Day: November 3, 2023

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Tuesday, 7 November 2023 : 31st 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, all of us are called as Christians to be always ever full of love and compassion towards others, and most importantly, all of us need to be fully attuned to God, and be focused on Him in all opportunities and moments. This means that our whole lives and existence should always be centred on God, and we should always strive to do what God has taught and shown us to do, or otherwise how can we call or consider ourselves as Christians? It is important that we are all truly Christians not just in name or formality only, but that we are all truly Christians in hearts and minds, in all of our whole beings, as God’s beloved children and people, those whom He had called and chosen.

In our first reading today, we heard of the continuation of the Epistle of St. Paul the Apostle to the Romans, in which the Apostle reminded the faithful people in Rome that they are all recipients of God’s various gifts and blessings, and of all the opportunities which He has presented to us. God has blessed us with many wonderful things and we should be appreciative of whatever it is that He has granted to us. We must always strive to be faithful to Him and to do what we can do so that we can use those gifts, blessings and opportunities which God has freely given to us. This is because ultimately, we will be judged and held accountable based on what we have been given and what we can do for our fellow brethren and for our communities.

This means that we must not be idle in living our faith and life, and we have to do what we can so that we may impact the lives of other persons around us in a good and faithful way. We should always act in ways that are in accordance to God and His path, and obey His Law and commandments in all things, not just only the letter but also appreciating, understanding and implementing the spirit of the Law. However, this is easier said than done, as many of us tend to do things that are against the Law, or merely doing things of our faith without appreciating their importance and significance for us. Our faith is one that requires us to be truly immersed in the Lord’s teachings and ways, and to follow Him wholeheartedly, and not just paying Him lip service.

In our Gospel passage today, we heard from the story of Lord Jesus Who was teaching His disciples and followers using a parable, in order to tell them how everyone has been called to the banquet of the Lord, to enjoy everything that the Lord has prepared for them, the joy and happiness meant for them from the beginning. However, as we heard in that parable, those who had been invited to the banquet of the master refused to come to the banquet and made excuses as of why they could not come, and refused to do what the master had told them to do. Hence, that was why those people had no place at all in the banquet which had actually been prepared for them. Instead, their places were given to all those gathered from the streets and other places.

This parable represented and symbolised how God had called everyone to His kingdom, welcoming all of them into His presence. God did not exclude anyone, but welcomes all to come to Him. Those who had already had place in the banquet were representing the Israelites, the ones whom God had first called among the nations, to be His disciples and followers. But some among those people refused to obey Him and disregarded His Law and commandments, and the Lord wanted to make a point that everyone, and not just the Jewish people, all of them have the chance to enter into the kingdom of God, provided that they all are willing to embrace the Lord and His path. God has always been kind and loving towards all of us, and He wants all of us to be reunited with Him. But in the end, it is our choice whether we want to embrace His love or not.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all reflect carefully on what we have heard in today’s Scripture passages. Let us all consider carefully what we have been presented with, and let us do what we can so that in our every actions and efforts, we will always put the Lord as the focus and emphasis of our lives, and do our very best at every moments so that we may truly serve Him by following what He has shown and taught us, in our every efforts and good deeds, all the time. As Christians, we should be worthy examples of our faith and beliefs in God, and we should help to lead others towards the Lord, by our own good inspirations and actions that may encourage others to come closer to God and His righteousness.

Let us all therefore first of all give thanks to God for having called and brought us all close to Him. Let us thank Him for having shown us His love and mercy even when we have not deserved them. Let us all be reminded of everything that He has done for us, what He has taught and shown us to do, so that we will draw ever closer to His path, and follow Him ever more courageously, fervently and sincerely in each and every moments of our daily lives. We are all called to be good examples, in all of our words and actions, in our every interactions with one another so that our lives may truly be life-giving and full of love, both for God and for our fellow brethren, all around us. Are we able to do this, brothers and sisters? To do what God has asked and commanded us to do? And not only obeying Him externally and for show only?

May the Lord be with us always, and may He empower each one of us to live ever more worthily in His Presence. May He encourage and strengthen each one of us so that by His guidance, wisdom and providence, all of us may always continue to walk down the path of righteousness and virtue, in obeying His Law and commandments, despite the trials and challenges that we may have to face amidst our journey in life. May God bless our every efforts and good works, and may He guide us all that we will always strive to follow Him and His loving examples, in being good and faithful Christians, as His disciples and followers, and as shining beacons of His light and truth to our darkened world. Amen.

