Pentecost, Year C, 08.06.2025

 Acts 2:1-11 / Romans 8:8-17 / John 20:19-23

Generally speaking, life unfolds in two ways. 

One is when we plan out the schedules for the day, but at the end of the day, at least half if not all the schedules were disrupted or displaced. 

The other way in which life unfolds is when the unexpected happens, and expected did not. 

Whether it is one way or the other, it all tells us that life is such a mystery, and we need to prepare for surprises. 

But we, who are logical and rational beings, want life to be predictable and manageable. 

We like, and we want, things to happen as expected and according to plan. 

And when it doesn't because of interruptions, disruptions and surprises, then we get flustered and frustrated. 

We see this kind of reaction when the MRT breaks down, or when there are flash floods, or when there are sudden road closures because of accidents. 

But we need to remember that we are intelligent beings, and we have the ability to read the signs, and we are able to adapt and adjust to the situation. 

As the Church celebrates the Feast of Pentecost, it can be said that it is a celebration of the feast of the Spirit of surprises. 

The 1st reading describes how the first Pentecost happened. 

The disciples were all gathered in one room, then suddenly they heard what sounded like a powerful wind from heaven. 

Then something appeared to them that seemed like tongues of fire that came to rest on their heads. 

They were filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak foreign languages, as the Spirit gave them the gift of speech to proclaim the marvels of God. 

All that happened suddenly and unexpectedly. But it was a wonderful and an awesome surprise. 

And those with a spiritual sense would know that it is not the work of man but the work of God. 

It was the Spirit of God manifesting and expressing the work of God. 

The gospel scene was much quieter, but no less dramatic. 

It was evening on the first day of the week, and the doors were locked in the room where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews. 

Then without notice, Jesus came and stood among them and said: Please be with you. 

The disciples were certainly surprised, and their fear turned into joy. 

And then, in an act which recalled that moment in the story of creation when God breathed into the nostrils of man, Jesus breathed on the disciples and said: Receive the Holy Spirit. 

In a quiet but profound way, the disciples received the gift of the Holy Spirit. 

But whether it is a quiet and profound way, or dramatic and spectacular way, it was unexpected, it was surprising, and it all pointed to the marvellous ways of God. 

As we celebrate the Feast of Pentecost, Jesus is also pouring out the Holy Spirit on us. 

In the voices of prayer and singing of hymns at Mass, Jesus breathes on us the Holy Spirit. 

In the recently concluded conclave, 133 cardinals came from all over the world, from various countries with various cultures and languages.

They were to be guided by the Holy Spirit to choose the next Pope, according to the will of God. 

And now we know, that Cardinal Robert Prevost, was elected and he took the name of Leo XIV.

The interesting thing is that he is an American cardinal that even the American cardinals didn’t really know about.

And if the American cardinals don’t really know much about him, then much less the cardinals of the other countries.

So, how was cardinal Robert Prevost elected to be Pope, that, we must say, is the work of the Holy Spirit. 

The 2nd reading tells us that our interests are not in the unspiritual, but in the spiritual, since the Spirit of God has made His home in us. 

With the Spirit of God in our hearts, we will be able to see that the interruptions and disruptions of our lives are revelations and manifestations of the marvellous love of God. 

With the Spirit of God in our hearts, we will face the trials and tribulations of life and turn them into triumphs for the glory of God. 

And with the gentle breath of the Holy Spirit, may we speak the language of love that will bring comfort and consolation to those in need of God's forgiveness and healing.

7th Sunday of Easter, Year C, 01.06.2025

  Acts 7:55-60 / Apocalypse 22:12-14, 16-17, 20 / John 17:20-26

If we know that something is going to happen, then we will surely make preparations for it. 

Of course, we can't predict the future, and there is no need to read about what the horoscopes say. 

But there are obvious indications of what we need to plan and what to prepare for the future. 

For example, we need financial security and insurance coverage for what might happen in life. 

So, we save up for a rainy day, and we will buy life insurance, health insurance and hospital insurance. 

What we think is necessary, and if we are able to afford it, we should get it done. 

Because if we don't help ourselves to plan and prepare for the future, then there will be no one to help us when we are in need. 

And there's no need to plan too much. 

What is necessary and obvious, we should know. 

It is a matter of pondering and thinking about it, and getting it done. 

The gospel is part of a long prayer of Jesus. Jesus prayed that we, His church, will be united as one. 

Just as He and the Father are one, Jesus prayed that we, His Church, will also be one in God. 

Jesus said this prayer at the Last Supper, so it was His last prayer before He was arrested. 

Jesus knew what was going to happen soon. One of His disciples will betray Him, another will deny Him, the others will desert Him. Because He knew what was going to happen, He prayed that His disciples will be reunited, and united with love and in love. 

But that prayer is not just for His disciples. 

It is also for the many generations of Christians to come. 

Throughout the history of the Church, there were heresies and schisms which have broken up and torn the Church apart. 

Besides the division from within, there were also threats of persecution resulting in some Christians giving up and renouncing their faith. 

One such external threat was in the 5th century when the merciless barbarian Attila the Hun ravaged Italy and was about to attack the city of Rome. 

The pope then, Pope Leo I, or Leo the Great, went to meet at Attila to persuade him not to attack Rome. 

The historical fact is that Attila the Hun turned back and did not attack Rome. 

It was said that Pope Leo had prepared for the meeting with Attila by first celebrating the Eucharist, and then he went out in procession with the faithful, chanting prayers and singing hymns. 

There are many reasons as to why Attila turned back and did not attack Rome. 

There is also a legend that when Attila saw Pope Leo, he reportedly also saw two huge figures with Pope Leo. 

Those two figures were said to be St Peter and St. Paul, and they threatened Attila, and so he got frightened and retreated. 

But what is important for us to know is that Pope Leo prepared himself with prayer, and it was the hand of God that drove Attila away. 

This Sunday is in that period of time between the Ascension and Pentecost Sunday. 

Jesus told His disciples and the Church before He ascended, to pray and to wait to be clothed with the power from on high. 

That power from on high is none other than the gift of the Holy spirit. 

The Holy Spirit is our Advocate, our Protector, who will help us and lead us and guide us as we journey on in faith. 

The Holy Spirit will teach us all that we need to know, and He will prompt us as to what to prepare and what to do. 

So, we need to pray so as to be able to listen to the Holy Spirit and to be aware of His promptings. 

It is the Holy Spirit who will unite us to God and to one another in love and in peace.

6th Sunday of Easter, Year C, 24.05.2025

Acts 15:1-2, 22-29 / Apocalypse 21:10-14, 22-23 / John 14:23-29

Outward appearances give impressions, and often they may have lasting impressions. 

So, in order to make impressions, and if so desired, then the attention will be focused on the image and appearances. 

And grooming the image and the appearance is big business. 

But it must be said that what we see is not all there is. 

There is more to what we see, there is more than just image and appearances. 

For example, in one of the comic book superheroes, his suit has a letter “S” which is encased in a diamond shaped frame. 

Almost immediately we will associate it with Superman, but that logo or emblem is more than just that.

Or, let us talk about food. It is said that the presentation is as important as the taste. 

But one of our favourite local dishes goes contrary to that saying. 

We are talking about “char kuey teow”. It fails in looks, appearance and presentation, but it is fabulous in taste. 

So, there are many things in life that have much more to tell us. 

And it is not just things, but there are also many people that we come across in our lives, who have many things to tell us. 

In the gospel, Jesus tells us that He will send the Holy Spirit who will teach us everything and also remind us of all that Jesus had taught us. 

But in order for the Holy Spirit to teach us and remind us and to prompt us, there is one requirement. 

Our hearts must be made to be the home for God, and then in the depths of our hearts, the Holy Spirit will speak God's Word to us. 

And God’s Word will remind us, teach us, prompt us and reveal to us what we need to know. 

And what God's Word will remind us, teach us, prompt us and reveal to us is the gift of peace. 

