Reflections

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Wednesday, 3 December 2025 : Feast of St. Francis Xavier, Priest, Patron of Missions and Missionaries (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : White

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, on this day as we gather together to worship the Lord and to proclaim His glory, and as we all heard from the passages of the Sacred Scriptures, we are reminded that as we continue to progress through this time and season of Advent, we should continue to do our part as Christians, as those whom God had called and chosen so that we may truly embody our Christian faith in everything  that we say and do, that we may indeed proclaim the Lord in every opportunities that had been provided for us, in all the encounters with those who are around us, we may always be the bearers of God’s Good News and His love, compassion, truth and hope to everyone we meet and work with, to our communities and everyone whom we care for, as is our mission in life to do so.

Today we mark the Feast of St. Francis Xavier, the Patron of Missions and Missionaries and hence, the Scripture readings speak strongly about what is the meaning of Christian mission and the role of missionaries in fulfilling and completing what the Lord has entrusted to each and every one of us, His beloved people. In the first reading from the Epistle of St. Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians, the Apostle spoke of what he was called to do as a minister of the Good News of God, and that everything which he had done, he did for the greater glory of God and not for his own benefits, while in our Gospel passage today, we heard of the words of the Lord Jesus Himself to His disciples and followers after His Resurrection, reminding them all of the missions which He has entrusted to them, to go forth to all the nations and to proclaim His truth and Good News, and how He would always be with them in all of their efforts and works.

Today as mentioned, the Church marks the occasion of the Feast of St. Francis Xavier, the Patron of Missions and a member of the Society of Jesus or the Jesuits renowned for his lengthy and great missionary journeys to different parts of the world, especially his works in Asia, in the regions of India and South Asia, then Southeast Asia and the Far East, in Macau, China and Japan. St. Francis Xavier gave inspiration to many others in how he dedicated his life and service to God, in his perseverance to continue the mission despite the challenges and hardships he encountered during his journeys, and his passion and love for his fellow brothers and sisters, in the genuine desire he has to proclaim the Word of God and His Good News to more and more of the people of God all around the world.

St. Francis Xavier was born in what is today Spain as Francisco de Jasso y Azpilicueta in the town of Javier or Xavier which would later on made him known as Francis Xavier as we know him today. He was one of the companions of the Founder of the Society of Jesus, St. Ignatius of Loyola and one of the first members of the Jesuits, considered as one of its founding members. Back then, during the height of the Protestant reformation, St. Ignatius of Loyola gathered his companions and other like-minded people to commit themselves to the works of evangelisation and other ministries to spearhead the efforts in countering the terrible effects of the so-called reformation, which splintered the Church in many places into several factions and ‘churches’, and heresies and falsehoods were abound because of errant heretics and preachers.

The Jesuits were founded with the aim to help the Pope and the Church to oppose the tide of heresy and disunity, as well as to reform the Church in the right way. St. Ignatius of Loyola sent out the Jesuits in ministering both to the traditional areas of Christendom like in what is today Germany, the hotbed of the reformation, and also to those mission areas beyond Europe, where European explorers and adventurers made many discoveries of distant lands, all of which had not yet heard the message of God’s truth, His Gospels and the Good News of His salvation. St. Francis Xavier was among those entrusted with the responsibility to proclaim the Good News in the foreign and distant lands, and hence, he went forth, never returning to his homeland ever again.

He followed the long journey to the newly discovered areas, embarking on an extensive missionary journeys in parts of India, where missionaries had already laid some foundations earlier on, as well as areas of Southeast Asia like Malacca and the Spice Islands where he went to several islands and communities, preaching about God and gaining some people who were interested to know more about the Lord and became the first Christian converts in those areas. He did not always have it smooth though, as he did face rejection and hardships along the way, and in a well-known story about him, St. Francis Xavier almost met his end in a terrible storm in the sea, where the boat he was in was battered by waves and the strong wind. He prayed to God and thrust his crucifix into the waves, which then fell into the water and the storm stopped miraculously. A crab later on brought the crucifix back to St. Francis Xavier, who blessed it, and that crab later on always had a cross on its back.

That is just one of the many well-known stories regarding St. Francis Xavier, in his many efforts to serve the Lord through his time and work, in proclaiming the Good News to the furthest ends of the world. He went on to proclaim the Gospels in Japan, and was instrumental in laying the foundations for the later very successful Jesuit mission in Japan, which despite its termination later by the very intense persecutions under the Tokugawa Shogunate, for a period of about fifty years, the Church managed to flourish really well in Japan, with an estimated three hundred thousand Christians during the very height of the mission there, several decades after the passing of St. Francis Xavier. St. Francis Xavier himself passed away in Shangchuan Island just on the shores of China as he awaited the opportunity to enter China to begin a mission there. Some of other Jesuits like the famous Matteo Ricci would then continue what St. Francis Xavier had started.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all continue to follow therefore in the footsteps of the courageous St. Francis Xavier in his determination and commitment to serve the Lord in everything that he had done, in all the missions which he undertook even in the most difficult and challenging moments. Let us all be inspired by this great courage and faith which our holy predecessor had shown so that in our own actions, in our own words and interactions with one another, in our own lives as Christians, we will continue to be the shining examples and inspirations ourselves to everyone around us, to all those whom we encounter in our daily lives. May God bless our every good works, efforts and endeavours therefore, for His greater glory, in our respective missions in life. Amen.

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Tuesday, 2 December 2025 : 1st Week of Advent (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we all listened to the words of the Sacred Scriptures and as we all continue to progress further through this season and time of Advent, the time of preparation for the coming of the joyful season of Christmas, let us all continue to ponder upon the words of the Lord that we have received and blessed with through the Sacred Scriptures, so that we may better be able to focus our attention on what truly matters, the Lord and His teachings and ways. Each and every one of us must truly be genuine in our faith and belief in the Lord as Christians, and in our preparations for Christmas, we are reminded that we should not just be focused on the worldly aspects of the celebrations, but more importantly, focus ourselves on the more wholesome understanding of what Christmas is truly about.

In our first reading today, taken from the Book of the prophet Isaiah, we heard of the words of the Lord given to the prophet Isaiah in which He reassured all of His people, the Israelites and their descendants that despite the difficulties, hardships, challenges and humiliations which they had been facing at that time and before, the day and time will eventually come when the Lord will come for His beloved ones, gathering each and every one of them, calling upon all of them to return back to Him and to be once again in His most loving and generous embrace. God has reassured His people of all of these things, and He would not say things that He Himself would not fulfil or make to come true.

