Isaiah 63:7-9 / Colossians 3:12-17 / Luke 12:22-31
Today, our nation celebrates 51 years of independence and we give thanks to God for blessing us with peace and progress.
This year’s theme, “Building our Singapore of Tomorrow”, seeks to unite Singaporeans in the next chapter of nation-building.
Certainly, after last year's grand celebration of SG50, we need to look forward into the future and think about what we want to be as a nation in the future.
But it is also important to know what are the foundations that are necessary for us to move on as a nation for tomorrow and beyond.
Certainly as a country, we have progressed and prospered and we can even say that we have been successful as a nation.
In his National Day's message, the Archbishop William Goh said that we cannot truly call ourselves a successful, wise and great nation if we are not also known as a people of compassion and mercy.
The 1st reading urges us to sing the praises of the Lord's goodness and of His marvellous deeds for all that He has done for us and for the great kindness He has shown us in His mercy and in His boundless goodness. Certainly we must do that on this day of our nation's celebration.
And the Archbishop echoed what is said in the 2nd reading: You are God's chosen race, His saints; He loves you, and you should be clothed in sincere compassion, in kindness and humility, gentleness and patience.
Hence, on this day, let us also pray for our nation that our concerns will not just be about what to eat or what to wear, for life means more than that.
God our Father well knows we need them. Let us set our hearts on His kingdom and all these other things will be given to us and to our nation as well.