26th Ordinary Sunday, Year B, 26.09.2021

 Numbers 11:25-29 / James 5:1-6 / Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48

There are a few good things to remember in life and we must keep reminding ourselves about them. 

So, there are things like “charity begins at home”, “honesty is the best policy” and “don't do unto others what you don't want them to do unto you”. 

Certainly, these are good principles and values to live by, and to have a direction in life. 

Among the few good things to remember, there are two that are practical and even necessary, and it is this: 

Take care of your thoughts when you are alone, and take care of your words when you are with people. 

We form our own thoughts, and our thoughts shape our words, and our words have an impact and affect others. 

And especially when there are children around, we have to watch what we say and do. 

It is said that children are the world's most valuable resource and the best hope for the future. 

And every day, we make deposits in the memory banks of our children. 

In the gospel, Jesus gives a stern reminder when He said this: Anyone who is an obstacle to bring down one of these little ones who have faith, would be better thrown into the sea with a great millstone round his neck. 

The little ones would obviously mean children, as well as those little, humble and lowly ones who have simple faith. 

Jesus reminds us that they are the ones to whom the kingdom of God belongs. 

They are the ones who will be impacted and affected by what we do and say. 

So, they are listening to what we say, they are looking at what we do, and their thoughts are being shaped and formed. 

So when children talk back and argue with us, where could they have learned it from? Or when they start shouting in an argument, was it because we shouted at them first? 

We also tend to complain and criticize and blame others for what has gone wrong that caused us inconveniences. 

When the children are listening to our venting, they would also do what we do. 

The current situation is like a fire that is burning with frustrations, disruptions, disappointments and maybe even depression. 

We can give in to complaining, criticizing and blaming. 

But Jesus is calling us to be like a cup of water for a thirsty and heated world. 

And just as water cleanses and refreshes, we need to see the situation with clean and fresh eyes. 

No doubt, the current situation is causing anxiety and worry, and with school exams around the corner, things have become disruptive with things like LOA and QO. 

But let us look at the situation and see it like a caterpillar. Why a caterpillar? Because there is nothing in a caterpillar that tells us that it is going to be a butterfly. 

And there is nothing in this present situation that tells us that there will be beauty and goodness. 

But just as the caterpillar needs to be resilient, from crawling around, to being a cocoon and finally breaking free as a butterfly, we too must give that cup of water to the world to help it be resilient and to be united in charity, so as to look forward in hope for beauty, justice and peace. 

May these be our thoughts, may these also be the words for our prayer, and may the Lord help us to be that cup of water for a thirsty world.

25th Ordinary Sunday, Year B, 19.09.2021

 Wisdom 2:12, 17-20 / James 3:16 – 4:3 / Mark 9:30-37

There was a recent survey about which are the world's most fatigued cities. The survey was conducted based on the number of hours spent sleeping, the number of hours spent working and the number of hours of screen time, i.e. on the computer and looking at the screen. 

According to that survey, right at the top of the most fatigued cities in the world is Singapore! 

Would we find that surprising? Can it be true that the world's most fatigued city is Singapore? 

If that is true, it means to say that we Singaporeans sleep lesser hours, work longer hours and spend many hours in front of the computer screen. 

So compared with the peoples of the other bigger cities, we are more busy, more tired and more stressed out. In short, we are the most fatigued people in the world, at least according to the survey. 

Well, we may be tired, we may be busy, but are we happy? Can we say that we are happy? 

Well, happiness can be quite elusive. So, we can be happy for a few moments and then be miserable for quite a long while. 

And if we honestly admit that we are stressed and tired and miserable, then the gospel has a message for us. 

Jesus was instructing and telling His disciples this: The Son of God will be delivered into the hands of men. They will put him to death, and three days after he has been put to death oh, he will rise again. 

Jesus was, or could be feeling, stressed and anxious about that. And it didn't help that His disciples did not understand what He said and were afraid to ask Him. 

Instead, His disciples had other concerns in mind. They were arguing among themselves which of them was the greatest. 

We may think that it was some petty argument, but it was causing problems and maybe even serious problems. 

The 2nd reading sheds some light into those problems when it said: Whenever you find jealousy and ambition, you find disharmony and wicked things of every kind being done. 

