Holy Family, Year B, 31.12.2023

  Ecclesiasticus 3:2-6, 12-14 / Colossians 3:12-21 / Luke 2:22-40

There's one common aspect in all of us, and that is every one of us belong to a family. 

The word “family” evokes many thoughts and sentiments. 

There is the big family, the small family, the extended family, the same family, and then there is the famous quirky “Addams family”. 

As much as a happy family sounds nice and warm, the reality is that there are broken families and dysfunctional families. 

Whatever it may be, the fact is that we belong to a family, regardless of whether we are born or adopted into it. 

And the fact is also that the family shapes us and we also shape the family. 

And the fact is also that there is no perfect family, because in the first place we ourselves are not perfect. 

Nevertheless, the basic family unit is fundamental and essential to society and for the country. 

To put it simply, it can be said that, stable family, stable society; happy family, happy country. 

Today, the Church celebrates family, and we turn to the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph for inspiration and direction. 

Although the term “Holy Family” is not used in the Bible, that term expresses what the family is about. 

Because it was God who created the roots of family life with Adam and Eve. 

And it is through the family, and the members of the family, that God reveals His blessings. 

Mary and Joseph were revelations of God's plan for each other. 

From each other, they came to know what God's will is for them. 

And when they brought the Infant Jesus to the Temple to present and consecrate Him to the Lord, the Holy Family became a blessing for others. 

The upright and devout Simeon was prompted by the Holy Spirit to go to the Temple that day. 

And when he took the Infant Jesus into his arms, he saw God's light of salvation. It was his greatest and final blessing on Earth and he move on to the Eternal Light. 

And for the 84-year-old prophetess Anna, she proclaimed her final prophecy when she spoke of the child to all who looked forward to God's salvation. 

Today's Gospel passage leads us to reflect about the Holy Family and also about our family. 

But more than just reflections, the gospel also tells us about God's revelation through the Holy Family. 

Through the Holy Family, God revealed His blessings for Simeon and Anna. 

Through Simeon, Mary received a revelation of the sword that will pierce her soul. 

And through the gospel message, God is revealing His blessings through the family that we belong to. 

For parents, God blesses them when they do what the Lord requires of them, just as what Mary and Joseph did for Jesus. 

The basic duty of parents is to teach and form the children to love God and to love others. 

The duty of children is to honour their parents as God has commanded. 

As it is said, a senior in the home is a treasure for the family. 

Through this feast of the Holy Family, God has shown us that He reveals His plan through the family. 

And through the family, God grants His abundant blessings. 

May we see our family as a blessing from God. 

May we also see that through our family, God blesses us, and we too are blessing for our family members. 

And may our family be God's blessings for the Church and for the world.

Christmas 2023, 25.12.2023

 Today in this Mass, we are gathered to celebrate the joyful feast of Christmas. 

We celebrate the birth of Jesus our Saviour. 

We go back in time, to that appointed time, to Bethlehem, and to witness this astonishing and wonderful mystery of the Incarnation. 

The Almighty and all-powerful God came into this world, and took on the human form of a tender and helpless baby. 

Jesus is certainly not just another ordinary human being. 

Jesus is with God from the beginning, He is the Word of God made flesh. Jesus Christ is God. 

And yet as we look at that tender helpless baby lying in the manger, we must ponder and keep pondering. 

Is this a reality, that divinity took on humanity? 

We ponder on this great mystery. And if we were to ask why, then we enter deeper into the mystery of God's love for us. 

Yes, that is God's great love for us, that Jesus came into the world, that He came for us, that He came for you and me. 

Jesus is the Divine Light, and He shines His light on us so that we can see the darkness of our brokenness, our woundedness and our sinfulness. 

Jesus is also the Divine Life, and He wants to raise us up to a life of happiness, kindness and forgiveness. 

Deep in our hearts, we long for that light, we yearn for that life. 

That is why Jesus came. He came for you and me to fulfil that longing and yearning. 

Yes, today we go back in time to Bethlehem, to look at this Baby, the infant King of kings and the Lord of lords. 

But Jesus also comes to us as our Healer and Saviour, with His warm light and tender love. 

So, let us celebrate the birth of Jesus by offering ourselves as gifts. 

Jesus wants us to be gifts to others, gifts of happiness, kindness and forgiveness. 

That is the wonderful mystery of Christmas.

That is also why Jesus came us; that is why He came for you and me.

4th Sunday of Advent, Year B, 24.12.2023

 2 Sam 7:1-5, 8-11, 16 / Roman 16:25-27 / Luke 1:26-38

Besides food and clothing, the other thing that we need is a house to live in. 

When we have a house, we would want to make it a home, because home is where the heart is. 

We would want to make our home comfortable and secure. 

We would want to be able to sleep at home and have a good rest and feel safe. 

And after a long day outside, we would look forward to going back home and relax. 

And if home is where the heart is, then we would look forward to a time of love and companionship. 

So, a house is not just about four walls with a roof. The house becomes a home when it is alive with love and companionship and family. 

And the home becomes a source of blessing when there is prayer. 

When the home is a place of prayer, God dwells there. 

So, the house can become a home of care and  comfort, and in turn it can become a sanctuary of grace and blessing. 

In the gospel, the angel Gabriel told Mary she is to conceive and bear son, and He is to be called Jesus. 

God will give him the throne of David, and He will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and His reign will have no end. 

But, Jesus must first find a home on earth, and it is to be in the womb of Mary. 

It is for Mary to decide to say “yes” to God's call to be the mother of Jesus. 

It is for Mary to decide to open her heart to God's call to let Jesus come into her life. 

For Mary, it is like opening the door of her life to Jesus. 

For Mary, to open the door to Jesus is to let Him be the centre of her life. 

So, her life is going to change, and not change according to her plans, but according to God's plans.

And the angel Gabriel gave Mary an indication of what kind of change in life it would be like. 

Gabriel told Mary about Elizabeth's pregnancy. Elizabeth was childless and getting on in years, and yet she conceived, for nothing is impossible to God. 

So, Mary had to decide whether to accept the surprising ways of God, or to decline it. 

We may think that Mary would accept God's plan, just as we would gladly accept a multi-million-dollar masterpiece from the famous painter Vincent van Gogh. 

While many would accept the painting gladly, not many will accept the painter readily. 

By now, we would have already set up the Nativity Scene in our home. 

To have the Nativity Scene in our home is one thing. 

To accept Jesus, Mary and Joseph, we will have to consider. 

It will be like giving the keys of our home to God, and let Jesus, Mary and Joseph teach us the ways of God. 

But just as Mary made the decision, we too will have to make the decision. 

When we are willing to let God into our house, it will be a blessing. 

Jesus, Mary and Joseph will teach us how to make our house into a home. 

The home is where the heart is. 

May our homes and our hearts be filled with peace, joy, hope and love. 

Because when God comes in, it is a blessing. 

Let us open the door for Him.

