or what has a man to offer in exchange for his life?" 

Or as in the story of the hare and the tortoise, do we think that we can win the race of life with our confidence, our resources, and our abilities? 

Or would we choose the way of the tortoise, to be slow and steady, to persevere with faith, and to walk in the humble ways of God. 

We have God-given talents and gifts, but we must know what we really want in life and which way to go. 

That calls to mind Saint Thomas Aquinas, who was brilliantly gifted in writing. 

His greatest work was the Summa Theologica, or the Summary of Theology. 

One day, he had a vision while praying. A voice from the crucifix asked what he wanted as a reward for his many writings about God. 

Saint Thomas Aquinas replied, "Only You, Lord, only You." 

Saint Thomas Aquinas knew even if he has gained the whole world but does not have Jesus in his life, then he is ruined. 

There is nothing that he can exchange for his life. Jesus was all he wanted and all he needed. 

Let us be like the tortoise, to be slow and steady in our faith so that we will know the way towards God. 

Like Saint Thomas Aquinas, let us know that Jesus is all we want and all we need. 

The Passion of St. John the Baptist, Saturday, 29-08-2026

Jeremiah 1:17-19 / Mark 6:17-29  

We may wonder how Jesus felt when he heard about the death of his cousin, John the Baptist.

Not much is said about their relationship, but we can guess they knew each other from their earlier days, probably played together, talked about life.

Both knew they had a mission.

And both also know that the mission cannot be accomplished without putting their lives on the line.

John the Baptist was the first to do it and that line was drawn across his neck.

For Jesus, it was drawn at the cross.

And for us, that line will also be drawn for us.

A line that will cut across the various aspects of our lives when we have to decide between whose side to stand on.

To stand on God's side, will result in some scars and wounds.

But it is through those scars and wounds that God will continue to save the world.

For it is by Christ's wounds that we ourselves have been healed and saved.

21st Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 28-08-2026

1 Cor 17-25 / Matthew 25:1-13   

It is not surprising that we are greatly influenced by the thinking of the world.

Not only are we led to follow how the world thinks, we also follow how the world talks.

As a result, we think in terms of immediate results, clear signs, high energy performance and impressive returns on efficiency, productivity and achievement.

So, we begin to imitate what works for the world and how the world talks.

And we also presume that what works for the world would also work for the Church.

And we also think that how the world talks is also how the Church should talk.

But St. Paul reminds us in the first reading that the thinking and the language of Christianity is very much different from that of the world.

The Good News of salvation is not to be preached in the terms of philosophy in which the crucifixion of Christ cannot be expressed.

The language of the Cross may be illogical to those who are not on the way to salvation, but those of us who are on the way see it as God’s power to save.

So the world looks for impressive and attractive signs, and thinking is based on logic and reason.

But Christianity preaches a crucified Christ, which is unacceptable and unreasonable to the world.

But for Christians who are called by God to have faith, the Cross and the crucified Christ is the power and wisdom of God.

Christians are called to bring the Cross and the crucified Christ into the world, and not to bring the world’s thinking and language into the Church.

May the Lord our God give us lighted lamps of faith to bring the Good News of salvation into the world.

21st Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 27-08-2026

1 Cor 1:1-4 / Matthew 24:42-51   

It cannot be denied that we tend to look for excitement in life.

Excitement makes us alive and we go holidaying, shopping, eating and socializing.

And we may also want to create some excitement to express ourselves and what we can do.

So, to sit around and do nothing may not seem useful and productive.

And it can be dull and boring to be doing nothing, or doing what is mundane and ordinary.

But in the gospel, Jesus says that the faithful and wise servant is one who is faithful to his duties like giving the master’s household their food at the proper time.

A faithful and wise servant is not one who looks for excitement or goes around creating excitement.

Rather he stays awake, waiting and listening for the master’s instructions, while doing the mundane and the ordinary.

Jesus is our Master and we are His disciples and His servants.

We may not be called to do great and exciting things, but we are to do ordinary things with great love for Jesus.

We stay awake, waiting and listening for our Master’s instructions.

And when Jesus calls us to a task, let us be obedient and faithful in carrying our His will.

21st Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 26-08-2026

2 Thess 3:6-10, 16-18 / Matthew 23:27-32  

In life, we are exposed to many external influences.

We are shaped and formed by what we read, from what we hear and from what we see.

And we are also influenced by the people around us.

So if the people around us live good and upright lives, then we tend to live likewise.

But if the people around us are bad examples of life, then we may tend to be like them.

In other words, proximity leads to conformity.

In the first reading, St. Paul urged the Thessalonians to keep away from those who refuse to work or live according to the Christian teachings.

He even goes on to say that who refuse to do any work should not be given any food.

Those people are bad examples of Christian living and so it is better to keep away from them so as not to follow their bad examples.

Because the danger is that it is easier to copy bad examples than to live virtuous and holy lives.

In the gospel, Jesus warns against hypocrisy, which is the act of pretending to have moral standards, beliefs, or virtues.

The truth is that hypocrisy will eventually be exposed and then others will avoid and stay away from us.

Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. 

When we follow Jesus and be faithful to His teachings, we will grow in holiness and be witnesses to Jesus for others to follow.

21st Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 25-08-2026

2 Thess 2:1-3, 14-17 / Matthew 23:23-26  

Sitting in a car that is travelling at a high speed, we won’t be able to notice or observe much of the surroundings.

We will be too thrilled and distracted by how fast the car is going and also fearing for our safety.

Similarly when life is moving fast, we won’t notice or observe what is happening to ourselves or to others.

That may also lead us to only think for ourselves and whatever is coming up next.

And we also won’t have time to stop and think about where we are going and what we are doing.

In the first reading, St. Paul warns the Thessalonians not to get excited or alarmed by any predictions or rumour or any letter claiming that the Day of the Lord has arrived.

Instead he tells them to stand firm and keep the traditions that they were taught.

