Universal Church

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Sunday, 22 March 2026 : Fifth Sunday of Lent (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, on this Fifth and last Sunday of Lent before the beginning of Holy Week, all of us are reminded that each and every one of us are ultimately bound for the eternal existence in perfect grace in Heaven with God, the Lord and Master over all life and death. In Him is the authority to give us life and to take, and to restore us even from death should He will it to be, according to His Divine plan and all that He has desired. This Sunday is also the beginning of the Passiontide, the more intense phase of this time of Lent which lasts all through the Holy Week right up to the moment of Our Lord’s Passion, His suffering and death, and finally culminating in His glorious Resurrection. Therefore, we are invited on this Sunday to spend more time reflecting on Our Lord’s Passion, reminding ourselves of everything that He had done for our sake, out of pure and unconditional Love.

In our first reading this Sunday, we heard from the Book of the prophet Ezekiel, in which the Lord spoke to His people, the Israelites living in exile in the land of Babylon, to whom Ezekiel was sent to minister, the words of encouragement and reminder from their Lord and Master to keep the courage and strength within their hearts and minds, as they all had experienced lots of hardships, trials and struggles, having been forced to endure the shame of losing not only their homeland and cities, but also to see the destruction of their great and much revered Temple, the Temple and House of God which King Solomon once built for the Lord, and yet their ancestors had desecrated through their many years living in wickedness and sins, in disobedience against God.

God reassured His people that their sufferings and ordeals would be temporary and none of those hardships would be permanent. He would also remain with them, supporting and strengthening them throughout their journey, and one day, He would erase from them the shame of their exile and their homelessness, their sojourn in the distant and foreign lands. And the Lord promised that He would lead them back to the lands of their ancestors, to the land of Israel, a promise that He Himself would fulfil in due time. In the end, indeed, the Israelite exiles would be allowed to return to their homeland, to reestablish their lives there, their homes and their cities amidst the ruins of the old kingdoms of Israel and Judah.

And within this same prophecy, there was also an underlying prophecy and revelation of how God would also eventually lead all of us, His beloved people, not just the Israelites, but all of mankind, who have been forced to wander in exile in suffering in this world, in reference to what happened in the beginning of the Book of Genesis, back to Himself. Why is this so, brothers and sisters in Christ? This is because just like the Israelites who have been forced to wander in exile away from their homeland by their disobedience and sins, it was also by the sins and disobedience of our ancestors that we have been sundered and separated from God. God Who created each and every one of us out of His infinite Love for us never intended for this fate to befall us, and the same God therefore wanted us all to realise that we are truly Beloved, and that He is always with us, by our side, journeying with us.

Then, from our second reading this Sunday, we heard from the Epistle of St. Paul the Apostle to the Church and the faithful people of God in Rome. In that occasion we heard how St. Paul mentioned that those who walked in accordance to the flesh cannot please God, referring to how many people at that time lived in a worldly manner, refusing to follow the path of the Lord. He reminded the faithful people of God there in Rome that amidst their largely pagan and immoral surroundings, they, as Christians, as the ones whom God had called and chosen, and who have embraced God as their Lord and Saviour, ought to act, behave and live their lives as those who truly believe in God and not merely paying lip service to their faith.

This of course must not be understood as St. Paul requiring the faithful people of God to reject all sorts of worldliness and all kinds of worldly way of life. After all, each and every one of us living in our world today, in our respective communities and among our circles of family, friends and more, all of us are not required, expected or demanded to abandon our way of life in this world altogether. Rather, what St. Paul truly meant especially in the context of our world today is that, we should always be genuine in what we believe in, and practice them actively in our lives, in how we carry ourselves, in our interactions with one another, in how we love each other genuinely and sincerely just as much as we love God and ourselves.