3rd Sunday of Advent, Year B, 17.12.2023

 Isaiah 61:1-2, 10-11 / 1 Thess 5:16-24 / John 1:6-8, 19-28

It can be said that Christmas is the most decorative liturgical season of the Church. 

There is the Christmas tree with the colourful ornaments, and the Advent wreath with the four coloured candles. 

And of course, there is the Nativity Scene with the figures of the baby Jesus and Mary with Joseph, the shepherds with a couple of sheep, the donkey and the cow, and coming in later will be the three wise men. 

But, no matter how nice and attractive these decorations are, there must be something else to make them look nicer. 

That something is the lights. Yes, there must be lights so that the decorations will look nice and bright. 

Whether it is LED lights, blinking lights, curtain lights, this season, whether it is Advent or Christmas, emphasizes the element of light. 

Especially when it is the soft lighting that gives a warm glow and gives that comfy and cozy feeling. 

It makes us think about home, family and loved ones, and brings back fond and warm memories. 

And it also reminds us that Jesus is the true Light, who has come to scatter the darkness of sin and evil. 

The gospel talks about John the Baptist, who was sent by God, to be a witness and to speak for the light. 

John the Baptist is not the light, and he knows he is not the light, and he declares it. 

The light that he speaks about, and witness to, is not an ordinary light. 

It is a Divine Light, it is the Light of the world, and it is Jesus Christ. 

As the three candles of the Advent wreath are lighted, it is also telling us that the light of our lives must also shine stronger and brighter. 

And the Light of Christ is also shining on us, so that we will open our hearts to the light and respond to Jesus. 

And the Light of Christ will keep shining and wait for us to respond, even if it takes a while. 

A while, can mean a short time, or over many years. 

A couple of days ago, I had the privilege of baptizing a rather senior person, senior as in he is 99 years old. 

Recently he was hospitalized and so his family members had to bring up the sensitive topic of his funeral arrangements. 

Since he does not follow any religion in particular, the family asked him what would he want his funeral arrangements to be like. 

Then he asked his family what religion do they follow, and they said that they are Catholics. 

He responded, that as a young boy, he studied at Catholic High school. And at that time, the school was next to the Catholic Church of Saints Peter and Paul, and that he had been in that church. 

So, almost immediately, that 99 year old man said that he wanted to be a Catholic. His family was quite astonished at how quickly he came to that decision, and they immediately made arrangements. 

And so, he was baptized in the Church of Saints Peter and Paul, the first and probably the only church he has been to. 

The Light of Christ shining softly and tenderly, lighted up the heart of that 99-year-old man, although it took something like 80 years. 

In this third week of Advent, the three candles of the Advent wreath are lighted, and next week, all the four candles will be lighted. 

The Light of Christ is shining softly, tenderly and deeply into our hearts and into our lives. 

Jesus wants to scatter the darkness of our lives, and heal the wounds of sin in our hearts. 

Jesus will wait for us to respond to His love. 

He waited for that 99-year-old man. 

He will wait for us.

2nd Sunday of Advent, Year B, 10.12.2023

 Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11 / 2 Peter 3:8-14 / Mark 1:1-8

When an important message or announcement is to be made, it goes without saying that the most effective media platforms are to be used. 

So obviously, the common media platforms that will come to mind are the radio and TV, and also the newspapers, whether electronic or printed versions. 

Other popular social media platforms will also be used, like SMS, WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. 

These media platforms are used so that the message or announcement will appear and be heard and read everywhere and by everyone. 

So, going by secular standards, the message or announcement must be attractive and effective. 

The content and the media are professionally crafted and selected. 

And so also is the presenter. The presenter must also look smart and sharp, and better still if they are famous and popular celebrities. 

These standards are not just for important messages and announcements. They are also applied to other areas like advertisements, notices, Etc. 

When the Good News was first announced, it was done in an unlikely place, and by an unlikely person. 

The Good News was announced and proclaimed in the wilderness, a place where hardly anyone will be there. 

And Good News was also proclaimed by a strange and odd person, wearing strange and odd clothes, and having a strange and odd diet. 

But it was in these strange and odd situations and circumstances, that God chose to have the Good News proclaimed. 

And what is strange and odd was that people came to hear the Good News. They came from all over the country of Judah and Jerusalem, and they went to the wilderness to hear it. 

And it was just a straight-forward message, without frills or thrills, a message of repentance and forgiveness of sins. 

So, in short, that straight-forward message of repentance and forgiveness, was announced in a strange and odd place, and by a strange and odd person. 

But somehow, that message brought about consolation and conversion for the people. 

That same message is also announced in churches on this Second Sunday of Advent. 

Coming to church is like going to the wilderness, where everything is simple and straightforward. 

The Word of God is proclaimed without fanfare, the prayers are simple and humble. 

Yet, God grants His blessings of comfort and consolation and conversion. And God also grants us His protection. 

As the 1st reading puts it: God Is like a shepherd feeding his flock, gathering lambs into his arms, holding them close to his breast, and leading the mother ewes to their rest. 

And in many ways, God has protected this church, with its walls still standing, and the stained glass intact, since 1910. 

Because there is an account in the history of the church, that in the afternoon of the 15th February 1942, a few Japanese mortar shells fired from Johor, hit the church roof, and brought down the ceiling, and exploded in the centre, creating a crater. 

It was incredible, and we can be skeptical about that account. 

But a senior parishioner verified this, and she said that on Sunday when the parishioners came for Mass, there was a big hole in the ceiling, and they had to walk around the edge of the crater. 

That was amazing, truly amazing, but it bears witness that where the Good News of repentance and forgiveness of sin is proclaimed, God grants His protection. 

And God also grants us, His beloved people, the lambs that He holds to His breast, comfort and consolation and conversion. 

This is the wonderful Good News that is proclaimed in this simple and humble place.

Let us believe and share it with others.     

1st Sunday of Advent, Year B, 03.12.2023

 Isaiah 63:16-17; 64:1, 3-8 / 1 Cor 1:3-9 / Mark 13:33-37

It is said that an opportunity knocks only once. That means to say that it won't come knocking again. 

And we know that it is quite true from our experience of missed opportunities. 

For example, we see something that we wanted to get, like, let's say, a smartwatch, and it looks appealing, and within our budget.

Then we may think that it might be cheaper online, so we go home and look for it but it is not available. 

Then we go back to the shop the next day, but it was sold, and there are no more stocks available, and we get disappointed. 

When an opportunity is missed, then there can only be regrets. 

We would like to blame something or someone for a missed opportunity. 

But, if we are honest with ourselves, then we know that there is no one to blame but ourselves. 

A further reflection would also make us ask ourselves as in why and how we missed the opportunity. 

Why were we not alert enough to see the opportunity coming or hear it knocking? 

Maybe it could be because opportunities do not come in nice-looking and pretty packaging. 

Opportunities also do not sound sweet and pleasant. In fact, it may sound troublesome.

In other words, we may not see the opportunity because it does not fit into our ideas or expectations. 

And because of that, we may even avoid and reject the opportunity. 

In the gospel, Jesus tells His disciples to be on their guard, to stay awake, to be alert. 

