Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7 / Romans 5:12-19 / Matthew 4:1-11
One of the important things in life that we take for granted is our health.
When we are in the pink of health, when there is no threat to our well-being, we will be like riding on the crest of the wave and feeling high and mighty.
We might become so arrogant and then we will think that to be healthy is a time to get wealthy.
But when we get afflicted by illness, or when our health is threatened by some kind of contagion, then things become reversed.
The way life was one month ago, and the way of life now is like steep downward ride on a roller coaster.
Humble items like handheld forehead thermometers, surgical masks and hand sanitizers were items that we hardly bothered about before. But now they become prized items and fetch ridiculous prices.
The whole world is like on a lockdown as the COVID-19 virus makes its appearance outside of Asia.
Where once mankind was like the master and put
animals into cages, now it is a tiny virus that has put mankind into his self-made cages.
Where once mankind used health to gain wealth, now mankind uses wealth to gain health, and try to protect it.
As we enter into the first Sunday of Lent, we hear of Jesus being led by the Spirit out into the wilderness when He fasted for 40 days.
The wilderness is a harsh place where life is stripped down to almost nothing. There is no security or guarantee, no protection or assurance.
The wilderness, or the desert, and the number 40 has this biblical meaning of trial and testing.
But it also has the meaning of cleansing, purification and enlightenment.
In the book of Exodus, the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years for them to learn that God is their Provider and Saviour, even though they failed in their faith in God time and again.
Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness where God was His only security and protection and after which he had to face the devil’s temptations.
But Jesus overcame the devil. Physically drained but spiritually strengthened, He rebutted and rebuked the devil.
As we wonder what the next 40 days hold for us and for the world, let us follow Jesus into the wilderness and let us also embark on the three spiritual disciplines of Lent, that is, prayer, fasting and almsgiving.
Let these 40 days be a time of cleansing, purification and enlightenment, so that we can be spiritually healthy and strengthened in faith to meet the challenges and the temptations in life.
Let us be spiritually disciplined in these forty days and God will send His angels to look after us.
Click the links under My Blog List to get to Chinese and English weekday homilies.
Saturday, February 29, 2020
Saturday, February 22, 2020
7th Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 22.02.2020
Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18 / 1 Cor 3:16-23 / Matthew 5:38-48
To be in a dilemma is to be in a situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two alternatives, and usually both alternatives are equally difficult.
Obviously it is far from pleasant to be in a dilemma and obviously there is no win-win outcome.
It is more like how much is going to be lost and can we bear the loss.
It is almost like a choice between the frying pan and the fire.
In life, we will have to face our dilemmas at one point or another.
It may be a health issue or a financial issue or a relationship issue.
Such dilemmas make us look at the issue squarely and in the end we will have to make that difficult choice and commend everything to God.
As we spend the second weekend with Mass still under suspension, we can understand the dilemma that the Archbishop and the Church is facing.
Whether to continue the suspension or resume the Mass, the whole issue is about social responsibility versus faith in God.
On the one hand, the Church needs to exercise her social responsibilities by joining in the efforts to contain the virus infection and hence the suspension of Masses.
On the other hand, the Church also wants to exercise her faith in these times and to have recourse to the unity in prayer and the celebration of the Eucharist to go through this period.
Yet it seems that both are not compatible because if Mass is not suspended, it may seem that the Church is indifferent and irresponsible.
But now that Mass is suspended for the time being, faith seems to be shaken and questions are being raised as to when will Mass resume.
This is the dilemma that the Church is currently facing and a resolution needs to be found quickly.
Meanwhile there are efforts going on behind the scenes to prepare the Church to resume Mass quickly, as the season of Lent is also approaching.
But these efforts cannot bear fruit without the prayer of the People of God.
So as much as we have our opinions about the directions the Church should take at this time, let us also be docile in faith and united in prayer.
This current situation is like a Pandora box that was dropped out of nowhere into the Church and many disturbing things have come out of it - confusion, apprehension, disappointment, fear, etc.
But there is one more thing, maybe it will be the last thing, that will and must come out of this box, and that is hope.
Not only must we have hope that with the grace and blessings of God, this situation will pass, let us also hope that the Church will grow and learn to be stronger in faith and united in prayer.
May that be our hope as we continue to be united in prayer.
To be in a dilemma is to be in a situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two alternatives, and usually both alternatives are equally difficult.
Obviously it is far from pleasant to be in a dilemma and obviously there is no win-win outcome.
