8th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, -1-03-2022

1 Peter 1:10-16 / Mark 10:28-31   

In life we seem to be searching for something, we seem to be looking for something.

Whatever we are searching for or looking for, we cannot deny that it will be for our own gain.

So when we do a job, we expect to be paid. When we offer help we may expect to be thanked.

As Peter asked Jesus in the gospel, "What about us? We have left everything and followed you."

So we search and look for something to gain in whatever we do.

But the 1st reading tells us that for the prophets were looking and searching for the salvation that God promised.

But their looking and searching was not for their own gain but rather for ours.

The prophets heard the call and responded and gave themselves to the service of God for the salvation of their people.

The prophets have given us the example of self-sacrifice for the good of others.

May we do likewise, for our salvation and for the salvation of others.

8th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 28-02-2022

1 Peter 1:3-9 / Mark 10:17-27

Whenever we go for a funeral, or a wake, and when we look at the body of the deceased, just what are the thoughts that will go through our minds?

For us who are Christians, we want to believe that there is an after-life, that there is an eternal life.

And that eternal life will be filled with the eternal light that gives us everlasting peace and joy.

More importantly, it is an eternal life with God.

With such thoughts as these, then we will dare to look at death and know that it is just a door that opens to the eternal life of heaven.

We will look at this life on earth as a passing on, and maybe that is why when a person dies, we say that the person has passed on.

But more than just passing on, it is the Lord our God who has called the person back to the eternal home.

So our true home is not here on earth. Our true home is heaven.

Let us not be too absorbed or even obsessed with the things of earth.

Let us set our hearts on our home above. And when the Lord our God calls us home, may we peacefully and joyfully go back to our Father's mansion where there will be a room ready for us.

8th Ordinary Sunday, Year C, 27.02.2022

Ecclesiasticus 27:4-7 / 1 Cor 15:54-58 / Luke 6:39-45

It is said that eating is a favourite pastime for Singaporeans. It is not just for Singaporeans, but certainly for every nationality. 

Eating is not just a pastime. It is a necessity. We eat to live, although there are people who live to eat. 

Whatever the case may be, we will find our way to the food, or the food will find its way to us. 

As much as eating is a necessity, or even if it is a luxury, we have to be careful of what we put into our mouths. 

More than just the taste and the type of food that we put into our mouths, what is really important is the effect of the food when it goes into our digestive system. 

So, food is not just judged by its taste but by its eventual effect on our bodies and on our health. 

Hence, we have to be careful about what we eat. Not only should we not eat bad food, but we must also eat good and nutritious food. 

If that is the way to look at food, then what is the way to know what a person is really like? 

We won't be able to know what a person is like just by appearances, just as a book is not judged by its cover. 

One of the ways to know what a person is like is by the words that come out of a person's mouth. 

The 1st reading has this to tell us: “In a shaken sieve, the rubbish is left behind, so to the defects of a man appears in his talk, and the test of a man is in his conversation. A man’s words betray what he feels.”

A person may be glib with sweet talk, but those kind of words do not have any good and lasting effect on others. In other words, it is just empty talk. 

Jesus tells us this in the gospel: For a man's words flow out of what fills his heart. 

So, we can tell what a person is like by the words that comes out of his mouth. 

Whether the words are simple or sophisticated, whether the person is articulate or not, it is about the feel and the effect of that person’s words on others. 

Because what fills the heart of a person is felt by those who hear the words of that person. 

As much as that is one of the ways by which we know what a person is like, it also should make us look at what our heart is like and what fills our heart. 

Obviously, by the same measure, we would know what our heart is like by the words that come out of our mouth. 

If we find that our words are angry, sarcastic, critical, judgmental and depressive, then we know what fills our hearts and by our words we will know ourselves. 

So, as much as we must be careful about the food that goes into our mouths, we too must be careful about the words that come out of our mouths. 

