William Cardinal Goh The Shepherd's Voice

While reason may give us some insight to the questions we have, it will never be able to help us attain a full understanding of the mysteries of life. It is faith in Christ that will be able to satisfy these longings within us and lead us to the fullness of truth. Let us turn to the Holy Spirit, who reveals Christ to us and makes His presence dwell within us, so that we may live our lives in a hol...

Jesus assures His disciples, and us, that we are not alone. As Jesus ascends to return to the Father, his departure makes way for the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guides and strengthens us. The Holy Spirit helps the Church in four ways: He reveals to us the sins that we may be unaware of or are desensitised to, helps us to understand and believe in the true identity of Jesus as Messiah and Lo...

Just as God's love for us is a gift of grace, so too is the friendship that Jesus offers. He reveals to us what true friendship looks like — a relationship marked by total self-giving, unconditional care, and sacrificial love. As missionary disciples, we are invited to deepen our friendship with both God and one another, for this is the foundation of our calling. We are not only called to remain c...

If we desire to be fruitful missionary disciples, we need to first remain in God’s love. But what does that really entail? It is not just about falling in love with Him, but also about keeping His commandments – that is, not mere laws that we need to obey, but the means to which we can identify with His heart and mind. We are reminded today that the commandments exist not to enslave us or hold us...

While the Church welcomes all and embraces the diverse backgrounds of all people, we are reminded today that inclusivity cannot be at the cost of the Truth of the Gospel. Indeed, true unity is not found in the embracing of our sentimentalities or when we seek to alter Church doctrine to make room for what our personal inclinations are. True unity is found in Christ and His Word. Christ, who journe...

Contrary to the world’s definition of peace that is a life void of suffering, the Lord offers us peace that endures even in the difficulties that we encounter in life. Just as Christ Himself finds His peace through being in union with the Father, we too are invited to draw close to the Father who desires to grant us the peace that only He can give, as we weather through the storms in our life. Let...

Do we fulfil God’s plan like Jesus, or follow our own like Judas? Jesus’ unwavering desire to fulfil the divine plan of His Father was not out of compulsion, but from a place of freedom, love, and deep surrender. We are invited to reflect on our own lives: are we genuinely seeking God’s will, or are we caught up in our own ambitions and desires? Like Jesus, each of us is a part of a greater divine...

As we journey through Holy Week, we witness Jesus’ unwavering fidelity to the Father’s will—embracing the path of suffering and surrender. We are invited to reflect on our own allegiance to Christ. Like Judas and Peter, we too betray Christ—either by demanding that God meet our expectations or by placing undue confidence in our own faithfulness. But God knows our weakness, He only asks for hearts...

Believing that Jesus is just a good person, teacher and prophet who calls us to live a life of charity and truth is not enough and compromises our faith. What sets us apart from other religions is our proclamation that Jesus is the Son of God. Scripture warns us that the world is not against us doing good works, but will persecute us when we proclaim Jesus’ divine identity. We are to be like proph...

As we approach Holy Week, we are called to ponder on who Jesus is to us and what our relationship with Him is like. Whatever our answer is determines our faith and trust in Him. Do we truly believe He is the Son of God? Do we truly believe in His passion, death and resurrection? For if we do not, we will not fully understand nor appreciate the depths of God’s love and mercy for us which is display...

Many of us have an inaccurate understanding of what freedom truly is. Rather than power, dominion, or the liberty to do as we desire, true freedom can only be attained when we recognise Christ’s divinity and identity as the Son of God. We are called to deepen our contemplation of Christ so that we may come to recognise His identity as the Son of the Father, particularly during this season of Lent....

Many of us can probably relate to the Israelites in today’s first reading – lamenting in the wilderness, as we navigate trials of our own in our lives. However, we must be mindful not to allow these frustrations to grow into a sense of resentment and ingratitude – especially towards God. We are invited today to shed our old perspectives of our sufferings and to adopt new lenses. Our sufferings are...

