Advent 2024

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(Usus Antiquior) Second Sunday of Advent (I Classis) – Sunday, 8 December 2024 : Epistle

Liturgical Colour : Violet

Lectio Epistolae Beati Pauli Apostoli ad Romanos – Lesson from the Epistle of Blessed Paul the Apostle to the Romans

Romans 15 : 4-13

Fratres : Quaecumque scripta sunt, ad nostram doctrinam scripta sunt : ut per patientiam et consolationem Scripturarum spem habeamus. Deus autem patientiae et solacii det vobis idipsum sapere in alterutrum secundum Jesum Christum : ut unanimes, uno ore honorificetis Deum et Patrem Domini nostri Jesu Christi.

Propter quod suscipite invicem, sicut et Christus suscepit vos in honorem Dei. Dico enim Christum Jesum ministrum fuisse circumcisionis propter veritatem Dei, ad confirmandas promissionem patrum : gentes autem super misericordia honorare Deum, sicut scriptum est : Propterea confitebor Tibi in gentibus, Domine, et Nomini Tuo cantabo.

Et iterum dicit : Laetamini, gentes, cum plebe ejus. Et iterum : Laudate, omnes gentes, Dominum : et magnificate eum, omnes populi. Et rursus Isaias ait : Erit radix Jesse, et qui exsurget regere gentes, in eum gentes sperabunt. Deus autem spei repleat vos omni gaudio et pace in credendo : ut abundetis in spe et virtute Spiritus Sancti.

English translation

Brethren, what things so ever were written, were written for our learning, that through patience and the comfort of the Scriptures we might have hope. Now the God of patience and of comfort grant you to be of one mind, toward one another, according to Jesus Christ, that with one mind, and with one mouth, you may glorify God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Wherefore receive one another, as Christ had also received you, unto the honour of God. For I say that Christ Jesus was minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers. But that the Gentiles are to glorify God for His mercy, as it is written : “Therefore, I will confess to You, o Lord, among the Gentiles, and I will sing to Your Name.”

And again He said : “Rejoice, you Gentiles, with His people.” And again : “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and magnify Him, all you people.” And again, Isaiah said : “There shall be a root of Jesse, and He Who shall rise up to rule the Gentiles, in Him the Gentiles shall hope.” Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, and in the power of the Holy Spirit.

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(Usus Antiquior) Second Sunday of Advent (I Classis) – Sunday, 8 December 2024 : Introit and Collect

Liturgical Colour : Violet

Introit

Isaiah 30 : 30 and Psalm 79 : 2

Populus Sion, ecce, Dominus veniet ad salvandas gentes : et auditam faciet Dominus gloriam vocis suae in laetitia cordis vestri.

Qui Regis Israel, intende : qui deducis, velut ovem, Joseph.

Response : Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto, sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper : et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.

English translation

People of Zion, behold, the Lord shall come to save the nations, and the Lord shall make the glory of His voice to be heard in the joy of your heart.

Give ear, o You Who rule Israel, You Who lead Joseph like a sheep.

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

Excita, Domine, corda nostra ad praeparandas Unigeniti Tui vias : ut, per ejus adventum, purificatis Tibi mentibus servire mereamur : Qui Tecum vivis et regnas in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

English translation

Stir up our hearts, o Lord, to prepare the ways of Your only begotten Son, that through His coming we may be worthy to serve You with purified minds. You Who lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.

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Saturday, 7 December 2024 : 1st Week of Advent, Memorial of St. Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : White

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, as we heard from our Scripture passages today, we are all reminded that each and every one of us are called to follow the Lord and to walk faithfully in His path, which is our mission in life, to obey and to do what God has willed for us. As Christians we must always endeavour to glorify God by our everyday living and by each and every one of our words, actions and deeds, and by whatever good works and contributions we have done for the good of everyone in the Church and elsewhere. We have been entrusted with the important mission to proclaim the Lord and His salvation to the world, and to make Him known to more and more people, so that many more may come to be saved through Him.

In our first reading today, taken from the Book of the prophet Isaiah we heard of the words of assurance from the Lord for His people in the kingdom of Judah, in which God reassured them that they would no longer suffer all the difficulties and challenges, trials and persecutions that they had endured at that time. For at that time, the people of God in the kingdom of Judah were in dire straits, facing lots of threats from their enemies and hostile neighbours, and their separated brethren in the northern kingdom of Israel had earlier on been conquered and defeated by the Assyrians, who destroyed their cities and scattered them into the distant lands away from their homeland, and made them to endure bitter and humiliating exile, bondage and submission.