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Tuesday, 7 November 2023 : 31st Week of Ordinary Time (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Luke 14 : 15-24

At that time, upon hearing the words of Jesus, one of those at the table said to Him, “Happy are those who eat at the banquet in the kingdom of God!”

Jesus replied, “A man once gave a feast and invited many guests. When it was time for the feast, he sent his servant to tell those he had invited to come, for everything was ready. But all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘Please excuse me. I must go and see the piece of land I have just bought.'”

“Another said, ‘I am sorry, but I am on my way to try out the five yoke of oxen I have just bought.’ Still another said, ‘How can I come, when I have just got married?'”

“The servant returned alone, and reported this to his master. Upon hearing his account, the master of the house flew into a rage, and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly, into the streets and alleys of the town, and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.'”

“The servant reported after a while, ‘Sir, your orders have been carried out, but there is still room.’ The master said, ‘Go out to the highways and country lanes, and force people to come in, to ensure that my house is full. I tell you, none of those invited will have a morsel of my feast.'”

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Tuesday, 7 November 2023 : 31st Week of Ordinary Time (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Psalm 130 : 1, 2, 3

O YHVH, my heart is not proud nor do I have arrogant eyes. I am not engrossed in ambitious matters, nor in things too great for me.

I have quieted and stilled my soul, like a weaned child, on its mother’s lap; like a contented child is my soul.

Hope in YHVH, o Israel, now and forever.

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Tuesday, 7 November 2023 : 31st Week of Ordinary Time (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Romans 12 : 5-16a

The same with us; being many, we are one body in Christ, depending on one another. Let each one of us, therefore, serve, according to our different gifts. Are you a prophet? Then give the insights of faith. Let the minister fulfil his office; let the teacher teach, the one who encourages, convince.

You must, likewise, give, with an open hand, preside with dedication, and be cheerful in your works of charity. Let love be sincere. Hate what is evil and hold to whatever is good. Love one another and be considerate. Out do one another, in mutual respect. Be zealous in fulfilling your duties. Be fervent in the spirit, and serve God.

Have hope and be cheerful. Be patient in trials and pray constantly. Share with other Christians in need. With those passing by, be ready to receive them. Bless those who persecute you; bless, and do not wish evil on anyone. Rejoice with those who are joyful, and weep with those who weep. Live in peace with one another.

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Monday, 6 November 2023 : 31st 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 reminded of what we, as Christians should do in our lives, in each and every moments and in everything we encounter daily so that we may always be truly faithful in all things and have a genuine faith that is strong and vibrant, full of love for God and for our fellow brothers and sisters, in following the examples that the Lord Himself had set before us. Through His Son, Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, God has shown us all what it truly means for us to love Him and to love our fellow brethren. Without love, compassion and mercy, none of us can truly be called or considered as Christians, as after all, if we are God’s beloved children and people, how can we act contrary to the ways that He has shown and taught us?

In our first reading today, we heard from the Epistle of St. Paul the Apostle to the Romans, in which the Apostle how God has shown all of His people His mercy, love and kindness, which as St. Paul mentioned, many among the Jewish people had rejected, and the same love was offered and shown to the Gentiles, or the non-Jewish people as well. This has to be understood in the context that most Jewish people at the time of the Lord’s ministry and St. Paul considered that only the Jewish people were God’s chosen people and hence were deserving of salvation and grace from God, while the pagans, all the non-Jewish people who did not obey the Law and commandments of God in its entirety, as how the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law enforced them, were unworthy of God.

This could be seen in the Gospels and the other parts of the New Testament, where the attitude among the Jewish people, their prejudices and biases could be seen, in how the Jews would not enter into the house of Romans, Greeks and other Gentiles, most of whom were pagans, as according to their customs, practices and traditions, this would make them unclean and impure. That was why the chief priests and the elders during the time when they arrested and accused the Lord Jesus before Pontius Pilate, the governor of Judea, did not step into the Praetorium, the governor’s house, for that according to them would make them unclean according to the Law and hence they would be unable to partake in the Passover celebrations that was about to happen then.

But they have forgotten that external purity and appearances do not equate true purity and cleanliness, as the Lord pointed out that while the Pharisees focused on the externals and appearances, and thought that they knew better about God and His ways, their hearts and minds were still closed off to Him, and they did not let Him to enter their hearts, as they were too full of themselves, their prejudices and pride, which closed themselves off from the grace and love of God, His wisdom and truth. Instead, they chose to trust in their own power and intellect, and hardened their hearts against Him. This was why they remained away and far from the salvation which God has offered His people freely, and how those the same Pharisees had condemned and treated as unworthy, like prostitutes and tax collectors, were ahead of them on the way to God.