It is more like how much is going to be lost and can we bear the loss.
It is almost like a choice between the frying pan and the fire.
In life, we will have to face our dilemmas at one point or another.
It may be a health issue or a financial issue or a relationship issue.
Such dilemmas make us look at the issue squarely and in the end we will have to make that difficult choice and commend everything to God.
As we spend the second weekend with Mass still under suspension, we can understand the dilemma that the Archbishop and the Church is facing.
Whether to continue the suspension or resume the Mass, the whole issue is about social responsibility versus faith in God.
On the one hand, the Church needs to exercise her social responsibilities by joining in the efforts to contain the virus infection and hence the suspension of Masses.
On the other hand, the Church also wants to exercise her faith in these times and to have recourse to the unity in prayer and the celebration of the Eucharist to go through this period.
Yet it seems that both are not compatible because if Mass is not suspended, it may seem that the Church is indifferent and irresponsible.
But now that Mass is suspended for the time being, faith seems to be shaken and questions are being raised as to when will Mass resume.
This is the dilemma that the Church is currently facing and a resolution needs to be found quickly.
Meanwhile there are efforts going on behind the scenes to prepare the Church to resume Mass quickly, as the season of Lent is also approaching.
But these efforts cannot bear fruit without the prayer of the People of God.
So as much as we have our opinions about the directions the Church should take at this time, let us also be docile in faith and united in prayer.
This current situation is like a Pandora box that was dropped out of nowhere into the Church and many disturbing things have come out of it - confusion, apprehension, disappointment, fear, etc.
But there is one more thing, maybe it will be the last thing, that will and must come out of this box, and that is hope.
Not only must we have hope that with the grace and blessings of God, this situation will pass, let us also hope that the Church will grow and learn to be stronger in faith and united in prayer.
May that be our hope as we continue to be united in prayer.
Sunday, February 16, 2020
6th Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 16.02.2020
Ecclesiasticus 15:15-20 / 1 Cor 2:6-10 / Matthew 5:17-37
Lately, one of the hottest selling items is the thermometer. And if we have a thermometer we would be taking our temperature, we would be probably taking our temperature everyday.
The normal body temperature is about 37 degrees Celcius. If it is more than that, then we would be alarmed.
Because one of the symptoms of the COVID-19 is having a fever. So if the body temperature is 38 degrees Celsius or higher, it would be better to consult the doctor immediately.
And since the virus has no respect for rank or riches, then anyone could be infected by it.
And so it was with concern and care for the safety and the protection of the people of God, that Archbishop William Goh made that difficult announcement to suspend all weekday and weekend Masses in the Archdiocese until further notice.
It was an unprecedented decision but a necessary direction in the face of an escalating situation which our nation is trying to contain.
Moreover the Church needs to be responsible and help the country to curb and contain the spread of the virus and to bring it under control so that life can be brought back to normalcy.
With that we will be able to understand what Jesus meant when He said in the gospel that “If your virtue goes no deeper than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.”
Whatever sentiments we might have about the suspension of the Mass on weekdays and weekends, we can be sure that there was a lot of consultation before making that difficult decision.
The Church has to exercise the virtue of charity and respect for the well-being of others as our country strives to curb and control the spreading of the virus.
This may be called a sort of crisis-moment. But a crisis is like a double-edged sword.
A crisis exposes our weakness and we can succumb to the trials and be torn apart.
On the other hand, a crisis also offers many growing and learning moments, and we can become stronger and more matured by it.
Some of the best lessons in life are learned from the worst of times.
Maybe the recent situation of the raging bushfires in Australia is a learning lesson. It was the worst bush fire in history and many people had to be evacuated.
We have also seen pictures of a handful of firefighters facing a wall of fire that seems to reach to the sky. The one word that might come to our minds is “futile”. What is the point? Might as well forget everything and run.
But after the scorching fire came the rain, a bit too much maybe, but the rains came, and the scorched land is now ready to begin a new life.
So the efforts of the firefighters and the relief workers have not been in vain. It comes back to that saying – “We do our best, and God will do the rest”.
Similarly for this current situation, which is not just affecting Singapore alone but also throughout the world.
We must acknowledge and support the efforts of the frontline personnel like the doctors, nurses, healthcare workers, ambulance drivers, policy implementation officers and the support staff.
We also must pray for the leaders of our country and for the Archbishop and other church leaders. They have the difficult task of making decisions and taking unprecedented directions for the good of the people they serve.
They want to do their best and we support them with our prayers that God will do the rest.
