Saints

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Friday, 29 May 2026 : 8th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of Pope St. Paul VI, Pope (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Popes)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we all listened to the words of the Lord contained within the Sacred Scriptures, we are all called to put our faith and trust in the Lord, allowing Him to guide each and every one of us down the path of virtue and righteousness, in doing what He Himself has shown and taught us to do, to be truly faithful in all things and at all times, and not merely just being outwardly faithful but within us, we are lacking true and genuine faith and love for God. We are reminded that we should always strive to be honest and genuine in everything we say and do, in being good examples and inspirations in faith and way of life to everyone we encounter in our everyday moments and in all things.

In our first reading today, we heard from the continuation of the Epistle of St. Peter the Apostle, in which the Apostle kept encouraging the faithful people of God and reminding them all that each and every one of them ought to show genuine love in all of their actions, in everything that they are doing so that through everything that they do, they will always show that fundamental Christian love which is at the core of all of our lives and actions, founded upon the ever generous and infinite love of God, and which He Himself has given to us most generously and wonderfully. And because God Himself has taught us how to love, in the same way that He has loved us all, then we too should show the same love to everyone around us, particularly to those dearest and most beloved to us.

Each and every one of us as Christians are called to be the reflections of God’s love, to be the ones to bear forth this love to everyone we encounter just as Christ Himself has shown us the love of God, manifested, made evident and clear for all of us to see and experience, reminding all of us of just how precious and beloved we are in the eyes of the Lord, our most loving God and Father. Each and every one of us ought to be the worthy bearers of the Good News of God, the words of our Lord’s salvation to the nations, and the best way is for all of us to show that love of God in our everyday moments and actions, to be the ones to role model what it truly means to be those whom God had called, chosen and saved.

Then, from our Gospel passage today, taken from the Gospel according to St. Mark the Evangelist, we heard of the account of the moment when the Lord Jesus went to the Temple of Jerusalem and saw the wickedness of all the people who were there, the merchants and the money changers, many of whom had been making a lot of profits from their dishonest activities and works, in overcharging the pilgrims and other worshippers for the purchase of the Temple sacrificial animals and goods, as well as for their money changing services. First of all, we must understand why they were likely there in the first place, as the Jewish customs and practices made these two professions very crucial for the daily practices of the Temple as it was back then during the time of the Lord’s ministry.

At that time, the descendants of the Israelites, those descended from the original twelve tribes of Israel had long been scattered away from their homeland in the land of Israel, having been exiled, sent away and scattered all over the various countries and places, among other reasons, that they often no longer regularly practiced their faith and many had adopted the cultures and languages of the places where they lived in. And among those who still made the effort to return back to Jerusalem to worship at the Temple as required by the Law and customs of the Israelites, they likely brought with them the various kinds of money that they used in their places of residence, which according to the Law of the Israelites, were not allowed to be used for the purpose of the sacrificial offerings at the Temple.

That was because those coins likely bore the visage of the pagan gods, idols and rulers of those countries, like the Greek and the Roman coins of those era often did. As such, those coins could not be used to buy the sacrificial offerings, which were also difficult for the pilgrims themselves to bring from the places they lived in. Therefore, this was likely the background behind the proliferation of the merchants and the money changers at the Temple courtyard, thriving from the genuine need of those pilgrims to make the necessary money exchange and purchases to buy the Temple offerings. However, what the Lord lamented and was very vocal against was their greed and immoral attitudes in overcharging the people, among others, which brought about scandal to the Holy Name of God.

And as we heard from the experience that the Lord had with the fruitless fig tree, which He cursed and henceforth was found dried up and dead without any life in it, this is a reminder for all of us that the behaviours of the Temple officials and those corrupt merchants and money changers, which were outwardly faithful and devout, but in their actual behaviour and way of living their lives were in fact being wicked, scandalous and unfaithful, in their efforts to enrich their own pockets and in seeking their own advantages and benefits. This is what the Lord had warned His disciples against, and hence also all of us, that we do not end up being swayed by all these worldly ambitions and desires.

