33rd Sunday, OT, Year C, 16.11.2025

Malachi 3:19-20 / 2 Thess 3:7-12 / Luke 21:5-19

In almost every kind of sport, strength and stamina are required. 

Strength and stamina can only be achieved in one way, and that is by pushing the body, and the mind, when tiredness and fatigue set in. 

Strength and stamina cannot be developed if we were to stop the moment we feel tired. 

Of course, we need to stop when we feel exhausted, otherwise we might injure the body. 

So, strength and stamina can be built and developed progressively and gradually. 

In a way, it is like boiling water. The fire isn’t turned off just when the water is getting warm. 

The fire is kept burning as the water gets warmer and warmer until the water reaches boiling point. 

So it is with strength and stamina. We keep going when we are tired in order to increase strength and stamina, but at the same time being careful not to over-exert. 

But all this requires time, because nothing happens quickly or instantly. 

In fact, nature teaches us that growth and development requires time. 

And nature also teaches us that growth and development comes about through challenges and difficulties. 

Listening to the gospel passage can be rather challenging, difficult and even disturbing. 

At first, Jesus predicted the destruction of the Temple, which was the most holy place for the People of God. 

Then, He talks about the chaos of war and calamities. 

And then, He talks about violence and persecution, but He also assures His protection to those who are faithful to Him. 

And finally, Jesus urges us to have endurance so as to overcome the turmoil and tribulation. 

But what Jesus said about the destruction of the Temple will leave a graphic image in our minds: Not a single stone will be left on another; everything will be destroyed. 

The Temple was like a fortified city with high and thick walls. To breach a fortified city, the walls must first be broken through and then the destruction will begin. 

The walls of the Temple brings to mind the tale of two walls. 

The first is the walls of Jericho, the first city that blocked the Israelites when they entered into the Promised Land. 

The fortified walls of Jericho were high and mighty, almost impossible to breach and break-through. 

The Israelites turned to God for help, and they were told to march around the city for seven days. 

Then on the seventh day, they were to blow trumpets and horns and God will make the way. 

As much as it sounded nothing like a battle plan, the people obeyed. 

And on the 7th day when the trumpets and horns were sounded, the mighty walls of Jericho simply crumbled and the city of Jericho was taken. 

So, it can be said that the walls of Jericho fell by faith and not by force. 

Marching on in faith and prayer requires endurance, but that will bring about the awesome power of God.

That is the first of the tale of the two walls.

The second is the Western Wall, or the Wailing Wall, which is a surviving remnant of the Temple of Jerusalem, that was destroyed by the Romans in 70AD.

A Jewish legend has it that when the Temple was being built, the work was divided among different sectors of the population. 

The building of the Western Wall fell to the poor, and they worked hard to construct it, as they could not afford to hire labourers to do their work for them.

When the enemy destroyed the Temple, the angels descended from on high and spread their wings over the Wall, because God said: "This Wall, the work of the poor, shall never be destroyed."

The tale of these two walls tells us this. In the case of the walls of Jericho, it was by the simple act of faith and not by might of force that brought down the walls of Jericho. 

As for the Western Wall, or Wailing Wall, it can be said that the simple and humble prayer of the poor will endure. 

In life, there will be chaos, but with faith in God, out of chaos will come forth creation. 

In life, there will be tribulation, but every tribulation has a revelation. 

That revelation for us is that endurance will prevail over the chaos and turmoil. 

The walls of pride and might will be broken down. 

But the simple and humble prayer of those who endure in their faith in God will go up to heaven and bring forth God’s salvation.

Dedication of Lateran Basilica, 09.11.2025

 Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12 / 1 Cor 3:9-11, 16-17 / John 2:13-22

Today, the Church celebrates the dedication of the Lateran Basilica. 

Officially it is called the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, and it is dedicated to St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist. 

It is the cathedral of the diocese of Rome, and so it is the official Church of the Pope, who is the Bishop of Rome. 

Built in the year 324AD, it is the oldest church in the West, and it is considered the mother and the head of all the churches of Rome and of the world. 

In celebrating the dedication, we also celebrate the deep spiritual aspects of our faith. 

We celebrate unity, that we belong to the One Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. 

We believe that through the Church, God is offering the world the gift of forgiveness and salvation. 