To do that would mean that they have to stop, think and reflect about who they are and what God is saying to them.

In the gospel, Jesus says that the Pharisees are caught up with paying tithes on the weight of the herbs but forgetting about the weightier of the Law, like justice, mercy and good faith.

It is like washing cups and dishes quickly, but only washing them on the outside and not cleaning the inside.

So, it is about slowing down and even being still, so that we know what we are doing and also listening and seeing what God is saying and showing us.

To pray is to stop and be still and to reflect about what is happening to us and what God is saying to us.

When we listen to the voice of God in prayer, our souls will be cleansed and we will know what God wants us to do.

St. Bartholomew, Apostle, Monday, 24-08-2026

Apocalypse 21:9-14 / John1:45-51  

St Bartholomew was from Cana in Galilee, and he was often identified as Nathaniel in the gospel of John but the other gospels listed him together with Philip as one of the first apostles chosen by Christ.

From the gospel, we can make a presumption of what kind of character he was.

For one, he was a straight-forward and a straight-talking person, who says what he means and means what he says.

We can make that presumption when he made that statement: Can anything good come from Nazareth? That was indeed a raw and cutting frankness.

Nonetheless, he was an open-minded person because he followed Philip to see who that person Jesus was.

He was also a person of prayer, as attested to by Jesus, because to sit under a fig tree means to be under its shade of coolness and to pray and meditate on God's righteousness and a longing for the coming of God's kingdom.

So in effect, Jesus was affirming Bartholomew about his character. It was like He knew what kind of a person Bartholomew really was.

Similarly, Jesus also knows each of us through and through and He also wants to affirm our goodness.

Like St. Bartholomew, let us continue to follow Jesus as He reveals Himself to us.

May we also come to know ourselves deeper and be strengthened in our goodness.

May we also always meditate on God's righteousness and on God's kingdom and proclaim it in our lives.

21st Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 23.08.2026

Isaiah 22:19-23 / Romans 11:33-35 / Matthew 16:13-20  

There are many reasons why people come to church.

For some, it is a place for social interaction as there are friends in church.

For some, it is because they are in a ministry and so they come to church to serve.

For some, it is a religious obligation to be observed.

And for others, it is a religious ritual or habit.

But with the COVID pandemic in 2020, that brought about drastic changes.

One of the most glaring was the drop in church attendance, meaning that people stopped coming to church.

At the height of it, the drop in attendance was between 30 to 40%.

But for those of us who are still coming to church week after week, there is a deeper reason.

We come to church because we have experienced the trials and tribulations of life.

We have tried to save ourselves with our abilities and resources, but we have failed.

And when we are down to nothing, we turn to God as our last resort, and then there came up something.

The long and short of it is that in our nothingness, we experience God in His goodness.

So it can be said that we have experienced who God is.

In the Gospel, Jesus asked His disciples, "Who do people say I am?"

And then He also asked them, "Who do you say I am?"

Jesus asked them that question when they came to the region of Caesarea Philippi.

The significance of the region of Caesarea Philippi is that it was heavily saturated with idolatry with shrines dedicated to the Greek gods Pan and Zeus, as well as a marble temple dedicated to Caesar Augustus. 

There was also a deep cave spring which was viewed as a literal gateway to the underworld, or nicknamed the “Gates of Hell”. 

So, standing in the midst of the physical stronghold of idol worship and imperial power, there were two divine revelations. 

The first revelation was to Peter, and he declared Jesus to be the Christ, the Son of the living God. 

The second revelation was from Jesus, when He said to Peter, "You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it." 

In short, Jesus declared that His church and His kingdom will overcome the powers of death and darkness and evil. 

And there is also another revelation with regards to the name Peter. 

The name Peter in Greek is “Petros”, which means a single stone or a pebble or a small detached rock. 

So, it is contrary to what we would have imagined to be a huge, immovable rock. 

Jesus built His church and kingdom on that small stone or pebble to tell us the mysterious power of God.

That God can build His church and kingdom on the lowly, the little, and the humble. 

So, the strength and power is from God and not from man. 

And that is what we have experienced from God in church. 

In our weakness and frailty, God raises up the lowly from the dust heap. 

So, it is in the lowly, the little, and the humble that God reveals His glory and power. 

And it is in our weakness and failures that God gives us strength. 

As Jesus declared, the gates of the underworld and the powers of darkness can never hold out against God's church and His kingdom. 

Yes, God protects us from evil, but we also need to be aware and beware.

Because the most dangerous enemy is not out there, but from within. 

We can become the tools of the devil when we give in to sin and cause division from within.

By our pride and ego, our resentment and anger, our jealousy and envy, our unforgiveness and urge for revenge, we bring darkness and division into the church. 

But let us remember what binds us and unites us as church. 

Jesus binds us together and unites us with His love so that we too can bind ourselves with one another. 

And let us also cast aside what is not pleasing to God. 

With humility and charity, we will receive the blessings from God to be a church that is a sign of salvation to the world. 

Queenship of the BVM, Saturday, 22-08-2026

Isaiah 9:1-6 / Lk 1:26-38     

Eight days ago, the Church celebrated the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary into heaven.

In the course of these eight days, the Church meditates deeper on the mystery of the Assumption, and on the Octave of the Assumption (8 days later) the Church concludes the reflection with the  celebration of the Queenship of Mary.

In short, it could be said that God assumed Mary into heaven to share the victory of Christ and to reign with Him in glory as Queen of Heaven.

So the proclamation and celebration of Mary's queenship in essence points to the Kingship of Christ.

In celebrating the queenship of Mary, we are also reminded that we are the Chosen people of God and we are also His royal children.

So as God's Chosen and royal people, all that we do and say must be geared towards giving glory to God.

Mary showed us how to do that in the gospel when she responded to God's call by accepting God's will.

In doing so, Mary gave us the concrete example of obedience in the form of servanthood.

We are not just the Chosen and royal people of God. We are also the Chosen and royal servants of Christ the King.