That is why, for those people of Judah to whom the prophet Isaiah had ministered to, such great words of hope and consolation must have meant really a lot to them. They had faced lots of sufferings, humiliations, defeats and other misfortunes from their enemies and all those who opposed them because of their own disobedience and refusals to listen to the Lord and to the prophets and messengers whom He had sent into their midst to remind and help them. The Lord however did not forget about them and He still continued to love them nonetheless, helping them to find their way back to Him, patiently leading and guiding them all, with all the encouragement, reassurance and promises He made after He has first chastised and rebuked them for their sins and wickedness.

God truly cares for all those whom He has considered His own, all those whom He had created out of pure and perfect love. After all, He did not create us so that He can punish and destroy us, but He wants us instead to rediscover the love which we ourselves ought to have for Him, so that we may continue to grow ever stronger in faith, hope and love in Him and through Him. This is what He has constantly reminded His people through the prophets, and which we are therefore also reminded yet again, and again, each and every time we listen to these words of the Scriptures that we may truly be faithful and committed in all things, in doung what God has called us all to do, in being good role models and examples of our faith in our love for God and also our love for one another.

Then, from our Gospel passage today, taken from the Gospel according to St. Luke the Evangelist, we heard the prayer of thanksgiving and praise which the Lord Jesus Himself prayed to His Heavenly Father, giving Him thanks on behalf of everyone that He had been sent to, to all of us mankind, in thanking God for His ever present and enduring love, for all the wonderful things that He had done for us all, on our behalf, in reaching out to us all, and presenting to us the finest and best of His love which has been manifested perfectly to us in the Person of His own beloved and only Begotten Son, Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Indeed, through Jesus Christ and all that He has done for us, are all perfect fulfilment of everything that God our loving Father and Creator has promised to each and every one of us and our ancestors.

And we must count ourselves truly lucky because we have been made partakers of God’s everlasting and true Covenant, which He has renewed and established firmly for us all through His Son, in all that He had done in offering on our behalf a most perfect and worthy offering of His own Most Precious Body and Blood, so that by that offering all of us may be redeemed and freed from the tyranny of evil, sin and darkness surrounding us. We are reminded that because Christ has come into our midst, God Himself in the flesh, we truly have hope of liberation and true happiness, in an eternity of joy and eternal existence with our most loving God and Father. We must continue to uphold this faith and hope within us, and embody the great and ever enduring love of God in ourselves and our own actions.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, today let us all therefore ponder and reflect upon the words of the Sacred Scriptures, ever being reminded that we are all called to put our trust in the Lord and in everything that He has promised to us. We have to trust that everything which the Lord has promised to us will eventually come true, and that we should not easily give up or lose faith in what He has told us. This is because we must realise that in God alone we can find hope and reassurance that will not fail us, and while anything in this world can fail us, the Lord alone is always with us without fail, and it is He alone that has been there for us, providing for us and steadily loving and supporting us through the darkest and most difficult moments, and He does this even through those whom He has provided to be with us.

May the Lord continue to bless us all in our Advent journey and progress, and as we continue to go deeper into this blessed time of preparation for Christmas and what we will celebrate during that season, let us all continue to deepen our faith and trust in the Lord, allowing Him to come into our lives and our hearts, strengthening our resolve and giving us the courage to continue going forth and doing our best to glorify Him by each and every moments of our lives, in all of our actions, words and deeds. May God bless our every good works, efforts and endeavours, now and always. Amen.

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Monday, 1 December 2025 : 1st Week of Advent (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, as we embark on this journey during this Season of Advent, entering into this appropriate time of contemplation, reflection and preparation, each and every one of us are called to reorientate our lives and rediscover that path towards the Lord and His salvation, especially if we have been so busy and distracted in life that we have forgotten what it truly means for us to be Christians, to be God’s holy and beloved people. Each and every one of us should always be prepared to welcome the Lord when He eventually comes again in glory, whenever it may be, as no one can know the exact timing of His Second Coming, but we know with certainty that this will definitely happen in the future. Therefore, all of us as Christians, we must 

In our first reading today, taken from the Book of the prophet Isaiah we heard the message of reassurance and encouragement from God to His people in the kingdom of Judah where He had sent Isaiah to minister at, reminding all of them that their sufferings, humiliations and struggles all would not last forever, and that eventually they would all be vindicated and rescued if they continued to walk faithfully in the presence of the Lord and commit themselves to follow His Law and commandments. In the first place, it was the disobedience and sins of the people which had distanced them away from the Lord and from His path and blessings, and due to this, that is why they had faced challenges and trials, and like their brethren in the northern kingdom of Israel, whose disobedience were even greater, they had to face defeat and destruction at the hands of their enemies.

Back then, at that time, during the beginning of the ministry of the prophet Isaiah, the forces of the Assyrians came up to Samaria, the capital of the northern kingdom, besieging it and thereafter destroying it, and this led to the downfall of the northern kingdom, with many of its people being brought off into exile in the lands of Assyria and even beyond, and throughout all those challenges and trials, God still wanted to remind His people that He was still with them, patiently guiding them and encouraging them even through their darkest and most difficult moments. Even though the people of God had been stubborn in refusing to listen to His words and reminders which He had made to them through His many prophets and messengers, but He still patiently sent to them more reminders and help nonetheless.

This is why each and every one of us must realise just how fortunate we all are to have been loved by God in such a manner, and we should no longer take His most generous and patient love for granted. If we take God’s love, compassion and generous mercy for granted, in the end, there will only be regret for us all. We have been blessed by many opportunities which God has presented to us, again and again, as He calls on us to return to Him and to embrace His love once again, love that has always been made available for us even after we have continually disobeyed Him and disregarded His kindness and compassion. We should continue to strive to embrace God’s love and mercy, devoting ourselves anew to serve Him wholeheartedly from now on.

Then, from our Gospel passage today, taken from the Gospel according to St. Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist, we heard of the moment when an army captain or centurion came to the Lord Jesus in Capernaum in Galilee, requesting and beseeching Him to take pity upon his servant who had fallen very sick at home, firmly believing that the Lord could heal his servant and make him whole again. And the faith of the army centurion was such that he was willing to believe and trust in the Lord that even without making Him to go to his place to heal his servant, and merely by the command and power of His words alone, everything would be accomplished and his servant would be healed. This kind of faith was then highlighted by the Lord as a truly great and exemplary faith for all the people to follow.