We also profess that the Church is human and divine. 

We are the living members of the Church, the Body of Christ, and Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church. 

In the gospel, Jesus drove out all those merchants and money changers and said: Take all these out of here and stop turning my Father's house into a market. 

When the people challenged Him to justify what He did, Jesus said: Destroy this sanctuary and in three days I will raise it up. 

The people didn’t understand that Jesus was referring to the sanctuary that is His Body. 

So, the Church, the living Body of Christ, is holy, and the Church building is also holy.

The Church is the House of God, and a House of prayer. 

So, the building is sacred and it stands on holy ground. 

In this sacred building, worship is offered, prayer is heard and answered, and God’s love flows like the healing waters described in the 1st reading. 

The Church, the House of God, is like the Temple described in the 1st reading, where the waters of God’s healing love flow into the hearts of all believers. 

It is the waters of God’s love that brings about life, that brings about healing and forgiveness, that makes us bear fruits of love for others and for the glory of God. 

The celebration of the dedication of the Lateran Basilica also reminds us that we all have a spiritual home. 

So, the Church is the House of God, as well as our spiritual home, and we have come home to be with God. 

So, if Pope Leo XIV is asked where is his spiritual home, he will say that it is the Lateran Basilica. 

And if we were asked where is our spiritual home, we will say that it is the Church of Christ the King. 

Yes, here we are at home with our King and our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Here at home, we receive blessings from Jesus, we receive forgiveness for our sins, we are healed and strengthened with Holy Communion. 

Here at home, in the House of God, we offer worship and prayer, and we believe that our prayers will be heard and answered. 

And we go forth from the House of God with the mission of calling others to come back home. 

No matter how far they have gone, no matter what they have done wrong, no matter how angry or disappointed they are with the Church, God is calling them to come back home and to talk to God. 

And we are to be the voice of God to call them home. 

The feast of Christ the King will be in two weeks’ time. 

Before that, there will be a triduum, the three days of prayer in preparation for the feast day. 

Let us take some prayer cards and petition forms and ask others to come to the triduum to offer up their prayers to God. 

Everyone, whether young or old, everyone has a need, everyone has a prayer, and everyone needs to come home and to know that their prayers are heard. 

Let these prayer cards and petition forms be like God’s invitation. 

Regardless of how near or how far we are from God, let us come home to the House of God.

Let us come home and receive love, forgiveness, healing, and to let God make His home in our hearts.

All Souls 02.05.2025

 Isaiah 25:6-9 / Romans 5:5-11 / John 7:11-17

There are two important days in our life. 

One is, of course, our birthday, the day that we came into this world. 

That day appears in all our personal documents, and we also celebrate that day in various ways. 

The other day that is important is the day that we leave this world. 

For all of us here, we do not know when that day will be. 

And because we don’t know when that day will be, it leaves us rather curious and also anxious. 

Today we remember and we also pray for the faithful departed. 

We also remember especially our departed loved ones, and we pray that they will rest in peace. 

When we visit them at the cemetery or in the columbium, we see the date of their birth, as well as the date that they left this world. 

Between those two dates, they were with us, and they have left fond and warm memories in our hearts. 

We remember what they said to us, what they did for us, how they have loved us, and how they have helped us become better persons. 

Yes, on this day, we remember our departed loved ones and we pray for them. 

And on this day, our faith also leads us to think about the other world. 

Those who have died have left us and left this world. 

They have passed on from this world to the next world, or, to the other world. 

For them, life is changed, not ended. 

For them, life is changed and changed forever because they have gone back to the Lord. 

And God has prepared for them an eternal home so that they can rest eternally in His presence. 

The 1st reading gives this image of a mountain where the Lord has prepared a banquet of rich food. 

The departed have gone up to that mountain of the Lord, where He will wipe away the tears from every cheek. 

So, we believe that the departed have gone back home to be with God forever. 

It is with this belief that we remember our departed loved ones with love. 

Our faith and our hope tells us that God has prepared a place for each of us in our eternal home. 

So, although we do not know when will be the day that we will have to leave this world, let us not be too curious or be too anxious about it. 

When that day comes for us to leave this world, let us believe that we will pass on from this world to the next world, where God is waiting for us. 

