William Cardinal Goh The Shepherd's Voice

Anna, the prophetess, was not influential, powerful, or publicly recognised. Yet her faithfulness did not go unnoticed by God. Anna represents the many hidden servants in the Church: those who pray silently, who serve faithfully behind the scenes, who offer their lives in small, unseen ways. Though the world may overlook them, God sees their hearts.Because her heart was prepared, Anna was able to recognise Jesus when He was presented in the Temple. This reminds us that Christmas is not merely the remembrance of Christ’s birth in history, but an invitation for Christ to be born anew in our hearts.St John reminds us that sin and love for the world create barriers to encountering God. True freedom and joy come not from material gifts, but from forgiveness and obedience to God’s Word. Reflection Question: What might be crowding my heart this Christmas, and what is the Lord inviting me to let go of so that He may truly be born in me?

Christmas reveals a love that does not stop at tenderness or sentimentality. God’s gift is not merely a beautiful baby in a crib, but His very self: a love that empties itself completely, even unto the cross.St Stephen understood this deeply. For him, welcoming Christ meant embracing the whole Christ—His life, His teaching, His passion, and His resurrection. That is why Stephen’s faith was lived out in service to the poor, courage in witness, and love even for his persecutors. As he was being put to death, he prayed for those who harmed him, just as Jesus did on the cross.Christmas is an invitation to let Christ be born in us, through lives poured out in love, quietly, steadily, and faithfully.Reflection Question: Where do I sense God calling me to love more deeply, forgive more freely, or give more of myself, even when it costs?

As we approach the Nativity of our Lord, we are invited to reflect on the lives of Mary and Hannah, ordinary, humble women through whom God worked extraordinary miracles. Their praise was not self-centred; it magnified God for His power, mercy, and faithfulness. Like them, we are called to praise God not just for what we receive, but for who He is and what He does in our lives and in the world, especially raising the lowly and filling the poor with blessings. True praise transforms our hearts, elevates God, and points others to His goodness.Reflection Question: How can I cultivate a heart of praise like Mary and Hannah, focusing not on what I receive, but on who God is and what He does in the world?

Barrenness is not only the inability to have children, but the deeper feeling that our lives have not been fruitful or meaningful. Many of us work hard, sacrifice much, and even succeed in the world, yet still feel an emptiness within. In the lives of Manoah’s wife and Elizabeth, we see that nothing is impossible for God. When God gives life, He also gives a plan. True fruitfulness is not measured by success, but by faithfulness to God’s call.Advent reminds us to slow down, listen, and trust. When we place our faith in God’s plan, He turns barrenness into blessing and fills our lives with hope and joy as we prepare for Christmas.Reflection Question: Where do I experience barrenness in my life, and how is God inviting me through silence and trust to bear fruit according to His plan?

As we pray O Adonai, we remember that the world longs for a true King. Human leadership often fails, but Jesus comes as a different kind of ruler — one who leads with wisdom, integrity, and compassion. His authority flows from his relationship with the Father, and his leadership unites rather than divides.The Gospel shows us St Joseph as a model of quiet leadership: faithful, humble, and obedient to God’s will. Jesus grew up witnessing Joseph’s integrity and learned that true leadership is lived, not claimed.This Advent, Christ invites us to lead not by power, but by service — with humility, faithfulness, and trust in God.Reflection Question: How is Christ calling me to grow in wisdom, integrity, and compassion so that my leadership reflects His kingship?