2nd Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 18.01.2026

 Isaiah 4:3, 5-6 / 1 Cor 1:1-3 / John 1:29-34

There are many sayings that we have heard and remembered. 

Some are famous and popular sayings, and we remember them because they are like the wisdom sayings of life. 

For example, we will surely know this saying: “Sometimes we win, sometimes we lose.”

That is like the cycle of life, sometimes up, sometimes down. 

Another one is this: “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” That tells us that appearance is only skin deep. There is more to discover when we go deeper. 

And there is this one that states a principle of life: “Honesty is the best policy.” That saying is practical and undeniable. 

Those sayings are short, but they express the truths of life, and they also guide us through life. 

Although actions speak louder than words, yet words are also necessary as they form our thoughts, and our thoughts are then expressed in our actions. 

So yes, actions speak louder than words, yet, what we say, we must do, and that will show the integrity of our words and actions. 

The gospel passage features John the Baptist, and what he says about Jesus. 

John the Baptist is often called the greatest of the prophets, because it was he who pointed out Jesus as the Lamb of God. 

But John the Baptist tells us something interesting. 

He didn’t know that Jesus is the Lamb of God. 

He was sent by God to baptise for the forgiveness of sins. 

And God said this to him: The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and rest is the one who is going to baptise with the Holy Spirit. 

And when John the Baptist saw the Holy Spirit coming down on Jesus after His baptism, then he knew that Jesus is the Lamb of God. 

That was the testimony of John the Baptist, and it also signalled that his mission would soon be over. 

As we listen to the testimony of John the Baptist, we will remember two of his most profound sayings. 

When Jesus began his mission, the disciples of John the Baptist were feeling concerned that John the Baptist was becoming irrelevant and being pushed out of the scene. 

But John the Baptist said this: A man can only lay claim to what is given to him from above. 

John the Baptist knew what he was called to do.

And with the appearance of Jesus, John the Baptist knew that his mission was over, and he had to let go of the attention, and move out of the scene. 

And with that, John the Baptist also made this astonishing profound 6-worded statement: He must increase, I must decrease. 

John the Baptist was the greatest of all the prophets. 

He laid claim to the power given to him by God to accomplish his mission. 

He was the bright light until Jesus the true light appeared. 

With that, John the Baptist knew that Jesus must increase, and he must decrease. 

Those two sayings of John the Baptist are also the foundations of our Christian life. 

They are also the foundations of our relationship with Jesus and with others. 

It is said that human beings long for acknowledgment and appreciation. 

It is like there is a hole in the heart that needs to be filled. 

So, we may look for attention, for praise and compliments, so as to fill that hole in the heart. 

We want to excel, to prove our capabilities, and also, we want to be in the spotlight and in the limelight. 

And yet, even when we have all that, we don’t seem to be contented, to be satisfied, to be happy. 

That is the human tendency that had afflicted famous figures like Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan and Napoleon Bonaparte, right down to ordinary people. 

But then that hole in the heart cannot be filled by worldly achievements and accomplishments. 

It can only be filled by knowing what God has given us and what He wants us to do. 

Whether it is a glorious achievement of making a discovery or invention, or a simple task of caring and serving the poor and the sick, when the task is over and the time is up, let us like John the Baptist, graciously step aside. 

We need to know when to step aside, so that Jesus can increase, and we must decrease.

When we decrease, then the hole in the heart will also decrease, and then our hearts will finally be at rest in the loving heart of Jesus, the Lamb of God.

1st Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 12-01-2026

1 Samuel 1:1-8 / Mark 1:14-20  

We use the word “plan” often, and presumably, we understand what it means.

As a noun “plan” means a proposal with details for doing something or achieving something.

So the details will be reasonable, logical and understandable.

The plan would also be presentable and acceptable.

In the gospel, Jesus began proclaiming the Good News from God, with these words:

“The time has come, and the kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent, and believe the Good News.”

As we try to understand those words, we have our questions.

Questions like “How do we know that the time has come?”; “What needs to be done for repentance and what is it about the Good News that needs to be believed in?”

In other words, we are asking or looking for a plan or a program to understand what Jesus is saying.

On a bigger scale, there could also be seminars or conferences to generate interest and traction.

But Jesus did not mention any of those.

And those whom He called for the mission, He only told them this: Follow me and I will make you fishes of men.

