Month: May 2025

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Tuesday, 27 May 2025 : 6th Week of Easter, Memorial of St. Augustine of Canterbury, Bishop (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

John 16 : 5-11

At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, “But now I am going to the One Who sent Me, and none of you asks Me where I am going; instead you are overcome with grief, because of what I have said.”

“Believe Me, it is better for you that I go away, because as long as I do not leave, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go away, it is to send Him to you, and when He comes, He will vindicate the truth before a sinful world; and He will vindicate the paths of righteousness and justice.”

“What is the world’s sin, in regard to Me? Disbelief. What is the path of righteousness? It is the path I walk, by which I go to the Father; and you shall see Me no more. What is the path of justice? It is the path on which the prince of this world will always stand condemned.”

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Tuesday, 27 May 2025 : 6th Week of Easter, Memorial of St. Augustine of Canterbury, Bishop (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : White

Psalm 137 : 1-2a, 2bc-3, 7c-8

I thank You, o Lord with all my heart, for You have heard the word of my lips. I sing Your praise in the presence of the gods. I bow down towards Your holy Temple and give thanks to Your Name.

For Your love and faithfulness, for Your word which exceeds everything. You answered me when I called; You restored my soul and made me strong.

You save me from the wrath of my foes, with Your right hand You deliver me. How the Lord cares for me! Your kindness, o Lord, endures forever. Forsake not the work of Your hands.

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Tuesday, 27 May 2025 : 6th Week of Easter, Memorial of St. Augustine of Canterbury, Bishop (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

Acts 16 : 22-34

So the slave owners of Philippi set the crowd against Paul and Silas and the officials tore the clothes of them and ordered them to be flogged. And after inflicting many blows on them, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to guard them safely. Upon receiving these instructions, he threw them into the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.

About midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly a severe earthquake shook the place, rocking the prison to its foundations. Immediately all the doors flew open and the chains of all the prisoners fell off.

The jailer woke up to see the prison gates wide open. Thinking that the prisoners had escaped, he drew his sword to kill himself, but Paul shouted to him, “Do not harm yourself! We are all still here.” The jailer asked for a light, then rushed in, and fell at the feet of Paul and Silas. After he had secured the other prisoners, he led them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

They answered, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you and your household will be saved.” Then they spoke the word of God to him and to all his household. Even at that hour of the night, the jailer took care of them and washed their wounds; and he and his whole household were baptised at once. He led them to his house, spread a meal before them and joyfully celebrated with his whole household his newfound faith in God.

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Monday, 26 May 2025 : 6th Week of Easter, Memorial of St. Philip Neri, Priest (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : White

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today all of us as Christians, as God’s disciples and followers are reminded through these passages of the Sacred Scriptures that we have received today of the calling and missions which each and every one of us have as Christians, as God’s holy people, to proclaim the Good News to the whole world. That is what the Lord Himself has entrusted to us all, as the Church’s primary mission which is evangelisation, ‘To go forth to the world and to make the Lord known to all the people of all the nations, and to baptise them all in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.’ And as we are reminded of this mission which we have as parts and members of the same Church of God, we are called to discern carefully our actions and works in our lives going forward, so that we may do our best to glorify God by our lives and actions.

In our first reading today, taken from the Acts of the Apostles we heard of the continuation of the great works of the Apostles, in which St. Paul went from cities and towns, going to different places to proclaim the Good News of God and His works among His people. It was told in that account how a particular God-fearing woman named Lydia who chose to believe in the Lord, accepting the grace of baptism and hence becoming a member of the Church. While it was not truly known whether she was a Jew or a Gentile, or a non-Jewish woman, but what matters here is how the works of the Apostles and the Lord’s missionaries continue to bear rich fruits for the Lord and His people, growing the Church ever more in its reach and size, as more and more came to be baptised.

In those early days of the Church, the Church grew rapidly due to the tireless efforts of those disciples and followers of the Lord, some of whom were the Apostles that went to the different parts of the known world then to proclaim the Good News of the Lord both to the Jewish diaspora community and to the Gentiles in the region. As what we had heard in the Acts of the Apostles throughout the season of Easter, the works of the Apostles and their companions in mission continued to gain many wonderful fruits and results as more and more came to believe in the Lord as they listened to the words and teachings of those disciples of the Lord, or that they were inspired by the way and manner in which they lived and cared for one another.