Through the story of Joseph, we see the importance of having dreams and how God can use them to fulfil His plan. Dreams help us to have meaning and purpose in our lives, without them we lack vision and live aimlessly. We are called to be like Jesus, to align our dreams with God’s and to strive to fulfil it according to God’s plan and not our own. Through an active prayer life and love for God, we...

Many around us suffer in silence—the poor, the abandoned, the unnoticed. The divide between those who have much and those who have little is not just about wealth but about connection and compassion. The story of the rich man and Lazarus is not merely about wealth but about the danger of indifference. True richness in life is found not in material possessions but in relationships, love, and compas...

What gives us true happiness is not pleasure or success, but to be in right relations with others. Scripture today teaches us how we should respond when faced with someone who has wronged us – not to be resentful or to withhold love and mercy, but to seek to reconcile so as to be free from the bondage of unforgiveness. We are also reminded of the mercy of God who forgives our sins and does not kee...

Prayer is more than just asking God for what we need—it is a relationship of trust, surrender, and love. Today’s readings remind us that true prayer seeks first the will of God, rather than simply trying to persuade Him to grant our requests. Queen Esther's fasting and prayer were not attempts to force God's hand but acts of surrender, recognising her complete dependence on Him. Jesus, too...

In a world that values neutrality and political correctness, Jesus calls us to make a choice—either to stand with Him or remain in spiritual emptiness. Today’s Gospel challenges us not to delay our response to God’s call, nor to seek endless signs when the truth is already before us. Like the Ninevites and the Queen of Sheba, who recognised wisdom and repented without demanding further proof, we a...

During Lent we are called to fast, pray and give alms. But do we approach these spiritual exercises merely out of obligation, or do they truly transform us to be more like Christ? Today's scripture readings remind us that we must fast with the right intentions and at the right occasion. Fasting should help us to understand the suffering of others, to learn to be more charitable, to be consciou...

The season of Lent is an invitation to live fully, both in this life and the next. In the first reading, Moses teaches us that by following God’s commandments, we can truly prosper. These commandments aren’t meant to bind us, but to guide us away from afflicting harm — both to ourselves and others. When we love God, we begin to see His commandments as a source of freedom, not restriction. In the G...

The season of Lent is a beautiful time of reflection and renewal as we make ourselves available to the Lord. It is a time where we slow down and examine our relationship with Him and those around us. We are called to deepen these relationships through the three pillars of Lent: prayer, fasting and almsgiving.  Let us ask God for the grace to be faithful to the Lent programme the Lord proposes to u...

We were never meant to walk through life alone — God created us for relationships. Friendships are, therefore, important to have, but true, holy friendships are hard to find and don’t happen overnight; they take time and trust to grow. Scripture reminds us that faithful friends are a gift, walking with us in joy and carrying us through life’s struggles. To sustain them, friendships, and marriages...

Today, we are reminded of the urgency of repentance. The enemy tempts us to delay — whispering that there’s no rush, that God will always forgive, or that we can rely on our own strength and do not need God. We may also not understand the reality and importance of the life after death, causing us to only focus on enjoying the pleasure of our life on Earth. We do not know when the Lord will call us...

Authentic leadership is not about personal glory or self-interest but about serving others with humility, promoting unity in diversity, and leading by example. Jesus, our true leader, calls us to self-denial, service, and faithfulness in following Him. As we lead in our families, workplaces, and communities, we are invited to put Christ at the centre, trusting that true fulfilment comes from givin...

A turning point is a moment in life that profoundly shifts our perspective, challenging us to see things anew and embrace transformation. In today’s Gospel, Jesus reaches a critical moment in His ministry, revealing to His disciples the true nature of His mission. He reorients their expectations, moving them away from the common belief in a political or military Messiah to a deeper understanding o...

Patience is essential in our journey of faith. Spiritual growth does not happen overnight; it unfolds gradually through prayer, reflection, and trust in God's providence. In times of uncertainty, patience helps us embrace the lessons God is teaching us at each stage of our journey, leading to a deeper and more resilient faith. Just as Noah waited for the waters to recede and Jesus was patient...