Liturgical Colour : Green
Psalm 24 : 4-5ab, 8-9, 10 and 14
Teach me Your ways, o Lord; make known to me Your paths. Guide me in Your truth and instruct me, for You are my God, my Saviour.
Good and upright, the Lord teaches sinners His way. He teaches the humble of heart and guides them in what is right.
The ways of the Lord are love and faithfulness for those who keep His covenant and precepts. The Lord gives advice to those who revere Him and makes His covenant known to them.
Liturgical Colour : Green
2 Timothy 2 : 8-15
Remember Christ Jesus, risen from the dead, Jesus, Son of David, as preached in my Gospel. For this Gospel I labour, and even wear chains like an evildoer, but the word of God is not chained. And, so, I bear everything, for the sake of the chosen people, that they, too, may obtain the salvation given to us, in Christ Jesus, and share eternal glory.
This statement is true : If we have died with Him, we shall also live with Him; If we endure with Him, we shall reign with Him; If we deny Him, He will also deny us; If we are unfaithful, He remains faithful for He cannot deny Himself.
Remind your people of these things, and urge them, in the presence of God, not to fight over words, which does no good, but only ruins those who listen. Be for God, an active and proven minister, a blameless worker, correctly handling the word of truth.
Liturgical Colour : White
Offertory
Leviticus 21 : 6
Sacerdotes Domini incensum et panes offerunt Deo : et ideo sancti erunt Deo suo, et non polluent Nomen Ejus. Alleluja.
English translation
The priests of the Lord offer incense and loaves to God, and therefore they shall be holy to their God, and shall not defile His Name. Alleluia.
Secret Prayer of the Priest
Ecclesiae Tuae, quaesumus, Domine, unitatis et pacis propitius dona concede : quae sub oblatis muneribus mystice designantur. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium Tuum, qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.
English translation
Of Your goodness, we beseech You, o Lord, grant to Your Church the gifts of unity and peace which are mystically represented under the gifts we offer. Through our Lord Jesus Christ Your Son, who with You lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.
Communion
1 Corinthians 11 : 26-27
Quotiescumque enim manducabitis panem hunc et calicem bibetis, mortem Domini annuntiabitis, donec veniat : Itaque quicumque manducaverit panem hunc vel biberit calicem Domini indigne, reus erit Corporis et Sanguinis Domini, Alleluja.
English translation
As often as you shall eat this bread, and drink this chalice, you shall show the death of the Lord until He comes. Therefore whosoever shall eat this bread, or drink of the chalice of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord. Alleluia.
Post-Communion Prayer
Fac nos, quaesumus, Domine, divinitatis Tuae sempiterna fruitione repleri : quam pretiosi Corporis et Sanguinis Tui temporalis perceptio praefigurat : Qui vivis et regnat in Spiritui Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.
English translation
Grant us, we beseech You, o Lord, to be filled with the everlasting enjoyment of Your divinity, which the temporal partaking of Your precious Body and Blood had foreshown. You who lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.
Liturgical Colour : White
Sequentia Sancti Evangelii secundum Joannem – Continuation of the Holy Gospel according to St. John
John 6 : 56-59
In illo tempore : Dixit Jesus turbis Judaeorum : Caro Mea vere est cibus et Sanguis Meus vere est potus. Qui manducat Meam Carnem et bibit Meum Sanguinem, in Me manet et Ego in illo.
Sicut misit Me vivens Pater, et Ego vivo propter Patrem : et qui manducat Me, et ipse vivet propter Me. Hic est Panis, qui de caelo descendit. Non sicut manducaverunt patres vestri manna, et mortui sunt. Qui manducat hunc Panem, vivet in aeternum.
English translation
At that time, Jesus said to the multitudes of the Jews, “My Flesh is meat indeed, and My Blood is drink indeed. He who eats My Flesh, and drinks My Blood abides in Me, and I in him.”
“As the living Father had sent Me, and I live by the Father, so he who eats Me, the same shall also live by Me. This is the Bread that came down from heaven. Not as your fathers had eaten manna and are dead. He who eats this Bread shall live forever.”
Liturgical Colour : White
Sequence of St. Thomas Aquinas, 13th Century
Lauda Sion Salvatorem, Lauda ducem et pastorem in hymnis et canticis.
Quantum Potes, Tantum Aude : Quia major omni laude, Nec laudare sufficis.
Laudis Thema Specialis, Panis vivus et vitalis, Hodie proponitur.
Quem in Sacrae Mensa Coenae, Turbae fratrum duodenae datum non ambigitur.
Sit Laus Plena, Sit Sonora, Sit jucunda, sit decora mentis jubilatio.
Dies Enim Solemnis Agitur, In qua mensae prima recolitur hujus institutio.
In Hac Mensa Novi Regis, Novum Pascha novae legis, Phase vetus terminat.