Only Jesus can give us this peace, and it is a peace that the world cannot give, nor can we create it for ourselves. 

With the peace of God in our hearts, we will not be troubled or afraid, even though we may not know what the future is going to be like. 

With peace in our hearts, we know that we are saved by the love of God, and not by any superpower or superhero. 

Anyway, talking about that superhero with the “S” emblem on his suit, the story behind the emblem is that it does not stand for Superman. 

Rather, the story is that the “S” in the Superman emblem represents the Kryptonian symbol for hope, and it is the family crest of the house of El, which is Superman's family.

So, it is not a simple “S” but a stylized Kryptonian symbol for hope and justice. 

So, even the comic book superheroes have something to reveal about hope and justice, and also about truth, love and salvation. 

Jesus promised to send us the Holy Spirit, who will teach us about the ways of God. 

The Holy Spirit will remind us that we are saved by the love of God. 

The Holy Spirit will also reveal what God wants us to see, so that we can understand deeper the marvels of God. 

And Holy Spirit will also prompt us to do the will of God and to speak the words of God. 

Let us believe in God's gifts of peace, love and the Holy Spirit. 

And we will see the wonders and the marvels of God.

5th Sunday of Easter, Year C, 18.05.2025

Acts 14:21-27 / Apocalypse 21:1-5 / John 13:31-35

The word “goodbye” is a common word, and it is also a word that is used daily. 

It is usually shortened to “bye”, and we say to our loved ones when we leave the house.

We say it to our colleagues after work, we say it to our friends after a gathering, and we say it because it is customary to do so.

The word “goodbye” or “bye” is so common and used so often that it is said casually. 

It is with an expectation that we will meet again, sooner or later, in the future. 

It is not expected to be a final goodbye, or with the knowledge that the goodbye means that we will not be meeting again. 

But there are occasions when the goodbye is the final goodbye. 

And then there are some people who may not have the opportunity to say the last goodbye to us. 

But whether the goodbye is said or not, their memory lingers on in our minds. 

In the gospel, when Judas left the group, he did not say goodbye to anyone. 

He was so obsessed with betraying Jesus, that his mind was focused on carrying out that plan of betrayal. 

When Judas had left, Jesus talked about Himself being glorified and God being glorified. 

For Jesus, He knew that His hour had come, and that by His suffering and death, it would be His hour of glory. 

But His disciples did not know that, and so He had to prepare them for His departure. 

So, He told them that He will not be with them much longer. 

But He will leave them with something to remember, and that is to love one another, just as He has loved them. 

And by that love for one another, others will know that they are His disciples. 

The disciples remembered those words. They also realized later that those were the departing words of Jesus. 

Those were His final words of goodbye. 

And those parting words of Jesus were understandable, practical and spiritual. 

The early disciples like Paul and Barnabas in the 1st reading carried out their mission with those words. 

With those words of Jesus, they put fresh hearts into the other disciples, encouraging them to persevere in the faith. 

Yes, we must remember those words of Jesus, and that is to love one another as Jesus has loved us. 

And we also remember the parting words of those who have loved us with the love of Jesus. 

We remember the late Pope Francis who said to his personal health assistant, “Thank you for bringing me to the Square.” 

It was there at St. Peter's Square, on Easter Sunday, when Pope Francis imparted his final apostolic blessing on the Church and on the world. As we know Pope Francis passed away on Easter Monday.

So, as much as it seemed that Pope Francis said to his personal health assistant, “Thank you for bring me to the Square”, it could also be that he said that to Jesus to thank Jesus for being able to say goodbye to the people and to bless them.

And we also remember our loved ones and what they said to us before parting. 

Many people say “hi” and “bye” in our lives, but there are some who have left echoes of love in our hearts. 

They echo the words of Jesus: Love one another just as I have loved you. 

It is when we love one another as Jesus has loved us, that He will be present to wipe away the tears of our eyes, and there will be no mourning or sadness, but only the joy of loving one another with the love of Jesus.

4th Week of Easter, Monday, 12-05-2025

Acts 11:1-18 / John 10:1-10 

In all aspects of our life, there are certainly many options.

We have a choice of where we want to stay, and what kind of house we want to live in.

We can also choose what we wish to eat, and where to deposit our money and what to invest in.

So, in a world of choices, we have the freedom to choose.

But when it comes to faith and what or who to believe in, we can’t have too many choices or options.

In the gospel, Jesus tells us that He is the gate.

Anyone who enters through Him will be safe.

When we believe in Jesus, then we will also profess Him to be our only Lord and Saviour.

There can be no other besides Jesus.

When we are faithful to Jesus even when the times are hard and the going is rough, He will be faithful in His promises to us.

Jesus promised us that in Him we will have life and life to the full.

Let us believe in Jesus, and in Jesus alone, and we will live life to the full.

4th Sunday of Easter, Year C, 11.05.2025

 Acts 13:14, 43-52 / Apocalypse 7:9, 14-17 / John 10:27-30

Earlier this week, for almost two days, the eyes of the Church, and also the eyes of the world, were looking at something rather ordinary and even archaic. 

The object of interest was a chimney, an ordinary old-fashioned chimney. 

But of course, it is more than just that chimney. It was the smoke, and specifically the colour of the smoke, that comes out of that chimney. 

That chimney goes down to the fireplace where the ballots for the election of the next Pope were burnt. 

And the focus is on the colour of the smoke. Black smoke indicates a negative result. 

White smoke means the next Pope is elected. 

But while the focus was on the chimney and the colour of the smoke, something else appeared, and it lightened up a rather sombre and anxious atmosphere. 

Close to that chimney, three seagulls, including a baby seagull, flew in and perched on the roof. 

So, while all the attention was on that Sistine Chapel's chimney, and on the colour of the smoke, those three seagulls took the attention for a while. 

It seems like those three seagulls got a first row seat as they sat perched on the roof around the chimney, just moments before the chimney bellowed out the white smoke.

The conclave was a moment of deep mystery and spiritual significance. 

But in an age of livestream and news commentaries and interviews, it was the seagulls who seem to know exactly where to look, as well as bringing about a lively and affectionate feeling.

In the gospel, Jesus talked about sheep, and specifically the sheep that belong to Him. 

They will listen to His voice and they will follow Him. 

This weekend, as we give thanks to God for the election of the new Pope Leo XIV, the voice of the Good Shepherd rings out again in the Church. 

Pope Leo XIV listened to the voice of the Good Shepherd and accepted the call. 

We the Church must also listen to that same voice and follow the Good Shepherd. 

And we pray for our mothers and all mothers, that they will listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd and echo that voice to their children. 

And we also pray for those whom the Good Shepherd is calling to serve Him in the priesthood and religious life. 

May they respond willingly and generously. 

But the voice of the Good Shepherd is difficult to listen to, and also difficult to follow. 

The world has many noisy voices, but the voice of the Good Shepherd calls us to make a sacrifice of love, just as He Himself made that ultimate sacrifice of love to save us. 

And since seagulls appeared at the recent conclave, here is a story about a man and seagulls. 

Every Friday evening, almost without fail, an elderly man would stroll along the beach to the pier, carrying a bucket of shrimps. 

He would stand at the end of the pier, alone with his thoughts and his bucket of shrimps. 

But after a while, seagulls would appear from the evening sky, flying towards that elderly man. 

And that man, surrounded by hungry seagulls, would toss the shrimps to feed them, and as he does this, he would keep saying, “Thank you, thank you.” 

That elderly man was Eddie Rickenbacker, who was an ace fighter pilot in World War I, and in World War II he was an advisor to the US Air Force in the Pacific. 

While he was flying with a bomber crew over the Pacific Ocean, the plane developed engine trouble and crash landed into the sea. 

Eddie and seven other crew members managed to get on a lifeboat. After 3 days, the food ran out, and life was draining away. 

They prayed for help. On the 8th day, after prayers, Eddie leaned back to rest. 