With Mary as our queen, let us offer ourselves in service to the Church, so that in all that we do and say, God will be glorified and exalted.

20th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 21-08-2026

Ezekiel 37:1-4 / Matthew 22:34-40  

Whatever we may want to think or say about this world, it is still a beautiful world.

We live in this world and we would like to live happily and peacefully in this world.

Yet, we can't deny that there are many contradictions that make us wonder if this beautiful world is coming to an end.

There are wars, violence and bloodshed. There are wicked people who are bent on committing evil as if it is their right.

We see injustice and oppression, with scammers cheating the seniors out of their life savings.

At times, we see this world like the image given in the first reading, a valley of dry bones with no life.

But the Lord God told Ezekiel to prophesy over those bones by saying: Dry bones, hear the Word of the Lord. The Lord says this to these bones: I am now going to make the breath enter you, and you will live.

And eventually the breath entered them, and they came to life, with sinews, flesh and skin, and they stood up on their feet, a great and immense army.

With the Lord’s breath of life and love, the bones came alive and became a people, a sign that God will restore His people again.

In the gospel, Jesus was asked which is the greatest commandment of the Law.

He replied with the commandment of love, to love God and to love neighbour.

When we love God and love neighbour, God will give us that breath of life and love to bring into the world that is cluttered with dry bones.

With God’s breath of life and love in us, we will also be God’s workers who will bring hope that will bring beauty into our world.

20th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 20-08-2026

Ezekiel 36:23-28 / Matthew 22:1-14  

New things always give us a sense of excitement and make us want to discover more about it.

So it may be a new car, or a new device or gadget, a new job or a new location.

But the newness will slowly wear off and the excitement becomes casual, and the feeling becomes routine and ordinary.

And such can happen in the spiritual life too.

The people of God had become too casual in their relationship with God.

They even profaned God’s name by their unfaithfulness and sinfulness.

This led to their enemies conquering them, and subsequently the enemies also profaned God’s name.

And when God had enough of it, He decided to display the holiness of His great name again to His people and also to their enemies.

God forgave His people and cleansed them and made them a new people again, so that they will keep the laws and sincerely respect the observances.

So with a new heart and a new spirit, they will again be God’s people who will display God’s holiness to the other nations.

In the gospel parable, the king gave a feast for his son’s wedding and he called those who were invited.

But those who were invited were indifferent to the invitation and went about doing their ordinary business.

The first reading and the gospel parable remind us that routine can be the death of reverence.

Let us not be indifferent to who God is and take His love for us too casually.

Let us always remember that God is holy and He has called us to be holy.

20th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 19-08-2026

Ezekiel 34:1-11 / Matthew 20:1-16  

It is a fact that religion brings about comfort and confidence for those who seek God and want to walk in the ways of God.

People find comfort in God who protects and provides for them.

And to know that God loves them will give them the confidence and the hope to journey on in life despite the difficulties and struggles.

So, religious leaders have a great responsibility to show God’s love and care for the people.

They are like shepherds looking after the flock that belongs to God.

But in the first reading, the shepherds of Israel have neglected the flock that was entrusted to them.

And not only that, they have ruled the people cruelly and violently, and the people were scattered, strayed and lost.

So trouble will be coming for the shepherds of Israel, and God will send the true Shepherd to look after His people.

In the gospel parable, the landowner went around looking for workers for his vineyard.

Even at the last hour, he hired workers that were overlooked and were going to be left rejected and dejected.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd who came to look for the lost, the rejected and the dejected.

He came to save us and to give us hope.

May those whom Jesus appointed as shepherds of His flock be faithful to their calling.

And may we, the sheep of God’s flock always listen to the voice of Jesus, our Good Shepherd.

20th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 18-08-2026

Ezekiel 28:1-10 / Matthew 19:23-30  

If we had all our savings drawn out in cash, would our pockets be able to contain it all?

Or, let’s say that our cash are to be filled in bags, how many bags would that be, and would we be able to carry it around?

When we think about it, then the rather absurd image that Jesus gave in the gospel may give us something to think about.

Jesus says that it would be easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of heaven.

Already, for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle is impossible.

It would neither be possible for a man to pass through the eye of a needle.

But if we were to imagine a rich man carrying all his wealth in whatever bags he could carry, he wouldn’t be able to enter any door.

In the first reading, the ruler of Tyre falls because his financial success and sharp intellect lead him to think that he was invincible, and he even thinks he is a god.

It was his pride in his piles of gold and silver that dragged him down to the pit and to die a violent death surrounded by the seas.

So while wealth and riches are not evil by themselves, the attachment to them can lead pride and clutter the heart.

As disciples of Jesus, we are called to enter by the narrow gate.

It would only be possible to do so when we only carry the love of God and the love for others in our hearts.

20th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 17-08-2026

Ezekiel 24:15-24 / Matthew 19:16-22   

As we journey along in life, there is one thing that keeps happening.

We may notice it, but we may also not think too much about it.

That one thing that keeps happening is none other than change.

Some changes are for the better, but there are also other changes that makes us wonder.

In the first reading, God prepared Ezekiel for a drastic change in his life.

God is going to deprive Ezekiel the delight of his eyes, and it can be presumed that it is his wife.

But he is not to lament, or weep, or mourn for the dead and even not to cry. He is just to groan in silence.

God is going to use Ezekiel as a sign for the people, in that the Temple, the delight of their eyes, will be destroyed.

The people thought that they were safe and secure as long as the Temple, the dwelling place of God, is standing firm.

So as long as the Temple is standing, then God is with them, and they thought that God would not let His Temple be destroyed.

But all that is going to change, and the false hopes of the people will be shattered.

In the gospel, the rich young man was proud of his religious piety, and yet he knows that he does not have possession of eternal life.

Jesus told him that if he wanted to have eternal life, then he would have to give up the delight of his eyes, which is his wealth.

That change was too much for him and he went away sad.

