32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

Sunday Reflection

The Bridegroom Is Here!

In his diary, dated March 5, 1803, a monk describes his struggle to accept a new mission: “Falling in love can begin a crisis. Suddenly, emotions take over, and the familiar paths of Reason and common sense seem lost. Yet the mission remains. When I lose my direction, love moves me forward. But how? In the silence of my heart, a voice whispers: ‘I am here. I am Love. I know whom you seek. She is Wisdom.’ If Wisdom is love, then the Bridegroom is here!”

The wise man praises Lady Wisdom: “She is radiant and unfading. Those who love her recognize her easily. She gives herself to those who seek her and waits at their gates. Whoever watches for her will soon be free from trouble.” (Wisdom 6:12–16) God is love and wisdom. St. Augustine says, “Our heart is restless until it rests in You.” The Book of Chronicles reminds us: “If you seek him, he will be found by you.” (1 Chronicles 28:9)

Fellowship with God is the measure of wisdom. The closer we grow to Him, the more we share in His wisdom. St. Paul encourages us to mourn our departed brothers and sisters with hope, trusting in the promise of eternal life. Wisdom sustains us in grief and helps us understand the mystery of the resurrection. (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18)

Jesus uses the shortage of oil in the parable of the ten virgins to teach the importance of preparation. A shortage of oil was common, but the wisdom to prepare was not. We must cultivate wisdom to face life's challenges and find peace. Bringing hidden truths to light and learning to embrace what we have long rejected can lead to peace. A taste for wisdom leads to life, never to sin.

The ten virgins represent two approaches to life: five are wise, and five are foolish. All are virgins, but only the wise prepare adequately for the bridegroom's arrival. The foolish recognize their mistake when it is too late. The wise, though they may also fall asleep, are ready when he arrives. (Matthew 25:1–13) Which of these two worlds is yours?

Remember this golden rule: It is not abundance that solves scarcity, but an increased taste for wisdom. When the bridegroom arrives, the foolish virgins cannot depend on the wise to supply what they lack. Likewise, at the final hour, we cannot rely on the faith of friends and relatives to replace our own relationship with God. We must nurture that relationship here and now. Tomorrow may be too late. Are you prepared to meet God HERE AND NOW? The parable is not only about life after death; it also challenges us to live wisely today. We must cultivate wisdom now, not postpone it until tomorrow.

If Wisdom is a lady, you are her lover. If Wisdom is your mission, it has been entrusted to you. If Wisdom leads you to God, your heart will find no lasting rest until it finds Him.

Fr. Simon, SMA

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Saturday Week 31 Ordinary Time Year II

Reflection

Make friends with what you have

Paul has learned to welcome both happy and difficult events of life. He has learned to be self-sufficient in all things. He is also grateful for the spiritual and financial support that he received from the communities. The Philippians shared in Paul’s Joy and distress. On various occasions, the Philippians sent handouts to Paul. By doing so, the Philippians helped the spreading of the gospel, and they stored treasures for themselves in heaven. Paul prays that God may continue to bless the Philippians with enormous grace (Philippians 4:10-19).

Jesus said to his followers that they cannot serve God and wealth. And so, he asked them to make friends with their money and properties. For no one serves two masters at the same time. They must be honest in the way they deal with money. (Luke 16:9-15)

Make friends for yourself with what you have. For no servant can serve two masters. You cannot serve God and mammon. The worldly things that you cherish so mush is nothing in the sight of God. Your cars, money, buildings, lands, and titles will pass away. But the friends you make for yourself with your wealth will remain for eternity. Put your trust in God. You will master everything with the grace of God working in you.