He uses a parable of the master of the house who has gone from home, and left his servants in charge, each with his own task. 

And the master also specifically instructed the door keeper to stay awake and to be alert for his return. 

And Jesus also says that the master of the house would come back unexpectedly. 

As we begin the season of Advent, let us ponder on the gospel passage that is presented to us. 

Advent is a time of waiting in anticipation and expectation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. 

So, Christmas will come for sure, and we can be so certain of it. So, we may spend these four weeks of Advent preparing for Christmas, with decorations and celebrations, as if Christmas is already here. 

We might be busy with all that and did not listen to the knock on the door. 

It is like the doorkeeper leaving his post and getting busy with other things. 

And then the master of the house comes back unexpectedly, and he knocks and no one opens the door to welcome him. 

We can imagine the disappointment and the frustration of the master of the house. 

The season of Advent brings us back to the duty of the door keeper. 

As doorkeepers, we wait patiently and silently, to listen to that knock on the door. 

It requires persistence and perseverance to be still and to be silent, to be silent so that we can listen. 

Then we can hear the knock on the door of our family life, to open the door to praying together, so that the family will stay together. 

And we can also hear the knock on the door of our hearts, because Jesus wants to come in and make His home in our hearts. 

It is in opening the Bible and reading and meditating on the Word of God that we welcome Jesus into our hearts. 

Whenever Jesus knocks, there is the opportunity of blessings. 

But opportunity does not come without difficulty and distraction. 

Let this Advent be a time where we keep still and silent. 

When we keep still and be silent, then we will be able to listen to the knock on the door. 

When we open the door, Jesus will grant us His blessings, and it will be blessing in abundance.

Let us not miss that opportunity.

Christ The King, Year A, 26.11,2023

Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-17 / 1 Cor 15:20-26, 28 / Matthew 25:31-46

The world that we live in operates on a logical and mathematical level. 

Almost everything is squarely and neatly balanced off, maybe because we like things to be neat and tidy. 

So, if we are at a drink dispensing machine, each drink has a price. We choose the drink, pay the money, and the drink is dispensed. 

That is all fair and square, that is also expected of the transaction. 

But, when we choose a drink, pay the money and the drink is not dispensed, then something has gone wrong. 

Whatever the problem may be, the logical and mathematical process is disrupted. And of course we get frustrated. 

In our world where efficiency and productivity are highly priced, there is little tolerance for disruption and malfunction. 

Things need to be fair and square, as well as neat and tidy. 

It also means that the more we do, the more we should get in return. 

In other words, the higher the investment, the greater should be the return. 

And the returns are not just in terms of the tangible. The returns should also be intangible, like gaining attention.

So, when something big or great is done, it should be announced, and maybe even trumpeted, for everyone to know. 

That is how the world operates, that is how the world moves, and that is also how we are influenced. 

But in the gospel, Jesus tells us something that is quite different. 

Jesus tells us that the humble and ordinary deeds are important. In fact, they have an eternal consequence. 

It is deeds like feeding the hungry, quenching the thirsty, welcoming the stranger, clothing the naked and visiting the sick. 

These are so plain and ordinary, that they won't make it to the headlines or get the spotlight. 

In all this, Jesus is telling us that He cares for the poor and the lowly, He cares for the helpless and the needy. 

Jesus not only cares for them, He tells us that He is among them, that He is in them. 

Hence, His profound teaching is this: In so far as you did it to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me. 

That divine teaching breaks our concept of fair and square, as well as the world's orientation towards efficiency and productivity. 

Jesus is telling us that our little deeds of service and charity may not be noticed by the world, but He sees it. 

We may think that there is nothing to gain from doing what is humble and lowly. 

We may think that only those who are deserving would be rewarded, while those who don't meet expectations will have to be left on their own. 

But Jesus tells us that those who need our help are those who have no one to help them.

If they are not voicing out their need for help, it could be because they have become oblivious in a world that pays attention to the glamorous. 

But Jesus tells us that there are the poor and the lowly, there are those who are helpless and needy. 

And what is astounding is that Jesus tells us that He is among them, that He is in them. 

May those five words “you did it to me”, keep ringing in our ears. 

Those are the words of the King of kings, the King of the universe. 

Our eternal future is shaped when we listen to our King, and do what He tells us.

33rd Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 19.11.2023

  Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31 / 1 Thess 5:1-6 / Matthew 25:14-30

The human body is an amazing and highly organized living structure. 

It is made up of a unique physical combination of bones, muscles and organs, that work together for the human body to function. 

So, we are able to sit, walk, run, work and do many other things that the human body is capable of. 

And we can even train our body for advanced abilities like sports, dancing and playing musical instruments. 

Yes, the human body is amazing, and wonderful, and also beautiful. 

So, it is important to take care of our bodies, and for us, we also believe that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. 

So, it is not just the mind and the heart that is to be holy; the physical body is also to be holy. 

All that points to one important thing, and that is, the human body is meant to move and to work and to serve God. 

So, it is obvious that if we were to laze around in bed the whole day, we will feel even more lethargic instead of energetic. 

In fact, the more we move and work, our bodies will become better and stronger. 

The same can be said about our faith. Our faith needs to be exercised in order to make it deeper and stronger. 

But when we hide our faith and even bury it with other worldly concerns, then our faith will slowly rot and die.

It is like what the gospel parable says about the three servants. 

The master entrusted to them his property, each in proportion to his ability. 

The first two promptly went and traded with them, and made double the amount they were given. 

But the third servant went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. 

When the time of reckoning came, the master rewarded the first two servants and said: 

Well done, good and faithful servant, you have shown you can be faithful in small things. I will trust you with even greater. 

But the servant who hid his master’s money was punished for being wicked and lazy. 

He tried to defend himself with excuses, but his master saw his real ulterior motives. 

As we think about the gospel parable, let us also reflect about our faith. 

Faith is a gift from God. Faith is also a precious and powerful gift. 

With faith, we can move mountains. But more importantly, faith can bring down showers of blessings from heaven. 

When we pray with faith, we will see marvellous signs and wonders from God. 

When parents teach children how to pray and bring them for the Sunday Eucharist, God will bless the family with peace, providence and protection. 

For those who serve in ministries, God blesses them with humility and charity. And they will be served by angels in their time of need. 

As a parish community, we gather in faith and offer up prayer and worship. 

We pray for our needs, the needs of the Church and the needs of the world. 

We also persevere with hope, so that we can see the fruits of our faith and prayer. 

Let us keep exercising our faith, so that God can make it stronger and deeper. 

As Jesus said: For to anyone who has will be given more, and he will have more than enough. 

Let us give thanks to God and treasure our faith, and we will receive blessing upon blessing.

32nd Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 12.11.2023

 Wisdom 6:12-16 / 1 Thess 4:13-18 / Matthew 25:1-13

To be on time for an appointment is truly a commitment. 

And we can say that to be early is good efficiency. 

Well, one key to success is to have lunch at that time of the day when most people are having breakfast.