So, before asking or looking for more details, let us follow Jesus as His disciples first.

When we follow Jesus as our Lord and Master, the rest will be made known to us along the journey.

Baptism of the Lord A- 2026, 11.01.2026

Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7 / Acts 10:34-38 / Matthew 3:13-17

Going overseas for holidays during the mid-year and year-end school holidays is a popular trend among Singaporeans. 

So much so that if we don’t go overseas for holidays, some people might even ask us, “How come you don’t go overseas for holidays?” 

So, going everywhere for holidays is a popular trend among Singaporeans, (going everywhere except to the moon). 

Then it comes to packing up the luggage for the overseas trip. 

Some pack light as they intend to go shopping overseas. They buy things like food, souvenirs and clothes. 

Then there are some who pack like as if they are migrating to another country. 

And even then, there will be always something that they forgot to pack in, like nail-clippers, cotton buds, body powder and whatever. 

But whether lightweight or heavyweight luggage, the thrill is in the excitement of going overseas for a holiday. 

But besides going overseas for holidays, there are also people who go overseas for a pilgrimage. 

There are many overseas pilgrimage sites to choose from. 

Going to the Holy Land is a popular pilgrimage. 

And the Holy Land pilgrimage would also likely to include a visit to the river Jordan. 

It is somewhere along the river Jordan that Jesus was baptised by John the Baptist. 

The river Jordan is a river of revelations. 

When the Israelites crossed the river Jordan into the Promised Land, the waters stopped and they crossed over, just like how they crossed the Red Sea as they left Egypt. 

It was along the river Jordan when Jesus after His baptism, was revealed as the Beloved Son of God. 

Jesus came down from heaven, took on human nature, and His baptism shows that Jesus is like us in all things except sin. 

In a way, it can be said that Jesus left heaven and came to earth with very few belongings. 

Jesus laid aside His glory and majesty, and in humility entered into humanity. 

His baptism affirms his human nature, as well as initiated Him into His mission of salvation. 

Jesus was baptised so that He can begin his mission of salvation. 

We are baptised so that we can receive the gift of salvation from Jesus. 

And salvation means that we set our sights on heaven because we want to go there. 

With baptism, it is like preparing ourselves to migrate to heaven.

With this thought of migration, then we must know what we need to hold on to, and what we need to let go off. 

We need to hold onto our baptismal promises and become like the water that we are baptised in, so that we can be the water of love and life for others. 

This world thirsts for the waters of love, waters of love that bring about life and growth. 

Being baptised in the waters of life and love, let us also share these waters with others. 

And may the waters of our baptism wash away and cleanse us and help us to let go of the fires of sinful desires. 

Those sinful desires like pride, greed, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony, and sloth, burn away our focus and longing for salvation, and also burn away our focus and longing to be with God in heaven. 

May the waters of our baptism bring about growth of holiness with the fruits of the Holy Spirit and growth in virtues like Humility, Charity, Chastity, Kindness (or Gratitude), Patience, Diligence, and Temperance (or self-control). 

In His baptism, Jesus is revealed as the Beloved Son, and God’s favour rest on Him. 

May our baptism also remind us that we are God’s beloved children, and His favour rest on us too. 

Let us continue the saving mission of Jesus by sharing the waters of life and love with others.

Let us also lead them to baptismal waters of salvation, and to let them experience God’s life-giving love. 

Epiphany, 04.01.2026

Isaiah 60:1-6 / Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6 / Matthew 2:1-12

One of the practices during Christmas is to give presents. 

The presents can be quite a surprise as they are often wrapped. 

The purpose of giving gifts and presents during Christmas is to share the joy of Christmas with others. 

By and large, those presents are either food or accessories. 

When it is food, then it is usually chocolates or some festive biscuits or cookies or cakes. 

If we have received such gifts, then it is either the giver knows we have a sweet tooth. 

Or that the giver is wishing us an abundance of sweet and rich foods. 

When it comes to accessories, there is a wide variety.

It can come in the form of clothes, and it may mean that the giver is telling us to update our attire. 

Or it may be some kind of jewellery, and it may mean that the giver wants us to look nice and pretty and stylish. 

Or, it may be accessories and gadgets and whatever the giver thinks we might need. 

The main purpose of gifts is to thank the other person for the friendship, and so the gifts are signs of love. 

