KL Archdiocesan Bible Apostolate

01/04/2026

Holy Week of Wednesday: Today’s gospel we have the repeated dialogue of Betrayal! What pain, hurt and anguish must have crushed and pinned Jesus for him to blurt out: “Better for that man if he had never been born.” Another lingering thought? – there were so many dishes at the Passover, why did Judas dip his hand into the same dish?
What piercing pain we go through when someone close to us betrays us. What will be our reaction?

31/03/2026

Tuesday of Holy Week: Today’s gospel flashes Betrayal. Asked by John, “who is it, Lord?” Jesus painfully responds ‘It is the one whom I give the piece of bread that I shall dip in the dish.” The bread given was to Judas. Were all eyes focused on Judas or on Jesus? In full view of everyone, he took the break and made for the door. Night had fallen!
How often have couples or close friends shared meals, eating from the same plates, leaning intimately against each other, embracing with promises of faithfulness. Years later, betrayal creeps in. We say it is a matter of ‘survival’. Revisiting the experience, where in our being is one most affected by such betrayals?

29/03/2026

Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me. I am always touched by these opening lines of Ps 22. When Jesus cried out these words from the cross, it was a yearning for the God who seemingly had deserted him. But subsequent events show that God was there right through, watching, encouraging, sustaining... So he does for us in all our trials.
Blessed Week to all.
Msgr James

20/11/2025

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Spreading the Word of God

20/11/2025

I concelebrated at the ordination to the diaconate of Anthony Robert and Philip Asir yesterday. I was impressed by the insistence on them becoming teachers of the Word of God. The same words are repeated in the ordination to the priesthood. Our priests should be teachers of the word, as the bishop pronounces the words of advice:
"Meditating on the law of the Lord, see
that you believe what you read,
that you teach what you believe,
and that you practice what you teach.
Msgr James

07/05/2025

Biblical Theology at St Peter's Pontifical Institute, Bangalore.

23/04/2025

Prayer for the Repose of the Soul of Pope Francis

O God, immortal shepherd of souls,
look on your people’s prayers
and grant that your servant Pope Francis,
who presided over your Church in charity,
may, with the flock entrusted to his care,
receive from your mercy the reward of a faithful steward.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

- The Roman Missal (2011), Prayers for the Dead – For A Pope (p. 1403)

21/04/2025

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace.
Read more: https://www.vaticannews.va/.../pope-francis-dies-on...

11/04/2025

We will experience Jesus triumphal victory into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Somehow I feel this has been a longer journey than usual, though it remains 40 days. It is probably because I have been dragging my feet not to fall behind in prayer and spending time gazing upon the one who was pierced. It was a struggle this time. What has changed? Somehow less energy, more distractions, unpleasant meetings, memories etched in mind, a wet springtime. It is all a TEST! Overcoming it by grace upon grace was sufficient. Having crossed the rough pathways, happy to be re-energized to enter the gates with palms breathing out the scent of sweet fragrance, singing Hosanna!

04/04/2025

This Sunday's gospel speaks of the Scribes and Pharisees who brought to Jesus a woman allegedly caught in the very act of adultery and made to stand in full view of everybody! Jesus who was asked to take a stand did not answer but just bent down and started writing on the ground with his finger. What do you think Jesus would have written?

02/04/2025