As he was dozing off, he felt something landed on his head. Instinctively, he knew it was a bird, and he quickly grabbed and caught it. It was a seagull. 

The men ate the bird, and caught fish with the seagull’s remains. They survived with that, and were rescued 16 days later. 

But Eddie Rickenbacker never forgot how that seagull appeared out of nowhere, and saved them, physically and emotionally. 

From then on, every Friday evening, Eddie Rickenbacker would walk along the beach to the pier, and feed the seagulls from his bucket of shrimps, remembering that seagull which he believed was sent by the Lord. 

So those three seagulls on a roof of the Sistine Chapel told us where to look. 

The sheep in the gospel tells us who to listen to and who to follow. 

May Pope Leo XIV show us who to look at and who to listen to. 

And may we respond to God by offering Him our hearts that are filled with love and thanksgiving.

3rd Sunday of Easter, Year C, 04.05.2025

 Acts 5:27-32, 40-41 / Apocalypse 5:11-14 / John 21:1-19

The elections of our country are over, and we must thank God that elections in our country are peaceful. 

Yes, there are fiery rallies and there are enthusiastic support for the candidates. 

But the real work begins, now that results are announced. 

The promises made at the rallies will have to be fulfilled. 

As for us, the Catholic citizens of Singapore, our work is to pray for our country, and the elected leaders and ministers. 

It is our duty to pray for peace and for the stability of our country, and that we live up to what we pledge as citizens of Singapore. 

But coming up, there is also an equally important and urgent call for prayer. 

This Wednesday, the 7th of May, 133 Cardinals, our Archbishop, Cardinal William Goh, is one of them, will enter the conclave to pray and to elect the next Pope. 

Conclave means “with keys”, and so it means that the conclave is a room that is lockable. 

So, the Cardinals will enter that big room, which is the Sistine Chapel, and then it will be locked. 

And locked away from the world, the Cardinals pray and cast their votes for the next Pope. 

And we, the Church, will also pray that guided by the Holy Spirit, the Cardinals will elect a Pope according to the will of God. 

And we will also pray that the next Pope will lead the Church with the Heart of Jesus. 

And what is the Heart of Jesus like? 

It is the Heart of love and mercy, a Heart that cares for the lowly and the neglected, a Heart that heals the wounded and the hurting. 

And we see that Heart of Jesus in today's Gospel. 

The disciples caught nothing after working all night, and then Jesus came along to tell them where to catch the fish. 

And it is not just catching some fish, but a lot of fish, and that showed the abundance of God's blessings. 

And when they came ashore, the disciples saw that Jesus had prepared breakfast for them. 

And it was after the meal and when their hearts are calmed down, that Jesus asked Peter those three questions. 

Those three questions were not that difficult because it is all about love. 

At this point in time when we stand between the outcome of one election and the outcome of another election, let us come to the core of our faith. 

And the core of our faith is Peter's response to the questions of Jesus: Yes, Lord, You know I love You. 

We love the Lord, and so we pray for our country and our country's leaders, that God will bless us with peace, stability and progress. 

Like the disciples, may we have fish to catch, bread to eat, and love to care and share. 

We love the Lord, and so we pray for the Church and for the next Pope. 

May God bless the next Pope to lead the Church with the Heart of Jesus the Good Shepherd. 

May we always respond with a firm “Yes” to God's love and may we have the courage to go where Jesus is leading us to. 

So, whoever leads our country, and whoever leads the Church, let us always have recourse to prayer, and to remember this:

The will of God will not take us to where the grace of God will not protect us.

2nd Sunday of Easter, Year C, 26.04.2025

 Acts 5:12-16 / Apocalypse 1:9-13, 17-19 / John 20:19-31 

Yesterday afternoon, most of the world's attention was focused on Rome, or more specifically at St. Peter's Square in the Vatican City. 

As for us Catholics who couldn't be at the St. Peter's Square, we would be watching the funeral Mass that was being streamed live. 

Together with the Church, we want to bid farewell to our beloved Pope Francis and to pray for him. 

We want to thank God for Pope Francis who led the Church for 12 years. 

We want to thank God for the great blessing of having Pope Francis visiting us in Singapore, and giving us an experience of unity and hope. 

Now that the funeral of Pope Francis is over, the attention will be on the coming Conclave.

The Church, and the world, will await the election of the next Pope. 

But the memory of Pope Francis will linger on, and the legacy that he left behind will still be remembered. 

Pope Francis held the highest office of the Church for 12 years, which was not really a long time. 

But his simple, humble and ordinary lifestyle resonated with many of us. 

After his election as Pope, he took the bus back together with the other Cardinals instead of taking the papal limousine.

 He continued to stay in Casa Santa Martha, which was a guest house for clergy. 

That choice of residence symbolized Pope Francis’ papacy, which was defined by humility, accessibility and the rejection of luxury. 

He also died there, and the Church, and the world, was reminded of how he transformed the papacy and the Church through his living arrangements as much as through his words. 

Little things mattered to Pope Francis. 

After his election as Pope, he called up his newspaper vendor in Argentina to tell him to cancel the newspaper subscription. 

He also personally called up some people to tell them that he won't be coming back to Argentina, and they all thought it was a prank call. 

Pope Francis also taught us that when we give money to the poor, it is not just about putting money into their hands, but also looking into the eyes of the poor. 

Pope Francis brought the Church to regain her core purpose and core mission, and to recover the image of a Church for the poor. 

Yes, little, simple and humble things matter to Pope Francis. 

But, we are tempted and attracted by the big, the grand and the spectacular things. 

In a way, we are quite similar to Thomas in the gospel reading. 

Thomas was not contented with what the rest said about having seen the Risen Christ. 

He not only wanted to see the Risen Christ, he demanded to put his finger and his hand into those wounds. 

Thomas was demanding, he wanted certainty, he wanted it to be spectacular, so that it will be like the biggest news, or like breaking news. 

So, when Jesus appeared again, He addressed those demands of Thomas. 

Whether or not Thomas put his finger into those holes and his hand into the side, the gospel did not say. 

But Thomas made this simple and humble proclamation: My Lord and my God. 

Pope Francis has taught us to move away from the big, the grand, the spectacular and the attractive, and to go back to the core of our humanity, and to the core of our Christianity. 

Like Thomas, we too must say: My Lord and my God. 

And with simplicity, humility and with charity, let us say what we mean, and mean what we say, when it comes to those words “my Lord and my God”.

Easter Sunday, Year C, 20.04.2025

 Easter Sunday C-2025                                                                                                 20-04-25

Life is ironic, and yet surprising. 

Because it takes sadness to know what happiness is. 

It takes noise to appreciate silence. 

And it takes absence to value presence. 

Yes, life is ironic, and the surprise is in the opposite. 

This weekend is what is often called a “long weekend”. 

Since Friday was a holiday, then it can be quite tempting to go for a short trip or do something exciting over the weekend.

But Friday is a religious holiday, and for us Catholics, that means it was a day of fasting and also coming to church. 

It may seem rather ironic to spend a holiday with fasting and praying instead of doing something exciting. 

But the irony is that in giving up what seems exciting that we receive something inspiring. 

We came to church on Good Friday, and there is one thing that we will remember doing. 

We will remember that we came forward to venerate the cross. 

Parents brought their children along and as they kissed the cross, their children did likewise. 

Whether ordinary or celebrity, they went down on their knees to kiss the cross. 

Elderly aunties and uncles took great effort to get down and to kiss the cross and to get up again. 

It is amazing, as well as inspiring. 

It is ironic that the cross of suffering and pain is the majestic object of our veneration and adoration. 

And it is also ironic that in the instrument of death is the symbol of life and love. 

The mystery of the Resurrection is often symbolized in the empty tomb. 

But the irony of the mystery is not in the empty tomb. 

The question the angels had for those who went to the tomb is this: 

Why look among the dead for the One who is alive? 

The question that people may ask us is this:

Why kiss the cross on Good Friday? Why kiss an object of pain and suffering when we can enjoy the holiday and have fun and do something exciting. 

