Homily: May 16, 2022, Monday of the Fifth Week of Easter.

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 “We are of the same nature as you, human beings.”

St. Paul had to emphasize this to the people of Lystra. They had just witnessed a miracle performed by Paul. Indeed, no human person can perform such a miracle, only God can. Jesus performed many such miracles in His life, but the Jews did not recognise His divinity, they were spiritually blind. Now St. Paul performed the same, did he also have divine power?

A new bar was under construction in a small town, right across the street in front of a church. The local priest launched a campaign for his parishioners to pray against the new bar from opening.

As construction works progressed, prayers intensified. One week before the opening, lightning struck the almost completed new bar and it burned to the ground. The whole church celebrated, but the bar owner brought the church to court, charging her for causing the loss of his building and business. The church denied all responsibility, defending herself for having no such power to cause the destruction and its damages.

During the court proceedings, the judge analysed the case and commented, “It intrigues me to judge this case. 

It appears that we have a bar owner who believes in the power of prayer, and an entire church congregation that does not.”

What do you think? Do we really have the power to bring about miracles, like St. Paul? It is true that we are all of the same nature, human beings. It is also true that only God can perform miracles. So, how did St. Paul do it?

In the gospel Jesus says, “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.”

St. Paul loved Jesus and kept His word with total dedication. Thus, the Holy Spirit dwelt in him, and worked powerful miracles through him.

Same for us. When we love God with all our heart and keep faithful to His word, God the Holy Spirit will also dwell in us, and work wonderful miracles through us, bearing beautiful fruits of love. Amen.


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Homily: June 16, 2026, Monday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time (Mercy)

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 “Since he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his time.” Yesterday we heard the disturbing story of Naboth and the terrible injustice committed against him by King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. Their actions were cruel, wrong and sinful. They deserved judgement and punishment, especially Jezebel, who orchestrated the whole scheme. Yet today we see something remarkable. When Ahab humbled himself, fasted, and repented, God relented. He delayed the punishment that had been announced. What does this show us about God? It shows us that God’s mercy is greater than our sins. For thirteen years, Pope Francis reminded the Church of this beautiful truth: God's very name is mercy. God is just, but He is also infinitely merciful. He never ceases to seek out the sinner and offer the way back to Him. We see this throughout the events in Sacred Scripture. When Adam and Eve sinned, God pronounced the consequences of their sin. Yet immediately afterward, we read that “the LORD Go...
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Homily: June 15, 2026 Monday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time (Resistance)

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 But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil.  Why did Jesus say this? Shouldn’t we resist and fight evil, so that we can keep ourselves holy? I remember years ago, I was traveling in a non-Christian country, and I had in my hand-carry bag, a zip-lock pouch of unconsecrated hosts for celebrating Mass during my trip. At customs, the officer checked my bag, took out the zip-lock pouch containing the hosts, then with one hand, crushed them all into pieces, and put them back into my bag. I felt great anger, and I felt deep sadness. I did not say a word. I knew saying anything about it would not make any difference, it would only complicate my travels. Utter disrespect! Such evil! In my heart I wanted to curse them. In today’s first reading, we see another example. King Ahab was wealthy, powerful, he had everything he needed and more, but he was not satisfied. He was greedy. He desired Naboth’s vineyard. So, his queen, Jezebel, made false accusations against Naboth, ha...
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Homily: May 14, Feast of St. Mathias (Chosen)

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"It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you”.  Today, we celebrate the feast of St. Matthias, who was not at first one of the twelve nor part of the inner circle of Jesus. He was chosen later into the college of apostles, to take the place of Judas. In the first reading, we saw how the apostles prayed and asked the Lord to show them whom He had chosen, someone who had accompanied them ‘the whole time’. They then cast their lots and God’s choice was revealed. Did God choose Matthias only at that point when the apostles had to replace Judas? Or did God already planned and prepared Matthias ‘the whole time’ when he was following Jesus throughout His ministry, and remained in the community even after the crucifixion? St. Paul says, “He chose us in him, before the foundation of the world…” Can you imagine, right up to this point in your life and mine, you and I are present right now in this holy place not by chance, but by choice. Through our own decisions nevertheless, but not w...
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Homily: October 19, 2025, Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Constant Prayer)

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 “Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them?” These questions from Jesus in today’s Gospel invites us to reflect on the secret of a powerful prayer. What makes prayers powerful? When we pray for a particular intention, and the intention is fulfilled, we conclude that the prayer was powerful. Jesus questions us to reflect and realize that God is the generous One, who gives us the rights to call out to Him, day and night. God is the patient one, who will answer our prayers timely – His time, not ours. Recently past, one of my sisters told me of a problematic situation she has been trying hard to resolve, but it didn’t. I then suggested to her to pray the novena to our Lady, Undoer of Knots, and she did, she prayed the novena faithfully. Then last week, she called me with great excitement. “The prayer worked!” Her intentions were fulfilled, her prayers were answered according to her wish. Like her, many of ...
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Reflection: April 18, 2025 Bridge Churches stations of the cross on good Friday.