So, if we still have our Christmas presents with us, let us take a look at them again and see what the gifts are telling us. 

In the gospel, after Jesus had been born at Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of king Herod, some wise men came to Jerusalem from the east. 

They had seen a star as it rose, a unique star that pointed to the birth of the king of the Jews. 

The star beckoned the wise men to look for the newborn king and to pay Him homage. 

They had thought that the new born king would be found in Jerusalem. 

Instead, their arrival startled king Herod who was perturbed by the news. 

He then consulted the chief priests and the scribes, who told him that the king would be born in Bethlehem. 

But it seems that the chief priests and scribes were rather indifferent about the prophecy and they did nothing about it. 

So, king Herod used the wise men to get more information about the newborn king, as he had ulterior motives. 

So, the star that beckoned the wise men was not always there to lead them. 

But after leaving king Herod, the star appeared again and led the wise men to Bethlehem to where Jesus was. 

The wise men were delighted to see the star, but they were also surprised. 

They were surprised at the poor and humble place of the newborn king, which was a stable for animals and He was lying in a manger. 

And the parents were just poor and humble and ordinary people. 

So, did the wise men get it wrong, or did the star got it wrong? 

But when they saw the newborn baby, their eyes and their minds were opened. 

That is the new born king of the Jews, and they opened up their treasures and offered Jesus their gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh. 

(There is this corny joke which said that those gifts were rather impractical. If it were the three wise women, and they would have brought milk powder, diapers and wet wipes.) 

But the feast of the Epiphany is not about being practical, or logical or reasonable. 

It is about a divine revelation, a revelation for us, a revelation for the Church, a revelation for the world. 

Those gifts were for a new born king. Those gifts have meaning, and they also have a revelation. 

The gold is a gift for the new born king. But the gold also reveals that the king is not just the king of the Jews, but the King of the universe, the King of all creation. 

The frankincense is to honour the new born king. But the frankincense also reveals the divine nature of the new born king, that is, Jesus is divine as well as human. 

The myrrh is a precious medicine. It also reveals that Jesus is the Saviour, and He came to forgive and heal our sins. 

Yes, gifts have a meaning, and they also have a revelation. 

There was one day when I was passing by a marketplace and there were a few of those makeshift stalls. 

I casually stopped by a stall selling accessories and gadgets, and I picked up a cute little radio with MP3 player. 

The lady saw me looking at it and she said, “Laylong, laylong, cheap cheap, clearance sale, buy la, buy la.”

I thought for a while and I wanted to buy it for my mother as a portable radio, as well as a Christmas present. 

Then, at the feast of Holy Family, I thought about family prayer and my mother. 

So, I recorded some prayers into the radio-MP3 player, so that my mother can pray with it. 

So, from a simple gadget, it became a gift and it became a revelation of how my mother could pray with me even though I may not be by her side. 

The feast of the Epiphany reminds us that while our thoughts are on the practical, the logical and the reasonable, God reveals His ways and His wonders in the simple, the humble and even the unusual. 

The wise men were truly wise as they were able to see the divine revelation in their gifts. 

May we to be wise enough to see God’s revelation in the gifts we have received from others.

Holy Family, Year A, 28.12.2025

  Ecclesiasticus 3:2-6, 12-14 / Colossians 3:12-21 / Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23

The usage of words presumes that they are used correctly and the meaning is clear. 

So, in a discussion or in a deliberation, words are used to express ideas and concepts. 

When the ideas are understood, and the concepts are clear, then the discussion or the deliberation will be fruitful. 

But there are times when words are joined awkwardly and the meaning can be rather humorous. 

Like for example, we have heard of this phrase “unexpected emergency”. But thinking about it deeper, all emergencies are unexpected; there is no planning for an emergency to happen. So, in short, there is no need to have an “unexpected” before emergency. 

The same can be said about “final outcome”. Is there like a “non-final outcome”? 

Or, how about “extra bonus”. Bonus, by definition is already something extra. 

Other phrases that have this redundant repetition are phrases like “new innovation” and “repeat again”. 

We have used these phrases, but they are understandable when used casually. 

Today, we come across the term that has a profound and unique meaning, and that is “Holy Family”. 

The word, “family”, is understandable in logical and conceptual terms. 

But the word “family” also touches on the emotional, because it is a reality in our lives; we all come from a family; we all have a family. 

