Day: April 18, 2015

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Monday, 20 April 2015 : 3rd Week of Easter (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

John 6 : 22-29

At that time, after Jesus fed the five thousand, on the next day, the people who had stayed on the other side, realised that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not entered it with His disciples; but rather, the disciples had gone away alone.

Bigger boats from Tiberias came near the place where all these people had eaten the bread. When they saw that neither Jesus nor His disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus.

When they found Him on the other side of the lake, they asked Him, “Master, when did you come here?” Jesus answered, “Truly, I say to you, you look for Me, not because of the signs which you have seen, but because you ate bread and were satisfied.”

“Work then, not for perishable food, but for the lasting food which gives eternal life. The Son of Man will give it to you, for He is the One on whom the Father has put His mark.”

Then the Jews asked Him, “What shall we do? What are the works that God wants us to do?” And Jesus answered them, “The work God wants is this : that you believe in the One whom God has sent.”

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Monday, 20 April 2015 : 3rd Week of Easter (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : White

Psalm 118 : 23-24, 26-27, 29-30

Although princes conspire against me, Your servant will observe Your decrees. Your laws are my delight, my counselors who uphold me.

When I explained my ways, You responded; instruct me then in Your precepts. Explain to me all Your ordinances, and I will meditate on Your wondrous deeds.

Keep me away from deceitful paths; be gracious and teach me Your law. I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart upon Your laws.

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Monday, 20 April 2015 : 3rd Week of Easter (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

Acts 6 : 8-15

Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people. Some persons then came forward, who belonged to the so called Synagogue of Freedmen from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia and Asia. They argued with Stephen but they could not match the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke.

As they were unable to face the truth, they bribed some men to say, “We heard him speak against Moses and against God.” So they stirred up the people, the elders and the teachers of the Law; they took him by surprise, seized him and brought him before the Council.

Then they produced false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking against our Holy Place and the Law. We even heard him say that Jesus the Nazarean will destroy our Holy Place and change the customs which Moses handed down to us.” And all who sat in the Council fixed their eyes on him, and his face appeared to them like the face of an angel.

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Sunday, 19 April 2015 : Third Sunday of Easter, Tenth Anniversary of the Pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI, Vicar of Christ and Supreme Pontiff (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : White

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today we celebrate the occasion of the Third Sunday of Easter, and as we continue to progress through this joyous and great season of Easter, we are called by what we heard today from the Sacred Scriptures, to throw far, far away, our fears and our insecurities, our doubts and our sinfulness, our disobedience and our vanity, to embrace fully the fullness of God’s redemption which He had given us through the Risen Christ, Jesus our Lord and God.

The Apostles feared the Jews and feared their retribution, after they have apparently lost their Lord and Master when Jesus was condemned to death on the cross. Even though they have heard many times from Jesus Himself that He would suffer and die, and yet to be risen from the dead in glory, they still doubted and feared. They were like sheep that had just lost their shepherd, scattered and not knowing where to go, leaderless and without aim.

They trembled in their body, mind and heart, and yet, at that very moment, Jesus appeared in their midst, revealing Himself to them. The words which He said to them indeed have a profound impact and meaning. Peace be with you is the expression of God trying to calm the doubts and the fears in the hearts of the Apostles, and instead replace these with faith, trust and confidence in the Lord.

As in the first reading, St. Peter spoke to the people assembled about the ignorance with which they had condemned the Lord with, therefore, the Apostles also had once been infected with the same ignorance and the same lack of understanding, which came about from the reluctance of all of us to accept the fullness of truth, that Christ is Lord, is King, and is God, Almighty and Creator of the Universe, who have yet come down into this world as a humble Man, through whom we have been saved.

And it is this truth that the Apostles had been made aware of. Jesus Himself told them and revealed to them the fullness of the meaning of the Sacred Scriptures and the history of salvation, and their minds were opened. And later on as we know, they would be sent the Holy Spirit, the Advocate and the One who empowered them in their hearts and minds, that the knowledge and wisdom of the truth is with them.