And even though Mass is suspended for the time being, this is also a time to be spiritually creative and find ways to be united in prayer, be it synchronized prayers, virtual adoration or spiritual communion.
These are trying times, but the suspension of the Mass is not really about the question of faith.
The question is whether in these times are we fervent in our faith and prayer, and that will be the measure of our faith.
We pray for the best, and God will do the rest.
Lately, one of the hottest selling items is the thermometer. And if we have a thermometer we would be taking our temperature, we would be probably taking our temperature everyday.
The normal body temperature is about 37 degrees Celcius. If it is more than that, then we would be alarmed.
Because one of the symptoms of the COVID-19 is having a fever. So if the body temperature is 38 degrees Celsius or higher, it would be better to consult the doctor immediately.
And since the virus has no respect for rank or riches, then anyone could be infected by it.
And so it was with concern and care for the safety and the protection of the people of God, that Archbishop William Goh made that difficult announcement to suspend all weekday and weekend Masses in the Archdiocese until further notice.
It was an unprecedented decision but a necessary direction in the face of an escalating situation which our nation is trying to contain.
Moreover the Church needs to be responsible and help the country to curb and contain the spread of the virus and to bring it under control so that life can be brought back to normalcy.
With that we will be able to understand what Jesus meant when He said in the gospel that “If your virtue goes no deeper than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.”
Whatever sentiments we might have about the suspension of the Mass on weekdays and weekends, we can be sure that there was a lot of consultation before making that difficult decision.
The Church has to exercise the virtue of charity and respect for the well-being of others as our country strives to curb and control the spreading of the virus.
This may be called a sort of crisis-moment. But a crisis is like a double-edged sword.
A crisis exposes our weakness and we can succumb to the trials and be torn apart.
On the other hand, a crisis also offers many growing and learning moments, and we can become stronger and more matured by it.
Some of the best lessons in life are learned from the worst of times.
Maybe the recent situation of the raging bushfires in Australia is a learning lesson. It was the worst bush fire in history and many people had to be evacuated.
We have also seen pictures of a handful of firefighters facing a wall of fire that seems to reach to the sky. The one word that might come to our minds is “futile”. What is the point? Might as well forget everything and run.
But after the scorching fire came the rain, a bit too much maybe, but the rains came, and the scorched land is now ready to begin a new life.
So the efforts of the firefighters and the relief workers have not been in vain. It comes back to that saying – “We do our best, and God will do the rest”.
Similarly for this current situation, which is not just affecting Singapore alone but also throughout the world.
We must acknowledge and support the efforts of the frontline personnel like the doctors, nurses, healthcare workers, ambulance drivers, policy implementation officers and the support staff.
We also must pray for the leaders of our country and for the Archbishop and other church leaders. They have the difficult task of making decisions and taking unprecedented directions for the good of the people they serve.
They want to do their best and we support them with our prayers that God will do the rest.
And even though Mass is suspended for the time being, this is also a time to be spiritually creative and find ways to be united in prayer, be it synchronized prayers, virtual adoration or spiritual communion.
These are trying times, but the suspension of the Mass is not really about the question of faith.
The question is whether in these times are we fervent in our faith and prayer, and that will be the measure of our faith.
We pray for the best, and God will do the rest.
Saturday, February 8, 2020
5th Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 26.01.2020
Isaiah 58:7-10 / 1 Cor 2:1-5 / Matthew 5:13-16
A time of crisis means that it is a time of intense difficulty or danger.
Certainly that means that a time of crisis is definitely not a comfortable or pleasant time.
So it can be a political crisis, an economic crisis, a financial crisis, a food crisis.
At present, with those health precautions to curb the growing virus Infection, it seems like it could be the health crisis.
The alert has been raised to DORSCON Orange, which is only one level from Red. So it may seem that a health crisis is looming.
And that has already created fears, and fear is irrational. Irrational enough to stock up food excessively, irrational enough to make snide remarks about a certain nationality, irrational enough to stare and even snipe at those who cough or sneeze.
So a crisis brings out the fear. And a crisis also shows what courage is, as well as who has courage.
And courage is like the salt and light that Jesus talked about in the gospel.
Courage is like salt that gives taste to food that is bland. Courage is like a lamp that is put on the lamp stand when it is dark.
As much as Jesus talked about salt and light, yet we also know that these two things do not exist for themselves.
Salt gives taste but we don’t eat salt as it is. Light does not shine in, light shines out.