The people of Judah themselves had faced similar difficulties, as they had to face the invasion by a mighty force of the Assyrians that laid siege to their cities and to Jerusalem itself, and yet, for all their hubris, pride and arrogance, God laid them low and humbled them all as He struck many of them and crushed the arrogance of their king, who had to go back to his homeland with great embarrassment and disgrace. These words of God as spoken by the prophet Isaiah in our first reading today are therefore message of hope and assurance, and the people of God themselves likely had experienced God’s help and guidance firsthand, and encountered His great love and mercy, which He had Himself shown before them. This is a reminder therefore for all of us that we may also believe in God and His loving providence.

As we all continue to progress through this time and season of Advent towards Christmas we are constantly therefore being reminded of God’s love and presence in our midst at all times, how He will always be there for us, guiding and strengthening us in our journey throughout the way. We are reminded that in God is our hope and salvation, and if we continue to trust in Him and follow Him wholeheartedly, then eventually we will share in the true and eternal happiness, glory and all that He has promised and reassured us again and again throughout time. In this time and season of Advent, we are all reminded that we are preparing ourselves to celebrate the Lord’s coming into this world, and remember everything that He has done for us through His Son, Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Saviour.

Then, from the Gospel passage today from the Gospel according to St. Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist, we heard of the Lord speaking to His disciples regarding the matter of the mission which He has entrusted to all of them as His disciples and followers. He went from place to place, ministering to the people and teaching them, healing their sick and those with all sorts of ailments, and He cured them all, which led to even more people coming towards Him, seeking His help and healing. It was mentioned how the Lord was moved by the desire in all those people to be healed by Him, and how they were like a flock of sheep without a shepherd. Hence, He made Himself to be their Shepherd, Guide and Leader.

He also commissioned the Apostles and the other disciples to go forth and to proclaim the coming of the salvation in God, giving them the power and authority to heal the sick, to cast out demons and to do all the things that He Himself had done to the people of God. He sent them out to spread His Good News and to do His works, the mission which still continues even to this very day. The Church and all of us, fellow Christians, have all been entrusted with this mission to proclaim the Lord and His salvation to the whole world, to evangelise and to lead more and more people towards the Lord and His salvation. And in this season and time of Advent, once again we are reminded of this salvation which God has sent to us in our midst through His Son, Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Ambrose of Milan, one of the great early Church fathers and one of the four original Doctors of the Church. He was born as Aurelius Ambrosius into a Christian Roman family in the early fourth century, and according to some Church tradition, his father was a high ranking official, the Praetorian Prefect of Gaul in what is France today, and yet some other traditions associated his father as an imperial official. Having been born to such a family and upbringing, he was well educated and brought up to follow his father’s example, rising eventually to the position of governor of the region of Aemilia-Liguria in northern parts of Italy today. From his pious and wise mother, St. Ambrose grew in the faith and his wisdom.

Eventually, during his time as governor, at that time, there was bitter and difficult rift and division among the faithful, as many among them had been influenced by the then popular and raging Arian heresy. When the previous Bishop of Milan, an Arian, passed away, there was great dispute regarding his successor, which led to St. Ambrose coming to the church where the election was held to prevent violence and uprising from the opposing parties. According to tradition, he was then acclaimed by the people to be the new Bishop of Milan. Although initially he was reluctant to do so, and refused at first the position of bishop, eventually through the intervention and encouragement from the Emperor, St. Ambrose eventually relented and was consecrated as the new Bishop of Milan.

As the Bishop of Milan, St. Ambrose lived a simple and holy lifestyle, and he was very popular with his flock, many of whom had been touched by his tireless efforts to care for them, and in his efforts to eradicate the corruptions and falsehoods of the Arian teachings and heresy that had by then become very popular especially among the higher classes and the clergy. He managed to maintain the unity in his diocese and beyond while at the same time working tirelessly to promote the true, orthodox and clear teachings of the Christian faith as handed down and preserved by the Church from the days of the Apostles. And in one occasion, he was even courageous to stand up against the Emperor himself, when the Emperor Theodosius the Great was implicated in the brutal massacre at Thessalonica, which prompted the excommunication of the Emperor, and the Emperor was only welcomed back to the Church as a penitent through the patient efforts of St. Ambrose of Milan.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all therefore follow in the footsteps of the saints and the Apostles, like those of St. Ambrose of Milan and the countless other servants and disciples of the Lord who had done their best in their lives to show the love and kindness, mercy and compassion of God to all the people whom they encountered and ministered to. Each and every one of us are partakers of God’s mission, the ones entrusted with the responsibility to lead more and more people towards God, through our exemplary lives and actions, through our commitment and dedication to Him, at all times. May the Lord continue to strengthen our faith in us and empower us all so that we may always grow ever stronger in faith and devotion to God, and in our hope in His salvation. Amen.

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Saturday, 7 December 2024 : 1st Week of Advent, Memorial of St. Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

Matthew 9 : 35 – Matthew 10 : 1, 5a, 6-8

At that time, 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.”

