Masses will resume from 4th July onwards with a capped of 50 attendees for each Mass. Kindly book your Mass online at myCatholic.sg. Admission is strictly by advance booking. Please bring your NRIC for verification.
Monday to Friday:
Saturday:
Sunday:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iN8kSX9gPiI&feature=youtu.be
Gospel
Mark 13:33-37
If he comes unexpectedly, he must not find you asleep
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Be on your guard, stay awake, because you never know when the time will come. It is like a man travelling abroad: he has gone from home, and left his servants in charge, each with his own task; and he has told the doorkeeper to stay awake. So stay awake, because you do not know when the master of the house is coming, evening, midnight, cockcrow, dawn; if he comes unexpectedly, he must not find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake!’
Know that the Kingdom of God is near. (Luke 21:31)
Have you noticed how many of our readings the past couple of weeks have focused on Jesus’ triumphant return at the end of time? Certainly, it’s a good thing to think about here at the end of the liturgical year, and it’s good to be prepared to welcome the Lord when he returns. But many of these passages, like today’s Gospel, can also be read in the light of the kingdom’s presence among us right now. Yes, there is more to come, but we are already living in that new creation in which Jesus, the crucified and risen Lord, reigns.
What does it look like and feel like when God lives in the midst of his people? Here’s one way to think about it. As we head into the holiday season, you will likely have many opportunities to see God working among your family, friends, and community. All of these can be signs of what life in God’s kingdom is like.
For instance, you might notice how the shelves of your local food bank are overflowing, not only with necessary staples, but with special treats as well. Or you might see a toy collection box filled with gifts for children at a local shelter. You might notice one of your neighbors visiting the elderly couple down the street and helping them decorate their house. You might even be surprised by a relative’s openness to share what’s going on in their life or their desire to reconcile with you.
Now, it’s easy to see God’s kingdom breaking into our world through the selflessness or generosity of the people around us. But the kingdom is also at hand when situations don’t look quite so heavenly. Sometimes family gatherings become contentious. Or the gift giving of the holiday season only makes you feel more lonely. Or severe weather highlights the plight of the homeless. But the kingdom is still there. Jesus is there, suffering with the poor and mourning over our divisions. He is there, embracing us in our isolation.
Indeed, Jesus is King. We can see and know it no matter what life throws at us. And that gives us hope.
“Jesus, give me eyes to see signs of your kingdom right here and right now.”
Revelation 20:1-4, 11–21:2
Psalm 84:3-6, 8
Source: Word Among Us
They sang the song . . . of the Lamb. (Revelation 15:3)
The Book of Revelation is filled with elaborate imagery and apocalyptic visions of the end of all things—and that can make it difficult to understand. But the richness and beauty of this book lies in its extraordinary witness to Jesus. True to its name, Revelation unwraps the mystery of Christ and draws back the curtain to reveal Jesus in new ways. In every chapter it uses distinctive names to describe different facets of Jesus’ calling and his attributes. Today, for instance, we read about Jesus as a lamb.
We first encounter the image of a lamb in chapter 5 of Revelation. First, Jesus is introduced as a triumphant “lion of . . . Judah” (5:5). But then surprisingly, when that “lion” appears, he is shown to be a lamb instead (5:6). Even more astounding, he is a lamb who was slain (5:6, 9). This seems illogical because lions—and humans—win by killing. But Jesus triumphed by being killed. It’s through his death and resurrection that Jesus conquered all sin, all evil, all death. No wonder all the saints sing a song to the Lamb of God!
The people of Israel sang the Song of Moses after God delivered them from slavery in Egypt (Exodus 15). In heaven, everyone will sing to Jesus, the Lamb who delivered all people from slavery to sin. One day, we will join them. We too will praise the Lamb who bore our sins, who died that we might live, and whose blood has washed us clean. On that day, we will see him face-to-face and rejoice in his victory. On that day, freed from every weakness, we will join our departed loved ones and all the heavenly hosts in singing this new song.
But why wait? You can sing this song right now. In fact, you sing it at every Mass: Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world. It’s so important, in fact, that you sing it three times! And by doing so, you sing of what Jesus has already done, what he is doing right now, and what he will do when he returns. You sing this song in faith, but one day you will sing it in nothing but pure joy.
“Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world. Grant us peace.”
Psalm 98:1-3, 7-9
Luke 21:12-19
He noticed a poor widow putting in . . . more than all the rest. (Luke 21:2, 3)
“Show me the money!” That line from a 1990s movie quickly became a popular catchphrase. In other words, money talks. This was just as popular a mindset in Jesus’ time as it is now. But Jesus was different. While the clinking coins attracted the attention and admiration of the Jewish leaders, he was not impressed. He saw the hearts of the contributors, not the amount they were giving. Rather than admiring their impressive sums, he was impressed by a poor widow’s humble offering.
In her lowly attire and with her meager offering, this woman may have been practically invisible to everyone else in the Temple that day. But Jesus saw her. Perhaps that was because her humble trust that God would care for her reminded him of his heavenly home. It’s like the way you would feel if you were on a trip on the other side of the world and bumped into someone who spoke your language. In a similar way, Jesus found a kindred spirit in this woman.
This story shows us that faith and humility are the surest way to Jesus’ heart. He longs to see in us what is at the center of his own life—the generosity and trust in God’s provision that enabled him to go to the cross for us.
This is what it means to be a kindred spirit with Jesus. It means trusting in his Father and offering ourselves to him and his people in whatever ways we can. It means not holding back on our money, our time, or our love when opportunities to give present themselves. It means believing that God will help provide for us if we decide to give just a little more than we have in the past. It means showing Jesus the “money” of a heart given over to him in trust and faith.
So ask God today to give you a heart like this poor widow and like Jesus himself. Believe that whatever you offer to him in faith and trust, he can turn into a heavenly treasure—even two small coins!
“Jesus, may you recognize in me what you saw in this poor widow.”
Revelation 14:1-5
Psalm 24:1-6
Source: Word Among Us
“ If you love, you will keep my commandments. ”
Parish Priest
Ordination Date: 7 July 2001
Assistant Priest
Ordination Date: 25 February 1989
Assistant Priest
Ordination Date: 10 May 2014