There is indeed so many hurts, sufferings and troubles happening in this world today, and even scandals and problems facing the faithful people of God. And we may be surprised to know that it is often our fellow Catholics who caused many among us the greatest hurts and sufferings. Why is that so? That is because they are the ones we least expected to behave in the manner as they had done, and it is especially scandalising and unbecoming of our identity as Catholics that on one side, outwardly, we may appear to be pious, following the rules and commandments of the Church and the Lord, and yet, in how we treat one another, and even more so, those who are dear and closest to us, we caused hurt and sufferings instead. This is what St. Paul is warning us all about, that as Christians, we should not behave in the manner that bring scandal to our faith.

Finally, from our Gospel passage this Sunday from the Gospel according to St. John the Apostle and Evangelist, we heard of the well-known story of the resurrection of Lazarus from the dead by the Lord Jesus. In that well-known story, we heard how Lazarus, who was one of the Lord’s good friends, the brother of the sisters Mary and Martha, became very sick and was dying, and then we heard how the Lord purposefully went late and reached only after Lazarus had died from his sickness. All these happened in order that everything would come to be within God’s plan, and for God to be glorified through what His Son would do before everyone, in raising Lazarus from the dead. And in this occasion, this was where one of the occasions where we heard the Lord showed His great love for us manifested, as He wept for Lazarus.

Yes, brothers and sisters in Christ, while the Lord knew that He has the power to raise Lazarus from the dead, seeing one of His close friends passing from sickness and all the sorrows showed by his sisters and all the mourners who were there mourning Lazarus certainly struck the Lord Who loved us all dearly. His weeping for Lazarus, the tears that He shed for Lazarus were real tears, tears that He shed out of His pure and ever enduring Love for him and for all of us. We can see here how God manifested His Love for us so wonderfully, just as He reminded us all through raising Lazarus afterwards, that He has power over life and death, how each and every one of us are precious to Him, and He wants us all to share in the everlasting Love He has for us, in how we should love all those around us, and especially so those who are dearest and most beloved to us.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, therefore, having been reminded of God’s ever present and patient Love for each and every one of us, His promise of new life and resurrection, and everything He had done for us, for our good and for our salvation, let us all therefore be thankful and grateful for all the opportunities, patient Love, kindness and mercy that we have been shown by the Lord. Let us all strive to do our best to emulate His examples in loving us, in being merciful and forgiving in our own attitudes, actions and way of life each day, and in every moments. Let us all be good role models, inspirations and examples for one another, and be the faithful and worthy bearers of God’s Light and truth at all times, called to be full of God’s love in all things, in how we treat others around us, those whom we have been entrusted to love, and also those strangers we encounter.

May the Lord continue to strengthen our faith and teach us all to love generously and patiently as He Himself had done. May He continue to guide us through this time and season of Lent as we spend this time to deepen our spirituality and relationship with God, but at the same time we must also remember to deepen our relationship with one another as well. May God bless our every efforts and endeavours, and continue to accompany us lovingly as He has always done. Amen.

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Sunday, 22 March 2026 : Fifth Sunday of Lent (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

John 11 : 1-45

At that time, there was a sick man named Lazarus who was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. This is the same Mary, who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped His feet with her hair. Her brother Lazarus was sick.

So the sisters sent this message to Jesus, “Lord, the one You love is sick.” On hearing this, Jesus said, “This illness will not end in death; rather it is for God’s glory, and the Son of God will be glorified through it.”

It is a fact that Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus; yet, after He heard of the illness of Lazarus, He stayed two days longer in the place where He was. Only then did He say to His disciples, “Let us go into Judea again.” They replied, “Master, recently the Jews wanted to stone You. Are You going there again?”

Jesus said to them, “Are not twelve working hours needed to complete a day? Those who walk in the daytime shall not stumble, for they see the light of this world. But those who walk at night stumble, for there is no light in them.” After that Jesus said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going to wake him.”

The disciples replied, “Lord, a sick person who sleeps will recover.” But Jesus had referred to Lazarus’ death, while they thought that He had meant the repose of sleep. So Jesus said plainly, “Lazarus is dead; and for your sake I am glad I was not there, for now you may believe. But let us go there, where he is.” Then Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.”