And with the word “holy” before “family”, then our attention is turned to the family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. 

Much has been said about the holiness of that family that is expressed in kindness, gentleness, compassion, understanding, patience and unity. 

But we would shy away from using the word “holy” for our families. 

Although we strive to be like the Holy Family, we cannot deny that it is indeed challenging and difficult. 

On the other hand, we have seen and heard of broken families, dysfunctional families and other negative adjectives that come before the word “family”. 

Still, when it comes to our families, we hope that we will at least be a happy family, living simply with charity, and striving for harmony and unity. 

In other words, deep within, we want our families to be like the Holy Family, especially in times of trials and tribulations. 

In the gospel, we heard of how the Holy Family endured challenges and difficulties. 

But they were able to journey on because of their faith in God and their love for each other. 

Every family will have to face their moments of crisis. 

A crisis can be a source of division resulting in hurt, bitterness and resentment. 

Or, a crisis can be an opportunity of discovery and the renewal of faith and love, as well as the strengthening of the emotional bonds that are deep within our humanity. 

There is this story, or practice, among the nomadic communities in the Gobi desert of Mongolia. 

When Mongolian camels reject their newborns, the herders do not respond with force or other means of control. 

Instead, they turn to an ancient ritual rooted in patience, empathy and sound. 

For generations, those nomadic communities have practiced khöölökh, which is a soft repetitive, coaxing song, sung directly to the distressed camel. 

Accompanied at times by the low tones of a horse head fiddle, the song is meant to calm the mother camel and re-awaken her maternal bonds with her calf. 

As the melody continues, the camel often becomes still, and tears begin to form in her eyes. 

Eventually, she lowers her head and allows the baby camel to nurse and accept it as her own. 

Across the harsh grasslands where survival depends on livestock, the practice of khöölökh has saved countless newborns. 

It stands as a reminder that some of the oldest knowledge systems recognise a truth that modern societies often forget. 

The truth is that emotional and family bonds are not repaired through force or control. 

But it is through the means of a soft song and mellow music that the powerful emotions of love are awakened, and that will bring about healing and bonding. 

And we have that means. The soft, repetitive sounds of family prayer and hymns will awaken and renew the powerful human family emotions of love, that will lead us to desire for peace and harmony, kindness and forgiveness, understanding and patience towards our family members. 

When families are united in faith and love, the parish community and the Church will also be united in faith in love. 

May the prayers of Jesus, Mary and Joseph be heard in our families, in our parish and in the Church, so that the world will be awaken by love, a love that will bring about God’s blessings of peace to the world. 

Christmas, 25.12.2025

 Even before Christmas Day has arrived, we have already kind of celebrated Christmas. 

For the past two weeks or so, it was one Christmas party after another. 

So, we have already eaten the turkey and all the things that are stuffed in it. 

The fridge still has some remnants of the log-cake, and maybe a few more uneaten ones. 

Next to the log-cakes are also pieces of the honey-baked ham. 

So, it is the usual festive foods that we are looking at. 

The presents may also have been given out and exchanged. 

So yes, the celebrations have begun even before Christmas Day has arrived. 

So, now that Christmas Day is here, it is to eat up whatever that is left and to open those presents. 

In a way, it can be a good thing, because having already done all that, it leaves us to focus on what Christmas is really about. 

As we come for Mass, we also go back in time to Bethlehem. 

Bethlehem means “the house of bread”, but we are not looking for bread. 

We come to the animal shed, and we look at that manger, which is the feeding trough of the animals. 

And lying there, wrapped in swaddling clothes, is a newborn child. 

The setting is rather difficult to comprehend, or to understand. 

How can a baby be born in such a place? 

And also among those animals? 

But we look, we ponder and we wonder. 

We are told that this is the Son of God, the Prince of Peace, the Word made flesh.

He was not born in a palace, or in a clean and decent place.

And because there was no room at the inn, so He was born in a resting place for animals and laid in a manger. 

Yes, that is God became man, the Saviour, and He went through all that just to be with us. 

Jesus came into the world to show us how much God loves us. 

But the world was not prepared to welcome Him.

But that did not stop Jesus from coming into the world. 

And Jesus wants us to learn this lesson from Him. 

In life we will face the closed door, or many closed doors. 