As for the departed, we remember them and we also miss them, and we will also grieve as we mourn for them. 

The deeper the relationship we had with them, the deeper will be the grief and with tears. 

But the Lord Jesus will console us just as He consoled the widow who lost her son. 

The departed will not come back to life in this world. 

But the goodness of their lives will continue in our lives as we remember them. 

And our hope is that we will meet them again in the homeland in heaven.

In that heavenly homeland, we will see the God in whom we hoped for salvation. 

Yes, we will be reunited with our departed loved ones, and we will exalt and rejoice in God who saves us. 

That is our faith, that is our hope, as we remember and pray for the departed on this All Souls Day.

30th Ordinary Sunday, Year C, 26.10.2025

 Ecclesiasticus 35:12-14, 16-19 / 2 Tim 4:6-8, 16-18 / Luke 18:9-14

The phrase “fair and square” is a common phrase and we know what it means. 

Generally, it means that there is no biasness, no dishonesty and there is no cheating.

Whenever that phrase is used, it is expected that all parties are happy and satisfied with the final result or outcome.

So, it seems that it is a win-win situation for all involved parties because all is fair and square.

But, is the world really that fair and square? 

Is life really that fair and square?

Because the fact is that there is a disparity or a difference in all aspects of life. 

And we have accepted these disparities and differences as a fact of life. 

Some people are richer, while some are poorer. 

Some live in private property, others in flats. Some are talented and gifted, while others are just ordinary or even less than ordinary. 

So, the reality is that not all is fair and square.

But we have accepted this reality of life and we don’t make a fuss out of it. 

But we are also obligated to keep the gap as close as possible between these disparities and differences, and not to widen it.

In the gospel, Jesus told a parable to address the pride of some people. 

In their pride, those people thought they were virtuous and even despised everyone else.

In a parable, Jesus used the Temple as the setting, and there was a Pharisee and a tax-collector in the Temple. 

The Pharisee stood there and said this so-called prayer to himself. 

In that prayer which he addressed to God, he was actually bragging, that he was not grasping, unjust and adulterous like the rest of mankind. 

As if that was not enough, he even compared himself to the tax-collector, so as to put him down. 

But the tax-collector did not retaliate. 

Rather with lowered eyes and beating his breast, he said: God, be merciful to me, a sinner. 

Although it is only a parable, yet Jesus brought out the reality and the disparity of life, that all is not that fair and square. 

In terms of status and religious standing, the Pharisee and tax-collector are like from two different worlds. 

Yet in the Temple, they are equal in the eyes of God. 

As the 1st reading tells us, God is no respecter of personages. 

And God shows no respect to personages to the detriment of a poor man. 

God listens to the plea of the injured party. 

He does not ignore the orphan’s supplication, nor the widow as she pours out her story. 

Yes, with God, all is equal, all is fair and square. 

And the 1st reading also tells us that God listens to the prayer of a humble person. 

As we come to Church, we come before God who loves us and will listen to our prayers. 

We all have come to Church with a prayer in our hearts. 

We pray for healing from illnesses or diseases. We pray for peace and harmony in our families. 

We pray for reconciliation in our strained and broken relationships. 

And like St. Paul in the 2nd reading, we pray that we will also fight the good fight, to run the race to the finish and to keep the faith. 

So, we don’t stand around in Church and point out the faults and failings of others. 

Rather, we kneel with the tax collector and say: O God, be merciful to me, a sinner. 

In life, all may not be that fair and square. 

But let us be humble, and do what is right and just, and God will look on us with love, and He will listen to our prayer.

29th Ordinary Sunday, Year C, 19.10.2025

 Exodus 17:8-13 / 2 Tim 3:14 – 4:2 / Luke 18:1-8

There is a particular sport that will put every muscle and bone in the body to the test. 

And because it is such a challenging sport, not many people take it up at the competitive level. 

But it was in that sport that Singapore won her first Olympic medal. 

That sport is weightlifting. In the 1960 Olympics, Tan Howe Liang won the silver medal in the lightweight category in weightlifting. 

Whatever we may think of that sport, not many of us would be that keen to take it up. 

But more practical than weightlifting would be weight training. 

Weight training helps to build up muscle mass, and will also strengthen the body to lift heavy objects. 