In order to better understand the significance and importance of what this event entailed, we must first understand that this army centurion or captain was likely to be a Roman, or at least a Gentile or non-Jewish person, and at that time, the Jewish customs and practices were mostly limited to only those of Jewish descent, and hence, the army centurion was likely to be considered as a pagan or non-believer. And at that time, for a non-Jewish person to interact with a Jew like the Lord Jesus and His disciples was often considered taboo, and in fact, why the army captain was reluctant to let the Lord to come to his house and mentioned that he was unworthy to have Him under his roof was because of the common practice at that time, in which for a Jew to enter into the house of a Gentile would have made them ritually unclean.

That was the reason why the chief priests and the Pharisees did not enter into the Praetorium where Pontius Pilate resided as the governor of Judea during the time of the Lord’s Passion, and it was in fact specifically mentioned that this act would have made them to be ritually unclean and therefore would be unable to eat the Passover that was to happen that moment soon. Hence, not only that the army centurion had great faith in the Lord but he was also very humble and considerate, knowing the local customs and not wanting to cause hassle and difficulties on the Lord and His mission. And for his great faith in the Lord, his faith was rewarded and everything came true just as the Lord deemed it to be, with the servant being healed the very moment the Lord Himself declared it.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, as we enter into this season of Advent and progress through it, let us all therefore realise that each and every one of us are in need of God’s love, mercy and compassion, and we should no longer take all these for granted. Every opportunities that He has presented to us should be cherished by us, and we should always do our best in each and every one of us our actions, words and deeds, in our every steps in life so that we may draw ever closer to our most merciful and loving God. Let us make great use of this time and the opportunities that the Lord has presented to us such that we will not squander them and that we can continue to grow ever stronger in our faith as true and genuine Christians moving forward.

May the Lord continue to help and strengthen us in our journey of faith and life during this time and season of Advent, so that we can continue to grow ever stronger in our faith and commitment to God. Let us all do our very best to glorify the Lord by our lives and actions, in everything that we say and do. Let us all continue to be good and worthy bearers of our Christian faith, and do our very best to shine forth with the light of God, showcasing what we truly believe in the Lord, in His love for us, and in the hope that we have for Him. May the Lord be with us always and bless our every good efforts and endeavours. Amen.

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Sunday, 30 November 2025 : First Sunday of Advent (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, this Sunday marks the First Sunday of Advent, which not only marks the beginning of the Season of Advent, the time of preparation for the upcoming celebrations of Christmas, but also the beginning of the new liturgical year cycle. Therefore, as we begin this new time and season, all of us are reminded as we begin our preparation for the joyful celebration of Christmas that we should renew our determination and commitment to live our lives in the manner that is truly pleasing to God and worthy of Him. As we begin this new liturgical year, our mindset should be improving and not remaining in the same way we have been doing things all these while, especially if we have been distant away from God.

In our first reading this Sunday, we heard from the Book of the prophet Isaiah in which the reassuring vision of Isaiah was told to us, in all that God has revealed to him to be told to His beloved people who at that time had been suffering lots of setback, humiliation, struggles and challenges, all mainly due to their own disobedience and lack of faith in Him. Contextually, the prophet Isaiah was sent to the people of the southern kingdom of Judah to help guide and assist them in their ways, in returning to God after many of their ancestors and predecessors had been living in long periods of disobedience and disregard for the Law and commandments of God. Their disobedience and sins have separated them from the fullness of God’s grace and blessings, and they faced the consequences of their disobedience as their fortunes turned downhill.

At about that time, the northern kingdom of Israel was also attacked, conquered and destroyed by the forces of the Assyrians, who destroyed their cities and capital Samaria, and brought many among the people to exile in distant lands. Then the king of Assyria, Sennacherib, also came up with his great and vast army to attack Judah and Jerusalem itself, and this same king mockingly spoke ill of the Lord and the people’s faith in Him, boasting that his armies and forces have crushed and conquered countless nations and states, overthrowing their gods and idols. But God rebuked the Assyrian king and gave him a fitting punishment for having boasted in such a manner and for raising his hands against the people of God, as He sent His Angels to decimate the Assyrian army, sending king Sennacherib back to his lands in great shame.

Therefore, it was against this background and the other historical evidences that the Lord reassured His people, all of those who remained faithful in Him, that all of their trust and faith in Him were not misplaced, and that they would indeed rejoice in the end with Him, because God Who is always ever faithful and loving to all those who are true to Him will be rewarded and will be guided by Him to the right path, to the path of vindication and fulfilment. The Lord was always with His people, even in their darkest and most difficult moments, and the time of His renewal would eventually come, and the people really needed to put their faith and trust in their Lord and Master instead of continuing with their rebellion and disobedience.

And God Himself also revealed that He would also gather all the other nations and peoples, and that His salvation and grace would not be limited only to the Israelites, as ultimately, all the children of mankind are precious, beloved and dear to the Lord. Through Israel as the first example, ultimately, all the people of all the nations would be gathered together to praise the Lord their God, and all the people would be called to come to the Presence of God, to be reconciled and reunited once again with their most loving and compassionate God, their Creator, Who has always desired to be reunited with those whom He had created generously out of love, but have been scattered and lost to Him due to our disobedience and sins against Him.

From our second reading this Sunday, from the Epistle of St. Paul the Apostle to the Church and the faithful people of God in Rome, we are reminded by St. Paul that the time of the reckoning of our lives and the coming of God’s salvation, while it may not be as immediate as what St. Paul and the Apostles back then thought of, but it may be sooner than what we expected or may expect. Ultimately, the reality is such that, no one save that of the Lord Himself know when the exact moment of the Lord’s Second Coming and the end of the world and time as we all know it, which is known as parousia, the end of times prophesied and predicted, revealed and shown to us through the servants of God.

What we can be very sure of is the fact that the Lord will come again, at the time of His choosing, and what is most uncertain is the exact time that this will happen. That is why we have to be always ready and alert, vigilant and prepared at any time so that whenever we are expected to commit ourselves to the Lord and account for our actions and works in this life, and including even our failures to act whenever we are capable of and when we have been given the perfect opportunity for, that is where we need to realise that we have to account for all of that before the Judge of all the living and the dead in the end. All of us are sinners, imperfect and unworthy of God, and yet, at the same time, God is so infinite and boundless in His mercy and compassion that He has given His love and mercy towards us without end.

