Shows
The Understanding Boys PodcastKim KaneKim Kane is an award-winning Australian author of 25 books for children and teenagers. Kim’s books have been published throughout the world and translated into a number of languages. Before she began writing for children, Kim practised commercial law for a decade. Kim is an advocate for children’s writing and sits on the board of the Australian Children’s Laureate Foundation. Kim’s books include the CBCA short-listed picture book Family Forest, and her time-slip children's novel When the Lyrebird Calls and the Ginger Green series. Kim is a mother of two sons and lives i...2023-02-0243 min
Fr Swann Continues PreachingVirginity (September 8 Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary 2020)Matthew 1
For the last twenty years at least, I have never heard preaching for virginity. Have you? Sometimes we hear chastity talks usually given in Catholic high schools. But I haven’t yet met a person who speaks for virginity. At the same time, we always call Mary the Blessed Virgin. Virginity is a singular grace only the Blessed Mother enjoys? On this nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who was virgin from her birth forever, it would be proper to reflect virginity.
Some may think virginity is an extension of the virtue of chastity. Ch...2020-09-0806 minFr Swann Continues PreachingA bitter pill1 Corinthians 5
When you heard the first reading today, you might have wanted to check what you just heard. St Paul tells the Corinthian community “to hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh.” To hand a man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh?
According to St Paul’s letter, this man lives with his father’s wife. Probably his father’s concubine. And the Roman law at that time prohibited this kind of relationship. This is why St Paul laments that this kind of sexual immorality is not found even...2020-09-0706 minFr Swann Continues PreachingHuddles to fraternal correction (23rd Sunday Ordinary Time 2020)Matthew 18
One of the duties and responsibilities of baptized Christians is to witness the truth. This is the office of the prophet, which is shared by all the baptized along with the offices of the priest and the king.
But this office of the prophet doesn’t usually bring us welcome or popularity. Especially when it comes to fraternal corrections, many prophets had to endure resistance and hostility from their people. Many prophets of the Old Testament were murdered by Israeli authorities. John the Baptist was beheaded for having warned Herod of his adulterous marriage wi...2020-09-0606 minFr Swann Continues PreachingLord of Sabbath (Saturday 22nd Week Ordinary Time 2020)Luke 6
Often Christianity is called the Western religion or the European religion. These names indicate the regional or ethnic heritage of Christianity. But when Christianity was first brought to Europe, it was a Jewish religion because the apostles and many of their missionaries were Jews. And first Christians were also mostly Jewish people in various places in the Roman Empire.
One of the reasons why Christianity could overcome the ethnic barrier of the Jews was its universal message for humanity. This is why Christianity still spreads in the world. The authority of Christianity is not...2020-09-0505 minFr Swann Continues PreachingDictators and demagogues (Friday 22nd Week Ordinary Time 2020)1 Corinthians 4
“It is the Lord who judges me.” This word of St Paul should resonate within every Christian. But, particularly for pastors of the Church, it should be the prime and supreme principle for all ministerial duties and responsibilities. Ministers of the Church are accountable primarily to the Lord. Ordained ministers belong to the Lord first. Thus, St Paul regards himself and his companions “as servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries.”
But when pastors forget this principle, they become anything but the servants of Christ. When they follow their pastoral visions only, they becom...2020-09-0405 minFr Swann Continues PreachingMonarchy vs. Kingdom of God1 Corinthian 3
The Catholic Church has a monarchical structure. In contrast to modern democratic states in which administrative, legislative, and judicial bodies are independent of one another, in a monarchy, one and the same person either king or queen holds all the powers – the monarch is the chief governor, the supreme lawgiver, and the head judge. The pope and the bishops of local churches exercise these powers as well. In this sense, the pope and the bishops might be called monarchs within their jurisdictions.
The reason why most modern states opted for a democratic government was a...2020-09-0304 minFr Swann Continues PreachingServants of schism (Wednesday 22nd Week Ordinary Time 2020)1 Corinthians 3
Christianity worships only one God. However, we do not know the number of Christian denominations in the world. Christ himself established his Church on Peter. And the apostles and disciples went out to evangelize as Jesus commanded. This is what we confess in the Nicene-Constantinople Creed: the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. Though there are many communities of the faithful, there is one Church Christ himself founded on the apostles for all peoples in the world for their sanctification and salvation that will be completed in the resurrection. Therefore, all true churches must come from...2020-09-0205 minFr Swann Continues PreachingEssential activities (Tuesday 22nd Week Ordinary Time 2020)1 Corinthians 2
During this time of the pandemic, we are encouraged to do only essential things for life. These essential things include minimum activities for human survival and socioeconomic maintenance. But no countries count religious activities among the essential things. And many religious communities raise their voices against government policies and guidelines because they think their fundamental religious freedom is infringed and violated. How do you feel about this?
Simply speaking, this is a crash of religious freedom and right against the right to life. As civil rights, I think, the right to life has a...2020-09-0104 minFr Swann Continues PreachingEvangelization 101 (Monday 22nd Week Ordinary Time 2020)1 Corinthians 2
Materialists such as communists accuse religion of enslaving unenlightened people by unfounded fear and false hope. This kind of criticism of religion is prevalent not only among intellectuals but also among those who are enlightened by the social media these days. They think religion is an apparatus to manipulate the public to build or maintain social order and to gain political control. Of course, its major beneficiaries are the clerical class. And the common people are exploited, oppressed, and deprived of their freedom and rights, according to this criticism.
I will not argue against...2020-08-3104 minFr Swann Continues PreachingAway from the cross (22nd Sunday Ordinary Time 2020)Matthew 16
No one likes to live an unhappy life. But not all people live happy lives, either. Then, we ask what is necessary for a happy life or a decent life at least. Many will list money at the top of the list. Many believe we cannot enjoy basic human dignity without money because money provides food, clothes, and shelters. And if we want to do more than staying in the basic living conditions, we need more money. The more money we have, the more powerful we become to reach our dreams. Money is not only a...2020-08-2905 minFr Swann Continues PreachingStay sober (August 29, The beheading of John the Baptist, 2020)Mark 6
“Stay sober and alert. Your opponent the devil is prowling like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” St Peter warns us of the constant danger of falling prey to Satan. It’s because Satan is ceaselessly looking for opportunities to deceive us into sin and the destruction of our souls.
Today in the gospel, at his birthday banquet, Herod is drunk and excited at his step daughter’s dance. And St Mark wrote, “an opportunity came.” The adulterous and illegitimate wife of Herod was always looking for a time to get rid of John the...2020-08-2905 minFr Swann Continues PreachingA witness (Friday 21st Week Ordinary Time 2020)1 Corinthians 1
We heard a well-known passage from the first letter to the Corinthians. Many would remember the last sentence of the passage. St Paul writes, “For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.” Many commentators point out the eventual success of the apostles whose human wisdom, knowledge and eloquence were poor and weak. But St Paul was already sure of the power of God that would work through his weakness and poverty because he had witnessed the power of God in crucified Christ.
