Day: July 4, 2025

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Tuesday, 8 July 2025 : 14th Week of Ordinary Time (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we all listened to the words os the Scriptures, we are reminded that God will always be with us, providing for us for what we need and in all of our circumstances. God will never abandon us or leave us alone in suffering, but He is always present with us and guiding us throughout our journey, and we have to trust in Him and His guidance so that we will not be tempted by worldly desires and ambitions which may lead us astray in our journey towards the Lord. And unless we adhere firmly and faithfully to God’s path, it is easy for us to falter and fail in this journey that He has been calling us all into.

In our first reading today, we heard from the Book of Genesis relating to us the moment from the time when Jacob together with his whole family, with his two wives, Rachel and Leah, came back to the land of Canaan after spending at least fourteen years or so in the land of Haran, at his uncle’s place, after fleeing there in the aftermath of him taking away Esau’s inheritance and blessings from his father by trickery. Esau, Jacob’s elder brother was furious, and understandably Jacob fled to protect himself, and as he was returning to the home of his father, he was still worried of how Esau would react to him and whether he was still angry and furious at him.

And it was at that very occasion that God appeared to Jacob, who was at that time was filled with fear and uncertainty, probably thinking of how he could persuade his brother by his own designs and plans. God, disguised as a Man, wrestled with Jacob all night long, and hit the latter on his hip, and it was there, at that very time and place that God gave Jacob a new name, Israel, which means ‘one who had struggled with God’, as first a reminder of his renewed calling and Covenant as God’s servant and follower, in doing His will and in trusting in Him rather than in depending on his own mechanisms and designs, plans and other methods.

This change of name was also significant, as his own grandfather, Abraham, was also known by the name Abram prior to the Covenant that God made with him. And in other occasions in the Scriptures, there were also several others who had changed their names and identities, marking a dramatic change and moment of conversion in their lives, and for Jacob, this change symbolises him putting his trust in God completely and the restoration of his family ties, which had once been broken and frayed because of the rivalries and competitions, as one that he had with Esau, his elder brother, as well as a clear sign of God’s favour and Providence.

Then, from our Gospel passage today, taken from the Gospel according to St. Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist, we heard of the moment when the Lord healed two blind men who were brought to Him, and then another man who had been struck dumb because of possession by evil spirits, and the Lord Jesus continued to show His power and authority, commanding that evil spirit to leave behind the man, and he was therefore cured from his afflictions. But as we also heard, the Pharisees who were there, likely jealous from the Lord’s great popularity and from their hardened hearts due to their conflicting ideals, criticised the Lord harshly. They accused Him of performing His miracles, casting out demons with the help of the prince of demons.

Such was the conflict and disagreements between the Pharisees and the Lord that they made such a heinous accusation against the Lord, but the Lord continued to carry out His good works and ministry nonetheless among the people of God, sending out His disciples to carry out many more good works in those places that He was to visit Himself, and He was telling the disciples that the works of the Lord and the harvest was indeed plentiful, but there were few workers to work in the field of the Lord that is this world. Thus, the Lord asked them all to pray so that God would send more labourers, for more to be called to work in His field that is the world.

We are all reminded therefore that each and every one of us as Christians must not harden our hearts and minds like how those Pharisees had hardened theirs and refused to listen to the Lord. They also depended on their own power, intellect and wisdom rather than trusting in the Lord and allowing Him to speak to them, as the Lord Jesus Himself had done, and hence, that was why they continued to walk down the path of disobedience and rebellion against the Lord. But as Christians, we should be humble and committed to the Lord, ever aligned and attuned to His will through constant prayerful life and listening to Him in whatever He has called and told us all to do.

May the Lord continue to guide each and every one of us, giving us the strength and courage, the perseverance and power to go on serving Him faithfully in life, to the best of our abilities, following God and doing His will, entrusting ourselves to Him and following Him in His path. Let us all also trust in His wisdom and providence rather than depending solely on our own power, intellect, plans and designs, and instead, walk together with Him in our paths of life going forward. May God bless us all in our every good works and endeavours, now and always. Amen.

