Day: September 4, 2023

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Friday, 8 September 2023 : Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

Matthew 1 : 1-16, 18-23

This is the account of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, Son of David, Son of Abraham. Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers. Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah (their mother was Tamar), Perez was the father of Hezron, and Hezron of Aram. Aram was the father of Aminadab, Aminadab of Nahshon, Nahshon of Salmon.

Salmon was the father of Boaz. His mother was Rahab. Boaz was the father of Obed. His mother was Ruth. Obed was the father of Jesse. Jesse was the father of David, the king. David was the father of Solomon. His mother had been Uriah’s wife. Solomon was the father of Rehoboam. Then came the kings : Abijah, Asaph, Jehoshaphat, Joram, Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, Manasseh, Amon, Josiah.

Josiah was the father of Jechoniah and his brothers at the time of the deportation to Babylon. After the deportation to Babylon, Jechoniah was the father of Salathiel and Salathiel of Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel was the father of Abiud, Abiud of Eliakim, and Eliakim of Azor. Azor was the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Akim, and Akim the father of Eliud. Eliud was the father of Eleazar, Eleazar of Matthan, and Matthan of Jacob.

Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and from her came Jesus Who is called the Christ – the Messiah. This is how Jesus Christ was born : Mary His mother had been given to Joseph in marriage, but before they lived together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph, her husband, made plans to divorce her in all secrecy. He was an upright man, and in no way did he want to discredit her.

While he was pondering over this, an Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, descendant of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. She has conceived by the Holy Spirit, and now she will bear a Son. You shall call Him ‘Jesus’ for He will save His people from their sins.”

All this happened in order to fulfil what the Lord had said through the prophet : The Virgin will conceive and bear a Son, and He will be called Emmanuel, which means God-with-us.

Alternative reading (shorter version)

Matthew 1 : 18-23

This is how Jesus Christ was born : Mary His mother had been given to Joseph in marriage, but before they lived together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph, her husband, made plans to divorce her in all secrecy. He was an upright man, and in no way did he want to discredit her.

While he was pondering over this, an Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, descendant of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. She has conceived by the Holy Spirit, and now she will bear a Son. You shall call Him ‘Jesus’ for He will save His people from their sins.”

All this happened in order to fulfil what the Lord had said through the prophet : The Virgin will conceive and bear a Son, and He will be called Emmanuel, which means God-with-us.

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Friday, 8 September 2023 : Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : White

Psalm 12 : 6ab, 6cd

But I put my trust in Your unfailing love, my heart will rejoice on seeing Your salvation.

I will sing to YHVH, for He has been good to me!

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Friday, 8 September 2023 : Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

Micah 5 : 1-4a

But you, Bethlehem Ephrata, so small that you are hardly named among the clans of Judah; from you shall I raise the One Who is to rule over Israel. For He comes forth from of old, from the ancient times.

YHVH, therefore, will abandon Israel until such time as she, who is to give birth, has given birth. Then the rest of His deported brothers will return to the people of Israel. He will stand, and shepherd His flock with the strength of YHVH, in the glorious Name of YHVH, His God.

They will live safely, while He wins renown to the ends of the earth. He shall be peace.

Alternative reading

Romans 8 : 28-30

We know that in everything, God works for the good of those who love Him, whom He has called, according to His plan. Those whom He knew beforehand, He has also predestined, to be like His Son, similar to Him, so, that, He may be the Firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

And so, those whom God predestined, He called, and those whom He called, He makes righteous, and to those whom He makes righteous, He will give His glory.

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Thursday, 7 September 2023 : 22nd Week of Ordinary Time (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we listened to the words of the Scriptures, each and every one of us are reminded yet again of our calling and mission entrusted to us by the Lord, Who has given us all these so that through us many more people may come to know Him and that more people may come closer to God and His salvation. Each and every one of us, all of us as Christians, share this same responsibility to be evangelising and missionary in our approach and way of life, and we should make good use of the time and opportunities provided to us so that we may be the shining examples for many others, especially for those who have not yet known how how to live their lives in accordance to the Lord, to His teachings and truth. That is why, all of us as Christians, we must do our best so that our lives may truly be exemplary and worthy of God, as the reflections and examples of our Christian virtues and faith.

In our first reading today, from the continuation of the Epistle of St. Paul to the Church and the faithful in Corinth, we heard of the Apostle reminding the faithful people of God there to be ever faithful to Him and to do His will at all times. Each and every one of the faithful people of God in Corinth have been reminded to stay committed and true to their Christian mission and calling so that in everything that they say and do, they would always show the truth and the path of the Lord sincerely and courageously, in embodying what they have believed in so that everyone who witnessed their lives and actions, might also come to believe in God and learn to walk in His path. It is through their lives, way of life and action that many of the saints and martyrs in the past had inspired many to follow the Lord, even right up to this very day. All of us can do the same as well with our lives, and we truly should do our part as members of the Church.