What was the powe...2020-08-2805 minFr Swann Continues Preachinghellish preview (Thursday 21st Week Ordinary Time 2020)Matthew 24
Many times in the gospel, Jesus mentions a place where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Commonly this place is considered hell. But why does Jesus describe this place with “weeping and gnashing of teeth”? What do weeping and gnashing of teeth signify?
As for the ‘weeping’, this weeping wouldn’t be out of the repentance of sins or the sorrow for one’s eternal punishment. It’s because unrepentant souls are sent to hell. This weeping would come rather from their undying desire for selfish satisfaction because these souls are now no longer able...2020-08-2705 minFr Swann Continues PreachingHypocritical pain (Wednesday 21st Week Ordinary Time 2020)Matthew 23
One way to live in peace with oneself is to speak and act according to what one thinks and believes. And when one’s desires and thoughts are in harmony with the Way of Christ, the person is at peace with God. But not all of us are always on these two ways to peace. I often fail what I preach. And daily I struggle with my sinful desires against God’s law. How wonderful it would be if I could desire only the things Jesus desires! How great it would be if my flesh could alwa...2020-08-2604 minFr Swann Continues PreachingAn antidote (Tuesday 21st Week Ordinary Time 2020)2 Thessalonian 2
We read from the second letter of St Paul to Thessalonians for today’s Mass. The passage selected for the Mass is from chapter 2 of the letter. But the reading selection for the Mass only has the verses from 1 to 3, and from 14 to 17. I think the verses from 4 to 13 will greatly help us to understand what St Paul teaches us. Here they are:
Let no one deceive you in any way; for that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the lawless one is revealed, the one destined for destruction. He opposes an...2020-08-2506 minFr Swann Continues PreachingUnder the fig tree (August 24, St Bartholomew, Apostle, 2020)John 1
Many readers of today’s gospel have been puzzled. What does Jesus mean by “I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you”? Does “the fig tree” have an underlying meaning? And how could Nathaniel jump to the conclusion, “You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” just because Jesus saw him under the fig tree?
We don’t have clear answers to these questions. But we can safely assume that having been able to see Nathaniel under the fig tree was far beyond the power of an ordinary man. Th...2020-08-2405 minFr Swann Continues PreachingID Jesus (21st Sunday Ordinary Time 2020)Matthew 16
Who do you say Jesus is? Can you describe him in one short sentence? Who do you say that the Son of Man is? This is the question Jesus asks his disciples in this Sunday’s gospel.
Probably we are not surprised when we hear St. Peter’s answer, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God,” for we have heard this many times. But it is a different matter whether we can give the same answer when someone asks about Jesus. Not only to strangers but also to our families and close fr...2020-08-2305 minFr Swann Continues PreachingHypocritical injury (Saturday 20th Week Ordinary Time 2020)Matthew 23
Christianity is no longer welcome by the public in our country. Many people do not hide their disrespect to Christ and Christians. What made them turn against Christianity? The list will be long. But the most common item on the list is Christians’ hypocrisy.
Hypocrisy has a distinctive feature that makes it unique among different kinds of self-contradictions. A hypocrite presents oneself as good by word but acts otherwise. Simply put, an evil person declares himself good.
The name Christian implies the person entrusts his life to Christ Jesus and accepts and fo...2020-08-2204 minFr Swann Continues PreachingLitmus test for love (Friday 20th Week Ordinary Time 2020)Matthew 22
One way to see if I love someone or not is to ask whether I enjoy being with the person. More precisely speaking, whether I appreciate the person’s presence itself. I can say I appreciate the person’s being, not because I receive certain benefits from the person nor because the person shares the same interests with me, nor because the person pleases me, but because I am simply happy to be with the person. When I love a person, I want to be with the person as much as I can.
These may...2020-08-2103 minFr Swann Continues PreachingTips for proper attire (Thursday 20th Week Ordinary Time 2020)Matthew 22
“For many are called, but few are chosen.” This statement of Jesus has two parts as the parable accompanying it has two parts.
The first part reminds us that many are invited to the kingdom of heaven but not all respond to the invitation. This is well shown with the history of Israel. God sent many prophets to call people into the covenant he made with Israel through Moses. But the people of Israel were unfaithful to the covenant. They followed the idols of neighbouring nations and adopted the immoral customs of foreign peoples. Simi...2020-08-2006 minFr Swann Continues PreachingEconomy of Salvation (Wednesday 20th Week Ordinary Time 2020)Matthew 20
It is understandable why the workers hired at earlier hours felt unfair when they found the workers hired at later hours were paid the same. But I don’t worry if this would happen in this world. Because it is very unlikely that in our world any employer would hire and pay like this landowner. Employers try to cut labour costs for their businesses. And they always look for cheaper labours. That’s why often we hear the news that companies move their productions from countries to countries. It will be most likely a waste of time...2020-08-1905 minFr Swann Continues PreachingWhat money cannot buy (Tuesday 20th Week Ordinary Time 2020)Matthew 19
In today’s gospel, Jesus does not explain why the rich are difficult to enter the kingdom of God, nor do the disciples ask.
When we have lots of wealth, that means we have lots of potentials. The bigger wealth you have, the more things you can do. In other words, wealth is translated into power. As we see in our world now, wealthy people not only possess more and enjoy a more comfortable life but also influence the politics, the media, the justice system, and even religions. In this way, the power of we...2020-08-1805 minFr Swann Continues PreachingMediocrity, excellence, perfection (Monday 20th Week Ordinary Time 2020)Matthew 19
I believe that the rich young man in today’s gospel was sincere in his desire for eternal life. Jesus, who knows the thoughts of our minds and hearts, kindly invited this young man to his discipleship probably because he saw this young man’s genuine desire for eternal life. But Jesus also knew what was the obstacle for this young man to follow him. We don’t know if Jesus had already known this young man. But the conversation between the two shows this young man was just now telling his life to Jesus. And he ask...2020-08-1705 minFr Swann Continues PreachingAll the wrong buttons (20th Sunday Ordinary Time 2020)Matthew 15
This Sunday’s gospel might embarrass Christians who try to be politically correct. Jesus presses the worst buttons. He ignores a woman’s pleading with no answer at all: degrading women, misogynist. He declares he is sent only to the Jews: preferential treatment for one’s nation – nationalism. He compares foreigners to household animals: dehumanizing racism. His words and behaviours are far beyond being politically incorrect. Jesus would have to be in a human rights tribunal. It’s not easy to watch how Jesus escalates humiliating this wretched woman pleading for her daughter who suffers demonic possession...2020-08-1706 minFr Swann Continues PreachingShe's gone? (August 15, Assumption of Mary, 2020)Luke 1
We will be unsuccessful if we attempt to establish the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary by historical evidence and witness. From the third century on, many Fathers of the Church and scholars and commentators tried to find the facts about the Assumption without much success at all. Whether the Blessed Mother actually died or not was a point of debate. Moreover, the place of her presumed death and assumption was also not clearly known – it could be Jerusalem or could be Ephesus. No one seemed to have seen her being lifted to heaven. One tradition te...2020-08-1507 minFr Swann Continues PreachingIt is better not to marry? (Friday 19th Week Ordinary Time 2020)Matthew 19
The question of divorce the Pharisees threw at Jesus in today’s gospel sounds nothing new. Many Catholics of this age call for the legitimization of divorce and remarriage in the Church. They ask for the Church to move on with the changes of times – modernization of the Church in the matters of sexuality and family.