So, salt and light are in many ways similar to faith and love.
Faith does not exist for itself. Faith helps us to realize the presence of love and the presence of God in all situations (where there is love, there is God).
Jesus Himself was salt and light when others forgot about the presence of God in several instances in the gospels.
Remember that instance, when He was asked if it was necessary to pay taxes?
He asked for a coin, he asked them whose image was on the coin, and then He said: Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.
The people were talking about taxes, a tasteless thing.
Jesus put in some salt and made them realize the presence of God, and more importantly that all things belong to God. So what belongs to Caesar, actually belongs to God.
In another instance, when Jesus was asked where His authority came from, He in turn asked them where the authority of John the Baptist came from. From man or from God?
Well, His question was the answer for them, and they had no reply to that.
Because the moment God comes into the picture, their question becomes redundant and pointless.
So Jesus Himself showed us what salt and light are all about.
Any situation without the involvement of God is a tasteless situation.
Faith is like salt that brings in the presence of God and it enlightens the situation with the love of God.
And in times like these, faith and love can be expressed in one phrase, and that is, “courage to be compassionate”.
Someone wrote the following post about these present times and it calls for our attention and reflection.
I was at the coffee shop today, taking my lunch. Then I saw an ambulance driver Uncle walking in with his mask and uniform. I tell you, he looked very tired. He walked over to the stall to buy food and they turned him away. He walked back to his ambulance. I caught up with him. l admit, I kept my distance because I’m also scared. I have kids. I asked him what he wanted and I would buy for him. He said he just wanted chicken rice. For 4 days, he worked 12 hours straight, and has been eating biscuits here and there to keep himself full while driving around. He just wanted the packet of chicken rice today. I went and bought for him and as I was walking towards him, he said to me, “It’s okay. Don’t come any closer. You leave the packet over there. When you go back to your car, I’ll pick it up.”
I was so heartbroken. He also shared with me that he has been so worried that he has not gone home for 4 days to see his family. After he finishes his shift, he showers at the hospital and sleeps in his ambulance. These men and women at the front line really deserve our respect. In times like these we need to be supporting them instead of turning them away. Let us salute these brave heroes.
It is in times like these that our faith is like the salt that brings in the presence of God and our love is like the light that shows the compassion of God.
Let us listen again to what the Lord says in the first reading:
Share your bread with the hungry, and shelter the homeless poor, clothe the man you see to be naked
and do not turn from your own kin.
Then will your light shine like the dawn and your wound be quickly healed over.
Your integrity will go before you and the glory of the Lord behind you.
Cry, and the Lord will answer; call, and he will say, ‘I am here.’
Yes the Lord is with us, He is on our side. But we must be courageous in these times and be compassionate to those who fear.
May these times bring out our faith and love so that we can be like the salt and the light of the Good News of salvation.
A time of crisis means that it is a time of intense difficulty or danger.
Certainly that means that a time of crisis is definitely not a comfortable or pleasant time.
So it can be a political crisis, an economic crisis, a financial crisis, a food crisis.
At present, with those health precautions to curb the growing virus Infection, it seems like it could be the health crisis.
The alert has been raised to DORSCON Orange, which is only one level from Red. So it may seem that a health crisis is looming.
And that has already created fears, and fear is irrational. Irrational enough to stock up food excessively, irrational enough to make snide remarks about a certain nationality, irrational enough to stare and even snipe at those who cough or sneeze.
So a crisis brings out the fear. And a crisis also shows what courage is, as well as who has courage.
And courage is like the salt and light that Jesus talked about in the gospel.
Courage is like salt that gives taste to food that is bland. Courage is like a lamp that is put on the lamp stand when it is dark.
As much as Jesus talked about salt and light, yet we also know that these two things do not exist for themselves.
Salt gives taste but we don’t eat salt as it is. Light does not shine in, light shines out.
So, salt and light are in many ways similar to faith and love.
Faith does not exist for itself. Faith helps us to realize the presence of love and the presence of God in all situations (where there is love, there is God).
Jesus Himself was salt and light when others forgot about the presence of God in several instances in the gospels.
Remember that instance, when He was asked if it was necessary to pay taxes?
He asked for a coin, he asked them whose image was on the coin, and then He said: Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.
The people were talking about taxes, a tasteless thing.
Jesus put in some salt and made them realize the presence of God, and more importantly that all things belong to God. So what belongs to Caesar, actually belongs to God.
In another instance, when Jesus was asked where His authority came from, He in turn asked them where the authority of John the Baptist came from. From man or from God?