Therefore, all of us living in this world today should also be inspired by the examples showed by those missionaries who have spent a lot of time and effort to proclaim the truth and Good News of God. We do not have to do exactly what they had done, but rather, we should live our lives to the fullest as those whom the Lord had called and chosen, to live in the manner as Christians, in our genuine faith and dedication to the Lord at all times. We should not easily be swayed and shaken by the trials, hardships and challenges that we may have to face in our journey and in the path of our mission. If we are courageous and trusting in the Lord, in His guidance, providence and help, eventually, no matter what we may encounter in our path, we will be strengthened and empowered, and through our efforts we shall bring about lots of wonderful things for others around us, bringing them closer to God.

Then, from our Gospel passage today, we heard of the account from the Gospel according to St. John the Apostle and Evangelist, in which the Lord Jesus told His disciples about the events that would soon happen to Him and to all of them as well, as His disciples and followers. He told them all about the time of His Passion, His suffering and all that He had to endure for the sake of the whole race of mankind, and how they all might be shaken, but they all should not lose faith because God would always be by their side, strengthening them all, and the Lord Jesus Himself would also not leave them, because in the end, He would be triumphant against all the trials and challenges Himself, and would gloriously rise from the dead in the Resurrection.

Then the Lord also told them all about how He is the True Vine and the Father is the Vinegrower. Through this, He wanted to tell all of His disciples and therefore all of us that we have to be faithful and committed to His teachings and ways, and we should not easily lose hope and faith in Him due to the many pressures and temptations of the world around us. We should always hold firmly to our faith in God, and help one another to remain firmly attached to the Lord’s Vine, that is His teachings, truth and Good News as preserved and proclaimed, contained and upheld by the Church of God, the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. And as Christians, it is our duty and responsibility to proclaim this truth and Good News in each and every moments of our lives.

Today, the Church also celebrates the Feast of St. Philip Neri, a faithful and holy priest of God, whose life and examples can serve as great inspiration for all of us to follow. St. Philip Neri was an Italian priest and saint who had great dedication in ministering to the poor and the marginalised in the community, which he helped the founding of the Confraternity of the Most Holy Trinity of Pilgrims and Convalescents, gathering all those who sought to minister to the needs of pilgrims and those who were suffering in the community. He was also later known even more for founding the Congregation of the Oratory, spreading the Word of God and truth through missionary works among the people of God, and the works of St. Philip Neri amongst the people of Rome were so profound that he was also known as the Second Apostle to Rome.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all therefore be inspired to proclaim the words and truth of the Lord to all those whom we encounter daily around us, and do our very best in living our lives faithfully as Christians, in each and every opportunities so that we may truly touch the lives and hearts of those whom we encounter and interact with, in making God known to more and more of the people of all the nations just as He had commanded us to do. Like St. Philip Neri before us, let us all be missionary and evangelising in our every actions and works, in our every good efforts and commitments in life. May God bless our every good efforts and works, and may He strengthen us always with the courage and wisdom, and with the desire to glorify Him at all times. Amen.

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Monday, 26 May 2025 : 6th Week of Easter, Memorial of St. Philip Neri, Priest (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

John 15 : 26 – John 16 : 4a

At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, “From now on the Helper, the Holy Spirit Whom the Father will send in My Name, will teach you all things, and remind you of all that I have told you.”

“Peace be with you! I give you My peace; not as the world gives peace do I give it to you. Do not be troubled; do not be afraid. You heard Me say, ‘I am going away, but I am coming to you.’ If you loved Me, you would be glad that I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.”

“I have told you this now before it takes place, so that when it does happen you may believe. It is very little what I may still tell you, for the prince of this world is at hand, although there is nothing in Me that he can claim. But see, the world must know that I love the Father, and that I do what the Father has taught Me to do. Come now, let us go.”

“I am the True Vine and My Father is the Vinegrower. If any of My branches does not bear fruit, He breaks it off; and He prunes every branch that does bear fruit, that it may bear even more fruit. You are already made clean by the word I have spoken to you. Live in Me as I live in you.”

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Monday, 26 May 2025 : 6th Week of Easter, Memorial of St. Philip Neri, Priest (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : White

Psalm 149 : 1-2, 3-4, 5-6a and 9b

Alleluia! Sing to the Lord a new song, sing His praise in the assembly of His saints! Let Israel rejoice in his Maker, let the people of Zion glory in their King!

Let them dance to praise of His Name and make music for Him with harp and timbrel. For the Lord delights in His people; He crowns the lowly with victory.