When Jesus came, He found that Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days. As Bethany is near Jerusalem, about two miles away, many Jews had come to Martha and Mary, after the death of their brother, to comfort them. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet Him, while Mary remained sitting in the house. And she said to Jesus, “If You had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that whatever You ask from God, God will give You.” Jesus said, “Your brother will rise again.”

Martha replied, “I know that he will rise in the resurrection, at the last day.” But Jesus said to her, “I am the Resurrection. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, shall live. Whoever lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” Martha then answered, “Yes, Lord, I have come to believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, He Who is coming into the world.”

After that Martha went and called her sister Mary secretly, saying, “The Master is here and is calling for you.” As soon as Mary heard this, she rose and went to Him. Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met Him. The Jews, who were with her in the house consoling her, also came. When they saw her get up and go out, they followed her, thinking that she was going to the tomb to weep.

As for Mary, when she came to the place where Jesus was and saw Him, she fell at His feet and said, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping, who had come with her, He was moved in the depths of His Spirit and troubled. Then He asked, “Where have you laid him?” They answered, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept.

The Jews said, “See how He loved him!” But some of them said, “If He could open the eyes of the blind man, could He not have kept this man from dying?” Jesus was deeply moved again, and drew near to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across it. Jesus said, “Take the stone away.” Martha said to Him, “Lord, by now he will smell, for this is the fourth day.” Jesus replied, “Have I not told you that, if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” So they removed the stone.

Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You for You have heard Me. I knew that You hear Me always; but My prayer was for the sake of these people, that they may believe that You sent Me.” When Jesus had said this, He cried out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”

The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Untie him, and let him go.” Many of the Jews who had come with Mary believed in Jesus when they saw what He did.

Alternative reading (shorter version)

John 11 : 3-7, 17, 20-27, 33b-45

So the sisters sent this message to Jesus, “Lord, the one You love is sick.” On hearing this, Jesus said, “This illness will not end in death; rather it is for God’s glory, and the Son of God will be glorified through it.”

It is a fact that Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus; yet, after He heard of the illness of Lazarus, He stayed two days longer in the place where He was. Only then did He say to His disciples, “Let us go into Judea again.”

When Jesus came, He found that Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet Him, while Mary remained sitting in the house. And she said to Jesus, “If You had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that whatever You ask from God, God will give You.” Jesus said, “Your brother will rise again.”

Martha replied, “I know that he will rise in the resurrection, at the last day.” But Jesus said to her, “I am the Resurrection. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, shall live. Whoever lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” Martha then answered, “Yes, Lord, I have come to believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, He Who is coming into the world.”

Jesus was moved in the depths of His Spirit and troubled. Then He asked, “Where have you laid him?” They answered, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept.

The Jews said, “See how He loved him!” But some of them said, “If He could open the eyes of the blind man, could He not have kept this man from dying?” Jesus was deeply moved again, and drew near to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across it. Jesus said, “Take the stone away.” Martha said to Him, “Lord, by now he will smell, for this is the fourth day.” Jesus replied, “Have I not told you that, if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” So they removed the stone.

Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You for You have heard Me. I knew that You hear Me always; but My prayer was for the sake of these people, that they may believe that You sent Me.” When Jesus had said this, He cried out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”

The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Untie him, and let him go.” Many of the Jews who had come with Mary believed in Jesus when they saw what He did.

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Sunday, 22 March 2026 : Fifth Sunday of Lent (Second Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Romans 8 : 8-11

So, those walking according to the flesh cannot please God. Yet your existence is not in the flesh, but in the spirit, because the Spirit of God is within you. If you did not have the Spirit of Christ, you would not belong to Him.

But Christ is within you; though the body is branded by death as a consequence of sin, the spirit is life and holiness. And if the Spirit of Him Who raised Jesus from the dead is within you, He Who raised Jesus Christ from among the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies. Yes, He will do it through His Spirit Who dwells within you.

