Liturgical Colour : Green
Isaiah 53 : 10-11
Yet it was the will of YHVH to crush Him with grief. When He makes Himself an offering for sin, He will have a long life and see His descendants. Through Him the will of YHVH is done. For the anguish He suffered, He will see the light and obtain perfect knowledge. My just Servant will justify the multitude; He will bear and take away their guilt.
Liturgical Colour : Green
Offertory
Esther 14 : 12, 13
Recordare mei, Domine, omni potentatui dominans : et da sermonem rectum in os meum, ut placeant verba mea in conspectu principis.
English translation
Remember me, o Lord, You Who rule above all power, and give a well-ordered speech in my mouth, that my words may be pleasing in the sight of the prince.
Secret Prayer of the Priest
Da, misericors Deus : ut haec salutaris oblatio et a propriis nos reatibus indesinenter expediat, et ab omnibus tueatur adversis. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium Tuum, qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Dei, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.
English translation
Grant, o merciful God, that this saving oblation may forever rid us of our own guilt and defend us from all adversities. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who with You lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen.
Communion
Psalm 16 : 6
Ego clamavi, quoniam exaudisti me, Deus : inclina aurem Tuam et exaudi verba mea.
English translation
I have cried for You, o God, have heard me. O, incline Your ear unto me, and hear my words.
Post-Communion Prayer
Sumpsimus, Domine, sacri dona mysterii, humiliter deprecantes : ut, quae in Tui commemorationem nos facere praecepisti, in nostrae proficiant infirmitatis auxilium. Qui vivis et regnas in unitate Spiritus Sanctus Dei, per omnia in saecula saeculorum. Amen.
English translation
We have taken the gifts of the sacred mystery, o Lord, humbly imploring that what You have bidden us to do in commemoration of You may avail unto the help of our infirmity. You Who lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen.
Liturgical Colour : Green
Sequentia Sancti Evangelii secundum Matthaeum – Continuation of the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew
Matthew 22 : 15-21
In illo tempore : Abeuntes Pharisaei consilium inierunt, ut caperunt Jesum in sermone. Et mittunt ei discipulos Suos cum Herodianis, dicentes : Magister, scimus, quia verax es et viam Dei in veritate doces, et non est Tibi cura de aliquo : non enim respicis personam hominum : dic ergo nobis, quid Tibi videtur, licet censum dare Caesari, an non?
Cognita autem Jesus nequitia eorum, ait : Quid me tentatis hypocritae? Ostendite mihi numisma census. At illi obtulerunt ei denarium. Et ait illis Jesus : Cujus est imago haec et superscriptio? Dicunt Ei : Caesaris. Tunc ait illis : Reddite ergo, quae sunt Caesaris, Caesari; et, quae sunt Dei, Deo.
English translation
At that time, the Pharisees went and consulted among themselves, how to ensnare Jesus in His speech. And they send to Him their disciples, with the Herodians, saying, “Master, we know that You are a true speaker, and teach the way of God in truth, neither do You care for any man, for You have no regard for the person of men. Tell us therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?”
But Jesus knowing their wickedness, said, “Why do you tempt Me, you hypocrites? Show Me the coin of the tribute.” And they offered Him a penny. And Jesus said to them, “Whose image and superscription is this?” They say to Him, “Caesar’s.” Then He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar, the things that are Caesar’s, and to God, the things that are God’s.”
Liturgical Colour : Green
Psalm 132 : 1-2 and Psalm 113 : 11
Ecce, quam bonum et quam jucundum, habitare fratres in unum!
Response : Sicut unguentum in capite, quod descendit in barbam, barbam Aaron.
Alleluja, Alleluja.
Response : Qui timent Dominum sperent in eo : adjutor et protector eorum est. Alleluja.
English translation
Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.
Response : It is like the precious ointment on the head, that ran down upon the beard, the beard of Aaron.
Alleluia, Alleluia.
Response : They that fear the Lord, let them hope in Him. He is their Helper and Protector. Alleluia.
Liturgical Colour : Green
Lectio Epistolae Beati Pauli Apostoli ad Philippenses – Lesson from the Epistle of Blessed Paul the Apostle to the Philippians
Philippians 1 : 6-11
Fratres : Confidimus in Domino Jesu, quia, qui coepit in vobis opus bonum, perficiet usque in diem Christi Jesu. Sicut est mihi justum hoc sentire pro omnibus vobis : eo quos habeam vos in corde, et in vinculis meis, et in defensione, et confirmatione Evangelii, socios gaudii mei omnes vos esse. Testis enjm mihi est Deus, quomodo cupiam omnes vos in visceribus Jesu Christi.
Et hoc oro, ut caritas vestris magis ac magis abundet in scientia et in omni sensu : ut probetis potiora, ut sitis sinceri et sine offensa in diem Christi, repleti fructu justitiae per Jesum Christum, in gloriam et laudem Dei.
