William Cardinal Goh The Shepherd's Voice

Today’s Scripture reminds us that authority is never self-made. It is a gift from God, a trust to be exercised for the good of others. Jesus used His authority not to dominate, but to heal, to reconcile, and to bring unity. His power was rooted in compassion and humility. He respected the boundaries of others’ authority, even as He exercised His own with divine wisdom.Many lose respect for authority because they have seen it abused, when leadership becomes self-serving rather than self-giving. The challenge for us is to lead in such a way that others are grateful for our leadership, not resentful of it. True authority should never feed pride, but inspire service.Ultimately, whether we lead or follow, our response must be one of gratitude. Like the Samaritan leper who returned to thank Jesus, only a grateful heart is truly healed and saved. Gratitude keeps our hearts humble and reminds us that all power, all responsibility, and all success belong to God.Reflection Question: How am I using the authority or influence entrusted to me to serve others with humility and gratitude, as Jesus did?

As the Church draws close to the end of the liturgical year, we are invited to confront the ultimate question: where are we going after this life? The early Scriptures wrestled with this mystery, but over time, through revelation and reflection, God showed us that death is not the end. The souls of the virtuous are in His hands. Those who trust in Him “live with Him in love,” and our loved ones who have gone before us are not lost—they are with God, awaiting the fullness of the resurrection.This hope, however, is not passive. Faith is not merely believing in life after death; it is living each day in fidelity, charity, and obedience to God. Jesus reminds us in the Gospel that we do not earn salvation by our works, nor does God owe us anything. Everything we are capable of doing, working, serving, loving, is already a gift from Him. The true disciple recognises this and responds not with entitlement, but with gratitude.To be ready for eternal life is to live a life of continual self-giving. We give because God has given to us first: health, resources, opportunities, relationships. When we give fully of ourselves, we will be at peace when the Lord calls us home. Our readiness for eternity is found not in fear, but in faithful, generous love.Reflection Question: How is God inviting me today to live with deeper gratitude and generosity, so that my life becomes a sincere preparation for eternity?

Leadership — whether in the home, workplace, Church, or community — is not about power, but responsibility before God. Every leader is called to love virtue, seek honesty, and live with integrity. The Book of Wisdom warns that “wisdom will never enter a deceitful soul.” A leader who compromises truth loses moral authority and becomes a stumbling block for others. Each of us, by our words and actions, either inspires faith or causes others to fall away. There is no such thing as a private sin — our example always affects others, especially the young and those weak in faith. To lead with integrity means having the courage to correct with love and the humility to forgive freely. It also means constant self-awareness — realising that people watch what we do more than they hear what we say. Before we correct others, we must pray. Correction without prayer can wound; correction rooted in prayer can heal. Leadership without faith leads to control; leadership with faith leads to conversion. In the end, true Christian leadership means being a living witness of Christ’s mercy and truth, so that our lives draw others closer to Him, not away.

We are challenged to see our roles, responsibilities, and talents not as entitlements, but as sacred trusts from God. Like the steward in the Gospel, we will one day be called to account for how we used the positions, opportunities, and gifts entrusted to us. While the steward was praised not for dishonesty, but for his creativity and astuteness in securing his future. Jesus invites us to reflect: Are we as creative and committed in building God’s Kingdom as the world is in building its own?We are reminded that our talents and positions, whether in ministry, work, or family, are opportunities to serve, sanctify, and bring others closer to Christ. The question is not only whether we are responsible, but also whether we are courageous and creative in making the Gospel alive and attractive in our world today.Reflection Question: How am I using my gifts and position to serve God faithfully and creatively in my daily life?

Today’s Gospel reminds us that being a disciple of Jesus goes far beyond simply following Him. The crowds followed Jesus out of admiration and curiosity, but few were willing to carry the cross with Him. Discipleship is costly, it demands sacrifice, detachment, and above all, love that puts Christ at the center of every relationship and decision.Many of us may treat Jesus like a “good luck charm”, praying when we need help, but not truly living His way of love and surrender. True discipleship means loving God above all else, even above our families, possessions, and comforts. When we love Jesus first, we learn how to love others rightly: not possessively, but freely and selflessly, as He loves us.Love that costs nothing is not love. To love as Jesus loves is to carry our cross daily with joy and humility, trusting that every trial purifies our hearts and draws us closer to Him.Reflection Question: Where in my life is Jesus inviting me to move from being a follower to becoming His disciple?

