Fr. Nivin's Homily Blog

“We are writing this so that our joy may be complete.” Today’s first reading ended with these words. To St. John the Evangelist, his joy would never be complete if he didn’t write down all that he had seen, heard and learnt from Jesus. Imagine him heaving a deep sigh of relief and satisfaction when he was done writing these texts. What is the one thing that would complete our joy? What gives us joy in the first place? St. John the Evangelist is my patron saint. My baptism name is John. I have always wished I could be like St. John, the beloved Apostle of Jesus, to love the Lord and Mother Mary with the same devotion and affection.  He was the only disciple who was at the foot of the cross and stayed with Jesus in His dying. He was the one appointed with the responsibility to care for Mary. Other than Peter, John was the other disciple who ran to the empty tomb after Jesus was resurrected. He was the only apostle who lived long into old age. However, it was not a life of comfort. He...

From the first reading, we heard Stephen declare, “Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” But his persecutors ‘cried out in a loud voice, covered their ears, and rushed upon him together.’ If we could visualize the scene, we would imagine Stephen looking radiant with joy as he anticipated his death, while his persecutors looking tormented and fearful as they prepared to kill. We know why Stephen was joyful as he looked up to heaven, because he could see where his future would be. We also know why his persecutors were afraid as they closed their ears to Stephen’s words, because they did not want to hear the truth. It tormented their conscience and pierced through the darkness in their hearts. I am sure we ourselves may have experienced the same, when our wrong doings were being highlighted, when our shame were being revealed or when our hurts were being exposed, we might also cry out, “stop! I don’t want to hear it! I don’t want to know i...

 Today’s first reading is from Song of Songs. This book in the Bible is also known as the Song of Solomon, or the Canticle of Canticles. It is a romantic poetry expressing the intense and intimate love of a young couple entering marital union. Why would the Bible include such a romantic book? There is not even a mention of ‘God’. Anyone who has fallen in love before would be able to appreciate the celebration of romance in this book. But it may feel odd to imagine God’s love for His people is as romantic as a couple’s love, yet it is true. God yearns to be with His people more intensely than a loving couple for each other. God’s love for us is very special, emotional and romantic. God loves deep and intense. He yearns to be close to us, so much so that He literally came into our world to live among us and at His death, continue to give of Himself, His body and blood, to dwell in our hearts. Day and night He looks at us, reaches out to us and waits for us to invite Him into our live...

As a priest, I also follow the daily reflections of other good preachers, to learn their insights and to be inspired and nurtured spiritually. There is one daily reflection which I follow closely, that of Archbishop William Cardinal Goh, the Archbishop of Singapore. His reflections always touch me so deeply and open my mind to new perspectives. I admire his courage to correct the church lovingly, his deep trust in God, and his passion for evangelization and dedication for his ministry, at the same time he is also very humble. Last night as I was preparing the homily for today, i was thinking about my struggles and challenges trying to minister and lead this parish. I always felt that my weaknesses are too great and my strengths too mild to do a good job here. My own faith and self confidence have been tested intensely. Then reading Archbishop Goh's reflection for today's scripture texts inspired me and even answered my doubts and questions concerning my ministry here. I think i...

 “Thus says the LORD: Woe to the city, rebellious and polluted, to the tyrannical city! She hears no voice, accepts no correction.” Our Lord is giving a stern warning to those who are against Him, those who are arrogant. Most of us would have at least been through a rebellious phase or have met or lived with someone who is arrogant.  Arrogant people do not listen to others, think highly of themselves, and expect others to listen to them and agree with them. Some of us may still be in such a situation and we ourselves have our arrogant moments too. No one can deny, such characters are difficult to deal with, work with or live together. Thus God warns us against being arrogant and rebellious especially towards His teachings and commands. By being full of ourselves and living as if we do not need God, by being overly self-confident and thinking we are the master of our own life, we will one day fall deep into helplessness and loneliness.  Arrogance is destructive to others a...