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Sunday, 22 March 2026 : Fifth Sunday of Lent (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Psalm 129 : 1-2, 3-4, 5-7a, 7bc-8

Out of the depths I cry to You, o Lord, o Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears pay attention to the voice of my supplication.

If You should mark our evil, o Lord, who could stand? But with You is forgiveness.

For that You are revered. I waited for the Lord, my soul waits, and I put my hope in His word. My soul expects the Lord more than watchmen the dawn.

O Israel, hope in the Lord, for with Him is unfailing love and with Him full deliverance. He will deliver Israel from all its sins.

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Sunday, 22 March 2026 : Fifth Sunday of Lent (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Ezekiel 37 : 12-14

YHVH said to Ezekiel, “So prophesy! Say to them : This is what YHVH says : I am going to open your tombs, My people, and lead you back to the land of Israel. You will know that I am YHVH, o My people! When I open your graves and bring you out of your graves.”

“When I put My Spirit in you and you live. I shall settle you in your land and you will know that I, YHVH, have done what I said I would do.”

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Saturday, 21 March 2026 : 4th Week of Lent (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we continue to progress through the season and time of Lent, and as we are approaching the last two weeks of this Lenten season, we are reminded ever more through our Scripture readings of the things that happened around the Passion of Our Lord, building up towards the climax at the events we commemorate at the Easter or Paschal Triduum. We are reminded of all the plotting, hardships, trials and oppositions that the Lord encountered throughout His ministry and works, all of which came about because of the pride, ego and ambition of many among the people of God at that time, especially the leaders and elders of the people, all of whom sought to silence and destroy the Lord, seeing Him as a great threat to them and their status in the community.

In our first reading today, we heard from the Book of the prophet Jeremiah in which we heard the conversation between Jeremiah and God, where the prophet confided to God everything that the people had carried out against him, in their plots and designs to destroy him and to silence him despite everything that he had done for the good of the people of God, in bringing to them the warning from the Lord and also telling them at the same time of God’s continued patience and love for each and every one of them. And instead of appreciating what God had done for them through the labours of His prophet Jeremiah, they all tried to crush him and strike at him with all sorts of oppositions.

But God is a Just and Mighty God, Who is always kind, compassionate and caring towards those who are faithful to Him. He does not abandon His faithful ones to destruction and ruin, and He was certainly not silent when those who have held on to hope in Him faced challenges, trials and difficulties. He was always with each and every one of them, guiding and strengthening them all throughout their journey and struggles, carrying them and supporting them, providing them with the necessary courage and inspiration throughout those difficult moments. There were indeed times when the prophet Jeremiah almost lost it amidst all the plots and challenges facing him, and yet, in the end, he still trusted fully in the Lord and His Providence.

Then, from our Gospel passage today, we heard from the Gospel according to St. John the Apostle and Evangelist in which the continuation of the debates and the disagreements among the leaders and elders of the people, the elders and important persona of the Jewish community, were heard by us, as they gathered and debated about what the Lord Jesus had told them in their confrontation if we recall what it was as highlighted in our readings yesterday. The Lord rebuked those people for lacking faith and for not believing in Him despite everything that He has shown them and done before them all, all the miracles and wonders He had done, all the Wisdom that He had delivered to them, which they refused to believe out of pride and ego.

And they all debated as we heard in today’s Gospel passage, doubting and refuting Christ’s claim simply because they thought that it was impossible for someone like Him to have been the Messiah, thinking that they knew His background and identity, as a mere Son of a carpenter from Nazareth in Galilee, a region from which no prophet or Messiah was prophesied to come or originate from, but little did they know that the Lord was truly born in Bethlehem in Judea, and His foster-father was none other than the Heir of David himself, the King of Israel, and therefore, fulfilling perfectly all that God Himself had proclaimed and repeatedly reassured to all of His people through His many prophets and messengers.