The Kingdom of Heaven is not a distant dream, but a present reality experienced through love, communion, and relationship. Heaven is a banquet, a joyful celebration of our relationship with God and one another, and everyone is invited. Yet many of us decline this invitation, distracted by work, achievements, hobbies, or even relationships that have forgotten their centre: God. When we place Christ at the heart of every relationship, our lives become a foretaste of Heaven’s joy. But when we turn inward, absorbed by success, pride or pleasure, we experience isolation, which is a foretaste of hell. Each of us has different gifts, but they are meant to build up one Body in Christ. When we learn to value and complement one another, rather than compete or compare, we live as true brothers and sisters, children of one Father.Reflection Question: How can I make more room for God and others, so that my relationships become a true communion of love?

Like St. Paul, we feel deep sorrow when our loved ones turn away from God. But instead of losing hope, we’re called to trust in God’s mercy and timing, believing He continues to work quietly in their hearts and will draw them back to His grace in His own way.What do I need to surrender to better entrust the conversion of my loved ones to the Lord?

To be singular-minded in our mission means staying focused on the Father’s will despite trials and opposition. Jesus and St. Paul embody this steadfastness, remaining faithful because they were rooted in the Father’s love and trusted in His unwavering faithfulness to see them through to the end.What prevents me from loving and trusting the Father like Jesus?

Salvation is more than belonging to the Church or following the law. It is about entering into a living, transforming relationship with God. We are called not to take this gift for granted, but to keep deepening our friendship with the Lord.Is my current relationship with God transforming me? How can I deepen my relationship with Him?

Sts Simon and Jude remind us that holiness is not about fame, position, or recognition. It is about faithfulness. Though little is known of them, their hidden lives reveal a truth at the heart of the Gospel: every person has a unique and irreplaceable role in God’s plan. Like the Apostles, we are each chosen, not because of our ability but because of God’s grace.In a world that measures worth by status and success, their example calls us back to humility, unity, and prayer – the real foundations of God’s household. When we align ourselves with Christ in prayer, every act of service, however unseen, becomes a part of His saving work.

Jesus declared, “I have come to bring fire to the earth!” That fire is the burning zeal of love, a passion that consumes the heart and drives us toward our God-given mission. But over time, even that fire can fade. Routine, sin, or comfort can cool our passion until faith feels like maintenance rather than mission.Jesus reminds us today that true discipleship is never lukewarm. His fire purifies, challenges, and renews. To rekindle our zeal, we must return to the source: the Holy Spirit, prayer, reconciliation, and the love we share with others. When our hearts burn again with God’s love, everything we do becomes life-giving.Reflection Question: Where in my life have I grown comfortable, and how is Jesus inviting me to rekindle my zeal for His mission?

God created us with freedom. A gift that sets us apart from all other creatures. Yet freedom is never meant for self-indulgence; it calls for responsibility and right use. St Paul reminds us that true freedom is not doing whatever we want, but choosing to serve righteousness rather than sin. Our bodies, our time, our talents; all these are instruments. They can either glorify God or serve selfish ends. Even in retirement or rest, our mission continues: to live in a way that brings glory to God. Every act, every choice, every moment is an opportunity to ask, does this glorify Him?Reflection Question: How do I use the freedom and gifts that God has given me? Do they lead others closer to Him, or do they serve only myself?

To live a meaningful and passionate life, we must first learn to see our life in perspective. That means not running away from our past but learning from our struggles, failures, and even our sins, because they shape who we are today. St Paul reminds us that sin and suffering entered the world through Adam, but through Christ’s death and resurrection, grace now reigns over sin and death. Our past may reveal our brokenness, but Christ reveals our hope. To live with purpose is to live prospectively, with eyes fixed on the promise of eternal life. When we know what we are living for, we can face life’s trials with courage, gratitude, and readiness, like servants waiting joyfully for their Master’s return.

Jesus warns against being like the scribes who “take away the key of knowledge,” neither entering into God’s life themselves nor allowing others to do so. We may know Scripture, theology, and Church teaching well, yet remain strangers to the God we study. True understanding of God’s law comes not from intellect but from contemplation: sitting before the Lord, allowing His mercy and love to pierce our hearts. It is in this personal encounter that the “key of knowledge” truly unlocks the door to His Kingdom.Let us not be content with knowing about Jesus. Let us enter into Life, so that through us, others too may find their way to Him.Reflection Question: How am I encountering God in my daily life so that I truly know Him, and not just know about Him?

It is tempting to think that belonging to the “right group” — the Church, a ministry, or even just calling ourselves Christians — automatically saves us. But St Paul reminds us that God “has no favourites.” Privilege comes with responsibility.We are not saved by our labels, but by a living faith that transforms us. True faith in Jesus cannot remain idle; it blossoms into love, mercy, and good works. Not because we’re earning points with God, but because His love has changed our hearts.How is my faith in Jesus bearing fruit in love and mercy today?