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Tuesday, 8 July 2025 : 14th Week of Ordinary Time (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Matthew 9 : 32-38

At that time, as the two blind men were going away, some people brought to Jesus a man who was dumb, because he was possessed by a demon. When the demon was driven out, the dumb man began to speak. The crowds were astonished and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”

But the Pharisees said, “He drives away demons with the help of the prince of demons.”

Jesus went around all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom; and He cured every sickness and disease. When He saw the crowds, He was moved with pity; for they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are only few. Ask the Master of the harvest to send workers to gather His harvest.”

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Tuesday, 8 July 2025 : 14th Week of Ordinary Time (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Psalm 16 : 1, 2-3, 6-7, 8 and 15

Hear a just cause, o YHVH, listen to my complaint. Give heed to my prayer, for there is no deceit on my lips.

Let my defence come forth from You; Your eyes see what is right. You have probed my heart, searched me at night, tested me by fire, and You have seen no wickedness in me.

I call on You, You will answer me, o God; incline Your ear and hear my word. For You do wonders for Your faithful, You save those fleeing from the enemy as they seek refuge at Your right hand.

Keep me as the apple of Your eye; under the shadow of Your wings hide me. As for me, righteous in Your sight, I shall see Your face and, awakening, gaze my fill on Your likeness.

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Tuesday, 8 July 2025 : 14th Week of Ordinary Time (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Genesis 32 : 23-33

Jacob took his two wives, his two maidservants and his eleven sons, and sent them across the stream and likewise everything he had. And Jacob was left alone. Then a Man wrestled with him until daybreak. When the Man saw that He could not get the better of Jacob, He struck him in the socket of his hip and dislocated it as He wrestled with him.

The Man said, “Let Me go, for day is breaking.” But Jacob said, “I will not let You go until you have given me Your blessing.” The Man then said, “What is your name?” “Jacob” was the reply. He answered, “You will no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have been strong-with-God as you have been with men and have prevailed.”

Then Jacob asked Him, “What is Your Name?” He answered, “Why do you ask My Name?” And He blessed him there. So Jacob called the place Penuel, saying, “I have seen God face to face and survived.” The sun rose as he passed through Penuel, limping because of his hip. That is why to this day the Israelites do not eat the sciatic nerve which is in the hip socket because the sciatic nerve in Jacob’s hip had been touched.

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Monday, 7 July 2025 : 14th Week of Ordinary Time (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, through the Scripture readings that we have received and listened to today, all of us are reminded and reassured by the Lord of the hope and salvation which all of us will enjoy, the true joy and happiness, and the consolation, all the help that we can find through Him, and Him alone. We must always have strong hope in the Lord and we should not give up hope in Him because He can do all things for us and there is nothing that is impossible for Him to do. Whatever it is that is He has willed for us and desired for us, all will happen without fail in due time, and this is why we ought to trust in God at all times, even when we may be facing a lot of hardships and challenges in life.

In our first reading today, we heard of the story from the Book of Genesis, where God appeared and spoke to Jacob who at that time had just fled from his home after he had obtained the blessings of his father Isaac, to the fury and anger of his elder brother Esau, who must have been very angry after he had his blessings and birthright taken from him by his manipulative and trickster younger brother. But the Lord was with Jacob, and I mentioned this in the last week reflections, as although Esau was the elder son, and the customs and practices at that time dictating that the elder son should receive the inheritance, but Jacob was the one who had God’s favour, and Esau was according to Scriptural details and traditions of the Israelites, was not virtuous in his way of life. Nonetheless, Jacob had to bear the brunt of his brother’s anger, and had to flee therefore to his mother’s household in Haran in Mesopotamia.

It was in that occasion that the Lord appeared to Jacob to strengthen and to reassure him, renewing the same promises which He had spoken to Abraham and Isaac both, that He would make all of them to be the father of many nations, and He reassured Jacob that He would be with him in every step of his path, even when it seems to be unsure and full of challenges ahead. At that place, Jacob had a dream in which he saw the greatness of God, a stairs or ladder that extended all the way to Heaven, with the Angels of God ascending nad descending through that ladder to the earth. It was the reason why the place was named by Jacob as Bethel, because it was there that he saw the very House of God, the Gate to Heaven itself.