But the irony is that in the symbol of pain and death, we encounter life and love. 

But it is not because of the cross, but because of Jesus who died on it. 

We believe in the Resurrection, not because of the empty tomb, but because of Jesus who rose from the dead, and rolled away the stone of sin and death. 

So, we don't look among the dead for the One who is alive. 

And Jesus lives, not in the empty tomb, but in our hearts. 

With Jesus, let us roll away the stones of sin and death. 

And may our faith in the Resurrection of Christ, bring out the love and life from us, so that others will also come to believe in Jesus who rose from the dead, and will give them life and love.   

5th Sunday of Lent, Year C, 06.04.2025

 Isaiah 43:16-21 / Philippians 3:8-14 / John 8:1-11 

One ordinary item that can be found almost everywhere is the mirror. 

Mirrors come in all shapes and sizes. 

It can be found in bedrooms and in the restrooms. 

It can be found in hairdressing saloons and in boutiques. 

So, mirrors can be found in high and mighty places, as well as in ordinary and lowly places. 

Regardless of where it may be found, if there is a mirror, we would certainly want to look at it or at least glance at it. 

That is because we like to look at ourselves in the mirror. 

It may be out of vanity to see how good we look. 

Or it may be out of curiosity to see if we look good. 

But most of the time, we are concerned with the externals, we are concerned with our appearances. 

Mirrors don't show us the emotional and psychological state of ourselves. 

In the gospel, scribes and Pharisees brought before Jesus, a woman who was caught committing adultery. 

They said that according to the Law, that woman is to be condemned to death by stoning. 

When the scribes and the Pharisees persisted with their question, Jesus made this stunning statement: 

If there is one of you who have not sinned, let him be the first to throw a stone at her. 

There was probably silence after that statement. There is no need for any further discussion or questions. 

No stones were thrown, and no one wanted to be around to see if anyone would throw a stone. 

All went away until only Jesus and the woman were left alone. 

That statement of Jesus was like a mirror that each one had to look at. 

What they saw, they had to look away and walk away. 

While they may judge other people's sins, they could not and would not want to look at their own sins.

So, that statement from Jesus was like the mirror of truth that reveals, and yet also conceals. 

We may recall this phrase “Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?” 

That phrase is from the fairy tale Snow White and the Seven dwarfs, and it was said by the evil queen. 

While that mirror told the truth that the evil queen was the fairest of all, the time came when Snow White was born and that mirror had to say that Snow White was now the fairest of all. 

So, what reflections and thoughts do we have about that statement from Jesus: 

If there is one of you who have not sinned, let him be the first to throw a stone at her. 

That statement could be like the mirror of truth that reveals to us that we all have sinned. 

But we may also want to conceal the truth and direct the attention to other people's sins. 

So, even when we look into the mirror of truth, we may accept it for what it reveals. 

Or we can turn it around and let the truth be concealed. 

The problem with this is that we would rather be ruined by praise than to be saved by criticism. 

As we reflect and think about that statement of Jesus, may the Lord God turn the stones of our sins into stepping stones that will lead us to God's mercy and forgiveness.

4th Sunday of Lent, Year C, RCIA 2nd Scrutiny

 1 Sam 16:1, 6-7, 10-13 / Ephesians 5:8-14 / John 9:1-41 (Year A readings)

When it comes to the sensitive and fragile parts of our body, we will certainly take extra care of them. 

So, to protect the soles of our feet, we have footwear. 

And if our skin is sensitive to strong sunlight, we can wear protective clothing and apply skin lotion. 

But there is a rather sensitive and fragile part of our body that is often left unprotected and exposed. 

It is none other than our eyes.

For those who don't need to wear spectacles, then the eyes are quite exposed and vulnerable. 

On the other hand, there are those who wear dark glasses for one reason or another. 

There is something about our eyes that is necessary in our function as a human being, and in our relationship as a person. 

Our sight is one of our senses, and we use our eyes to see, and then we judge, and then we act. 

But there is something more about our eyes. The eyes are the windows to the soul. 

We look into the eyes of a person whom we are in a comfortable relationship. 

But we avoid eye contact with a person whom we feel uneasy with, or that we just want to keep a distance from. 

The gospel began by saying that as Jesus went along, He saw a man who was blind from birth. 

Whenever the Scriptures mentions a seemingly ordinary sentence, like the verse earlier, then usually a divine revelation is about to happen. 

When the gospel mentions that Jesus saw the blind man, that also brings us back to the 1st reading. 

In the 1st reading, God says this to Samuel: God does not see as man sees. Man looks at appearances, but the Lord looks at heart. 

Jesus saw the heart of the blind man, and He saw a man of faith and courage, despite his blindness. 

And indeed, after when the man received his sight, he bore witness to Jesus and spoke up for Him, despite being ridiculed and rejected. 

As the RCIA Elects enter deeper into the period of Purification and Enlightenment with the Second Scrutiny, the Lord is also looking into their hearts, and the Lord is also looking into our hearts. 

But the Lord looks into our hearts to strengthen our faith and courage, so that we can purify our hearts and to make a home in our hearts for Jesus. 

And the Lord also looks into our hearts to enlighten us, so that with our hearts that are filled with light, we will be able to see clearly. 

To see clearly is to see as God sees, and not as man sees. Man looks at appearances, but the Lord looks at the heart. 

So, with our eyes purified and enlightened, let us look at our own hearts. 

And may we look from the things of earth, to the things of above, where God is. 

May we see clearly, may we act wisely, and may we be holy.

4th Sunday of Lent, Year C, 30.03.2025

 Joshua 5:9-12 / 2 Cor 5:17-21 / Luke 15:1-3, 11-32  

Whenever we think about jewellery, a few things will come to mind. 

One of which is the precious metals that make up most of the jewellery. 

And these precious metals are mostly gold and silver. So, there are earrings, bracelets, necklace, rings and brooches that are made from these precious metals. 

Besides that, there are also jewellery made with precious stones, and it is usually diamonds, as well as other precious stones. 

These precious metals and stones are not just valuable, they are also beautiful. 

But in the original form, they look far from precious or beautiful. 

For example, gold and silver are mined from the Earth. They go through a long process of purification before becoming precious and beautiful. 

Similarly for diamonds, they are also mined from the Earth. 

In the raw form, they are rough stones, which will go through a process of cutting and polishing before becoming valuable and beautiful. 

The gospel parable, which is also known as the parable of a prodigal son, began on a rather tensed situation. 

The tax collectors and sinners were all seeking the company of Jesus to hear what He had to say to them. 

The Pharisees and the scribes complained about Jesus being in the company of sinners, and so He told them this parable. 

The parable touches on family relationships and the main focus is on that younger son. 

That younger son was rough enough to ask for his share of the inheritance, and then went on to squander it away in a far off country. 

He had to go through a cutting and grinding experience of hunger and humiliation that made him come to his senses. 

And he had the humility and the sensibility to go back to his father in repentance and ask for forgiveness. 

There is no doubt that the younger son was a pain for the father, as well as for the elder brother. 

But pain can be transformed into something precious. 

It made that prodigal son realized how precious is his father's love for him. 

As for the father, the pain of his son leaving him transformed it into a precious lesson for us. 

So out of pain, something precious can come about. 

This is what the parable is teaching us, and this is also the reality of how those precious pearls come about. 

We may know that pearls are produced by oysters, and those pearls are produced because the oyster experience some kind of pain, or because it was irritated in some way. 

A pearl is actually a healed wound. It is formed when an irritant, like a grain of sand or a parasite, enters into the shell of the oyster. 

To protect itself, the oyster secretes layers of a smooth, shiny substance called nacre, coating the intruder over time. 

Layer by layer, this process continues until a beautiful pearl is formed. 

So, those beautiful pearls are a product of pain. 

It is about transforming something unwanted into something precious and beautiful. 

This also brings to mind the pain and the suffering of Jesus that He went through for us. 