The saints will exult in triumph; even at night on their couches. Let the praise of God be on their lips; this is the glory of all His saints. Alleluia!

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Monday, 26 May 2025 : 6th Week of Easter, Memorial of St. Philip Neri, Priest (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

Acts 16 : 11-15

So we put out to sea from Troas and sailed straight across to Samothrace Island, and the next day to Neapolis. From there we went inland to Philippi, the leading city of the district of Macedonia, and a Roman colony. We spent some days in that city.

On the sabbath we went outside the city gate to the bank of the river where we thought the Jews would gather to pray. We sat down and began speaking to the women who were gathering there. One of them was a God-fearing woman named Lydia from Thyatira City, a dealer in purple cloth.

As she listened, the Lord opened her heart to respond to what Paul was saying. After she had been baptised together with her household, she invited us to her house, “If you think I am faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us to accept her invitation.

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Sunday, 25 May 2025 : Sixth Sunday of Easter (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : White

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, this Sunday which marks the Sixth Sunday of Easter, all of us are reminded that as Christians, it is important for us to be truly filled with the love of God in all things, in our every actions, words and deeds. We are all called to follow the Lord in all of our ways, in our everyday interactions, actions and works so that by our complete and total dedication to God’s ways as Christians, as those whom God had called and chosen. We must not easily be distracted by the many alternative ideals and ways which may be contrary to the ways that the Lord had presented to us. This is why it is important that we have to discern carefully our actions and choices in life, so that we may truly walk faithfully the path that the Lord has guided us through in life.

In our first reading this Sunday, taken from the Acts of the Apostles, we heard of the aftermath of the First Council of Jerusalem, the first major gathering of the assembly of the faithful in the history of the Church, which dealt with the issue of the disagreements that happened due to the efforts by some among the early Christians to impose the full weight of the Jewish customs, practices and ways on the whole Church. And as I have explained in detail in the deliberations earlier this week, such a rule and requirement would have made it very difficult for the believers from among the Gentiles, or the non-Jewish people to follow the Lord and becoming His disciples, as certain practices and customs of the Jews such as circumcision and dietary restrictions are viewed with disgust and suspicion by the Gentiles as a whole.

That was why after deliberations and discussions, guided by the Lord through the Holy Spirit, the Apostles led by St. Peter the Apostle decided that the whole Church should not be bound by the whole extensive and cumbersome Jewish customs, traditions and practices, which numbered about six hundred and thirteen in all, not counting the many other rites and rituals, practices and interpretations that the Pharisees often enforced. After all, the Lord Jesus Himself had criticised those same Pharisees for their way of observing the Law, for their overly rigid and strict interpretation of the Law of God, and most importantly for their hypocrisy in exercising their authority and in their own way of living and practicing the Law. And in accordance to what the Lord Himself had taught and presented before the disciples, the Church required only the fulfilment of what the Lord had told His people to follow.

As ultimately, the Law of God was meant as the guide for the faithful to follow in how they ought to live up their lives, and in showing all of them on how they ought to love God first and foremost, above all else, and then to love one another, their fellow men and women, their brothers and sisters in the same Lord. It is meant to lead us all towards God, and not to burden us unnecessarily. That is why the Apostles sent out the letters and messages to the faithful throughout the various community then present, through St. Paul and the other missionaries so that they might be able to practice the Christian faith in the proper and right manner without unnecessary burden and inconvenience. The Lord guided His Church and the efforts of the disciples, and the Church continued to keep on growing ever since.

This is also an important reminder for us that we should always have the right focus in our way of obeying the Lord’s commandments and laws, and we should not be easily distracted by certain tenets or doctrines that ended up causing us to lose sight and focus on what the Law of God is truly all about. As Christians, it is most important that we focus our attention on the Lord and not on our own different preferences and prejudices, and it is also very important that we must all be ready to listen to one another, and not to be hardened in our attitudes, in refusing to listen to the opinions of others around us. We should learn to understand the true will of God and the path that He is guiding and leading us through, by the guidance of the Holy Spirit instead of insisting on our own way and methods.

Then, from the second reading passage this Sunday, we heard of the vision of St. John the Apostle and Evangelist that he had received in the island of Patmos and which he recorded in the Book of Revelations. In that vision and account, we heard about the New Jerusalem, the vision of the city that will come from God at the end of times, a vision of the everlasting and true joy that all of us will share together as God’s holy and beloved people. And through this hope we are all reminded that if we are truly faithful to the Lord, full of love for Him and being dedicated to Him, then we shall receive from God Himself the fullness of everything that He has prepared and intended for us all, the glorious inheritance that He has reserved for us, that even if we are to suffer persecutions and hardships, in the end, we will enjoy forever the true happiness and joy with Him in Heaven.