But, whether weightlifting or weight training, it is about weights, something that is heavy and bulky, something to be careful with. 

If we lift up something, maybe a book, and keep holding it there, we can manage it for a while, but not for too long. 

Similarly, raising our hands above our heads may not take much effort or strength. 

But if we keep our hands raised above our heads, then fatigue will begin to set in, and we will feel the weight of our hands. 

In the 1st reading, the enemy attacked Israel, and Moses sent Joshua and his men to fight them. 

Meanwhile, Moses went to the hilltop and stood there with the staff of God in his hands. 

For as long as Moses kept his arms raised, Joshua and his men had the advantage over the enemy. 

But when Moses let his arms fall, the enemy had the advantage. 

So, Aaron and Hur helped Moses, and he sat on a stone, and Aaron and Hur supported his raised arms. 

With that, Joshua and his men overcame the enemy. 

This passage teaches us that while God will protect and defend us against our enemies, our efforts are also needed. 

Moses raised his arms in prayer to invoke God’s help, and the assistance of Aaron and Hur helped Joshua to overcome the enemy. 

The teaching is simple, and that is, to persevere in prayer when we are invoking God's help to overcome our enemies and our difficulties. 

The reality is that fatigue wears down the raised hands of prayer and perseverance is eroded. 

The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak, but the combined efforts of Moses, Aaron, Hur and Joshua brought about God's help in that critical moment. 

Yes, perseverance is needed and the raised hands of prayer will bring about God's justice and judgment. 

And that is also the message of the parable in the gospel passage. 

Jesus promises that God will see justice done to His chosen ones who cry out to Him day and night, even if the justice does not come immediately. 

For those who persevere in their trials and tribulations, God promises that He will protect their dignity. 

There is this story that a police station received a call that an elderly woman with mild dementia was missing. 

So, a team was sent out to look for that elderly lady. 

After about an hour or so, they managed to find that lady. 

But instead of getting straight into the matter, they walked along with her and chatted with her. 

She even thought that the police officers were out for stroll, and they stopped by for drinks and snacks. 

They walked on and finally the police officers brought the elderly lady to be reunited with her family. 

The important thing about life is not so much about the facts. 

Rather it is about respecting and protecting the dignity of people. 

The police officers did not bring up the reality of the situation to the elderly lady, because they did not want to disturb her peace of mind. 

Rather, they respected and protected her dignity as a person. 

And that is the dignity of the humanity that God wants us to respect and protect. 

Because God Himself will protect our dignity and He will see justice done to His children who cry out to Him day and night. 

Let us also persevere in prayer, and let us be united in prayer as we invoke the Lord for His blessing and protection.

28th Ordinary Sunday, Year C, 12.10.2025

  2 Kings 5:14-17 / 2 Tim 2:8-13 / Luke 17:11-19

There is a particular habit that affects most of us, if not all of us. 

That common habit is called procrastination. 

In simple terms, it means to keep delaying something that needs to be done. 

Usually, we will procrastinate because the task at hand is difficult, unrewarding and boring. 

So, we will procrastinate doing housekeeping and spring cleaning, while the mess keeps piling. 

We keep procrastinating our annual medical check-up, though there are nagging pains here and there. 

We keep procrastinating our projects and assignments, although we know that the deadline is approaching. 

The common excuse is that we say we are busy and have no time. 

So, we delay and delay. Maybe we have this notion that if we procrastinate long enough, the problem will resolve by itself, or even disappear altogether. 

But we should know better, that some things must be done, sooner or later. 

In a gospel, when Jesus entered a village, ten lepers came out to meet Him. 

They stood at the distance and called to Him, “Jesus! Master! Take pity on us.” 

Jesus said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” 

It was as simple and as straightforward as that. Those ten lepers just have to go and show themselves to the priests. 

But they could have wondered: Is it just like that, just go and show ourselves to the priests? 

But they didn't procrastinate, and along the way they were cleansed. 

In the 1st reading, Naaman was told to go and immerse himself seven times in the River Jordan.

Naaman did not procrastinate. Rather, he protested, by saying that there were better rivers in his homeland, so why must it be the River Jordan. 

But Naaman's servants urged him to obey by saying it was not a difficult thing to do.