So, the disciples were not just arguing over some petty and trivial matters. They were arguing about which of them was the greatest, and in order to show who is the greatest, it would mean that the greatest would have to be the loudest. 

Their argument was loud enough to reach the ears of Jesus, so much so that He had to address the matter. 

Very often in an argument, a lot of shouting happens. No argument is ever done softly or gently. 

And when the decibels go higher, the anger grows hotter, and so the 2nd reading asks this question: Where do these wars and fights between yourselves start? 

And the 2nd reading goes on to point this out: Isn't it precisely in the desires fighting inside your own selves? You have an ambition that you cannot satisfy, so you fight to get your way by force. 

So the 2nd reading reveals the reason why we end up shouting in an argument and even end up fighting. 

But shouting in an argument is not just a jarring noise. Because no one is listening. 

Only the noise is heard and the anger is felt. All that ends up in stress, anxiety and fatigue. We get tired and drained out by all that heated argument. 

In all this noisy and heated arguments, let us be silent so that we can listen. 

We need to listen to the voice of God that will give us the wisdom that comes down from above. 

It is that Divine wisdom that gives us peace, and that makes us kind, considerate and compassionate, and enables us to do good. 

When there is peace in our hearts, we will sow seeds that will bear fruit in holiness. 

To be holy is to be silent in order to listen to the wisdom of God. 

To be holy is to be silent so that we will listen to the cries of those in anguish and to be with them and to console them so that they will eventually be at peace. 

When we and others are at peace, then we will be able to receive the blessings from God. 

With God's blessings, we will be given the strength of eagles’ wings, and when faced with the fatigues of life, we will not be weary or tired.

In fact, with God’s blessings, we will be at peace and we will be happy.

24th Ordinary Sunday, Year B, 12.09.2021

 Isaiah 50:5-9 / James 2:14-18 / Mark 8:27-35

It is said that life is like a roller coaster ride, with its ups and downs. Some may think of it as a thrilling fun ride, while others think of it as a chilling scary ride. 

But whether roller coaster or whatever, life certainly has its ups and downs. 

Well, just about a month ago, we were looking forward to more restrictions being lifted, and we were about to step forward to more socializing. 

But then, the number of cases started to spike and we are now holding back again. 

If there is another term for ups and downs, then it could be expectations and disappointments. 

And over these months, we have learned, or are still learning, to manage our expectations and disappointments. 

Maybe we have learned not to expect too much, so that there won't be too many disappointments. 

The ups and downs of life can be seen in the gospel account and it was Peter who experienced it. 

Jesus asked His disciples who did people say He was. The disciples came up with opinions like John the Baptist, Elijah or one of the prophets. 

Then Jesus narrowed it down to a personal question when He asked His disciples who they said He was. 

While the disciples were thinking about the most correct answer, it was Peter who declared “You are the Christ”. 

Peter got it spot-on, though it was by divine revelation that he got that inspiration. Whether he knew what it really meant is another matter. 

He could have felt good about it, felt “up there”, since he was the only one who could give such an answer. 

But almost at the next instance, Peter hit the ground and it was a heavy fall. 

When Jesus began to teach about rejection, suffering and death, Peter began to remonstrate with him. 

And Jesus rebuked him saying, “Get behind me, Satan! Because the way you think is not God's way but man's”. 

Peter had his expectations about the Christ. The Christ, or the Messiah, is the promised Saviour, and in Peter's mind, it was about power and glory. 

The Saviour would bring about victory over the enemies, and there would be peace and prosperity. 

Those were his expectations, and he wasn't going to let those expectations turn into disappointments when Jesus taught about rejection, suffering and death. 

Peter would certainly be shocked to be called “Satan” and with that all his previous expectations were shattered. 

And just as Jesus asked His disciples who did they think He was, Jesus is also asking us the same question. 

What and who Jesus is to us comes with a subsequent question, and that is what are we expecting of Jesus. 

If what we are expecting of Jesus is similar to the expectations of Peter, then it could be that the way we think is not God's way but man’s. 

But let's turn the tables around and let us ask ourselves what is Jesus expecting of us. 

Jesus made that clear in the gospel when he said, “If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me. For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it, and anyone who loses his life for my sake and for the sake of the Gospel will save it. 

In life there are ups and downs, we have our expectations and disappointments. 

But with faith in God, we will have hope, and that hope is expressed in the good works of love. 

