Sunday Homilies with the Redemptorists

The baptism of the Lord marks the end of Christmas and the beginning of ordinary time. It is also the transition of Jesus’ hidden life to public ministry. The baptism of Jesus: 1. Represents solidarity with sinful humanity 2. Is a manifestation of the sonship and divinity of Jesus 3. Prefigures the sacrament of baptism that Jesus would institute For us Catholics - baptism is a sacrament of initiat...

In the feast of the Epiphany, Fr Gerard looked at the journey the wisemen took in search of hope. The magi were keenly aware of what’s going on around them, and we too are asked to be attentive to the needs of the people in our community. Like the star that guided them, God may be calling us to an unknown place, where we may meet people who are struggling and discouraged. Will we answer the call t...

Today, we celebrate the feast of the Holy Family—Jesus, Mary, and Joseph—whom God chose as a model for all families. The Holy Family inspires us to seek one another when we feel lost and, upon reuniting, to treat each other with love and respect, just as Mary and Joseph did when they found Jesus in the temple. Fr. Yusof encourages us to see our families as a refuge during challenging times but als...

God's ultimate gift to is the gift of Himself. In response, can we give ourselves selflessly to others, especially to those in need. True worship, according to Fr Gerard, is rooted in obedience. Like Mary and Elizabeth, we are called to be bearers of Christ to others. Mary's example teaches us that the greatest gift we can offer is ourselves. While we rely on Mary's intercession, can we strive to...

In today’s homily, Fr. Simon invites us to anticipate the joy of Christ’s birth with renewed faith and humility, drawing parallels to the anticipation of life’s milestones, such as preparing for a wedding or welcoming a child, despite the challenges involved. He identifies three obstacles to experiencing true joy during this season: complacency in celebrating Christmas, being consumed by our own w...

Some of us stay away from our families—from our own parents, spouses and children, even God. Because of our own pride, anger, ego, misunderstanding and selfishness. We experience loneliness and feel our lives are miserable. Likewise, the people of Israel also felt the same - in sorrow, in distress and hoping to return back to Jerusalem. It is at this juncture the Prophet Baruch has shown the peopl...

As we enter the season of Advent, many look forward to the joys of December. However, the message in today's Gospel reminds us of signs that may trouble us - distress among nations, fear, and uncertainty. These challenges resonate with current issues such as moral relativism, atheism, and societal confusion. Amid the challenges and troubles of our time, Fr Gerard reminded us that Advent is a time...

In this last week of the liturgical year, we celebrate the feast of Christ the King. Fr. Terence reflects on the often-asked question of why God allows suffering, and reminds us that Christ experienced pain and death but overcame death through His resurrection, bringing eternal life to all. This victory assures us that Christ, our King, has conquered death and darkness and that He walks with us th...

In today’s homily, we reflect on the apocalyptic imagery in today’s Gospel of Mark, where the sun darkens, stars fall, and the heavens shake. It is a symbolic language often misunderstood as literal catastrophe. As the Catholic liturgical year nears its end, these readings remind us of hope amidst challenges, not despair. Fr. Ino explains how Mark’s Gospel reassured persecuted early Christians in...

Today marks the anniversary of the Redemptorist foundation by Saint Alphonsus in 1732 and also serves as a vocation day. Fr Yosef shared his inspiring journey in Indonesia, shaped by his mother's prayers and the support of the community, while Fr Gerard recounted his own call to the Redemptorist life. Together, they discussed the Redemptorist charism to serve the poor and marginalized, drawing on...

In this week's Gospel, we look at the love of God and love of our neighbour, the two greatest commandments. This is not just a rule but the foundation of a relationship with God, who invites us to live in his presence with total devotion. True love of others is a reflection of our love for God. How can we say that we love God, whom we cannot see, when we can't love people we can see. Jesus loves u...

In the homily, Fr Yosef tells a story of a faithful farmer, John, who declined help multiple times during a flood, believing God would save him. When he died, he asked Jesus why he wasn’t rescued. Jesus explained that He had sent help in the form of villagers, a boat, and a helicopter. This story illustrates that true faith is active, requiring us to recognize and respond to God’s help, even when...