And so, Naaman relented and he was cleansed of his leprosy. 

The gospel and the 1st reading tells us that the wonderful works of God comes about through obeying simple and ordinary instructions. Norman had expected some elaborate rituals for the cleansing of his leprosy, but he just had to immerse himself seven times in the River Jordan. 

The ten lepers may have expected Jesus to come to them and lay His hands on them, but they were told to go and show themselves to the priests. 

This teaches us that we need to be humble and obedient in order to understand and experience the wonderful and marvellous ways of God. 

And God would not procrastinate in showering His blessings on those who trust in Him. 

But there is also another teaching, and that is to be quick in giving thanks. 

Surprisingly, it was Naaman and the Samaritan who were quick to give thanks to God. 

Even Jesus wondered what happened to the other nine lepers who were cleansed. 

That should remind us to give thanks to God for the little simple and wonderful blessings in life. 

There is this story of a holy man who had a vision of an angel carrying two baskets of prayers to heaven. 

The holy man saw that one basket was full of prayers, but the other basket was rather empty. 

So, he asked the angel about the disparity between the two baskets. 

The angel replied: One basket is full of prayers of petitions and needs. The other basket has just a few prayers of thanksgiving. 

And the angel commented: People are quick to offer prayers of petitions and needs, but they procrastinate in offering prayers of thanksgiving. 

The 2nd reading tells us that though we may be unfaithful, God is always faithful. 

We may procrastinate in giving thanks but God will still be quick to answer our urgent prayers. 

But let us remember that when we begin our prayer with thanksgiving, the doors of God's blessings are already opened to our prayers of petitions.

27th Ordinary Sunday, Year C, 05.10.2025

 Habakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4 / 2 Tim 1:6-8, 13-14 / Luke 17:5-10

Our modern lifestyle is filled with many instant benefits. 

A lot of things are done fast and quickly, and so instant results are expected. 

And so, there are instant noodles, instant coffee and tea, and a variety of instant food and drinks. 

And with money transfers, there is no more waiting for one or two days for cheques to be cleared in order to receive money from the other party. 

With ibanking apps, money transfers are done over the phone, and money can be sent and received instantly. 

So, what is important is speed, it is about how fast and how quickly things can be done. 

Even internet speeds have risen from 100 megabytes per second, which was not that long ago, to 10 gigabytes per second. 

In the world, time is money, and so the world demands efficiency, effectiveness and productivity, and for results to be delivered quickly and even instantly.

And with the world moving so fast, so quickly and even getting results instantly, we have become impatient, and we can't seem to wait anymore. 

And when we come to Church, we may also expect things to be done fast, and things to change quickly.

So, even when we pray, we expect our prayers to be answered quickly and even instantly. 

Maybe that was what the prophet Habakkuk was complaining about in the 1st reading. 

He said this to the Lord: How long, Lord, am I to cry for help when you will not listen, to cry “oppression” in your ear and you will not save?

And then the Lord answered: Eager for its own fulfillment, justice does not deceive. If it comes slowly, wait, for come it will, and without fail. 

So, God will answer, in His time and in His way, and we just have to wait. 

In the gospel, the apostles said to Jesus, “Increase our faith.” 

In their minds, faith is about size, so it can be increased. 

It can also be about speed, so that with faith, the apostles can expect God to answer their prayers quickly and even instantly. 

Jesus gave them this reply: Were your faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, “Be uprooted, and planted in the sea,” and it will obey you. 

That is rather amazing as a mulberry tree has deep roots and grows up to 25 meters. 

The tiny mustard seed is almost nothing compared to the tall and mighty mulberry tree. 

A tiny mustard seed of faith may not move a mighty mulberry tree instantly. 

It may need many mustard seeds of faith before mulberry trees will move. 

So, it comes down to praying and waiting with faith. 

Each prayer is like a mustard seed offered to the Lord. 

And when a faith community prays together, then many mustard seeds are put into the hands of the Lord. 

And in His time and in His way, the Lord will move the mulberry trees. 

Yes, the mulberry trees of injustice, outrage and violence will be uprooted to make way for peace and justice, for faithfulness and salvation. 

So let us pray and wait with faith for the Lord. 

And the Lord will hear our tiny mustard seeds of prayer and grant us His healing love.