Fr. Simon, SMA

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Friday Week 31 Ordinary Time Year II

Reflection

Learning by imitation

Paul asks Christians to become imitators of him and of those who follow the gospel of Christ, preached by the apostles. Do not be fascinated by those who hate the cross of Christ. Their God is their stomach. Their glory is a "shame." Their minds are set on earthly things. We are citizens of heaven. In heaven, the crown of honor and glory will be given to the faithful. So, stand firm. (Philippians 3:17-4:1)

A man accused his property manager of being dishonest. The manager was sure of being fired from his job. He quickly summoned his master's debtors one by one; he secured his future employment with each of them. Jesus praised the smart move of the manager and asked his followers to learn to be smart and prudent in dealing with the things of this generation (Luke 16:1-8).

To witness as Christians, you have to set yourself as an example to be followed. The best social coaching technique is “Do as I do.” This technique is used to train animals. We often prefer the Pharisee’s coaching method: “Do as I say, not as I do” (Matthew 23:3). Today, the pharisaic method is challenged because “actions speak louder than words”. But the Christian coaching method for holiness is this: “Do as I do and as I say.” For Christians, “Actions speak as loud as words”. And so, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” (1Corinthians 11:1) Our actions must match with our words. The psalmist is right: “My vows to the Lord, I will fulfill.” (Psalm 116:18) “Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes’.” (Matthew 5:37)

Fr. Simon, SMA

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Thursday Week 31 Ordinary Time Year II

Reflection

Finding the lost

St. Paul retells his story. He was lost while following the Laws of Moses. He was Hebrew of the tribe of Benjamin. His parents had him circumcised on the eighth day. He was trained in the strict observance of the laws and traditions. As a faithful Pharisee he persecuted the followers of Christ. After Paul’s encounter with Jesus, Paul considered his privileges as a loss, to gain Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:3-8)

Jesus was criticised by the Pharisees and the Scribes for welcoming and eating with the “lost and found”, the sinners. To confront them, Jesus told stories about “the lost that was found”. A shepherd looked for the sheep that went astray. He found it and his neighbors celebrated with him. A woman looked for her coin that she misplaced in her house. She found it and her neighbors celebrated with her. (Luke 15:1-10)

What happens to you when you find something that you had lost, a key, a wallet, or a friend? How do you feel when you find a treasure, a soulmate, and a confidant? You act in an irrational way. You are happy for the reunion. You spend more time with your new love, your new beginning, and in your new world. You make sacrifices to keep your new communion. God is always happy to have you. God’s love for you is irrational.

Fr. Simon, SMA

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Wednesday Week 31 Ordinary Time Year II

Reflection

Counting the cost of fellowship

A great crowd gathered. Jesus asked the people to count the cost of following him and make up their mind about him. The choice of following Jesus is meant for those who put Jesus first in everything, those who embrace the cross. It is like the man who counted the cost for his project of building a tower before he started the work. He completed the building. Everyone praised his wisdom because he did not increase the number of uncompleted buildings in the village. It is like a king who counted the cost of invading a neighboring kingdom before launching the aggression. When the king noticed that his troops would not stand a war, he quickly asked for peace terms and established peace terms with his neighbors. (Luke 14:25-33)

For a good purpose, God works hard to inspire everyone to doing good thing and nurturing healthy relationship. Paul asked the followers of Christ to work hard to strengthen their relationship with God and one another, to do away with worldly thing without grumbling or questioning, to be blameless and innocent, to behave as children of God living in a crooked and perverse generation, to hold on to the word of God, to be present to those who rejoice and those who suffer in the world. (Philippians 2:12-18)

Fr. Simon, SMA

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Tuesday Week 31 Ordinary Time Year II

Reflection

The Banquet with Christ.

Jesus went to dine at the house of a leading Pharisee. After hearing His teaching and parables, one of the guests at the table, moved by a sudden sense of spiritual enthusiasm, exclaimed, “Blessed is the one who will dine in the kingdom of God.” Using a parable, Jesus confronted the man’s attempt to shift the discussion at the table to the meal in Paradise. (Luke 14:1, 15)

A king prepared a wedding feast for his son. According to tradition, he sent invitations—and likely provided wedding garments—to his guests, including family members and friends. They all agreed to come. But on the D-day, no friend appeared. The king sent messengers to remind the invitees that the banquet was ready; the family is waiting for them to begin. The invited guests had strange excuses; they all claimed to have more pressing matters to attend to. Since his friends said “NO. I have something better to do.” The king opened his dining hall to anyone in need of food, drink, and fellowship, to those who would not turn him away. The hall was filled, and the celebration was a success. (Luke 14:1, 15-24)

In November, the church prays for all the faithful departed. They are our brothers, sisters, children, parents, neighbors, and friends. The have departed from this earthly life for the banquet with Christ. They were once doing what we do today. Some lived ordinary lives, others distinguished themselves by extraordinary gifts of talent and faith. We shall all join them.