As we experience changes in our life, let us also remember that every change is a step closer to God.

May we accept changes with hopeful hearts, and our hope will be fulfilled in the reward of eternal life.

Assumption of the BVM, 16.08.2026

Apocalypse 11:19; 12:1-6, 10 / 1 Cor 15:20-26 / Luke 1:39-56  

Between the Catholic Church and the other Christian churches, there are many similarities as well as quite a few differences.

At least in terms of identification, we call ourselves the Catholic Church, and maybe more specifically, the Roman Catholic Church.

In the Chinese language, the Roman Catholic Church is called 天主教, whereas the other Christian churches are called 基督教.

But for the ordinary people who may not be that familiar with such terms, they have their own way of identifying Catholic and Christian churches.

One day, I was at the Mandai Crematorium to do a funeral service. I was early, and so I sat on the bench.

A cleaner came along, and we greeted each other, and he sat down and we had a short chit-chat.

He asked me which church am I from, because I was wearing a cassock.

So, I told him that I was from the church in Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8, the church next to the petrol station.

We were speaking in Chinese, and before I could tell him that it is a Roman Catholic Church, (天主教), he said in Chinese, "啊, 耶稣妈妈的教堂," meaning “Jesus' mother's church”.

For a moment, I was somewhere between amazed and astounded, and then I said, “Ahh …, correct, correct."

So, for some people, they know the Catholic Church as “Jesus' mother's church”, maybe because we have a deep devotion to Mary.

Whatever it may be, we should not be too amazed or astounded by that term, “Jesus' mother's church”. 

Because in the Gospel passage, Elizabeth, who was filled with the Holy Spirit, exclaimed this:

"Of all women, you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why should I be honored with a visit from the mother of my Lord?" 

That term, that phrase, "the mother of my Lord," already says who Mary is, that she is the mother of Jesus and that she is also the Mother of God. 

But we are also clear that Mary is not a goddess or deity. 

Mary is the mother of Jesus, and she is also our mother because on the Cross, Jesus said this: "Behold, your mother." 

Jesus said that in the imperative, meaning that it is a command and not an option or suggestion. 

And we would also gladly call Mary our mother. 

We have experienced her powerful intercession for us, which says much about her motherly love and care for us. 

And we also honour and venerate her with the prayer of the Rosary, which is by far, the most recognizable form of prayer in the Catholic Church. 

It is a simple and humble prayer, and it also expresses the spirituality of Mary. 

In her praise of God, she acknowledged that God has looked upon her in her lowly state, and hence all generations will call her blessed. 

And Mary is using the Rosary prayer and also the Rosary beads to show how God is doing a great thing for her and through her. 

Well, at least from the Hail Mary prayer, there is this unofficial but often prayed car-park prayer, and it goes like this: "Hail Mary, full of grace, help me find a parking space." 

We will be amazed at how quickly we will find a parking lot. 

And if there are non-Catholic friends in the car, they will be amazed too. This is called evangelization on wheels. 

A friend was sharing with me that on National Day, as she was watching the parade, her niece came over to join her. 

After a while, the niece asked her, "What is the Hail Mary?" because her classmate, who is a Catholic, prayed the Hail Mary while preparing for exams. 

So, my friend brought out the Rosary beads and told her about Mary's intercessory role and that she prays for all of us. 

A few days later, her niece called her to say that she was in a taxi, and she saw the driver wearing a rosary bracelet. 

When she asked him what it was, he simply told her, in Chinese, that it was “耶 稣 妈 妈 的 念 珠”, meaning “Jesus' mother's prayer beads”, which is, the Rosary. 

So, whether it is “Jesus' mother's church” or “Jesus' mother's prayer beads”, as we celebrate the Feast of the Assumption, we thank God for Mary, our mother.

And from heaven, Mary continues to pray for us as we continue our earthly journey. 

Mary believed that God will fulfil His promises to her, and indeed He did. 

God will also fulfil His promises to us. 

May Mary pray for us that we will continue to be faithful to God and believe in His promises, whether we are having a chit-chat with someone, or looking for a parking lot, or preparing exams, or sitting in taxi.

God is fulfilling His promises during these moments and at every moment of our lives.

19th Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 15-08-2026

Ezekiel 18:1-10, 13, 30-32 / Matthew 19:13-15   

It has always been said that children are our future. Of course, that is true. 

The children and the youth that we see now will eventually become the generation of the forefront in the future.

But if the children are our future, that does not mean that we put them aside and only let them out in the future.

If the children are our future, now is the time to teach and instruct them on the values and principles of life.

Now is the time to form them in the faith and to teach them to love God and to love neighbour.

In the first reading, there is this proverb in the land of Israel: The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.

That proverb means that the father sinned and so the children suffer the consequences.

But the Lord God overturned this by saying that each one will have to suffer the consequences of their own sin.

That also tells us that if we eat sour grapes, our teeth will be set on edge. We will have to bear the consequences of our own sins.

But if we feed our children with sour grapes, and their teeth are set on edge, then we will be responsible for that sin.

Since the children and the youth are the future, let us bring them to Jesus and feed them with the Word of God.

Let them learn about the Kingdom of God, and in the future they will show us the Kingdom of God.

19th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 14-08-2026

Ezekiel 16:1-15, 60, 63 / Matthew 19:3-12    

There are many ways to describe the power of love.

In the Bible, the power of love is described as this: "For love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away.”

As much as there is the power of love, there is also the power of unrequited love, or love that is not reciprocated, or love that is not returned, or simply, love that is rejected.

In the first reading, the Lord God describes His deep love for Israel, and how He had blessed His people abundantly.

Yet, the people became vain; they became infatuated with their own beauty and glory, and they became unfaithful and turned away from God.

So Israel rejected God’s love, but God remembered His covenant with them, forgave them and offered to love them again.

God could have given in to His anger and unleashed the power of unrequited love on His people.

But the power of His love for His people was much much stronger that His anger at His people.