Today, the Church also celebrates the Feast of Pope St. Paul VI, one of the recent Popes who reigned beginning from the time of the Second Vatican Council about sixty years ago, and the predecessor of the much beloved Pope St. John Paul II. Pope St. Paul VI was born as Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini or more commonly known as Giovanni Battista Montini, into a family of rural nobility at the turn of the nineteenth to the twentieth centuries. He was born in what is today part of northern Italy, and entered the seminary at a young age, ordained as priest and beginning a long career afterwards in the diplomatic service of the Holy See and the Roman Curia. He was known for his great organisational skills and he eventually became an acquaintance and assistant to Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, who would become Pope Pius XII.

The then Monsignor Montini worked in the Secretariat of State together with Archbishop Domenico Tardini as close confidants of Pope Pius XII during the years of the Second World War and its aftermath. He helped to reply the letters to the Pope from various parts of the world in his capacity as an assistant and secretary, as the Pro-Secretary of State of the Holy See, managing the often difficult diplomatic situations at the time, as well as the problems with refugees and food shortage in Rome and its vicinity. And then, afterwards, after the war, Pope Pius XII eventually appointed Archbishop Montini to be the Archbishop of Milan after the death of the previous Archbishop. As Archbishop of Milan, Archbishop Montini, the future Pope continued to work diligently for the sake of his flock, and he was noted for his closeness to the workers and the less privileged.

When Pope St. John XXIII succeeded Pope Pius XII, he made Archbishop Montini as a Cardinal, and in the later preparations for the Second Vatican Council, Cardinal Montini was often involved in its many preparatory sessions. When Pope St. John XXIII passed away early in the sessions of the Second Vatican Council, Cardinal Montini was the clear favourite to succeed him, and he was indeed elected as Pope in the Year of Our Lord 1963, where he continued the good works of his predecessors, reforming the Church through the successful completion and conclusion of the Second Vatican Council, together with other series of reforms to the pastoral approach and governance of the Church.

Through his many efforts in reaching out to the marginalised and in reforming the approaches of the Church in evangelisation and in the interactions between the Church and the world, Pope St. Paul VI helped to bring the Church to more and more people, proclaiming the faith to more of those who have not yet known the Lord, and at the same time also help the world to understand the Church and the Christian faith, its teachings and all the precepts of the Christian faith more clearly. Pope St. Paul VI continued to work hard and to do lots of wonderful deeds throughout his Pontificate, inspiring many of the faithful even to this day through his good examples and commitment to God. He showed us all how we should live our lives as Christians, ever centred on God and not on the many worldly temptations around us.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all therefore commit ourselves anew to the Lord in the same way, following the good examples of Pope St. Paul VI and the many other great saints, holy men and women of God, in their lives and examples so that our own lives may truly shine forth, proclaiming God’s truth and salvation to more and more people. May all of us continue to do our part in our own respective ways, in our various callings and missions, to do what the Lord had entrusted to us to do, for His greater glory, and not for our own personal ambitions or worldly fame, satisfaction or pleasures. Let us all shun all the worldly ambitions, our ego and pride, and do our best so that our lives may truly be holy and worthy of God, at all times. Amen.

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Friday, 29 May 2026 : 8th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of Pope St. Paul VI, Pope (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Popes)

Mark 11 : 11-25

At that time, Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the Temple. And after He had looked all around, as it was already late, He went out to Bethany with the Twelve. The next day, when they were leaving Bethany, He felt hungry. In the distance, He noticed a fig tree covered with leaves; so He went to see if He could find anything on it.

When He reached it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. Then Jesus said to the fig tree, “May no one ever eat your fruit!” And His disciples heard these words. When they reached Jerusalem, Jesus went to the Temple, and began to drive away all the people He saw buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the stools of those who sold pigeons. And He would not let anyone carry anything through the Temple area.

Jesus then taught the people, “Does not God say in the Scriptures : My House will be called a House of Prayer for all the nations? But you have turned it into a den of thieves.”