 Today’s Gospel reading states that “Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah.” Mary has just been told about Elizabeth’s miraculous pregnancy and has just received in her womb the immaculate conception of the long-awaited Saviour of the world. Young and pregnant, she set out in haste to see Elizabeth. Yesterday, during our family faith formation program, the parents and high schoolers learnt about Our Lady of Guadalupe and the students did a fun activity. They had to balance an egg on a spoon and walk. They had to compete to see who can walk the fastest without dropping the egg. It was fun to watch how they tried hard to take care of the egg while trying to run. Some failed, some succeeded. The lesson from that activity was to have a feel of how Mary possibly felt in her haste to visit Elizabeth and carrying the precious baby Jesus in her womb. Mary brought Jesus to Elizabeth and her household. In the same way she continues to bring Jesus to us, to...

 ‘The Lord God called to the man and asked him, “Where are you?”’ This is the first question God asked man after he committed sin. God surely knew what happened. He gave Adam and Eve all freedom to do as they please, requesting only one restriction, yet they failed Him. He should be upset, He is justified to be furious, He has every right to question and reprimand them, instead he asked, “where are you?” Through this we can see that although God disapproves of sin, His bigger concern is when we hide from Him and persist in darkness. He calls us our from hiding, into His light. Human beings are the crown of God’s creation.  He yearns for us to be in His light, in His presence, always. And all through history, God does not change His position, He does not run away, He remains always available, reachable and near. We are the ones turning away and increasing the distance from God. Fulton Sheen rightly said, “Ever since the days of Adam man has been hiding from God and saying ‘God ...

“Though the grass withers and the flower wilts, the word of our God stands forever." This was one of my favorite Bible phrases for some time in the past, and then it was forgotten. While preparing for this homily, it again touched and inspired me. Do you also have a favorite verse or phrase from the Bible? Is there a book of the Bible which you like to read over, and over again? Has any word or phrase in the Bible helped you in life and gave you hope? Did you memorize any verse from the Bible to deepen your faith? Do you feel God speaking to you through the Bible? My last question to you, do you even read the Bible? The Bible, the word of God, contains the truths of this life and the life eternal.  It is an interesting book, in a profound way. God’s word was written by more than 40 different authors, inspired and guided by the Holy Spirit, over a period of thirteen centuries.  From a secular point of view, the Bible is a massive compilation of historical, theological, philosop...

“Those whom the LORD has ransomed will return and enter Zion singing, crowned with everlasting joy; They will meet with joy and gladness, sorrow and mourning will flee.”  Every prophesy in the Bible has both an immediate fulfilment and an eschatological or apocalyptic fulfilment. The immediate fulfilment of Isaiah’s prophecy in this first reading took place when the Israelites were released from their exile and returned to Zion, their promised land. Their years of sadness had found gladness.  And the eschatological fulfilment of this same text will take place at the end of time when we who accepted salvation from the Lord, will enter the new Zion, and return to our heavenly home. Our life of restlessness will find true joy. The Israelites were full of joy too, at the end of their exile. But it did not last long. They took for granted their freedom and began to sin against God, disobeying and rejecting His commandments. We have all experienced joyful moments in life a...

“On that day, a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse… the lion shall eat hay like the ox… the baby shall play by the cobra’s den.” Don’t you think this is too good to be true, too impossible to be real? Then in the Gospel, St. John the Baptist declares that “God can raise up children from these stones.” For man, all these are impossible, but Angel Gabriel cannot lie, he declared “For God, nothing is impossible.”  Our faith assures us if God wills it, anything is possible. Salvation history has shown that many impossible events have been made possible by God. Now, if everything is possible for God, then why don’t we see harmony and peace among the different species of creatures? We do not even see harmony and peace among the one species of humans. I am sure almighty God can just breathe a word or snap His fingers and war will end, fighting will stop, peace will reign, right? Wrong. Not that He can’t but He won’t. True peace, true love, true joy cannot be controlled or manipula...