The Pharisees asked a legal question – “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause?” But Jesus answered the fundamental nature and intention of marriage. God intended the union of a man and a woman. And...2020-08-1406 minFr Swann Continues PreachingNo more justice (Thursday 19th Week Ordinary Time 2020)Matthew 18
Most will agree that technology advances as time goes. But I wonder if our world enjoys more justice year by year. Can we simply say our Western societies are more just than the ancient Roman Empire? It is a complicated question to answer. Every year sees unbelievable breaches of justice. While our society declares relativism and pluralism as our social principles, now we ask if there can be justice for all and for each one. If I were the standard of justice, my justice might not be justice at all to another.
The parable...2020-08-1306 minFr Swann Continues PreachingFraternal correction vs. accusation (Wednesday 19th Week Ordinary Time 2020)Matthew 18
It takes much courage to go and point out the fault when a person sins against us. But this is what Jesus tells us to do. He teaches us to go and point out the fault when the two of us are alone if my brother or sister sins against me.
However, most often we instead go out and talk to others. These days people write on social media and social network services so that even strangers share stories and spread them.
The steps for fraternal correction Jesus teaches today aim at...2020-08-1204 minFr Swann Continues PreachingMatured into youth (Tuesday 19th Week Ordinary Time 2020)Matthew 18
Independence, self-sufficiency, and autonomy are great human virtues and values. We encourage our children to learn these values as soon as possible so that they may become responsible for themselves socially and economically. This is how children become matured and adults.
But in today’s gospel, Jesus tells us to become like little children to enter the kingdom of heaven. And he teaches humility of little children. The humility of little children is not what they have achieved through conscious efforts. It is rather a state of their being children. It is their humble st...2020-08-1104 minFr Swann Continues PreachingDeath-to-life converterJohn 12
It sounds too pessimistic to say that daily I approach the day of death or that every day my life gets shorter or that another name of living is a slow death. If life is like a non-rechargeable battery and slowly leaks away, we will suffer constant anxiety and eventually depression. Imagine that the first thing that comes to your mind when you wake up in the morning is ‘Well, my life is a day shorter than yesterday’. Or, at breakfast, you say to yourself, “I can fall and die from a heart attack after this meal.”...2020-08-1004 minFr Swann Continues PreachingLook down vs Look up (19th Sunday Ordinary Time Year A 2020)Matthew 14
The gospel passage of this Sunday is one of the better-known episodes. Most people remember Jesus walked on the water. But what is more surprising is Peter also walked on the water. And an even more surprising fact is that the water Jesus and Peter walked on was rough and high because a storm was raging. Some may imagine Jesus walking on a glassy-calm water surface. Some may even be tempted to step on peaceful water. But the water in the gospel was diametrically the opposite. The disciples in the boat were struggling against the storm...2020-08-0907 minFr Swann Continues PreachingOld stain removal (Saturday 18th Week Ordinary Time 2020)Matthew 17
I wonder why I cannot remove my vices. For a while, I do much better and I think I have defeated them. But I fall again at an unexpected time. And then they continue for a while. But I get better again sometime later. However, this is not the end, for I fall again. These ups and downs repeat. I feel sick of myself sometimes looking at my weakness and sinfulness. And I ask Jesus, “Why could I not cast them out?”
This is the same question the apostles asked Jesus in today’s gospel...2020-08-0804 minFr Swann Continues PreachingNature of the cross (Friday 18th Week Ordinary Time 2020)Matthew 16
There are probably few Christians who have heard Jesus saying “Take up your cross and follow me” only once. The crucifix is in every room of our homes. Every time I look for a parking spot at a mall, I find the rosary and the crucifix hanging on the rearview mirrors of cars. Christian life without the cross sounds like Christianity without Christ.
However familiar the cross is to Christians, each Christian has to identify his cross. But before this, each Christian should know first the nature of the cross. This is to know the...2020-08-0704 minFr Swann Continues PreachingEyewitnesses (August 6 Transfiguration 2020)2 Peter 1
Meditation, reflection, revelation, apparition, miracles, symbolism, sacrifice, ritual, dogma, scriptural interpretation, church, mysticism, asceticism, monasticism, hierarchy, sacrament, sacramental, religious art, hymn, and so on and the like.
A word-list about religion can be long. They sound transcending daily life above and beyond this world. It is true. Religion is not of this world. It is holy in the sense that it is set aside from this world. It is sacred, not profane.
But some people think religion is a mental construction of the human mind. They think religion is a mental projection...2020-08-0605 minFr Swann Continues PreachingFailed prayersMatthew 15
In today’s episode of a Canaanite woman whose daughter is tormented by a demon, Jesus doesn’t heal this foreign woman’s daughter immediately at her request.
At the first request, Jesus does not even answer her. It looks like willful disregard. But, apparently, she keeps asking for mercy. And the disciples of Jesus are disturbed and they ask Jesus to chase her away. Then, Jesus declares that he was sent only for the Jews. Clearly, it is a racial preference. But she does not give up and asks again. Then, Jesus takes anothe...2020-08-0504 minFr Swann Continues PreachingDefilement (Tuesday 18th Week Ordinary Time 2020)Matthew 15
Offerings to the Lord should not have any defect. To offer something defective constitutes a sacrilege. And when a person comes before the Lord, the person should be clean both inside and outside. He should be free of defilement of the body and the spirit. Today, Jesus tells us what is more critical is the defilement of the spirit. He teaches what God creates does not defile us. What we bring out of our mind and heart defiles ourselves and others. This is “what comes out of the mouth” that defiles. In other words, what we say...2020-08-0404 minFr Swann Continues PreachingWalk over pessimism (Monday 18th Week Ordinary Time 2020)Matthew 14
Do you grow more optimistic day after day? Especially those who receive pensions, would you choose retirement in a heartbeat over your twenties and thirties because you don’t have to work too hard? I wish you all find today is better than yesterday and this decade is much more optimistic than previous decades. But I see it is not easy to remain optimistic as I grow older and as I observe many elderly. It is much more probable for us to have medical conditions and physiological dysfunctions or malfunctions as we reach an older age. I...2020-08-0307 minFr Swann Continues PreachingWithout money, without price (18th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2020)Matthew 14
“Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
and your labour for that which does not satisfy?”