By His wounds we are healed, and His pain brought about the precious love of God for us. 

Let us put the pains of our lives into the hands of Jesus, so that He can transform those pains into beautiful pearls of blessings for us.

3rd Sunday of Lent, Year C, 23.03.2025

 Exodus 3:1-8, 13-15 / 1 Cor 10:1-6, 10-12 / Luke 13:1-9

There is one common characteristic in all living beings. 

And that is all living beings can feel pain.

This is most evident in human beings and animals. 

Plants are living things and they may not feel pain like the sentient beings. 

But something usually happens when a branch or stem is cut off from a plant or tree. 

That part of the plant or tree oozes out some sap or liquid. 

We may wonder if that is a sign of pain from the plant or tree. 

Generally speaking, pain is a sign that is calling for attention. 

So, if it is physical pain, then medical consultation is needed. 

And there are also other pains like mental or psychological pains. 

It is said that when we can feel pain, we are alive. And when we can feel other people's pain, then we are human. (Leo Tolstoy) 

So, as much as we want to avoid pain, yet, pain makes us human, and enables us to empathize and have compassion for others who are in pain. 

In the gospel parable, the owner of the vineyard told the gardener to cut down that fig tree that did not bear fruit for 3 years. 

But the gardener felt for that fig tree and asked for one more year. 

In a way, that parable tells us that God is like the gardener who feels our pain. 

Jesus was sent to save us and heal the pain caused by our sins. 

As for us, we can choose to ignore, or to pay attention to our physical and spiritual pains. 

To ignore is to be indignant and to even ask for trouble. 

To pay attention to our pains would make us alive and also to be attentive to what the Lord is showing and telling us. 

And when we heed the call to repentance, then we are also becoming more human. 

We begin to feel the pain of the faults and failings of others, and to feel compassion for them. 

And we have also become like the gardener in the parable; we will also pray and plead for mercy and forgiveness for others and especially for sinners. 

In doing so, we unite ourselves to Jesus in His pain and suffering on the Cross, to save humanity from their sins.

3rd Sunday of Lent, Year C (RCIA 1st Scrutiny), 23.03.2025

  Exodus 17:3-7 / Romans 5:1-2, 5-8 / John 4:5-42 (Year A readings)

There are photographs of the planet Earth taken from outer space. 

These photos show a beautiful planet with bluish and whitish shades. 

The reason for this is that our Earth is covered by a large amount of water. About 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered with water, which gives it a beautiful appearance from outer space. 

Indeed, our Earth, the blue planet, is beautiful because of the water in it. 

Not only is the Earth beautiful because of the water in it, the human body has about 70% of water, and so, human beings, like the Earth, are beautiful. 

Water is a common substance, and yet, it is so vital for life. 

Water washes and cleanses, it also refreshes and hydrates the human body. 

Besides that, other interesting and fascinating aspects of water is that it can exist in three states, that is, as a liquid, as a gas and as ice. 

And water is also flexible in that it takes on the shape of the vessel that it is poured into. 

Indeed, there are many lessons about life that we can learn from water. 

In the gospel, Jesus began conversation with a Samaritan woman by asking for water to drink. 

And from her understanding of water as vital for life, Jesus then talked about living water. 

From her need of water to quench her thirst, she became interested in the living water that will give her eternal life. 

On this third Sunday of Lent, the RCIA Elect begin the period of purification and enlightenment, by reflecting on the physical and spiritual meaning of water as they prepare for baptism. 

They will be baptized with water which will wash away their sins. 

The waters of Baptism is also a living water that will give them eternal life. 

For the Elect, and for us the baptized, we reflect deeper on this common substance of water, as well as Baptism. 

At Baptism, we become like who we are baptized in, and we are baptized in Christ, and therefore we become like Christ. 

We also become like what we are baptized with, and we are baptized with water, and so, we become like water. 

We become not like ordinary water, we become like living water. 

Like water that takes the form of the vessel that it is in, we are like living water that will flow to where and to who Jesus will send us to. 

Also, in the encounter between a stone and water, the lesson that we learn is that the water will prevail. 

The flowing water will smoothen out the rough edges of the stone, and even make the stone beautiful. 

May we let the Living Water from Jesus Christ flow into our minds and hearts, and quench the thirst of our lives. 

And may the Living Water from Jesus Christ cleanse and purify us and also enlighten us. 

May we see that in the soft and gentle water is the power of the love of God, which will forgive us, heal us, sanctify us and make us into living waters for others.

2nd Sunday of Lent, Year C, 16.03.2025

  Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18 / Philippians 3:17 – 4:1 / Luke 9:28-36 

There are quite a few occasions that occur annually. 

We will surely know what they are because it usually comes with a public holiday. 

So, that will be New Year's day, Chinese New Year (and that's two public holidays), Hari Raya Puasa (and that is coming up soon), etc. 

We can't miss those occasions because it will come with a public holiday, and we like holidays because we don't have to go to school or to work. 

But other than those public occasions, there are also personal occasions that come about annually. 

So, there are birthdays and wedding anniversaries. Whether we celebrate those occasions or not, we will still remember those dates because those are our personal dates. 

But it might be a bit more difficult to remember other people's dates, like the birthday of the spouse, and that can mean some trouble. 

Or, the date of the wedding anniversary, and that can be quite embarrassing, especially when obvious hints are given. 

Today's Gospel is also known as the gospel of the Transfiguration. 

And we may also notice that every year on the 2nd Sunday of Lent, the Gospel reading is about the Transfiguration. 

Adding on to that, the Feast of the Transfiguration is also celebrated on the 6th of August in the Church calendar. 

That is telling us something, and that is, the Transfiguration is an important event in the life of Jesus. 

On that mountain, the glory of Jesus was revealed, that He is the beloved Son of God. 

The presence of Moses and Elijah witnessed to Jesus, that He is the Divine Law Giver and the Prophetic Voice of God. 

As for the disciples, Peter, James and John, they were overwhelmed with awe. 

Peter said something about building three tents, but he actually didn't know what he was saying. 

But whatever it is, the Transfiguration of Jesus on that mountain was an experience and an encounter that was seared deep into the hearts of the disciples. 

They didn't talk about it then, but later on, they will speak about it as it was an occasion that pointed to Jesus as the Divine Son of God. 

So, why is the Transfiguration being mentioned during the season of Lent and again in August. 

Well, for the RCIA Elect, the season of Lent is the period of their final preparation for baptism at Easter.

This Sunday’s Gospel of the Transfiguration leads them to reflect on how the Lord Jesus has revealed Himself to them in their faith journey. 

There was a sharing by one of the Elect which is rather amusing and amazing. 

In her childhood days, one of her Catholic relatives brought her to a Catholic Church, but only for a few occasions, and that is to pray for the exams. 

That was her first encounter with the Catholic Church. Later on, she got married and she didn't think much about God or about going to Church. 

And then her husband injured his back and was bedridden for a few months. 

She was so stressed as there was no cure despite having treatment after treatment. 

One morning, when she was about to go marketing, one of her friends called her up. She shared with that friend about her husband's condition, and that friend told her to pray to Jesus. 

She asked her friend how to pray, and that friend told her to look up at the sky and say: Jesus, please help me, please cure my husband. 

Well, she did that, she looked up in the sky, and said: Jesus, please help me, please cure my husband.

And then she carried on with her marketing. That very afternoon, when she was preparing dinner, she thought that she saw her husband walking slowly from the bedroom to the toilet. 

She was very surprised and amazed, and her husband slowly recovered and was able to walk. 

But what was even more surprising was that, when asked who was that friend who told her to look at the sky to pray to Jesus, she couldn't remember.

How could she not remember who it is? 

But in life, there are many experiences and encounters that are beyond explanation. 

We can call it a mystery, but that is how God reveals Himself to us, just like how Jesus revealed Himself to His disciples in the Transfiguration. 

On this second Sunday of Lent, we and the RCIA Elect are led to reflect and recall how God has revealed Himself to us.

