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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What the second professor said may sound rather odd.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

16th Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 19.07.2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A man sowed good seeds in his field.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The sunset must not find us still angry.

We must not give the devil his opportunity.

But the deeper reality is the transforming power of God.

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

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

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

With God, the biologically impossible becomes the spiritually possible.

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

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

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

Micah 2:1-5 / Matthew 12:14-21     

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

But Jesus did not confront them or retaliate against them.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

But ambition without principles and discipline can be dangerous.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Isaiah 7:1-9 / Matthew 11:20-24  

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

15th Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 11.07.2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

It is a parable that has an obvious meaning. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Isaiah 6:1-8 / Matthew 10:24-33 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hosea 14:1-10 / Matthew 10:16-23  

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

God had promised that He will protect us. 

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

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

Hosea 11:1-4, 8-9 / Matthew 10:7-15  

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In almost every organization, there are levels of hierarchy.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

There can be many ways to solve a problem.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

14th Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 28.06.2026

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

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

Because we want to know what the future is like. 

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

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

Nonetheless, predictions about the future can arouse our curiosity. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

That is true happiness. That is true peace. 

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

Amos 9:13-15 / Matthew 9:14-17  

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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