Well, His question was the answer for them, and they had no reply to that.
Because the moment God comes into the picture, their question becomes redundant and pointless.
So Jesus Himself showed us what salt and light are all about.
Any situation without the involvement of God is a tasteless situation.
Faith is like salt that brings in the presence of God and it enlightens the situation with the love of God.
And in times like these, faith and love can be expressed in one phrase, and that is, “courage to be compassionate”.
Someone wrote the following post about these present times and it calls for our attention and reflection.
I was at the coffee shop today, taking my lunch. Then I saw an ambulance driver Uncle walking in with his mask and uniform. I tell you, he looked very tired. He walked over to the stall to buy food and they turned him away. He walked back to his ambulance. I caught up with him. l admit, I kept my distance because I’m also scared. I have kids. I asked him what he wanted and I would buy for him. He said he just wanted chicken rice. For 4 days, he worked 12 hours straight, and has been eating biscuits here and there to keep himself full while driving around. He just wanted the packet of chicken rice today. I went and bought for him and as I was walking towards him, he said to me, “It’s okay. Don’t come any closer. You leave the packet over there. When you go back to your car, I’ll pick it up.”
I was so heartbroken. He also shared with me that he has been so worried that he has not gone home for 4 days to see his family. After he finishes his shift, he showers at the hospital and sleeps in his ambulance. These men and women at the front line really deserve our respect. In times like these we need to be supporting them instead of turning them away. Let us salute these brave heroes.
It is in times like these that our faith is like the salt that brings in the presence of God and our love is like the light that shows the compassion of God.
Let us listen again to what the Lord says in the first reading:
Share your bread with the hungry, and shelter the homeless poor, clothe the man you see to be naked
and do not turn from your own kin.
Then will your light shine like the dawn and your wound be quickly healed over.
Your integrity will go before you and the glory of the Lord behind you.
Cry, and the Lord will answer; call, and he will say, ‘I am here.’
Yes the Lord is with us, He is on our side. But we must be courageous in these times and be compassionate to those who fear.
May these times bring out our faith and love so that we can be like the salt and the light of the Good News of salvation.
Saturday, February 1, 2020
Presentation of the Lord, Year A, 02.02.2020
Malachi 3:1-4 / Hebrews 2:14-18 / Luke 2:22-40
Whenever we talk about portable lighting, the first thing that comes to mind will be the torch light.
Essentially the torch light would be made up of a bulb that is powered by batteries. As long as we have a torch light , we won’t fear the dark that much, because at the press of a switch, we would have instant light.
But before the invention of the torch light, it was candles. Candles are certainly not as versatile as the torch light, but they will do the job when there is a blackout and when the battery in the torch light is flat.
So the humble candle is still practical and useful and it makes good sense to have some candles around the house, just in case.
Also it would look rather odd to have a birthday cake with torch lights. How are we going to blow off the torch lights?
But candles are not just for birthday cakes. In the church, candles have a spiritual meaning and a spiritual purpose.
Lighted candles have been used in worship and in devotions for long time, and its meaning is as clear as the light it emits - the Light of Christ shines out to dispel the darkness of sin and fear.
Lighted candles are used in worship and in the celebration of the Sacraments. It is also good to note that the Easter candle is put at a prominent location during Baptism and at the funeral Mass, and those are the two important points of life.
Today as the church celebrates the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, candles are blessed at the beginning of the Mass.
The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord can be understood as the conclusion of the series of feasts that began at Christmas.
Christmas presents to us the birth of the Saviour at Bethlehem. The Epiphany celebrated His manifestation to the world. The Presentation reminds us of the offering of our Saviour in the Temple as the Victim who will reconcile God and man.
So why is there the blessing of candles on this Feast of the Presentation? What has candles got to do with the Presentation of the Lord?
The connection between the feast of the Presentation and the blessing of candles is essentially that Christ is the Light of the world, and the church uses lighted candles as a symbol of that Light.
As the Divine Light, Jesus shined on Simeon who look forward to Israel’s comforting. It had been revealed to Simeon that he would not see death until he had set eyes on the Christ of the Lord.
And when Mary and Joseph brought in the Child Jesus to do for Him what the Law required, Simeon took Him in his arms, and he uttered a fulfilment and revelation.
Simeon can now go in peace because his eyes have seen his Saviour. And that Saviour is also the Light of the world.
