William Cardinal Goh The Shepherd's Voice

King Solomon began his reign not by asking for power, wealth, or glory, but for a discerning heart to serve his people. Because his heart was rightly ordered, God granted him wisdom and blessed him with peace and honour as well. Yet his life also reminds us that when the heart strays from God, everything begins to crumble. In the Gospel, Jesus reminds us that true purity and peace come not from external observance alone, but from a heart transformed within. Whether we serve in ministry, leadership, or daily family life, the real question is this: are we cultivating a living spiritual life? Without prayer, without conversion, without reconciliation, we risk becoming efficient but empty. God does not only ask for our work, He asks for our heart. When our hearts are purified and anchored in Him, we rediscover peace, clarity, and the joy of serving.

Reflection Question: Where in my life do I need God to give me a more discerning and undivided heart?

God does not need a temple, for the whole universe belongs to Him. Yet, out of compassion and love, He chooses to make His presence tangible through signs, symbols, and sacred spaces, because we are human beings who need sacramentals to encounter the divine. The Temple, like our churches and chapels today, becomes a place of rest, prayer, forgiveness, and consolation. As the psalmist proclaims, “How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, God of hosts.” Even standing at the threshold of God’s house is better than living in comfort without peace.

Yet the deepest truth remains: God’s true dwelling place is not only in buildings, but in us. We are the temples of the Holy Spirit. When our hearts are generous, open, and enlarged by love, God finds a home within us, and we begin to experience heaven even now. Jesus reminds us that traditions and sacramentals are valuable only when they serve love — love of God and love of neighbour. Traditions are meant to connect, not to burden; to heal, not to oppress. They must always remain faithful to their purpose: drawing us closer to God and to one another.

Reflection Question: Is my heart a welcoming dwelling place for God, and do the traditions I practise help me love God and others more deeply?

Within each of us lies a struggle between good and evil, between the lamb and the wolf. King David reminds us that success and comfort can lead to complacency, and complacency can open the door to temptation. Sin often grows quietly, from desire leads to action, and from action to painful consequences.
Yet, goodness also grows when nurtured through prayer, vigilance, and cooperation with God’s grace. When we allow God’s grace to take root in our lives, even something as small as a mustard seed can become a source of shelter, joy, and life for many. Ultimately, the choice of what grows within us is ours.
Reflection Question: Am I feeding the wolf of selfishness and complacency, or the lamb of generosity and grace? How do habits of prayer and vigilance shape my heart each day?

King David was far from perfect. He was ambitious, weak, and at times sinful, yet what set him apart was his deep awareness of God’s mercy. He remembered where he came from, and when he failed he repented and returned to the Lord. His life teaches us that holiness is not about being perfect, but about allowing ourselves to be shaped again and again by God’s grace through humility and trust.
Like King David, we are called to be a light in the world not by pretending to be strong or righteous, but by being authentic witnesses who repent when we fail, and point others back to God’s mercy.

Reflection Question: What personal experience of God’s grace or mercy do I return to in order to remain humble, grateful, and aware that all I am and have is truly a gift from Him?

All of us are reminded that we are called to be sowers of the Gospel. Yet the parable of the sower also teaches us a deeper truth: it is ultimately God who gives the growth. Like King David, we may feel we are doing great things for God, even thinking that we are doing Him a favour.
But God reminds us that He does not need our work; He desires our surrender. Everything we have and all that we offer are already gifts of grace. Our task is not to serve from a position of pride, but to allow God to work in us and through us, trusting that He will bring fruit in His own time and way.

Reflection Question: What is my disposition when I serve in Church or others? How do I respond when my efforts are not recognised or appreciated?