English translation
Brethren, we are confident in the Lord Jesus, that He Who had begun a good work in you, will perfect it unto the day of Christ Jesus. As it is meet for me to think this for you all, for that I have you in my bands, and in the defence and confirmation of the Gospel you are all partakers of my joy. For God is my witness, how I long after you in the bowels of Jesus Christ.
And this I pray, that your charity may more and more abound in knowledge and in all understanding, that you may approve the better things, that you may be sincere and without offence unto the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of justice, through Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.
Liturgical Colour : Green
Introit
Psalm 129 : 3-4 and 1-2
Si iniquitates observaveris, Domine : Domine, quis sustinebit? Quia apud Te propitiatio est. Deus Israel.
De profundis clamavi ad Te, Domine : Domine, exaudi vocem meam.
Response : Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto, sicut erat in principio et nunc et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.
English translation
If You shall observe iniquities, o Lord, Lord, who shall endure it? For with You is propitiation, o God of Israel.
From the depths I have cried to You, o Lord. Lord, hear my voice.
Response : Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Collect
Deus, refugium nostrum et virtus : adesto piis Ecclesiae Tuae precibus, auctor ipse pietatis, et praesta; ut, quod fideliter petimus, efficaciter consequamur. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium Tuum, qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Dei, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.
English translation
O God, our Refuge and our Strength, the very Author of piety, be present to the devout supplications of Your Church, and grant that what we seek in faith we may effectively arrive at. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who with You lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen.
Liturgical Colour : Green or Red (Martyrs) or White (Priests)
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we all listened to the words of the Lord speaking to us through the Sacred Scriptures, we are all reminded of the great things that the Lord has assured each and every one of us, the salvation that He has promised to us from time immemorial, and the revelation of everything that He has shown and done for us through His Son, the perfect manifestation of God’s ever enduring and wonderful love for all of us mankind. Through Christ, the Son of God that had taken up our nature and existence, God has opened for us all the path to eternal life and true happiness and fulfilment in Him. He has shown how great His power and love is, far surpassing anything else in this world and transcending all boundaries and limits, reassuring us as always of His ever present and boundless love, which we should therefore respond with the same love and faith.
In our first reading today, we heard from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Church and the faithful people of God in the city and region of Ephesus, in which the Apostle reminded all the faithful people of God of the Lord’s great and amazing power, His might and glorious dominion over the whole world. Through all of these, God has assured us all of the constant care and protection, love and compassion that He has always patiently had for each one of us. God has always been there for us and we have to remember this truth and fact, especially when we may be constantly facing a lot of trials and challenges in life. We must not easily give up our faith and commitment to God because we think that God did not care for us or that God was not there by our side through our challenges, trials and difficulties. Those were the main reasons why many people had abandoned the Lord and left Him, because they did not realise that God has actually always been with them.
The reality is such that, although we may not be able to see Him directly in person before us, but He is truly all around us, journeying with us and guiding us throughout the way. And if we do bother spending the time and effort to recognise His Presence around us, we can truly feel Him being there in our midst, walking with us and giving us all His assurance that He is always ever been there for us, being patient with us despite us having constantly been stubborn and disobedient against Him. God is always ever ready to forgive us and to reach out to us whenever we are regretful, repentant over our many sins and wickedness. God has always shown His great patience and kindness from the very beginning, as an ever loving Father Who truly loves His children very much, caring for us in each and every occasion without cease and with ever present patience, and always with the intention to bring us back to Himself..tiaenges anaempowe ov EPhes
Then, in our Gospel passage today from the Gospel according to St. Luke the Evangelist, we heard of the moment when the Lord told His disciples that everything which they had to face in the midst of their mission and journey, their work and commitment, all of these would be faced together with God by their side, and they would never be alone, as the Lord would give them His guidance, help and strength, granting and blessing them with His Holy Spirit, the great Advocate and Helper, Who would encourage and inflame our hearts, guiding us to the right path and giving us the strength and wisdom to stand up for our faith, if we continue to put our trust in His love and faithfulness, as we should always do. The Lord also prepared us saying that there would indeed be challenges, trials and obstacles, and we must be ready for them, but we must not be afraid of them.
As Christians, each and every one of us must always have that firm faith and conviction to trust the Lord and follow Him at all times. We must not allow ourselves to be dissuaded, tempted and coerced otherwise to think that we are alone in all the challenges and sufferings that we may be facing in life and in our journey and mission as Christians, because that is exactly what the evil one is trying hard to do, to convince us that we are all alone and that God is not there for us, when He has actually always been there for us, guiding us and strengthening us, providing us generously all throughout every steps and moments of the journey and mission in our lives. We should continue to be faithful to the Lord and to do whatever we can so that we may indeed live our lives in the manner that is truly holy and worthy of God at all times. Advhis H erm
Today, the Church also celebrates the Feast of St. John de Brebeuf and St. Isaac Jogues, holy priests and martyrs, together with their many companions in holy martyrdom in the region now encompassing Canada and the northern part of North American continent. They were missionaries from the Society of Jesus sent from France to evangelise and minister to the native populations of the many parts and wilderness of French Canadian colony at the time and beyond. Many of these missionaries faced great challenges amidst their mission, as while they did encounter significant successes in having quite a number of the natives embracing the Lord and the Christian faith, but they also faced bitter and determined opposition from those who refused to believe and embrace the Christian faith, on top of the many harsh conditions they had to endure in their missionary journey and lives.