The Lord has not withhold anything from us, and He gave us only the best of the best, none other than His own Beloved and Begotten Son, Whom He has sent into our midst to bring unto us the healing and reconciliation that is necessary so that we may find our way back to Him and His loving embrace. Having been separated from Him due to our disobedience and sins, we should have deserved death and destruction. And yet, God Who is always loving, kind and compassionate towards us always show us all His love, His ever present grace and His patient care, ever always reaching out to us all despite our stubborn attitudes and refusals to follow Him or listen to His words and reminders, as our ancestors had done to the prophets and to the Lord Himself.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all therefore continue to journey through this time and season of Lent, with the spirit and fervour in our hearts, doing our best in every time and moment, seeking to strengthen our connection and relationship with God once again, if we have not been doing so regularly so far. Let us all continue to strive to spend more good and quality time with the Lord and to reorientate our lives so that we may truly walk faithfully and courageously with the Lord, be it in good times or bad times, in times of plenty and in times of suffering. Let us all continue to be good role models and examples in our every actions, words and deeds, in our every efforts and endeavours in life.

May the Lord, our most loving, compassionate and merciful God continue to show us all His most generous mercy, love and kindness at all times, strengthening each one of us with the necessary courage and inspiration, the patience and perseverance necessary to continue pushing on regardless of the challenges and trials that we may be facing in life. Let us not lose hope and be overcome by fear whenever we encounter difficult moments and struggles, remembering that the Lord Himself has suffered the worst of sufferings and punishments for our sake. Even as we journey patiently through all these challenges, let us remember that God is always with us, and there are those whom He has placed to help and journey with us too. Therefore, let us all continue to trust in the Lord and follow Him wholeheartedly, now and always. Amen.

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Saturday, 21 March 2026 : 4th Week of Lent (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

John 7 : 40-53

At that time, many who had been listening to these words began to say, “This is the Prophet.” Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some wondered, “Would the Christ come from Galilee? Does Scripture not say that the Christ is a descendant of David and from Bethlehem, the city of David? The crowd was divided over Him. Some wanted to arrest Him, but no one laid hands on Him.

The officers of the Temple went back to the chief priests, who asked them, “Why did you not bring Him?” The officers answered, “No one ever spoke like this Man.” The Pharisees then said, “So you, too, have been led astray! Have any of the rulers or any of the Pharisees believed in Him? Only those cursed people, who have no knowledge of the Law!”

Yet one of them, Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier, spoke out, “Does our law condemn people without first hearing them and knowing the facts?” They replied, “Do you, too, come from Galilee? Look it up and see for yourself that no prophet is to come from Galilee.” And they all went home.

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Saturday, 21 March 2026 : 4th Week of Lent (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Psalm 7 : 2-3, 9bc-10, 11-12

O Lord, my God, in You I take shelter; deliver me and save me from all my pursuers, lest lions tear me to pieces with no one to rescue me.

O Lord, my righteousness; You see that I am blameless. Bring to an end the power of the wicked, but affirm the just, o righteous God, searcher of mind and heart.

You cover me as a shield. Oh God, for You protect the upright. A righteous judge is God, His anger ever awaiting those who refuse to repent.

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Saturday, 21 March 2026 : 4th Week of Lent (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Jeremiah 11 : 18-20

YHVH made it known to me and so I know! And You let me see their scheming. But I was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter. I did not know it was against me that they were plotting, “Let us feed him with trials and remove him from the land of the living and let his name never be mentioned again.”

YHVH, God of hosts, You Who judge with justice and know everyone’s heart and intentions, let me see Your vengeance on them, for to You I have entrusted my cause.

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Friday, 20 March 2026 : 4th Week of Lent (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, in today’s Scripture readings, we are reminded that as we progress through this time and season of Lent, each and every one of us as Christians, as those whom God had called and chosen may have to encounter difficult trials, oppositions and challenges in our paths and in our ways, but we must not give up hope and we must not be afraid or fearful because ultimately, God is always with us and He will always guide us and provide for us everything that we need in our paths and journeys, in doing whatever it is that He has entrusted to us to do. Let us all remember that whatever hardships and difficulties we have to endure, the Lord Himself has also experienced it as well, in His loving sacrifice through His Son, Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Saviour.