Jesus called His Twelve disciples to Him, and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to drive them out, and to heal every disease and sickness. Jesus sent these Twelve on mission, with the instruction : “Go, instead, to the lost sheep of the people of Israel. Go, and proclaim this message : The kingdom of heaven is near. Heal the sick, bring the dead back to life, cleanse the lepers, and drive out demons. Freely have you received, freely give.”

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Saturday, 7 December 2024 : 1st Week of Advent, Memorial of St. Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : White

Psalm 146 : 1-2, 3-4, 5-6

Alleluia! How good it is to sing to our God, how sweet and befitting, to praise Him! YHVH rebuilds Jerusalem; He gathers the exiles of Israel.

He heals their broken hearts and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of stars; He calls each of them by name.

The Lord is great, and mighty in power; His wisdom is beyond measure. YHVH lifts up the humble, but casts the wicked to the ground.

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Saturday, 7 December 2024 : 1st Week of Advent, Memorial of St. Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

Isaiah 30 : 19-21, 23-26

O people of Zion, who dwell in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. When you cry, He will listen; when He hears, He will answer. When the Lord has given you the bread of anguish and the water of distress, He, your Teacher will hide no longer. Your own eyes will see Him, and your ear will listen to His words behind you : “This is the way, walk in it.”

He will then give rain for the seed you sow and make the harvest abundant from the crops you grow. On that day your cattle will graze in wide pastures. Your beasts of burden will eat silage tossed to them with pitchfork and shovel. For on the day of the great slaughter, when fortresses fall, streams of water will flow on every mountain and lofty hill.

The light of the moon will be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun seven times greater, like the light of seven days, when YHVH binds up the wounds of His people and heals the bruises inflicted by His blows.

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Friday, 6 December 2024 : 1st Week of Advent, Memorial of St. Nicholas, Bishop (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet or White (Bishops)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, as we continue to listen to the words of the Scriptures presented to us during this time and season of Advent, we are all constantly being reminded of the need for us to continue having faith and trust in God, believing that He can provide us with everything that we need, and that He can lead us all to true happiness and bring us consolation from all the sufferings and struggles that we may be facing in this world. We have to remember the love that God has for each one of us and His patient care for us always endures even though we have often disobeyed Him and rebelled against Him. While He does chastise us for our sins and disobedience, but He always leaves the way open for us to return to Him through our sincere and genuine repentance and through His generous mercy and forgiveness.

In our first reading today taken from the Book of the prophet Isaiah we heard of the words of the Lord to His people in the southern kingdom of Judah, reassuring and encouraging them that He would save all of them and bringing them all to His loving embrace, freeing them from their enemies, healing the blind, the lame, deaf and all those who were troubled among them, a promise that He would indeed fulfil by the sending of His salvation into this world through His Son. And this assurance came at a very good time for the people of God who at that time had been suffering a lot from the attacks by their enemies and everyone around them. God reassured them all that He would never abandon them, and if they continue to be faithful to Him they would be certain of God’s providence and love, and will have share in His eternal glory and joy.

Then, in our Gospel passage today taken from the Gospel according to St. Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist, we heard of the story of the moment when the Lord Jesus encountered two blind men who came to Him and followed Him, begging Him to heal them from their blindness. They kept on asking Him and trusting in Him that He could save them from their predicament, asking Him to show them mercy and love. And the Lord was moved by their faith and persistence in asking and seeking His mercy, healing them from their blindness, and just as we heard and discussed earlier from our first reading today, this was one of the proofs that God has indeed fulfilled what He had promised to His people, His promise to them that He would restore them all and bring them all out of the darkness and evils around us, bringing us into the eternity of happiness and joy with Him.

That is why we are all reminded that we should also seek Him to overcome the troubles and the darkness all around us, asking God to help and heal us from all of our troubles and afflictions. We are reminded that in God alone we can find true consolation and hope, strength and encouragement amidst all the challenges and difficulties we encounter in our daily living. Like those blind men who had physical disabilities, each and every one of us are also afflicted by the affliction of sin, which is far more dangerous and harmful to us than any kind of physical disabilities. This is because while physical disabilities can be cured by doctors and medicine, and even the supposedly incurable one will not last beyond our earthly life, and in the world that is to come, none of us will suffer anymore from those afflictions.

On the other hand, sin is an affliction that is attacking our very own soul, and is something that can lead to eternal damnation and destruction. Not only that but only God alone can forgive us from our sins and heal us in that matter, and as long as we have our sins with us, corrupting us, then we may end up being judged for all those sins, which made us to be unworthy and distant, separated and sundered from God. This is why we should remind ourselves not to be easily swayed by the temptations of sin and the world, and strive to do our best to glorify God by our lives, our every good and worthy actions and efforts in every moments, in our good interactions with one another, and seek the Lord to help and strengthen us in our faith while sincerely repenting from our sins and wickedness, turning back towards God and seeking His love and forgiveness.