At the time, many of those missionaries faced bitter cold condition, diseases and other problems beside the persecution and attacks from the tribes that were opposed to the efforts of the missionaries in proclaiming the Good News of God. Some of the missionaries like St. John de Brebeuf and St. Isaac Jogues were captured by the hostile natives who persecuted and tortured them, and with some other Christians, both the missionaries and converts alike, many of them were martyred in the defence of their faith, refusing to give up their faith and remaining firmly committed to God to the very end, not allowing the sufferings and persecutions to tempt them to abandon their faith and trust in the Lord, their God and Master.
And we also commemorate St. Paul of the Cross on top of our commemoration of the Holy Martyrs of Canada. St. Paul of the Cross was an Italian priest who was the renowned founder of the Passionists, a religious congregation for men, dedicated to the devotion to the Lord’s Passion, His love and great compassion for all of us mankind. St. Paul of the Cross was convinced from when he was young and through the various experiences he encountered, that there was a need for a community to live together in total dedication and commitment to the Lord, particularly to His great Passion and love for us mankind, and this eventually became the inspiration and foundation for his eventual founding of the Passionists, whose members dedicate themselves to serve the people of God and to show His care and love to those who need them, to those who were marginalised and suffering.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, as we all have heard from the lives of the great and holy saints, the Holy Martyrs of Canada and that of St. Paul of the Cross, among others, and as we have discussed through the readings of the Sacred Scriptures we have heard, let us all therefore renew our commitment to God, our faith and trust in Him, as well as our desire to love Him wholeheartedly and to continue to do His will at all times and in all circumstances. Let us all remember and keep reminding one another of the great love that God has for each one of us, and strive therefore to show the same love to our fellow brothers and sisters around us, just as much as we all should love God and be ever thankful for His ever patient love.
May the Lord, our most loving God, Father and Creator continue to show us all His love, and may He continue to empower each and every one of us with His strength, guidance and love, and through His Holy Spirit so that we may always continue to live worthily of the Lord, full of His love and compassion towards everyone around us, and may He continue to guide and help us all, so that by our inspirational and exemplary way of life, we will draw ever closer to His loving Presence and be worthy to share in the glorious inheritance that He has promised and reassured us. May God be with us always and bless our every good efforts and endeavours, now and always. Amen.
Liturgical Colour : Green or Red (Martyrs) or White (Priests)
Luke 12 : 8-12
At that time, Jesus said to the people, “I tell you, whoever acknowledges Me before people, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the Angels of God. But the one who denies Me before others will be denied before the Angels of God. There will be pardon for the one who criticises the Son of Man, but there will be no pardon for the one who slanders the Holy Spirit.”
“When you are brought before the synagogues, and before governors and rulers, do not worry about how you will defend yourself, or what to say; for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you have to say.”
Liturgical Colour : Green or Red (Martyrs) or White (Priests)
Psalm 8 : 2-3a, 4-5, 6-7
O YHVH, our YHVH, how great is Your Name throughout the earth! And Your glory in the heavens above. Even the mouths of children and infants exalt Your glory in front of Your foes.
When I observe the heavens, the work of Your hands, the moon, and the stars You set in their place – what is man, that You be mindful of him; the Son of Man, that You should care for Him?
Yet You made Him a little less than a god; You crowned Him with glory and honour, and gave Him the works of Your hands; You have put all things under His feet.
Liturgical Colour : Green or Red (Martyrs) or White (Priests)
Ephesians 1 : 15-23
I have been told of your faith and your affection toward all the believers, so I always give thanks to God, remembering you in my prayers. May the God of Christ Jesus our Lord, the Father of glory, reveal Himself to you, and give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation, that you may know Him.
May He enlighten your inner vision, that you may appreciate the things we hope for, since we were called by God. May you know how great is the inheritance, the glory, God sets apart for His saints; may you understand, with what extraordinary power, He acts in favour of us who believe.
He revealed His Almighty power in Christ when He raised Him from the dead, and had Him sit at His right hand in heaven, far above all rule, power, authority, dominion, or any other supernatural force that could be named, not only in this world, but in the world to come as well. Thus has God put all things under the feet of Christ and set Him above all things, as Head of the Church, which is His Body, the fullness of Him, Who fills all in all.
petercanisiusmichaeldavidkang 