The homily today, by Fr. Sikstus, reminds us that true greatness in God's eyes is not about power or recognition, but about being a servant to others. By serving humbly, without expectations of any rewards, we align ourselves with Jesus' mission and example. Such humility is reflected in the life of saints like Mother Teresa whose simple yet profound formula for peace began with prayer and ended w...

Do we understand real poverty? Have we experienced real hunger? Real hunger when one has nothing to eat and absolutely no idea when one can put food into one’s mouth? On the other hand, what is richness? We often don’t think we are rich but being rich is having more than we need- in terms of materials things, do we not have more than we need? In the gospel, we see the sincere rich young man who wa...

With the focus on marriage in today's Gospel reading, we reflect on the challenges couples face. Jesus also understands how difficult it is for us. He has compassion for people who in their human weakness fall short of what is the ideal, but at the same time, our weakness cannot be an excuse to disregard what God has intended marriage to be. Jesus has the wisdom to balance the demands of God's com...

The homily begins with a reflection on the Gospel passage where Jesus emphasizes the importance of not hindering others who do good in His name. The second reading calls us to be kind and just, emphasizing that small acts of kindness reflect God's love in everyday life. But we are often frustrated by life's challenges and inconveniences, leading to anger. Why? Because we desire control, and we get...

In today’s world, we are often conditioned to strive for greatness, which shapes our thinking and actions. In contrast, today’s Gospel shows the disciples arguing over who is the greatest, while Jesus speaks of his coming suffering and death, highlighting a disconnect. In today’s homily, Fr. Ino explains that Jesus defines true greatness as serving and caring for the vulnerable, like a child. It’s...

Today’s gospel tells of the confession of Peter. Did Peter understand what he confessed? Probably not-he was horrified when he heard that Jesus had to suffer. Likewise, many of us have the same misunderstanding-we think that confessing the faith is belonging to the church, having a happy life, never suffering. The scriptures today preach differently. St James said that we cannot say that we have f...

In today's homily & reflection, Fr Peter Wee wants us to focus on the phrase "Ephphatha", which means "Be Open." It is a word used by Jesus in the Gospel during one of His miracles. While the miracle itself is significant, the homily emphasizes that the message goes beyond physical healing; they serve as deeper lessons about spiritual openness and transformation. The ho...

In this homily, Fr Ino reflects on a moment of the Gospel of John where many of Jesus' followers turn away after hearing His challenging teachings. He relates this to our modern preference for convenience and comfort, highlighting how society often choose the easier path, a path where things are instant - instant noodle, instant answer from Google or AI, instant cut and paste. Today, we are en...

In today’s homily, Fr. Terence shares his experience from a pilgrimage to Santarém, a place renowned for one of the most famous Eucharistic miracles, where the host transformed into real flesh and blood. As he observed the deep reverence of the pilgrims, he posed a thought-provoking question: Is this Miraculous Host any different from the one we receive in church? Drawing from the readings in the...

As the continuation of the Bread of Life discourse, Jesus says ‘I am the living bread which has come down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is my flesh for the life of the world.’ (Jn 6:51) This is the key message which is reiterated in the 1st and 2nd reading. Like Elijah, whom the angel sent by God provided food to strengthen him for the j...

After being fed by Jesus with the multiplication of loaves and fish, people desired to be fed further by Jesus. And he takes this opportunity to offer them something deeper. Each one of us has a different kind of hunger. Some hunger for food, others from peace, reconciliation, identity and purpose in life. In our prayers, we often push God to give us what we want. Whatever our deeper hunger might...

Despite the world's affluence, many people still suffer from a lack of basic necessities like food, water, housing, and clothing. We are urged to recognize our blessings and consider not just material needs, but also the need for education, a healthy environment, family, and spiritual nourishment. Our faith calls us to seek nourishment for our souls through the peace of God and the gifts of th...

As we celebrate the feast of the Most Holy Redeemer on July 21, we delve into the heart of the Redemptorist congregation: to spread God's plentiful redemption, and that no one is beyond the reach of His mercy. Fr. Terence shared a captivating story about a man at the airport, waiting to propose to his beloved. This bold, love-fueled act drew the attention of everyone around and showed how love...