Then, lastly, from our Gospel passage this Sunday, taken from the Gospel according to St. Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist, we heard the similar message from the Lord Jesus telling His disciples of the certainty of what will happen one day, in the coming of God’s salvation at the end of time, the reckoning which will happen at the time of God’s choosing, when this will happen in the most unexpected of times and moments, which He likened in a simple parable and comparison, with how no one would have known when a thief would break into a house, and hence, the owner of the house ought to be always vigilant, ready and prepared against all eventualities. Essentially, those who failed to plan and prepare, they are all planning and heading to failure and doom.

That is why, each and every one of us are reminded that as we enter into this new season, the Season of Advent, being a time of spiritual rediscovery, renewal and reconnection with God, we are all called to turn once again towards the Lord. If our lives have been hectic, busy and if we have been distracted by our numerous commitments, responsibilities and attachments in the world, then we are reminded to keep our focus firmly directed towards the Lord, Who ought to be the centre and the focus of our whole lives and existences. We should not forget the presence of God in our lives and remember that no matter what, and no matter how difficult things may be for us, the Lord will always be present in our midst, supporting and strengthening us in our journeys in life.

As we reflect upon the words of the Sacred Scriptures which we have received just earlier on, we are reminded on this First Sunday of Advent that each and every one of us should make good use of this time, season and opportunity for us to prepare ourselves well not only for the upcoming Christmas season which we are surely going to celebrate joyfully and wonderfully, but also for the ultimate coming of our Lord, His Second Coming, given the dual nature of this Advent season, which commemorates both the first coming of Christ that had happened two millennia ago, and which we celebrate in Christmas, as well as the expectation of the parousia, the second coming of Our Lord and Saviour, which had been promised to us, and which will certainly happen in due time.

Let us all therefore live our lives courageously and worthily of the Lord, doing our very best in each and every moments in life. Let us continue to do our best to be good and worthy examples of our Christian faith in each and every actions, words and deeds, in all that we do for the greater glory of God. Let us all shine brightly with the light and hope of our Saviour. May the Lord be with us always, and may He continue to encourage and empower all of us to be His faithful and committed disciples and followers in all times and circumstances, becoming shining beacons of His light and hope to everyone we encounter, now and always. Amen.

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Saturday, 29 November 2025 : 34th Week of Ordinary Time (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Saturday Mass of Our Lady)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today on this last day of the liturgical year, we are still yet again reminded by the readings from the Sacred Scriptures with its eschatological or end-of-the-world as we know it in nature, where we are being reminded that as we are going to enter into the new liturgical year with the start of the Advent Season tomorrow on the First Sunday of Advent, we do not enter into this new time, season and liturgical year with still the same wrong mindset that many of us may be having in our own lives, as some of us may still continue to live our lives in the manner that is truly ignorant and unbecoming of our identity and nature as Christians. We should make good use of whatever opportunities and chances that God has provided to us, in each and every moments that we have been given.

In our first reading today, we heard the continuation of the story of the apocalyptic visions of the prophet Daniel, which he received when he was in the land of Babylon, where the Lord explained to him the visions that he has received about the future, about the coming time of dominion and power of the evil ones dominating this world, and by which they would persecute those who remained faithful to the Lord, of both things that had happened by now in our present day as well as those things that had not happened yet. The Lord revealed to Daniel that those four beasts that he had seen in the vision represented the upcoming kingdoms and powers of the world, the haughty and arrogant rulers and tyrants that would dominate the others and brought about great sorrows for the faithful people of God, and yet, as the visions have shown him, in the end, none of those would last.

Ultimately, in the end, the Lord will be triumphant and His dominion and kingdom will last forever, and He will reign over all of us, His faithful and beloved ones, in an eternity of true happiness and joy. This is something the Lord has reassured us with and which He will not deny to us because He is always ever faithful to the promises that He has made to us. God does not abandon us and He has always been with us, even through the most challenging and difficult moments in our lives, and He has always consistently provided us all with everything that is necessary to allow us to persevere through even the greatest of challenges and trials in life. If we continue to trust and have faith in the Lord, eventually we will be vindicated and share in His glorious triumph, and no more sufferings and sorrows will come our way in the life that is to come for us with God.

Then, from our Gospel passage today, taken from the Gospel according to St. Luke the Evangelist, we heard of the words of the Lord Himself, Who reminded all of His disciples and followers that they should not give in to the temptations of worldly pleasures, ambitions and desires, all of which can become serious obstacles in our journey towards the Lord and His salvation. And if we are truly serious in seeking to follow the Lord faithfully in all things, then we should also make the conscious efforts, works and endeavours to live our lives worthily in accordance to what He has taught and shown us to do in our own respective lives. We should not be ignorant of the things that the Lord has provided to us in our journey, all the guidance, wisdom and all the help that He has provided to us.

As Christians, each and every one of us are reminded that all of us are the bearers and witnesses of the Lord’s truth and Good News in our respective communities and societies, amongst our family members, relatives and our circle of friends. All of us should always be good examples and inspirations of our faith in everything that we say and do, and we should not instead be the source of scandal and dissension, division and impropriety in the manner and way that we live our lives. Unfortunately, the reality is such that, more often than not, as many of us might have experienced in our own respective lives, it is our fellow Christians that might have caused us the most difficulties, heart pains and dilemma because of the manner and way how they behave, which were unbecoming of Christians.

Let us also look upon our own actions, words and deeds, in how we interact with one another, lest we ourselves also behave in the manner that is unworthy, scandalous and unbecoming of being Christians. All of us are reminded that our actions and contributions can be both positive and negative, and depending on how we behave and how we carry out our lives, we can both inspire others to come closer to the Lord and on the other hand, we can also cause others to be scandalised and to be more distanced away from God. And in the end, we will be held accountable and have to be responsible for each and every one of those actions and choices on how we have behaved, and if we have behaved in the manner that is unbecoming of Christians, then we will have to account for them.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all reflect upon everything that we have heard and discussed from the readings of the Sacred Scriptures, and let us see in what way how we can be better disciples and followers of the Lord, even amidst the many challenges and trials that we may be facing in our lives. Let us all not be hypocrites and merely paying lip-service in our faith but truly show our genuine faith through real actions, words and deeds, in everything that we said and did at all opportunities and circumstances. Let us remember that as Christians, we are all called to be faithful and committed disciples of Our Lord, to be His authentic witnesses and as the ones to proclaim His truth, love and Good News to everyone that we encounter in each and every moments of our lives.

May the Lord continue to guide and strengthen us in our respective journeys and paths in life, and may He continue to encourage us to persevere through the many life’s challenges and trials. May He continue to empower us all so that our every lives and actions truly embody our Christian faith, and that we may continue to inspire many others we encounter in our lives and paths, leading all towards God and His salvation, now and always. And as we enter into this new season and liturgical year, let us all strive to be ever more committed and dedicated in living our lives in accordance to our Christian faith. Amen.

