Do not gaze upward, but look below

The above line comes from a powerful homily given by Pope Leo at this Christmas Eve mass.  Its context is the following. 

"To find the Savior, one must not gaze upward, but look below; the omnipotence of God shines forth in the powerlessness of a newborn; the eloquence of the eternal Word resounds in an infant's first cry; the holiness of the Spirit gleams in that small body".  

And so, for me, 2026 begins with this as a guiding thought, a shining star. I was then absolutely thrilled to further read his New Year's Day message for World Day of Peace, for he spoke there of the silent revolution of the Gospel.   He spoke of the revolution contained in the risen Jesus' first words to his disciples - "Peace be with you".  

They are so revolutionary for they go against the grain of the natural human instinct, or should I say, what is accepted as the natural ways of humanity.  For who in the world would only arm themselves with the love of God?  Who would become gentle and reconciliatory upon seeing the wounded and afflicted?  Who would relinquish their perceived right to have control and power over the other, especially when the other is wrong?  

The Gospel is revolutionary stuff.  Once we get that, we may come to understand why we are here and what we are on about in this life.  It is a great ideal.  It is sound vision for life, but think about living it everyday.  War is not just out there somewhere.  It begins in the heart, at the grassroots.  Here, we build life and prosper with each other, prosper with our own self, or we don't. 

This past week, I was touched by a true tale in my life.  Here I am again being Fr John and helping another westerner in My Bangkok.  I was asked why I am doing this as the person is most difficult, even self-destructive.  

I naturally responded, "She has rights and she has dignity that must be respected".

The family member replied, "I know very few people like you here at home".

I just naturally thought, "Isn't that what we do?  As Christians?"

 

  

Christmas did come - it is now Hello 2026

Who said we could not celebrate Christmas 2025 as the world is too bad and too sad?  Christmas is never denied or delayed, no matter what, as it is not about us but about God, who sent his Son into the world as it is, warts and all.  God never waited for a perfect world.  Rather he chose to come into the world as it is, the imperfect place it is, with all its mess and chaos.  This is where we find God; this is where God is with us; nowhere else.   This is what we celebrate at Christmas, and so Christmas must always be.  

This past year has been a Holy Year, a year when we have been Pilgrims of  Hope.  My faith community literally went out as pilgrims this year.  As pilgrims, we have learnt much.   

1)  Together, we share life and the gospel.  

2)  Together, we hold and cherish the Church, our treasure.  

3)  We rejoice in the richness of the other.  

4)  Together, we are a missionary church.  

So has our knowledge of both God and life deepened, as has our faith.  We are gift, given by God to creation.  We celebrate this gift at Christmas.   

At Christmas, we remember the birth of a baby.  This baby was the Word made flesh.  In the scene and story of the Lord's nativity, the Word speaks to us as a baby in a manger.  What is that baby saying to us today?  Can we be silent enough to allow the Word to speak to us, through the baby lying in a manger?  

With this message, we enter 2026.  May we be opened up to a whole new vision for life and creation, a vision that reflects God, who is truly with us.  

My Christmas Greetings 2025

 

Christmas 2025

You can guess where I have been this year - Notre Dame cathedral, in Paris.  My visit there told me that it is more than a church.  It is a spiritual oasis, an icon of history and church, within which I lost myself.  This is easily my highlight for 2025. 

 Like most around me, I too often become overwhelmed by the craziness of our world which, at times, looks like it is going into free fall.  Then when I think I am too focused on what is going wrong, I turn to Pope Leo and see hope in action.  I may be one of a multitude in our world, but I know Bob Prevost, now the Pope, for he is very much a part of our Order.  Knowing him, I find my mind turning to the trivial.  As I read his stories of good works, I ask myself questions like how does the Pope buy his tennis shoes, as he loves tennis.  It is good to always keep a sense of perspective and humor. 

 Like everyone else in the world, my year has had its fair share of challenges and down moments, but nothing like those living in the Gazas of our world.  Too many places and people know war and harsh suffering.  Acknowledging that, while not ignoring it, I must say that my year has been blessed with a loving family and Order, such great friends and a vibrant community.  I am also blessed with many valuable opportunities to serve humanity in some little way.  Along the way, I get to appreciate our world better and enjoy a good life, that ever keeps me in touch with our shared brokenness.

 Notre Dame was one unique opportunity, among many possibles, during a 17-day journey to Norway and Paris.  The former was savoring God’s creation, while the latter was taking in the richness of faith, life and history.   The two are definitely not mutually exclusive.  Looking back, this journey was a rich pilgrimage, providing a full vista of the wonders of life. 

