13th Ordinary Sunday, Year B, 27.06.2021

 Wisdom 1:13-15; 2:23-24 / 2 Cor 8:7, 9, 13-15 / Mark 5:21-43

By now, we would have gotten quite used to staying at home, although it is not by choice but by circumstances. 

Staying at home may not be as exciting as going out and socializing with others, but we still can make the best out of it. 

We can spend all the time watching movie after movie but that would make us become like movie zombies. 

Or we may wish to revive that traditional habit of reading books. If we had done literature in school, we may still have a collection of those books that were used, books like “The Merchant of Venice”, “Far from the maddening crowd”, “Tom Brown's schooldays”, “The Count of Monte Cristo”. 

At that time, those books were read to pass the exams. But it would certainly be good and enlightening to re-read those books. 

A good read would be “A Tale of Two Cities”. Reading it in school then and reading it now is certainly different in terms of perspectives and insights. 

The opening lines are about opposing dualities: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity”, and that sets the stage for the rest of the book and the unfolding of its characters. 

The book has themes of contrasting dualities like reellion and revolution on one hand, and restoration and resurrection on the other. Indeed, the title of the book is often used to express differing fortunes. 

In the gospel, it is not “A Tale of Two Cities”, but a story of two persons of different status. 

One was a synagogue official by the name of Jairus, while the other was a woman who was not named. 

Though both were of different status, bothhad something in common. They had a need, a desperate need. 

The daughter of Jairus was desperately sick and he came before Jesus and fell at His feet and pleaded with Jesus go and cure his daughter and to save her life. 

The woman who was not named was suffering from haemorrhage for 12 years and was desperately looking for a cure. 

But instead of coming before Jesus, she came up behind Him to touch His clothes, believing that if she could do that she would be well again. 

Although it was like a story-within-a-story, it was also a story of two persons, with different status, with different approaches, but bound by a common desperate need, and eventually they were rewarded for their faith in the saving power of Jesus. 

The story of Jairus and the woman with the haemorrhage, is truly a good read and it is the story of our times and a story about ourselves. 

No matter of what status or how famous we are, no matter what abilities or achievements we had, no matter how healthy or how strong we are, we must realize this by now. 

And that is we are not “A Tale of Two Cities”, it is not about us and them, it is not even about you and me. 

It is about us, we who are bound by a common circumstance, we who are bound by a common need, and particularly for us, who are bound by a common faith. 

Like Jairus, we too come before Jesus on our knees to pray for God's protection and blessings, not just for ourselves but also for those who are drastically affected by the current circumstances. 

We are bound to pray for people who are like the woman who had haemorrhage. She represents those who can't book for Mass because of one reason or another. We are duty-bound to pray for them too. 

We pray for those who like the daughter of Jairus, who have lost everything and also lost the meaning of life, that God will give them something to hope for. 

Yes, the salvation of many depends on the sacrifice of a few, and we are called to make that sacrifice and to make it with a faith like that of Jairus and the woman with the haemorrhage. 

When we make that sacrifice for others with faith, then we will understand those last words of the book “A Tale of Two Cities” when that character Sydney Carton said this: It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done. It is a far, far better rest that I go to than I ever known.

Let our prayer for the good of others be our sacrifice of faith, and may Jesus also grant us our needs.

This is best thing that we could ever do for others and for ourselves.

12th Ordinary Sunday, Year B, 20.06.2021

 Job 38:1, 8-11 / 2 Cor 5:14-17 / Mark 4:35-41  

There was something that happened in this church 79 years ago that didn't happen in any of the other churches in Singapore. 

On 15th February 1942, the Japanese Army attacked Singapore, and from Johor mortar shells were fired with Fort Canning as the target. 

At least two mortar shells dropped short and fell directly on this church. The mortar shells went through the roof and exploded in the centre of the church. 

Some furnishings and electrical lights and fittings were damaged, and the explosions caused a large crater in the centre of the church. 

Other than that, the church was quite intact, and there was no serious damage to the Altar and other religious items. Surprisingly, the stained glass wasn't damaged. 

Even though there was a written account, it sounded like an incredible story. Fortunately, this was verified by a couple of living witnesses who were able to describe the damage that was done. 

But more than just a true story of how a church suffered damage during a war, it was a story of faith. 

It was a story of how faith was tested and shaken in the midst of a critical situation. 