It may not be a spectacular experience or a dramatic encounter. 

But certainly, God is speaking to us through Jesus His Son.

May we listen, may we believe, and may our faith be strengthened.

1st Sunday of Lent, Year C, 09.03.2025

 Deuteronomy 216:4-10 / Romans 10:8-13 / Luke 4:1-13 

We may have felt that many things have happened rather quickly since the start of the year. 

There was the Chinese New Year that came and went, and it was not that long ago.

And then the season of Lent has begun with Ash Wednesday. 

Now that the season of Lent has begun, we may be thinking of what to do and how to do it. 

So, we might be thinking about making more time for prayer, maybe waking up earlier in the morning to pray. 

We may be thinking of going for some weekday Masses, besides the Sunday masses. 

We may be thinking of going for the Stations of the Cross every Friday of Lent. 

And then there is also the practice of fasting and abstinence on Fridays, or we may want to do more for season of Lent. 

Whatever it may be, the season of Lent seems to be like a busy spiritual season with many spiritual practices to consider. 

But before we think of what we want to do for the season of Lent, let us take a look at Jesus in today's Gospel. 

Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus left the Jordan, but He didn't immediately launch into His mission of salvation. 

Rather, He was led by the Holy Spirit through the wilderness, being tempted there by the devil for 40 days. 

It seems like Jesus didn't decide what to do after His baptism. It was the Spirit who decided for Him. 

And so, the Spirit led Jesus to the wilderness, or, also known as the desert. 

The desert is a harsh place, where hunger and thirst are felt to the extremes, and that is nothing that can be done about it. 

Besides, there's also nothing else to do. 

And as if that is not terrible enough, it was also there that the devil tempted Jesus.

So, it was a rough start for Jesus, firstly going to a very uncomfortable place, and then being unsettled by the devil. 

The Church began the season of Lent on Ash Wednesday which was a few days ago. 

On that day, the Church use an ordinary, or a rather useless substance, to mark our foreheads, and that is ashes. 

Ashes are messy, and they can also cause irritation to our skin.

The ashes are marked on our foreheads to remind us of three realities, and that is our frailty, our mortality and our eternity. 

With the ashes, we are reminded of our frailty, that we are weak human beings. 

We feel pain, we fall ill, we worry about our problems and difficulties, and we get anxious about losing what we consider as precious. 

The ashes also remind us of our mortality. There's nothing as certain as death. 

One of the phrases that is used when the ashes are marked on our foreheads is this: Remember, you are dust, and unto dust you shall return. 

Yes, returning to dust is the stark reality and the certainty, and that is nothing that we can do about it, nor can we avoid it. 

But in our frailty and mortality, God promises an eternity of glory for those who hope and trust in Him. 

Ash Wednesday reminds us that everything will pass.

Our hunger will pass, our wealth and our health will pass, our success and our failures will also pass. 

But the season of Lent makes us pause, and pause for 40 days. 

Yes, we pause to pray about our frailty and our mortality. 

In our frailty and mortality, may we also come to see eternity. 

And we also see that everything will pass away, but God will not pass away.

And when we put our hope and trust in God, He will also not let us pass away. 

God will raise us up from the ashes of our frailty and mortality, and He will lead us into eternity.

We just need to pause, and with prayer, we will see how God is doing this for us.

8th Ordinary Sunday, Year C, 02.03.2025

Ecclesiasticus 27:4-7 / 1 Cor 15:54-58 / Luke 6:39-45

We know this common saying: Do not judge a book by its cover. 

This is quite true because the cover of the book does not really say much about the contents of the book. 

Nonetheless, the cover of the book will still have some information like the title and who the author is. 

The title and the author might already give an idea or an indication about the contents of the book. 

Going by the title of a book, it is difficult to say what the book is about. 

But whatever the title of a book may be, the author will be the one who will give us the most information about the book. 

Because from the author, we will generally know the category of the book. 

So, from the author, we will generally know whether the book is about history, or fiction, or mystery, or self-help or self-improvement. 

And the author's background will also tell us about his character and his orientation. 

In a gospel, Jesus gave a teaching using a tree and its fruit as an example. 

A tree is not judged by its height and size, or by its branches and leaves. 

Rather, a tree is judged by its fruit. 

In fact, by its fruit, we will know the species of the tree. 

Using the tree and its fruit as an example, Jesus goes on to teach about how to tell the character of a person. 

Jesus says that no sound tree produces rotten fruit, nor would a rotten tree produce sound fruit. 

The point of the teaching is this: A good person draws what is good from the store of goodness in his heart. 

A bad person draws what is bad from the store of badness in his heart. 

Jesus then made this statement that summed up His teaching: 

For a man's words flow out of what fillls his heart. 

That should certainly make us think about the words that come out of our mouths. 

As Jesus said, our words are a reflection and an indication of what fills our hearts. 

In a way we are like a book. A book cannot be judged by its cover, nor can a person be judged by his looks and appearance. 

But when a person speaks, his words will reveal his character. 

So too, our words will reveal to others our character and integrity. 

And our words will also reveal whether we listen to respond, or we listen to understand. 

Because, quite often, even before the other person has finished speaking, we are already forming words to respond, instead of listening to understand. 

So, speaking and listening are like the two covers of a book. 

Let us speak in a way that others would love to listen to us.

And let us listen in a way that others would love to speak to us. 

Then we would be like a good book that others would love to read. 

May we also be like a book that tells others of the love of God.

7th Ordinary Sunday, Year C, 23.02.2025

 1 Sam 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23 / 1 Cor 15:45-49 / Luke 6:27-38

In the Bible, the book of Genesis described the story of creation. 

God created the world and everything in it in six days. With each day of creation, the world was getting more and more beautiful. 

Finally, on the 6th day, when God created man in His image, God saw that His creation was very good. 

Indeed, all creation is very good as it reflects the beauty and the goodness of God. 

But when man sinned against God, the image of man became disfigured and distorted. 

And man's relationship with God and the rest of creation also became disfigured and distorted. 

Though disfigured and distorted, mankind and creation still retained the beauty and the goodness of God. 

When we look at nature, it shows us what life is about and also who we are. 

For example, life is like a river that is long and winding. And so is life; life is also not a straight and clear journey. 

Another image from nature is this: The branch that bears the most fruit bows the lowest. That reminds us of the need for humility in our time of prosperity. 

So, nature and creation are reminders of who God is and who we are. 

In the emphasis of the care for creation and the environment, it is also a reminder to care for each other. 

It is a reminder of who we are and in whose image we are created. 

In the gospel, Jesus, who is the True image of God, teaches us how to recover the beauty and the goodness of our humanity. 

He teaches us the way of love, but it is the way of a hard and tough love. 

Jesus teaches us to love our enemies, to do good to those who hate us, to bless those who curse us, and to pray for those who treat us badly. 

That is a hard and a tough love. It goes against our disfigured and distorted tendencies. 

But that way of love brings about healing and restores us to the beautiful image of God. 

And nature also keeps showing us to go that way of love, if we want to be healed, if we want to be restored. 

In the Chinese zodiac, this year is the “year of the snake”. 

So let us see what the snake can show us. Imagine being bitten by a snake. Instead of focusing on healing from the bite, we go after the snake to find out why it bit us, and even to teach the snake a lesson so that it won't bite us again. 

That may sound rather silly, but that is also how we react to those whom we don't like, or those who don't like us. 

It is the way of confrontation and retaliation, but that is not the way of love, because there is no restoration, there is no reconciliation. 

In the 1st reading, we hear of that moment when David had the opportunity to retaliate and to eliminate king Saul who was persecuting him. 

But David held back and made this memorable statement: I will not raise my hand against the Lord's anointed. 

To raise the hand, in this sense, is to harm someone. 

Although David could retaliate and eliminate king Saul, he submitted to the authority of God, and respected those whom God has anointed and appointed. 

We may not resort to raising our hands in violence and to harm those who dislike us or persecute us. 