The chief priests and the teachers of the Law heard of this, and they tried to  find a way to destroy Him. They were afraid of Him, because all the people were astonished by His teaching. When evening came, Jesus left the city.

Early next morning, as they walked along the road, the disciples saw the fig tree withered to its roots. Peter then said to Him, “Master, look! The fig tree You cursed has withered.” And Jesus replied, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and have no doubt in your heart, but believe that what you say will happen, it will be done for you.”

“Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it shall be done for you. And when you stand to pray, if you have anything against anyone, forgive.”

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Friday, 29 May 2026 : 8th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of Pope St. Paul VI, Pope (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Popes)

Psalm 95 : 10, 11-12a, 12b-13

Say among the nations, “YHVH reigns!” He will judge the peoples with justice.

Let the heavens be glad, the earth rejoice; let the sea and all that fills it resound; let the fields exult and everything in them.

Let the forest, all the trees, sing for joy. Let them sing before YHVH Who comes to judge the earth. He will rule the world with justice, and the peoples, with fairness.

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Friday, 29 May 2026 : 8th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of Pope St. Paul VI, Pope (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Popes)

1 Peter 4 : 7-13

The end of all things is near; keep your minds calm and sober, for prayer. Above all, let your love for one another be sincere, for love covers a multitude of sins. Welcome one another into your houses without complaining. Serve one another with the gifts each of you received, thus becoming good managers of the varied graces of God.

If you speak, deliver the word of God; if you have a special ministry, let it be seen as God’s power, so that, in everything, God may be glorified, in Jesus Christ. To Him, belong glory and power forever and ever. Amen.

My dear people, do not be surprised at the testing, by fire, which is taking place among you, as though something strange were happening to you. Instead, you should be glad to share in the sufferings of Christ, because, on the day His glory is revealed, you will also fully rejoice.

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Wednesday, 27 May 2026 : 8th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Augustine of Canterbury, Bishop (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Bishops)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we all listened to the words of the Sacred Scriptures, we are all reminded that as Christians, each and every one of us are challenged to live lives that are truly worthy of the Lord, in doing all that God Himself has taught and shown us to do, and we are reminded that we live in this world not for the glorification of ourselves and our own personal ambitions and desires, but rather for the greater glory of God. We should not be those who seek for personal glory and achievements, all of the things which can lead us astray and distract us from our goal of following the Lord our God with our whole heart and commitment to Him. We are reminded that to be Christians, as the disciples and followers of the Lord, we are the ones who show the truth of God to the world.

In our first reading today, we heard of the words of the Apostle St. Peter in his first Epistle to the faithful and the Church in which he spoke of the new life and existence that each and every one of them had received from their Christian faith and beliefs, and how they all have been freed and redeemed from their past sinfulness and old way of life, the path of sin and idolatry which came from their previous origins and beliefs, especially and likely addressing all those who have embraced the faith and coming from the background of the pagan Roman, Greek and other beliefs, which were quite fundamentally different from the Christian faith and beliefs in their ways. That is why St. Peter reminded the faithful of the fact of how God had revealed to them the truth and Good News He had brought unto them so that they may truly be saved.

And St. Peter also mentioned how through the grace of baptism that they all have received and shared as the new and holy people of God, they had been made holy and pure, purified from their past sins and wickedness in their old way of life, which was full of immorality and debauchery as was common among the pagan beliefs and customs of that time, and by God’s grace they had been made whole and worthy once again. This is why all of us as Christians are reminded through the words of St. Peter to be truly faithful and committed to the Lord, to trust in Him and His words, in His ways and teachings so that we may continue to live our lives worthily in the manner that He has shown and taught us to follow.

This is why we are all reminded to live our lives in the way of the Lord, following the path that He has guided us through so that we will no longer continue to walk the path of selfishness and wickedness, or to indulge in worldly ambitions and desires that can lead us and others around us astray from the Lord. Not only that, but the unfortunate and sad reality of our faith and Church throughout all of its history and even up to the present day is that how many among us Catholics and even more so those who are in the positions of leadership and power, both from the members of the ordained and the laity, have abused their position and privileges, as well as misusing their power for their own benefits and ambitions which caused great scandals and hurts for many others around them, causing divisions and fractures in the united Body of Christ.

