Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Feast

It is tempting for us to take complete credit when we receive praises for a task well done, or when we have accomplised something. After all, we worked hard and made much effort to ensure that the task was not only done properly, we also made sure that the task was completed according to the highest standards. But how many of us are humble and willing to also give credit to God for what we have done, instead of raking all the praises or admiration only to ourselves?

In today's Gospel, Elizabeth had plenty of praises for Mary, for it was Jesus in Mary's womb that caused Elizabeth to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Mary could have basked in the glory of listening to such praises from Elizabeth, but she did not do such a thing. Instead, she gave praise to God, saying: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord and my spirit exults in God my saviour; because he has looked upon his lowly handmaid." Mary acknowledged that the glory belongs to God, not to herself.

What about us? Are we willing to learn from Mary's example and give glory to God for all we do? After all, the inspiration that we received to accomplish the task could be through God's help, and we should be grateful to God for His providence and bounty. May we never grow so proud that we can do without God, and like Mary, give God the greater glory.

Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Today we celebrate the Memorial of the presentation of Mary in the Temple. The Memorial of the presentation of Mary in the Temple is not found in the Bible but from sources other than the Bible, which we call "Sacred Tradition." It is found in an extra-biblical source called the Infancy Narrative of James. In that text, Mary's parents, Joachim and Anne had been childless, but then they received a message from heaven that they would have a child. In thanksgiving, they brought the child Mary to the Temple to consecrate her to the Lord. It is believed that Mary remained in the Temple to be formed and prepared for her role as the Mother of God. This feast shows that even in her childhood Mary was completely dedicated to God.

From this Memorial, we are reminded of our presentation, dedication and consecration to God when we were baptised. We were transformed to be God's chosen children, and our duty is to go forth to preach the Good News and to present our lives as an offering that is pleasing to God. Just as Mary fulfilled her mission to bring Jesus Christ into the world, we too are called, chosen and sent to fulfil our mission in bringing His message into the world. Are we following Mary's example and doing our part earnestly, diligently and joyfully?

Our Lady, Mother and Queen

When we look at a queen, what sort of impression do we get? Some of us think that a queen is a serene figure who gives moral and emotional support to the king. Some of us may have seen or experienced a queen who is the head of the country or the head of the government, and plays an active role in ensuring that the country remains peaceful and prosperous. But what sort of queen do we have in Mother Mary?

In Mother Mary, we have a queen who shows us what it means to be humble and willing to place our trust in God, no matter what happens. Though Mother Mary knew the risks and dangers she would face by agreeing to become the mother of God's Son, Jesus, she still said, 'I am the handmaid of the Lord, let what you have said be done to me.' We also see later in the Gospel, where Mother Mary showed care and concern for her cousin Elizabeth, by going to be with her and help her in her pregnancy, even though Mother Mary was herself pregnant. Such a wonderful, loving, humble and caring queen we have, a queen of our hearts.

Today, let us follow our Mother Mary's example, by being humble and willing to do God's will. Let us also show our care and concern towards others, just as Mother Mary did, so that others would know that we are Christians by our love.

Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Feast

In today's Gospel we read the story of Mary visiting Elizabeth. What gift did Mary bring to Elizabeth? We are not told that she brought food or some other item, but she brought herself. She gave Elizabeth the gift of her very presence. It is easy to send flowers or a parcel, but to give the gift of ourselves, to make time to be with somebody, that is the gift that many people long for but do not receive. Following Mary's example in today's Gospel story, we must give ourselves, our presence, our time. We must find the time to visit and be with people. This is the greatest gift because its value cannot be calculated in terms of money.

Another point about Mary's gift to Elizabeth is that one should give not according to one's convenience but according to the needs of the receiver. It was not convenient for Mary to travel the lonely, dangerous road from Galilee to the hills of Judea. But Elizabeth needed a helping hand. She was six months pregnant and could no longer to do many things. So Mary, as soon as she learned that Elizabeth was six months pregnant went quickly and stayed with her for about three months, until she gave birth. Mary gave to Elizabeth what she needed when she needed it.

Also, Mary's presence enabled Elizabeth to be filled with the Holy Spirit, and Elizabeth was able to experience the interior peace and joy that comes from the Holy Spirit. Mary's visit was an inspiration to Elizabeth. When we visit people, let us try to bring some inspiration into their lives, let us seek to bring them closer to God, and let us try to share with them the Spirit of God in us, the Spirit of consolation, of courage, of peace and joy, just as Mary did for Elizabeth.