It is like there is no room at the inn. 

But Jesus tells us that when life shuts the door, then open it again. 

That is how the door works. Doors can be shut; they can also be opened. 

Jesus found an open door in the hearts of Mary and Joseph. 

May Jesus also find an open door in our hearts. 

And as we celebrate the birth of Jesus, may we open the doors of our hearts to peace and reconciliation, to kindness and forgiveness.

And may closed doors be opened to let hope enter, so that there will be room for God’s love to come into the world.

4th Sunday of Advent, Year A, 21.12.2025

 Isaiah 7:10-14 / Romans 1:1-7 / Matthew 1:18-25

There is a game quiz that tests our knowledge of song titles or movie titles. 

In this game quiz, a word is given, and with a time limit, the contestant or contestants have to give the song titles or movie titles that has that word. 

So, let’s say that the word is “love”, and in 30 seconds, we have to name as many song titles as we can with the word “love” in it. 

Some of the song titles can be oldies like “Love me tender”, or from the pop era it will be “Endless love”. 

So, let’s say now the word is “dream” or “dreaming”. Let us think of some songs with the word “dream” or “dreaming” in it. 

Probably, the first song to come to mind during this season will be “I’m dreaming of a white Christmas”. 

From the 60s it may be this: All I have to do is dream.

Other songs from the 70s will be “I like dreaming”. 

Or from the 80s it will be “Sweet dreams are made of this”. 

Each generation will have their songs about dreams or dreaming. 

And each of us will also have our dreams about who we want to be, and what we want in life. 

To dream is to be able to imagine what kind of future we want for ourselves and how to achieve it. 

For Mary and Joseph, they too had their dreams about life. 

And their dreams became more distinct and directional when they were betrothed to each other. 

Mary would have thought of becoming a loving and caring wife and a devoted mother. 

Joseph would have thought of being a faithful husband and providing for the future family. 

They were not just in their own personal dreams. They had each other in their dreams. 

And then their dreams began to change when the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary to tell her that God had plans for her. 

Mary said “yes” and she conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit. All this is beyond reasoning and understanding. 

When Joseph found out that Mary was with child, we can imagine his reaction, which could be rather unpleasant. 

But still, being a man of honour, he wanted to spare Mary the publicity and decided to divorce her informally.

He had decided to do this when he had a dream, in which God spoke to him and told him to take Mary home to be his wife. 

It is a life changing dream, and Joseph could have rejected it. 

After all, his original dreams about the future with Mary and having a family seemed to have crumbled, and it is understandable that Joseph was confused and disappointed, to say the least. 

For Mary and Joseph, God entered into their dreams and their lives are going to be changed forever. 

But God was not just a dream, God became a reality in the child that Mary conceived, and Joseph is to name him Jesus. 

In the 1st reading, the prophet Isaiah told king Ahaz that God will give him a sign, although king Ahaz didn’t want that sign because he had no faith and trust in God.

Nonetheless the sign was given. A maiden is with child and will soon give birth to a son whom she will name Immanuel, a name which means God-is-with-us. 

That prophecy is fulfilled in the gospel, when the angel told Joseph to name the child “Jesus”, the name which means “God saves” or “God is salvation”. 

So, in Jesus, the hopes and dreams of the people of God in the Old Testament and the New Testament is fulfilled. 

And Jesus came to be with us, and He wants to be in our dreams. 

We may be dreaming of a white Christmas, but it is not about snow or with everything nice and bright. 

Jesus wants to be in our Christmas dream, so then we will dream about the true meaning of Christmas. 

We dream about peace to people of goodwill, and joy to a world that have seen sadness, pain and suffering. 

There’s this song from the early 80s and the lyrics are worth reflecting. The title is “I have a dream” and it goes like this:

I Have a Dream, a song to sing

To help me cope, with anything

If you see the wonder, of a fairy tale

You can take the future, even if you fail

I believe in angels

Something good in everything I see

I believe in angels

When I know the time is right for me

I'll cross the stream, I Have a Dream

Let us dream, and may Jesus come into our dreams. 

When Jesus is in our dreams then … 

we will sing the songs we want to sing, 

we will forget about that perfect rendering,

because there is a crack in everything, 

but that is how the light shines in. 

May the light of Christ shine into our dreams, and may we dream of a truly blessed Christmas for us and for the world.