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.

9th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 05-06-2026

2 Tim 3:10-17 / Mark 12:35-37  

The sacred book of the Church is none other than the Bible.

The Bible is also called the Word of God, and we believe that God speaks to us in the Bible.

In the first reading, St. Paul emphasized to Timothy that from the Bible, he can learn wisdom that leads to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

St. Paul goes on to say that all Scripture is inspired by God and can be used for teaching, for refuting error, for guiding people’s lives and teaching them to be holy.

St. Paul is certainly saying all that out of his own experience of facing hardships and persecutions.

He also tells Timothy that anybody who tries to live in devotion to Christ is certain to be attacked.

The attack comes from wicked impostors who will go from bad to worse, deceiving others and deceived themselves.

But let us not be afraid of living out our lives as Christians.

God will protect His People and save them from danger.

But we need to continue to believe in the saving power of Jesus.

And by reading and meditating on the Word of God in the Bible, we will be strengthened in faith.

And with God’s love we will be able to stand up to the hardships and the persecutions of life.

9th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 04-06-2026

2 Tim 2:8-15 / Mark 12:28-34  

It is often said that a picture tells a thousand words.

In many ways that it is especially when the picture conveys the message as it is.

Still the picture may not convey the entire message, or in some cases, the picture may be interpreted with a number of meanings.

And when that happens, then many words are used to interpret the picture, and so instead of clarification, there could be confusion.

In the first reading, St. Paul tells this to Timothy: Tell them, in the name of God, that is no wrangling about words. All that this ever achieves is the destruction of those who are listening.

 

The issue was about the Good News and how it was interpreted by some people who had their own opinions.

In the gospel, when the scribe asked Jesus about the first of all the commandment Jesus used words to explain it.

After that scribe could only reiterate what Jesus said.

Because in Jesus, the scribe heard the words of love, and he also saw the reality of love, and he had no further questions.

Let us live our lives according to the commandment of God’s love, and others will see in us the image of God’s love.

9th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 03-06-2026

2 Timothy 1:1-3, 6-12 / Mark 12:18-27    

Life with its many complex relationships is difficult to understand.

How did people fall in love, and then some fall out of love.

For some people, blood is thicker than water, but for other, blood relationships are like water under the bridge, i.e., they are passing moments.

If life on earth is already so complex and difficult to understand, then the eternal life is left very much to imagination.

For the Sadducees in the gospel passage, they don’t believe in the resurrection nor in eternal life.

So they came up with a complex situation about relationships in eternity and then questioned Jesus about it.

They hoped that by doing that, the belief in eternal life would crumble and so they don’t have to worry about what happens after death.

But Jesus proclaimed the truth about God, and that He is not the God of the dead but God of the living.

With that, we will understand that God is in our relationships in this world as well as in the next.

Let us focus on God and live our lives well and have good relationships with others while we are on earth.

And when we cross over to the eternal life, God will give us life and life to the full.

9th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 02-06-2026

2 Peter 3:11-15, 17-18 / Mark 12:13-17  

Whenever people ask us questions to find out something from us, it will make us annoyed and irritated.

Because we think that they are rather cunning and slippery.

We want to avoid them so as to avoid getting into a sticky situation.

But at the same time, we also don’t want to offend them or tell them off.

But upon a deeper reflection, if there is nothing to hide, then there is also nothing to fear.

Still, it is not as simple as that, and life and people can be quite complicated.

In the gospel, the Pharisees and some Herodians were sent to catch Jesus out on what He said.

They were seemingly courteous, and even praised Jesus for being an honest man and teaches the way of God in all honesty.

Then they asked the question of paying taxes to Caesar.

But Jesus saw through their hypocrisy, and He even said it straight to their faces, “Why do you set this trap for me?”

We may be able to tell people off like Jesus did.

But if we don’t like people to be hypocrites, then let us not be one ourselves.

Let us learn from Jesus to be honest and keep walking in the ways of God and to ask questions in a loving way.