Sunday Homilies with the Redemptorists

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...

In The Iliad by Homer, Cassandra had the gift of prophecy, but no one heeded her warnings and eventually Troy succumbed to the Greeks. Similarly, prophet Amos was rejected and asked by Amaziah to leave and go back to Judah because he criticised the societal corruption and unjust practices in Northern Israel and even foretold their destruction; at a time when Israel was prosperous and powerful. Out...

Today's Gospel raises the question: Who is Jesus? He was rejected in his hometown of Nazareth where people saw him as a lowly carpenter, a kampong boy in spite of all the miracles he's performed. Fr Glenn related the story of a man he met in Lourdes. He had multiple vices including drugs, and during a visit to the shrine with his family, he felt an overwhelming sense of mercy and compassio...

Today's homily centres on the themes of earthly and eternal life, faith, and the inevitability of death. God's intention is for life. Earthly life is temporal while eternal life with God is everlasting. Fr Vincent Low acknowledges the certainty of death, sharing personal reflections and stories to highlight this reality. We are encouraged also to live in the present, to have faith in Chris...

This gospel passage is like a parable of our own lives. All of us are wandering in a fragile bark over life’s tempestuous sea. One moment all is calm, in the next instance we can be swarmed by winds and waves. In such frightening times, aren’t we like the disciples in the boat? We all encounter storms in our lives where we do not have control- they can be outside, like cyclones and typhoons or wit...

Coming from a family of green fingers, Fr. Terence initially struggled to grow anything himself. When he finally succeeded in growing some vegetables, it was a spiritual experience for him. He recognized the inherent rhythm of life, a rhythm that cannot be rushed but must be respected. This inspired him to ponder on the mystery of life: How can something so small as a seed transform into a thrivin...

Every action we do begins with an idea or thought, from choosing a career to doing household duties. Some thoughts are good, some evil. There is always this internal battle between good and evil in our hearts, like how Jesus fought against Satan's temptations. It is therefore important to discern right from wrong. But how do we follow our conscience and the Spirit of God to make better informe...

What is the true meaning behind the Solemnity of Corpus Christi? Often misunderstood as solely a celebration of Holy Communion, this solemnity is deeply rooted in the Passion of Christ. We explore the significance of service, as exemplified by Jesus washing the feet of His disciples, a humble act that teaches us to serve one another selflessly, even if we are leaders. Do we understand the profound...

The doctrine of the Holy Trinity is the key foundation of our Christian faith. On this solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, we celebrate one God in three distinct persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, each manifesting different roles but in communion with each other. When commissioning His disciples, Jesus instructs them to baptize new disciples "in the name of the Fat...

This Pentecost, we reflect on how we respond to the gift of the spirit, the spirit that gives us life. We are all members of the body of Christ, each with a different responsibility. We are all called to respond to the gift. We fail sometimes, but as long as we are aware we do not produce the fruits from time to time, that's enough. These are ideals, but we should still try to implore the gift...

Today we explore the profound miracle of life bestowed upon couples through the gift of procreation. Our creation in the likeness of God is also a testament to the power of love. As Christian parents, it is our sacred duty to nurture our children in faith, guided by God's love and His eternal presence in our lives. -Sunday Homily by Fr. Simon Tan, C.Ss. R. (12 May 2024)

The readings this weekend talked about God's love and how he sent his beloved son. Jesus calls us friends, not servants. He came for everyone. Jesus' love is enough to embrace even those who do not want him. Can our love be all embracing and boundless? When we love someone who's hurting us, it only means the heart is bigger than we can imagine. -Sunday Homily by Fr. Ino Cueto, C.Ss. R....

The life of St Paul teaches us that God's grace is sufficient. He encountered Jesus and everything changed. The power and grace of Jesus working through Paul brought about the growth of the church. Jesus is the true vine and we are his branches, and we draw life from him. So we must never give up on the grace of Jesus Christ. In the church, we must also remember that we're never alone. We&...