Some of the probable questions that could be asked was, “Why didn't God protect the church and allow this to happen? Since God did not protect the church, would He protect His people?” 

These are hard questions when faith is tested and shaken. But that generation of Sacred Heart Church parishioners held on to the faith and continued to live out that faith and that is the legacy that was left for us. 

The gospel account is also one of the stories of faith that is tested and shaken. 

Jesus and His disciples were in a boat, and then it began to blow a gale and the waves will breaking into the boat so that it was almost swamped. 

But Jesus was in the stern, His head on a cushion, fast asleep. And as expected in the situation of a faith crisis, when faith is tested and shaken and fear grips the heart, His disciples woke Jesus up, and they said, “Master, do you not care? We are going down!” 

Well, Jesus had to wake up and after He had ordered the sea to be quiet and to be calm, He said to His disciples, “Why are you so frightened? How is it that you have no faith?” 

Just as we ask hard questions when our faith is tested and shaken, questions like, “Lord, do you not care?” Jesus is also asking us hard questions about our faith, “Why are you so frightened? How is it that you have no faith?” 

Jesus is telling us that we have been given the gift of faith. So, we have the seed of faith in us. It is for us to nurture that faith and to strengthen it. 

And certainly, that faith will be tested and shaken. Just a year ago there was the “Circuit Breaker”. It was a challenging time for everyone. 

Our faith was also put to the test as worship and religious activities were suspended and churches were closed. 

It was a crisis of faith, but as in every crisis, it was an opportunity for faith to be explored and to grow in other ways and means. 

Faith tells us that God is not just in churches and at Mass, but He is also out there in our homes, our workplaces, and we have also discovered new ways to be spiritually connected and nourished. 

Today as we honour our fathers for loving us, caring for us, providing for us and protecting us, we are also aware that we call God “our Father”. 

In the prayer that Jesus taught us, we address God as “our Father”. We believe that God our Father loves us, He cares for us, He will provide for us and He will protect us. 

The prayer of the “Our Father”, or the “Lord's Prayer”, is not only to be said in church or at Mass. 

It is also to be said at home and wherever and whenever our faith is tested and shaken. 

God our Father wants us to know that when the boat of our faith is tossed about in the stormy seas and the waves come crashing in, Jesus is there with us and He will save us.

Yes, we must believe that. That is our faith in God our Father. And that is the legacy of faith that we will leave for the next generation.

Our Father, sung by Fr Stephen Yim

11th Ordinary Sunday, Year B, 13.06.2021

Ezekiel 17:22-24 / 2 Cor 5:6-10 / Mark 4:26-34     

We may have noticed that there are some things that are pleasantly unusual around the sanctuary area this weekend, and it is only just for this weekend. 

We can't miss the statue of the Sacred Heart over there. It was brought out for the celebration of the triduum and the feast day which was last Friday. 

We would have also noticed the red roses at the side of the statue. There are 400 stalks of roses because there was this offering of roses for Jesus for the feast day. 

Besides that there are also more floral decorations at the foot of the main altar, at the side-altars and around. 

The extra floral decorations are for the Feast Day celebrations. They certainly had more colour and ambience to the sanctuary, which is already quite beautiful in itself. 

Come to think of it, the three stained-glass images also have floral designs around them, which made the stained-glass images quite unique as well as beautiful. 

In a way, we can say that these flowers have fulfilled their destiny. When they were in the nursery, no one could really know where and how they would eventually end up. 

Some may end up gracing the sanctuary of churches and homes. Some may be part of a bridal bouquet. Some may be part of a wreath. Some may just be floral decorations at events. 

Whatever it might be, the flowers were grown, then when they bloomed, they were cut and used for decorations and their destiny was fulfilled. 

That is the story of the flower. In the gospel, we heard about the parables of the seeds. 

The seeds were sown in the soil, and they germinated. Some bore fruit for the harvest, some grew and put out big branches so that birds can shelter in the shade. 

Jesus used the parable of the seeds to point to the kingdom of God. When creation fulfills its destiny, God has given the glory. 

The parable of the seeds reminds us that God created us in love, and He has sown the seeds of His kingdom in the depths of our hearts. 

As the 1st reading says of those seeds: It will sprout branches and bear fruit. Every kind of bird will live beneath it, and every winged creature will rest in the shade of its branches. 

