Matthew 13:44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy, he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field." During the time of Jesus, the people are used to hiding their treasures in case of raids from their enemies or theft. Therefore, the treasure does [...]
In the parable of today’s gospel, the enemy sows darnel into the wheat field. As the darnel grows become evident, the neighbours around this farmer will laugh at him and say that he does not know how to prepare the soil for the sowing. The enemy wants to shame the farmer because he does not like the farmer to prosper. [...]
A question to consider is: ‘Who is the Sower?’ The immediate answer for most is that it is Jesus. If we consider the ancient world, it could be the owner of the plantation, the tenant farmer, or the peasant worker. If it was the owner, he would be despised by the peasant who are hearing this parable. If there were [...]
Rejoice! The King is Coming! The first reading is a song of praise for the coming of the Kingdom of God. The King is victorious; he is triumphant. He comes to us in humility by riding on a donkey. In ancient times, a king would ride on a donkey to signify that he is coming in peace. He rides a [...]
This Sunday’s readings are a reminder of the paradox of the cross that in order to live one must die. Dying to oneself is something that is avoided because it is uncomfortable. Familiarity is comforting and choosing situations which make one feel comfortable is natural. Even in church, worshippers often find themselves sitting at the same spot during Eucharistic celebrations, [...]
The First Reading and the Responsorial Psalms contain tones of restlessness and complain. The prophet Jeremiah in the First Reading was experiencing such tumult as he fought futilely against the onslaught of despair, sorrow, and terror. As a prophet of God, he was afraid for his life, so much so that he scolded God for beguiling him with a [...]
Singapore’s population is aging, and households are having fewer children too. We are facing an unprecedented decline in vocations to the priestly and religious vocations. Following the results from a Catholic News 2008 survey, which then recorded the average age of priests in Singapore as 55 years old, the statistical results from the recent Catholic Conversation (Catholic.sg, 2021) show that [...]
As we celebrate the Solemnity of the Holy Body and Blood of Christ, we are called to remember that the Catechism of the Catholic Church, states that, the Eucharist is “the source and summit” of the Christian life. This an echo of the document Sacrosanctum Concilium promulgated in 1963. The Eucharist is the summit of our Christian life, a sacrament [...]
There is an oft told medieval tale that speaks of how St. Augustine as he was writing his treatise about the Holy Trinity, was walking along the beach when he encountered a little boy trying to fill a hole that was found in the sand. The boy kept running back and forth from the ocean, and each time he did, [...]
While many of us are familiar with the liturgical readings for the celebration of Pentecost Day – The First Reading: Acts 2: 1-11 when the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles and they began speaking in foreign languages, the Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:3-7,12-13 where St. Paul tells us that while we are many parts, we are one body, and [...]