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"Then he said, 'Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.' He replied to him, 'Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.'"  The good thief asked only to be remembered, but Jesus, always faithful to His promises, responded with the gift of eternal life. Jesus was nailed to a cross, like a criminal, with two real criminals by His side. He had once been surrounded by thousands who needed His healing, followed by many who wanted to hear Him, and accompanied by friends who loved Him. But now at the final hour of His suffering and dying, they had all left Him. This is what many of us fear, to be forgotten and left alone at our dying moment. Let us look at the situation of the two thieves crucified beside Jesus. As thieves, they probably lived in poverty, anxiety and constantly hiding. They might not have family or friends since they work in darkness. Now caught and condemned, they too are in the last hour of their lives, about to die. Yet,...
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Homily: April 12, 2025, Fifth saturday in Lent (Sanctuary).

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 “I will multiply them and put my sanctuary among them forever. My dwelling shall be with them.”  Growing up in one of the Eastern Catholic Churches was truly one of the greatest blessings of my life. I grew up in the Syro-Malabar Church, which is the largest Eastern Catholic Church. Our theology, liturgy and history are distinct from the Western Church but are in full communion with the Pope in Rome. In our tradition, the sanctuary, the high altar and the tabernacle are at all times veiled with a large curtain that separates and covers the sanctuary from the congregation. The curtain is drawn and unveiled only during the Divine Liturgy, that is when Mass is being celebrated. Only the priest, sacristan, and altar servers are allowed to enter the sanctuary with respectful behavior and deep reverence. From a very young age, we were taught that the altar is utmost sacred, that the sanctuary is the Holy of Holies, like the inner temple of Israel. The veil served as a visible remin...
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Homily: February 20, 2026 Friday after Ash-Wednesday (Fast)

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 “The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.” People fast for various reasons. Many people fast for health, fitness and vanity reasons by doing intermittent fasting, detox diets, or weight loss programs. Some prominent figures use fasting as a form of silent protest. Leaders like Gandhi used hunger strikes to fight injustice. And sadly, some people are simply not eating, they are starving not by choice but because of poverty. Christian fasting is different. It is spiritual fasting and is not primarily about the body. It is about the spiritual heart. Jesus’ disciples were not fasting like the disciples of other preachers, and He told them that when the bridegroom is taken away, they will fast. Because their fasting will be an sign of longing, a spiritual desire to be re-united with their master, it expresses the deep sorrow of separation. Later, when the disciples could not cast out a demon, Jesus reminded them: “This kind can only come ...
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Homily: June 7, 2022, Tuesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time.

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 “You are salt of the earth.” When couples are in love, they call each other ‘sweetheart’, ‘honey’ and maybe ‘sugar’? Because they add sweetness to each other’s life. And most religious leaders would expect their followers to be powerful, mighty and unbeatable. But here, Jesus calls His beloved disciples ‘salt’. Such a humble reference. What does Jesus want His disciples to do differently? One. Humble yet purposeful. Salt is common yet very useful in every home, rich or poor. His disciples would reach out and preach the good news to every home, every family in the world. Two. Taste enhancing. The right amount of salt makes food tasty. Without it, food tastes bland. Just a sprinkle of it will bring out the full flavor. His disciples would help everyone realise their purpose, to bring about the full consciousness of their true calling as children of God. Three. Purifies. Traditionally, Holy water is blessed by adding a pinch of salt because salt purifies and wards off evil. Jesus’ di...
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Homily: march 15, 2026, Fourth Sunday in Lent (Laetare Sunday)

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 “Then Samuel, with the horn of oil in hand, anointed David in the presence of his brothers; and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David.” This is one of the most powerful scenes in the Old Testament. A young shepherd boy was suddenly anointed the king of Israel – the least-expected to be king material, yet God chose him. David did not come from any royal line. There were no kings before in his family. He was young, tender in experience, and in the eyes of the world, he didn’t look promising as compared to his older brothers. The prophet Samuel saw more potential in David’s older brothers, yet God chose him. God reminded Samuel: “Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance, but the LORD looks into the heart.” God saw something in David’s heart which made him the perfect king for God, something no one else could see. Dear catechumens and candidates, in just twenty-one days, you will be fully initiated into the Catholic faith during Easter Vigil. Y...
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Homily: February 18, 2026 Ash Wednesday (Return to God)

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 “Return to the LORD, your God. For gracious and merciful is He, slow to anger, rich in kindness, and relenting in punishment.” If you were to choose someone to be your BFF – Best Friend Forever - what qualities would you be looking for? For me, one of the first qualities I would look for is kindness. I do not want someone who will be cruel and rough with me, or someone who would bully me or always get angry with me. I am sure you would agree that it is easy to be long-time friends with someone who is patient, slow to anger, gracious, and merciful. We are drawn to people who forgive quickly, who do not keep scores, who love generously. And today the prophet Joel tells us: that is exactly who God is: Gracious. Merciful. Slow to anger. Rich in kindness. Yes, we are sinful people, we have done and might continue to do many things which are not pleasing to God. But the good news is God is not waiting to punish us. In fact, He is waiting for our friendship. Many of us feel ashamed of ou...
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