7th Week of Easter, Wednesday, 01-06-2022

Acts 20:28-38 / John 17:11-19    

Every ending has a new beginning.

But moving on can be quite difficult especially when what is going to be left behind has many fond memories.

When we really care and love the people that we are going to say goodbye to, it can be difficult, especially when we don't really know if we are able to see them face-to-face again.

Such was how St. Paul were feeling as he said his goodbye to the Christians at the church of Ephesus.

Not only did St. Paul knew that they would not see him again, he was also worried about the dangers that they will be facing.

But he did the best thing he could for them - he commended them to God and he assured them that God will protect them and watch over them.

In the gospel, Jesus knew that He had to leave His disciples and go back to the Father.

He did the best thing for them and that was to leave His word with them and to share His joy with them.

And His word to them was that He will send the Holy Spirit who will be their Advocate.

That is also the promise of Jesus to us.

With the Holy Spirit, it is a new beginning for us and we can move on with the fond memories of those we love and care for.

For those whom we have to say goodbye to, we know that God will watch over them, and when we pray for them, our love for them and their love for us will only grow stronger.

Visitation of the BVM, Tuesday, 31-05-2022

Zeph 3:14-16 or Romans 12:9-16 / Luke 1:39-56 

As much as we make plans for our lives, we cannot determine how life unfolds.

And as life unfolds moment by moment, we will have to make changes to our plans accordingly.

It is also futile to fret when there are changes to our plans and there is also pointless to resist the changes.

But with faith, we will be able to accept the changes and let God reveal His plans for us.

Mary may have her plans changed at the Annunciation and she may not have planned or intended to visit her kinswoman Elizabeth.

But when she heard from the angel that Elizabeth was in her sixth month of pregnancy, she set out and went as quickly as she could to see her.

Elizabeth wasn't expecting anyone to be with her or to be able to understand her extraordinary pregnancy.

But she would be pleasantly surprised by the visit from Mary, who was also in her early stages of pregnancy.

Both women found comfort and understanding in each other because they accepted to go along with God's plan.

So when there are unexpected changes in our own plans, let us trust that there will be pleasant surprises and revelations from God.

When we say that we want to do God's will, then let us also be prepared to accept changes to our plans in life.

God's plan for us is always for our good and we will also rejoice at the wonders and marvels He will do for us when we follow His plan.

7th Week of Easter, Monday, 30-05-2022

Acts 19 : 1-8 / John 16 : 29-33

Fear is usually seen as a negative force which diminishes the human ability.

Fear has a sort of paralysing effect on people.

Yet the positive aspect of fear is that we also experience an increase in the flow of adrenaline, a sort of "rush" so to speak.

That enables us to face the fear and do things that we that we are not usually capable of.

Maybe that was what the disciples in the 1st reading experienced.

They experienced the "rush" of the Spirit when St. Paul laid hands on them after they were baptized.

The experience of the Spirit made them the pioneers in the church in Ephesus.

It will be an experience they will have to fall back on as they meet with difficulties and trouble.

In gospel, Jesus said that in this world we will have trouble.

It seems to come as a package deal in being a Christian.

Coming along with trouble is also fear.

Yet Jesus sends us the Spirit to help us overcome any trouble that we will face so that there will be peace in our hearts.

Let us prepare ourselves with prayer to receive the Holy Spirit who gives us peace and courage to overcome the fear and the troubles of life.

7th Sunday of Easter, Year C, 29.05.2022

Acts 7:55-60 / Apocalypse 22:12-14, 16-17, 20 / John 17:20-26

When it comes to personal hygiene, one of the habits that we would observe is what we put into our mouths. 

If we are what we eat, then we need to be careful about what goes into our mouths because it will go into our digestive system. 

So, other than good clean food, and things that are good for our body and health, there shouldn't be much else that would go into our mouths. 

With that being said, let us now think about what comes out of our mouths. 

If only what is good should go into our mouths, then what comes out from our mouths should only be good. 

If what goes into our mouths is good, but what comes out is bad, then obviously there is something wrong. 

We have the ability to speak, and what comes out of our mouths are words that are a means of communication with others. 

The number of words we use in a day is interesting, but even more amazing is the power of the words we use. 

Because words can make or break a person, and words can create a situation or environment that is comfortable or irritable. 

The gospel passage is about a long prayer of Jesus. In that prayer, Jesus prayed for His disciples and also for those who through the words of His disciples will come to believe in Him. 

As Christians, what comes out of our mouths are prayers of praise and thanksgiving to God. 

So, what comes out of our mouths are good, it is for worship and prayers. 