And Jacob was strengthened through that experience, so much so that he was able to persevere for many years during his time in exile from his home, at the household of Laban, his uncle, and was patient and strong in his labours and works, while fulfilling everything that God had promised him earlier on. Through his wives, especially Rachel, the one whom he loved very much, he became the father of twelve sons and at least one daughter, and from them indeed would come forth the great nation of Israel, all their twelve tribes having come from the sons of Jacob, who later on would be known as Israel, the one whom God had called and chosen, to be His own first called and chosen people, and God would be with them, guiding, loving and providing for them just as He has promised.

Then, from our Gospel passage today, taken from the Gospel according to St. Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist, we heard of the two great miracles that the Lord Jesus performed before the people, one that happened with a woman who had been suffering from a bleeding or haemorrhage problem, while the other was the sick and eventually dead daughter of a synagogue official. In the first case, the woman was trying to hide her condition and was discreetly seeking the Lord because her condition was deemed to be unclean, and she certainly did not want anyone to know of her conditions, and her faith in the Lord and in His ability to heal her eventually cured her of her condition. And as we heard, the Lord was aware of her faith and what she had done, and He presented her faith before all, telling everyone what kind of faith she had in Him and how she was therefore cured.

This was followed by the healing and the miraculous resurrection of the official’s daughter which happened because of the faith of those who have believed in Him, and despite the others who were there laughing when the Lord told them all that the girl was just sleeping. Through that great miracle of the resurrection and the healing of the woman suffering from the haemorrhage problem, the Lord showed everyone that He was indeed the true and perfect fulfilment of everything that the Lord God has promised to His people, the salvation and liberation which He has promised to them and their ancestors, of the One Whom He would send into their midst to save them, in that Person of none other than Jesus Christ Himself.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, now as we reflected upon these readings from the Sacred Scriptures, let us all therefore continue to trust in the Lord and be faithful to Him in all things, knowing that it is with Him alone that we shall truly have joy and peace, true happiness and satisfaction in life. Let us all not worry about what tomorrow may bring, as truly there is no certainty of what may happen to us, be it whether we are now in good or bad times. Instead, we should continue to be faithful and trusting in God, knowing that with Him we will not falter and fail in this life. He will always provide us all that we need, and we need to just trust in Him in all things, and not be worried because with the Lord we will truly be triumphant in the end, over all kinds of trials and sufferings we may be suffering from.

May the Lord continue to bless us all in each and every moments of our lives, and may He continue to encourage us in everything that we do, in our missions and callings in life, in all of our actions, works and good efforts for the sake of God and His Church, for the good of everyone around us. May He bless our very good works and endeavours, and help us to continue to be faithful and committed to Him in whatever areas of life and responsibilities that we are in, becoming good examples and inspiration, worthy beacons of God’s hope and light to all. Amen.

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Monday, 7 July 2025 : 14th Week of Ordinary Time (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Matthew 9 : 18-26

At that time, while Jesus was speaking to the disciples of John and the Pharisees, an official of the synagogue came up to Him, bowed before Him and said, “My daughter has just died, but come and place Your hands on her, and she will live.”

Jesus stood up and followed him with His disciples. Then a woman, who had suffered from a severe bleeding for twelve years, came up from behind and touched the edge of His cloak; for she thought, “If I only touch His cloak, I will be healed.”

Jesus turned, saw her and said, “Courage, my daughter, your faith has saved you.” And from that moment, the woman was cured. When Jesus arrived at the official’s house and saw the flute players and the excited crowd, He said, “Get out of here! The girl is not dead. She is only sleeping!” And they laughed at Him.

But once the crowd had been turned out, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she stood up. The news of this spread through the whole area.

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Monday, 7 July 2025 : 14th Week of Ordinary Time (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Psalm 90 : 1-2, 3-4, 14-15ab

You, who dwell in the shelter of the Most High, who rest in the shadow of the Almighty, say to YHVH, “My Stronghold, my Refuge, my God in Whom I trust!”

He will rescue you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His pinions and give you refuge under His wings.

“Because they cling to Me, I will rescue them,” says YHVH. “I will protect those who know My Name. When they call to Me, I will answer; in time of trouble, I will be with them.”