In the gospel, the Pharisees questioned Jesus about marriage and divorce.

Essentially, Jesus reiterated that husband and wife are no longer two but one body, and what God has united, man must not divide.

So whether in marriage, or in any relationship, the power of love unites, but the power of rejected love will divide.

When we know that God is the source of love, then the power of His love will keep married couples united, families united, and communities united.

For where there is love, there is God.

19th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 13-08-2026

Ezekiel 12:1-12 / Matthew 18:21 - 19:1    

To be able to see and hear are wonderful abilities, and can even said to be necessary faculties.

It is necessary to be able to see and hear in order to interact with our surroundings as well as with other people.

But as we have often heard in the Bible, there are people who have eyes that look and look but they do not see.

They have ears that hear and hear but do not listen.

In the first reading, the Lord God instructed the prophet Ezekiel to act like an exile for the people to see.

Ezekiel did as he was instructed and the people saw what he did.

And the Lord God told Ezekiel to say this to the people: “I am a symbol of you. The thing I have done will be done to them. They will go into exile, into banishment.”

So the people saw what Ezekiel did and heard the message.

But what they saw and what they heard did not seem to awaken them to the impending tragedy that will fall upon them.

In other words, what they saw and what they heard did not lead them to repentance.

In the gospel, Peter thought he was being generous by offering to forgive seven times, when the teaching at that time usually suggested that three is enough.

But what Jesus said about forgiving seventy-seven times was startling and astounding.

But it is meant to awaken Peter and us as well, that forgiveness is so fundamental and necessary in the religious and spiritual life.

What Jesus said would also make us think about how much God has forgiven us.

When we realise that, then we too know that we must forgive others, just as God has forgiven us.

19th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 12-08-2026

Ezekiel 12:1-12 / Matthew 18:21 - 19:1  

No one can ever say that he has not done anything wrong.

No matter how good we try to be, we will slip and fall and commit some wrong doing.

To do something wrong is one thing, but to admit to the wrongdoing and to be sorry about it is another.

Because of our flawed human nature, we may try to deny our wrongdoing or if we can’t then we may try to justify it.

In the gospel, Jesus gives a process or procedure to address a wrongdoing by someone.

So, it goes from addressing the issue with someone personally, to bringing in two others, to reporting it to the community.

But the essential intention is to win the person back so that the person will realise his wrongdoing.

So, there is the need for the respect for the dignity for the person.

In the Christian context, we must begin by praying for that person.

Jesus says this, “I tell you solemnly once again, if two of you on earth agree to ask anything at all, it will be granted to you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three meet in my name, I shall be there with them.”

Let us remember this promise of Jesus before addressing any wrongdoing by another person.

With the power of prayer, God our Father will soften our hearts, and Jesus will be with us to work for reconciliation with the power of love.

19th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 11-08-2026

Ezekiel 2:8 - 3:4 / Matthew 18:1-5, 10, 12-14  

In this world, it is usually the loud sounds and the bright lights that catch the people’s attention.

After all, people are inclined to what is spectacular and impressive.

What is usually overlooked are the simple and the lowly as they are deemed to be insignificant and unimportant.

So when the disciples approached Jesus and asked who was the greatest in the kingdom of God, they had their own expectations.

But what they couldn’t quite comprehend was when Jesus called a little child to Him and set the child in front of them.

And they were also not prepared for what Jesus was going to tell them when He said, “I tell you solemnly, unless you change and become like little children you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

To become like a little child is not to be morally perfect or to be more pious than the rest.

To be like a little child is to be obedient to what Jesus is teaching, and essentially it is to be humble and to trust in God and depend on His providence.

Like Ezekiel in the first reading, it is to believe in the Word of God even if it is a difficult and challenging message.

When we are like little children, then our guardian angels will guide us to understand the Word of God and how to do the will of God.

St. Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr, Monday, 10-08-2026

2 Cor 9:6-10 / John 12:24-26    

Today the Church celebrates the feast of St. Lawrence, who was only a deacon at the time of his martyrdom in year 258.

In that year, on the 6th August, Pope Sixtus II and four other deacons was captured while celebrating Mass in the catacombs, and subsequently martyred.

The administration of the Church was left to St. Lawrence and he was ordered to surrender the riches and the wealth of the Church in three days time.

He quickly distributed as much Church property to the poor as possible, and on the third day, he gathered the poor, the crippled, the blind and the suffering and presented them to the authorities and he told them that these were the true treasures of the Church.

Needless to say he was immediately sentenced to death, and tradition has it that he was grilled or roasted to death, hence his association with the gridiron, which was the instrument of torture for grilling people to death.

What was remarkable was that it was a slow painful and horrible way to be tortured to death, and yet St. Lawrence persevered to the end.

His martyrdom portrays the reality of what Jesus said in the gospel: If a man serves me, he must follow me, wherever I am, my servant will be there too. If anyone serves me, my Father will honour him.

St. Lawrence served Christ with his life right up till the end. In doing so he gave us an example of giving up his life so that it will yield a rich harvest in the hands of the Lord.

May our lives also be like seeds of love in the hands of the Divine Sower, and wherever we are sown, may we also bear a rich harvest of love for the Lord.

19th Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 09.08.2026

1 Kings -19:9, 11-13 / Romans 9:1-5 / Matthew 14:22-33  

Today we celebrate National Day and our country's 61 years of independence.

The most obvious expression of this patriotic celebration is to put up the national flag.

As for our Church, we have put up 15 flags.

(That shows how Singaporean and how patriotic we are.)

So this evening at the National Day Parade, we will sing the national anthem and other National Day songs.

There will also be fireworks and other celebrations.

Yes, we want to celebrate nationhood and unity.

But we also know of the underlying stress, worry, and anxiety.

The cost of living is high, and some even say that Singapore is the most expensive city in Asia.

The students in school are stressed out by the exams and expectations to do well.

So, Singapore may be a rich country, but we also have worries and anxieties.