But more importantly, to be early shows that we are responsible and that we care about the people we are meeting. 

We don't want others to wait for us, and waste their time when we are late. Because we also don't like it when others are late. That won't be a pleasant start for the meeting or for the appointment. 

But when we have to wait for others because they are late, there are a couple of things we can choose to do. 

We can choose to be frustrated and resentful and be angry, while constantly looking at our watch. 

Or, we can choose to do something that will benefit us, and even benefit the other party. 

In the gospel parable, the bridegroom was late, very late. The 10 bridesmaids who are waiting for him grew drowsy and fell asleep. 

The wise bridesmaids were prepared as they brought along extra flasks of oil. The foolish bridesmaids had oil in their lamps, but they did not bring any extra oil for an unexpected situation. 

But while the bridesmaids were waiting, those foolish bridesmaids should have done some observing and thinking. 

Instead of being idle and falling asleep, they should have noticed that they don't have extra oil. 

But since they chose to do nothing about it, then nothing can be done for them. 

In reflecting on this parable, there is a lesson presented before us. 

We are not born wise or foolish. Rather in life it is a matter of choice. We choose to be either wise or foolish. 

We can either choose what is beneficial, or we can choose to just remain idle. 

So, in waiting for someone who is late for an appointment, a choice is presented before us. 

We can choose to be frustrated and angry with the other person for being late and wasting our time. 

Or, we can choose to turn it into a time to be with God, and to see what He is showing us or telling us. 

A deeper reflection would also help us realize that waiting is something that happens often, if not always, in prayer. 

When we pray, and if we get an immediate answer from the Lord, then it means that it is something important and urgent. 

But, most of the time, we pray and then we wait and wait for God to answer our prayer. 

God does not reject our prayer, or give us a flat NO! 

Rather, in waiting for God's answer to our prayer, we are led to think about what we are really asking from God. 

The light of our faith will tell us that God loves us, and He wants to give us what is good for us. 

Let us not be foolish and be angry and frustrated with God, because we think our prayers are not answered. 

Rather let us ask the Lord to give us oil for our lamps of faith, so that our hope will burn bright, and that we will be wise enough to see that God's ways are always right.

31st Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 05.22.2023

 Malachi 1:14 – 2:2, 8-10 / 1 Thess 2:7-9, 13 / Matthew 23:1-12

In the Catholic Church, the highest and most important form of worship is the Mass. 

The Mass, is essentially, the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross for the salvation of humanity. 

Because it is God the Son, offering Himself to God the Father, hence the Mass is a divine worship. 

But in the Catholic church, there can be no Mass if there is no priest. 

Because when the priest celebrates and offers the Mass, the priest stands in the person of Jesus Christ. 

So, when the priest consecrates the bread and wine, it becomes the Body and Blood of Christ, because he does it under the authority of Christ. 

In other words, it is Christ Himself who consecrates the bread and wine into His Body and Blood. 

That is why, the Mass is the source of all blessings, and it is also the highest expression of our faith. 

So, the Mass and the priesthood are closely connected; when there is no priest, then there can be no Mass. 

That is why, we must pray for more vocations to the priesthood. 

The priesthood is a Divine calling, because a priest is called to do a holy and sacred work for God. 

As much as we need to pray for more vocations to the priesthood, we also need to pray for priests who are already serving the Lord. 

Undeniably, the priest is also human. As a human being, he has physical limitations, and he can fall sick and become weak. 

He can also be adversely affected emotionally and spiritually. 

And the priest is also the prime target of the devil's temptations, so that the priest will be distracted and lose focus on what he is called to do. 

In the 1st reading, we hear of the Lord God issuing a warning for the priests of the Temple. 

The wrongdoing of the priests was that they had strayed from the ways of the Lord, and have caused many to stumble. 

They have defiled the Covenant of the Lord, and showed contempt for the House of the Lord. 

So, the Lord God declared that there will be punishment for those unfaithful and corrupted priests. 

Those are certainly strong words, which are reiterated by Jesus in the gospel. 

Jesus warns His disciples and the people not to follow the corrupted and crooked ways of the scribes and Pharisees. 

So, it can be seen that from the Old Testament to the New Testament to the present-day Church, it is littered with priests and religious who have gone astray and have led people astray. 

They gave wrong teachings, and have broken up the Church of God with scandals. 

It is embarrassing and shameful to go further into the details. 

But as much as there is the dark side of the priesthood, it is also undeniable that there are shining examples of priests who are holy and faithful to God. 

There is Saint John Vianney, who converted the whole village of Ars back to God. He was a much sought after Confessor because he had the gift of insight into souls. 

By his simple and humble ways, sinners were drawn back to God. 

There is Saint Padre Pio, who did penance for sinners, and bore the pains of the wounds of Christ in his body. 

These are just two of the many examples of holy and simple priests who served Jesus faithfully. 

They showed the People of God, the face of Jesus Christ, and brought about conversion and healing. 

Today's readings give us two messages as well as two lessons. 

One is for the priests, that they must be holy and be faithful and obedient to God. 

The other message and lesson is for the People of God, that they need to pray for priests to be holy and to serve God faithfully. 

When the priest is holy, then the people will be formed in the ways of holiness and walk in the ways of the Lord. 

When the priests and the People of God are united in holiness, God will pour forth His abundant blessings of peace, joy and love.

30th Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 29.10.2023

 Exodus 22:20-26 / 1 Thess 1:5-10 / Matthew 22:34-40

Many things can only work when they have what is essential to make them functional. 

So, while all the other parts may be in tip-top condition, if that essential element is missing, then it can't do anything. 

For example, cars need petrol to run. Many electrical devices need electricity or batteries to make them work. 

So, other parts may be a bit defective, but with that essential element, that thing can still work. 

So, in life, we must know what are the necessary and essential elements of the things we see around us. 

While others are obvious, some other things need to be analysed, in order to see what is important and necessary. 

In the gospel, one of the Pharisees asked Jesus about which is the greatest commandment of the Law. 

We may wonder why that Pharisee asked Jesus such a question, because the answer is quite obvious. 

Was it because that Pharisee just wanted to disconcert Jesus, just to irritate Jesus? 

Jesus had earlier silenced the Sadducees about the question of paying taxes, which was a trick question for Jesus. 

That's when Jesus gave that thought- provoking answer of “give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God”. 

That left the Sadducees without any further questions, as they were silenced into reflection. 

The Pharisees could have learned from that and remained silent. 

But out of the folly of the lips of that Pharisee, we gained the wisdom to see the obvious and necessary. 

Let us be silent and reflect on that great commandment: You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind. 

The word that is repeated three times is “all” -  all the heart, all the soul and all the mind. 

So, what God requires of us is to love Him with all our heart, with all our soul and with all our mind. 

And that is precisely where we fall short. 

Because, we don't love God with our all. 

Maybe three quarters, maybe half, maybe 1/4, which in any case is better than none at all. 

We may think that it is difficult, if not impossible, to love God with that “all”. 

But that also means we cannot be fully human if we don't love God with our all. 