Then, from our Gospel passage today, taken from the Gospel according to St. Mark the Evangelist, we heard of the words of the Lord to His disciples, particularly to the two among them, the sons of Zebedee, St. James and St. John, who had come to Him with their mother to ask for special favour for themselves. In this occasion, we must understand first of all how St. James and St. John were among the closest of the Lord’s disciples, the inner circle even among the Twelve themselves, together with St. Peter the Apostle. Three of them were often brought by the Lord to the most important events during His ministry, and they were also among the first disciples that the Lord had called and chosen from among the people.

Then, when they came seeking for the special favours and positions, we must understand that their request to sit at the left and right of the Lord when He would restore the kingdom to Israel was a request for worldly power and ambition. Why is that so? That is because in the common understanding among the people of God at the time, they were expecting the coming of the Messiah, the Son of David, Who was prophesied to come from the Lord, and they were expecting that He would reestablish the Kingdom of Israel as how it was during the glorious heyday of the golden age of that Kingdom under King David and King Solomon. Hence, St. James and St. John, and the other disciples, were all likely seeking for special favours, advantages and benefits to themselves by siding with the Lord, and they were all competing with each other for the Lord’s favour and attention.

But the Lord told them all off and reminded them all clearly that following Him was not about gaining worldly glory, benefits and pleasures, and instead, following Him would likely mean to share in His sufferings and trials, all the things that He Himself would have to endure at the hands of all those who would reject and refuse to listen to Him. He was also revealing to His disciples that His coming into this world and His mission was radically different from what the people had in mind or expected of Him, and they should not be seeking for personal ambitions and desires. Instead, they all must be prepared to face challenges and trials, persecutions and rejections just as the Lord Himself would come to experience. This is precisely what being true and genuine Christians is all about, brothers and sisters in Christ.

St. Augustine of Canterbury, whose feast we celebrate today, can inspire all of us in our actions and works as well, since this great saint and man of God had given his whole life to the service and the glory of God. He was a monk who was entrusted with the mission to proclaim the Christian faith in the British Isles, to proclaim the truth of God to those who have lost their path and to those who have not yet heard or known about the Christian faith and truth, the Good News of God. He was sent by Pope St. Gregory the Great to evangelise to the people of the British Isles, especially to England, where he ministered faithfully for many years, as the first Archbishop of Canterbury, establishing the first firm foundation for the Church in England.

Through his tireless efforts, St. Augustine of Canterbury helped to rebuild the English Church that had been through centuries of isolation, abandonment and neglect. Historically, the Christian faith had spread to the British isles through the Romans in the earlier centuries, but the downfall and withdrawal of Roman power and administration, as well as invasions from the Anglo-Saxons had disrupted many of the previously established Christian faith and structures, which St. Augustine of Canterbury had to rebuild once again. He worked hard to gain the trust of the local Anglo-Saxon kings and other rulers, who slowly began to open up to the Christian faith, while facing plenty of rejection and hardships. Nonetheless, through his patient efforts, eventually the faith became once again firmly established in England once more.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, as we have discussed earlier and pondered through the readings of the Sacred Scriptures, each and every one of us are reminded that as Christians we are reminded to put God ahead of ourselves and to centre our lives around Him, and not on our own selfish desires, greed and ego, all of which can cause harm not only to ourselves but also to those around us whose livelihood can be negatively impacted by our selfish actions, causing rupture and divisions even to the unity of the Church. Instead, we are reminded that we should follow the examples of our holy predecessors, especially that of St. Augustine of Canterbury. Let us all be truly dedicated to God, be exemplary and faithful in all of our actions and deeds, now and always. Amen.