Because Singapore is like a small boat in the oceans of the world.

And whenever there is a storm somewhere, the small Singapore boat will rock and roll, literally.

In the gospel, Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead while He would send the crowds away.

After sending the crowds away, Jesus went up into the hills by Himself to pray.

By then, the boat was far out on the lake and battling with a heavy sea.

So, the boat was rocking and rolling, and the disciples were also terrified and fearing for their lives.

Then, in the fourth watch of the night, which is the darkest hour that is just before dawn, Jesus went to the disciples walking on the water. 

In the Bible, to walk on the waves and to command the storms are acts attributed to God alone. 

So, in the darkest time of the night and in the chaos of the storm, Jesus comes to be with His disciples. 

But in that terrified state of fright, the disciples thought that they were seeing a ghost. 

So, in the darkness and in the chaos, it will be difficult to see where God is and what He is doing. 

And in that terror and fear, human imagination will be wild and dark. 

And so, instead of seeing God in something, people will see ghosts in everything. 

And in the darkness and chaos, in that terror and fright, human character and weakness will be revealed. 

Peter wanted to walk towards Jesus on the water, maybe because he was impulsive, but it could also be that he was selfish. 

In such a situation, each one will be for himself, and each one will want to save himself first. 

But out of an impulsive and selfish act came a lesson on emergency prayer. 

As he sank into the water, Peter cried out, "Lord, save me!" 

It was a short prayer, but it was enough for Jesus to stretch out His hand at once to Peter. 

As we think about the gospel passage, we also may think about how it is connected to our country as we celebrate National Day. 

Our country is like a small boat that can be easily tossed and turned by the storms of the world. 

As the Church in Singapore, it is our duty and our mission to pray for the stability of the country and for the government. 

It is our duty and our mission to pray for the well-being and the welfare of our fellow citizens. 

And God has given us the power of emergency prayer for our country when we are in danger. 

Yes, we cry out, "Lord, save us, save our country," when our country is going through darkness and chaos. 

We also cry out, "Lord, save me," when we are terrified, when we are tossed and turned by the waves, by the worries and by the anxieties of life. 

In the darkness and in the turmoil of life, let us listen for that sound of the gentle breeze in the first reading. 

Then, like Elijah, let us go forth to help our brothers and sisters to see God in everything and to see God in everyone.

18th Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 0-8-08-2026

Habakkuk 1:12 - 2:4 / Matthew 17:14-20  

One famous proverb is this: Patience is a virtue.

And so indeed it is. With patience, we will be able to stay calm, and not get angry during difficult and challenging times.

But to be patient is essentially to wait.

To wait for the person to come; to wait for the person to finish speaking; to wait for the situation to change.

And when it comes to faith, it means to wait for God to reveal His ways to us.

In the first reading, the Lord God answered the prophet Habakkuk’s prayer with this:

“Write the vision down, inscribe it on tablets to be easily read, since this vision is for its own time only. Eager for its own fulfilment, it does not deceive. If it comes slowly, wait, for come it will, without fail.”

So waiting in patience is an essential aspect of having faith.

In the gospel, the disciples were not able to cast out a boy who was possessed by a devil.

Jesus cast it out immediately, and so the disciples came privately to Jesus to ask why they were unable to cast it out.

As Jesus pointed out, it was essentially a faith issue, and the disciples need to let their faith grow and deepen before they can do the work of God.

Our faith is also like a mustard seed.

Let us have the patience to wait for our faith to grow and deepen before doing what God wants of us.

18th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 07-08-2026

Nahum 2:1, 3; 3:1-3, 6-7 / Matthew 16:24-28  

To want to become a Christian is a serious life-changing decision.

So all the requirements of being a Christian disciple must be made clear.

And a careful consideration is needed before making the decision.

In the gospel, Jesus says to His disciples, “If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

Why is Jesus saying this to His disciples when they were already following Him?

It could be that when those disciples initially followed Jesus, they were impressed by His teachings and the miracles that He worked.

Now that they had been following Him around, Jesus wants them to re-consider their intentions and motives in following Him.

Because they would be faced with a contradiction, if they had not faced it yet.

Because Jesus says, “For anyone who want to save his life will lose it, but anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it.”

Essentially, that is the cost of discipleship if they want to continue being the disciples of Jesus.

The human tendency is to ask “What is there for me to gain from it?” before making a decision or commitment.

But Jesus is asking, “What then will a man gain if he wins the whole world and ruins his life? Or what has a man to offer in exchange for his life?”

Jesus is also asking us those difficult questions, especially since we already call ourselves Christians.

But, we already have put our hands on the cross and there is no turning back.

Let us remember that whatever we give up or sacrifice for Jesus in this life can never be compared to the eternal glory that Jesus promised those who are faithful to Him.

The Transfiguration of the Lord, Thursday, 06-08-2026

Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 / 2 Peter 1:16-19 / Matthew 17:1-9     

There is a story of a young man who somehow thinks he is a worm, and he would hide under the bed whenever he sees a chicken. (Because chicken eats worms).

So one day, he was hiding under the bed because he saw a chicken roaming around.

His best friend decided to help him overcome his problem by going under the bed and there he told him to repeat after him, “I am a man, not a worm.”

After a few repetitions, his best friend urged him to come out and prove himself a man.

So he came out and walked around confidently. Until he saw a chicken. Then he immediately hid under the bed again.

Hid best friend went under the bed and asked him, “Why didn't you believe you are a man, and not a worm?”

The young man replied，“ I believe I am a man, not a worm, but does the chicken believe that?!?”

Jesus believed that He is the Beloved Son of the Father. Even in His most painful and despairing moments He believed that.

The disciples also kind of believed that Jesus was the Son of God.

However when the trials and persecutions came along, they ran and "hid under the bed". But later on, they truly believed.

The feast of the Transfiguration, reminds us who Jesus is, and also reminds us of who we are.

May we slowly come out of our fears and weaknesses and sinfulness, and show others what we really believe in.