Through the mouth of the prophet Isaiah, the Lord awakens us in the first reading of this Sunday. This is so true as we so often waste our hard-earn money for useless vanities. Just let us take a look at our basement or garage or storage room or corners of our living room. How many of us can say these places are cleared and empty? Let us open our fridges and deep...2020-08-0206 minFr Swann Continues PreachingProphet inside (Saturday 17th Week Ordinary Time 2020)Jeremiah 26
One of the signs of our times is the moratorium on the judgment. Young people often say, “Don’t judge me!” Every human act is to be respected and accepted. The advancement of psychology helps us to understand all human behaviours emphatically. The rise of philosophical relativism provides the foundation for the deconstruction of traditional morality. Now, no one is wrong and everyone is right. Everyone is liberated, isn’t it?
However, this current reality of prevalent relativism and individualism forces us to make alternative judgments. It oppresses us to accept its values – utility, pleasure...2020-08-0106 minFr Swann Continues PreachingUnpopular office (Friday 17th Week Ordinary Time 2020)Jeremiah 26
In today’s gospel, Jesus speaks about the destiny of prophets: “Prophets are not without honour except in their own country and their own house.” And this is demonstrated in the first reading today. The people of Judah threaten the life of Jeremiah because he delivered the message from the Lord.
What was the message? It was a call to faithfulness. God was calling Judah back to the law He gave through Moses. Jeremiah cried out for the renewed faithfulness to God’s law. Through his prophecy, Jeremiah calls for repentance and conversion and also ann...2020-07-3105 minFr Swann Continues PreachingAs real as heaven (Thursday 17th Week Ordinary TimeMatthew 13
Can you think of anything that does not come with any kind of failure, breakage, misuse, abuse, or danger? It’s a waste of time to list examples to show everything comes with certain dangers. The more valuable and sophisticated, the more possibility of abuse and the bigger danger. I will just give one example of nuclear energy. Many countries depend on nuclear power plants for electricity. But when nuclear energy is on the wrong hand, it threatens the whole world. Although we live with dangers around us, we still use all kinds of things. We do...2020-07-3004 minFr Swann Continues PreachingDelay on time (July 29, 2020)John 11
When I am called for the anointing of the sick, I always check if the person is in critical condition. It’s because it would be everybody’s grief and a priest’s nightmare if the priest arrives too late to anoint, for a sacrament is to be given only to the living.
In the gospel books, when people ask Jesus to come for healing, he usually responds without much delay. And many times, he voluntarily heals them. And as in the account of healing the centurion’s slave, he healed even without personally seeing t...2020-07-2906 minFr Swann Continues PreachingOut of sight (Tuesday 17th Week Ordinary Time 2020)Matthew 13
I wish that the gospel passage we heard today may make you feel assured of your being as the children of the kingdom of heaven. But, unfortunately, this passage always makes me feel anxious. Because I don’t want to end up being a child of the evil one. But I am struggling with evil every single day.
There is no moment I can say there is no possibility of evil. When I speak to parishioners, when I drive, before my computer monitor, when I open my mobile phone, when I say the Mass, wh...2020-07-2905 minFr Swann Continues PreachingYes I am worried (Monday 17th Week Ordinary Time 2020)Matthew 13
Christians worry about the future of the Church. More and more Christians turn indifferent to faith and morals. Although the Western world proudly declares inclusiveness and pluralism for its social principles, it is commonly accepted to express disdain and hostility towards Christianity.
Do I worry about the Church, too? Yes. I feel helpless. I don’t know what the Church will be like after the pandemic is gone away. Christians will come back to gather together for worship? Or will they have settled down with alternative ways of spiritual life without gathering for worship? I...2020-07-2705 minFr Swann Continues PreachingStrikeout (17th Sunday Ordinary Time 2020)Matthew 13
The parables of this Sunday’s gospel expose three false presumptions about salvation, which are quite common among Christians in our times. The first one is that ‘the payment has been made’. The second is that ‘life can be as usual.’ And the last one is that ‘the harvest is done’.
‘The payment has been made.’ Some Christians claim that Christians only have to believe in Christ because Christ has already paid the price for salvation. But what is true is that Christ rescued us from the power of sin and death by offering his life as the ra...2020-07-2606 minFr Swann Continues PreachingEarthen-aware (July 25 St James 2020)2 Corinthians 4
The passage from the second letter of St Paul to Corinthians we just heard in today's reading is a part of St Paul’s exposition on the apostleship and ministry of the Gospel of Christ. He honestly describes the human conditions, challenges, hardships, failures, and frustrations as a minister of the Gospel. But I believe his explanation of the nature of the apostleship and ministry of Christ is also applied to any serious Christians because all baptized share the duty to proclaim the Gospel.
What do you remember from the reading today? What words of...2020-07-2505 minFr Swann Continues PreachingFair inequalityMatthew 13
We live in an age that cannot stand any kind of inequality and inequity. We strive for the equal starting line for everyone, at least concerning social and economic competitions. But we know there has never been such a society or era in human history, which achieved perfect equality and equity. But parents of more than one child know every child is different – not only their temperaments but also their talents and intelligence. Is it because of different combinations of genes? Then, will we be happy if we create a new race of human clones sharing ex...2020-07-2406 minFr Swann Continues PreachingFace to face (Thursday 16th Week Ordinary Time 2020)Matthew 13
Often I find it almost fascinating that people firmly hold on to totally incorrect or intentionally false ideas about Jesus and Christianity. Many of these are obviously so absurd that I am suspicious if these people are spell-bound. It’s because many of those ideas can be demonstrated groundless or unreasonable within a minute. However, still people cannot admit their ideas are false. Even if you tell the plain truth about Jesus and the Church, either theological or historical, your words cannot penetrate their minds or hearts.
I wonder how so many modern men ha...2020-07-2306 minFr Swann Continues PreachingWalk through the dark (July 22 Mary Magdalene)John 20
Today’s gospel passage from St John is filled with symbolic devices. The episode begins when it is still dark – representing the sorrow, confusion, and frustration lying in Mary Magdalene’s heart. The space of this episode is a cemetery – a place of the dead. And she stood at the mouth of Jesus’ tomb – an entrance to despair and oblivion.