So, we will raise our voice in confrontation and retaliation. But it will be futile, fruitless and frustrating. 

Instead of raising our voice, let us raise our minds and our hearts to God, and speak words of love. 

Nature tells us that it is the rain that grows the flowers, not the thunder or the lightning. 

May the flowers of God's love bloom in our lives, and bring us healing and restoration to God's image of love.

6th Ordinary Sunday, Year C, 16.02.25

  Jeremiah 17:5-8 / 1 Cor 15:12, 16-20 / Luke 6:17, 20-26

The festive celebrations have finally come to an end on the 15th day which was last Wednesday. 

With that, it means the popular “Lo Hei” will disappear from the menu. Anyway we also have had enough of it. 

The glaring red decorations are also taken down and those New Year songs are also taken off the air. 

So, it is back to life and back to reality. 

But what about those well wishes that we exchanged, like, “Gong Xi Fa Cai”. 

Will those well wishes turn into reality, or are they just festive formalities. 

Certainly, we wish that we will be happy in the year ahead. We also wish for the good things in life, like, health and wealth. 

So, we look forward for our wishes to come true, for others as well as for ourselves. 

And of course, we don't want anything bad or sad to happen. 

In the gospel passage, Jesus talked about happiness. But His teaching on happiness does not seem to go along with our understanding of happiness. 

In fact, the teaching of Jesus on happiness is like a contradiction for us. 

How can it be happy when we are hungry and sad. And why would it be bad or sad to be rich, or filled, or laughing. 

This gospel message is strange, and no wonder it wasn't used for the Chinese New Year Mass, even though it has the word happiness in it. 

So, what is the gospel truth here. Well, the gospel truth is this: That life is so ironic. 

It takes sadness to know what happiness is, noise to appreciate silence, and absence to value presence. 

But we don't like the bad and sad. In fact, we fear it. This is where faith comes in. 

Fear says “what if”. But faith says “even if”. 

I would like to share this story about “The last bouquet of carnations”, and for ease of narration I will narrate it in the first person.

When Mom passed away, she didn't forget to remind me of one thing.

"Mother's Day is coming. Remember to send flowers. And remember to send them every year, never forget!"

I nodded, understanding that what Mom meant was for me to send flowers to a woman named Doreen.

Doreen wasn't a relative, nor a close friend, and certainly not a regular customer. I didn’t understand why Mom was so insistent on this, even at the end of her life, making sure to remind me to send flowers to a stranger.

The older generation hold onto all sorts of illogical things, and can’t even explain why they do certain things. And yet they continue doing the same thing year after year.

Annie, who had been working in our store for a long time, said that sending flowers to Doreen had been a practice since we were little. Mom used to manage the flower shop herself. One day, a girl came in to order flowers, wanting to send them to a woman named Doreen. From that day on, Mom started sending flowers every year, even though that girl never came back and had only paid for one bouquet.

Back when Mom was the shop owner, she could send flowers to anyone she wanted, even if she didn’t get paid. But now, since Mom's health started deteriorating, I took over the flower shop.

For the past twenty years, Mom had always stuck to a certain way of doing things, never wanting to change the store. Of course, Mom was excellent at flower arranging, keeping the old customers coming, but she couldn’t attract new ones. 

Sometimes, when a large client from a hotel came in, they would leave simply because we didn’t have a proper catalogue to show them.

I didn’t want our flower shop to eventually become a tourist attraction or a museum. I was planning to renovate it and get rid of some of the old habits Mom had, like giving special treatment to regular customers and their families, friends, and so on. 

What could we earn from a single bouquet? How many times would a customer come back in a year? They were always trying to get something for nothing, especially when they saw a woman like Mom, so kind and naive. Everyone took advantage of her! The habit of sending flowers to Doreen seemed unnecessary too, though I had promised Mom I would continue doing it.

Annie was in a state of panic about my “big reform,” looking lost, and I could tell that if it had been Mom, her face would’ve looked just as pale.

"Are you really not going to send flowers to Doreen?" she asked.

I replied, "The flower shop is a business. If we don’t make money, you won’t even have a job!"

Annie looked around at the newly renovated flower shop, speaking hesitantly. Everything that once felt familiar seemed strange now.

Then Annie said, "I understand what you mean. Even if we don’t send flowers anymore... the last time should be done. Doreen has been receiving flowers every year, and it will be odd if no one comes this time. At least we should let her know not to wait anymore."

Her reasoning wasn’t entirely wrong. I thought at least I should go and see what kind of woman had attracted Mom to send flowers to her every year. I would explain that Mom was gone, and that the "practice" had to end.

Annie had arranged the carnations, with light purple forget-me-nots and white baby’s breath, a big beautiful bouquet. It was as lovely as it could be.

On Mother’s Day, I ran all over Singapore before finally reaching Doreen’s house, when the sun was setting.

As soon as I rang the doorbell, I heard something being knocked over inside.

An old woman with hunched shoulders and white hair opened the door.

I expected her to be surprised, thinking she would be shocked to see me instead of Mom, who had been sending flowers every year.

But she didn’t react at all. Instead, she smiled at me.

"You’re here. Come in quickly!" Her words were filled with eager excitement.

"You always come early, so I made jasmine tea, just the way you like it. But now... it’s cold." The old woman walked toward the table to pick up the teapot. "I’ll heat it up, it won’t take long."

Then I finally saw her eyes, which seemed frozen, not turning. No wonder she hadn’t "noticed" me … she can’t see me.

"Thank you, but that’s not necessary. You are Doreen, right?"

The old woman froze, gripping the teapot tightly in her hands, standing still.

"My mom has passed away. I’m here to deliver the last bouquet of flowers for her." I stepped forward and handed her the flowers.

She took the flowers excitedly, gently caressing them.

"The last bouquet of carnations? ...Thank you." She nodded and smiled, bringing the flowers close to her nose, inhaling the scent. A sudden sense of loss filled the wrinkles on her face...

Then she said, “Twenty years ago, a girl had ordered a bouquet of flowers to surprise her mother for Mother’s Day, but tragically, on the way home, a careless driver took her young life. Every year, I’ve held on just to wait for this bouquet of flowers!"

I had never imagined that such an ordinary bouquet could keep a life hanging on, a mother who had almost given up, heartbroken and blind from grief.

I realised I didn't know my Mom well.

It was already dark when I returned to the flower shop, and Annie was still there, nervously asking me: "Did you deliver the flowers? Did you explain that you won’t be sending them anymore?"

I looked at Annie, and said, "I will keep sending them. From now on, I’ll send them every day. Carnations, everyday!"

Yes, it takes sadness to know what happiness is. 

But we need not fear sadness and ask “what if”. 

Rather, with faith, let us say “even if”. 

So, even if we are poor and hungry, let us be like carnation flowers for others. 

When we can help others to be happy, then we too will be happy. 

This is what our Lord Jesus promised us.

5th Ordinary Sunday, Year C, 09.02.2025

 Isaiah 6:1-8 / 1 Cor 15:1-11 / Luke 5:1-11

One of the rather stressful things to do is to drive and navigate at the same time. 

This usually happens when we are going to an unfamiliar place for the first time. 

We will certainly need some navigation aids, especially when driving around in dense and congested areas. 

Before the modern electronic navigation aids like the GPS came to the scene, drivers have to rely on roadmaps. 

Some of us may remember the “Singapore Street Directory”. 

Drivers going to an unfamiliar destination will have to keep one eye on the road and the other eye on the road map. 

One hand will be on the steering wheel, and the other hand on the page of the road map. 

Oh yes, those were stressful driving moments, and to make the situation even more frustrating, some maps were not updated. 

But with the modern electronic navigation aids like GPS, driving to an unfamiliar destination is not that challenging or difficult. 

We only need to switch on the GPS device, and it will show where we are in the electronic map and there's even a voice navigator to guide us along. 

The gospel began with Jesus teaching by the lakeside. Then He got into one of the boats because of the crowd, and continued to teach from there. 

