Holy Family, Year A, 26.12.10

Sirach 3:3-7, 14-17/ Colossians 3:12-21/ Mathew 2:13-15, 19-23

The most prominent symbol of the feast of Christmas is none other than the Nativity crib.

The Nativity crib has to be the most prominent and the central symbol of Christmas.

Take that away and it is as good as taking the “Christ” out of the word Christmas, and as such it wouldn’t make sense.

Well the Nativity crib goes a long way back to the year 1223.

That year, St. Francis of Assisi set up the first Nativity crib, which would eventually spread across the whole Church.

His intention was to help the peasants, who were illiterate, to have a visual understanding of the situation and circumstances in which Jesus was born.

So there is the stable with a cow here, and a donkey there, and the baby Jesus lying in the manger, which was the feeding trough or the feeding tray of animals.

There is Mary and Joseph, and a couple of shepherds with a couple of sheep surrounding Jesus.

The scene is one of poverty, and it shows us that the Saviour of the world came in such humility.

Indeed the Nativity scene is a wonderful scene that is filled with many heart-warming aspects.

That is why as part of the Christmas celebrations, there is usually a Nativity play put up by children, to highlight the Christmas message.

Well there was this catechist who was preparing her children to put up a Nativity play.

As a warm-up to the preparations, she asked her children to write a composition on this very simple topic – Who do I want to be at Christmas?

Obviously they can say that they want to be Mary or Joseph or one of the shepherds or the angel or one of the wise men.

So after the children had written their compositions, the teacher collected it and was reading through it.

Then she read one that really surprised her, and she was stunned.

The topic was supposed to be – Who do I want to be at Christmas?

This composition began like this – At Christmas I want to be the tv in my house.
I want to take its place. I want to live like the TV in my house.
Have my own special place, and have my family around ME.
To be taken seriously when I talk.... I want to be the centre of attention and be heard without interruptions or questions.

I want to receive the same special care that the TV receives when it is not working.
I want to have the company of my father when he arrives home from work, even when he is tired.
And I want my mother to care for me !  Because when she is sad and upset, she ignores me...
And I want my brothers to fight to be with me...
I want to feel that my family just leaves everything aside, every now and then, just to spend some time with me.
And last but not least I can make them all happy and entertain them...
So at Christmas I want to be the tv in my house.
We may remember that last Sunday we saw some replies to a survey conducted among some parishioners.

We may have seen some needs like children wanting their parents to spend more time with them, communication problems between parents and teens, families not praying together, parents being worried about the influence of the internet on their children, etc.

Those were worrying trends, but Christmas has got good news for the family.

The profound message of Christmas is that when God came into the world, He was born into a family, the family of Mary and Joseph.

The Nativity scene was one of poverty. But it also shows the love and warmth of the family – the family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

That is what makes the Nativity scene so attractive and heart-warming .

In it, we see the love and care Mary and Joseph had for each other and for the baby Jesus.

So even if there is a tv at that time, they won’t be watching it or paying much attention to it.

Simply because they had each other, and God was with them.

But if people wish they were a tv, or a handphone, or a computer game, then something is seriously wrong.

At Christmas, God became man so that He can be with us.

It is because God is with us that we can truly be with each other.
Well I am sure we know what a porcupine is. So let me ask you this : What sound do porcupines make when they kiss?
Answer : Ouch!

Let me share with you the story of the porcupine.

As we know, a porcupine has many needle-like spikes, actually it is called quills, on its body.

When it is threatened, it curls up and these quills deter its enemies from harming it.

But during winter or in a cold season, the porcupines will come together to share body warmth.

But as they huddle together, their quills also poke at each other, causing each other pain.

But if they stay away from each other, they will die from the cold.

Just as porcupines gather together when it is cold in order to survive, we are born into families to be nurtured in love and life.

But just like the porcupines gathered together will poke and prick each other, living together as a family can be difficult and painful at times.

But just as the porcupines will bear the pain in order to live, we too must bear with the failings of our family members in order to grow in love and forgiveness.

And we can bear this pain because Jesus has come to be with us. He is the Emmanuel – the God is with us.

And God is with us especially in our families.

And Jesus will help us bear the pain with our family members, because He Himself was pierced for our sins.

So as much as we have the Nativity scene here in church, let us also have that Nativity scene in our homes and in our families.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph care about our families.
God cares about our families.

Let us now look at the replies to that survey again.

Let us ask Jesus to make our families like the Holy Family.

And Jesus will do it. Because He knows what’s it like to be in a family.

A Note for Christmas

My dear brothers and sisters,

Wishing you a Merry and Blessed Christmas and may the celebration of the birth of Christ bring peace and joy to our hearts.

I want to give thanks to God for the many inspirations to make His "Word become flesh" in the daily readings of the liturgy. I also want to thank those whom I have not been able to acknowledge but from whom I got the ideas, the stories, the examples and the situations in life in which they shared their experience of God.

I give thanks to God if the reflections on the daily readings have helped you grow in faith, love and understanding of the ways of God.

Since it is Christmas, I have daringly posted a little tune to entertain you :)

I wished I could have given a better rendition of that popular carol. But I once read somewhere:

    Sing the songs that you can sing
    Forget about the perfect offering
    There's a crack in everything
    But that's how the light shines in.

Merry Christmas & God bless you.




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxPj6PtwBMY

2nd Sunday of Advent 05.12.2010

Isaiah 11:1-10 / Romans 15:4-9 / Mathew 3:1-12
Sometimes it is difficult to say when does Christmas begin.

Yes, today is the 2^nd Sunday of Advent, which means that we begin the 2^nd week of Advent.

And that means to say that Christmas is about three weeks away.

But while the Church is waiting for another three more weeks for Christmas, it seems that for the rest of the world, Christmas celebrations have already begun.

So while in Church we sing “O come O come Emmanuel”, the world is already singing “Jingle Bells” and Santa Claus is already in town.

Just open the newspapers and it’s page after page of Christmas sales and special offers.

Come to think of it, I have never come across an Advent sale or Advent special offer.

So in the papers, over the radio, and on tv commercials, Christmas is in the air, and it began as early as November.

The world is telling us to make this Christmas special, and the media is spewing out special offers.

So there will be offers on special food to hold that special Christmas party.

And since we might be going for Christmas parties, then we might want to take up that special offer to buy that special car.

And not forgetting that special set of clothes to “wow” our friends at the parties.

And to fit into that special set of clothes, we might want to consider that offer to have a special figure for Christmas.

Unless we are going to play Santa Claus at the parties.

And then of course, the face. There are many special offers to give us that special look for Christmas.

We can even have a nose job to look like Rudolf!

Yes, the world is telling us to have a special Christmas with their special offers.

And we won’t deny it. We also want to have a special Christmas.

Well, on this 2^nd Sunday of Advent, the Church brings in a special guest.

Yes, indeed a special guest, with special clothes for the occasion as well as a special diet to go along with it.

It’s none other than John the Baptist.

And John the Baptist is going to tell us how to have a special Christmas.

Ok, be ready for this. It’s just a special word. And that is : Repent!         Yes, repent!   Sounds like some hangover talk right

Oh come on, we want to hear words like “party” “celebrate” “it’s the season to be jolly”.

But no!            Three weeks before Christmas, John the Baptist comes with a special message and it’s “Repent!”

Yes, repent!   And it comes along with an axe!

John the Baptist is telling us that if we want to have a special Christmas, then we have to do some cutting and chopping.

Yes, we will have to cut away and chop off everything that is blocking the way of the Lord into our hearts.

So what is it that we need to cut?    What is it that we need to chop off?

Maybe among other things we may need to cut away this idea of having a special Christmas.

The month of December is an anxious and stressful month.

Besides the stress of closing accounts and year-end reports, there is also the anxiety of preparing for Christmas and to make it special.

So there are Christmas decorations to put up, but we have to find them first, and then the lights may not work.

And I think that people may not request for a house blessing during this period of time.

Just imagine – you ask the priest to come and bless your house.

And the house is in a mess with Xmas decorations half done and you have to prepare a Xmas present for the priest even.

So better wait till after Christmas for house blessing.

Well, besides Christmas decorations, there is also the anxiety of getting special presents for the people who are special in our lives.

Because we also want them to have a special Christmas right

Well all this adds to the festive mood. But all this does not make Christmas special. In fact they are just ornamental.

We need to cut away the idea of an ornamental Christmas, and what we need to do is to make this Advent special.

We do that by preparing the way for the Lord, and we make a special place for Him this Advent.

We make a special place for the Lord, first and foremost, in our homes.

Earlier on I was talking about house blessing. Some time back I went to bless a house.