In the Gospel passage today, we then heard of the story of the time when the Lord Jesus called His first disciples, the fishermen of the Lake of Galilee or Lake of Gennesaret, in which four of them would eventually become the members of the Twelve Apostles. Simon Peter, one of them, was mentioned, and together with the other fishermen there, they carried on their works while the Lord was teaching to the people who were assembled there by the shore of the lake. They had not been able to catch any fishes despite everything that they had done throughout the day. But when the Lord told them to do as He has instructed them, to put out into the deep waters and place their nets there, they immediately managed to catch so many fishes that their boats almost sank because of the combined weight of all the fishes that they managed to gather.

That was how Simon Peter and the others, his brother, St. Andrew the Apostle, and the brothers, sons of Zebedee, St. James the Greater and St. John the Apostle and Evangelist, all of them decided to leave everything behind, putting away their nets and leaving behind their boats in order to follow the Lord wholeheartedly henceforth. God called them all to greater purpose, to be the fishers of men, and not just merely fishers of the lake of Gennesaret. The fishes that they all gathered represented symbolically of what they would be gathering for the sake of the Lord, in gathering together the people from all over the world, people from all races and background, from all various origins and places, called and chosen to be the holy people of God, all gathered together by the works of the Apostles and the servants of God, to be part of His One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.

Yes, brothers and sisters in Christ, through the Gospel passage today, we are all reminded that the Church of God, by the power and guidance of God has reached out to the whole world, through the ministry, works and efforts of its leaders, the servants of God, the Apostles and their successors, the bishops and the priests who helped them, in calling more and more of God’s faithful people from the darkness of this world, revealing the light and hope of God’s grace, His salvation and truth, so that they might no longer be lost in the void and the darkness of evil, but that they may once again enjoy the great favours of God’s great love and providence. Unless the Church goes forth and puts out into the ‘deep waters’ as the Lord had told the disciples to do, then the efforts and effects of the Church’s mission and ministry may not be far-reaching and many may have been unable to reach out to God’s salvation and love.

Then, the fact that the disciples had not been able to catch anything before the Lord told them what to do serves as a reminder for all of us that in all of our works and actions, in our every endeavours and efforts in part of our various Church ministries, institutions and organisations, all of us must always be centred and focused on God, and strive to do what He has commanded and called us to do, and not to serve our own selfish interests and desires. The Church and its members should always carry out its works and actions, being centred on God and on the desire to save more and more souls, our fellow brothers and sisters, many of whom have not yet seen the light of God’s grace and and have not yet heard His truth and Good News. It is through us and our efforts, in following God’s calling and doing His will that we can bring more and more of these to our fellow brethren who need them.

Now, brothers and sisters in Christ, are we all willing to do God’s will and to follow Him in what He has called us all to do? All of us have been entrusted with various responsibilities and missions, in our respective areas of life, and we all should embrace what God has given us, our talents and abilities, and all the opportunities and the various gifts that He has given to us. All of these should be put to good use, in how we ought to lead a worthy life truly committed to God in all things. We should not be ignorant of our calling and missions, and we should be more willing to walk ever more faithfully with God, in every possible moments and in all circumstances, remembering that it is because of Him that all of us have done great things, and through Him that the Church has managed to gather so many to be saved from destruction and damnation.

Let us all therefore do our very best so that we may no longer be idle in our lives, and that our every works and actions, our every words and interactions may truly be full of God’s grace, truth and love. Let us all ever be ready to go forth and ‘put into the deep waters’, in challenging ourselves that we may indeed reach out to our brethren in need of help, stepping out of our comfort zone if necessary. May God be with us always and may He empower us all, so that we may ever be faithful and committed to God in all things and at all times. May God bless our every good efforts and endeavours, and may He guide us in our actions and works, in doing His will, now and always, forevermore. Amen.

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Thursday, 7 September 2023 : 22nd Week of Ordinary Time (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Luke 5 : 1-11

At that time, one day, as Jesus stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, with a crowd gathered around Him listening to the word of God, He caught sight of two boats, left at the water’s edge by fishermen, now washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to pull out a little from the shore. There He sat, and continued to teach the crowd.

When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” Simon replied, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing. But if You say so, I will lower the nets.” This they did, and caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. They signalled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. They came, and they filled both almost to the point of sinking.

Upon seeing this, Simon Peter fell at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Leave me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” For he and his companions were amazed at the catch they had made, and so were Simon’s partners, James and John, Zebedee’s sons. Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. You will catch people from now on.” So they brought their boats to land and followed Him, leaving everything.

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Thursday, 7 September 2023 : 22nd Week of Ordinary Time (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Psalm 97 : 2-3ab, 3cd-4, 5-6

YHVH has shown His salvation, revealing His justice to the nations. He has not forgotten His love, nor His faithfulness to Israel.

The farthest ends of the earth all have seen God’s saving power. All you, lands, make a joyful noise to YHVH, break into song and sing praise.

With melody of the lyre and with music of the harp. With trumpet blast and sound of the horn, rejoice before the King, YHVH!

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Thursday, 7 September 2023 : 22nd Week of Ordinary Time (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Colossians 1 : 9-14

Because of this, from the day we received news of you, we have not ceased praying to God for you, that you may attain the full knowledge of His will, through all the gifts of wisdom and spiritual understanding.