Because, God created us with all His love and in all His love. 

So, we actually have all of God's love in us. 

We only need to love God with all our love. 

And then we will know how to love our neighbour with all our love. 

Maybe, one of the reasons why we can't love God and our neighbour with all our love is because we are too noisy within. 

The noise of envy and jealousy, the noise of anger and resentment, the noise of hatred and revenge, has suppressed our love. 

That noisy Pharisee led him to try to disconcert Jesus. 

Let us ask Jesus to help us to be still, and to be silent. 

To be silent is to be able to listen, to listen to all that love God has for us. 

And then, we will be able to love God and our neighbour with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our mind.

Mission Sunday 2023, 22.10.2023

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

As Christians, we believe that God created the world and humanity. 

God created all things good, and God created humanity in His image. 

So, God created humanity in the best of His love and with the best of His love. 

But when humanity sinned and disobeyed God, that image was tarnished and disfigured. 

So, humanity didn't look like God anymore. Humanity took on the face of sin and evil. And that is the reality we see around us and in us. 

But when humanity sinned and turned away from God, God did not abandon humanity or destroyed the world. 

Rather, God promised to save the world and humanity. 

God promised to save the world and humanity by coming into the world in the person of Jesus Christ. 

Jesus Christ is our Saviour, and we believe that Jesus Christ is truly God and truly man. 

Jesus Christ came to proclaim the Good News of salvation. 

Jesus preached about repentance and the forgiveness of sins. 

He forgave the adulterous woman, He forgave the sinful woman who anointed His feet and dried it with her hair. 

He forgave Peter for denying Him. He forgave His persecutors even when He was suffering on the Cross. 

The Good News of salvation was also expressed in healing and deliverance. Jesus cured the sick and those afflicted by diseases.

He cured the blind, the lame and the lepers. He cast out demons from those who were possessed. 

So, the Good News was proclaimed in word and in works. 

In doing so, Jesus brought humanity back to God through repentance and forgiveness. 

As it is said, God became man, so that man can come back to God. 

As the Church celebrates Mission Sunday, we are reminded of this fundamental mission of salvation. 

Just as Jesus sent His disciples to preach the Good News of salvation, we too are to proclaim the Good News to our generation. 

And this mission brings us back to the core of our Christian spirituality and identity. 

The proclamation of the Good News of salvation can only bear fruit when there is prayer and intercession. 

Prayer and intercession is the core of our Christian spirituality and identity. 

We pray because we know that God loves us, and God will hear our prayer and answer our prayer. 

If God sent His son Jesus Christ to answer the cries of His people, then Jesus Christ is the answer to our prayers. 

And we pray not just for ourselves. We pray for other people, for nations, and for the world. 

The Good News of salvation must reach to the corners and to the ends of the world, and to all peoples. 

The Good News has the power to change lives and bring about repentance and forgiveness. 

The Good News is the medicine that will heal the world of violence and bloodshed, and bring about peace. 

Mission Sunday is a call to prayer. 

We need to pray, and we must pray to be empowered and recreated in God’s love and with God's love. 

Because we are to be living images of the Good News of salvation to the peoples of the world.

28th Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 15.10.2023

 Isaiah 25:6-10 / Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20 / Matthew 22:1-14

We may think that life would be so nice if we can just do whatever we want. 

We like to have our freedom, and not to be restricted by duties and responsibilities. 

So, we may think that being free from all obligations, we would be worry-free and trouble-free.

Yes, we like to be absolutely free to live the way we want to live. We would like to laze around and snooze in bed and get up as and when we want. 

But would we be really happy with that kind of life? 

What are we saying about ourselves when we don't want to care about anything and anyone other than ourselves? 

What are we saying when we don't want any duties and responsibilities, and don't want to keep obligations and commitments. 

In the gospel parable, it was a king who gave a feast for his son's wedding. He sent his servants to call those who had been invited. 

For whatever reason, the invited guests did not want to come. It seems like they were not interested, and they even treated the king's servants with hostility and violence. 

The king got furious and dispatched his troops, destroyed those murderers and burnt their town. It was such a sad and tragic end for those invited guests. 

If only they had given due respect to the king. After all it was a king who invited them. 

We may think that the parable is rather absurd, but absurdity often reveals a reality. 

The reality is that when respect is not given, then the consequence will be tension. 

For invited guests in the gospel parable, the consequence was punishment. 

Even we might say that the invited guests behaved in a ridiculous and unacceptable way, and so, they deserved to be punished. 

The invited guests did whatever they wanted, and they paid heavily and tragically for that. 

In life, we just cannot do whatever we like and think that it is our freedom of choice. 

True freedom comes with duties and responsibilities, as well as obligations and commitments. 

In our freedom of choice, we ought to choose to live a respectable and disciplined life. 

We need to know what we must do and what we should not do. 

And God has already told us what we must do and what we should not do. 

The Ten Commandments spells out clearly our obedience to God and respect for others. 

So, we revere God for being our Creator and obey Him as our loving Father. 

We pledge obedience and honour our parents. We respect others, for where respect is given, respect is also earned. 

When we live our lives according to God's laws and Commandments, we will have true freedom in life. 

And Jesus will bring us to our seats at the heavenly banquet where we will rejoice freely forever.

27th Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 08.10.2023

  Isaiah 5:1-7 / Philippians 4:6-9 / Matthew 21:33-43

When we look at the world, and when we look around us, we may wonder what is wrong with the world, and what is wrong with humanity. 

Human beings are polluting the Earth and heading towards an ecological meltdown. 

There are wars, hostilities and violence, and there is also much bloodshed. 

And with nuclear power, the scale of destruction can turn the earth into a huge fireball. 

Even smaller issues like cheating and stealing have risen to mega levels. 

Scammers are no longer small-time conmen, because they are so high tech, so quick and so convincing. 

With emails, SMS and social media platforms, the scammers will brutally and ruthlessly empty out the bank accounts of those who fall into their scams. 

These scammers can even come knocking on the front doors of our homes. 

So, our security, in all forms and in all areas, are being threatened and violated. 

So, we are gripped with fear, and we want to lock our doors and hide inside, and it is difficult to trust anyone. 

Such is the sad and sorry state of our world, of humanity and of our lives. 

And we may wonder, why is God letting the world and humanity continue like this. 

Why must the good and innocent people be subjected and suffer such injustice and evil? 

And we are tempted, and may have even asked God to unleash punishment on the bad and evil people. 

Yes, we would advocate punishment to teach the bad and evil people an unforgettable lesson. 

Even in the gospel parable, when Jesus asked the chief priests and the elders, what will the owner of the vineyard do to the bad and evil tenants, their reply was that the owner will bring those wretches to a wretched end. 

That is also what we may like to think. 

But God's ways are not man's ways, and God's thoughts are not man's thoughts. 

If God withholds punishment, it is because He is thinking of salvation. 

We may think that salvation is for those who are good, and punishment is for those who are bad.

But that would mean that the way we, Christians think is no different from the way the world thinks. 