As I finished the prayers and was about to sprinkle the house with holy water, the little boy asked me : Father, why must use holy water to bless the house?

So I looked at the parents and asked : Do you know why?

They gave me that “google” look (searching … ) and in case they come up with something like … holy water will drive away the devil and those funny spirits, I quickly said :

Well, I use holy water to bless the house to remind us of our baptism and that our home is the first place to live out our baptismal promises.

So the home is a special place. Because God wants to be in our homes.

And hence we have to make our homes a special place for the Lord, we have to make our homes a special place for prayer.

Advent is the time to make a special place for the Lord at home.

Even if we don’t have an Advent wreath at home, we can dedicate a place and have the four Advent candles there, and light it and have our family prayer.

Already the two lighted candles tell us that we must hurry in making this Advent special.

We must hurry in making a special place for the Lord in our homes.

We must hurry in making a special time for the Lord in prayer, especially family prayer which is so lacking in families, and yet it is so important.

Let us make this Advent special, and only in doing so Christmas will be special.

Let us remember that Advent is a time for prayer, especially family prayer.

Yes, prayer is special. The rest are just ornamental.

31st Ordinary Sunday, Year C, 31.10.10

Wisdom 11:22-12:2 / 2 Thessalonians 1:11-2:2 / Luke 19:1-10

Well, to begin with, I must say that we should be happy.
Yes, happy and thankful.

Simply because, just about a week ago, things looked hazy.

Remember the haze? That was only a week ago.

Yes, just a week ago, it was hazy, it was humid, and the air was heavy.

But with the wind and the rains, the air was cleared, and we should be happy and thankful.

So since we are in a happy mood, since I am in a happy mood, let me tell you a couple of jokes ok, to make you happier.

A woman went to see her doctor and complained of an embarrassing problem.

She said: Doctor, I have a serious flatulence problem.             I fart all the time. But they are soundless and have no smell. In fact, since I’ve been here, I farted no less than 20 times.

So the doctor said: Ok, so here’s the prescription. Take these pills 3 times a day for seven days. After that come back and see me.

Well, after a week, the woman stormed into the doctor’s office and said: Doctor, I don’t know what was in those pills, but the problem got worse. I am farting just as much and now they smell terrible. What is this?!?

The doctor said: Ok ok, calm down, calm down. Now that I have cured your sinuses, I will work on your hearing, ok?

If jokes have a moral, than the moral of the joke is this: You will only know what is your real problem when you get someone else to see it for you.

Here is the second joke: A man was talking to his wife about the idea of living and dying.

He said to her: My dear, never let me live in a vegetative state, totally dependent on machines and liquid from a bottle.

If you see me in that state, I want you to disconnect all the contraptions that are keeping me alive. I would rather die.

The wife looked at him admiringly and said: Ok, I’ll do that.

And then she went to disconnect the TV, the cable, the DVD, the computer, the laptop, the smart phone, the Xbox, the play station and then she went to the fridge and threw away all the beer.

Well as for the man… he nearly died!

Jokes make us laugh because there is always something witty in a joke.

There is a twist in the story that brings about some humour.

Today’s gospel might sound like just another gospel story to us.

But for the crowd, the onlookers in the gospel story, it was like a very bad joke, something that they did not expect and something that they didn’t like.

As the story began, all seemed quite normal, and then there was that senior tax collector, Zacchaeus climbing up a sycamore tree to get a better view of Jesus.

 As the story went on, Jesus reached the spot, looked up and saw Zacchaeus and said: Zacchaeus, come down.

From here on, what the crowds expected was a pay-back time.

It was a perfect occasion for Jesus to teach Zacchaeus a public lesson, and a condemnation on injustice and exploitation, and impending punishment.

Or at least, Jesus could make Zacchaeus do a public admission of his guilt and make a public apology.

Here is where the twist comes in : Jesus looked at Zacchaeus and said: Zacchaeus, come down! Hurry, I must stay at your house today.

And the crowd’s reaction was – Huh?!? What is this?

For them, it was not a joke, and if Jesus was joking, then it was a very bad joke, and no one was laughing.

Maybe only Zacchaeus. Yet for him, if he were laughing, it was not because it was a joke.

It was simply because Jesus could accept him for who he was.

Just like the joke about the man whose wife disconnected all his modern contraptions, Zacchaeus had to unplug and disconnect all the stuff he thought was important – his wealth, his income, his possessions, his authority, his power – so that he could have a new life in Jesus.

It was like Jesus pressed the “Reset” button and Zacchaeus went back to his original settings.

Zacchaeus realized that he was freed from the contraptions of life and could live on as a child of God.

Yet, the gospel story is not just about a sinner who repented and was forgiven.

The story is also for the crowd, and for us.

Like the joke about the woman with a serious flatulence problem, we might think that we do not have a big sinful problem as compared to others.

We may think that other people have greater sins and we want them to remain in their sins. We also want to trap them in their sins.

We will know that we want others to be trapped in their sins when we say things like:

Remember last time you cheated on me…
Remember last time you played me out…
Remember last time you stole money from me…
Remember last time how you ill-treated me…
Remember last time they burned the trees and we got the haze …

It’s always a “Remember last time…” and it’s always a smelly past.

We use this phrase to hurt others, and yet we ourselves resent and detest it when others use it on us.

But Jesus is our healer. He gives us His sacred body as medicine to realize our own sins are as smelly as the rest and yet we are forgiven.

Jesus is also our Saviour. He came to seek and save what was lost.
Jesus rejoices over one repentant sinner. Heaven rejoices over one repentant sinner.

That is not a joke. Yet let us repent and rejoice.

World Mission Sunday 24-10-10

Isaiah 2:1-5 / Ephesians 3:1-12 / Mark 16:15-20

Whenever we talk about mission and spreading the gospel several ideas might come to our minds.

We may think of the missionaries who go to other countries like China, Cambodia, and Laos, to build up the churches there.

We may also think that missionaries are usually priests or religious or some specially chosen lay people because speaking the Gospel is a serious thing and not everyone can do it.

We may also think that our task is to pray for these missionaries and also to give them some financial support.

Today’s celebration of Mission Sunday reminds us that we have an important role in the spreading of the gospel.

Let me tell you this story so that we can have a deeper understanding of our role and mission.

An old man was going around planting small fruit trees.

Some asked him when these trees would bear fruit.

He replied: Oh, probably many years after I am gone from this earth.

So then, why plant trees when he won’t be around to enjoy the fruits?

His reply was this: When I came into this world, I didn’t find this world without any fruit trees.

I enjoyed the fruits. Now I plant these fruit trees for those who will come after me, just as those who have done before me.

These are very profound words of the old man – I plant these fruit trees for those who will come after me, just as those who have done before me.

When we reflect upon the words of the old man, we will also come to a deeper understanding of our faith and mission.

We will come to see that the faith we have had been built upon and handed down to us by the earlier generation of believers.

What we have received, we too must build it up and hand it over to the next generation.

That is not just the work of missionaries, priests, religious and a selected few parishioners.

Each of us has a task in the spreading of the gospel.

Just as trees bear fruit and gives us shade, so is each one of us called to plant trees of faith that bear fruits of truth and love.

Trees are important not just because they bear fruit and provide shade and beauty.

Trees have an ecological importance. A world without trees is like a dry desert wasteland.

Similarly, faith is important for the world. This world needs God and needs to know His truth and love.

A world without God and His truth and love becomes a dark and dangerous world.

So, Mission Sunday reminds each of us that we have a task and a responsibility.
We have to continue planting trees of faith that will bear fruits of truth and love.

And we have to start planting these trees of faith in our homes, in our parish, in our workplace, in our own country.

This world needs to know God. This world needs to know His truth and love.

And we are the ones to show it. We are God’s messengers.

As the 1st reading puts it: All the nations will say – come let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, that He may teach us His ways so that we may walk in His path.

Our task and mission is to plant trees of faith along that path so that as people walk towards the Lord, they will also see the fruits of His truth and love.

29th Ordinary Sunday Year C 17 Oct 2010

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

I wonder if we could still remember this person if I were to mention his name.

It was not that long ago when we heard of this person.

The name is Low Wei Jie. Can we still remember him?

Just about two months ago he was in the news.

We may not quite remember his name, but we will surely remember his story.

He was that 12 year-old schoolboy who followed the Youth Olympic flame torch relay.

The amazing thing was that he was dressed in an orange T-shirt, blue Bermudas and flip-flops.

Armed with a digital camera, he just wanted to take pictures of the Youth Olympic flame torch relay, as it weaved through Sengkang, Punggol and Hougang.

When he started off, it was bright and early.

As the relay began, he followed the torch, and he ran, and ran, and ran.