So, we know what our destiny is. We must let the seeds of God's kingdom and germinate and sprout and bear fruit in our lives and beautify the world for the glory of God. 

It is about a spiritual growth for the kingdom of God, so that the world can see the beauty of God's love, and the salvation that Jesus is offering to the world. 

But as we know, growth is not without challenges and difficulties. The challenges and difficulties that we experience in life is also what a young fragile seedling has to go through. 

There is a scorching sun, the heavy drops of rain, and the piercing wind. All these elements of nature threaten the young seedling, but at the same time, these elements of nature are necessary for growth. 

The sun is needed to make it grow upwards. The rain waters it and the wind make it firm. 

We too will experience similar elements in our lives. 

But as the 2nd reading tells us, we live and grow by faith and not by sight. 

We believe that the scorching and hurting issues of our lives are meant to burn away the unnecessary so that we can see clearly. 

When we feel that we are sinking into murky Waters, we cry out “Lord save me”. 

And when the winds of change blow away our comfort and security, then we must turn to God who is our refuge and our hope. 

Yes, we live and grow by faith and not just by sight. 

We are not flowers or seeds that depend on circumstances to determine their destiny. 

We are created in love, and with faith we make the decisions that will shape our destiny, and we place our hope in God who will guide us.

Like the flower, may we grow in beauty and give God glory. 

Like the seed, may we also bear fruit and a harvest for God's Kingdom so that the world can taste and be filled with the goodness of the Lord.

Corpus Christi, Year B, 06.06.2021

 Exodus 24:3-8 / Hebrews 9:11-15 / Mark 14:12-16, 22-26

There are some words that can be difficult to make a sentence with because of the sensitive implications. 

One of those words is the word “dead”. That word in itself means that there is no more life, or that life has ended. That sounds quite depressive actually. 

And quite often, instead of saying that a person has died or is dead, it may be more polite to say that the person has “passed on”. 

Another word that has sensitive meanings and gives graphic images to the mind is the word “blood”. 

Blood has a specific image because red is the associated colour and the form is usually liquid. 

The phrases that have the word “blood” in them often have negative meanings and implications. 

So, words and phrases like “bloodshed”, “blood is spilled”, “pool of blood”, “blood splattered all over” point to images of violence, injury and even death. 

But then there are other words and phrases that have a spiritual meaning, like “blood brothers”, “blood relations” and “sealed with blood”. 

Today as we celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi, or the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ, the readings mention about blood. 

The image of the blood is certainly graphic enough but the meaning is spiritual. 

In the 1st reading, the Covenant between God and His people was sealed with the blood of bulls. It was quite a sight when we imagine it, as the blood was cast on the altar and also on the people. 

But the meaning of “sealed in blood” is profoundly clear. God and His people were bonded by the symbol of blood as Moses declared: This is the blood of the Covenant that the Lord has made with you”. 

But the 2nd reading tells us of a new Covenant that is also sealed in blood. But it is not the blood of goats or bulls, but the blood of Christ. 

Christ is the high priest of the new Covenant, and with His own Blood, He won an eternal redemption for us as He offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice to God through the eternal Spirit. 

And in the gospel, we heard how Jesus offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice at the Last Supper, as He gave His Body and Blood to His disciples. 

It was a sacrifice that was fulfilled on the Cross. Jesus gave Himself, His Body, to us to be in union with Him, and He poured out His Blood to wash us clean of sin so that we can be saved. 

In short, Jesus has shed His Blood for our forgiveness, so that we don't have to shed our own blood in order to be forgiven. 

And neither should any more blood be shed out of revenge or hatred, or even out of anger and resentment. 

When we give in to anger, resentment and bitterness, we drain out the blood of life in us as well as in others. All the more, that shouldn't be thoughts of hatred and revenge. 

Let us always remember that as we partake of the Body of Christ in Holy Communion, the Blood of Christ also flows into us and gives us new life and washes our sins away. 

When we truly understand the spiritual meaning of the Body and Blood of Christ, then we will always want to be in union with Christ Our Saviour. 

United with Christ, we will also want to be united with each other in love and forgiveness, so that as the body of Christ, we can offer life and salvation to the world. 

As the Body of Christ, as the Church, we must also be witnesses of forgiveness and not to let anger or bitterness or resentment take root in our lives. 

Jesus has shed His Blood for our forgiveness and for the salvation of the world. Let there be no more bloodshed.