It was also a fulfilment and a revelation for the 84 year-old Anna who came by just at that moment and began to praise God, and she spoke of the Child to all who looked forward to the One who would deliver them from oppression and injustice.
So Simeon and Anna had their longings fulfilled when they saw the Light, and even as they closed their eyes to this world, the Light would lead them on to the Eternal Light.
Jesus came to bring light to the world. His light enlightened Simeon and Anna and they could go in peaceful fulfilment.
But His light also prepared Mary to face the darkness of the sword that will pierce her soul at the appointed time.
And so we have blessed these candles and we bring them home. But the candles would have no significance if they are not lighted.
And we light the blessed candles in prayer and with devotion. We let the Light of Christ shine on us as we pray so that our longings will also be fulfilled and that we will be at peace.
And in this time of health concerns, we too must stay calm and put our trust in the Lord for His protection even as we take precautions.
With prayer and with lighted candles, let us beseech the Lord Our God for His protection over us and on those who are treating and caring for those who are afflicted with the virus.
The Light of Christ will shine through this darkness and the darkness cannot overcome the light.
This darkness will pass and the Light of Christ will prevail.
So let us light the blessed candles and pray, and may the Light of Christ shine brightly to bring us peace and healing.
Whenever we talk about portable lighting, the first thing that comes to mind will be the torch light.
Essentially the torch light would be made up of a bulb that is powered by batteries. As long as we have a torch light , we won’t fear the dark that much, because at the press of a switch, we would have instant light.
But before the invention of the torch light, it was candles. Candles are certainly not as versatile as the torch light, but they will do the job when there is a blackout and when the battery in the torch light is flat.
So the humble candle is still practical and useful and it makes good sense to have some candles around the house, just in case.
Also it would look rather odd to have a birthday cake with torch lights. How are we going to blow off the torch lights?
But candles are not just for birthday cakes. In the church, candles have a spiritual meaning and a spiritual purpose.
Lighted candles have been used in worship and in devotions for long time, and its meaning is as clear as the light it emits - the Light of Christ shines out to dispel the darkness of sin and fear.
Lighted candles are used in worship and in the celebration of the Sacraments. It is also good to note that the Easter candle is put at a prominent location during Baptism and at the funeral Mass, and those are the two important points of life.
Today as the church celebrates the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, candles are blessed at the beginning of the Mass.
The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord can be understood as the conclusion of the series of feasts that began at Christmas.
Christmas presents to us the birth of the Saviour at Bethlehem. The Epiphany celebrated His manifestation to the world. The Presentation reminds us of the offering of our Saviour in the Temple as the Victim who will reconcile God and man.
So why is there the blessing of candles on this Feast of the Presentation? What has candles got to do with the Presentation of the Lord?
The connection between the feast of the Presentation and the blessing of candles is essentially that Christ is the Light of the world, and the church uses lighted candles as a symbol of that Light.
As the Divine Light, Jesus shined on Simeon who look forward to Israel’s comforting. It had been revealed to Simeon that he would not see death until he had set eyes on the Christ of the Lord.
And when Mary and Joseph brought in the Child Jesus to do for Him what the Law required, Simeon took Him in his arms, and he uttered a fulfilment and revelation.
Simeon can now go in peace because his eyes have seen his Saviour. And that Saviour is also the Light of the world.
It was also a fulfilment and a revelation for the 84 year-old Anna who came by just at that moment and began to praise God, and she spoke of the Child to all who looked forward to the One who would deliver them from oppression and injustice.
So Simeon and Anna had their longings fulfilled when they saw the Light, and even as they closed their eyes to this world, the Light would lead them on to the Eternal Light.
Jesus came to bring light to the world. His light enlightened Simeon and Anna and they could go in peaceful fulfilment.
But His light also prepared Mary to face the darkness of the sword that will pierce her soul at the appointed time.
And so we have blessed these candles and we bring them home. But the candles would have no significance if they are not lighted.
And we light the blessed candles in prayer and with devotion. We let the Light of Christ shine on us as we pray so that our longings will also be fulfilled and that we will be at peace.
And in this time of health concerns, we too must stay calm and put our trust in the Lord for His protection even as we take precautions.
With prayer and with lighted candles, let us beseech the Lord Our God for His protection over us and on those who are treating and caring for those who are afflicted with the virus.
The Light of Christ will shine through this darkness and the darkness cannot overcome the light.
This darkness will pass and the Light of Christ will prevail.
So let us light the blessed candles and pray, and may the Light of Christ shine brightly to bring us peace and healing.
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