8th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 01-06-2023

Ecclesiasticus 42:15-25 / Mark 10:46-52   

A person has a name which identifies who he is and he responds to that name.

More than just a name to identify the person, the name is also a symbol of his uniqueness and dignity.

Even a nickname may have the above aspects.

In the gospel, there was this blind beggar who is called Bartimaeus.

But the gospel also mentioned that Bartimaeus means “the son of Timaeus”.

So that blind beggar was identified with a reference to someone else.

That may also indicate that his identity and dignity as a person was often ignored, and his status was also not important.

But all changed when he heard about Jesus.

He called out to Jesus like how others had called him; he began with “Son of David”.

But he also added the name which identified who he was calling: Jesus, have pity on me.

The blind man regained his sight, and as Jesus told him, his faith has saved him.

That blind man saw himself with dignity and status and as a unique person.

Just as he found his dignity and status in Jesus, we too will find our own in Jesus.

Let us ask Jesus to open our eyes to see who we really are, and we will also know how to live our lives as disciples of Jesus.

Visitation of the BVM, Wednesday, 31-05-2023

Zephaniah 3:14-18 or Romans 12:9-16 / Luke 1:39-56   

As Catholics, we certainly have an affection for Marian hymns.

And if we are the Saturday Novena people, then Marian hymns certainly have a place in our hearts.

These hymns are like evergreens, and we can sing them by heart, and they also bring us back to the memories of our childhood days, since those hymns have not changed much.

Someone shared about how he suffered a great setback in his career and in his marriage.

He was lost and broken in the storms of life.

Then one day he happened to pass by Novena church, and since it had been a long time since he had been there, he dropped in to say a prayer.

Somehow when he was in there, a strange feeling came over him and the tune of a familiar Marian hymn kept ringing in his head and he felt very moved.

In short, it was an experience of Mary's powerful intercession and also an experience of Mary visiting him in his dark moments of life.

Well, Mary continues to be a channel of God's grace for the needy people of our time, just as she was for Elizabeth.

May our devotion to Mother Mary also lead us to glorify God and to proclaim His greatness.

8th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 30-05-2023

Ecclesiasticus 35:1-12 / Mark 10:28-31    

When it comes to giving, the human instinct is to give only what is not needed.

So when it comes to giving in cash or kind, we give what we do not really need, or even what we do not want.

That is because we are always more concerned about whether we have enough for ourselves, as well as having a bit more than what we need.

Also, when we give, we may also be wondering at the back of our minds, about what returns or benefits we might get.

When Peter told Jesus that he and the rest have left everything to follow Jesus, he also wondered what returns or benefits he and the rest would get.

But the 1st reading teaches us about generosity: “Give to the Most High as he has given to you, generously as your means can afford. For the Lord is a good rewarder, he will reward you seven times over.”

So whether giving to the Lord or giving to the poor or those in need, let us not look for returns or benefits.

Let us add a smiling face to all our gifts, and be cheerful in giving.

And the Lord will bless us with whatever we need.

Our Lady, Mother of the Church, Monday, 29-05-2023

Acts 1:12-14 / John 19:25-34

In the 1st reading, we heard that after Jesus was taken up to heaven, the apostles returned to Jerusalem and went to the upper room where they were staying

There they devoted themselves with one accord to prayer, together with some women, and Mary the mother of Jesus.

That was the last mention of Mary. After that there was no more mention of her in the rest of the Bible.

This last mention of Mary is significant because that was also her purpose after Jesus was taken up to heaven.

Mary stayed with the apostles and she was with them in prayer. She was doing this because she was obedient to what Jesus entrusted to her while He was on the cross.

Because Mary remembered what Jesus told her when He was on the cross: Woman, behold your son.

Though she did not reply, her silence was her consent. She not only agreed to be the mother of the disciple that Jesus loved, she understood that she was to be the mother of all the disciples of Jesus.

Today's memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church, is a new addition to the liturgical calendar of the Church.

That title of Mary, Mother of the Church, was officially given to Mary during the Second Vatican Council by Pope Paul VI.

So from Mother of God, she is now also the Mother of the Church. And if we are obedient to what Jesus said on the cross, then we too must embrace Mary as our Mother, which most of us would be more willing to do.

But for us, Mary is not just our Mother, but we would also want to carry out what Jesus entrusted to us and we want Mary to be the Mother of all peoples.

As we celebrate this memorial, let us make our Mother known to all peoples, for in doing so, we are also making Jesus known to all peoples.

