Friday of Week 13 in Ordinary Time Gen 23:1-4,19;24:1-8,62-67Mt 9:9-13 “It is not the healthy who need the doctor, but the sick.” When I read today’s Gospel, an immediate thought that came to mind was the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Why? Because by confessing our sins to Christ through the priest as an instrument of God,... Continue Reading →
1 July, Thursday — Spiritual health before physical health
Thursday of Week 13 in Ordinary Time Gen 22:1-19Mt 9:1-8 “Your sins are forgiven… Get up and walk” I have a physical impairment, and I cannot walk without support. So I have to move around on a wheelchair. I remember when I first read this Gospel many years ago as a child, I often wondered... Continue Reading →
27 June, Sunday – Faith in God
13th Sunday in Ordinary Time Wis 1:13-15,2:23-242 Cor 8:7,9,13-15Mk 5:21-43 I will praise you, Lord, you have rescued me. The past one and a half year has been a whirlwind of events. The pandemic has brought about tremendous challenges to my faith, and it has been a difficult period time. The change in lifestyle was... Continue Reading →
26 June, Saturday — Humble Yourself
Saturday of Week 12 in Ordinary Time Gen 18:1-15Mt:8:5-17 “I will come myself and cure him” Jesus has so much compassion for all those who come to him asking for help. He will go to great lengths to perform miracles, just so that he could take “our sicknesses away and carry our diseases for us”.... Continue Reading →
25 June, Friday — If You Want To
Friday of Week 12 in Ordinary Time Gen 17:1,9-10,15-22Mt 8:1-4 “If you want to, you can cure me.” There’s something so humbling in the way the leper asks for help. By simply adding, “if you want to” or “if you are willing”, it is an act of surrender in itself. I find this sentence such... Continue Reading →
23 June, Wednesday — He gives gifts to each person, just as he decides.
Wednesday of Week 12 in Ordinary Time Gen 15:1-12,17-18Mt 7:15-20 Every good tree bears good fruit. It took me years to understand the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit. When I pray, I am guilty of constantly asking God for something either for family, a loved one or myself. I pray for protection, blessings,... Continue Reading →
20 June, Sunday — Active and Passive Faith
12th Sunday in Ordinary Time Job 38:1,8-11 2 Cor 5:14-17Mk 4:35-41 “Why are you so frightened?” I am intrigued by the sport of American football. I remember the first time I learned about it, when my friend, Joe, explained the rules. The game is divided into two portions -- offence, and defence. When one is... Continue Reading →
18 June, Friday – Strength in Vulnerability
Friday of Week 11 in Ordinary Time 2 Cor 11:18,21-30Mt 6:19-23 If I am to boast, I let me boast of my own feebleness In today’s readings, we are reminded that the Christian faith can often put us at odds with the expectations of the secular world. In the first reading, St Paul relates the many physical torments... Continue Reading →
17 June, Thursday – Our Divine Parent
Thursday of Week 11 in Ordinary Time 2 Cor 11:1-11Mt 6:7-15 “...your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” In today’s Gospel readings, Jesus continues to teach us how to pray. But while He told us what not to do in yesterday’s readings, today He has given us the very specific manual to... Continue Reading →
16 June, Wednesday – Dialogue with Divinity
Wednesday of Week 11 in Ordinary Time 2 Cor 9:6-11Mt 6:1-6,16-18 “...and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will repay you.” One of my favourite bible verses of all time is Heb 11:1, “Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen”. It speaks to the... Continue Reading →