St. James said in the second reading: I will prove to you that I have faith by showing you my good deeds. 

And it is with faith and that the ministry members of our Parish continue to serve so that there can be Masses, so that we can come for Mass, and that the poor living at York Hill and Jalan Kukoh are served, even though there are risks involved. 

Let us not be too focused on expectations and disappointments, or on the ups and downs of life. 

Rather, let us focus on the Cross of Christ, and like Jesus, let us be prepared to serve with love, just as Jesus came to serve and to save us.

23rd Ordinary Sunday, Year B, 05.09.2021

Isaiah 35:4-7 / James 2:1-5 / Mark 7:31-37

In the media industry, there are a few aspects that are critical to audience reception. 

Especially for movies and videos, besides the content, what is also necessary are sharp visuals and clear sound. 

Going by today's standards, for video resolution it must be at least a full HD, and even going up to 4K. And for those who are into minute details, there is the Blu-ray format. 

And when it comes to audio, besides the necessity for clarity, the volume consistency is also vital. We won't want to always keep adjusting the volume for a movie or a video, especially if we don't have the remote control, although it can be a form of good exercise. 

And with the surge in online Masses, prayers and spiritual talks, then besides content and presentation, the other factors are the internet connection and device performance. 

All those factors make it rather daunting if we were to do a video or an online presentation. 

But besides the need for proper, or maybe even professional equipment, the question is the result or the effect that a media presentation has on the audience. 

People may be impressed by the razzle-dazzle, but what is the takeaway for them? Did it enlighten them about the meaning of life, or make them think and reflect deeper about life? 

In the gospel, we heard about Jesus healing a man who was deaf and also had an impediment in his speech. 

The gospel ended off by saying that the people's admiration was unbounded, and they said this about Jesus: He has done all things well, he makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak. 

Certainly, the people were impressed and amazed at what Jesus did. After all, it was quite spectacular. 

But was there anything more than that? Did Jesus come to perform spectacular miracles just to impress people and to gain their admiration? 

Of course, we will say “No”, and that must also make us think and reflect deeper about the gospel passage. 

The miracles of Jesus, besides being wonderful and amazing, always have a message and a meaning. 

There are many details in the gospel passage that we can reflect upon, but there is one that might escape our attention. 

And it is this: Jesus look up to heaven and He sighed. And then He said to the man “Ephphatha” which means “Be opened”. 

Jesus looked up to heaven to indicate that all miracles are the work of the power of God, and from Heaven, God pours down His healing love on the world. 

Jesus sighed, to indicate that He came to be with us in our sufferings, and just as we sigh over our troubles, Jesus sighs with us and He wants to lift us up from our sufferings and troubles. 

His spoken word “Ephphatha” is an Aramaic word, which is the spoken language of the people. It is their mother tongue, a language that resonates with the heart. 

Jesus is the Word of God. His spoken word brings about God's healing love from heaven. His spoken word lifts us up from the bad news of the world to hear the Good News from heaven. 

And He speaks to us in our “mother tongue” which is the language of love that everybody will understand. 

We are in need of healing, because the pains and hurts that we have experienced may have made us close our ears to the cries of those in need. 

We may have closed our mouths from speaking an encouraging word, or to give consolation to those in desolation. 

To know that we are in need of healing is to be poor and humble in the eyes of the Lord. 

And the 2nd reading says that it is the poor and humble according to the world that God chose to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the Kingdom. 

Yes, Jesus says softly to us “Ephphatha”. It means “Be opened”. 

But it is the sound of the language of love. 

And we know what it really means, because we heard in the 1st reading: Say to all the faint hearts – Courage! Do not be afraid. Look, your God is coming, He is coming to save you. 

May we hear it, understand that message and its meaning, and may we go forth to proclaim the message of God's healing love.

22nd Ordinary Sunday, Year B, 29.08.2021

 Duet 4:1-2, 6-8 / James 1:17-18, 21-22, 27 / Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

One of the things that we had not quite expected to come into prominence is hand sanitizers. 

We have been using it for about a year-and-a-half already, and it is actually in Church that we use quite a bit of it. 

As we come in, we sanitize our hands. Before coming up for Holy Communion we sanitize our hands. And on the way out of the Church we again sanitize our hands. 