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Wednesday, 27 May 2026 : 8th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Augustine of Canterbury, Bishop (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Bishops)

Mark 10 : 32-45

At that time, Jesus and His disciples were on the road going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead. The Twelve were anxious, and those who followed were afraid. Once more Jesus took the Twelve aside to tell them what was to happen to Him. 

“You see we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be given over to the chief priests and the teachers of the Law. They will condemn Him to death, and hand Him over to the foreigners, who will make fun of Him, spit on Him, scourge Him and kill Him; but three days later He will rise.”

James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and said to Him, “Master, we want You to grant us what we are going to ask of You.” And He said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” They answered, “Grant us to sit, one at Your right hand and one at Your left, when You come in Your glory.”

But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I drink, or be baptised in the way I am baptised?” They answered, “We can.” And Jesus told them, “The cup that I drink, you will drink; and you will be baptised in the way that I am baptised; but to sit at My right hand or at My left is not Mine to grant. It has been prepared for others.”

On hearing this, the other ten were angry with James and John. Jesus then called them to Him and said, “As you know, the so-called rulers of the nations behave like tyrants, and those in authority oppress the people. But it shall not be so among you; whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you shall make himself slave of all. Think of the Son of Man, Who has not come to be served but to serve, and to give His life to redeem many.”

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Wednesday, 27 May 2026 : 8th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Augustine of Canterbury, Bishop (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Bishops)

Psalm 147 : 12-13, 14-15, 19-20

Exalt YHVH, o Jerusalem; praise your God, o Zion! For He strengthens the bars of your gates and blesses your children within you.

He grants peace on your borders and feeds you with the finest grain. He sends His command to the earth and swiftly runs His word.

It is He, Who tells Jacob His words; His laws and decrees, to Israel. This, He has not done for other nations, so His laws remain unknown to them. Alleluia!

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Wednesday, 27 May 2026 : 8th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Augustine of Canterbury, Bishop (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Bishops)

1 Peter 1 : 18-25

Remember, that you were freed from the useless way of life of your ancestors, not with gold and silver, but with the precious Blood of the Lamb without spot or blemish. God, Who has known Christ before the world began, revealed Him to you in the last days. Through Him, you have faith in God, Who raised Him from the dead, and glorified Him, in order that you might put all your faith and hope in God.

In obeying the truth, you have gained interior purification, from which comes sincere mutual love. Love one another, then, with all your heart, since you are born again, not from mortal beings, but with enduring life, through the word of God, Who lives and remains forever. It is written : All flesh is grass and its glory like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord endures forever. This word, is the Gospel, which has been brought to you.

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Tuesday, 26 May 2026 : 8th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Philip Neri, Priest (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : White

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we all listened to the words of the Sacred Scriptures, we are all reminded that our faith and hope in the Lord is not going to be in vain, and despite the challenges, hardships and difficulties that we may have to face and encounter in our respective paths and journeys in life, each and every one of us are guided and helped by the Lord in various unique ways through His works and mysterious means, and especially the Holy Spirit that He has sent to us as our Helper, Advocate and Guide. We must learn to put our trust and hope in God and follow His guidance, help and gentle prodding in our lives and paths. All of us must remember that we are never alone in this journey in life, and God is always by our side even through the darkest and most difficult moments.

In our first reading passage today, taken from the Epistle of St. Peter the Apostle, we heard of the words of encouragement from the Apostle to all the faithful who were then living through moments of uncertainty and struggles in their faith, while at the same time experiencing the great grace of God flowing through them and the Church. St. Peter reminded them all that everything which they had received and experienced, their ancestors and predecessors could only imagine, hope and long to see, while they themselves have experienced, witnessed and received the revelations of God’s truth and Good News in the flesh, through Jesus Christ, the Lord and Saviour of all. That is why they all should remain firm in their faith and they should not allow fear and uncertainties from discouraging them in living their lives faithfully in the manner that they had been taught to do.