And from all these rose the foundations of our Church as we know it now. The Apostles continued the works of Jesus, in bringing about the salvation and truth which Christ had brought, to the whole humanity, to the ends of the earth. And all these efforts were united together in the Church which God Himself had established, with the leadership of the Apostles united with Peter, the chief and first of the Apostles, whom God Himself put in charge over all of His faithful ones.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, there are still many people in this world today who are still in the darkness and in ignorance of the truth which Christ had brought us. There are many people who have yet to listen to the Good News of our Lord, and it is our duty and responsibility, as members of the Church to carry that message of truth to all of them. Yes, and we have to begin that with our own selves and all the things that we say and do.

In the second reading today, St. John in his epistle mentioned how if we truly know the Lord and profess to others that we know Him, then we have to show it in our own actions and deeds, or otherwise we would be liars and deceivers. No one will believe in us or in what we are preaching to them if we ourselves do not practice what we had preached. We must lead by example and put our faith into real action.

Today we commemorate a great and joyful day, as today marks the tenth anniversary, a decade since the election of the successor of St. Peter the Apostle as the Bishop of Rome, and thus as the Leader and Chief of all the faithful. As the successor of St. Peter, Pope Benedict XVI is the Vicar of Christ, or Christ’s sole representative on this world.

As we rejoice in God’s blessings which had blessed our Holy Father with this wonderful ten years of service to the Church and all of God’s holy people, we too have to remember that we must continue to support him and all the other leaders of the Church, by doing our best to contribute to the Church’s work to spread the Good News and the truth of Christ to all parts of the world.

Pope Benedict XVI had committed himself to many years of hard and great works to rejuvenate the faith in many people around the world. He had devoted much time to the works of charity and mercy of the Church, to help those who are less fortunate and in suffering, and standing up for those who have been persecuted for their faith and for various other reasons. His writings and publications had clearly spoken the truth of Christ for all to witness and believe.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, we know that at this time and era, it is becoming more and more difficult to stay true to our faith, to our Lord and to stand up to all the truth and the teachings which we had received from the Lord Himself through the Church. This is why, we have to support each other, and do our best to help the efforts of the Church. Let us all support our Pope, bishops and all the others involved in the maintenance and governance of the faithful in the Church.

May Almighty God bless our Pope, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, the faithful and humble servant of our God, that he will continue to be a blessing to all of God’s Church, and continue to serve as our leader and shepherd, guiding us on the way to the Lord, against all the challenges and all the oppositions, so that we may truly get rid of our fear and doubts, and fully immerse ourselves in the love of God, and be truly faithful to Him in action and deeds. Let us all work together, to help the Church of God in its work for the salvation of all mankind! God bless us all. Amen.

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Sunday, 19 April 2015 : Third Sunday of Easter, Tenth Anniversary of the Pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI, Vicar of Christ and Supreme Pontiff (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

Luke 24 : 35-48

At that time, the two disciples from Emmaus told what had happened on the road to there, and how Jesus had made Himself known, when He broke bread with them.

While they were still talking about this, Jesus Himself stood in their midst. He said to them, “Peace to you.” In their panic and fright, they thought they were seeing a ghost, but He said to them, “Why are you upset, and how does such an idea cross your minds? Look at My hands and feet, and see that it is I Myself! Touch Me, and see for yourselves, for a ghost has no flesh and bones as I have!” As He said this, He showed His hands and feet.

In their joy they did not dare believe, and were still astonished; so He said to them, “Do you have anything to eat?” And they gave Him a piece of broiled fish. He took it, and ate it before them. Then Jesus said to them, “Remember the words I spoke to you when I was still with you : Everything written about Me in the Law of Moses, in the Prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.

And He said, “So it was written : the Messiah had to suffer, and on the third day rise from the dead. Then repentance and forgiveness in His Name would be proclaimed to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things.”

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Sunday, 19 April 2015 : Third Sunday of Easter, Tenth Anniversary of the Pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI, Vicar of Christ and Supreme Pontiff (Second Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

1 John 2 : 1-5a

My little children, I write to you that you may not sin. But if anyone sins, we have an Intercessor with the Father, Jesus Christ, the Just One. He is the sacrificial victim for our sins and the sins of the whole world.

How can we know that we know Him? If we fulfill His commands. If you say, “I know Him,” but do not fulfill His commands, you are a liar and the truth is not in you. But if you keep His word, God’s love is made complete in you.