As much as we taste the food to see if it is good or not, let us also taste our words to see if it will do good for others. 

Let us acknowledge that there is rubbish in our hearts, and let us ask Jesus to cleanse our hearts to make it pure and clean.

Let us keep in our hearts what is good and loving, so that our mouths will speak words of praise and thanksgiving. 

Let us ask Jesus to make His home in our hearts, so that we will speak words of peace to each other and cleanse the world of hatred and evil. 

By our words, may others know that we are a people of peace and love, and may they be able to see that Jesus lives in our hearts.

7th Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 26-02-2022

James 5:13-22 / Mark 10:13-16     

As Christians, we should know how important prayer is.

It is not just important for our spiritual lives, but also for our daily lives.

Because prayer is a relationship with God, and we know that He listens to our prayer.

So as the 1st reading puts it, if any one of you is in trouble, he should pray.

If anyone is feeling happy, he should sing a psalm.

If one of you is ill, he should send for the elders of the church, and they must anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord and pray over him.

So whether in good times or in bad, in sickness or in health, prayer helps us to be union with God.

But prayer also requires faith and trust in God.

We need to have the heart of a child to pray with humility and simplicity.

The Lord our God will listen to our prayer and hold us close to His heart.

7th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 25-02-2022

James 5:9-12 / Mark 10:1-12  

It may sound surprising, that in our daily vocabulary, we use the word "No" more often than we use the word "Yes".

The word "No" comes out of our mouth so easily and effortlessly, whereas the word "Yes" seems to take some effort.

And practically speaking, saying "No" would mean that no commitment or obligation is needed, whereas saying "Yes" binds us to a duty and we have to keep our word.

Hence when Jesus taught about marriage in the gospel, He emphasised that from the beginning of creation, God instituted marriage.

So when couples get married, they say "Yes" to each other and also "Yes" to God.

That will be what binds the couple to each other and together they bind themselves to God.

But saying " Yes" is not just for married couples.

We said "Yes" to Jesus at our baptism, and we have to renew and deepen that commitment everyday.

When we are committed to our "Yes" to God, then we will know His purpose for us, and in His compassion and kindness, will grant us peace and joy in life.

7th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 24-02-2022

James 5:1-6 / Mark 9:41-50   

To have good gains by honest hard work is an inspiration for others.

On the other hand, ill-gotten gains will be ill-spent. 

Ill-gotten gains are like snow that is sprinkled with hot water.

The 1st reading warns against gaining riches and wealth by dishonest and unjust means.

What is more, the cries of the oppressed and those who suffered injustice will reach the ears of the Lord God. 

And He will take action on the wicked and those who do evil.

Jesus gives the same warning in the gospel when He says that anyone who is an obstacle to bring down one of these little ones who have faith, would be better thrown into the sea with a great millstone round his neck.

That is truly a severe punishment for the wicked and those who do evil, and those who take advantage of the lowly and poor.

But on the other hand, a great reward awaits those who are honest and virtuous, and looks out for the lowly and helpless.

This is the promise of Jesus. Let us believe in it and let us be that salt of the earth that will help other believe in the taste of goodness and walk in the ways of the Lord.

7th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 23-02-2022

James 4:13-17 / Mark 9:38-40   

How we live our lives will largely depend on what our values are and what we believe in.

So if we think that our future will depend on how we will prepare for it now, then we will  certainly do the preparation and planning now.

No doubt we need to plan and prepare for the future, for we will reap what we sow now.

But that is only one side of the coin.

The other side is that we must place all our plans before the Lord and ask for His blessings and guidance.

As the 1st reading tells us: You never know what will happen tomorrow; you are no more than a mist that is here for a while and then disappears.

And the reading continues with this: The most you should ever say is - If it is the Lord's will, we shall still be alive to do this or that.

Let us always tell the Lord our plans and ask for His blessings and guidance.

And may we always make decisions that will be for the Lord so that His will may do done in us.