3rd Sunday of Advent, Year B, 17.12.2023

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jesus will wait for us to respond to His love. 

He waited for that 99-year-old man. 

He will wait for us.

2nd Sunday of Advent, Year B, 10.12.2023

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

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

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

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

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

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

The content and the media are professionally crafted and selected. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Let us believe and share it with others.     

1st Sunday of Advent, Year B, 03.12.2023

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Whenever Jesus knocks, there is the opportunity of blessings. 

But opportunity does not come without difficulty and distraction. 

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

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

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

Let us not miss that opportunity.

Christ The King, Year A, 26.11,2023

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

33rd Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 19.11.2023

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

32nd Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 12.11.2023

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

31st Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 05.22.2023

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

He can also be adversely affected emotionally and spiritually. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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