May your lifestyle be worthy of the Lord and completely pleasing to Him. May you bear fruit in every good work and grow in the knowledge of God. May you become strong, in everything, by a sharing of the glory of God, so that you may have great endurance and perseverance in joy.

Constantly give thanks to the Father, Who has empowered us to receive our share in the inheritance of the saints, in His kingdom of light. He rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son. In Him, we are redeemed and forgiven.

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Wednesday, 6 September 2023 : 22nd Week of Ordinary Time (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we listened to the words of the Scriptures, we are all presented with the reminders of our Christian faith and mission, which we should be doing at all times, throughout our lives, in our every capacities, responsibilities and in every moments and opportunities that had been presented to us. In the Scripture passages that we have heard from today, all of us are reminded that as Christians, we truly should embody our faith in God in our lives, and be fruitful in the living of that faith, and we should do what we can so that God’s love and truth may be known more and better among many people all around us. We are the ones through whom God’s works and truth can be made evident and manifest in our world today.

In our first reading today, we are all presented with the beginning of the Epistle of St. Paul to the Church and the faithful in the city of Corinth, in which the Apostle greeted the Christians in that city and thanked God for having blessed them and for having guided them in the right path. St. Paul reminded all of the faithful there to remain strong in their faith and to keep their commitment to God because the Lord has assured all those who are faithful to Him of His blessings and graces, and He has promised the glorious inheritance and wonders that will be theirs, and ours, in the end of times, when we shall be glorified with Him, and when we shall rejoice forevermore with God in His Presence, enjoying what the saints had been enjoying in the beatific vision and glory of Heaven. In order to do that, we have to be faithful and committed to God.

Then, in our Gospel passage today, we heard of the moment when the Lord performed His many wonderful miracles and works, in healing the sick and all those who sought for His help, beginning with the very sick mother-in-law of St. Peter, one of His own Apostles. Words spread quickly and many came to the Lord with various troubles, and the Lord healed them all from their sickness and maladies. But then, we heard of the Lord then quietly moving away from the place, and telling His disciples to follow Him, despite the persuasions by them and the others in that place for Him to stay on there. The Lord told them that He has the mission to proclaim the Good News of God and to bring forth the same healing to more of the people of Israel, and in order to do so, He would have to go forth and continue to carry out His missions and works.

In order to understand the significance of that Gospel passage and events, we have to understand that it must have been much easier for the Lord to stay there in that place where everyone was so welcoming towards Him, and to continue carrying on doing His miracles and works. But that was not what the Lord was sent into this world for. He was sent also to those who hardened their hearts and minds against God, against the religious leaders and elites like the chief priests and the Pharisees, many of whom refused to believe in Him and His truth, opposed Him and made His ministry difficult. He was also sent to those who have been abandoned and rejected by others, such as the tax collectors, the prostitutes, those suffering from terrible diseases and those who were possessed by the evil spirits and demons, with the latter having to live in the wilderness away from the community.

Thus, just as the Lord has told His disciples, we are all reminded to be the instruments of God, in reaching out to others, especially to those who are less fortunate than us, and to those who have not yet known the love of God. And what are supposed to do? We should be the ones to show them the love of God manifested through our words and actions. Each and every one of us should be the beacons of His light, hope and love in our world today, darkened with sin and evil, with lots of hatred and vices of worldliness. We should be the bearers of the Good News of God, in everywhere we have been called to do the works of God, in our families, among friends and relatives, in our circles of friends, and also at our schools and workplaces, and among all those whom we encounter daily in our lives.

That is why we should truly embody our Christian faith in our actions and commitments to God, and we should do whatever we can so that what we believe is reflected in whatever we do in life, even in the smallest and seemingly least significant things so that we may inspire others by our dedication and works, our every actions and deeds. Otherwise, if we do not do so, and if we do not practice what we believe in, how can we expect others to believe in us or in the Lord then? Worse still, if we do things that are contrary or against our faith, our Christian truths and teachings, then are we not being hypocrites and will we not end up causing confusion and end up turning people away from God instead? It is important that we should be truly committed to God in all things, and not just externally only.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all therefore strive to do what we can in order to proclaim the Lord and be true to our Christian faith and beliefs by doing God’s will in our every actions and in our every small works and interactions throughout life. Let us all not be ignorant any longer of our Christian mission and calling, in faithfully embracing whatever missions and responsibilities that the Lord our God has placed on our shoulders. We do not have to do great and wonderful things, but we just have to do our best in every possible opportunities and places we have been working at, sent to, and dwelling in, so that through us and our works, our words and actions, our interactions and more, we may lead others to come ever closer to God, and that more and more may come to know the Lord and His salvation.

May the Lord be with us always, and may He empower each and every one of us so that we may always be strong and be able to persevere and endure despite the many challenges and hardships, the trials and opposition that we may encounter in our journey towards God. May God bless us all in our every good works, efforts and endeavours, and may He bring us all into His embrace and loving Presence, and help us in our lives, now and always. Amen.