William Cardinal Goh The Shepherd's Voice

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?

As we begin the O Antiphons with O Wisdom, the Church invites us to prepare for Christmas by trusting God’s long and patient plan of salvation. The genealogy of Jesus reminds us that God works through real history and imperfect people. From Abraham to David and beyond, salvation unfolded slowly, not because God delayed, but because humanity needed time to be formed. Jesus’ family tree is filled with sinners and saints alike, showing us that God does not wait for perfection before He acts. Grace heals and elevates our broken nature, and neither sin nor failure can stop God’s plan.As Christmas draws near, we are called to trust God’s wisdom in our own lives. Even our weaknesses and mistakes can become part of His saving work when we surrender them to Him.Reflection Question: Where in my life am I struggling to trust God’s timing or wisdom, and how is He inviting me to surrender this Advent?

Advent invites us to look again: to see not with our natural eyes, but with the eyes of faith. Today’s homily reminds us that discouragement, confusion, and even the darkness we face in the world do not have the final word. God has already promised renewal, restoration, and new life. But to recognise His work, we must learn to see as He sees.Like the two blind men in the Gospel, we may each have our own limitations, weaknesses, or wounds. Yet God always compensates. Where one faculty is lacking, another is strengthened. And He continues to reveal Himself in countless ways, through Scripture, through others, through silence, through unexpected moments of grace. The real question is: Are we paying attention?During this Advent season, the Lord invites us to slow down, to take time to reflect on the past year, and to recognise the subtle, gentle ways He has been guiding, forming, and loving us. Faith does not mean God will answer our prayers exactly as we wish. Rather, faith means trusting that He sees more than we do, and that His answers, visible or hidden, are always for our good.May this Advent be a time for renewed sight, humble trust, and deeper intimacy with the Lord who comes to heal, to restore, and to make all things new.

St Francis Xavier did not become one of the Church’s greatest missionaries because he was brilliant, adventurous, or influential. His mission began the moment he encountered Jesus personally and allowed that encounter to reorient his life. Authentic mission, whether in our families, workplaces, or parishes, cannot grow out of obligation or cultural convenience. It springs from a heart convinced that Jesus is the One who gives fullness of life. Like St Francis Xavier and St Paul, we are invited to rediscover this inner call: a renewed personal conversion that allows us to proclaim the Gospel not merely by words, but by the way we accompany people, listen with humility, and walk with them in the Spirit. True synodality begins here, shepherds and sheep journeying together, allowing the Holy Spirit to speak, purify, and guide. This is the path of real evangelisation today: to be with people, to understand their world, their culture, and to reveal Christ who is already present in their midst.Reflection Question: How is Jesus inviting me to a deeper personal encounter with Him: one that renews my desire and courage to share the Gospel with others?