But all these sorrowful signs are so dramatically transformed into miraculous joy. The tomb turns out a new womb for eternal life. The place of the dead is rejuvenated into a new garden of Eden. This n...2020-07-2206 minFr Swann Continues PreachingPaternity test (Tuesday 16th Week Ordinary Time 2020)Mattew 12
We live in a very, very confusing world. There are so many divisions – among races, regions. There is so much distrust – against authorities, governments. We are constantly suspicious – between the haves and the have-nots, between sexes. And we are skeptical more than ever – about traditional values, morality, religions, and finally even about family. Everyone says he’s right. But we don’t know who to trust. Can we trust our family? I saw many children ignore their parents’ wishes on the wills. Some say you can trust only money these days because everyone obeys money. Too bad, then, sin...2020-07-2105 minFr Swann Continues PreachingAnother sign (Monday 16th Week Ordinary Time 2020)Matthew 12
“Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” This is what the scribes and the Pharisees in today’s gospel asked Jesus. I wonder why they asked for another sign from Jesus. They had already heard and seen his deeds of power. Still, they asked for a sign. Why? To make sure that Jesus was the Messiah? To have faith in him? It’s not easy for me to discern their mind. However, one thing we know is this: they did not have faith in Jesus after all. I think they would not have believed in Jesus...2020-07-2005 minFr Swann Continues PreachingInstant labelling culture (16th Sunday Ordinary Time 2020)Matthew 13
Our recent years have seen the rise of what I call an ‘instant labelling culture’. Daily we witness this cultural, social, and political phenomenon. This seems an upgrade from ‘political correctness culture’. As soon as people hear someone speak, or, more commonly these days, read someone’s social media post, they like to put a label such as conservative, socialist, sexist, feminist, racist, misogynist, homophobic, and so on. Without any effort to know the actual person, people simply throw a person into a category within a few seconds. Once a person is labelled, the person is assumed to...2020-07-1907 minFr Swann Continues PreachingAvoid spotlight (Saturday 15th Week Ordinary Time 2020)Matthew 12
In many places in the gospel books, Jesus orders not to publicize his works of healing and exorcism as in today’s gospel. He taught people publicly, but it was not street corners and market places where he gathered people for teaching and healing. We don’t see any examples that Jesus chose a busy place such as market places or busy street corners and started advertising to gather people. On the contrary, he used to avoid the public spotlight. Rather, people followed him. It seems his favourite place was deserted places such as an empty lake...2020-07-1804 minFr Swann Continues PreachingInstitutionalized Jesus (Friday 15th Week Ordinary Time 2020)Matthew 12
The religion of the apostles and disciples of Christ Jesus was the ancient Judaism. They didn’t have a developed form of the liturgy of Christianity in their lifetime. Moreover, they never had any church building for the celebration of the Eucharist. There was no tabernacle, no marble altar, no statues, no pews, or no holy water font. The apostles and disciples of Jesus didn’t have a developed hierarchy of clergy, either. None of them went to a seminary for philosophical and theological formations. But they had Christ Jesus. They lived together and travelled together. They...2020-07-1705 minFr Swann Continues PreachingMy yoke was heavy (Thursday 15th Week Ordinary Time 2020)Isaiah 26
In the first reading today, Prophet Isaiah proclaims “the way of the righteous is level”. He tells us that the Just One makes “smooth the path of the righteous”. Do you agree? But how can we reconcile these words of the prophet with all the toils and sufferings good people of God have to endure?
Jesus calls us to himself today in the gospel, telling us to take his yoke and learn from him. But is his yoke really easy and his burden really light? It seems Christians have to bear a lot more burdens...2020-07-1605 minFr Swann Continues PreachingOur God vs. His PeopleIsaiah 10
We commonly call the Lord ‘my’ God and ‘our’ God. This reveals our belief that God is on my side and on our side. He is our guard and protector, we believe. For Christians, God is not an impersonal almighty deity. God is our Father who adopted us through his Son, Christ Jesus. Thus, it feels very natural for us to call God my God and our God.
But this familial closeness should not lead us into the temptation to privatize Him. He is the creator of all universe. He is the God of all peop...2020-07-1506 minFr Swann Continues PreachingA rare item (Tuesday 15th Week Ordinary Time 2020)Matthew 11
One of the characteristics of contemporary Christianity is the loss of the sense of the fear of hell. Or, Christian people seem to forget about the existence of hell. Hell is one of the most unwelcome things to preach on the pulpit in our times. This phenomenon seems related to the absence of emphasis on the fear of God. Fear itself is much feared in Christian discussions everywhere – whether at home or in Catholic schools. It has already been at least a generation or two since Catholics stopped speaking about religious fear. Does your pastor regularly ev...2020-07-1405 minFr Swann Continues PreachingFamily Feud (Monday 15th Week in Ordinary Time 2020)Matthew 10
I preach Christian goals for my parishioners such as piety and virtues. But when it comes to evangelization, I feel uneasiness to preach about it. Why? Because I don’t even know what to do about my parents and relatives.
Often, I find Jesus is a realist, far from a dreamer or idealist. In today’s gospel, he tells us what will happen if we bring the Good News to our families. He came to us on earth to proclaim the Good News. And he commands us to do the same – to proclaim the kingdo...2020-07-1306 minFr Swann Continues PreachingGardener's tips (15th Sunday Ordinary Time 2020)Matthew 13
Our heart is created in the image of the Lord as our whole being is created in His image. It loves good things such as unity and peace. Who wishes for himself division, loneliness, chaos or annihilation? However, we often do what is contrary to our genuine heart. And we fall in the agony of unhappiness. This is what happened to Adam. He was created for happiness. But by his sin, his heart became hardened, and he hid from the Lord – from the source of happiness.
This is why the Lord sent out his an...2020-07-1106 minFr Swann Continues PreachingA true prophecy (Saturday 14th Week Ordinary Time 2020)Matthew 10
What Jesus told his disciples in today’s gospel is still valid in our times. Jesus says, “If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household!” More than ever, we witness to this prophecy of Jesus in Western societies. Much of the Judeo-Christian tradition is considered oppressive and authoritarian evil. Not only religious traditions but also the cultural heritage of the West are under attack. Of course, at the heart of all these assaults lies the hatred of Christ Jesus and God the Father. Many intell...2020-07-1104 minFr Swann Continues PreachingWhy the Good News is a bad news for many (Friday 14th Week Ordinary Time 2020)Matthew 10
In today’s gospel, Jesus foretells persecutions his disciples will face when they bring the Good News. It is an irony that the Good News becomes bad news for so many people. Jesus tells us that almost all people and nations will hate those who bring his gospel. Our families are no exception.
Why do people reject the Good News? The Good News is an announcement that the kingdom of heaven is close at hand. The Lord’s salvation for mankind is coming soon. Isn’t it a good thing for us to be with t...2020-07-1005 minFr Swann Continues PreachingThere is no lonely salvation (Thursday 14th Week Ordinary Time 2020)Matthew 10
We don’t believe that a person can live without society. It is not only against our social nature but also unrealistic. There will be no drinking water system or a sewage system, or a road network if there is no community effort. The social nature of man is not external but integral to human beings. Thus, happiness, also, cannot be absolutely individualistic. True happiness has a social and communal aspect.
