In Luke's Gospel, the Lord’s Prayer begins with the word, "Father". This is the fundamental attitude of a disciple’s relationship with God. The word, "Father" connotes the combined sentiments of respect and intimacy. When authority is rooted not in fear but in reverence, it leads to intimacy. So Jesus is asking us to cultivate an attitude of respect and awe when we pray to our Father, but knowing His love for us, we can also be intimate with Him.

The real crisis in marriage and divorce and the family as well, is not just a social, psychological or moral crisis but fundamentally a crisis of faith. If today even our Catholics are shaken with regard to these fundamental questions of marriage and family, it is simply because their faith is weak. Indeed, as Catholics, we must be more compassionate and non-judgmental with respect to those who are divorced, even those who are in same-sex relationship. We must welcome everyone as a child of God. Accompanying them, welcoming them and accepting them would be the way to help them recover their faith in God.

The Guardian Angels are creatures of God who protect, guide, and intercede for us. They are intermediaries between God and humanity, reflecting the presence of God. We too must also be guardian angels to each other by being messengers of Good News, hope and love.

It does not matter where we are sent to love, or whom we are called to love. What is critical is that we must do everything out of love. As St Therese made it clear, “I knew that one love drove the members of the Church to action, that if this love were extinguished, the apostles would have proclaimed the Gospel no longer, the martyrs would have shed their blood no more. I saw and realised that love sets off the bounds of all vocations, that love is everything, that this same love embraces every time and every place. In one word, that love is everlasting.” When we choose to love and serve with love and humility, we will encounter a deep interior joy knowing that we have done what we could and should do, according to the charisms and talents the Lord has given to us.

Proclamation without tangible signs of the Good News remains merely words without action. We cannot proclaim the gospel merely by indoctrinating people but they need to experience the concrete signs of unconditional love, compassion, forgiveness and healing in our Catholic community. Proclamation and Healing therefore sums up the basic proclamation of the gospel. The mission is completed but ministry has begun. This is the real work of the Church. Mission and ministry are always the manifestation of those touched by the Lord.  This is the clearest sign that we have received the Good News ourselves.

Today’s Feast of the Archangels reminds us that we do not fight alone. We fight with all the archangels and the angels in our battle against sin, evil and darkness. St Michael is our protector, St Gabriel our messenger of Good News, and St Raphael our healer of souls and body. Let us implore their assistance.

Today, as we celebrate Migrant Sunday, let us be conscious that our power, our gifts, talents, wealth and blessings are not just meant for us, whether as individuals or even as a nation. There can be no world peace or progress unless we seek greater cooperation with one another, empowering and enriching each other. The dangerous trend today is for some of us, and some countries, to be narrow-minded, thinking of our own security, failing to realize that the best way to protect our homes is to protect the interests of our neighbours. There is only one planet and one humanity. We all have a share in it and the resources are meant for all, not just a few people. Let us continue to enrich each other and build a united and happier world.

In today's Gospel passage, Jesus warned the disciples not to be overly taken up or be impressed by worldly success, recognition and power because these do not last. If we want to seek true and lasting glory, there is no escape from the cross. May we live with simplicity, docility in faith, and trust, knowing God is with us always.

When we look at our glorious past, we can either become disheartened or we find strength to rebuild ourselves. The truth is that by always lamenting about the past, we give up hope when we look at our failures and pathetic situation today. Throughout the history of Israel since the days when God spoke to the Patriarchs, it was always the same assurance, “I am with you.” These same words were spoken to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and Moses. This has been God’s constant promise even to the apostles when the Lord commanded them to preach the Good News, and to St Paul in his missionary journeys. Indeed, just as God was faithful to the great figures of the past, so too He is also at work today. If it is the work of God, He will bring it to fruition. Like Jesus, we must go through suffering. It means hard work and sacrifices, even persecution and martyrdom, but God will see that His plan is accomplished. But God will be faithful to us as He was with Jesus. We must cooperate with the Lord.

Today, through the Prophet Haggai's words in the first reading, the Lord is asking us if our main priority is to glorify Him. Is God at the centre of our lives? Or have we become self-centred, inward-looking, alienated from others and from God? Are we in our own comfort zones, ignoring the needs of others who are suffering?