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Sunday, 19 April 2015 : Third Sunday of Easter, Tenth Anniversary of the Pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI, Vicar of Christ and Supreme Pontiff (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : White

Psalm 4 : 2, 4, 6b-7, 9

Answer when I call, o God, my Justice! When I was in distress, You gave me solace. Have compassion on me and hear my plea.

But you must know that the Lord has shown His kindness to me. When I call to Him, He hears me.

Put your trust in the Lord your God. Many ask, “Who will give us a happy time? Would that His favour shine upon us!”

I lie down and sleep in peace, for Your alone, o Lord, make me feel safe and secure.

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Sunday, 19 April 2015 : Third Sunday of Easter, Tenth Anniversary of the Pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI, Vicar of Christ and Supreme Pontiff (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

Acts 3 : 13-15, 17-19

Peter said to the people, “The God of Abraham, of Isaac and of Jacob, the God of our ancestors has glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you handed over to death and denied before Pilate, when even Pilate had decided to release Him. You rejected the Holy and Just One, and you insisted that a murderer be released to you. You killed the Master of Life, but God raised Him from the dead and we are witnesses to this.”

“Yet I know that you acted out of ignorance, as did your leaders. God has fulfilled in this way what He had foretold through all the prophets, that His Messiah would suffer. Repent, then, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out.”

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(Usus Antiquior) Second Sunday after Easter (II Classis) – Sunday, 19 April 2015 : Offertory, Secret Prayer of the Priest, Communion and Post-Communion Prayer

Liturgical Colour : White

Offertory

Psalm 62 : 2, 5

Deus, Deus meus, ad Te de luce vigilo : et in Nomine Tuo levabo manus meas, Alleluja.


English translation

O God, my God, to You do I watch at break of day, and in Your Name I will lift up my hands, Alleluia.


Secret Prayer of the Priest

Benedictionem nobis, Domine, conferat salutarem sacra semper oblatio : ut, quod agit mysterio, virtute perficiat. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium Tuum, qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.


English translation

Let the sacred offering, o Lord, ever confer salutary benediction upon us, perfecting in power what it has done in mystery. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who with You lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.


Communion

John 10 : 14

Ego sum Pastor Bonus, Alleluja : et cognosco oves meas, et cognoscunt me meae, Alleluja, Alleluja.


English translation

I am the Good Shepherd, Alleluia. And I know My sheep and My sheep know Me. Alleluia, Alleluia.


Post-Communion Prayer

Praesta nobis, quaesumus, omnipotens Deus : ut, vivificationis Tuae gratiam consequentes, in Tuo semper munere gloriemur. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium Tuum, qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.


English translation

Grant us, we beseech You, o Almighty God, that quickened by Your grace, we may ever glory in Your gifts. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who with You lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.

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(Usus Antiquior) Second Sunday after Easter (II Classis) – Sunday, 19 April 2015 : Holy Gospel

Liturgical Colour : White

Sequentia Sancti Evangelii secundum Joannem – Continuation of the Holy Gospel according to St. John

John 10 : 11-16

In illo tempore : Dixit Jesus pharisaeis : Ego sum Pastor Bonus. Bonus pastor animam suam dat pro ovibus suis. Mercennarius autem et qui non est pastor, cujus non sunt oves propriae, videt lupum venientem, et dimittit oves et fugit : et lupus rapit et dispergit oves : mercennarius autem fugit, quia mercennarius est et non pertinet ad eum de ovibus.

Ego sum Pastor Bonus : et cognosco meas et cognoscunt me meae. Sicut novit me Pater, et ego agnosco Patrem, et animam meam pono pro ovibus meis. Et alias oves habeo, quae non sunt ex hoc ovili : et illas oportet me adducere, et vocem meam audient, et fiet unum ovile et unus pastor.


English translation

At that time, Jesus said to the Pharisees, “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd gives His life for His sheep, but the hireling, and he who is not the shepherd, who did not own the sheep will not. And when they see the wolf coming, they leave the sheep and flee, and the wolf catches and scatters the sheep. And the hireling flees, because he is a hireling, and had no care for the sheep.”

“I am the Good Shepherd, and I know My sheep, and My sheep know Me. As the Father knows Me, and I know the Father, and I lay down My life for My sheep. And other sheep I have, that are not of this fold, they too I must bring, and they shall hear My voice and there shall be one fold and one shepherd.”