In terms of Christianity, this communal aspect of happiness is realized in unity and communion. True happiness comes in the union with the Lo...2020-07-0905 minFr Swann Continues Preaching21st century demons (Wednesday 14th Week Ordinary Time 2020)Mathew 10
One of the major parts of the ministry of Jesus was casting out demons or unclean spirits. As we heard in today’s gospel, it was also a major task of the apostles.
Then, I wonder why this ministry of casting out unclean spirits is not much visible any longer in our contemporary Christianity. Is it because there are not many unclean spirits left in the world? Or those demons or spirits are in fact mental conditions as many people of our times understand?
Before these questions to be answered, we need to...2020-07-0805 minFr Swann Continues PreachingIdol test (Tuesday 14th Week Ordinary Time 2020)Hosea 8
Ancient people often fell into idolatry. Idolatry is not a mental exercise. There is a man-made idol, usually a statue, and people believe the artifact is a god and they worship the artifact. This is hard to understand for most contemporary people in our times. However, we can view idols as symbols of uncontrollable fortunes. Idols can represent fertility, abundance, victory, etc. Ancient people believed these gods could dispense fortunes at their pleasure. So people offered all kinds of things, animals, and even human beings to idols to have favours from these gods. Therefore, we can...2020-07-0705 minFr Swann Continues PreachingContact but no connection (Monday 14th Week Ordinary Time 2020)Matthew 9
Today we read the gospel from Matthew. But Mark’s gospel describes the same episode with more lively details. The young girl’s father’s name was Jairus, a synagogue official.
When Jairus came to Jesus for help, there was already a great crowd around Jesus. And the crowd followed Jesus on the way to Jairus’ home. They surrounded Jesus pressing on him while they moved. The procession sounds a little chaotic. The crowd must have been excited to see what Jesus would do to Jairus’ daughter. I guess all walked rather in a hurry and...2020-07-0605 minFr Swann Continues PreachingSunday Obligation (14th Sunday Ordinary Time 2020)Matthew 11
This pandemic has changed many aspects of our daily life. What about our faith life? Certainly, the parish life has visibly changed a lot. Some Christians would say these visible changes are only external. It is absolutely true that there is no change in the Church’s teaching. Nor is there any degradation of Christian values. However, we should pay attention to changes in the visible exercises of faith. It’s because these visible exercises of faith are the reflections of our spirits. Our body is the image of our spirit, as our whole being is the...2020-07-0406 minFr Swann Continues PreachingWedding plan guide (Saturday 13the Week Ordinary Time 2020)Matthew 9
I saw many new converts enjoy more blessings of the Lord. In the meantime, I found many cradle Catholics tangled with many do’s and don’ts. What makes new converts lively in faith? And what oppresses lifelong Catholics in their faith life?
Those new Catholics seem to speak much more about Jesus. On the other hand, many cradle Catholics feel they are restricted by all the religious structures and practices. For the people who newly found Jesus, Christ Jesus is all. But many who were born to Catholicism experience first Catholic practices, customs, regu...2020-07-0403 minFr Swann Continues PreachingTo know by faith (July 3, St Thomas Apostle, 2020)John 20
Without faith in humanity, we cannot continue our daily life. If I were to doubt everything and everyone, I couldn’t even drink water from the tap on the sink, because it is not proven safe. But we drink water from the tap without testing it each time because we believe that those in charge of providing water make sure it is safe. And in almost all cases, our faith in humanity works fine without proofs, because humanity is real. In almost all our activities, we depend on faith. Faith is a way of knowing realities th...2020-07-0305 minFr Swann Continues PreachingCarrying the stretcher (Thursday 13th Week Ordinary Time 2020)Matthew 9
The paralytic man who was brought to Jesus in today’s gospel symbolizes all who are born under the original sin of Adam. As a paralyzed person cannot do anything without the help of others, all men who are born in the original sin of Adam are paralyzed in the spirit in need of help.
None of us found Jesus without any help from other faithful. As the paralytic man was carried by his friends who had faith in Jesus, we were also brought to Jesus by other faithful – whether by our parents or frie...2020-07-0203 minFr Swann Continues PreachingDemoniac (Wednesday 13th WeekMatthew 8
“Seek good, not evil, that you may live.” Does this sound easy? Who does not want to do good? Or who wants evil? However, when I look at the world, I find enough people to doubt if the man has a natural ability to seek good and to avoid evil. I don’t have to go too far to find these people, because I am one of them.
Sometimes I feel it is almost impossible to do good things although I wish for good things. And I am shocked and disgusted at my wickedness when m...2020-07-0104 minFr Swann Continues PreachingControl Room (Tuesday 13th Week Ordinary Time 2020)Matthew 8
As Jesus rebuked his disciples in today’s gospel, the disciples in the boat didn’t have strong faith enough to disregard the storm. However, they didn’t forget they were with Jesus and asked him for help in the storm. Although Jesus replied with a scolding, he didn’t refuse their petition.
I believe this is important – to cry for help. When we face a threat or danger beyond our power, the first thing to do is to cry for help. It is not a shameful thing to call for help. We don’t feel asham...2020-06-3003 minFr Swann Continues PreachingPeter's Ace (Monday 13th Week Ordinary Time 2020)Matthew 16
In many places of the four gospels, St Peter’s words meet corrections from Jesus. But today’s gospel passage is an exception. St Peter confesses his faith in Jesus by correctly identifying Jesus as “the Christ, the Son of the living God” while other people called Jesus with all wrong names.
How does this happen? How did St Peter have this insight? Jesus gives an explanation, saying “For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven.”
Then, my question is “how did God reveal this truth to St Pe...2020-06-2905 minFr Swann Continues PreachingJust Welcome (13th Sunday Ordinary Time 2020)2 Kings
I wonder if any priest began their journey of priesthood without knowing any priest. It is not impossible, but it is very unlikely a boy or a young man has an aspiration to the priesthood without actually seeing and hearing a priest at least. And I also wonder how many priests developed their vocations to the priesthood without any kind of relationship with other priests. It is also not impossible, but it will be a very difficult and lonely journey.
I saw many priests in my parish since I was very young. I did...2020-06-2704 minFr Swann Continues PreachingProphesy! (Saturday 12th Week Ordinary Time 2020)Lamentations 2
Many Christians worry about the course of the Western civilization. Since the new millennium began, we have been witnessing much of social and regional unrest. Christians cannot also ignore the crisis of morality in Western societies. And when we read the biblical passages like today’s first reading, we fear if any impending God’s wrath is approaching us.
This week we have been reading historical passages from the Old Testaments, which describe and lament over the destruction and deportation of the people of Israel. These books were written and edited as the reflections on t...2020-06-2706 minFr Swann Continues PreachingFaith theorem (Friday 12th Week Ordinary Time 2020)Matthew 8
When Christians find themselves among non-Christians or non-believers, they feel certain pressure that they have to prove their religious legitimacy. Christian parents also sense the same demand from their teenage or adult children. We often face expectations to prove our faith by reasonable arguments and verifiable evidence.