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Friday, 28 November 2025 : 34th Week of Ordinary Time (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we approach the end of the current liturgical year and as we are going to enter into the new season with the start of Advent in two days’ time, we continue to listen to the words of the Sacred Scriptures highlighting to us the eschatological readings and revelations from the Word of God through His prophets and messengers, reminding us of the eventual coming of His salvation and all that He has promised, all the fulfilment of everything which He has reassured all of us, His beloved ones with. God wants to remind us that He is always with us and in the end, if we continue to have faith in Him, eventually we shall be vindicated and triumphant with Him.

In our first reading today, taken from the Book of the prophet Daniel we heard about the continuation of the passage from the prophet Daniel and this time, the details of the vision of the prophet Daniel which he received of the upcoming upheavals that would happen in due time, which is also echoed by St. John the Apostle and Evangelist in his own Book of Revelations or the Book of Apocalypse of St. John. In that vision we heard how Daniel saw the four great and wicked beasts that would arose, which St. John would later on witness as well. Those beasts represent the forces of evil, those arrayed against us and seeking our destruction and downfall. They represent the kingdoms and the powers of the world that had risen and will rise up against God and all those who are faithful to Him.

But as we all heard, no matter how mighty or frightening those beasts were, they were all to be defeated, crushed and destroyed by the Lord Himself, Who will rescue all those who are truly dear and precious to Him. In the end, everything has to submit to the power, authority and dominion of God, and while Satan and all of his wicked forces may be able to hold dominion for a while over us and over the world through sin and evil, through all the darkness and wickedness present all around us, but eventually, through the Lord and all that He has done for us and our sakes, we will be triumphant in our struggles and oppositions against him and his other forces of evil, if we put our complete faith and trust in the Lord, even in the darkest and most difficult moments.

Daniel then saw the wonders of Heaven and the Lord in all of His glory, where he saw a grand vision of Heaven and God Himself upon His Throne, a revelation of things to come, with the prediction of what would come to happen, as he saw God Himself as the One of Great Age, representing the Heavenly Father, and also the Son of Man, who is the representation of the Son of God, the Divine Word, Who at that time had not yet been incarnate and manifest in the flesh, an event which at that time was still a few centuries away. Yet, at that time, through what Daniel had seen, was a glimpse of what the Lord Himself would accomplish and fulfil for our sake, in delivering all of us from 

Through the vision of the prophet Daniel, the Lord wants to remind us all that He has always been with us, and if we remain truly faithful to Him, despite all the challenges, trials and difficulties that we may face in our paths and journeys, 

and He will never abandon us. None of us, even those of us who think of ourselves as being small, weak, poor and unworthy, are beyond God’s love, grace and protection. God loves each and every one of us most generously and wonderfully, and He wants us all to be truly beloved and to thrive with Him and through Him, and He has given us all these revelations and hope so that we too may be strengthened and encouraged in our daily moments in life.

Then, from our Gospel passage today, taken from the Gospel of St. Luke the Evangelist, we heard of the words of the Lord Jesus Himself speaking to His disciples and followers, reminding all of them of the sign of the times which they all can observe and appreciate to know of what would happen. His reminders to His disciples were mainly meant to let them know and to be aware that His coming and return into this world, the Second Coming, also known as parousia, can come at any time, and they ought to present this in everything that they proclaim to everyone they encounter, to all the faithful, reminding them all to be truly faithful in all things and to be committed in their way of living their lives do that they will always be worthy of the Lord in all of their words, actions and deeds.

What the Lord has told us will come true just as He has always been faithful to His promises to His servants and people, in how He has fulfilled His promises of salvation and deliverance through the sending of His Son, Our Lord and Saviour Himself, Jesus Christ, the Son of God manifested in the flesh so that by His appearance and arrival in this world, He might show unto us the genuine and most wonderful love that is truly boundless, selfless and perfect, made tangible and real to us through His Son, Our Lord and Saviour, through His appearance and dwelling among us, and also through everything that He had said, revealed and done, ultimately through His most loving and selfless sacrifice on the Cross, the ultimate loving sacrifice He had done for all of us.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all therefore remember that in everything we may encounter in our respective lives, in each and every moments, we should always put our faith and trust in the Lord, believing that through Him alone we can find true satisfaction and joy, fulfilment and true happiness in life. Let us all be good examples in inspirations for one another in how we live our own respective lives so that in all the things that we say and do, we will always be the authentic, courageous and responsible bearers and witnesses of our Christian faith, that is not merely just a formality or empty gesture, but truly lived in a genuine manner in our everyday lives.

May the Lord continue to strengthen and encourage us all in our every efforts and endeavours, in all the good works we carry out in our every moments throughout our lives. May He continue to give us the willingness to go forth courageously and authentically to be good and worthy witnesses of Our Lord’s truth and Resurrection, of all the things which He has shown and taught us all from the beginning. May God bless us all in our every steps and endeavours, now and always. Amen.

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Thursday, 27 November 2025 : 34th Week of Ordinary Time (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we all listened to the words of the Sacred Scriptures, we continue to be reminded yet again of the challenges, trials and difficulties which we may have to face as those who have been faithful to the Lord and His commandments. Each and every one of us as Christians are reminded of the important obligations and responsibilities which we have been entrusted with, and for which we should always be ready to do our best to proclaim the Lord, His truth and His Good News in our communities and societies today, among our family members and circles of friends both. We are all called in our own unique ways to give our best for the greater glory of God, in everything that we say and do.

In our first reading passage today, taken from the continuation of the Book of the prophet Daniel, we heard of the story of the moment when Daniel, the wise man and servant in the household of the King of Media and Persia, Darius, the one who had overcome and conquered the Babylonians, faced a new trouble in the form of the opposition from the other courtiers and members of the king’s household, those who were jealous of Daniel and his greatness and wisdom. They plotted against Daniel and pressured the king to act against Daniel, by alleging that he was disrespecting the customs and practices of the Persians and the Medians by his faith in God and the differences of his actions and way of life compared to theirs.

That was how eventually Daniel was sent to the lion’s den, where his enemies hope that he would be destroyed and that they would lose their great obstacle and enemy. But Daniel trusted in the Lord wholeheartedly and he did not allow fear and despair to overcome him, and he prayed to God to deliver him from his troubles and his enemies, and indeed, his prayers were heard, and everyone from the king and all of his enemies witnessed how God kept Daniel safe amidst the hungry lions and kept him from being harmed. Meanwhile, his enemies were immediately devoured and destroyed when the king threw them into that same den after he had rescued and brought Daniel out of the den. This is indeed the proof of God’s providence and help for all those who have always trusted in Him and have faith in Him.