Over two and a half hours, he covered almost 15km, undeterred by a heavy downpour along the way.

At first, nobody paid attention to the boy in the orange T-shirt as he ran along, snapping pictures as the torchbearers handed the flame from one to the other.

His quest was not without problems though – his feet hurt because he was running with just flip flops.
And to his frustration and disappointment, the camera he borrowed from his parents got jammed because of the rain. But he still continued running along.

Although he didn’t plan to, he followed the torch relay to the end.

By that time, he had already caught the attention of the cameramen, the relay entourage, the officials, the traffic police officers, and of course, the reporters.

At the end of the relay, Low Wei Jie was a sort of a celebrity, a surprise star of the YOG, and words like “determination” and “perseverance” were used on him.

Well, that was Low Wei Jie and his amazing story.

Amazing because who would want to run for two and a half hours in the rain just to take pictures of a torch.

And when the camera had jammed, who would want to keep running to the end? What’s the point?

Amazing also because it was a 12 year-old boy, and there was nothing in it for him.

The good thing was that in the end, he got some recognition for it, besides also getting a brand new camera.

So in a way, we can say that Low Wei Jie got determination, he got perseverance.

But, would we say that he was persistant?

Maybe not. Because persistence may have an irritating and annoying tone to it.

Maybe that’s why Jesus used the word “persistence” in today’s gospel parable.

He used that word to describe the widow who kept seeking for justice from a judge who couldn’t be bothered about her.

But she persisted and persisted until the judge gave in to her, even though it took a long time.

Jesus said we also should pray with persistence.

And Jesus even made this promise. He promised that God will see that justice is done and done speedily.

Yet Jesus is not making a new promise.

In the Old Testament, God already promised to protect His people from danger and from their enemies.

In the first reading, Israel was attacked by the Amalekites.

So Moses prayed for God’s protection over their enemies.

As long as Moses raised his hands in prayer, Israel was winning the battle.

But when he let his arms drop due to tiredness, the Amalekites were winning.

Moses had to persist in prayer, and Aaron and Hur helped him by supporting his arms and even took a stone for him to sit on.

It looked funny and strange, but with 3 men holding up a staff, Israel managed to overcome the Amalekites.

But when it comes to persistence in prayer, nothing can ever sound so strange or funny.
To pray is difficult. To persist in prayer is even more difficult.

A short story to share with you. A woman was late for an important interview, and as she was rushing to catch the bus, she prayed: O God, let me not be late, let me not be late.
Just then she tripped and fell. Picking herself up and straightening her dress, she prayed: O God, let me not be late, let me not be late, but no need to push me ok, no need to push me!!! (she will be in time, won’t be late)

Well, I have come across Catholics who have devised many interesting as well as strange and funny ways to persist in praying for a need or an intention.

Some will have an hourly chime on their watches so that they will stop whatever they are doing and say a short prayer, like an Our Father or a Hail Mary.

Some will come for Mass everyday to pray for their need or intention, especially during this period of school exams.

Another interesting way that I have come across is synchronized prayer.

A group of people wants to pray for a particular need or intention.

But because they are all busy and cannot come together, they agreed upon a particular time of the day, usually at night, to pray together wherever they are.

They even SMS each other to remind each other of their prayer time.

So persistence in prayer also needs support, just as Moses was supported by Aaron and Hur, and even by a stone.

Let us keep faith in what Jesus had promised that God will see justice done and done speedily.

Let is also support each other in persisting in prayer.

If the 12 year-old Low Wei Jie could keep running just to take pictures of a torch, then all the more we should persist in our prayer to keep the flame of faith burning.

Our persistence will be rewarded. That is what Jesus promised us.

Jesus will persist in His promise. May we persist in our praying.

26th Ordinary Sunday, Year C, 26.09.10

Amos 6:1a,4-7/ 1 Timothy 6:11-16/ Luke 16: 19-31

For those of us who love art, or know something about art, I am sure you would also know the names of famous artists.

So let me name some art pieces and you tell me who is the artist. They are all by the same artist anyway.

So here it comes – Sunflowers; The starry night; Irises; The potato eaters. So tell me, who is the artist.

Yes, it’s Vincent Van Gogh. His masterpieces range from $50 – 80 over million dollars.

For those of us who love art and can appreciate art, then we would certainly love to have one of the masterpieces by Vincent Van Gogh hanging in a prominent place in our home.

Yes, we would like to have an $80 million masterpiece from Vincent Van Gogh in our home.

But I am not too sure if we would like to have Vincent Van Gogh himself in our home.

If we know something about the life of Vincent Van Gogh, then you will probably understand why I said that we might not want to have Vincent Van Gogh himself in our home.

Vincent Van Gogh lived from 1853 – 1890.

In his lifetime, he produced 2000 artworks. But he had very little success as an artist.

In fact he only sold one painting “The Red Vineyard”.

Besides that he was also temperamental, depressed and also difficult to get along with, and other things besides.

Then at 37 years-old, he took his own life.

It was only after his death that his works became famous and renowned.

So that was why I said that we won’t mind having a multi-million-dollar painting by Vincent Van Gogh at home.

But we certainly won’t want to have him in our home.

Similarly, we don’t mind having a Bible in our home. In fact we should have the Bible, the Word of God, at home.

But, would we welcome Jesus, the Word made flesh, into our home?

We would say – Of course, we want to have Jesus in our home.

Yet Jesus does not come alone. Because He comes along with His close friends.

And who are they? Well, they are the poor and helpless, the problematic and difficult people, the Vincent Van Goghs.

We shouldn’t be surprised that these are the close friends of Jesus.

Because the Bible tells us that God is on the side of the poor and needy and helpless.

Indeed, God is closest to the poor and helpless, the weak and the lowly, the defenseless and the oppressed.

At least in today’s 1^st reading, the Responsorial Psalm and the gospel tell us that.      And we must see it!

Yes, God is for them. God cares about them. And God will console them.                    If not in this life, then it will be in the next.

Yes, God will console them and comfort them in His bosom and wipe away every tear from their eyes.

That was what happened in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus.

We can call that a reversal of fortunes, and the reversal is not temporal; it is eternal.

Although it is just a parable, it makes us see that the reversal  is for real.

At least it was real enough for the rich man. In the flames of agony, he looked up and saw Lazarus and even knows his name.

While on earth, he certainly saw Lazarus, or at least he knew he was at the gate.

But he just chose not to see, not to know, not to care.

But in the flames of agony, the rich man saw. Yes, he saw, but it was too late, and it was forever.

In Singapore, we don’t usually have beggars or destitudes or Lazaruses sitting at our doors.

Yet we cannot say that the poor and needy do not exist.

Just come every 1^st Saturday in the afternoon and we will see the members of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul at work, distributing rations to the poor and needy.

And we will see for ourselves who are the poor and needy, the helpless and the rejected.

So we can’t say that we didn’t see, or we don’t know.

Or maybe we saw, and we knew, and we feel that we can do nothing about the multitudes of poor and needy and helpless.

Granted that it is an immense challenge, maybe let me ask you this.

Do you know what is the late Mother Teresa’s favourite number?

Well, I think that her favourite number is the number 1. And I will quote the following from her to say why I think it’s the number 1.

She said : I don’t agree with the big ways of doing things. Love needs to start with the individual. To love a person you must make contact with that person. To love the poor you must make contact with the poor.

When you do that, you cross the enormous divide between you and the poor, and it’s somebody you have actually touched.

She continues by saying : I look at the individual. I can only love one person at a time. I can only feed one person at a time.

So that’s why I think that Mother Teresa’s favourite number is 1. For her it is one person at a time.

So the Word of God in today’s readings makes us open our eyes.

God is not asking us how rich we are or how much we can give to the poor and needy.

Rather, God is asking us this : How much do we care? How much do we love? How much do we want to see?

And we don’t have to see far, see wide or see too much.

Let us look at the one who is at the gate.

The one who is poor and needy. The one that we can help.

And that one may not be outside the gate. That one may be within our gates.

But we may have become numbed and indifferent.

Let us listen to the voice of God prompting us to see, to care and to love the one who is poor and needy and helpless, the one who is difficult and problematic, the Vincent Van Goghs.

Yes, they are poor and needy, they may be difficult and problematic, but they are God’s close friends.

And it is they who will lead us into God’s bosom, forever.

23rd Ordinary Sunday, Year C, 05-09-2010

Wis 9:13-18b / Phmn 1:9-10, 12-17 / Lk 14:25-33
Recently the famous topic of the 4 Cs came up in the news again.

I m sure we know what the 4 Cs commonly stands for – cash, car, condo and credit card.

Along with that are other additions like country club membership, casino membership, etc.