Persecutions, challenges and trials are indeed part and parcel of Christian living, as it was back then and it may be even in our present day world. But if we trust in the Lord and have faith in Him, allowing Him to guide us in our path and journey, there is nothing impossible for us, and not even the most difficult challenges and trials can dissuade and prevent us from remaining firm in our path towards the Lord. Through His Holy Spirit, God continues to nudge us all through the difficult moments and choices we have to make in navigating life’s challenges and problems, and He will lead us all ultimately to the final triumph and greatness with Him, to the glory of eternal life, fullness of grace and true happiness that He has promised to each one of us, all that He has constantly reassured us with, that we will not easily give up amidst the struggles we encounter and endure.

Then, from our Gospel passage today, taken from the Gospel according to St. Mark the Evangelist, we heard of the words of interactions between St. Peter and the other disciples of the Lord with the Lord Himself, stating about how they had all devoted themselves, their time and their lives to serve Him and to follow Him, and how the Lord then reassured them all that none of those who had dedicated themselves and offered their lives, time and effort to serve the Lord would be left or found lacking in the end. Even as they might suffer and endure persecutions, but the Lord would always be with them, guiding and strengthening them in their paths, and the Lord knows all of their struggles and efforts, all the sacrifices that they had made for His sake, and would act on them in His good time.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, it is an encouraging message and reminder to all of us that we should not easily give in to the challenges and hardships that we may have to endure and encounter in the path that we have embarked in our own journey of following the Lord, in whatever way it may be. We must remember how truly beloved we are by the Lord, and how wonderful this love is, and how we should do our best to live our lives in the manner that is truly worthy of the Lord, that our every examples, perseverance and faith will continue to be great inspirations for many others, and often we may not realise it ourselves, but the impact of our actions are truly immense, and we must never underestimate them.

Today the Church also mark the feast of one great saint whose life and works may be great source of inspiration to all of us as we carry on living our lives as Christians in our world today. St. Philip Neri was known as a great priest and servant of God, known as the ‘Second Apostle of Rome’ after St. Peter himself, for all the efforts he has done for the glorification of God and for the spreading of the Good News of the Lord and His salvation. He founded the Congregation of the Oratory, which still remained busy and active to this very day, and he contributed a lot in his mission to reach out to the least fortunate and to many of those who have fallen into sinful ways in the community back then. Through his efforts, countless souls were saved and brought towards God’s salvation.

St. Philip Neri ministered to prostitutes and those who were often shunned by others, and many were inspired to follow his examples, and not few became followers of the Lord because of his efforts. He established a growing community of believers both within and beyond his Oratory Congregation, and brought many closer to God. He continued to do his efforts despite the many challenges facing him and the stigma encountered by those whom he was working with and reaching out towards, as well as the stigma of associating with such people. But in doing this, St. Philip Neri showed and reminded us all none other than the same love which Christ our Lord Himself has shown to all those were marginalised, rejected and ostracised by the rest of the society. It is therefore a kind reminder to us all that we too should show the same genuine and sincere love to everyone around us as well.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all thus be inspired to follow the Lord ever more faithfully following in the footsteps of St. Philip Neri and the other Apostles like St. Peter and St. Paul, as well as many other among our holy predecessors, whose examples in faith and way of life should inspire each one of us to carry out our lives most worthily as Christians, that is as the disciples of the Lord. Let us all seek the Lord ever more faithfully and show greater commitment to Him, and entrust ourselves to Him and to His providence from now on, that we may always be worthy in our way of life and actions, and be inspiration for many others who desire to follow the Lord as well. May the Risen Lord be with us always, and may He strengthen us in our faith and commitment. Amen.

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Tuesday, 26 May 2026 : 8th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Philip Neri, Priest (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

Mark 10 : 28-31

At that time, Peter spoke up and said, “We have given up everything to follow You.” Jesus answered, “Truly, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters, or father or mother, or children, or lands, for My sake and for the Gospel, who will not receive his reward.”

“I say to you : even in the midst of persecution, he will receive a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and lands in the present time, and in the world to come eternal life. Do pay attention : many who are now first will be last, and the last, first.”