Then, from our Gospel passage today, taken from the Gospel according to St. Luke the Evangelist, we continue to hear as we approach the end of our current liturgical year the eschatological nature of our readings and words of God, reminding us of the coming of tribulations, trials and challenges that will accompany us and our faith in the Lord. Those who continue to be faithful to the Lord will be facing those persecutions and obstacles, and we are reminded henceforth that we should not easily give up the struggle simply because we face those challenges, trials and difficulties, and we should not give in to the temptations of the world, and all the pressures for us to conform to the worldly ways and manners.

The Lord also foretold of everything that would come to happen in the ruin and destruction of Jerusalem, to show that indeed everything that He said would come true, and while the parousia or His Second Coming will still be distant in the future, as it has not even happened today yet, but just as He had predicted the destruction and ruin of Jerusalem and its Temple, therefore, everything will be fulfilled in God’s good time, and He will fulfil all that He has promised to all of us. Each and every one of us are reminded that we should continue to have faith and trust in the Lord despite all the struggles, hardships, all the darkness and trials that we may have to face in our path. God has never abandoned us and He will always provide us for all that we need.

As once Daniel was rescued from the lion’s den and from the hands of his enemies, vindicated and liberated, and as how our many holy and courageous predecessors had been guided by God, even through their great sufferings, that they became great examples and inspiration for everyone around them, and even long after their passing. Many martyrs and holy servants of God have become great role models in inspiring many who came after them, and their examples and courage still echo even to this very day. Can we be those same examples and inspirations to everyone around us, to our family members, friends and all those whom we encounter in each and every moments in our lives? That is what we are being called to do as Christians, brothers and sisters.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all therefore continue to trust in the Lord and in His Providence, never giving up on Him just as He Himself has always been patient in guiding us and strengthening us all throughout our way despite us having been very stubborn at times and despite us having frequently disobeyed and abandoned Him especially when things are good for us, whenever we forget about Him and focusing rather on our worldly desires and ambitions. That is why we have been reminded today through these readings from the Sacred Scriptures such that we may indeed realise just how fortunate we are to have been loved so wonderfully by God and how we should never take this for granted. Instead, we should continue to be faithful to Him and do our best in our lives to glorify Him at all times.

May the Lord continue to strengthen us in our faith and in our resolve to live our lives faithfully according to His ways and teachings. May He continue to guide us all in our journey so that each and every one of us may be ever stronger in our commitment to bring glory to His Name, that in our every actions, efforts, good works and endeavours, we will continue to be good and worthy role models in all things, in all that we say and do. May God bless our every good works and inspire us all with His Wisdom and strength that we may always be faithful to Him, and put our trust in Him, now and always. Amen.

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Wednesday, 26 November 2025 : 34th Week of Ordinary Time (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we all listened to the words of the Sacred Scriptures, we are reminded that it is important for us to take note of what we have heard in the reminders we received of how we need to trust in the Lord and in His Wisdom and guidance. We do not need to worry or fear even when we may be facing lots of tribulations, challenges and trials because we must not forget that the Lord is always by our side, providing for us and strengthening us in our respective journeys in life. God will never abandon us even in the darkest and most difficult moments in our lives, and in fact, when we are encountering troubles and challenges, God is always there by our side, journeying with us, supporting us and ensuring that we are able to persist with faith and dedication, at all times.

In our first reading today, we heard from the Book of the prophet Daniel in which king Belshazzar of Babylon celebrated a great feast and banquet in his capital in the presence of his nobles and the important people of his kingdom. Contextually, he was the last king to rule over the Neo-Babylonian Empire before it was toppled and conquered by the Persians under Cyrus the Great. And what we heard in today’s passage detailed the last moments of its existence, when the proud Belshazzar used the holy vessels from the Temple of God in Jerusalem that his predecessor had ransacked and carried to Babylon as vessels for drinking and merrymaking by himself and his nobles. For this act of great blasphemy and blatant arrogance, God’s retribution was swift, which He revealed through miraculous sign of the hands that wrote the three letters ‘Mene, Tekel and Pharsin’.

Through those words, which the Lord used to reveal His intent to Belshazzar and his wicked courtiers, having displeased the Lord by their wickedness, we are shown that those who mocked the Lord, those who persecuted His faithful ones and oppressed the righteous, and those whom God has loved and cared for will not escape unpunished. And as it happened, the forces of the Persians under King Cyrus the Great came suddenly and as attested by historical evidence and records, they overthrew the rule of the Babylonians and conquered their Empire, uniting the whole land under the rule of the Persian Empire. And more significantly, as attested in other parts of the Scripture, this same King Cyrus also emancipated the Israelites and their descendants who had been suffering in exile in Babylon and elsewhere away from their homeland.

Then, from our Gospel passage today, taken from the Gospel according to St. Luke the Evangelist, we heard of the moment when the Lord Jesus told His disciples the harsh and difficult reality of what it truly means to become His disciples and followers, and if they are to faithfully obey Him and His commandments, and carry out the missions which He would entrust to each and every one of them. They would likely face challenges, trials and difficulties amidst them carrying out their missions and works. But if they remained firmly faithful and committed to what the Lord has entrusted to them, then, certainly the Lord will strengthen and bless them all, and He will not abandon them when things are challenging and tough. God is always present in our midst, and He will help us carry out this burden that we have been carrying with us.

The Lord Himself will give us all that we need to persevere and to be strong in facing all those challenges and trials. We must also have faith and trust in the Lord, believing that through His Wisdom and guidance, through the Holy Spirit that He has sent our way to strengthen, empower and encourage all of us, we will be inspired and strengthened, so that even we face the worst and toughest of obstacles, we will be able to endure all those things that come our way, and we can also even inspire all those around us who have seen and witnessed our faith, commitment and dedication in serving the Lord and in living our lives to the best of our abilities. We must not forget that each and every one of us as God’s disciples and followers are the ones to bear witness to His truth and Good News in our world today, even amidst all the darkness and persecution which we may have to face.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, after we have heard from the readings from the Scriptures, discussed and discerned about it, we can clearly see how God is always there for us, providing for us in our own respective journeys, missions and callings in life. He will not give us something that we cannot endure, persevere and overcome. With Him, everything is indeed possible, and no obstacle or hardship will be great enough to make us stumble and fall, or make us give up if we truly have faith in the Lord and trust in Him wholeheartedly. As many of our own holy predecessors, the innumerable saints and martyrs of the Church from the very beginning of the Church history until now can testify to us, we are reminded of their good examples and lives that if we truly trust in the Lord and put our faith in Him, then we too shall share in their joy and glory in the end.