Where once upon a time we see it only in the hospitals, now we see it in the lifts, in the restaurants, in the restrooms and in about almost every place where there is human traffic. 

There are some who even carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer long with them. 

That is just a reflection of the situation that we are in, and since viruses and bacteria are not that easily visible, then hand sanitizers can be a safety measure against it. 

But generally speaking, personal hygiene and cleanliness are good practices that can help to prevent unnecessary infections. 

The gospel began with the Pharisees and scribes noticing that some of the disciples of Jesus were eating with unclean hands and they raised the issue with Jesus. 

There was this practice in the tradition of the elders that before every meal there would be a ritual cleansing of the hands up to the elbows. 

So, it was in view of this “tradition of the elders” that the Pharisees and scribes raised the issue to indicate that Jesus was not following the “tradition of the elders”, and hence putting Himself above the Law.

Jesus responded by quoting from the prophet Isaiah: “This people honours me only with lip service, while their hearts are far from me. The worship they offer me is worthless, the doctrines they teach are only human regulations. You put aside the Commandment of God to cling to human traditions”. 

Jesus then moved the issue of the state of the hands to the state of the heart. 

In effect, Jesus is asking this fundamental question: Where is the heart? 

That is the question that Jesus was asking then and also asking now: 

When we say all the prayers, where is the heart? 

When we come to Church, where is the heart? 

When we perform ministry work, where is the heart? 

Besides asking us where is the heart in the religious aspect of our lives, Jesus goes deeper as He asks: How clean is the heart? 

Jesus says this: Nothing that goes into a man from outside can make him unclean. It is the things that come out of a man that make him unclean. 

Yes, from what is in the heart, flow our thoughts, our words and our actions. 

So, our thoughts, our words and our actions are reflections of the state of our heart. 

So, more than just sanitizing the hands before Holy Communion, we must also cleanse our hearts as we earnestly pray: Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, grant us peace. 

St. Augustine gave us this profound saying: our hearts will not rest, until they are rested in you, O Lord. 

In our prayer and in our worship, let us place our hearts in the Heart of Jesus. 

Let us ask Jesus to cleanse our hearts of sin and grant us His peace. 

A heart that is at peace is a heart that is clean and ready to be filled with love. 

May our hearts be like the Heart of Jesus, so that through our thoughts, our words and our actions, others may see the loving Heart of Jesus.

21st Ordinary Sunday, Year B, 22.08.2021

 Joshua 24:1-2, 15-18 / Ephesians 5:21-32 / John 6:60-69

We may remember what are the 5 Cs in life. It is a phrase used to refer to the quest for affluence or wealth. 

Just in case we can’t quite remember what those 5 Cs stand for they are, Cash, Car, Credit Card, Condominium and Country club membership. 

That phrase has been around for quite a while, and though things may have changed a bit, the 5 Cs are still relevant. 

They reflect the human desire for comfort and security, and in fact the 5 Cs can be summed up into the first C, and that is Cash. 

With cash, or money, we can be quite comfortable, and the more we have of it, the more luxuries we will be able to get with it. 

But, how much cash do we really need to have? When is it enough? When will we ever be contented with what we have? 

These are questions that we'd rather not think about, because when it comes to cash, then the more, the better. 

Or is that really it? Money, as we know, can’t buy true love or happiness. Money can't buy peace. Money can't buy life. 

When we understand this truth, then it leads us to realize the power we have within us. 

And that power is the power of choice. It is the power to choose, to be who we want to be and what we want to be. 

The power of choice will also determine our destiny in life here and also the hereafter. 

In the 1st reading, Joshua gathered all the people of Israel together, and he presented them with a choice. 

He said to them, “If you will not serve the Lord, choose today whom you wish to serve.” 

And then he made known his choice: As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. 

Well, the people said that they will serve the Lord too. But we know from the Bible, that time and again, the people chose otherwise and were unfaithful to the Lord and even worshipped idols. 

And they suffered the consequences of their choice. They were conquered by the enemies and they were oppressed. 

But the Lord was faithful in His promises to His Chosen people. Time and again, He delivered them from their enemies, but it was always the people who made the wrong choice. 

In the gospel, the people could not accept the doctrine that Jesus was teaching, that He is the Bread of Life. 

They called it intolerable language, and after that many of His disciples left him and stopped going with Him. 