There are spoofs of it like coffin, columbarium, whatever.

At a recent Pre-University seminar, the 4 Cs were given another version: confidence, compassion, the ability to compartmentalize and to be in good company.

Well, I also want to join in the bandwagon, but I want to change the letter. So instead of the letter C, I want to use another letter.

I was thinking of the letter G. Because it can stand for God, for good, for glory, for grace.

But then if I were to ask what does the 3 Gs stand for, or what the 4 Gs stand for, some might think I am talking about 3G network or the 4G super broadband which came out last week.

And then some will start thinking about the computer fair that is going on now, today’s the last day, need to get a new laptop, and then G will stand for “Gone! I have lost you!”

So G is not very good. Got to find another letter. Maybe the letter F.

F can stand for Father, for faithfulness, for forgiveness.

But then again, if I were to say what does F stand for, some might hear it wrong and think I was saying : What the what?!
So again, it doesn’t sound very nice.

Sigh, so better not use the letter F. So what other letter to use?

Well, I was asking myself : Why do people come to Church? Why do people want to believe in God?

So I came up with this letter “P”, P for papa, which means father, and God is our Father. So with the letter P I have covered the letters F and G.  ;-P

So what does the letter P stands for?

To answer that question, then we have to ask ourselves why do we believe in God? What kind of God do we believe in?

Well, at the level of basic religious needs, we want to believe in God who can protect us, who can provide for us, and who will also pamper us.

So there it is: we want God to protect us, provide for us and to pamper us.

I am not making up all this. God Himself said it in the Bible.

God said it to Moses and the Israelites when they panicked upon seeing the sword-wielding Egyptians charging at them to cut their throats.

God said: The Lord will do the fighting for you; you only have to keep still. (Ex 14:14) So you see, God will protect us and He will fight our battles for us.

And God will also provide for us. Jesus said that the Heavenly Father will give good things to those who ask Him.
So ask and we will receive, because God will provide.
That is what Jesus said.
So finally how will God pamper us? Well, God loves us with a tender everlasting love, and He will forgive us over and over again, 70x7 times.

If that is not pampering, then it is like God is spoiling us.

So there we have it: God is our Papa, He protects us, He provides for us, and He even pampers us.

Sounds too good to be true right? But it is true, otherwise why would we want to believe in God?

Yes, God will certainly protect us, provide for us, and even pamper us.

But I also have to say that there is another P involved here, and it stands for “price”.

There is a price to pay, on our part. So what is this price?

That price is stated by Jesus in the gospel.

To the great crowds that were following Him, He said: If anyone comes to Me without hating father, mother, brother, sister, and his own life, he cannot be my disciple.

The word “hate” here actually means to prefer less, or to give a lesser priority. It does not mean hate, as how we usually understand it.

Because in the Jewish language, there is no word to mean “prefer less” or “give a lesser priority”, so the word hate is used.

So what Jesus is saying is that either He is above all, or He is not at all. There is no in-between.

That sounds like tough and rough language from Jesus isn’t it?

But that is the price to pay if we want to be true disciples of Jesus.

So has anyone paid that price before?  Well, plenty actually.

One such person was St. Thomas More, who was the Chancellor when King Henry VIII was the king of England.

But when St. Thomas More refused to acknowledge King Henry’s second marriage and to cut ties with the Pope, he was thrown into prison.

The king sent close friends and even his family members to persuade him, because his vote was critical for the king’s standing.

But St. Thomas More stood firm and he was later charged with treason and sentenced to death.

His last words before he was beheaded were this: I am the king’s good subject, but first and foremost I am God’s servant.

The price was his head and his life. But his reward is eternal life.

The world as we know is practical, pragmatic, profitable and very pleasing to us.

Yes, the practical, pragmatic, profitable and pleasing world has been our father, mother, brother and sister.

But the nagging question is: So what if we gain the whole world and all that if offers? So what?

So Jesus puts the price tag before us.

Do we dare to let Jesus be above all?

We want God to protect us, to provide for us, to pamper us.

But as the song goes, we also say: Papa don’t preach.

Because we don’t want to hear the tough stuff and what price to pay for true discipleship.

But Jesus said in no uncertain terms that anyone who does not carry his cross cannot be His disciple.

The cross is painful indeed. But the cross also points us towards true discipleship and eternal life.

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary 15.08.10

Revelation 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab/ 1Corinthians 15:20-27/ Luke 1:39-56


We know how great an influence a mother has over her children.

Mothers teach their children, and one of the tactics they use is information-overload, i.e., they talk, talk, talk, nag, nag, nag, and they hope that something goes into their children.

But mothers teach not only with their words, but also by their actions.

There are many examples in history of how mothers have influenced their children.

One example from Chinese history is this Chinese general called “岳飞”(Yue Fei)

Yes, just mention the name “岳飞”(Yue Fei) in Chinese circles, and these four words will come to mind:　精忠报国.

Broadly translated it means : Faithfully serve your country.

You may know the story of “岳飞”(Yue Fei) but I will just narrate it briefly.

“岳飞”(Yue Fei) lived during the Southern Song Dynasty, around the 12th century.

At that time, the barbarians were invading China from the north, and the country was also in turmoil and strife.

“岳飞”(Yue Fei’s) mother taught him faithfulness and loyalty since he was young.

So, being a faithful and loyal citizen, he decided to join the army to help protect his country.

When he told his mother of his decision, his mother affirmed him because that was also what she had always taught him.

Being a wise mother and knowing how easy it was to fall into corruption and dishonesty, she made sure that her son remembered what she taught.

So on his back, she tattooed these four words “精忠报国”, i.e., - Faithfully serve your country

Yue Fei became a great general and he served his country faithfully and protected the people against the enemy.

But traitors plotted against him and eventually got him executed.

Yet, Yue Fei served his country faithfully to the end, and he accepted death, even though he knew he was accused by traitors of his own country.

That’s why, mention the name Yue Fei and these four words 精忠报国 came to mind - Faithfully serve your country

And these were the words tattooed on his back by his mother.

So why am I telling you this story？

Today we celebrate the Assumption of Mary into heaven.

This is a very important feast because it celebrates the completion of salvation.

Jesus, by his death and resurrection had overcome sin, and won for us eternal life.

By his ascension into heaven, He has assured us of our place in heaven.
By assuming Mary into heaven, body and soul, God is proclaiming that salvation is a reality.

Mary, a human being had entered into heaven. And so can we.

What God has done for Mary, He will also do for us.

That is also our faith and our hope, that we will enter our eternal home in heaven.

But while we are on earth, we must remember what Mother Mary taught us.

In the gospel of John 2:5, she told the servants at the wedding in Cana : Do whatever He tells you.

And she is telling us the same thing: Do whatever He tells us.

In today’s gospel, she said this: My soul glorifies the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour.

She is telling us to join her to give thanks to God and also to be faithful to our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Back in 2008, a 98 year-old lady by the name of Irena Sendler passed away.

We may probably ask : Who passed away? What was the name again?

Well, Irena Sendler was a social worker in Poland when the Nazis invaded Poland in 1939 during WW II.

She got permission to work as a sanitation worker in the concentration camp for the Jews in Poland.

She knew what the Nazis were doing to the Jews and she had a motive.

Irena Sendler smuggled the Jewish infants out of the camp in the bottom of the big tool box she carried.

During her time of doing this, she managed to save 2500 babies and young children out of the concentration camp.

But one day she was caught, and she was beaten severely, and had her arms and legs broken, and left for dead.

But she survived. She had also kept a record of the names of all the children she had smuggled out of the camp.

After the war, Irena Sendler tried to locate any parents who might have survived the concentration camp, and to unite them with their children.

But almost all had died in the concentration camp.

Nonetheless their children, the 2500 children survived, the children that Irena Sendler had smuggled out.

Last year, Irena Sendler was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

But she did not win it. But it doesn’t matter anyway.

She had passed on from this world into the eternal world of peace where every tear is wiped away forever.

To save 2500 lives at the risk of your life is not a small thing.

But for the humble and little-known Irena Sendler, she stood in the face of violence and evil, and carried on her mission faithfully.

She was a Catholic, and she was faithful and loyal to what she believed in – that life is sacred because all life comes from God.

In this world, it is so easy to fall into temptation and sin.

It is so easy to be distracted and lose our focus on God and lose sight of our eternal home in heaven.

It is so easy to lose faith in God and to be disloyal to our own values and principles in life.

Earlier on we heard about the Chinese general Yue Fei and his mother.

Yue Fei’s mother tattooed those four words on his back: 精忠报国 which means “Faithfully serve your country”.