The truth and reality is that God loves everyone equally, and what He wants from all of us is not just obedience for formality and appearances only, but for us all to have true love and commitment towards Him, from the depth of our hearts. He does not want us to have a faith that is merely superficial, and like in the case of many among the Pharisees, a faith that is used to advance their own ambitions, pride and greed, which is not something that they should have done, and which the Lord rightfully criticised them for, as not only that they had not done what they had been entrusted to do, in caring for the well-being of the people of God, especially in spiritual matters, but they had also prevented many from coming closer towards God because of their heavy-handed imposition of an extremely strict version of the Law of God, as well as their treatment of those whom they should have reached out to, in showing them the love of God.

This is what is echoed in our Gospel passage today, as the Lord told His disciples, followers and all those who listened to Him, that each and every one of them as His followers ought to show love, care and concern for everyone, and not just to those who are dear to us, or those who can bring us the most benefits. We must always show God’s love to all, including even to those who might have hurt us, or been uncharitable to us. The Lord Himself has taught us this, and the show of that ultimate love is when He has chosen willingly to suffer, to take up His Cross and all the burdens of the punishments due for our sins, and then to die for our sake, when we are all still sinners, unworthy and wicked, so that, by loving us this way and showing us the perfect love of God, He might indeed bring us all closer to Him, and to help us to be reconciled completely with the Lord, our God.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all therefore today commit ourselves anew to the Lord, reminding ourselves of whatever it is we have just discussed and reflected upon. We should allow the Lord to show us how we can be truly faithful and committed to Him in all things. We must allow the Lord to lead us in the path of virtue, and in the path of compassion and love, which is what He has shown us, and which He has called us to walk through. We must be always ever vigilant that we do not allow the temptations of our human pride, worldly desires and pleasures to distract us from God and His grace, His path and commandments. We must resist the temptations to sin against God, and learn from Him humbly how we can indeed be good and faithful Christians in all things.

May the Lord continue to bless each and every one of us that we may always grow ever stronger in faith in God, and be ever more loving, both towards Him and to our fellow brothers and sisters, just as He Himself has loved us all so wonderfully all these while. Let us all entrust ourselves to the Lord and let us all allow Him to guide us in the path of His love and grace. May all of us draw ever closer to Him, and be ever filled with His light and truth, His love and compassion at all times, that our lives may truly shine with perfect examples of our faith, focused on God and glorifying Him, and not upon ourselves. May God bless each and every one of us, in our every good efforts and endeavours, now and always. Amen.

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Monday, 6 November 2023 : 31st Week of Ordinary Time (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Luke 14 : 12-14

At that time, Jesus also addressed the man who had invited Him, and said, “When you give a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends, or your brothers and relatives, or your wealthy neighbours. For surely they will also invite you in return, and you will be repaid.”

“When you give a feast, invite instead the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind. Fortunate are you then, because they cannot repay you. You will be repaid at the resurrection of the upright.”

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Monday, 6 November 2023 : 31st Week of Ordinary Time (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Psalm 68 : 30-31, 33-34, 36-37

But I myself, am humbled and wounded; Your salvation, o God, will lift me up. I will praise the Name of God in song; I will glorify Him with thanksgiving.

Let the lowly witness this, and be glad. You who seek God, may your hearts be revived. For YHVH hears the needy; and does not despise those in captivity.

For God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah. His people shall dwell in the land and possess it. The children of His servants shall inherit it, and those who love His Name will dwell in it.

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Monday, 6 November 2023 : 31st Week of Ordinary Time (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Romans 11 : 29-36

Because the call of God, and His gifts, cannot be nullified. Through the disobedience of the Jews, the mercy of God came to you who did not obey God. They, in turn, will receive mercy, in due time, after this disobedience, that brought God’s mercy to you. So, God has submitted all to disobedience, in order to show His mercy to all.

How deep are the riches, the wisdom and knowledge of God! His decisions cannot be explained, nor His ways understood! Who has ever known God’s thoughts? Who has ever been His adviser? Who has given Him something first, so that God had to repay him? For everything comes from Him, has been made by Him and has to return to Him. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.