But it is not only in Church that we do that. Outside of Church, what comes out of our mouth should be for the good of others and help them to be better persons and to get on with life. 

We must reflect on what kind of words are coming out of our mouths. Are our words kind and gentle, or are they angry and abusive? 

Do our words help others and give them hope, or do we badmouth others and end up arguing and quarrelling with them? 

Jesus reminds us of the power of our words. By our words, others will either believe in Him or turn away from Him. 

Jesus prayed for us and also for those who by our words will come to believe in Him. 

May our words always be a prayer of worship, praise and thanksgiving to God. 

May the words that we speak to others be a prayer for them. 

When we speak to others, let it be a form of prayer that will help them and lift them up from the troubles of life and give them hope. 

May what we say to others help them to come to believe in Jesus. 

In other words, let us pray to God and let us pray with others. 

When the words that come out of our mouths are prayers to God and prayers for others, then the voice of God's love will be heard in Church and in the world.

6th Week of Easter, Saturday, 28-05-2022

Acts 18:23-28 / John 16:23-28  

A "blank cheque" means a signed cheque with the amount left for the payee to fill in.

Figuratively, it means an unlimited freedom of action.

So, if we were ever handed a blank cheque, what is the amount that we would write in, presuming that whatever amount we write in will be honoured and given to us.

That would sound like too good to be true and we know in reality that it won't ever happen to us.

In the gospel, Jesus said that anything we ask for from the Father will be granted in Jesus' name.

We have asked for many things in prayer, and some have been been granted, and others will probably be granted.

But if we were given a spiritual blank cheque, what would we really ask for.

But the question is not what we would ask for. Rather it should be that do we know what God really wants to give us.

God wants to give us the Holy Spirit, which He will send in Jesus' name.

When we have the Holy Spirit, then we won't ask for anything else.

Because the Holy Spirit is the greatest gift of love from God which is given in Jesus' name.

With the Holy Spirit in us, we will have everything which money can never buy.

6th Week of Easter, Friday, 27-05-2022

Acts 18:9-18 / John 16:20-23        

Christianity would not have spread from where it began to the far distant lands if not for continuous line of men and women who offered themselves for the mission of spreading the Good News.

More than just their efforts to bring Jesus to those who do not know Him, there is also the divine dimension.

God blessed and worked with these missionaries and confirmed their message with signs and wonders.

But it does not mean that being missionaries of the Good News of salvation is going to be smooth and easy and without trouble and danger.

As we heard in the 1st reading, the Lord appeared to St. Paul in a vision to assure him of help and protection.

So even for St. Paul, there were times when he felt tired and discouraged and even frightened, and the Lord came to strengthened him.

For us, we may not be missionaries going to foreign lands, but we are called to be witnesses of the Good News of Jesus Christ our Saviour.

God will help us in our weaknesses when we want to bear witness to our faith by our words and actions.

We also need to pray to the Holy Spirit who is our Advocate and who will work the signs and wonders to confirm our message and our witnessing.

May our hearts be filled with joy of the Holy Spirit as we keep doing the will of God.

Ascension

Acts 1:1-11 / Ephesians 1:17-23 / Luke 24:46-53

In the two thousand years of the existence of the Church, there were many changes, some for the better, and some could have been better. 

But for better or otherwise, the Church has seen the good and the bad, the happy and the sad, the ups and downs. 

At times, the Church was a model and a source of inspiration. But at times, the Church was in the pits of desperation and desolation. 

As we celebrate the feast of the Ascension, this question may come across our minds: Why did Jesus leave His church in the hands of weak and unworthy people who will fail and fall? 

Certainly, it would be good if Jesus had remained on Earth to lead the Church. Then there will be no problems, and the whole world would be drawn to the Church and be saved. 

With Jesus in the Church, then our task as Christians would be so easy as we just have to direct those who need help to Jesus, and the problems of the world would be solved. 

But, such is not the case, and so we have to walk by faith along the journey of life. 

On this Feast of the Ascension, we celebrate the faith that keeps us going and moving. 

We have not seen Jesus and yet we believe in Him. In believing, we are given the gift of the Holy Spirit who will help us to be witnesses of the saving love of God, and to help others to believe in Jesus.

For those who have not seen Jesus and do not believe in Him, we have this mission of being Jesus to them and to lead them to respond to the love of Jesus. 

The Holy Spirit will help us, just as He had done so for the Church during the past 2000 years. 

Let us ask for forgiveness for the times we had failed and fallen as Christians. 

Let us rise with the Holy Spirit and be witnesses of the repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 

Let us be witnesses of the saving love of God, and may others come to know Jesus and have their sins forgiven.