Mother Mary also wants us to remember just four words on this feast of her Assumption – Faithfully serve your Lord

Mother Mary also prays for us, that one day, we too, will join her in heaven to praise and glorify the Lord our God.

17th Ordinary Sunday, Year C, 25th July 2010

Genesis　10：20－32／Colossians　2：12－24／Luke　11：1－13

There is a local event happening now, but I think it’s coming to an end soon (in fact I think it’s ending today!)

It has been happening for two months already, and it would have caught our attention somehow.

Do you know what I’m talking about? Still thinking?
What if I say it’s connected to shopping?
Ahh … yes … it’s the Great S’pore Sale! Right?

Yes, the Great S’pore Sale, and it’s intended to spur us on to a shopping spree because there are supposed to be great discounts and bargains.

I can’t say much about the Great S’pore Sale because I don’t do much shopping, and I don’t have the time to go around comparing prices.

But I can say that there is something missing in the Great S’pore Sale.

Yes, there is something missing. What is missing is this very interesting activity called bargaining.

So as much as it is called the Great S’pore Sale, and the prices are slashed and discounted, yet that is the final price.

There is no further bargaining. The discounted price is fixed.

That is something that my mother and the women of her generation cannot quite understand, nor will they accept it.

For them, the displayed price, whether discounted or otherwise, is meant to be further reduced.

For them, the displayed price is a challenge for them to see how much more can be reduced, and their usual starting bid is 50% off the displayed price.

So at times, it can be quite difficult for me to go shopping with my mum at those classy departmental stores.

Because she will ask me to go and bargain with the salesgirl!

But if bargaining with the salesgirl at a classy department store can be embarrassing, then are we daring enough to bargain with God?

In the 1st reading, Abraham seemed to have the guts to do it.

The whole town of Sodom was to be destroyed because of their sinfulness.

Abraham pleaded with God not to destroy the just man with the sinner.

So he bargained with God, from finding 50 innocent persons to finding just 10 innocent persons, so that the whole town could be spared.

But in his bargaining with God, Abraham believed that God was merciful and compassionate.

So Abraham dared to persist further and further in his prayer bargain with God.

He did all that in order to try to save the people of that town.

In the gospel, Jesus teaches us to persist in prayer.

He told us to ask and we will receive, to search and we will find, to knock and it will be opened.

But we may need to look at what we are asking for in prayer.

Generally speaking, most of what we are asking for are valid needs.

So there are prayers for recovery from illness, for job stability, for peace in the family, for our children to do well in their exams, and maybe that our cars won’t be stuck in a flood, or whatever.

These are valid needs, and Jesus assures us that God knows what we need and He will provide for us.

In the gospel, Jesus told a parable about a man knocking on his neighbour’s door at midnight to ask for some bread because he had a guest.

Jesus concluded the parable by saying that if the neighbour does not get up and give it to the man for friendship’s sake, then persistence will be enough to make him get up and give the man what he wanted.

Jesus emphasized the need for persistence in prayer.

But there may be another side to this parable.

Now, let’s say, that your bank offers you this fantastic deal.

Each morning, the bank will deposit $86, 400 into your private account for your use.

But these are the following conditions.

Firstly, the money that you do not spend each day will be taken from you.

Secondly, you cannot transfer the money into another account.
Thirdly, only you, and you alone, can spend it.

Fourthly, the bank can end this deal without any notice.

At any time, it can say “Account closed” and you will not get a new account.

Now what would you do with the money in this account?

You would surely buy anything and everything you wanted right? No need Great S’pore Sale, just shop till you drop.

Not only for yourself, but also for the people you love and for your friends too, isn’t it?

Even for the people you don’t know, you will also spend it on them, because you couldn’t possibly spend it all on yourself.

You would try to spend every cent and use it all before the day ends, right?

Sounds like too good to be true, isn’t it?

Well, this is true, because each of us has such a bank account.

Everyday God gives us 86,400 seconds as a gift of life.

It cannot be brought forward. What we have not lived up to for that day is gone. Well, yesterday is forever gone.

Each new day, the account is renewed.

But the account can be terminated at any time, and without any notice.

Well, what are we going to do with our 86,400 seconds?

Certainly, those 86,400 seconds are worth so much more than the same amount in dollars.

Well, God is knocking at our doors and persistently asking us how we are spending our time, and what are we doing with our lives.

We don’t have to ask for more. Whatever we needed, God has already given to us.

86, 400 seconds of life is God’s gift to us everyday.

How we use it, how we live it out, is our gift to God and our gift to others.

Abraham used his gift to plead for the innocent people of the town.

May we use our gift to bring life and love to others.

May our lives bring joy and peace to others.

Let that be our prayer, our persistent prayer.

14th Ordinary Sunday, Year C, 4July 2010

First Reading: Isaiah 66:10-14

Second Reading: Galatians 6:14-18

Gospel: Luke 10:1-12.17-20

Among the species of animals, the one that gives us a sense of intrigue and enigma, and also fear, is the snake.

Actually the snake is an odd creature.

It has no hands or feet or wings, and it moves about by crawling on its belly.

But all this not withstanding, the snake has a reputation for being a deadly creature.

From constriction to venom, and from the time of Adam, the snake is like the scourge of mankind.

Though some snakes are not poisonous, yet there is just too much fear created about them.

A story has it that a preacher wanted to show his congregation that there is nothing to fear about snakes.

So he had a non-poisonous snake in a sack, and he told his congregation that there is nothing to fear about snakes and that they can even crush it with their heels.

So he let the snake out of the sack. Bad move.

Children started to scream and run, followed by the adults.

It was pandemonium, total chaos.

Well, if we priests try to do this kind of antics, we might just get ex-communicated!!

Yet, it is not a joke when Jesus said that He is sending us out like lambs among wolves.

But Jesus assures us that He has given us power to tread under foot snakes and scorpions.

He even tells us that nothing will harm us.

Well to that, a missionary can give testimony as he relates his encounter with danger.

This missionary was serving in a rural area where electricity was generated by a diesel generator.

One stormy night, the generator failed and his house was in total darkness.

He had no torchlight but he remembered that there were candles and matches in the church.

So he felt his way around, got out of the house and using the walls as a guide, made his way to the church, all this in pitch darkness.

Finally, he got to the candles and lighting a candle he made his way back to the house safely.

A few days later, there was another storm, and again the generator failed.

This time around, the missionary was prepared and he had a torch light.

So, with confidence, he made his way to the church to get some candles.

But as he opened the door to step into the church, his steps came to a sudden halt.

Because, as he shined his torch light ahead of him, he saw a snake coiled up in the church, taking shelter from the rain.

He turned back immediately and headed straight for his house, and when he got back, he went down on his knees to thank God.

As he thought about it, just a few days back, he made the same way in pitch darkness and, thank God, there was no snake.

This time around, he was not going to tread on the snake to see if it would bite; that would be crazy.

Putting it any way we want, we can be sure that Jesus was protecting that missionary, when he made his way to the church in pitch darkness.

And Jesus wants to protect us as we make our way in this world that is darkened by fear and danger, where the wolves howl, the snakes bite and the scorpions sting.

Jesus sends us forth into the world to be instruments and channels of His peace in the midst of fear and danger.

But let us also remember that peace is not the absence of fear and danger. There will always be fear and danger.

Peace is the presence of God, in the midst of fear and danger.

At every Mass, Jesus says to us – I leave you peace. My peace I give you.

So Jesus already gave us His peace. That’s what we have. That’s what we are – a people of peace.

Earlier on, I talked about a preacher with a snake.

I’d like to tell you now about a preacher with a $100 note.

So this preacher showed his congregation a $100 note and asked – Who would like to have this $100 note?

Of course, hands went up. Then he said, “OK, but what if I do this?” And he proceeded to crumple up the $100 note.

And then he asked, “So now, who would still like to have this?”

Well, the hands still went up.

And then the preacher said, “Ok, but what if I do this?”

And he dropped the note to the ground and started to grind it on the floor with his shoe.

He then picked it up, the crumpled and dirty note, then he asked, “Who still want this?” Would you want it?

Of course, we would still want it. Because no matter how crumpled and dirty it is, the value has not decreased. It is still a $100 note.

And that is the truth! In God’s eyes we will always have a value; and as God promised, we will always have peace.

It is a peace that the world cannot give; it is also a peace the world cannot take away.

Yet, we have to always ask ourselves: do we give others peace of mind, or do we give others a piece of our mind?

So, do we bring peace wherever we go?

Or do we bring peace whenever we go?

In this Mass, and in every Mass, peace is what Jesus gives to us.

It is this peace that we are to give to others.