In Today’s gospel, a leper approaches Jesus. Jesus was coming down from the mountain after having given the well-known sermon on the mount. I don’t know if this leper was at the mountain to listen to Jesus. If he had been there, he must have been...2020-06-2605 minFr Swann Continues PreachingAnyone can build this (Thursday 12th Week Ordinary Time 2020)Matthew 7
Some politicians proudly distinguish their public life from their religious beliefs. They say their religious faith is limited within private life. Why do they separate their religious beliefs? They sound as if they are not controlled by their religions in public life and they make decisions for the public interests based on reason.
People who speak like this suppose religious beliefs are not rational or universal. But let us listen again to Jesus. Jesus says in today’s gospel, “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wi...2020-06-2506 minFr Swann Continues PreachingEveryone knew then (June 24, Nativity of St John the Baptist 2020)Acts 13
One of the challenges modern Christianity has been struggling with is its historicity. In other words, many modern people including Christians see Christianity as a religion that developed from legends and fairy tales without historical facts. Ignorance, misunderstanding, and resentment of Judaism and Christianity have contributed to this modern problem. Especially, ignorance of the history of prophecy in the Old Testament let people imagine Christianity was suddenly created in the first century by a Jewish religious sector. But the truth is quite the opposite.
The Old Testament and the history of ancient Israel can...2020-06-2406 minFr Swann Continues PreachingA tip to live with a cat (peacefully) (Tuesday 12th Week Ordinary Time 2020)Matthew 7
I believe many of us have heard this or something similar: “It’s Canada. People do whatever they want to do.” I was very surprised at a political leader who said a very similar thing as a reaction to a citizen’s words. I guess the politician spoke this in a jokingly manner to deflect a demand and criticism from a citizen. However, I did not expect this kind of remark or reaction from a political leader.
One time, a person told me a story that he had been drinking beer outside on the beach en...2020-06-2304 minFr Swann Continues PreachingA Remnant (Monday 12th Week Ordinary Time 2020)2 Kings 17
Many Christians wonder what would happen to the world experiencing so many changes everywhere. As for religion, the world is on the course of irreligionist. Especially against Christianity, Western societies have been campaigning demoralization over a century now. Family, work, and all social relationships are demanded of secularization, meaning no more Christian ways of living. It is not uncommon to face hostility to Christian faith even within Christian families. Watching all these dreadful changes, we fear for a certain disastrous future.
The first reading today summarizes a similar situation. The nation called out to...2020-06-2206 minFr Swann Continues PreachingReverse Clericalism (12th Sunday Ordinary Time 2020)Matthew 10
Probably most of you have not met me in the streets or grocery stores or any other malls. It’s not only because I don’t go out much but also because I often do not wear a clerical collar when I go to stores and malls. Do you think I do not wear a clerical because I want to avoid any hint of clericalism? I guess there was a time in our society when clergy were well treated. But these days many clergymen do not display their identity because they don’t want to be mistre...2020-06-2004 minFr Swann Continues PreachingLost and found (Immaculate Heart of Mary 2020)Luke 2
Can you imagine how you would feel if your child were missing? It is a horrible feeling. When I was three or four years old, I left home to follow older boys to catch tadpoles without telling my mother. I still remember that day, that afternoon in the rice paddy. I still have the images of tadpoles and diving beetles in my memory. I do not know how exactly my mother found me there. She spent the whole afternoon asking everyone in the streets if they saw a little boy with a blue baseball cap which...2020-06-2005 minFr Swann Continues PreachingFrom Within (Sacred Heart of Jesus 2020)Matthew 11
I believe most of us agree that the man lives for happiness. We make daily decisions for happiness, though unconsciously. People make very different decisions because what makes them happy is not always the same. Nevertheless, there are also many things people commonly pursue happiness – success, wealth, health, fame, power, etc. The trouble is, these promising goals for happiness often become the sources of misery.
If happiness were to be determined by external goals, only a small portion of humanity would enjoy happiness, because these goals suppose competition. When people are obsessed with those ex...2020-06-1905 minFr Swann Continues PreachingThy Will (Thursday 11th Week Ordinary Time 2020)Matthew 6
Many Christians wonder what plans God has for them. We want to know God’s will for our life. Mainly through meditation and prayer, we try to listen to God’s voice. Have you been successful? I wish I could hear God’s voice and know his will. This question of God’s will is not theological or religious but more existential and personal. It’s because it is about the life decisions of our own.
But certain private revelation does not come easily. An angel does not appear. Any voice from heaven does not resoun...2020-06-1805 minFr Swann Continues PreachingMechanical piety (Wednesday 11th Week Ordinary Time 2020)Matthew 6
As we hear today’s gospel, in ancient Israel, it was accepted and even praised to express one’s religious faith in public. What Jesus admonishes here is that we want to express our faith with a genuine heart towards God and neighbours. Because it was socially acceptable to express one’s faith in public, there was a danger to display one’s faith outwardly to attract others’ attention. What about our times? It feels socially awkward to show one’s faith in public. In fact, we are pressured not to exhibit religious signs and expressions in the publi...2020-06-1706 minFr Swann Continues PreachingDo me a favour (Tuesday 11th Week Ordinary Time 2020)Matthew 5
Some people exercise favouritism thinking it is love. It is not favouritism if I do everyone a favour. Favouritism picks up only particular people and gives them alone benefits. Here, the question is how favouritism selects those who receive benefits. Mostly, favouritism chooses according to its personal taste. Or, favours are given in return to favours received. The problem of favouritism is that those not chosen feel unfair because favouritism is not based on reason.