Vetustatem Novitas, Umbram fugat veritas, Noctem lux eliminat.
Quod in Coena Christus Gessit, Faciendum hoc expressit in Sui memoriam.
Docti Sacris Institutis, Panem, vinum, in salutis Consecramus hostiam.
Dogma Datur Christianis, Quod in Carnem transit panis, Et vinum in Sanguinem.
Quod Non Capis, Quod Non Vides, Animosa firmat fides, Praeter rerum ordinem.
Sub Diversis Speciebus, Signis tantum, et non rebus, Latent res eximiae.
Caro Cibus, Sanguis Potus : Manet tamen Christus totus, Sub utraque specie.
Asumente Non Concisus, Non confractus, non divisus : Integer accipitur.
Sumit Unus, Sumunt Mille : Quantum isti, tantum ille : Nec sumptus consumitur.
Sumunt Boni, Sumunt Mali : Sorte tamen inaequali, Vitae vel interitus.
Mors est Malis, Vita Bonis : Vide paris sumptionis quam sit dispar exitus.
Fracto Demum Sacramento, Ne vacilles, sed memento, Tantum esse sub fragmento, Quantum toto tegitur.
Nulla Rei Fit Scissura : Signi tantem fit fractura : Qua nec status nec statura signati minuitur.
Ecce Panis Angelorum, Factus cibus viatorum : Vere panis filiorum, Non mittendus canibus.
In Figuris Praesignatur, Cum Isaac immolatur : Agnus paschae deputatur datur manna patribus.
Bone Pastor, Panis Vere, Jesu, nostri miserere : Tu nos pasce, nos tuere : Tu nos bona fac videre in terra viventium.
Tu, Qui Cuncta Scis Et Vales : Qui nos pascis hic mortales : Tuos ibi commensales, Coheredes et sodales, Fac sanctorum civium.
Amen. Alleluja.
English translation
Praise, o Sion, your Saviour, praise your Leader and your Shepherd in hymns and canticles.
As much as you can, so much you dare, for He is above all praise, nor you are able to praise Him enough.
Today there is given us a special theme of praise, the Bread both living and life-giving.
Which, is not to be doubted, was given to the assembly of the brethren, Twelve in number, at the table of the Holy Supper.
Let our praise be full and sounding, let the jubilations of the soul be joyous and becoming.
For that solemn day is now being celebrated, on which is commemorated the first institution of this table.
At this table of the new King, the new Passover of the New Law puts an end to the ancient Passover.
The new supplants the old, truth puts to flight the shadow, day banishes night.
What Christ did at that Supper, the same He commanded to be done in remembrance of Him.
Taught by His sacred precepts, we consecrate bread and wine into the Victim of salvation.
This is the dogma given to Christians, that bread is changed into Flesh, and wine into Blood.
What you do not understand, what you do not see, a lively faith confirms in a supernatural manner.
Under different species in externals only, and not in reality, wondrous substances lie hidden.
Flesh is good, Blood is drink, nevertheless Christ remains entire under each species.
By the recipient the whole Christ is received, He is neither cut, broken nor divided.
One receives Him, a thousand receive Him, as much as the thousand receive, so much does the one receive, though consumed, He is not diminished.
The good receive Him, the bad receive Him, but with what unequal consequences of life or death.
It is death to the unworthy, life to the worthy, behold then of a like reception, how unlike may be the result!
When the Sacrament is broken, doubt not, but remember, that there is just as much hidden in a fragment, as there is in the whole.
There is no division of the substance, only a breaking of the species takes place, by which neither the state nor stature of the substance signified is diminished.
Lo, the Bread of Angels is made the food of earthly pilgrims. Truly, it is the Bread of children, let it not be cast to dogs.
It was prefigured in types, when Isaac was immolated, when the Paschal Lamb was sacrificed, when Manna was given to the fathers.
O Good Shepherd, True Bread, o Jesus, have mercy on us, feed us and protect us. Make us see good things in the land of the living.
You who knows all things and can do all things, who here feeds us mortals, make us there be Your guests, the co-heirs and companions of the heavenly citizens.
Amen. Alleluia.
Liturgical Colour : White
Psalm 144 : 15-16 and John 6 : 56-57
Oculi omnium in Te sperant, Domine : et Tu das illis escam in tempore opportuno.
Response : Aperis Tu manum Tuam : et imples omne animal benedictione.
Alleluja, Alleluja.
Response : Caro Mea vere est cibus, et Sanguis Meus vere est potus : qui manducat Meam Carnem et bibit Meum Sanguinem, in Me manet et Ego in eo.
English translation
The eyes of all hope in You, o Lord, and You give them meat in due season.
Response : You opened Your hand, and fill every living creature with Your blessing.
Alleluia, Alleluia.