We need to reflect and ponder on what Jesus said in the gospel: 

It was the stone rejected by the builders that became the keystone. That was the Lord's doing and it is wonderful to see. 

As Church we must know what this keystone is. 

It may be so obvious that we may have taken it for granted. 

The keystone that God wants us to look at is salvation. 

With that comes along mercy and compassion, forgiveness and reconciliation. 

That is why God sent His Son to be the Saviour of the world. 

No matter how bad or evil human beings have become, God still wants to forgive and save them from their sins. 

In the gospel parable, there is greed, violence and even murder. That is also the reality in life. 

But sin and evil do not have the last word or the final say. 

God has the last word, and salvation is the final end. 

The Church in Singapore has a ministry called Roman Catholic Prison Ministry (RCPM). 

The members of RCPM minister to the prisoners to bring them God's Word of mercy and forgiveness, and also the Good News of salvation. 

Jesus chose them to be His messengers, and Jesus is also calling out to us to be messengers of the Good News of salvation, love and forgiveness. 

Let us remember that sin and evil can only spread when we Christians, when we who are disciples of Jesus, do nothing about it. 

Let us respond to sin and evil with goodness and kindness. 

Then there will be hope for humanity and for the world. 

Because God's love will be the keystone that will save humanity, and it will be wonderful to see.

26th Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 01.10.2023

 Ezekiel 18:25-28 / Philippians 2:1-11 / Matthew 21:28-32

When it comes to making impressions on others, we know the importance of the first impression. 

Because the first impression can be pressed into the minds of others and stay on for quite some time. 

So obviously, we want to give others a good first impression. Especially when we are meeting a person or a group of people for the first time, we would do our best to impress. 

So, we would try to impress them with our eloquence, our fine social etiquette, our education and qualification and our profession. 

We want people to think that we are reliable, honest and trustworthy. 

Generally, that is what we will do during interviews and in our social and business interactions. 

In the eyes of the world, image and impression are important if we want to succeed and move up in life. 

But that also raises questions, and it is for us to reflect on those questions if we want to. 

One of the questions would be, why are we trying to impress others, and what is the purpose for doing so. 

Another question is what is our true self, and what is it that we really want to be in life. 

In a gospel parable, Jesus told the story of the two sons. The father asked the two sons to go and work in the vineyard. 

The first son said he will not go, but then thought better of it and went. The Second Son replied with apparent eagerness, but then did not go. 

The different responses from the two sons would help us reflect on the impressions that we give to others. 

Like the first son, we may often say No to any request, and that would be the convenient and safe answer. 

We would give that kind of response to those who don't really matter to us, or to those from whom we don't have much to gain from. And if they are offended by our attitude, it wouldn't bother us much. 

On the other hand, we may also be like the second son in that we want to impress others, but we have our own motives for doing so. 

Whatever it may be, we have the shades of the two sons, and we have to decide on what kind of son we want to be. 

We don't want to give a fake Yes just to impress. Others will come to know our true character and integrity alone the way. 

And if we keep saying No, then eventually we will find ourselves lonely and isolated in our own world. 

But whether it is a Yes or No, let us think about it and about the kind of person we want to be. 

We don't want to live lonely and isolated lives, nor do we want to be a fake just to impress others. 

Let us think the better of it, and think about the kind of person that God wants us to be.

God created us with love and in love. God created each of us to be a loving person. 

The 2nd reading tells us something of what a loving person is like. A loving person is not conceited, he is self-effacing, always not thinking of his own interest first but other people's interest instead. 

To be a loving person is not for impressing others. 

To be a loving person is to be who God wants us to be. 

Let us begin by saying Yes to God and No to ourselves.

25th Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 24.09.2023

 Isaiah 55:6-9 / Philippians 1:20-24, 27 / Matthew 20:1-16

It is said that all men are equal, and that is an undeniable truth. 

That is also the teaching of the Church, in that all persons are equal, and that each person has a God-given dignity that is to be respected. 

But as much as humanity is bound by equality, it is also an undeniable fact that there is a discrepancy. 

That discrepancy is what is commonly called unfairness. 

One example is the difference between the rich and poor, whether it is between nations, or business enterprises, or organizations or persons. 

The unfairness is often phrased as this: The rich becomes richer and a poor becomes poorer. 

That unfairness is usually shrouded with injustice and biasness. 

But unfairness is not just happening up there. When it comes down and into our lives, it takes a form of bullying, where size matters and that might is right. 

Or that those who have more resources and advantages are able to get more benefits over those who have less. 

So, even though we may cheer for the underdog, we will still bet on the top dog. 

Obviously, to be poor in status, resources and abilities would put a person in a vulnerable and difficult state. 

In the gospel, the parable has the main message of the generosity of God. 

There is also a hint of our human inclination to be envious of others when they get more and get better than us. 

But a deeper reflection of the parable would reveal to us the compassion of God, and that He is moved by those who are poor and lowly, and those who are weak and helpless. 

That is seen by the landowner going out at the third hour, sixth hour and the ninth hour. 

Logically, that landowner should have stopped at the ninth hour, which is at noon, and pay the workers a half day wage. 

What is rather surprising is that he even went out at the ninth hour, and even at the 11th hour to hire workers. 

And the surprise does not end there. When it came to paying the wages, all the workers got the same pay. 

Hence those workers who were hired at the start of the day, grumbled at the landowner.

But as the landowner retorted, there was no unfairness, as the wages were agreed upon. 

If anything, it was the workers who grumbled at the landowner who were unfair. 

Those workers revealed the darker side of humanity that is prone to envy and jealousy, and is inclined to complain when the situation is not in their favour. 

But the 1st reading puts it so profoundly, as the Lord says this: 

My thoughts are not your thoughts, my ways are not your ways. Yes, the heavens are as high above the Earth as my ways are above your ways, my thoughts about your thoughts. 

So, the gospel parable gives us a glimpse of the ways of God and the thoughts of God. 

God is fair to all, and He is compassionate. 

He helps those who are in need, and He will provide for them in a surprising and marvellous way. 

That gives us the hope that when we face our difficulties and troubles of life, when we are down to nothing, God will come up with something. 

Let us not be envious or jealous, or complain and get angry that life is so unfair, that we are lacking in resources and abilities. 

Because when we experience the generosity and the gracious help from God, we will only want to give thanks with grateful hearts. 

Yes, the last will be first. That is how God thinks. That is the way of the Lord.

24th Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 17.09.2023

Ecclesiasticus 27:30 – 28:7 / Romans 14:7-9 / Matthew 18:21-35

When it comes to doing something easy, like watching TV or a movie, we will just go lazy and lose track of time. 

And when it comes to doing something that we like, for example eating, the limit is the size of our tummy. 

But, when it comes to doing something difficult, then we will certainly try to avoid it and resist it. 

Even though that difficulty may benefit us, still we will find some excuse not to do it. 

But when there is difficulty in doing something, then, there is also much to learn from it and to gain from it. 

It is like a principle of life, where there is gain, there will be pain. Or putting it in another way, no pain, no gain.