May this peace give us the power and the strength ….

so that where there is injury, we bring pardon,
where there is doubt, we bring faith,
where there is despair, we bring hope,
where there is darkness, we bring light.
where there is sadness, we bring joy.

11th Ordinary Sunday, Year C, 13th June 2010

2 Samuel 12:7-10, 13
Galatians 2:16, 19-21
Luke 7:36-8:3

I wonder how you would feel if you had to talk to a group of prisoners, and to talk to them about God’s love and forgiveness.

Well, we may not have that kind of experience，or that kind of task given to us.

But we can certainly imagine the apprehension and the anxiety that comes with it.

Another aspect to consider is that what are we going to say and how should we say it.

Keeping in mind that the audience is a group of prisoners and we are going to talk to them about God’s love and forgiveness.

We cannot sound judgmental or condescending, nor can we pretend that there was no wrongdoing at all.

Well, a priest was asked to speak to a group of prisoners about God’s love and forgiveness.

In the days that led up to the talk, he thought about what he needed to say and how to say it.

So finally, the day came and he went to the prison, and he was escorted to the room where the talk was to be held.

As he walked into the room, the prisoners looked at him with silent expressionless eyes.

After the introduction, the priest stood up to speak.

He looked around at the prisoners and then he began to speak.

So how do you think he started? What do you think were his first words?

Well, how would you have started? What would be your first words?

Well, the priest began with these words: The difference between you and me is that … I was not caught.

Strange words to begin with, right?

Yes, strange words to begin with, but strangely, very true.

So from robbery to adultery, from speeding to littering, as long as we were not caught, we can fake innocence.

But still it is a fake innocence. All because we were not caught… yet!

In a way, it is similar to sin, right?

As long as our sins are not exposed, we can fake innocence. Yes, we can fake innocence as long as nobody knows about our sins.

There are three characters in today’s gospel – a sinner, the sinless one, and then there is the one who is faking to be sinless.

The problem was not with the sinner or the sinless one.

The problem was with the fake.

Simon, the Pharisee, thought he was the sinless one, yet he was just faking it.

Yet Jesus did not expose him outright. Instead, he used the parable of the two men who owed a debt to let Simon realize it, to let him catch himself, so as to speak.

Indeed, when we catch ourselves, we will truly and humbly ask for forgiveness.

That was the case in the 1st reading.

What we heard in the 1st reading was just the consequence of the pronouncement that King David made earlier.

The prophet Nathan did not expose David about his sin of adultery and murder.

Rather, he told a story of a rich man who had a flock of sheep and a poor man who had a beloved lamb.

When the rich man had a visitor, he took the lamb from the poor man and had it slaughtered to entertain his guest.

When King David heard the story, his anger flared and he judged the rich man as deserving the sentence of death.

It was only when David made that pronouncement that the prophet Nathan said to him: You are that man!

And David knew he had caught himself and he repented.

But today’s gospel is not about who had sinned and who was faking righteousness.

Rather, it is about the realization for repentance and the need for forgiveness.

I like to share with you a story about the need for realization for repentance and the joy of forgiveness.

A priest noticed that a man went into the church in the middle of the day.

The man’s clothes were rather shabby and dirty. He went to the pew, knelt down, bowed his head, then he rose and walked away.

In the days that followed, that man would come in around the same time and do the same thing.

The priest began to be suspicious of that man, so one day, he decided to stop that man and ask him what he was doing.

The man replied, saying that his factory was down the road.

Lunch was only half an hour and he used the lunchtime as his prayer time for finding strength and power.

But he could only stay for a few moments and so he would say this prayer:

I just came to tell you, Lord, how happy I have been. Since we found each other and you took away my sin. Don’t know much about how to pray, but I think about you everyday. So, Jesus, here I am, checking in today.

The priest feeling foolish and awkward, told the man he was welcomed to come and pray anytime.

When the man left, the priest knelt at the altar and he realized that it had been a long time since he said a heat-felt prayer.

His heart began to melt, and warmed with love, he felt Jesus there and he repeated that man’s prayer:

I just came to tell you, Lord, how happy I have been. Since we found each other and you took away my sin. Don’t know much about how to pray, but I think about you everyday. So, Jesus, here I am, checking in today.

God does not want to catch us in our sins and punish us.

But He will use events, situations, and people to help us catch our own sins, so to speak, and to realize the need for repentance.

The joy of forgiveness is awaiting us. The only thing that can block it is when we continue to fake innocence.

Pentecost Sunday, Year C, 23.05.2010

Acts 2:1-11
Romans 8:8-17
John 14:15-16, 23b-26

Most of the liturgical seasons and feast day celebrations of the Church are easily identifiable from the images and symbols that are used.

For eg, when we see an evergreen wreath with 4 candles, we will know it’s Advent.

When we see a crib and some figurines, we will know it’s Christmas.

When we see a cross and purple cloth, we will know it’s Lent.

When we see the big candle out here, we will know it’s Easter.

But how about Pentecost? What concrete image or symbols would indicate it’s Pentecost?

Could it be the red-coloured vestment? But it also looks like CNY.

So there is the traditional symbol of the dove, and those tongues of fire.

Actually it’s 7 tongues of fire to denote the 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Of course we are not going to let go some doves here, because something else other than gifts will drop on us.

And we are also not going to carry lighted candles to denote the tongues of fire, because some of us might be on fire, in the wrong sense.

So it is actually quite difficult to have a concrete image or symbol for the celebration of Pentecost.

So what concrete image for symbol did Jesus use to symbolize the outpouring of the Holy Spirit?

Well, He didn’t use an image or symbol.

Rather, He used an action – He breathed on His disciples and said: Receive the Holy Spirit.

Quite plain, right? No drama at all?

We would expect something like Jesus would go to each disciple and lay His hands and say “Receive the Holy Spirit”.

And they will drop and rest in the Spirit, and start speaking in tongues or whatever.

I still can remember the time when I was at a Confirmation camp for teenagers who were preparing for the Sacrament.

The highlight of the camp was the praying over each participant.

I was asked to help out in the praying over and at that time I was still a seminarian.

I was given this group of boys to pray over.

So I prayed over the first boy. I didn’t really call fire from heaven. There was no need to; after all, they are only 14-year old boys.

So I prayed over the first boy, then I prayed over the second boy.

Then I prayed over the third boy. After praying over him, he looked at me and said: Didn’t feel anything.

I was taken aback and felt a bit cheezed, so I retorted: Tsk, it takes a while lah!

He got no reply to that, and I thanked the Holy Spirit for shutting his gab!

So when Jesus first appeared to His disciples after the resurrection and breathed the Holy Spirit on them, I think that the disciples also did not feel anything. Just that they didn't dare say it.

But 50 days later, on Pentecost, something happened and things were never the same again.

Yes, it took a while, but when the Spirit moved the disciples, things got moving.

The Church took shape and started to grow.

But it was not an easy growth, because blood was shed and lives were lost.

But the Holy Spirit kept the Church moving and going.

There is this story of a daughter who complained to her father about how life was so difficult for her, with one difficulty after another, and her prayers were not answered.

Her father, who was a chef, took her to the kitchen.

He filled 3 pots with water and put them to boil.

In one, he put in carrots, in the second, he put in eggs and in the third he put coffee powder.

He let them sit and boil, without saying a word.

The daughter wasn’t very amused and was getting impatient with her father.
After 10 minutes, the father turned off the fire and he took out the carrots and the eggs.

Then he ladled the coffee into a mug.

Then he asked his daughter: What do you see?

She replied: Carrots, eggs and coffee.

He asked her to feel the carrots and she did and said they were soft.

He then asked her to break an egg. After peeling off the shell, she observed that it was a hard boiled egg.

Finally, he asked her to sip the coffee and she tasted the rich aroma.

Then she asked her father what it all meant.

The father explained that each of them has faced the same adversity, boiling water, but each reacted differently.

The carrots were hard and strong, but in the boiling water, it softened and became weak.

The eggs had been fragile, but after sitting through boiling water, its inside became hard.

The coffee powder was unique in that after they were in boiling water, they changed the water.

Finally, the father asked his daughter – So what are you? When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or coffee powder?

The point of this story is that do we let the world and all its adversities change us?
Do we get weakened and disillusioned like the carrot; or do we become hard and bitter like the egg?

Or do we change the world when faced with its adversities, like what the coffee powder did to the boiling water.

So the symbols of red-coloured vestments and tongues of fire still give very profound meanings for Pentecost.

Red is the colour of martyrdom. The blood of martyrs gives rise to the Church.

And the tongues of fire purifies the Church, and sanctifies the Church, in the face of adversity.

And the Holy Spirit continues to move in the Church.

Well back to the story of that 14 year old boy who said “Didn’t feel anything”.