Today the Church also celebrates the Feast of St. Nicholas, also known as St. Nicholas of Myra, the one who was the origin of the legend of Santa Claus or Sinterklaas, the famous figure now widely associated with Christmas. Many of the traditions and beliefs associated with the now popular Santa Claus came from the life and practices of St. Nicholas of Myra, who liked to give presents to young children in his diocese, and who was also a very dedicated shepherd and guide to his flock in Myra, a region in Asia Minor which is now part of Turkey. St. Nicholas was one of the very important Church fathers at that time, and his role in fact extended beyond just his ministry to his flock in Myra but also to the larger Church community at a time when many of the faithful were threatened from within by false teachings and heresies.

For at that time, during the early fourth century there were quite a few heresies that had arisen since the earliest days of the Church, but the true and genuine faith had prevailed in all the centuries since by the courageous defence of the dedicated and faithful Church fathers who resisted and opposed the heresies with zeal and commitment to God. Similarly, St. Nicholas of Myra was also an ardent defender of the true and orthodox teachings and faith against the heretics. During the First Ecumenical Council at Nicaea, according to some tradition, St. Nicholas was so incensed by the words of heresy presented by Arius, the popular preacher who initiated the Arian heresy, claiming that Jesus Christ is not equal to the Father, that he hit Arius in the face for his blasphemy against God.

Regardless of whether this actually happened or not, what matters is that St. Nicholas truly stood up for his faith and committed himself wholeheartedly to the Lord, devoting himself for the good of the faithful entrusted to him and for the good of the Universal Church. And his examples should be good inspiration for all of us to follow as well, in how we should continue to live our lives worthily of the Lord, distancing ourselves from sin and obeying the Law and commandments of God, while showing charity and love, care and compassion towards our fellow brothers and sisters around us. Are we able to follow his good examples, brothers and sisters in Christ? Are we willing to commit ourselves to the cause of the Lord and proclaim Him in all and every moments of our lives?

This season of Advent, let us all turn back towards the Lord with faith and have the sincere desire to seek the Lord and His forgiveness and mercy, remembering all the love and kindness that He has always shown us, His beloved people and children. Let us repent from our sins and faults, and reject the temptations of sin, seeking instead the hope and light that the Lord has shown us through His Son, Our Lord and Saviour. May the Lord continue to help and strengthen us in our journey and to persevere amidst all the struggles we may encounter in life. May God continue to help us to have a good and fruitful preparation this Advent so that we may come ever closer to His Presence and to live our lives ever more worthily as best as we are able to. May He bless our every good efforts and endeavours, and strengthen us in faith as once He has strengthened the faith of St. Nicholas, His servant, our great role model. Amen.

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Friday, 6 December 2024 : 1st Week of Advent, Memorial of St. Nicholas, Bishop (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet or White (Bishops)

Matthew 9 : 27-31

At that time, as Jesus moved on from the place where He resurrected the daughter of the official, two blind men followed Him, shouting, “Son of David, help us!” When He was about to enter the house, the blind men caught up with Him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do what you want?” They answered, “Yes, Sir!”

Then Jesus touched their eyes and said, “As you have believed, so let it be.” And their eyes were opened. Then Jesus gave them a stern warning, “Be careful that no one knows about this.” But as soon as they went away, they spread the news about Him through the whole area.

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Friday, 6 December 2024 : 1st Week of Advent, Memorial of St. Nicholas, Bishop (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet or White (Bishops)

Psalm 26 : 1, 4, 13-14

The Lord is my Light and my Salvation – whom shall I fear? The Lord is the Rampart of my life; I will not be afraid.

One thing I ask of the Lord, one thing I seek – that I may dwell in His house all the days of my life, to gaze at His jewel and to visit His sanctuary.

I hope, I am sure, that I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Trust in the Lord, be strong and courageous. Yes, put your hope in the Lord!

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Friday, 6 December 2024 : 1st Week of Advent, Memorial of St. Nicholas, Bishop (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet or White (Bishops)

Isaiah 29 : 17-24

In a very short time, Lebanon will become a fruitful field and the fruitful field will be as a forest. On that day the deaf will hear the words of the book, and out of the dark and obscurity the eyes of the blind will see. The meek will find joy and the poor among men will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

For the tyrant will be no more and the scoffers gone forever, and all who plan to do evil will be cut down – those who by a word make you guilty, those who for a bribe can lay a snare and send home the just empty-handed.

Therefore YHVH, Abraham’s Redeemer, speaks concerning the people of Jacob : No longer will Jacob be ashamed; no longer will his face grow pale. When he sees the work of My hands, his children again in his midst, they will sanctify My Name, they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and stand in awe of the God of Israel. Those who err in spirit will understand; those who murmur will learn.