Response : My Flesh is meat indeed, and My Blood is drink indeed. He who eats My Flesh and drinks My Blood, abides in Me, and I in him.
Liturgical Colour : White
Lectio Epistolae Beati Pauli Apostoli ad Corinthios – Lesson from the Epistle of Blessed Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians
1 Corinthians 11 : 23-29
Fratres : Ego enim accepi a Domino quod et tradidi vobis, quoniam Dominus Jesus, in qua nocte tradebatur, accepit panem, et gratias agens fregit, et dixit : Accipite, et manducate : hoc est Corpus Meum, quod pro vobis tradetur : hoc facite in Meam commemorationem.
Similiter et calicem, postquam cenavit, dicens : Hic calix Novum Testamentum est in Meo Sanguine. Hoc facite, quotiescumque bibetis, in Meam commemorationem. Quotiescumque enim manducabitis panem hunc et calicem bibetis, mortem Domini annuntiabitis, donec veniat.
Itaque quicumque manducaverit panem hunc vel biberit calicem Domini indigne, reus erit Corporis et Sanguinis Domini. Probet autem seipsum homo : et sic de pane illo edat et de calice bibat. Qui enim manducat et bibit indigne, judicum sibi manducat et bibit : non dijudicans Corpus Domini.
English translation
Brethren, I have received of the Lord, that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus, the same night in which He was betrayed, took bread, and giving thanks, broke it, and said, ‘Take all of you and eat, this is My Body which shall be delivered for you, do this for the commemoration of Me.’
In like manner He also took the chalice, after He had finished supper, saying, ‘This chalice is the New Testament in My Blood, this all of you do, as often as you shall drink, for the commemoration of Me.’ For as often as you shall eat this bread, and drink this chalice, you shall show the death of the Lord until He comes.
Therefore whosoever shall eat this bread, or drink of the chalice of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord. But let a man prove himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of the chalice. For he who eats and drinks unworthily, eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Body of the Lord.
Liturgical Colour : White
Introit
Psalm 80 : 17, 2
Cibavit eos ex adipe frumenti, Alleluja : et de petra, melle saturavit eos, Alleluja, Alleluja, Alleluja.
Exsultate Deo, adjutorio nostro : jubilate Deo Jacob.
Response : Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto, sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper : et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.
English translation
He fed them with the fat of wheat, Alleluia, and filled them with honey out of the rock, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
Rejoice to God our Helper, sing aloud to the God of Jacob.
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, qui nobis sub Sacramento mirabili passionis Tuae memoriam reliquisti : tribue, quaesumus, ita nos Corporis et Sanguinis Tui sacra mysteria venerari; ut redemptionis Tuae fructum in nobis jugiter sentiamus : Qui vivis et regnat in unitate Spiritui Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.
English translation
O God, Who in this wonderful sacrament has left us a memorial of Your passion, grant us, we beseech You, so to venerate the sacred mysteries of Your Body and Blood that we may constantly experience in ourselves the fruit of Your redemption. You Who lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.
Liturgical Colour : Red
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, as we listened to the words of the Sacred Scriptures in our passages today, we are all reminded that we should always be courageous and strong in persisting in faith, in doing our best to live our lives in accordance with God’s Law and commandments, in being good role models and examples to everyone around us, so that we may indeed inspire others and be the good examples to help everyone to know what they all need to do in order to be truly faithful and dedicated to God at all times. We are reminded that God is also always by our side, and that we should continue to live our lives in testifying the truth about the Good News and the salvation which He has brought into our midst, in all of our actions each day and at every moments.
In our first reading today, taken from the Epistle of St. Paul to St. Timothy, we heard of the words of the Apostle reminding his protege, St. Timothy of the gift of the Holy Spirit and the various other gifts that the Lord has granted to all of them, the spirit of strength, love and good judgment, all of which had been given to them so that they all might go forth and courageously proclaim the truth and Good News of God in all circumstances, even through all the challenging moments and occasions. He encouraged his protege and indirectly many other missionaries of the Lord and messengers of the Good News to remain strong and steady in their commitment to be the bearers of God’s light and truth in a world filled with darkness and sin, so that by their works and ministry, they may bring about God’s salvation to many more people.
St. Paul exhorted St. Timothy to pass on the flame which had been given to him, a reference of the Holy Spirit, reminding him and the other missionaries of the Lord, the bishops, priests, deacons and the ministers of the Gospel to continue to go forth spreading the gifts of the Holy Spirit through the whole world by calling many more people to come to the Lord and to be baptised in the Name of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit just as He has commanded all of them to do. And in order to fulfil all these, it was often necessary that those who walk in the path of the Lord had to suffer and endure difficulties, challenges and trials. But St. Paul reminded them all of the power of God’s providence and guidance, and how through His works made evident by their hands, they would indeed do great and wonderful things beyond imagination.