We spend much of our lives chasing what we think will make us feel alive: success, pleasure, comfort, recognition. Yet St Paul, quoting the prophet Habakkuk, reminds us: “The righteous shall find life through faith.”To be righteous is not merely to be moral or ethical, but to be in right relationship with God and with one another. True life springs from communion, not consumption; from hearts connected, not hands full.When we lose our relationship with God, we lose the very source of life itself. When we fail to recognise our dignity as children of God, we risk allowing sin to take control of us. We begin to worship created things, our achievements, possessions, even people, and soon become enslaved by what we idolise. But when we turn back to God in faith, placing Him first, our other relationships fall into right order. Then our work, our joys, our possessions become life-giving because they flow from love. The surrender and trust in God is essential for establishing right relationships and receiving the fullness of life.Reflection Question: Where in my life have I replaced relationship with achievement or possession, and how is God inviting me to return to right relationship with Him and with others?

In today’s world, evil often comes dressed as good. Under the banners of “freedom,” “inclusivity,” and “progress,” values contrary to the Gospel can quietly take root in our hearts and communities. Jesus reminds us that there is no middle ground: “He who is not with Me is against Me.”The battle between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness is not fought only in grand gestures, but in our daily choices: in what we stand for, speak for, and stay silent about. The danger today is not only in open opposition to truth but also in quiet compromise, delay, and indifference.To stand with Jesus means to remain faithful to His Word, even when the world calls us narrow-minded or outdated. True charity is not about pleasing everyone, but about loving with integrity, upholding the Truth that leads to real freedom and unity.Let us ask for the grace to see clearly, to discern wisely, and to stand courageously on the side of Christ. Because if we don’t transform the world with the Gospel, the world will slowly transform us.Reflection Question: Where in my life have I been tempted to stay “neutral” rather than take a clear stand for Christ and His truth?

When we pray, “Father, may Your name be held holy,” we proclaim our faith in God’s integrity, that He is faithful, true to His promises, and utterly reliable. To honour His name means to reflect His holiness through integrity and upright living. When we fail to live as worthy children of God, our conduct dishonours the Father whose name we bear. Yet, even when life seems unfair and the faithful appear to struggle, God’s care never falters. He remembers every act of goodness and, in His time, will reveal His justice and mercy.Prayer, then, is not about persuading a reluctant God, but allowing our hearts to be shaped by His will. We often ask for what we think is “bread,” unaware it may in fact be a “stone.” Persistent prayer, the asking, searching, and knocking, purifies our desires and aligns them with God’s wisdom. To truly pray “Your will be done” is to trust that our Father knows what is best, even when His answer is silence.Reflection Question: When I pray “Your will be done,” do I really trust that my heavenly Father knows what is best for me, even when His answer is not what I expect?

Anger is a natural human emotion. The Scriptures reminds us it is not a sin to be angry, what matters is how we handle it. St. Paul reminds us in Ephesians 4:26: “Be angry, but do not let the sun go down on your anger.” Anger should be fleeting, a response to injustice, a call to protect or defend what is right.But anger can become dangerous when it lingers: misplaced anger, reactive anger, and smouldering anger. When we carry grudges, plot revenge, or transfer our frustration onto innocent people, anger becomes destructive—not just to others, but to ourselves. Jonah’s story illustrates this well: he was angry not at wrongdoing itself, but at God’s mercy. His inability to let go made him bitter and blind to God’s perspective.To overcome destructive anger, we must turn to the model of the Lord's Prayer and the mercy of God. Calling God "Father" reminds us that He regards all people as His children and desires their well-being. Christian anger is different. It is rooted in love, concern, and a desire for repentance and healing, not revenge or selfish gain. True forgiveness flows from recognising our own weaknesses and the mercy God has shown us. Letting go of anger frees us to act with compassion and clarity, allowing God’s love to work through us.Reflection Question: When I feel anger, is it serving the good of others or just my own hurt, and how can I let go to act with forgiveness and compassion?

The Rosary is more than a string of beads, it is a journey through the story of our salvation. As we pray each mystery, we reflect on how God’s grace and the power of the Holy Spirit have been at work in the lives of Jesus and his mother, Mary, and how they continue to work in our own lives today.From the Annunciation, when our Blessed Mother was greeted as “highly favoured,” we are reminded that God’s call is always a gift of grace, never something we earn. Our own lives, too, are marked by this same grace, sustaining us through joys, struggles, and unexpected turns.Like Mother Mary, we may not always understand what God is doing. She faced uncertainties and mysteries beyond her comprehension, yet she trusted and walked step by step in faith. The Rosary teaches us to do the same: not simply to recite prayers, but to contemplate and to recognise God’s saving work unfolding in our lives.Reflection Question: When I pray the Rosary, how can I become more attentive to God’s grace and the Spirit’s work in the mysteries and in the events of my own life?