In our first reading today, taken from the Book of Wisdom, we heard of the account of the persecution of God’s prophets and servants by the people to whom they had been sent to minister to, highlighting just how stubborn and unreasonable the people had often been in their refusal to obey the words of the Lord, despite all that the Lord Himself had done for them, and everything that He has told them and given to them in reassurance of His constant love and care. Instead of appreciating the works of the Lord made through His prophets, they hardened their hearts and minds against those words and reminders, plotting the suffering and destruction of those prophets and messengers of God that had been sent for their own good.

This passage from the Book of Wisdom was also in fact also a prophecy about the Lord’s salvation itself, as it spoke clearly about the coming of the One Whom God would send into this world and Who would claim to be the Son of God, having God Himself as His Father in Heaven. All these were indeed what the Lord Jesus Himself had done, everything that the author of the Book of Wisdom had said and recorded, as reminders for all of us that everything which God had promised to us He would do, He would indeed accomplish and fulfil perfectly without exception. That is why we are reminded of God’s Providence and Love, and how He had shown this Love so perfectly and wonderfully to us through His Son, Who manifested to us the perfect Love of God.

And as we heard in how those people were to treat this same manifestation of God’s Perfect Love, by plotting against Him, persecuting and rejecting Him as they had done to the prophets in the past, and eventually as it would all be accomplished through Christ, that He would suffer and die the worst of sufferings, humiliations and punishments, all of which He did willingly and lovingly as He took up and bore His Cross, upon His own bleeding shoulders, so that by His wounds and hurts, His outpoured Blood and broken Body, He might show unto us all the perfect fulfilment of God’s promises and assurances to us, in His consistent and ever enduring Love, one which He bore even unto the Cross and unto His death at Calvary.

Then, from our Gospel passage today, taken from the Gospel according to St. John the Apostle and Evangelist, we heard of the confrontation between the Lord and His opponents, some of the Jewish people in Jerusalem, where the latter wanted to see the Lord arrested, silenced and destroyed. The Lord pointed out against the complaints and doubts which those who opposed Him had in Him, how they thought they knew where He came from and therefore judged and being biased against Him prematurely, telling them all that they all thought they knew it better and that they knew Him, as a mere carpenter’s Son from a small and unassuming town in Galilee, from where no prophet or Saviour was predicted or prophesied to come from.

And yet, God’s truth was hidden from them, and even if any of them did know the truth, their pride and ego, their hubris and ambition became their undoing as all those things prevented them from truly embracing God’s truth and Good News, and accepting His fully free and generous gift of Love through His Son, Our Lord and Saviour. Despite everything that the Lord Himself had done, all the miracles and wonders that He had performed before the people and before even those naysayers and opponents of His, they still refused to believe nonetheless, no matter how many amazing things and great Wisdom they themselves had heard. Some of them even accused the Lord of colluding with the forces of evil and the prince of demons.

That was why, as we come ever closer to the celebration and commemoration of the events of the Holy Week in just over a week’s time, we are reminded of the events that would transpire in Jerusalem regarding the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the sufferings and hardships that He would undergo for the salvation of the whole world. We are reminded of how God’s love has been manifested so wonderfully and perfectly for us all, and that is why we are called to reflect upon all the love and grace that the Lord our God has shown us so patiently and willingly for our salvation, and this Lent, let us all see in what way and manner that we can live our lives better and more devotedly as Christians, in our attitudes in our respective communities and in our various areas in life.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all therefore strive to do our best in glorifying God at all times. Let us all be the good role models, inspirations and examples for everyone around us in how we continue to put our trust and faith in God despite the challenges and trials that we may have to face in life. Each and every one of us are the bearers of God’s Light, His truth, Good News and Love to our world today. Let us hence this Lent make the effort to be ever more loving in our every actions, in loving both God and our neighbours, and showing genuine care and kindness to everyone whom we encounter in life, now and always. Amen.