Homily: April 7, 2025, Monday of the fifth week in Lent (Dark- Valley)

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 "Even though I walk in the dark valley, I fear no evil; for you are at my side."

This is our responsorial psalm today, Psalm 23. 

When God is at our side, we will not fear, indeed! But it does not say we will not face evil, it does not mean we will not walk in dark valleys.

Today we heard the long but powerful story of Susanna, a woman who, by no fault of hers, found herself in deep trouble, a dark valley of injustice, false accusation, and the threat of death. But God was with her.

Susanna was a God-fearing woman, raised by pious parents who had taught her to live according to the Law of Moses. And so she did, living with utmost integrity, obedient to the Law. When the corrupt elders black-mailed her, trying to trap her into submitting to their sinful desires, she stood firmly rooted in faith and said: “It is better for me to fall into your power without guilt than to sin before the Lord.”

She faced evil, she faced death, but she did not fear, she stood by the Lord’s side.

What courage! What faith!

This story comes to us just before Holy Week, before we enter the final week of Jesus’ earthly life and go through His Passion and Death.

Susanna’s story prompts us to ask a deep question: If God saved Susanna from injustice, why didn’t He save His own Son from an unjust death?

Jesus was innocent. He was betrayed and a victim of evil abuse of power and authority. So why did God let Him suffer and die?

Because Jesus’ suffering and death were necessary for the salvation of souls; God’s plan is not to save His Son, it is to save the world. Jesus’ blood is needed to wash away all sins, His death is essential to break the death cycle of humanity.

Jesus suffered not because God did not love Him, but because God loves the world through Him. Jesus died not because God was absent, but because the Son and the Father are one.

This world continues to see injustice, many people continue to suffer false accusations and wrongful condemnation. Evil and dark valleys, suffering and death will not disappear. We may not always understand why. But we know this: God is with us, He does not abandon us, we do not walk alone. After death, there is resurrection. This is our faith and hope.

We pray to have the courage of Susanna, the faithfulness of Jesus, and we hold on to the promise of God, He is at our side.

Amen.


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Homily: August 10, 2025, Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

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(Holy Family School Mass)   “While he was praying, his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white.” Today we celebrate the Feast of the Transfiguration of Jesus. Transfiguration means a complete change of appearance into a most beautiful, glorious, spiritual state. Jesus’ transfiguration shows us that although He has taken on human nature, He is also at the same time truly God. Do you remember who were the three disciples who went with Jesus up the mountain when He was transfigured?  That’s right. Peter, James, and John. And how do you think they felt when they saw Jesus shining with glory? Oh yes, they were afraid, because they had never seen anyone shining so brightly before, it does not happen to human people. But then later they felt great too! That’s why Peter said, “Lord, it is good for us to be here!” He even wanted to build three tents for Jesus, Moses and Elijah. In those days, people do live in tents, not for camping. So Peter thought they...
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