Well, after the Confirmation camp, I nicknamed him “Mr. Didn’t Feel Anything” and I thought he was rather arrogant and cocky at that time.

He looked like he was going to end up on the sleazy side of life.

He in turned called me “Bro. Wait a While”.

But that was many years ago. Now he calls me “Fr. Wait a While”.

That “Mr. Didn’t Feel Anything ” has become someone doing something.

He is active in his parish community and he is a catechist teaching Confirmation class!

He has come a long way and I am sure that the Holy Spirit was moving him along the way.

And he did feel something, although it took a while.

Well, it may take a while for us too. We may have to wait a while.

But meanwhile, may the Holy Spirit fill our hearts and kindle in us the fire of God’s love.

Fifth Sunday of Easter, Year C, 02-05-10

Acts 14:21b-27
Revelation 21:1-5a
John 13:31-33a, 34-35

For a start, I would like to ask you a few questions.

These are no trick questions; just general knowledge questions.

Also there is no need to shout out the answers because I know you won’t shout in church.

So here come the questions: Name the three wealthiest people in the world.

Name the last three people who have won the Nobel Prize for Peace.

Name the last three winners of the Oscar awards for best actor.

Name the last three winners of the Miss Universe pageant.

You may wonder, what is the point of asking these questions, when most of us can’t remember any of those names.

But that is the point. Most of us can’t remember much of who made it to the headlines of yesterday.

Well, those who made it to the headlines are certainly no second-class achievers.

They are indeed the best in their fields, the cream of the crop.

But the applause, no matter how loud and how prolonged, will fade.

And the awards will tarnish. And the achievements are slowly forgotten.

Yesterday’s headlines are stale news. They are yesterday’s papers, left in the corner and maybe even used to wrap doggy pooh.

Now here is another quiz. Let us see how we will do for this one.

Name three teachers who taught you in school.

Name three friends who helped you through a difficult time.

Name three persons who have encouraged you and affirmed you.

Name three persons whom you enjoy spending time with.

Now, was that easier? And why was it easier?

Well, from the two sets of questions we can realize one thing.

We realize that the people we remember most in our lives are not necessarily the ones with the most money, or the most credentials, or the most awards, or the ones who make it to the headlines.

Rather, the people we remember are the ones who care about us; they are the people who love us.

So in the final analysis, what really matters is who loved you, and who you loved.

In the gospel we hear of Jesus giving us a new commandment.

It is the commandment of love – just as Jesus have loved us, we are to love one another.

What Jesus gave us is a commandment; it is not a suggestion.

A commandment does not give us an option.

Rather it requires from us a decision.

And if we call ourselves Christians, then we have already made that decision.

To say that we are a Christian, and yet, not fulfill that love commandment, then that is a contradiction.

Yet within us there exists this contradiction of sinfulness and holiness.

Within us there is selfishness, and yet there is also selflessness.

So when we decide to love, that is a profound decision, because it comes out of a struggle from within.

A journalist was watching the late Mother Teresa attending to a man suffering from gangrene.

The sight and smell of the wounds were just too revolting for him and he said to Mother Teresa: I wouldn’t do that for a million dollars!

Mother Teresa replied: Neither would I do it for that amount of money. But for the love of God, I will do it.

Yes, love always demands the best out of us, and love brings out the best in us.

And love will also help us understand others, and love will help us see how they need to be loved.

Maybe let me tell you a pre-Mother’s Day joke, since next Sunday is Mother’s Day.

Four very successful brothers were sharing with each other what they gave to their mother, who lived far away in another city, for Mother’s Day.

The first said: I had a big house built for Mama.

The second said: I had a state-of-the-art theatre built in that house.

The third said: I had a limousine delivered to Mama.

The fourth said: You know how Mama loved reading the Bible, but her eyesight is failing. I came across this parrot which can recite any passage of the Bible.

Mama just had to name the chapter and the verse and the parrot will recite it.

That parrot costs $500 000, but I thought it was worth it and I had it sent to Mummy.

The other brothers were impressed.

After Mother’s Day, the brothers received thank you notes from their mother.

The first – Dear Milton, the house you built was so huge and I live in only one room but I had to clean the whole house. Thanks anyway.

The second – Dear Marvin, I am too old to drive. I stay home and have things delivered to me. I don’t use the limo. Thanks anyway.

The third – Dear Michael, you built for me an expensive theatre which can sit 50 people, but all my friends are dead. My hearing and my eyesight are failing, I won’t be using the theatre. But thanks anyway.

Finally, the last one – Dearest Melvin, you were the only son who had given a little thought to your gift. Thanks for the live chicken. I cooked it and it was delicious. Love you, mummy.

So, to be a person of love, we don’t have to be rich and famous, or great achievers and high-flyers.

We only need to have a heart which decides to love, and keep on loving to the end.

St Terese of Lisieux, the “little flower” has this wise saying for us: I do small things with great love.

Yes, small things like cooking a simple meal for our family members, helping those who call upon us. Spending time with those who need us.

Yes, to fulfill the commandment of love is simple.

We just have to do small things with great love.

And by that love for each other, others will know that we are disciples of Jesus.

And they will also remember how we showed love and that is, by doing small things with great love.

2nd Sunday of Easter / Divine Mercy Sunday, 11.04.10

Acts 5:12-16
Revelation 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19
John 20:19-31

So we have crossed over from Lent to Easter, and we are already at the 2nd Sunday of Easter.

So Good Friday is over, we have had people being baptized at Easter, we are relieved that the period of fasting and penance and the Way of the Cross is over.

So now should be a time of rejoicing, a time of celebration, a time to take a deep breathe and to take it easy for a while.

So while we are in this rejoicing and celebrative mood, let me share with you an Easter joke, a so-called Easter joke.

A small boy came back home after a long day at school, and he told his mother that he was having a stomachache.

His mother said to him : Oh, that’s because you got nothing in your stomach. You got to put something in there. Go and have your dinner and you will be ok.

The small boy did that and true enough, his stomach was ok.

Now on Easter Sunday, the small boy went with his parents for the Sunday evening Mass.

After Mass, the small boy and his parents happened to meet the priest, and the priest said to them:

Whew! It was a long and busy weekend. I am having a headache now.

When the small boy heard this, he suddenly remembered, and he said to the priest:

Father, that’s because you got nothing in your head. You got to put something in there, ok.

Well, today’s gospel is not about the Sunday after Easter.

Rather it is still dwelling on the evening of Easter Sunday and the disciples were hiding behind locked doors.

There was nothing left in their minds and nothing in their guts, and they were having the greatest heartache of their lives because there was also nothing in their hearts.

For the disciples, it was a dark, a very dark Easter Sunday evening.

It was into this darkness and heartache that the Risen Christ came and offered them peace and joy.

And there was one more thing – Jesus showed them His hands and side, the wounds of His crucifixion, to show that He was also offering them healing.

Well, if I may say it, this particular Easter, is for the Catholic Church, a bit like that Easter evening for the disciples.

The celebration of Easter was dampened and marred by a certain darkness and heartache.

I would like to think that we have read about the reports of the scandals that have surfaced in Europe.

It is a horrible scandal. And to make matters worse, it involved the clergy, it involved priests.

The media is having a field day, whereas we are reeling from the shock waves.

So we know about it, we have read about it, and yet we don’t know what to think or what to say about it.

This has shocked us. The Catholics in Europe are shaken and shattered.

We don’t feel like talking about it, maybe because we don’t know how to talk about it.

Like the disciples on that Easter Sunday evening, we are just hanging on in the darkness and hanging on with a heartache.

Maybe I am just speaking for myself, but I sigh in pain and in shame.

I wonder how many will lose faith in the Church and even leave the Church. How many will even lose faith in God?

I also wonder what’s going to happen to the dignity of the priesthood, and what will people think of priests now?
And what about promotion of vocations?

I don’t dare think about these questions, and I don’t know what the answers will be like.

But today’s gospel gives us a glimmer of hope in the darkness.

Today’s gospel mentions that eight days later, Jesus came back, and He came back just for Thomas, to strengthen his faith.

In this time of distress and darkness, of pain and shame, let us stay united with each other and together let us wait for the Lord.

I wonder if you know about the story of a dog called Hachiko. By the way, Hachi in Japanese means eight.
Hachiko was an extraordinary dog.

Back in 1924 in Japan, its owner Ueno took it as a pet.
Everyday, Hachiko would accompany Ueno to the train station and see him off to work.

At the end of the day, Hachiko would wait at the station to greet Ueno as he comes back from work.

All went on happily until one day, when Ueno suffered a heart attack, and died at his workplace.