Jesus then turned to the Twelve and asked, “What about you, do you want to go away too?” In other words, Jesus was asking them to make a choice. 

And Jesus is also asking us to make a choice about what He is teaching us. And it is not just about the teaching that He is the Bread of Life that He is asking us to accept and believe. 

There are also other challenging and difficult teachings that He is asking us to follow. 

Like for e.g., “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who persecute you” (Mat 5:43-44).

Or how about this : Do not resist an evildoer; if he strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other to him as well (Mat 5:39)

Or, if you do not take up your cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple (Lk 14:27).

In fact, every page of the gospels is filled with some kind of hard teachings from Jesus.

But all those teachings are about life and love. To choose to follow them will grant us peace and joy. 

Let us know that we have to make a choice and let it be Christ-centred choice. In comfort or in chaos, let us choose Christ and receive blessings that are beyond the 5 Cs.

Assumption of the BVM, 15.08.2021

 Apocalypse 11:19; 12:1-6, 10 / 1 Cor 15:20-26 / Luke 1:39-56

Catholics have a unique and amazing devotion, and that is the devotion to Mary. 

That devotion is expressed in praying the Rosary, going for Novena sessions on Saturdays (although it is now online), as well as other forms of Marian devotion. 

But the devotion, or veneration, is more than just spiritual. It is also a personal devotion and a personal relationship with Mary. 

No doubt, for those who do not understand the Catholic devotion and veneration of Mary, they may say that Catholics seem to worship Mary. 

And to make matters rather confusing, we say, as a manner of speech, that we pray to Mary. 

And the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a big feast such that it is a day of obligation, and since this year it is on a Sunday, the feast replaces the usual Sunday in Ordinary Time. 

All this seem to make Mary like on par with Jesus in status, and at times even more popular than Jesus. 

But the Church has emphasized over and over again, that any veneration or devotion to Mary must lead us to Jesus, and such veneration and devotion are highly encouraged. 

In other words, it is through Mary to Jesus. This is not something that is devised by the Church. It is actually the intention of God Himself. 

One of the titles of Mary is “Mother of God”, and also “Mother of the Church”. 

We can find the origins of this title in the gospel, when Elizabeth, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, blessed Mary and called her “the mother of my Lord”. 

The word “Lord” is synonymous with the word “God”. So, Mary is truly the Mother of God. 

And before Jesus died on the Cross, He turned to Mary His mother and said, “Woman, this is your son”. And then to the beloved disciple, He said, “This is your mother”. 

These two instances tell us that Jesus wants us to honour Mary as our mother, just as He did.

So, we turn to Mary and offer her flowers and we pray the Rosary and we ask her to pray for us, as we offer her our needs and our petitions. 

And indeed, the power of Mary's intercession is truly amazing as we hear testimony after testimony of how the prayers of people were answered through the intercession of Mary. 

More than just praying the Rosary and asking Mary to pray for us, we also must look to her as a model of faith. 

When we look to her and learn from her, then our devotion to her would make sense and would also help to clear the confusion. 

Mary is a disciple of love, and in the gospel, we heard how she literally carried God's love to Elizabeth in her time of need. 

And like Mary our mother, we are to be disciples of love. 

And the word love can be an acronym for our spiritual life. 

“L” is for listening. Mary listened to God's Word at the Annunciation and said “Yes” to God. 

May we also listen and let God's Word be made flesh in us. 

“O” is for obedience. Mary obeyed the promptings of the Holy Spirit and she set out at once to visit Elizabeth. 

May we be humble and follow the directions of our elders and superiors for our good and for the good of others. 

“V” is for victory. Mary overcame her difficulties with God's grace. May we follow Christ our Victorious King by carrying our cross and to gain eternal life. 

And finally, “E” is for encouragement. Mary's presence was an encouragement as well as an enlightenment for Elizabeth. 

May we too support each other in word and in action, so that where two or three are gathered in the name of Jesus, He will be there to bless and to strengthen us. 

So, let us like Mary, be a disciple of love, a disciple who will listen to God and obey with humility.

Let us believe that through the agony of the Cross, we will gain victory for life, and that we will be a channel of encouragement to strengthen others in faith and hope. 

May our devotion to Mary, and the celebration of the Feast of the Assumption, form us to be disciples of God's love for others.