The boat belonged to Simon Peter, so while he was washing his nets, he was also listening to Jesus. 

When Jesus had finished speaking, He turned to Peter and said: Put out into deep water and pay out your nets for catch. 

Simon Peter was taken by surprise and maybe confused. He had worked hard all night long and caught nothing. 

Nonetheless, he said to Jesus: But if you say so, I will pay out the nets. 

And then they caught so much fish that Simon Peter was stunned. 

Simon Peter was stunned, but he was not stunned into silence. 

Rather, he confessed his sinfulness and unworthiness in the presence of the authority and majesty of Jesus. 

Before Jesus told him to put out into the deep waters, Simon Peter had his own ideas about what to do and where to go in life. 

But that voice from Jesus was like the voice from the GPS device that told Simon Peter where to go and what to do. 

The voice of God that we hear in the Scriptures is like the voice from the GPS device. 

And instead of calling it the “Global Positioning System”, we can call it “God's Positioning System”. 

And like how we follow the voice navigator in the GPS device, when we listen to the voice of God in the Scriptures, we will know where to go and what to do. 

And when we ourselves listen to the voice of God in the Scriptures, then we too can become “God's Positioning System” for others. 

There is one peculiarity about that voice navigator in the GPS device. 

When we make a wrong turn or when we don't follow its directions, it does not reprimand us. 

It will simply adjust our route and tells us where to turn next. 

So, we need to listen to what God is saying to us in the Scriptures, so as to know where to go and what to do. 

And even if we get confused, or reluctant like Simon Peter, God will still keep prompting us until we reach our destination. 

And when we are the GPS for others, or “God's Positioning System” for others, they may not always listen to our suggestion or directions. 

But we keep praying and keep listening to what God wants us to tell them. 

With God, we will get to our destination. 

Or, like Simon Peter, we may get a new direction.

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My Instagram handle is PasturesofGod

My Facebook page is Pastures of God

The Presentation of the Lord, Year C, 02.02.2025

 Malachi 3:1-4 / Hebrews 2:14-18 / Luke 2:22-40

One of the most useful things to have around is something that gives light. 

Of course, there are luminous objects that glows in the dark. But that effect can only last for a limited period of time. 

What is more useful are electric lamps or battery operated torch lights. These will give out sufficient amount of light to help us see especially in the dark. 

But, what if there is a blackout, or when electricity is not available? Then, battery operated torch lights will be the next in line. 

But as it is often the case, the battery is flat just when we need them. 

Of course, there is the torch light app in our mobile phone. So, there are ample modern day means of lighting, and so, we don’t have to fear the dark that much. 

Compared to these modern day lighting gadgets, the humble candle seems rather primitive, and it can be messy and also a fire hazard. 

But the light from just one candle is sufficient to brighten up a dark place. 

On this feast of the Presentation of the Lord, candles are blessed at the beginning of the Mass. 

In the prayer for the blessing of the candles, the Church invokes the Lord, who is the source of all light, to make the candles holy. 

And we who use these candles are to walk in the path of goodness and come to the light then shines forever. 

So, the blessed candles become a symbol of Christ, the light of the world. 

As Mary and Joseph presented the Infant Jesus at the Temple, the Divine Light shines on the Temple. 

The glory of God is manifested and the Temple radiates with the holy and divine Light. 

And those with faith will be able to recognize that divine light and see what it reveals. 

For the upright and devout Simeon, and the 84-year-old prophetess Anna, the divine light shines on them. 

It revealed to them who the Saviour is. It also revealed what their future is. 

For Simeon and Anna, they saw the light and they will now walk towards the Eternal Light. 

For Mary, the light revealed the sword that will pierce her heart. 

The divine light has revealed many things to various people in the past. 

The Wise Men followed the light of the star that revealed the newborn King of the Jews. 

St. Paul was struck with the flash of light that revealed to him it was Jesus he was persecuting. 

The feast of the Presentation reminds us that the divine light is shining on us, and God wants to reveal something to us. 

But when the light is brightest, the shadows are darkest. 

It may reveal our sinfulness, but it also leads us to holiness. 

As we bring back the candles, let us light the  candles in prayer, in times of need, in times of sickness, in times of worry and anxiety, in times of fear and darkness. 

May the gentle light of God's love fill us with peace, and to let us know that Jesus is with us now and always.

My official Instagram handle is PasturesofGod

My official Facebook page is PasturesOfGod

3rd Ordinary Sunday, Year C, 26.01.2025

 Nehemiah 8:2-6, 8-10 / 1 Cor 12:12-30 / Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21

It has been announced that the usage of cheques for monetary transactions will come to an end soon. 

So, with the era of cheques coming to an end, phrases like “my first pay-cheque” will also become archaic and obsolete. 

But for those of us who had the experience of receiving our first pay-cheque, we may remember how thrilled we were then. 

It was a symbol of our first achievement in the working world. 

It was a symbol of our independence and our abilities. 

And we may remember what we did with our first pay-cheque. 

We may have given half the amount to our parents as a gesture of gratitude. Or we may have given a treat to our family and friends. 

Whatever it might be, that piece of paper with writing on it says a lot and meant a lot to us. 

As we move to electronic banking, we will surely miss receiving cheques, because that means money coming in. 

On the other hand, we won't miss writing cheques, because that means money going out. 

And with the “go green” campaign and going paperless, there are also lesser and lesser hard copies of printed matter. 

But we also do not deny that there is a realistic feel about hard copies like books and notes. 

We can touch it, feel it, read it in black and white, and we are able to relate to it with almost all our senses. 

In the gospel, Jesus came to Nazareth, and He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day. 

He stood up to read, and was handed the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. 

He opened the scroll and found the passage that began with: The spirit of the Lord was given to me for he has anointed me. 

That passage talked about bringing good news to the poor, liberty to captives, to the blind new sight, setting the downtrodden free, and to proclaim the Lord’s year of favour. 

When He had finished, Jesus rolled up the scroll and sat down, and all eyes were fixed on Him. 

Then He said to them: This text is being fulfilled today even as you listen. 

And every Mass, we listen to the readings from the Scriptures. As we listen, was there any word or phrase or image that came to our minds? 

Today, the Church celebrates “Word of God” Sunday. God speaks to us through His Word in the Scriptures. There is something that is to be fulfilled today as we listen. 

There is a story of a young boy, Tommy, who was very intelligent, but also very naughty and disruptive in class. 

One day, Tommy came to class early and saw his teacher scribbling something on a piece of paper, and he asked her what she was writing. 

The teacher replied: I'm writing a prayer for you. Tommy tried to look at the prayer, but he couldn't read it as it was written in shorthand (a system of fast writing that uses lines and simple signs to represent words and phrases). 

Then another student came into the class and talked to the teacher. While the teacher was not looking, Tommy took that prayer slip and put it into his exercise book. And then he forgot about it. 

Many years later, Tommy became a very successful businessman, but he had been resorting to some dishonest means. 

One day, while he was clearing his storeroom, he flipped through his old exercise book and that prayer slip of many years ago slipped out. 

He was surprised, but also intrigued by what was written in it but he could not read it as it was in shorthand. 

So, next morning, he asked his secretary to translate it for him. The secretary read it, and blushed, and said that she will type it out and put it on his desk. 

The translated note came in an envelope, and Tommy took it out and read that prayer that his teacher wrote. It went like this:

Lord, Tommy is a very intelligent boy, but he is very disruptive in class and very naughty. Please guide him as he grows up so that he won't do anything wrong in the future. 

Tommy was stunned by what his teacher wrote, because he was about to close a deal in which he would receive a very fat pay-cheque, but it was by a very dishonest means. 

That prayer note woke him up and he stopped the deal. 

It can be said that God had fulfilled that prayer of Tommy’s teacher. 

If prayer notes can change lives, then God's Word can move mountains and change hearts. 

So, let us listen attentively to God's Word, and may it awaken us to do what God wants of us today.