Fr. Simon, SMA

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All Souls 2nd November

Reflection

The souls of the just are in the hands of God.

Yesterday, the Militant Church celebrated All Saints, the Triumphant Church. Today, the Militant Church commemorates All Souls, the Suffering and Penitent Church. The Church known as the Triumphant, Suffering, and Militant, is the One and Holy Family of God. We all share in the common bond of Love of Christ.

The church believes that after the earthly life, the souls go directly to heaven for eternal happiness with God or to hell for eternal damnation. The souls that are not fit for heaven or for hell, go to purgatory to purge themselves and wash their garments in the blood of the Lamb (Revelation 7:14; Matthew 25:31-46).

Today, we, the Militant Church—the Church on earth—offer prayers for the release of our brothers and sisters who have gone before us, marked with the sign of faith. These faithful departed await purification in purgatory, like in the waiting room to be purified for the good things they failed to do, what they neglected. We call them the faithful departed. We shall also call them the faithful returned, the faithful returning. They are our brothers, sisters, children, parents, neighbors, and friends. They were once doing what we do today. Some lived ordinary lives, others distinguished themselves by extraordinary gifts of talent and faith. Though they have departed on the long journey, they remain on the way back to God, the Father of all mercies.

This memorial reminds us that the souls in purgatory need our prayers to obtain the grace of God for their purification. They can no longer pray for themselves, but they do pray for us. They can plead with Abraham and those with him in heaven on our behave, for something good to happen to us (Luke 16:27-28).

This celebration reminds us that we, the members of the Militant Church, must embrace the way of holiness. If not, we shall go to purgatory or to hell.

This commemoration reminds us that when we offer sacrifices, prayers, and almsgiving for the sake of the souls in purgatory, we store treasures in heaven. Your act of love on earth is a treasure stored up for you in heaven. May the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen.

Fr. Simon, SMA

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All Saints 1st November

Reflection

The crowd of the children of God

The Apostle John had a vision. He saw those who had survived the great persecution gathered from every nation in the heavenly court. After enduring earthly suffering, they washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb. The Lamb of God marked them with His seal and set them free from impurity, corruption, decay, and idolatry. They stood before God, clothed in white garments. (Revelation 7:2–4, 9–14)

Seated on the mountain, like on a throne, Jesus instructed his followers. “The poor in spirit are blessed. Those who mourn are blessed. The meek are blessed. Those who hunger and thirst for justice are blessed. The merciful are blessed. The Pure of heart is blessed. The peacemakers are blessed. Those who are persecuted for my sake are blessed. The Kingdom of heaven is yours. Be happy! Your reward will be great.” (Matthew 5:1-12)

The adopted children of God are blessed by Christ. They inherit the Kingdom of God and share the joy of God. We, who are on the earth, our destiny shall be revealed at the end of this earthly pilgrimage. If we remain faithful, we shall see God face to face and join the great family of the children of God. (1John 3:1-3)

The feast of all saints reminds us that we are potential saints. Our holiness is still downloading. So, please do not cut the connection with Christ. It is possible for us to join All Saints in heaven if we keep our connection with God.

Some of the saints that we celebrate today were once sinners; they broke rules; they had a great sense of humor; they frowned; they experienced darkness and light; they cried, and they also smiled. They are gathered from every race, tongue, and peoples, in heaven because they lived their ordinary life in all honesty, simplicity, and love.

Fr. Simon, SMA