From the perspective of the Apostle St. John himself, it was also a vision of comfort and strength, which is an encouragement for him, having suffered so many years in persecution and hardships. St. John the Apostle was the only one of the Twelve Apostles that was not martyred for his faith in God, but while he did not face a bloody and painful end of his life, he did suffer a lot throughout his very long life, as according to tradition he lived to the end of the first century, which is about seven decades or so after the Lord’s Resurrection, suffering persecutions, exile and other kinds of trials and difficulties during his ministry, missions and works among the people of God. That is perhaps the Lord showed His vision of the end times to St. John so that it could strengthen him in his own faith and commitment to Him, despite the many sufferings that he had to bear throughout his life.

Lastly, from our Gospel passage this Sunday, taken from the Gospel according to St. John the Apostle, we heard of the Lord telling His disciples about everything that would happen to them, but they should not be afraid or fearful as in the end, God would be with them always, and none of them will be left alone or abandoned as He will always provide for them whatever they need in their journey and ministry. Through the Lord, all of us, His disciples and followers will gain true and lasting peace, through the Holy Spirit, the Holy Advocate and Helper that He has bestowed upon us in this world. That is why we should not fear persecutions or hardships, just as the Lord has reassured us through His visions to St. John the Apostle and the Lord’s own reassuring words through His disciples as we have all heard today.

Essentially, all of us are reminded this Sunday to continue to do our best to carry out our missions in life as Christians, as those whom God has called and chosen to be His own people. Each and every one of us have been entrusted with the various missions and works, in our own areas of expertise and responsibility, as He granted us the various gifts, abilities, talents and all the means by which we may touch the lives of everyone around us, all those whom God had called and chosen, those whom God had placed in our lives and allowed us all to encounter in the different moments and times. All of us have been blessed with many gifts and wonders, and it is time for us therefore to make good use of them so that through our works and efforts, we may glorify the Lord and show His truth, Good News, His love and salvation through our lives and examples.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all therefore strive to do our best in each and every moments of our lives so that our every words, actions and deeds, we may always proclaim the Lord’s truth and Good News to everyone whom we encounter in every opportunities. Let us all continue to be faithful and courageous in all things, doing our best in every opportunities that we have been given so that we may truly be fruitful in doing God’s good works and be strengthened in our resolve to continue to be ever more committed in proclaiming the truth and Good News, the love and hope of the Lord’s salvation to more and more people, just as He has entrusted to all of us His Church, His missionaries and all those whom He has entrusted the good works of His salvation.

May all of us be strengthened and guided as always by the good hands of the Lord in all times and occasions, and may God bless our every good efforts, works and endeavours, all for His greater glory, now and always, forevermore. Amen.

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Sunday, 25 May 2025 : Sixth Sunday of Easter (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

John 14 : 23-29

At that time, Jesus answered Judas, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word and My Father will love him; and We will come to him and make a room in his home.”

“But if anyone does not love Me, he will not keep My words; and these words that you hear are not Mine, but the Father’s Who sent Me. I told you all this while I was still with you. From now on the Helper, the Holy Spirit Whom the Father will send in My Name, will teach you all things, and remind you of all that I have told you.”

“Peace be with you! I give you My peace; not as the world gives peace do I give it to you. Do not be troubled; do not be afraid. You heard Me say, ‘I am going away, but I am coming to you.’ If you loved Me, you would be glad that I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.”

“I have told you this now before it takes place, so that when it does happen you may believe.”

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Sunday, 25 May 2025 : Sixth Sunday of Easter (Second Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

Revelations 21 : 10-14, 22-23

One of the seven Angels took me up, in a spiritual vision, to a very high mountain, and he showed me the holy city Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven, from God. It shines with the glory of God, like a precious jewel, with the colour of crystal-clear jasper. Its wall, large and high, has twelve gates; stationed at them are twelve Angels. 

Over the gates are written the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel. Three gates face the east; three gates face the north; three gates face the south and three face the west. The city wall stands on twelve foundation stones, on which are written the names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb.

I saw no Temple in the city, for the Lord God, Master of the Universe, and the Lamb, are themselves its Temple. The city has no need of the light of the sun or the moon, since God’s glory is its light and the Lamb is its lamp.