Pentecost Sunday, Year A, 28.05.2023

 Acts 2:1-11 / 1 Cor 12:3-7 / John 20:19-23

In the whole spectrum of creation, human beings stand out as the most unique. 

Human beings have intellect and will. Their intelligence strives for development and new inventions. 

They know generally what is right and wrong. They exercise their freedom of choice to do what they wish. 

So, human beings can decide to do what is right or wrong. They can choose to be kind and gentle, or to be cruel and hostile. 

They can choose to be generous or selfish. They can choose to be truthful or deceitful. 

In other words, a person can choose to be whatever kind of human being he or she wishes to be. 

So more than just acting on instinct, to be a human being is to make decisions, and to decide on choices. 

That is what makes human beings so different from animals and other creatures. 

But what makes human beings so unique is what is revealed by God in the Bible. 

The Book of Genesis tells us that God made man in His image, and it was the best of all His creation. 

So, humanity stands right at the top, over and above all other creatures and creation. 

In other words, humanity is the glory of God. 

But here comes the difficult part. If humanity is the glory of God, if humanity is made in the image of God, then why is there so much sin and evil in the world? 

Humanity seems to be on the road of self-destruction, as well as the destruction of creation. 

There are violence and hostility, bloodshed and genocide, pollution and the destruction of nature. 

And on the personal level, there is greed and selfishness, exploitation and disregard of the human dignity. 

And at times, human beings seem to be like worse than animals. That can be quite shocking and disgusting. 

Today the Church celebrates the Feast of Pentecost. At the first Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples to empower them to proclaim that Jesus is Lord, and the Good News of salvation. 

As we celebrate this feast, the Holy Spirit comes into our hearts to empower us as He did at the first Pentecost. 

And Holy Spirit descends on the Church and on the world to reclaim and renew the image of humanity that God has created in His likeness. 

The Holy Spirit wants to empower us to be living images of God's love so that we can be signs of God's presence in the world. 

And the Holy Spirit wants to do so much in us and for us. 

The Holy Spirit wants to help us to pray, so that we can discover the power of prayer that will help us see God's will and be able to do it. 

The Holy Spirit wants to bless us, so that we are able to turn adversity into opportunity. 

The Holy Spirit wants to show us signs and wonders, so that there will be conversion and repentance, and sinfulness will give way to holiness. 

May the Holy Spirit reclaim and renew our hearts and make us living images of God's glory. 

Then we will discover the particular way in which the Holy Spirit is given to each of us. 

And may we let the Holy Spirit lead us to proclaim the marvels of God in our lives, so that we will see the signs and wonders of God in the Church and in the world.

7th Week of Easter, Saturday, 27-05-2023

Acts 28:16-20, 30-31 / John 21:20-25     

One of the symbols of Jesus is the “Alpha” and the “Omega”.

In other words, Jesus is the beginning and the end.

Another symbol for God is the circle, because, like a circle, God has no beginning and no end.

So, in a way, the same can be said of Jesus.

Although the symbol for Jesus is the “Alpha” and the “Omega”, in reality, Jesus is God who has no beginning and no end.

As we meditate and reflect deeper on this, today’s gospel passage brings us to the end of the gospel of John.

But the gospel, the Word of God, has no end, as it continues on in our lives.

In the 1st reading, the Good News continued on the life of St. Paul.

Similarly, let us continue to live out the gospel in our lives.

Even when our lives come to an end on this earth, our life begins in heaven.

So even for us, life has no ending. That is what eternal life is about. And that is also what we must share with others.

7th Week of Easter, Friday, 26-05-2023

Acts 25:13-21 / John 21:15-19   

One of the important things in life is about relationships.

In fact, we can say that human relationships are the most important in life.

When our relationships are good, then life has depth and meaning.

When we have good relationships with others, then there will be mutual trust and understanding.

But of course, good relationships take time to build.

And when relationships go through a rough patch, then there also must be forgiveness and reconciliation.

In the gospel, Jesus asked Peter three times if Peter loves Him.

That brings back memories for Peter of the three denials.

But Peter experienced the forgiveness and healing from Jesus.

So to that question of love and to what Jesus wants him to do, he readily said “Yes”.

Even if that meant being led to where he would rather not go.

By coming into this world, Jesus entered into a relationship with us.

By suffering and dying on the Cross, He showed how much He loves us.

Let us treasure this relationship, and strengthened by His love, we will be ready and willing to do what God wants of us.