1st Week of Advent, Thursday, 01-12-2022

Isaiah 26:1-6 / Matthew 7:21, 24-27        

The four weeks of Advent reminds us that we need to take time out of our busyness to do some reflection.

And because the four weeks can pass by so quickly with many distractions that it is possible that there is no spiritual meaning in Advent at all.

The main point of reflection in Advent is the promise of salvation and its fulfillment in Jesus Christ.

In the 1st reading, the prophet Isaiah looked forward to that day when God will save His people and there will be rejoicing and gladness.

Those who trusted in the Lord and are faithful to Him will be blessed and see the glory of God.

So we have heard the Word of God and His promises.

But we must reflect and meditate on them, just as Jesus said that a sensible man would build his house on rock.

When we make time this Advent to reflect and meditate on God’s Word and His gift of salvation, then we will be prepared to welcome Jesus into the home of our hearts.

St. Andrew, Apostle, Wednesday, 30-11-2022

Romans 10:9-18 / Matthew 4:18-22

Most of us would shy away from the limelight and rather work behind the scenes.

Well, that is until we have basked in the limelight and gotten a taste of the attention and the applause.

 After experiencing the taste of the limelight, it might be difficult to step back into the background and go back to being behind the scenes.

We often call it "cannot let go".

St. Andrew was always referred to as the brother of St. Peter.

That title gives the impression that St. Andrew was someone who was always behind the scenes, someone who tags along behind St. Peter.

Even today's gospel seemed to imply that idea when it tells of Jesus calling Peter and Andrew, in that order.

But in the gospel according to St. John, it was Andrew who first followed Jesus, and it was Andrew who told Peter that he had found the Messiah.

St. Andrew's role in the gospels may be few but nonetheless significant.

Besides being the first to follow Jesus and leading Peter to Him, St. Andrew was also instrumental in pointing out the boy with the barley loaves and the fish that later led to the miracle of the multiplication of loaves.

In St. Andrew, we see a reflection of ourselves and our mission.

Following Christ is our top priority and leading others to Christ is our mission.

But stepping back in order that God can continue to work through us must also be our conviction.

When we can do that, then we know what it means to let go and let God.

1st Week of Advent, Tuesday, 29-11-2022

Isaiah 11:1-10 / Luke 10:21-24

Trees and plants are beautiful especially in all their regal greenery.

And when they bear flowers and fruits, they can look really majestic.

When we look at what is above the ground, we see beauty and majesty.

But what is hidden from our sight is below the ground.

And there below the ground is the dirt and the mud and the soil, which has neither beauty and majesty.

But for all the beauty and majesty of the trees and plants, the flowers and the fruits, if there is no ground for the roots, then there will be nothing at all.

The 1st reading talks about a shoot that springs from the stock of Jesse, a scion trusts from his roots.

It reminds us that only when we are grounded and rooted in God, then we will have hope for the future.

While the world looks at what is above the ground and even takes advantage of the beauty and majesty, we look at the simplicity and necessity of the ground and the roots.

Let us be like little children who are grounded and rooted in God and we will know what true beauty and majesty is.

1st Week of Advent, Monday, 28-11-2022

Isaiah 4:2-6 (Year A) / Matthew 8:5-11   

One of the themes of Advent is the fulfillment of the prophecies that were written in the Old Testament.

The prophecies speak of the Promised One of God and that he will save God’s people.

The 1st reading is an example of one of those prophecies.

During the season of Advent, these prophecies are recalled, and for us, we know that the prophecies are already fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

But the prophecies of the Old Testament do not just speak about the Promised One of God.

No doubt the prophecies are already fulfilled in Jesus Christ, yet the same prophecies also speak to us about God’s saving plan for us in our day.

In the gospel, the centurion speaks about the word of authority, and Jesus affirmed him of his faith.

As for us, we too must believe in the authority of the Word of God.

God continues to renew His promises to us as we read and listen to His Word.

In this Advent, let us read and meditate on the Word of God, and believe that God will fulfill His promises to us.

1st Sunday of Advent, Year A, 27.11.2022

Isaiah 2:1-5 / Romans 13:11-14 / Matthew 24:37-44

Going by how we make plans for our lives and how life happens, we can say this, and that is “expect the expected”. 

Of course, we have heard the saying “expect the unexpected”, but let us remember that it is the exception to the norm. 

By and large, in life, we can expect the expected, and from that we will have some stability and maintain some balance in life. 

So, we come to church for Mass, and we expect to have Mass and there is Mass. We wouldn't like to have too many surprises, especially unpleasant surprises that leave us flustered and frustrated. 