18th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 05-08-2026

Jeremiah 31:1-7 / Matthew 15:21-28  

To empathize is to have the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person. 

It means putting ourselves in someone else's shoes and seeing things from their point of view.

Empathy would lead to compassion which is a deep feeling of sadness or pity for another person's pain.

It means noticing someone who is hurting and taking action to support them.

In the gospel, a Canaanite woman came up to Jesus and pleaded, “Sir, Son of David, take pity on me. My daughter is tormented by a devil.”

Surprisingly, Jesus answered her not a word. 

Even His disciples pleaded with Jesus to give her what she wanted, but that was because she was shouting after them, and causing unnecessary attention.

Even though Jesus said that He was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel, the woman knelt at His feet and pleaded, “Lord, help me.”

And when Jesus said that it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the house-dogs, the woman retorted by saying that the house-dogs can still eat the scraps that fall from their master’s table.

It may seem rather surprising that Jesus was making it so difficult for that poor woman who had a genuine need.

But it seems that Jesus is making her to be an example of persistent and persevering faith because in the end He affirmed her of her great faith and granted her request.

Even though she was a Canaanite woman and an outsider, yet she displayed her great faith in Jesus.

So, for us who believe and have faith, we should be even more persistent and persevering.

It will be by our faith, especially in times of despair and desperation that we bear witness to God’s everlasting love for us.

18th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 04-08-2026 (memorial of St. John Vianney)

Jeremiah 30:1-2, 12-15, 18-22 / Matthew 15:1-2, 10-14 (Gospel for Year A)

If we were to look at some of the pictures of St John Vianney, we might come to think that as far as looks are concerned, he cannot make it.

But not just looks, as far as intellectual capacity and ability is concerned, St John Vianney also could not quite make it.

But he was eventually ordained as a priest, but initially on the condition that he did not preach at Mass or even teach catechism, for fear that he would end up teaching something heretical.

But how did a priest like St John Vianney eventually be proclaimed by the Church as the Patron Saint for Priests?

Firstly, it was in the confessional that he received the grace of spiritual insight and helped people in repentance and conversion.

Very often, St John Vianney spent as long as 17 hours everyday in the confessional, helping people see their sinfulness and experiencing the mercy and forgiveness of God.

Later when he was allowed to preach, he spoke in simplicity about the love of God, and he also spoke with passion.

He worked himself tirelessly to serve the people by bringing them closer to God, besides having to face temptations from the devil, and also persecutions from members of the clergy and others.

Indeed, St John Vianney was a model of dedication, of holiness, of prayer and of faithfulness.

As we celebrate this feast, let us pray for our priests that they too will remain dedicated to God, faithful to God, and strive for holiness and be models of prayer to us.

When priests serve the Lord like St John Vianney did, then the Church would indeed be a priestly and holy people.

Nothing spectacular or dramatic about him but all done in simplicity and humility. Yet St. John Vianney is the Patron Saint and model for all priests, because he was a sign and an instrument of the healing and saving mission of Jesus.

Jesus came to heal and save and to look for the lost. Let us pray for our priests that they will follow the example of St. John Vianney and be a sign and instrument of the healing and saving mission of Jesus.

18th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 03-08-2026

Jeremiah 28:1-17 / Matthew 14:22-36 (gospel for Year A)

The ability to imagine is really quite amazing.

It goes beyond the confines of logic to something abstract, but still could be possible.

When imagination runs wild, then it is like wild horses running everywhere.

But when the imagination looks at the reality, then imagination can become a possibility.

In the first reading, the prophet Hananiah imagined the liberation of Judah from the power of Babylon.

He even broke the yoke off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah and declared that in two years’ time, Judah would be freed from the yoke of Babylon.

The prophet Hananiah let his imagination run wild and did not listen to the prophet Jeremiah about the warnings of the prophets of the past.

In the end, the prophet Hananiah and Judah ended up in tragedy.

In the gospel, in the midst of a heavy sea and in fear, the imagination of the disciples in the boat ran wild as they thought that Jesus was a ghost.

Even Peter imagined that he could walk on water.

Yes, imagination can lead to creativity, but let us also imagine with faith and also by listening to the Word of God.

Then, led by the Spirit of God, our imagination will help us see the possibilities that God is showing us.

18th Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 02.08.2026

Isaiah 55:1-3 / Romans 8:35, 37-39 / Matthew 14:13-21  

It is often said that life is short.

But of course, it depends on how we look at it.

According to the data from the Department of Statistics, the average life expectancy for Singaporeans is 84 years.

84 years may seem like a long time, but the focus has shifted towards extending healthy years.

But regardless of whether life is long or short, one thing is certain, and that is life has its problems.

The problems in life can be generally divided into two categories: problems that are within, and external problems, or other people's problems.

The problems within are problems that we face with ourselves.

So, there are health problems like high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, overweight. These are just some of the health problems.

And then, there are emotional problems, problems in the family, in marriage, in school, at work, and even in retirement.

These problems wear us down and we feel drained out in life.

What we don't need, and don't want, is to be involved with other people's problems.

Our first reaction would be to say, "That is not my problem."

We may just want to push it away by bluntly saying to the other person, "Go and solve your own problem."

But life is not as clear-cut as that, because there is some kind of connection between our problems and other people's problems.

In the Gospel, Jesus received the news of the death of John the Baptist.

He then wanted to withdraw to a lonely place with His disciples where they could be alone by themselves. 

The life of John the Baptist ended abruptly when he was executed by Herod. 

Jesus was affected by that, and He wanted some time to think about life and its meaning. 

But when Jesus stepped ashore, He saw a large crowd, and He took pity on them and healed their sick. 

Jesus has His needs, and the people also had their needs. 

But when Jesus saw the crowds, what He saw were not problems; what He saw was people. 

Jesus saw people who needed God, people who had problems that they cannot solve, and they came to Jesus because they saw God in Jesus. 