Let us all therefore seek to glorify the Lord by our own lives and examples, which we should carry out faithfully and courageously despite the challenges, trials and difficulties that we may face and encounter, and despite all the temptations and pressures from all around us to give up the fight and struggle for our faith and for the journey towards the Lord and His salvation. Let us all support one another even through the difficult moments and times, and strive our best to be present in supporting everyone around us who need our help and support, in whatever way and manner it may be. We should continue to be the shining beacons of God’s light, be the source of His hope and encouragement to everyone around us, so that more may continue to persevere despite the hardships and struggles they face.

May the Lord continue to bless and guide us all in our every efforts and endeavours, and may He continue to guide us through His Wisdom and the Holy Spirit so that we may continue to bring glory to Him by each and every one of our works, our endeavours and good contributions, all done for His honour and glory. May God bless us all and empower us all to be His shining examples and role models, now and always. Amen.

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Tuesday, 25 November 2025 : 34th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Catherine of Alexandria, Virgin and Martyr (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green or Red (Martyrs)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we all gather together and listen to the words of the Lord contained within the Sacred Scriptures, we are reminded that we should trust in the Lord and put our faith in His power and providence. We should not seek to put more and more emphasis and focus on worldly matters, ambitions and desires, as what many people all around us may be seeking and craving for. As Christians, in fact, we have to continue to do what is right and just in accordance to the ways of the Lord, aligned with His teachings and ways. We have to do our best to be good inspiration, strength and hope for all those whom we encounter in each and every moments of our lives, that we may lead one another towards the Lord, His salvation and righteousness.

In our first reading today, taken from the Book of the prophet Daniel, in which we are told about the moment when the king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar experienced a particular vision in his dreams, and he became restless after seeing that vision of a great statue made of different composite parts and materials, which was then crushed by a great rock that smashed the whole statue to pieces. This was the moment that Daniel came to prominence within the Babylonian king’s court as no one but him was able to tell the king exactly what he has dreamt about. The king asked of all the wise people in his court, all of his servants to tell him both of what he had dreamt and its meaning, and none but Daniel could do so. Only Daniel was given the Wisdom from God to reveal the king’s dream and vision to everyone and to unveil what that vision truly meant.

Through the great Wisdom of God and His guidance, Daniel revealed to king Nebuchadnezzar the meaning of his dreams, showing him that his kingdom itself, no matter how grand and glorious at that time, having ruled over many lands in Mesopotamia and the Levant, and having conquered many countries, fabulous and rich beyond measure, was ultimately going to be replaced by other powers and kingdoms, foretelling what would happen in the future, in the next few centuries as shown by the vision of the statue with its many parts. That statue and its parts actually represent the future kingdoms and powers that would rise up from the time of Babylon onwards, the Empires of Media and Persia, followed by the Greek Empire of Alexander the Great which was fragmented and divided among his successors, and finally the Roman Empire that became the regional superpower at that time.

Then, that huge Rock which came to crush and destroy the statue actually represents the Lord Himself Whose coming into this world in the Person of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Saviour marked the departure from the dominion of the world to the true dominion of God, Who has finally come at last to restore all things to Himself and through His own actions and works, in fulfilling everything that He has promised to His beloved people from the very beginning of time. Therefore, although no one likely realised it at that time, what Daniel had done was in fact prophesying and foretelling of the coming of the Messiah or the Saviour that God has promised, foretelling His arrival after those great Empires has risen and fallen, and unlike those earthly realms and powers that did not last, the dominion of God is everlasting.

We are reminded that if we put our trust in earthly things we are likely going to be disappointed and dismayed because no matter what, none of those will last forever and none of them will endure. Those who put their faith and trust in the Lord will be firmly reassured because in God alone there is constant and steady reassurance. Those who truly have faith and hope in the Lord will know that with God we can all be strong even in the midst of the greatest challenges and trials in life. We must learn to trust in the Lord and His guidance, in all the providence that He is showing us, in all that He has given and blessed us with, the opportunities and wisdom which He has granted to us. We should never take all these for granted, and we should learn to trust in God guiding all of us in our journey and path in life, knowing that with His guidance everything will be all well and good. 

Then, from our Gospel passage today, taken from the Gospel according to St. Luke the Evangelist, we heard of the moment when the Lord Jesus was telling those who admired the grandeur and majesty of the great Temple of God in Jerusalem, the one vastly enlarged by King Herod the Great, that the magnificent edifice would not last long and soon the time would come that it would be torn down and destroyed. Everything did indeed come true a few decades later when the Romans came to besiege Jerusalem during the first Jewish-Roman War about three decades after the Resurrection of the Lord. The conflicts and the violence that followed eventually led to the ransack and the destruction of the great Temple, of which nothing was left save that of the fragments of the walls of its once great compound, what is known today as the Western Wall or the Wailing Wall. It is again another reminder of how trusting in worldly power and grandeur is impermanent unlike trusting in God.

The Lord also told His disciples to be careful and not to be deceived by those who claimed to know of the exact time and the signs which accompanied those claims, all the wars, conflicts and other things that people often associated with the apocalyptic moments and end of times predictions. The Lord warned His disciples and followers, and hence all of us that we should not easily give in to the allure and temptations, pressures and coercions of the false prophets and leaders who could then mislead and bring many of us into the wrong paths in life, when we do not discern carefully our path forward, in what we have been truly called to do by God. This can even happen when those leaders manipulate us into thinking of our calling and mission in a certain way, but not allowing us to discern our paths properly, as is unfortunately common today, especially in our Catholic youth communities.

Today, the Church celebrates the feast of a great martyr and servant of God, a great woman whose faith and dedication to Him served as great inspirations and strength for many Christians during and even long after her time. According to Church tradition, St. Catherine of Alexandria was the daughter of the Roman governor of Alexandria, who lived during the reign of the Roman Emperor Diocletian and his successors. At that time, Christians were treated with disdain and contempt, and a particularly intense and bitter persecution was carried out against them. Many Christians had to suffer and die amidst that brutal persecution, and many of them had to choose between remaining faithful in God and suffer, or to betray and abandon the Lord and live.