Our Lady of the Rosary, Memorial

The feast of the Holy Rosary originated from the naval victory at Lepanto on 7 October 1571. In that naval battle, a small combined Christian fleet defeated a mighty Turkish armada, thus stopping the invasion of Christian Europe. The victory was considered a miracle and Pope St. Pius V attributed it to the praying of the Holy Rosary and the intercession of Our Lady.

From this incident, we can discover that the Rosary is indeed a very special devotion to Our Lady. Many Popes, clergy, religious, saints and lay persons have always recommended it as a good form of devotion. The Rosary is vocal and mental prayer; and it is also personal as well as communal prayer. When we meditate upon the mysteries of the Rosary, we experience Christ through Mary. Not only that, by praying the Rosary, Mary accompanies us in prayer, and praying the Rosary sustains us in the battle against the evil one and his accomplices. Therefore, let us not slack in praying the Rosary, and like Mary surrender ourselves to God so that He may be our help and guide.

Our Lady of Sorrows, Memorial

It is not easy for a mother to care for her sick child. The mother would spend sleepless nights caring for her child and ensuring that her child takes medicine regularly, while praying that her child would recover quickly. It is even more not easy if the child is dying. The mother would be quite distraught, and she would turn to God in prayer, begging Him to heal her child and spare her child from death. Whatever the circumstances may be, a mother would generally make much sacrifices for the health and well-being of her child.

Mother Mary in today's Gospel also made much sacrifices for Jesus. In fact, she made the ultimate sacrifice. She saw her son Jesus dying on the cross. Most other mothers would have avoided being at the crucifixion site, for personal safety and also it would have been too much to bear. But Mother Mary still stayed on, keeping vigil with her son, Jesus, and watched with agony as her son's life slowly ebbed away. The Gospel tells us that Jesus gave Mother Mary to His beloved disciple as his mother, so that Mother Mary would have a place of refuge. In a way, Jesus is giving Mother Mary to each and every one of us, as we are like that beloved disciple.

In the end, Jesus died on that cross. But is this the end? No. We know that Jesus rose again after 3 days. Jesus' death was for the forgiveness of our sins. What was initially a sorrowful scene has turned to great joy as Jesus appeared once again to His disciples. Even then, we could imagine the strength and patience of a mother, our Mother Mary, who despite going through hell and back, still had the fortitude to "treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." May we too have the fortitude to face up to the many dangers, troubles and persecutions which may come our way, taking Mother Mary as our shining example, and always depending on our Lord's help and providence.

Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Feast

Some of us may be thinking that we are nobodies, that we are small and insignificant, and we would have thought that our opinions do not matter, since we do not seem to have any clout, power, popularity or so-called authority. What we may have failed to realise is that sometimes, people who seem to be nobodies could be just as wise or even wiser in their thoughts and their conduct. Just because such people have nothing of value or significance in the eyes of the world, we may have brushed them off or not taken them seriously, when in reality, their value or significance can be seen if we look deeper with eyes of faith.

In today's reading, we are told of Bethlehem which to the Israelites was a small and insignificant place. But as the reading tells us: "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, the least of the clans of Judah, out of you will be born for me the one who is to rule over Israel; his origin goes back to the distant past, to the days of old... He will stand and feed his flock with the power of the Lord, with the majesty of the name of his God. They will live secure, for from then on he will extend his power to the ends of the land. He himself will be peace." From what seems like such a small and insignificant place, our Saviour Jesus was born. From such a place where nobody would have given any thought of, our King of kings and Prince of Peace came forth to bring the Good News of God's salvation to all.

This is why we should never take for granted other people. Take the example of mother Mary whose birthday we celebrate today. To others, she was just like any other Jewish girl, nothing great or important. But God made her the mother of His Son, Jesus, and mother of God. God had transformed what people think as insignificant, to become significant and important, if we look with eyes of faith and trust. Let us be thankful and grateful to God for the gift of mother Mary, and also the gift of each and every one of us, because all of us are made in His image, and we are important and significant in the eyes of God.