In His own need, Jesus also understood the people, and so He went to them to heal their sick. 

Jesus wasn't just a problem solver or a miracle worker. 

Jesus is the Saviour, and He showed how God is saving the people by taking on their problems in life. 

In this, we can then understand that God solved our sinful human problem by sending us Jesus to be with us, and to be like us, in all things, except sin. 

But the disciples did not quite understand that. 

When evening came, the disciples saw a problem coming up. 

There was a crowd of 5,000, not counting women and children. 

They were hungry, there was not enough food, and it was getting dark. 

The disciples saw a problem, and they didn't want it to be their problem. 

So, they said to Jesus, “Send the people away.” 

Yes, send them away and let them solve their own problem. 

But Jesus said, "There is no need for them to go. Give them something to eat yourselves." 

The disciples tried to protest, "All we have with us is five loaves and two fish." 

And Jesus said this, "Bring them here to me." 

Whenever we face the problems of life, whether it is our own problems or other people's problems, let us remember those five words of Jesus, "Bring them here to me." 

Our human tendency is to say, "That is not my problem." 

But, let us not say that because we might just end up with a bigger problem. 

Rather, let us listen to Jesus telling us, "Bring them here to me." 

In the hands of Jesus, problems become possibilities, and possibilities will turn into realities. 

So, whether it is our problem or other people's problems, let us bring them to Jesus.

In the hands of Jesus, miracles are realities. We just need to believe. 

17th Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 01-08-2026

Jeremiah 26:11-16, 24 / Matthew 14:1-12   

Some people may have the power and the might to force people to submit to their demands.

They may even push it further to commit injustice and oppression.

In other words, just because they have power and might, they bully others.

In the first reading, the priests and the prophets demanded for the death of Jeremiah because he prophesied against the city.

They would have had it their way, but Jeremiah reminded them that he was sent by the Lord Himself to say all those words.

And finally, Jeremiah gave them this chilling warning: 

“But be sure of this, that if you put me to death, you will be bringing innocent blood on yourselves, on this city and on its citizens, since the Lord has truly sent me to you to say all these words in your hearing.

That statement woke up the city officials and all the people, and they believed in Jeremiah.

In the gospel, when Herod heard about the reputation of Jesus, he said, “This is John the Baptist himself; he had risen from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”

Herod shed innocent blood by beheading him at the request of the daughter of Herodias.

That shedding of innocent blood haunted him and the shadow of John the Baptist hung over him.

The two readings remind us to always do what is true, right and good.

We are also reminded not to commit injustice and oppression when we are in a position of authority.

We must remember that any power or authority is given to us by God so that we will always do what is right and just.

17th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 31-07-2026

Jeremiah 26:1-9 / Matthew 13:54-58 

There are two things in life that give us some kind of security and stability.

And that is routine and familiarity.

To do the same thing day in day out might sound boring.

But it does give us the peace of mind that everything is stable and secure.

However, if our routine and familiarity is shaken, then we will become irritated and annoyed.

In the first reading, the prophet Jeremiah preached God's call to repentance at the Temple.

But the priests and people threaten to execute him for speaking hard truths.

Because they thought that the Temple will keep them safe and they can continue with their familiar rituals and practices.

They did not think, nor believe, that God would ever let the Temple be destroyed.

In the gospel, it was the people’s familiarity with Jesus that made them question His background.

Jesus did not work many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

So when our routine and familiarity is shaken and disturbed, let us not get irritated and annoyed.

Let us reflect and ponder, and see if there is a meaning and a message for us.

It is in listening to God and doing what He wants of us that will keep us safe and secure.

17th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 30-07-2026

Jeremiah 18:1-6 / Matthew 13:47-53

Strength and hardness are qualities that are highly regarded.

So metals like titanium is known for its high strength, low density, and strong resistance to rust.

But if it is subjected to oxygen contamination, or low temperatures, or improper alloying, then it can become brittle and break easily.

Similarly clay vessels are hard and durable, but they can also be easily broken.

In the first reading, God told Jeremiah to go down to the potter’s house and to observe what the potter is doing.

Whenever the vessel came out wrong, the potter could start afresh while the clay is still soft.

It was a reminder to the people that God can do whatever He wanted to them if they did wrong.

But the other message is also that if the people were soft like the clay in the potter’s hand, then God can form them with love and faithfulness.

In the gospel parable of the dragnet, it is a reminder for us that this world has many types of people, just as there are many types of fish.

We may be affected by some people’s unkind actions and we can succumb to the hardening of our heart against these people.

But let us remember that all judgement belongs to the Lord our God.

Let our hearts be soft like the clay in the potter’s hand and God will shape us into a beautiful creation.

Sts. Martha, Mary and Lazarus, Wednesday, 29-07-2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Only St. Peter had made that similar proclamation.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

17th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 28-07-2026

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

Nobody likes to be punished, even if they deserve it.

And there is also the question of the value of punishment on those who are guilty.

Other than feeling the pain of the wrong that was done, the other thing could be that it would act as a deterrent.

In the first reading, the people of God were severely punished for their sinfulness and unfaithfulness to the Lord.

But it also must be said that they were given warning after warning, and prophets were sent to them to call for repentence.

But they did not heed the warnings and even persecuted and killed the prophets.

So God had to punish them severely enough to wake them up from their sinful stupidity.

But in the same first reading, God also expressed His pain over seeing His people being punished.

It is similar to the pain of a parent who had to punish his stubborn and rebellious child to wake him up.

In the gospel is the familiar parable of the wheat and the darnel, and also the obvious meaning of the judgement at the end of the world.

Yes, the subjects of the evil one must face their punishment.

But a thought would be how did they become subjects of the evil one?

At the end of the first reading, the prophet Jeremiah cried out for the sinful people:

O our God, you are our hope.

If we are Christian and virtuous enough, let us pray for those who are under the bondage of the evil one.

It is with our hope in the Lord our God that those subjects of the evil one will be converted and saved.

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.