Then, from our Gospel passage today, we heard of the confrontation between the Lord Jesus and the Sadducees who opposed Him, all those who were doubtful and refusing to believe in the teachings and doctrine of the resurrection from the dead. For the context, the Sadducees were historically the ones who held the reins of power and many of them were belonging to the priestly caste and they were the ones from which the chief priests were chosen from. We may find it quite strange and contradictory that the priests and chief priests were the ones who were most militant in their opposition and refusal to believe in the teachings and beliefs like the resurrection from the dead and the afterlife, or in any other spiritual matter. But this can be better understood from the context of how they were steeply involved in worldly matters and livelihood, in the governance of the people and the Temple.
As such, many among them likely developed strong attachments to the world and to all the privileges that they have enjoyed in life. Therefore, this is why many if not most of them believed that this life in this world was the only one that they would have and which they ought to enjoy, rejecting any notion of the afterlife or another existence which to them is a separation from all the joy, pleasures and the good things which they had been enjoying in life. That was why the Lord showed them all when those Sadducees asked using the example of a woman who had married seven brothers as her husbands, of whose man that she would belong to as wife, that the eternal life that is to come is not like that of this world, and is truly beyond all of those worldly ambitions, desires and pursuits. It is an important reminder for all of us not to seek for things of this world that do not last, but instead we must focus on the Lord and His promise of everlasting life.
Today, the Church celebrates the feast of St. Charles Lwanga and his holy companions in martyrdom, collectively known as the Holy Ugandan Martyrs. They all dedicated themselves to the Lord, missionaries, local priests and faithful laymen and laywomen alike, who were persecuted for their faith in God, and remained firmly resolute and committed in their faith in God to the very end, despite the temptations, coercions and threats that they were facing. Back then, St. Charles Lwanga himself was the chief page and an important servant of the King of the Kingdom of Buganda in what is today Uganda. He encountered the Christian faith through the missionaries who proclaimed the Lord and His Good News among the people there in that region. Back then, the King was a great pedophile who preyed on the young pages of the kingdom, and the opposition from Christian missionaries against such practices caused the king to conduct massacres against them.
St. Charles Lwanga himself was convinced of the truth that the Lord had delivered through the Catholic missionaries, the White Fathers who were there, and St. Charles Lwanga along with many others among Buganda’s court members and servants were also baptised together as Christians. St. Charles Lwanga also protected the pages, the young boys under his care from the king’s perverted and wicked actions. It was then that the king and those among his courtiers that had become Christians came to a point of contention, as the former condemned some of them to death, which led to St. Charles Lwanga and the other servants to stand up for their faith publicly, and they were therefore led to be martyred by being burnt alive. At the site where he and others were martyred now stands the great Basilica of the Holy Ugandan Martyrs at Namugongo, where the relics of those faithful martyrs are enshrined. Their fidelity and commitment to God served as great examples and inspirations to all of us Christians in how we ourselves should live up to our Christian calling and mission in our lives.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all therefore reflect on these words of the Scriptures that we have heard and received, and also on the lives of our holy predecessors, particularly those of the Holy Martyrs of Uganda, in their most courageous defence of their faith and commitment to the Lord’s truth and righteousness. Are we willing and able to commit ourselves in the same way as well, brethren? Are we willing and able to carry our own crosses in life, in following the Lord ever more faithfully in each and every passing moments? Let us all discern our path forward well and carefully so that we may continue to inspire many others to walk in God’s Presence and to be steadfast in our obedience and commitment to Him.
May the Lord our most loving God and Father continue to guide and strengthen us all in our respective journeys in life. May He empower each and every one of us in living our lives virtuously, in proclaiming His truth and Good News at all times, doing our very best to glorify Him by our lives. May He lead us all into the everlasting life of true happiness and joy that He has promised and reassured all of us with, and strengthen us ever always in our faith. Amen.
Liturgical Colour : Red
Mark 12 : 18-27
At that time, the Sadducees also came to Jesus. Since they claim that there is no resurrection, they questioned Him in this way, “Master, in the Scriptures Moses gave us this law : if anyone dies and leaves a wife but no children, his brother must take the woman, and with her have a baby, who will be considered the child of his deceased brother.”
“Now, there were seven brothers. The first married a wife, but he died without leaving any children. The second took the wife, and he also died leaving no children. The same thing happened to the third. In fact, all seven brothers died, leaving no children. Last of all the women died. Now, in the resurrection, to which of them will she be wife? For all seven brothers had her as wife.”
Jesus replied, “Is this not the reason you are mistaken, that you do not understand the Scriptures or the power of God? When they rise from the dead, men and women do not marry, but are like the Angels in heaven. Now, about the resurrection of the dead, have you never had thoughts about the burning bush in the book of Moses?”
“God said to Moses : I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. He is the God not of the dead but of the living. You are totally wrong.”
petercanisiusmichaeldavidkang 