He never returned to the train station where Hachiko was waiting.

Yet everyday, Hachiko would wait at the train station for his master’s return.

And each day, he did not see his master among the commuters at the station.

Many of the commuters who frequented the train station had seen Hachiko and Ueno together.

When they heard of what had happened, they brought food for Hachiko to nourish him during his wait.

This went on for nine years, and the story became a national sensation.

Hachiko’s faithfulness to his master impressed the Japanese people, and his legendary faithfulness became a national symbol of loyalty.

To date, two movies had been made about this true story of a dog’s loyalty.

Hachiko died on the steps outside the train station where he had waited for his master, on 8 March 1935.

For nine long years, Hachiko waited faithfully for his master, although it was a wait in vain.

In this troubled and distressful time of the Church, let us also understand the meaning of Easter in all this.

Christ died but He rose from the dead. He came back for His disciples. He even came back just for Thomas.

The Risen Christ will come back for us.

Today as we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday, let us pray for God’s mercy on the Church and that Jesus will come into our hearts to strengthen us with His love.

Our wait will not be in vain. Like Hachiko, we will be loyal and we will wait in faith.

And blessed are we who do not lose faith, in God, and in the Church.

Palm Sunday, Year C, 28-03-10

At the beginning of the Mass, we participated in the triumphant procession of Jesus into Jerusalem.

We joyfully waved the palm branches to welcome the King who comes in the name of the Lord.

And just as quickly as the weather changes, we witness another procession, this time a procession out of Jerusalem, a procession towards execution.

And this time, the palm branches are as lifeless as dead leaves.

Yet these palm branches which we will bring home are a reminder that whether in celebration or in tribulation, we must be with Jesus, our Lord.

We must stay with Jesus especially in His trials and suffering.

The gospel portrayed Jesus as being tested.

From His sweating of blood to His being betrayed and abandoned by His disciples, to His being interrogated, to His crucifixion, Jesus was tested.

He was tested but He persisted. He was abandoned but He was not broken.

In fact He could even tell the repentant thief: Indeed, I promise you, today you will be with me in paradise.

So as we bring home these palm branches, let us also walk with Jesus in His triumphant procession into Jerusalem, and stay close to Him in the procession towards execution which will unfold before us.

Because we too will be tested. We too will face our agonies, our betrayals, our pains, our loneliness and our sufferings.

Yet we are also reminded that our sufferings in the world are nothing compared to the glory that is waiting for us in eternity.

In the meantime, let us keep in mind these words of Jesus to the repentant thief.

Indeed, I promise you, today you will be with me in paradise.

It is a King’s promise, it’s a Saviour’s promise. It is God’s promise.

Fourth Sunday of Lent, Year C, 14 March 2010

Joshua 5:9, 10-12
2 Corinthians 5:17-21
Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

From the young to the old, stories always have a special appeal in our hearts.

Because embedded in stories are the experiences of life, there are also lessons of life, surprises of life, or just simply the colour of life.

Telling stories to children might be relatively simple because there is a vast resource of children’s story books to tap on.

So we can tell children stories like Snow White and Cinderella, and let them imagine the characters.

That’s for children. For adults, telling stories to them become a bit tougher.

Because to get their attention, then the stories have to be about real-life.

And it can be anything from charity and bravery, to the tacky and the juicy.

So stories like how a local movie director had an affair with a young model would surely arouse the interest of adults.

Or how a foreign diplomat got involved in a series of hit-and-run accidents would surely catch our eye.

But yet, these stories are often about other people and about other characters.

These stories don’t necessarily involve us, and we can just remain as spectators or as the audience.

We can say that Jesus is a great story-teller.
Yet, Jesus does not merely tell stories ; He speaks in parables
Parables have a spiritual and mystical dimension.

Because parables reveal something about God and they also reveal something about us.

In today’s gospel, Jesus tells the parable of the prodigal son. It is not the story of the prodigal son.

Because the parable involves us and God. It makes us think.

Are we like the younger son who did a terrible wrong, and then came to his senses, and hoping to be forgiven?

Or are we like the older son, who does his duties and keeps the rules, but complains and criticizes those who step out of line and cannot tolerate them?

Or do we think we are like the father of the two sons who accepts and forgives unconditionally and tries his best to keep everybody together in harmony?

Of course, I have also heard of some other amusing reflections.

Like this one from a lady who said that she felt like she was the calf. Because no matter what happens, she will get it!

Certainly the parable is about acceptance and forgiveness.

And also the underlying theme of love in the parable, as seen in the father’s love for his two sons.

Let me share with you a story, not a parable, but just a story.

There was a wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art.. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael.. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art....
When war broke out, the son went to serve his country. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and he grieved deeply for his only son.

Some time later, there was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands..

He said, 'Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly... . He often talked about you, and your love for art..' The young man held out this package. 'I know this isn't much. I'm not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this.'

The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by that young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the protrait that he was very moved.

He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture. 'Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It's a gift.'

The father hung the portrait in his hall. Every time visitors came to his home he pointed out the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected.

The man died a few months later. There was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection.

On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel. 'We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?'

There was silence.....
The people in the room shouted, 'We want to see the famous paintings.. Skip this one.'

But the auctioneer persisted.. 'Will somebody bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?'

Another angry voice was heard. 'We didn't come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Gogh's, the Rembrandts.
Get on with the real bids!'

But still the auctioneer continued. 'The son! The son! Who'll take the son?'

Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son. 'I'll give $10 for the painting...' Because being a poor man, it was all he could afford.

'We have $10, who will bid $20?'

The annoyed voices shouted :'Give it to him for $10. Let's see the masterpieces.'

The crowd was becoming angry. They didn't want the picture of the son.

They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections.

The auctioneer pounded the gavel. 'Going once, going twice, SOLD for $10!'

A voice shouted, 'Now let's get on with the collection!'

The auctioneer laid down his gavel. 'I'm sorry, the auction is over.'

'What about the paintings?' the people asked.

'I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will.... I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time.. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings.
So the man who took the son gets everything!'

This reminds us that God gave us His son 2,000 years ago to die on the cross. Much like the auctioneer, His message today is: 'The son, the son, who'll take the son?'

Because, you see, whoever takes the Son gets everything.

We may recall this scripture verse : FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, SO THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES, SHALL HAVE ETERNAL LIFE..........
THAT'S GOD’S LOVE FOR US!

In the parable of the prodigal son, the father in his love and forgiveness, seemed like a loser.

He gave his younger wayward son his inheritance when he asked for it.

He told his elder sulking son that all he had was his.

The father is indeed a reflection of God who gave us His only Son so that we know what love is.

The question in the parable is that will the two sons now love the father more?

Will we ourselves love God more? Will we love Jesus more?

The late Archbishop Fulton Sheen, a pioneer in TV evangelizing, shared this story about what inspired him to make a Holy Hour before the Blessed Sacrament everyday.


When the communists took over China, they imprisoned a priest in his own rectory which was beside the church. After being locked up in his own house, the priest looked out the window and was horrified to see the communists enter the church.

Once inside, they went into the sanctuary, broke open the tabernacle and in a hateful act of desecration, threw down the ciborium scattering the Hosts on the floor. The priest knew exactly how many Hosts had been in the ciborium: there were thirty-two.

When the communists left, they either didn't notice, or didn't pay any attention to a little girl praying in the back of the Church who saw everything. That night she returned, and slipping past the guard, entered the Church where she made an hour of prayer in reparation for the desecration she witnessed of the Blessed Sacrament.

After her hour of prayer, she went into the sanctuary, and kneeling down, she bent over and received Jesus in Holy Communion with her tongue.

Each night, the girl returned to the church to make her holy hour and receive Jesus in Holy Communion on her tongue just as she did the first night. On the thirty-second night, after having consumed the last Host, she accidentally made a noise that alerted the guard.

From his bedroom window, the priest could only watch in horror as the heartrending scene unfolded before his eyes. The girl tried to run away but the guard caught up with her and beat her to death with his rifle.

When Archbishop Fulton Sheen heard this story he was so inspired that he promised God he would make a holy hour before the Blessed Sacrament every day for the rest of his life.

And he was not only faithful to his promise, but he took every opportunity to spread this devotion of the daily holy hour before the Blessed Sacrament. He also said this : I have found that it takes some time to catch the fire of love in prayer.

We do not know the name of that little girl in that story which inspired Archbishop Fulton Sheen.

But her heroic act of going to the church every night at the risk of her life to adore and receive Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament serves as a powerful testimony of her love for Jesus.

Yes, she lost her life, but I am sure she won the crown of life.

May her story inspire us to thank God for His love and forgiveness for us.

May it also move us to come to our senses, and come to love God more