But more than just the pain and gain equation, the human ability is also manifested. 

The human ability to overcome difficulty is put to the test, and with that we will know what we are capable of, as well as what we can learn from it. 

In the gospel, Peter asked Jesus if forgiving someone seven times is enough. But Jesus replied by saying that it is not just seven times but 77 times. 

Peter asked that question about forgiveness because forgiveness is indeed so difficult. 

It is also our experience that when someone wrongs us grievously, it is so difficult to forgive, we will resist forgiving, and we will detest that person. 

Even if that person were to ask for forgiveness, we may not be that willing to forgive. 

Because, what if that person wrongs us again? Then our forgiveness is taken lightly and taken for granted. 

Besides that, we have this resentful side in us that wants to keep that person in a sort of guilty ransom. 

And here is where the 1st reading has something to teach us. It says: Resentment and anger, these are foul things. He who exacts vengeance will experience the vengeance of the Lord. That is clear enough for us. 

It goes on to say this: If a man nurses anger against another, showing no pity for another man like himself, how can he ask the Lord for forgiveness for his own sins? 

Yes, we are mere creatures of flesh, and we cherish resentment and anger against those who have done us wrong. 

As much as the 1st reading pointed out the difficulty of humanity with forgiveness, it also brings us to a deeper reflection and revelation. 

That reflection and revelation is emphasized by the word “remember”. 

Remember the last things, remember death and disintegration, remember we are ashes and dust, remember the Commandments, remember the Covenant of the Most High. 

As we remember all this, we may say that we will try to forgive, but we won't forget. 

We can't forget the wrong, we can't forget the hurt and the pain. 

But as much as Jesus is asking us to forgive, He is not asking us to forget the pain and hurt. 

Jesus Himself did not forget the pain and the hurt of His suffering on the cross. In fact, He even bore the Five Wounds in His hands, His feet and His side. 

Those Five Wounds of Jesus will make us remember that prayer of Jesus on the Cross: Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. 

And God our Father, will not forget that prayer of Jesus. God will always forgive, and He will remember that Jesus also prayed for our forgiveness. 

So, let us look at Jesus on the Cross, let us look at His Five Wounds. 

By His wounds we will be healed. By His wounds we are forgiven. 

And let us keep forgiving, just as we are forgiven. 

God will always remember to forgive us. 

May we always remember to forgive others.

23rd Ordinary Sunday (Catholic Education Sunday), Year A, 10.09.2023

 Ezekiel 33:7-9 / Romans 13:8-10 / Matthew 18:15-20

If we had a choice, would we want to live all alone, or would we want to live with other people? 

That sounds like a rather strange question, because humans are social beings, and they live in groups or in communities. 

To want to live alone would be odd, although there are hermits who live in solitude, but that is for a religious reason. 

But to want to live alone seems like being anti-social and being a recluse. 

However, some people may be a recluse and are living alone, but not because they choose to. 

They are like some kind of outcast that people would avoid and even detest. 

So, these outcasts maybe in the midst of people, but no one interacts with them, or bothers about them. 

As much as they desire for some belonging to a group or to a community, they are left alone and they become lonely. 

The gospel message was written by St. Matthew, who was a tax collector before Jesus called him. 

Being a tax collector at that time was seen as a traitor who worked for the Roman occupiers. They would also collect more than required as they make a living out of it. 

But they won't have much of a life, as they would be rejected and detested by their own people. 

They would also be regarded as sinners with no hope of entering heaven. 

So, St. Matthew could be writing about his own life experience as he writes that section about correcting someone. 

And if that someone remains unrepentant, then that person is to be treated as a pagan or a tax collector. And St. Matthew was a tax collector. 

But all that changed when Jesus called him to be His disciple. He regained his dignity and self-worth. He didn't want to be alone or lonely anymore. He wanted to live a life with others. 

He encountered Jesus as the Saviour who came to seek and save the lost and the lonely. 

He wanted to belong to a group that are gathered around Jesus. He wanted to experience the power of community prayer in which God will respond with signs and wonders. 

St. Matthew’s story about himself is also the story of those people whom others avoid because of many reasons. 

They could be difficult or selfish or greedy or people whom we detest and avoid. 

But they are also lonely and they need help, and as a Christian community, we are to pray for them. 

And Jesus will answer our prayer, and He will call out to them, just as He called out to St. Matthew. 

For Jesus, no one is a hopeless case, and Jesus tells us that when even two or three pray for these people, nothing and no one is impossible for God to change.

The Archdiocese has designated this weekend to be Catholic Education Sunday. 

We are reminded of what education is about, and specifically what Catholic Education is about. 

The purpose of education is not merely about preparing a student to be able to make a living. 

Education is about forming a young person to live a meaningful life. 

Catholic Education prepares a young student to live life with the faith community. 

Together with the parents and teachers, the faith community educates and forms the young students in the way of love and forgiveness. 

Our children, the students, need to encounter the presence of Jesus in the celebration of the Eucharist. 

They need to experience the power of community prayer, praying for the lost and lonely, and for the conversion of sinners. 

They need to see the signs and wonders from God, and that people who are like St. Matthew the former tax collector, can change and become better persons. 

The mission of educating and forming the students is not just in the hands of Catholic educators. 

Catholic educators need to be supported by parents and the faith community with prayer and encouragement. 

With God's blessings through Catholic education, every student can be formed into a saint. 

As we gather in worship, let us pray for Catholic educators and students, and our prayer will be granted by God our Father.

22nd Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 03.09.2023

  Jeremiah 20:7-9 / Romans 12:1-2 / Matthew 16:21-27

Whenever we reflect about life and its meaning, there will be a question to think about. 

That question is this: In life what is my destiny? 

That is not an easy question to answer, as the word destiny is a deep word that has various shades of meaning. 

Generally speaking, destiny can mean that there is a series of events that will happen to a person or group persons. 

These events have a purpose that is directed towards an objective, or a goal. 

It is not about foretelling or predicting the future. 

Rather, it is more like how the events unfold in life, and the choices we make along the way. 

And this is where the difficult part comes in. 

How do we know what is our destiny? How will our choices affect our destiny? 

Life is a mystery, and the future is also a mystery. 

But the present requires us to make a choice for our destiny. 

In the gospel, Jesus began to make it clear to His disciples that He was destined to go up to Jerusalem and to suffer grievously at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, to be put to death and to be raised up on the third day. 

For the disciples, it was certainly difficult to understand what Jesus meant by that. 

While the disciples are wondering about the meaning of what Jesus said, Peter decided to do something. 

He began to remonstrate with Jesus. He wanted to disagree and to even forcefully protest against what Jesus said about His destiny. 

For whatever reason Peter did it, in turn he got rebuked severely by Jesus and was even called “Satan”. 

Peter would have been stunned into dumbfounded silence by that strong reaction from Jesus. 

But that only goes to show how clear and convicted Jesus is about His destiny. 

Jesus knew who He is, and what His mission is. 