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Among the many Feast days and Solemnities which we celebrate each month, one Solemnity which some people may be wondering why it is being celebrated is the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Some wonder whether we are giving too much reverence or too much "face" to the Blessed Virgin Mary, so to speak. But if we look closely at what we are doing, we are actually celebrating not the glory of Mary in herself, but the wonderful works of God and His abundant grace. Mary is assumed into heaven only because of God’s grace, which transforms a docile, humble and simple person like Mary into the person whom we admire today. Therefore, on this Solemnity, it is God whom we are actually glorifying and praising.

The Solemnity of the Assumption gives us several messages of faith and hope. It helps us affirm our faith and hope that we Christians will share in the resurrection of Christ. We can believe in the resurrection because it has already happened to mother Mary and she is proof that the resurrection is a reality. It reminds us of the goodness and beauty of our physical bodies. Mary is assumed into heaven not only in soul, but in both body and soul into heaven. The body is not evil and not the cause for our sinfulness, since the body is created good by God. It is we who are tempted and choose to sin and commit evil. The Solemnity of the Assumption also reaffirms and reminds us of the unity of the body and the soul. A body without a soul is a lifeless thing. But a body with a soul is a person that deserves respect and dignity. If we forget or ignore the spiritual dimension of persons and treat persons only as a physical body, we would start treating such persons as a thing to be used, abused and discarded when no longer useful. We are reminded that the body may decay but the soul continues for eternity. Because of this, we should focus more on what happens for eternity rather than focusing too much attention on what is temporary.

If we call ourselves Christians, then Mary should have a special place in our hearts, for we believe that she is the mother of Jesus, and since Jesus is both God and man, Mary is also mother of God. But our love for Mary is meant to lead us ultimately to love Jesus her son. She brought Jesus into this world and Jesus brought her into eternal life.Thus we should, together with mother Mary, praise God and thank Him for the many things He has done in our lives, and thank Him especially for the gift of His Son, Jesus.

Saint Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Solemnity

Some of us seem to misunderstand the silent types. Some think that people who are silent or do not say much seem to be anti-social, or appear to be not so approachable, or even appearing to be aloof. But as we know, we should never judge a book by its cover. What appears to be something in our mind, could be quite different in reality, especially in personality and character, once we get to know the person. We sometimes call these sort of people "introverts" and for some of those among us who are extroverts or like to yakkity yak yak (talk a lot), meeting an introvert could be quite a harrowing or unnerving experience for some, especially if we do not know how to reach out to one.

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary. That is quite a long (and impressive) title for someone we do not know much about. We do not have any record from the Gospels of what he said, and we would notice in the alternative Gospel that it was Mary who did the talking when they found Jesus in the temple. But what may seem lacking in words and sayings in the Gospel, Saint Joseph more than made up for it in action. Even though in the Gospel he found out that Mary was pregnant with Jesus, he still listened and did what the angel told him to do and took Mary to be his wife. When they found out that Jesus was missing, he became a pillar of strength for Mary and could be counted on as they frantically looked for Jesus.

From these few instances where Saint Joseph are mentioned, we can deduce that Saint Joseph trusted in the Lord and he was faithful to what was entrusted to him. In his silence, humility and trust, we learn that one can be silent, and be a source of strength. We also learn that action speaks louder than words, as what we do could sometimes mean more to another than what we merely say. So the next time you come across these silent types, be aware that these folks could sometimes be a great source of strength and dependence. We just need to be willing and humble enough to accept others for who they are and learn to appreciate their gifts, abilities and talents, giving thanks to God.

The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Solemnity

Do we make it a practice to do the will of God, or are we doing our own will? Sometimes we say we are doing God's will, but in actuality, we are doing our own thing. It seems easier to do things we are comfortable with, and to avoid those things which are less desirable or unpleasant.

In today's readings, we see a contrast between the response of Adam and Eve, and the response of Mother Mary. Adam disobeyed God by eating the forbidden fruit, and hid in fear and shame. On the other hand, Mary responded to God's promptings and said "I am the handmaid of the Lord, let what you have said be done to me."

Mary said yes to the angel, knowing fully well of the unknown future ahead of her and trusting that God would take care of things. Sometimes we fear the unknown and we prefer to have some amount of certainty, but how many of us are willing to follow Mary's example and confidently and trustingly say Yes to the many things God bestows on us? Let us look toward Mary as our example and reflect on our own response to God’s call. God invites us to dwell in His loving care, let us fear no more and remain in Him.

Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

There are several words, practices or beliefs in our Christian faith which cannot be explicitly found in the Bible. For example, the word "Trinity" is not specifically mentioned anywhere in the Bible, but Christians still believe that our God is a Trinitarian God or a Trinity. Likewise, the word "Christmas" is not found anywhere in the Bible, but many Christians celebrate Christmas to remind us of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Just because a word is not found in the Bible, does that mean it is not true? No. This is because many of these words, practices or beliefs are what we call "Sacred Tradition" which Christians have accepted from the earliest times.

The Memorial of the presentation of Mary in the Temple is another belief among Catholics which is not found in the Bible but from sources other than the Bible. It is found in an extra-biblical source called the Infancy Narrative of James. According to that text, Mary's parents, Joachim and Anne had been childless, but then they received a message from heaven that they would have a child. In thanksgiving, they brought the child Mary to the Temple to consecrate her to the Lord. It is believed that Mary remained in the Temple to be formed and prepared for her role as the Mother of God. This feast shows that even in her childhood Mary was completely dedicated to God. It is from this account that arose the Memorial of Mary's Presentation.

From this Memorial, we are reminded of our presentation, dedication and consecration to God when we were baptised. We were transformed from an old self to a new self, to be God's chosen children. As God's children, our duty is to go forth to preach the Good News and to present our lives as an offering that is pleasing to God. Just as Mary fulfilled her mission to bring Jesus Christ into the world, we too are called, chosen and sent to fulfil our mission in bringing His message into the world. Are we following Mary's example and doing our part earnestly, diligently and joyfully?

Our Lady of the Rosary, Memorial

Throughout her life on earth, Mary said yes to God. We read of many instances of Mary saying yes. In today's Gospel, the angel Gabriel brought news that she would become the mother of God, Jesus Christ. Though she knew the consequences of this news, she still said yes. When she went to visit her cousin Elizabeth, she said yes to God's greatness in the Magnificat. At the wedding in Cana, once again we hear of Mary saying yes, by letting God take care of things, when she said: "Do whatever He tells you."

Today, we celebrate the memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary. The rosary and the mysteries we meditate on reminds us of the many yesses that Mary had said to God. When we pray the rosary, we are not praying to Mary, as some may believe. We are praying with Mary, and asking her to pray for us. When we pray the rosary, we are not only reminded of Mary's yesses, but we are also reminded of our own yesses. Have we truly, like Mary, said yes to God? Are we willing to be humble and learn from Him, and depend on His providence and love, just as Mary did?

Our Lady of Sorrows, Memorial

Our lives are often filled with good times and bad times. We see all sorts of good and bad things happening around us. We see countries at war, famine at certain places, injustices around us, society crumbling or breaking apart and other issues which could make us feel down, frustrated and some may even despair. However, we also see situations which lift up our spirits: the birth of a child, the beauty of a rainbow, people helping people despite of the sufferings they may be facing, and other events which could help us have more faith and hope.

Mother Mary too had her share of good times and bad times, and in today's memorial, we see the ultimate sacrifice she endured. Her son, Jesus, was crucified and was dying on the cross. Surely, as a mother, she would have experienced tremendous pain and sorrow. Which mother could bear watching her son die? Some mothers would have hid away, but not Mother Mary. She went through the ordeal with courage. But was this the end? Would Mother Mary be left abandoned? No. We read in the Gospel: "Seeing his mother and the disciple he loved standing near her, Jesus said to his mother, ‘Woman, this is your son. Then to the disciple he said, ‘This is your mother.’ And from that moment the disciple made a place for her in his home." By doing this, Jesus was not only giving his mother to the disciple he loved, but also giving his mother to each and every one of us.

When we are faced with sorrow or difficulties, let us take heart that we have our loving Heavenly Mother watching over us. Our Heavenly Mother beckons us to offer our sorrows or difficulties to God as a fragrant offering, with trust and confidence that she will intercede for us and God will help and guide us. Oh Mother of Sorrows, pray for us, and guide us to your son Jesus.

Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Feast

Each and every one of us has got a purpose and role in God's plan of salvation. Sometimes we do not know what our purpose and role is. Sometimes we are aware of our purpose and role, but we do not understand why we are in such a purpose and role. Whatever the circumstances may be, our purpose and role is significant and not something we take upon ourselves. It is God who chooses us to fulfil such a purpose and role, no matter how big or small it may be.