St. Catherine of Alexandria courageously went to the Emperor himself, the Emperor Maxentius who ruled in Rome and Italy, during one of these episodes of brutal persecutions, rebuking him for his actions and evil deeds. St. Catherine won over the fifty over philosophers that the Emperor set up against her to debate her on her faith and other matters, so much so that some of them converted to the Christian faith and were martyred. St. Catherine also convinced many others to become Christians, including even the Emperor’s own wife, when they visited her during her time in prison. The Lord Himself visited her, and Angels tended her wounds during her incarceration and period of suffering. The Emperor, who grew increasingly desperate in trying to subdue St. Catherine, tried to woo her by proposing marriage to her, which was also rejected by the saint. In the end, she was martyred by beheading, after other methods had failed.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we remember the dedication and commitment which St. Catherine of Alexandria has shown in her life, in what she has committed to the Lord, and as we reflect upon what we have heard from the Sacred Scriptures, we are reminded that all of us should always put our focus and emphasis in life on God and not on all the various temptations, desires and pleasures of the world, all of which are ultimately fleeting and temporary in nature. We should not spend so much time and effort to seek and gather for ourselves all those worldly wealth, desires and ambitions to the point that we forget the main reason why we exist in this world, that is to glorify God and make our lives truly worthy of Him in all of our every actions, words and deeds, in our every interactions with one another.

May the Lord continue to strengthen us all in our efforts and endeavours to continue to be good role models and inspirations for one another in faith so that by each and every one of our actions, words and deeds, we may truly be the shining examples of our genuine faith in God. May all of us help one another to draw ever closer to the Lord our God, and encourage each other to remain firm and strong in our faith, now and always. Amen.

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Monday, 24 November 2025 : 34th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Andrew Dung-Lac, Priest and Martyr, and Companions, Martyrs (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Red

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we all listened to the words of the Sacred Scriptures, we are reminded of the need for all of us as Christians to be humble and obedient to God’s will, to put our faith and trust in Him always, generously giving ourselves to Him, our Lord and Master, dedicating each and every moments of our lives for the greater glory of God. We should always strive to walk in the path and ways of the Lord even if it is difficult for us to do so because it is against what the world believes and practices, all because if we continue to do what is right and just according to God’s ways, it may be difficult and challenging for us. And yet, if we trust in the Lord and continue to have hope and faith in Him, we will realise that even the hardest of challenges and difficulties can be overcome.

In our first reading today, taken from the Book of the prophet Daniel, we heard of the moment when the King of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, attacked the kingdom of Judah, where the remnants of God’s people still lived at that time, capturing and bringing quite a number of them to Babylon as tributes and servants, including those of Daniel himself and his three friends, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. They were taught about the Babylonian culture, languages and ways, and as we heard, they were also forced to partake in the food and drinks provided by the king, which according to the customs of the Israelites at that time, were considered as unclean. Daniel and his three companions resolved to try their best to remain firmly faithful despite being in a rather difficult situation.

We heard then how the Lord provided for them, that when they requested to eat just the food and items that were clean and acceptable for them to eat, they still ended up healthier and better than those who have shared the sumptuous food and drink from the table of the king. They also grew greatly in wisdom and stature among men, and they became respected figures and advisers in the king’s court. Essentially what we heard is how God was always with those who remain faithful to Him even in most difficult moments and even as they encountered the most challenging trials and hardships in life. This is why we are also reminded that we should not allow those challenges and difficulties from preventing us to continue to work hard and strive to be ever faithful to the Lord, even in times of distress. We should continue to trust and hope in the Lord, at all times.

Then, from our Gospel passage today, taken from the Gospel according to St. Luke the Evangelist, we heard of the Lord Jesus Himself speaking and teaching to His disciples with the encounter and example of the faith of an old widow who went to the Temple and gave from her own poverty an offering of two small copper coins, while others were giving a lot larger offerings and some even making a show of their offerings. Here we must understand that the Lord did not make a point on comparisons between our actions and neither did He seek to be prejudiced against the rich and those who have more wealth and possessions. The Lord is not opposed to the rich and wealthy, but rather, the point that He wants to deliver across to us is that when we give, we ought to give generously from our hearts and not to count the cost.

Those who have been given more can give more if they so wish, and even those who are poor can also give from their poverty just as the old widow had done. What matters is that we truly give from the heart and not being insincere in giving. We should always strive to share whatever blessings and good things which God has given to us so that many people may benefit from our exemplary and faithful actions, words and deeds, filled with the most generous and compassionate love of God. Each and every one of us are called to contribute to the works and missions of the Lord through His Church in whatever way we can and in even the smallest and seemingly least significant things that we do in our lives. We should not think that our contributions are too small or that it is insignificant. The Lord treasures us and our efforts, even to the smallest details.

Today, the Church celebrates the feast of great saints, holy martyrs of the Faith, whose examples and determination should serve as great inspirations for all of us, in how we ourselves should live our lives with faith. St. Andrew Dung-Lac and his companions in martyrdom, the Holy Martyrs of Vietnam, are the ones who have devotedly committed themselves to God despite the many oppositions against them, from the state which was then very violently against the Christian faith, and from the community. At that time, Vietnam, which was ruled by an Emperor and his bureaucratic court, saw the burgeoning Christian mission in their country as a threat to themselves, and to their officially Confucian state religion. As such, the state persecuted Christians very severely, both the foreign missionaries and the local converts.

St. Andrew Dung-Lac was a convert to the faith, and became one of the first local priests to be ordained. According to the traditions and missionary accounts, he and many other Christian converts were persecuted and arrested, and having kept close to their faith and refusing to abandon the Lord, or betray their commitment to Him, they were put to death, and hence became great martyrs of the Church. Their examples, courage and devotion to God, despite the many trials, sufferings and challenges that they had to face amidst their ministry should be great sources of strength and encouragement for us, in how we ought to be ever strong and courageous in committing ourselves to the service of God, and in living our lives as genuine Christians in all things.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, as we heard from the examples and the lives of St. Andrew Dung-Lac and the many other martyrs of the faith in Vietnam, and also from what we have discussed earlier in our Scripture passages today, let us all therefore remind ourselves of the reality of being faithful Christians, that is all those who are faithful and committed to God. We should always strive to do our best in glorifying God by our lives, in doing what we can so that our actions and deeds, our every words and interactions may always inspire others to come to know the Lord and to believe in Him, like what St. Andrew Dung-Lac and his companions in martyrdom had done. May God bless us always in everything we do, now and forevermore. Amen.