Now, the flipside of favouritism is discrimination. Most often, discrimination is not also exercised based on reason. It operates...2020-06-1605 minFr Swann Continues PreachingLove Actually (Monday 11th Week Ordinary Time 2020)Matthew 5
More than ever, we hear the word ‘justice’ so often these days. Voices for justice resonate in our society louder than ever. But this is very surprising when we realize the Western societies have developed extremely complex and sophisticated legal processes to protect justice. Law is a profession so highly specialized for different fields. Not only lawyers but many professions are directly involved in our legal system. So, we call this a justice system. Interestingly, this name, ‘justice system,’ implies it is not simple and easy to protect justice. Although we have a vast array of laws in...2020-06-1506 minFr Swann Continues PreachingDesire! (Corpus Christi Sunday 2020)John 6
This Sunday, the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, traditionally called Corpus Christi, Jesus proclaims that it is necessary to eat the flesh and drink the blood of his own to receive eternal life. Most Catholics will have no question about this. But some may ask about those who did not know about Christ Jesus. They did not have a chance to receive the body and blood of Christ? Even St Joseph the foster father of Christ didn’t seem to have that opportunity. We all know this body and blood of Christ is not an...2020-06-1407 minFr Swann Continues PreachingThe best attorney in God's court (Saturday 10th Week Ordinary Time 2020)Matthew 5
A judge or jurors in a secular court in most modern countries come to a conclusion based on evidence. But testimonies of experts or witnesses may influence the judgment. Arguments of attorneys also affect the judge or the jurors. But it is not uncommon to see wrong judgments are made in the court system. Plaintiffs and defendants can present strong cases while hiding truths. Judges and jurors can have prejudices and can be deceived. As we see in many court movies and dramas and also in real cases, it matters more to have a better lawyer...2020-06-1304 minFr Swann Continues PreachingDon't judge me (Friday 10th Week Ordinary Time 2020)Matthew 5
It is not uncommon to hear “Don’t judge me!” in daily conversations. It seems we have declared a moratorium on moral judgment in our times. Drawing a line between right and wrong became outdated in our society. Even those seemingly moral judgments are very often made on emotions or popular sentiments. ‘Likes’ and ‘dislikes’ determine good or bad. Unfortunately, our emotional reactions and popular sentiments are often manipulated by commercial interests and political schemes, mainly through media.
Many Christians will not agree simply to follow this trend in the world. Instead, Christians say, “God will underst...2020-06-1205 minFr Swann Continues PreachingJesus, a poor financial planner (June 11, St Barnabas 2020)Matthew 10
Do you find anything missing in the instructions for the twelve apostles when Jesus sent them out as we heard in today’s gospel? For modern Christians, this way of missionary plan and instruction may look involving too much risk – because these instructions of Jesus ignore financial planning. On the opposite, Jesus tells the apostles not to bring money or spare gears. In modern Christianity, fundraising is so essential, isn’t it? Perhaps Jesus didn’t have to pay attention to this critical aspect of church life, because he could feed thousands of people at any time wit...2020-06-1104 minFr Swann Continues PreachingThe Old Testament is too old (Wednesday 10th Week Ordinary Time 2020)Matthew 5
Modern Christians tend to focus only on the New Testament. Or, they tend to disregard the Old Testament. Especially, those who highlight Jesus as a reformer or a revolutionary strongly suggest we should not be bound by the Old Testament. For them, the Old Testament represents Judaism and the New Testament, Christianity; the Old Testament is applied to Jewish people and the New Testament to Christians beyond the racial boundary of the Jews. For them, St Paul is the trailblazer for the ministry of the Gentiles and a model reformer.
At first glance, this...2020-06-1005 minFr Swann Continues PreachingRacial Barrier (Tuesday 10th Week Ordinary Time 2020)1 Kings 17
Today we hear another intriguing episode of prophet Elijah. Under a severe famine, God sent his prophet to a foreign woman of Sidon to feed him. Sidon was infamous for its idolatry. And it is the homeland of Jezebel, King Ahab’s wife, from whom Elijah was running away. Why did God send his prophet there to be supported by an idol worshipper?
Now, here is another strange thing. Elijah asks this woman to cook for him first while all she had was barely enough for her and her son to eat. Why did th...2020-06-0906 minFr Swann Continues PreachingGreen pastures and still waters (Monday 10th Week Ordinary Time 2020)1 Kings 17
The first book of Kings spends many pages for the reign of King Ahab in the northern kingdom of Israel. His long twenty-two years of reign coincided with the time of prophet Elijah. King Ahab was a wicked man, but his wife Queen Jezebel added notoriety to his infamous reputation. He worshipped his Sidonian wife’s foreign idols and even sacrificed two of his sons for the success of his building projects. Of course, we all know well how his wife and he conspired the murder of Naboth to take Naboth’s field.
Against this...2020-06-0804 minFr Swann Continues PreachingLife of Condemnation (Holy Trinity Sunday 2020)John 3
All the living things eventually die or can be killed at any time. It is sad but true. But we feel here contradiction. Why do we live if we all die? Life itself does not imply death. Looking at a baby, we can’t think of death. Full of life, literally. But as we see in these days during the pandemic, life lives with death, life borders death. There is no grey zone between them.
But not all living enjoys the same life. Many people live death while living. When we live a life of...2020-06-0704 minFr Swann Continues PreachingHow does your pastor sound? (Saturday 9th Week Ordinary Time 2020)2 Timothy 4
Pastors are constantly tempted to please their flock. This happens not because they love to make their parishioners pleased and satisfied. It happens because they learn over time it is much easier than to be faithful to bring the true teaching of Christ. St Paul urges me: “proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favourable or unfavourable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching.” St Paul knew how difficult teaching the Gospel was. And it demands courage and patience. If you have ever tried to convince, rebuke, and encourage one of your...2020-06-0605 minFr Swann Continues PreachingPersecutor Inside (Friday 9th Week Ordinary Time 2020)2 Timothy 3
In our country, we never had religious persecution, although we have martyrs. There has been no organized, systematic attempt to destroy the Church in this land. So, when we hear St Paul say, “Indeed, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted”, we might feel his words are no longer relevant to us. However, it is also true that Christians in this country feel unwelcome, especially in the public sphere. Christianity is fine in private, but not in public. But other religions are often encouraged to express their identity in publ...2020-06-0505 minFr Swann Continues PreachingExchanging life with death (Thursday 9th Week Ordinary Time 2020)2 Timothy 2
All the measures we take during this pandemic strive for life. Against this real threat of life, our sense of survival has been ever heightened up. On the flip side of the sense of survival is our awareness of death. We are not so focused on the number of pandemic survivors but the number of deaths. It is death that makes us alert this time.
But Christians have a quite different sense of life and death. If a person wants to be called Christian, he must die to himself in Christ at baptism. He...2020-06-0404 minFr Swann Continues PreachingHow many times can I marry? (Wednesday 9th Week Ordinary Time 2020)Mark 12
For most of us, the serial marriage we heard in the gospel will sound strange. This Jewish custom was developed to protect and save widows without any children. Children here mean boys who can carry the name of the family. In other words, only male children had the right to the family inheritance. In ancient Israel, A widow without a male child had no right to her husband’s properties. Thus, when a widow without a male child marries her dead husband’s brother, she could be socially and economically protected.
But St Paul give...2020-06-0306 minFr Swann Continues PreachingGive back to God what belongs to God (Tuesday 9th Week Ordinary Time 2020)Mark 12
We all probably know by heart, “Give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar.” But we often forget to continue, “and to God what belongs to God.” Of course, in the passage from St Mark we heard in today’s gospel, that first part, “Give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar,” turns the trap of the Pharisees and the Herodians completely useless. But I believe what is meaningfully mandated to Christians is the latter part, “Give back to God what belongs to God,” since we already faithfully pay taxes every time we buy things and whenever we make i...2020-06-0205 min