So, if no changes have been announced earlier, we would come at this time for Mass and expect to have Mass as usual. 

It is not going to be like, we come at this time for Mass, and then be told that Mass was earlier and the next Mass is later in the evening. 

We will certainly not be pleasantly surprised, and we will have something to say about that. 

So, we can expect the expected, unless we have ignored some notices or announcements that were made earlier. 

Nevertheless, life has its surprises and here is where we have to expect the unexpected. 

But as we think deeper about it, even the unexpected will usually give out some signs and signals before it happens. 

In the gospel, Jesus talks about the Flood which was recorded in the Book of Genesis. 

Jesus said that in those days before the Flood, people were eating and drinking, taking wives and taking husbands, right up to the day Noah went into the ark, and they suspected nothing till the Flood came and swept all away. 

So, was the Flood expected? Was there no warning or were there no signs at all? 

Before it began to rain for 40 days and 40 nights, God had instructed Noah to build the ark. 

The ark was certainly big enough and cannot be missed, because it was to take in two of every species of all the animals, from the elephants to the ants, with the mosquitoes included. 

And even to this day, there are some people who are searching for the remains of that ark. 

So the ark was big enough not to be missed. So the people saw it. But they didn't wonder about it. They thought that Noah was crazy to build such a thing, and they didn't even bother to ask why. 

In short, they ignored the signs and the warnings. And then the Flood came. 

So, the Flood was not unexpected. There were warnings and there were signs. But the people ignored it. And for that they were all swept away. 

Jesus continues by saying that when the Son of Man comes, then of the two who are in the fields or at the millstone grinding, one will be taken and the other will be left. 

Whether who is taken or who is left behind, did they expect it, or were there no signs or warnings to indicate what was going to happen? 

As we begin a season of Advent, we are called to be like Mary, to ponder and to treasure what God is saying to us. 

We have also received a little booklet to help us in our reflection and to help us to be sensitive to the signs that God is showing us. 

And we are also given a card to write down our promises to Jesus as we embark on a new beginning in our spiritual lives. 

Yes, let us ask Mary our Mother to help us ponder and to be sensitive to the signs that God is revealing to us. 

Let us remember, that before we fall sick, our body will whisper about its pains. 

Before we break up, our spouse or friend will whisper about their frustrations. 

Before the business goes bankrupt, the customers will whisper about their complaints. 

If we don't listen to the whispers, then we will be forced to hear the screams. 

God speaks to us, softly and tenderly, and with Mary, we listen so that we can follow God's directions. 

As we begin this season of Advent, let us be silent so that we can listen. 

Then we can expect, not so much the unexpected, but more so the expected.

34th Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 26-11-2022

Apocalypse 22:1-7 / Luke 21:34-36       

During the celebration of the Mass, we are often reminded of the presence of God, with this phrase : The Lord be with you

Maybe some of us may ask : why not say - the Lord is with you. After all the Lord is here, isn't it?

True, the Lord is here, yet so often, even as we are greeted with the presence of the Lord, our hearts may not be that aware that Lord is indeed truly here.

Maybe that is why it is necessary to reflect on just that simple greeting: The Lord be with you.

Because that phrase call us to pay attention to the Lord, to pay attention to the Lord who is here and with us now.

In the gospel, Jesus says: Watch yourselves, or your hearts will be coarsened and hardened.

If we are not aware of God's presence in the Mass, how would we be aware of His presence during the course of the day.

Being with the Lord moment by moment, will help us to be ready to be with Him in eternity.

34th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 25-11-2022

Apocalypse 20:1-4, 11 - 21:2 / Luke 21:29-33 

When we look at what is happening around in this world, we may wonder why evil seems to be getting the upper hand.

There are wars and violence, blood-shed and hostility, persecution and oppression.

Even in our personal lives, we wonder if being kind and charitable is worth it, especially when what we get in return is the opposite.

But we believe that good will eventually triumph over evil because we believe in God who is all good.

God will never let evil have the last say, and God will vindicate those who live good and upright lives.

In the 1st reading, we heard about the punishment of the devil and those who do evil, as well as the vindication and the rewarding of those who are faithful to God.

Yes, for those who do good and are faithful to God, there will be a new heaven and a new earth, and they will be rejoicing in the presence of God.

So when we see that evil seems to be getting the upper hand and even getting away with it, let us keep being faithful to God.

Jesus tells us in the gospel that we see such things happening, then we must also know that the kingdom of God is near.

Let us keep being faithful to God and believe in His promises to us.

Heaven and earth will pass away, but God’s Word and His promises will never pass away.