In today's Gospel, we see the genealogy of Jesus. Each of His "ancestors" in the genealogy had a purpose and role in God's salvific plan, and this geneology also includes women being mentioned. This shows that God's plan of salvation involves different sorts of people, regardless of gender. Though we may wonder how some of these people fitted in, seeing that some of them lived "colourful" lives, we should remember that God can make crooked lines straight, and what we think as unsuitable is suitable in His plan. Even Mary, whose birthday we celebrate today, was not exempted from questioning eyes among the Israelites. Yet, God found her suitable and even gave her the honour of being mother of His son Jesus Christ.

If we feel as if we are too incapable or too sinful to serve any purpose in building God's Kingdom, take heart and know that God has His ways. He can transform what may seem to be a bad reputation or situation to something beautiful. Are we humble and willing to let Him transform us?

Our Lady, Mother and Queen

Being a mother is certainly not an easy thing. We sometimes come across articles of how some women go through great difficulty and sacrifices to bring up their children well. We also see stories on television on how some mothers go through great pain and suffering so that their children would have a better life. Some mothers also go through depression due to the strains of motherhood.

In today's Gospel, we come across Mary receiving news from Angel Gabriel that she would be the mother of Jesus. For an unmarried woman to become pregnant in those days, such a woman would have been persecuted and even put to death. Today in some cultures, such a woman may be shunned, obstracised, expelled from the village, or even put to death. Mary knew what she was getting herself into, and yet she was still willing to go ahead with God's plan. She trusted that God would make a way and that He would take care of things. With full of trust and confidence in God's providence, Mary willingly and wholeheartedly said: "I am the handmaid of the Lord, let what you have said be done to me."

What about us? If we are faced with a similar situation, would we trust God and say the same words as Mary said? If we were to rely on our own abilities and our own strength, we may find it difficult or even impossible. But if we rely on God's providence and care, nothing indeed is impossible to God.

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Life seems tough. We see people struggling day by day, some trying to make ends meet, some going through mental or physical pain, some worrying about what is going to happen in the future, some devastated by the recent lost of a loved one. So many things happening around us could cause some to feel down, and even cause some to give up or despair. But is this the end? Is there no hope left? No. There is hope, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, there is a silver lining to every cloud.

In the first reading, we see a vision of a confrontation between two parties. We have the woman in labour, which symbolises powerlessness and weakness. We have the fearsome dragon towering over the woman. It appears as if dragon cannot be stopped. But God intervenes. God saves the woman and she brings a child into this world, a child who will rule the universe. At the moment when all appeared to be lost, when certain defeat was imminent, God gives victory to the weak and afflicted.

In the Gospel, Mary was aware of God's providence and benevolence, and she exclaimed this in the Magnificat, which is a beautiful song of praise to God. She sings of how God will defend and protect the weak and defeat the mighty: "He has shown the power of his arm, he has routed the proud of heart. He has pulled down princes from their thrones and exalted the lowly. The hungry he has filled with good things, the rich sent empty away."

Today, on this Solemnity of the Assumption, we are reminded that the power of God is much greater than any thing, any problem, any difficulty, that we might face. God gives us hope and strength to carry on. He will not abandon us, though at times we may have avoided Him or ignored His voice. God is our providence, our hope. Are we still living in fear or uncertainty? Or have we learned to walk humbly before our loving and caring God?

Saint Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Solemnity

Many of us would know something about our fathers and we would have grown under their guidance over the years. Some of us, due to one reason or another, may have not known much about our fathers. Saint Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary, was one father whom we know very little about. The Gospels do not mention him much, except for the beginning from the time Jesus was conceived till He was lost and found at the Temple when He was twelve.

From the little we can glean about Saint Joseph in today's Gospel, we read that Saint Joseph was "a man of honour and wanting to spare Mary her publicity, decided to divorce her informally." However, when the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream with a message of reassurance, Joseph "did what the angel of the Lord had told him to do." These verses already give us some idea of the sort of person Saint Joseph was. Though he was an upright man, he was also submissive to the will of God. Today's Gospel reminds us too of our role as fathers. Being a father or being called one is not enough; we need to show good example and yet be humble enough to listen to God's voice. Let us be lovingly macho in our relationship with God and with others, and follow the example of Saint Joseph.