As His life unfolds in the events of His ministry, His destiny also became clearer and clearer. 

So, when Jesus spoke of His destiny to His disciples, He wasn't just day-dreaming or speculating. 

He chose to accept what He could see coming before Him, and that is the Cross. 

He had to make the decision to accept the Cross, or to avoid it. 

It was a choice He had to make every day up to that moment in the garden of Gethsemane. 

In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was tempted to avoid the Cross when He asked the Father if it is possible to let the cup of suffering pass Him by. 

But in the end, Jesus still submitted to the Father's will and went on ahead to face His suffering and the Cross. 

As disciples of Jesus, we too will have to face our cross if we want to follow Jesus. 

The cross would mean troubles and distress and tribulations; it would also mean suffering and sacrifice. 

But Jesus has shown us that when we accept the cross like He did, we will be heading towards a meaningful destiny. 

Also, our sufferings in this world cannot be compared to the eternal glory that is promised to us by Jesus. 

Let us put our faith and trust in Jesus, accept our cross, and look towards that beautiful destiny with Jesus.

21st Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 27.08.2023

 Isaiah 22:19-23 / Romans 11:33-36 / Matthew 16:13-20

This coming Friday is a public holiday, but unlike other public holidays, there is something that we are required to do. We are required to cast our votes for the next President of Singapore. 

So it means that we are called upon to choose a leader. Essentially that is what voting means. 

When it comes to choosing a leader, the inclination is to choose someone who is most qualified and capable. 

So the leadership qualities to be considered would be academic qualifications, status, experience, achievements, success and a respectable standing in life. 

We would certainly want to choose someone that we have confidence in, as well as someone who will meet our requirements. 

As for the candidate for the leadership role, what he or she says or promises the people will be scrutinized when he or she assumes the office. 

That is generally how it goes in the secular world, and we are familiar with that. 

In the gospel, we hear of a different structure and a different process. 

When Jesus asked His disciples who do they say He is, it was Peter who declared that He is the Christ, the Son of the living God. 

It was God who inspired Peter to make that declaration, and with that, Jesus appointed Peter to be, as we call it now, the first Pope. 

By worldly standards, Peter, or for that matter of fact, the rest of the disciples, were hardly qualified or capable for any leadership role. 

The appointment of Peter, which by secular standards, is questionable, says a lot about Jesus. 

But it goes to show that in the Church, all power and authority that comes with the appointment, comes from God. 

Jesus also promised that Peter will be the rock on which He will build His Church. And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it. 

But throughout the history of the Church, there are numerous occasions when the Church, and the Pope, faced mortal danger and yet there was divine intervention. 

One was in the year 452, when Attila the Hun and his barbaric horde came upon Rome to kill and to plunder. 

Going out to meet him was the old and frail Pope Leo the Great, hoping to negotiate with Attila the Hun, and prepared to lay down his life for his people. 

In an unexpected and surprising turn of events, Attila the Hun and his barbarians turn back and left Rome untouched. 

One account has it that when Attila the Hun met the Pope, he saw two looming figures flanking the Pope, said to be Saint Peter and St Paul, and they were wielding swords and warning Attila. 

He also saw a huge heavenly army behind the Pope, and he recoiled and immediately retreated. 

So, on that day when he met Attila the Hun, Pope Leo showed that meekness is the mightiest of Heaven's powers. 

And again, later on, the famous French emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte, once threatened the Church saying that in a few months he will destroy the Church. 

The Pope's spokesman, replied: If in the 1800 years, we Catholics have failed to destroy the Church, do you really think that you will be able to do so? 

Napoleon Bonaparte would later find out the answer after his defeat and during his exile. 

It is often said that the Church is human, even too human, with the weakness, failings, scandals and whatever.

But it also must be said that the Church is divine, because Jesus Christ is the Head, and we are the members of His Body. 

Yes, the Church, at all levels, has its flaws, it has failed, and it even has been faithless at times. 

But let us remember that Jesus Christ is our Head, and He will protect us from the destructive power that comes out of the gates of the underworld. 

Like Pope Leo the Great, who showed that meekness is the mightiest power from heaven, let us walk the path of simplicity, humility and charity. 

Then we, the Church, will be able to lead the world in the way of salvation.

20th Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 20.08.2023

 Isaiah 56:1, 6-7 / Romans 11:13-15, 29-32 / Matthew 15:21-28

It is said that everyone is equal, but it also has to be said that there are differences. 

It is undeniable that some people, or some groups, seem to have more privileges, more advantages, and more opportunities. 

They have a head start over the rest, and they also seem to be in the lead all the way. They have gifts and talents that stand out from the ordinary people. 

We admire them, and we may even envy them, because they make it look easy what is difficult for us, and what is like natural to them is a struggle for us. 

So, we may think that we are just ordinary people, much like the rest of the ordinary people. 

Yes, by and large, we are ordinary people, living ordinary lives, and we won't think of doing anything extraordinary in life. 

And if we want to have any achievements or success in life, there is no other way than the way of hard work and sweat. 

Even when it comes to faith in God, we have our doubts, and we think that we cannot be as holy as the Saints. 

As we know, the Jews were God's Chosen People. It was to them that God revealed Himself and made a covenant with them. 

Today's gospel passage is written by Matthew, himself a Jew, and who was a tax collector before Jesus called him. 

He was probably with the disciples who witnessed that encounter between Jesus and the Canaanite woman. 

In today's Gospel account, we may wonder why Jesus seemed to be brushing off that Canaanite woman and making it so difficult for her. 

But when Matthew wrote this account, he was simply stating that Jesus came for the Jewish people, because they were the Chosen Race, they were God's Chosen People. 

They have the privilege of God's first blessings over other people and they were proud of it. 

But Matthew also steered the gospel passage to a wider perspective, when he showed that Jesus will also grant God's blessings to outsiders, to those who do not belong to that Jewish people. 

That final statement of Jesus state a profound point when He said this to the Canaanite woman: Woman, you have great faith. Let your wish be granted. 

So more than just advantages and privileges, God's blessings are granted to those who have faith in Him. 

This gospel passage is important to us because it states two things. One is that we, the Church, are also God's Chosen People because we believe that Jesus Christ is our Saviour. 

And the other point is that, like that Canaanite woman, we live by faith. With faith, we turn disadvantage into a direction, an obstacle into an opportunity, a trial into a testimony. 

That was what the Canaanite woman did, and she even taught us a simple and powerful prayer: Lord, help me. 

And Jesus will help us, each one of us, when we take a good grip on our faith. 

And when each of us come together in prayer and worship, we are not just an ordinary group of people, we are God's People, we are God’s children, we call God “Our Father”. 

Together, we unite as Church in prayer for each other that God will bless our needs. 

Together, we pray for the world and the problems that the world is facing that God will grant peace and harmony.

Together, we persevere and persist in our faith like that Canaanite woman did. 

Yes, we are not an ordinary people, we are God's People, we are God's children. 

God will listen to our prayer, and send forth His blessings when we pray: Lord, help me. Lord, help us.