I spent an unforgettable time in Notre Dame in prayer, reflection and worship, just soaking in its warmth and ambience.  It is a grand cathedral, but so simple inside, offering a space to sit and experience the sacred in the midst of a busy world.  It was full of tourists but, for me, it remained a silent and prayerful space.  That cross in the above picture is a symbol of the miracle that is Notre Dame today, for it survived the 2019 fire.  Notre Dame itself stands as a symbol to what humanity can do in facing a challenge, for Macron said he would rebuild the cathedral in five years, and he did, bequeathing the world a revived cathedral in all its splendor and majesty.   This grand lady among churches of the world stands as a miracle, a sign of God’s presence and love.  Arising from its ashes, it also stands as a testament to the greatness of humanity.

 Likewise, the world is truly a miracle, a work of God’s hands.  I saw that so poignantly in Norway, where I was doubly blessed in sharing the journey with such good friends.  The journey took us by boat and train, through such beautiful scenery and countryside.  It was an experience of the beauty and grandeur of creation.  Like Notre Dame, creation in Norway offered a grand cathedral within which to ponder life and marvel at its wonders. 

 On the way, we met Bishop Varden of Trondheim, a spiritual leader and man of wisdom.  He shared his vision arising from meeting so many people in our world who are searching for something deeper in life, than what they see on offer in our world.   I experience the same phenomenon in My Bangkok, which is about much more than shopping and massage. 

 Our world is not just a crazy placed.  It is not defined by the pursuits and concerns of the powerful few, nor by the suffering and tragedy faced by the many.  It is ever God’s world, within which a searching humanity keeps wandering.  People are searching for substance to life in a world that can be so shallow, for meaning in a world that is losing its sense of shared purpose, for a sense of security in a world that is caught up in too much conflict and violence. 

Whatever our world and our times may bring, Christmas comes, and Christmas matters.  I was brought up on Christmas.  Yes, it is about the color, the songs, the trees, but it is about much more.  It is about people being kind and so I wish it could be Christmas every day, but that is not reality.  Happily, for now, I confidently share my “Ho! Ho! Ho!”, wishing you a holy Christmas, a time knowing and sharing much kindness, full of the joy that comes with the knowledge that the humble God is ever with us on our way.   

 Christmas Greetings one and all!   May this time of celebration of humanity bring us joy 

and give us a lasting taste of peace and love in our world!

How can you mess with Christmas?

The Military Council in Myanmar’s Kachin State has reportedly ordered all Christian churches in townships designated for the country’s 28 December elections, including Myitkyina, Putao and Tanai, to hold their Christmas celebrations before 20 December to avoid conflict with the elections.

This report (dated 12th December) horrifies me.  How can you do this to Christmas?  How can you subject Christmas to a selfish and cruel, political agenda?   Christmas is sacrosanct, especially for a Christmas boy.  It is sacrosanct not because of all the hype and the glitz, but because it is a time of year that reminds us what it truly means to be human.  To be truly human is to be kind, to be kind to oneself and to one's brother and sister.  Take this away and we lessen humanity.  That is a sin against humanity.  

Once again Pope Leo saves the day with his recent call to arms (dated 6th December):

"The Church will not be a silent bystander to the grave disparities, injustices and fundamental human rights violations in our global community". 

Christmas is ever a time of hope.  It is a time when we are reminded to believe in goodness and kindness, in happiness and fun, all being alive in our world, no matter what befalls us.  And why not?  So don't mess with Christmas.  

Sundays matter, but there is so much more.

Good works, Christian hearts, true justice, charity these are what God looks for. A religion of Sunday Mass but unjust weekdays does not please the Lord. A religion of much praying but with hypocrisy in the heart is not Christian. A Church that seeks to assure her own welfare with money and comfort but fails to protest against injustice would not be the true Church of our Divine Redeemer. That is why the Church must suffer and be persecuted. Even priests can be an obstacle to the authentic kingdom of the Lord. Dear Christians, this is the word that the Church repeats once again as Christmas draws near. 

-St Oscar Romero: A Prophetic Bishop Speaks to his People.   

I read this quote in the latest Tablet, a weekly, religious periodical from the UK.  For me, these were powerful words, only reinforced by the fact that they came from Oscar Romero, a bishop of El Salvador, martyred 45 years ago, for standing up for the poor.  So powerful that I very much wanted to share them verbatim at mass on Sunday, but I couldn't.  Why not?  

One reason, or maybe my excuse, was that they come from such a foreign context, that they would be lost on the audience here.  Good point, while surely the message still remains valid for the whole church, and we are part of that church.   So why not share it anyway?  Too controversial?  Too radical? 

Remember, by its nature, that the gospel is both controversial and radical, for it is a transformational and living document.  It ever challenges us.  If church becomes our comfort bubble, the gospel is there to unsettle us, even threaten us.  Could it be then that these words of Romero offer a  

-challenge that would be too much and so the message would be denied?

-fear that would be overwhelming and so the message would be lost in pursuing turmoil? 

-threat that would be too immediate and so the message would be buried? 

Our new saint, St Pier Giorgio, nailed it, when he highlighted that we are not solely Sunday Catholics but everyday Catholics.  What we do on Sunday leads to and is part of the rest of the week, when we live out what we proclaim.  We are also Monday Catholics.  If there is no rest of the week to our faith, does it not become meaningless and mass becomes a good time to be had?   So why couldn't I share Romero's reflection for Advent?  Do not avoid the issue.  

Was it not fear that I would have to face a barrage of resistance?  For this, I am guilty of avoiding uncomfortable challenges.  There lies the radical challenge of the gospel.  Thus, did I diminish my authenticity or did I act wisely to proclaim the gospel in a more diplomatic way?  I may be judged by what I do, not what I say.  I will not protest my innocence.  Rather I offer an open verdict and leave it up to you.  .   

  

The human struggle shared in faith

This past week, our 10am English mass community went on our final pilgrimage for 2025.  One could say it was a great success.  I will say even more as I found it to be a most fruitful and rewarding time, shared in prayer and encounter.  What made it so? 

Our destination was Immaculate Conception church in Sam Sen, a neighbourhood in central Bangkok. We chose there as it is one of the four designated churches, within the archdiocese, for pilgrimage during the Holy Year.  Going there you can see why this choice was made.  

Its history is just fascinating.  Even before Bangkok was ever conceived, King Narai, in 1674, gave this land to a recent arrival, in the Kingdom of Siam, Bishop Laneau.  The land was to be used for a church, the first ever church in Bangkok.  So the history dates back to the very beginning of the local church.  

Today, this is a most Catholic neighbourhood in the midst of Buddhist Bangkok.  This is due to the various comings, over time, of Portuguese, Cambodian and Vietnamese, Catholic communities. 

With the Portuguese came their statue of Mary, which local Thai Catholics have affectionately nicknamed - Kanom Jeen (a Thai noodle).  The Portuguese had originally fled the Dutch in Indonesia, where they had carved this statue of Mary.  They took it with them on their journeys in faith.  First, they fled to Cambodia, later moving from there, with local, Cambodian Catholics to Bangkok, settling at Immaculate Conception parish.  This statue now holds pride of place in the parish, being the centre of local devotion.

It can then be seen that the history of Immaculate Conception poignantly reflects the human and spritual themes of journey, diversity and struggle.  These are all themes that touch upon our lives and community.  So it is a church rich in meaning, speaking to our pilgrimage.  

Much more, ours is an everyday pilgrimage, where we face the human struggle, together in faith.  Such a pilgrimage is a human quest undertaken in human solidarity, together with our one loving God, who is our constant companion.  In this context, our pilgrimage to Immaculae Conception came to be experienced as a purposeful encounter with each other and with God, a vital time and opportunity for enriching life.  .    

See out the old, bring in the new

 

As we reach the end of another church year, it is a natural time to stand back and reflect.  For me, the event of the year was my first experience of an earthquake, on 28th March.  I would choose this as my experience of the year, not to focus on tragedy and disaster, as there is enough of these in our world, but because it was a shared experience within my region.  I could highlight my visit to Norway and Paris, but that might end up in being a narcissistic pursuit, and it was my eperience, shared with a select few.    

This earthquake had its epicentre near Mandalay in Myanmar, a nation that has known multiple crises for far too long - Covid, coup, revolution, floods and now this.  The people of Myanmar are living through a quasi apocalyptic tragedy, suffering shared trauma.  This is highlighted by the reflection of GoDark, a Myanmar influencer and artist who visited Mandalay, post-earthquake.  His reflection is vivid.    

"The city was physically broken, and the people seemed emotionally numb.  Looking at their faces, I couldn't sense much feeling - neither sorrow nor relief .  I kept wishing to see emotion in people again - any kind of emotion - sadness, joy, even anger.  Because perhaps what is most haunting isn't the destruction itself, but the emptiness it leaves behind - the absence of feeling."  

As we stand at the end of  a year, what matters is what we let go, as well as what we hold dear as memories that nourish and teach us.  What may be quiding principles in this quest?  For direction, I refer to the gospel for this past Sunday and see the criteria I need.  So here goes.  

Do we engage the world or simply be passive spectators? 

Do we stay the course or too easily run away and hide, or give up?  

Are we leaders?  

So I ask myself-  Where do I wish to be, physically, emotionally, spiritually?  Where do I choose to stand in life?   Life is a shared journey, full of wonder and surprise.  Yes, there is a fair share of struggle and pain, but there is ever the promise of hope, of a better future, moving ahead as best we can, hand in hand.    .