bishops

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Wednesday, 28 August 2024 : 21st Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

2 Thessalonians 3 : 6-10, 16-18

We command you, beloved, to stay away from believers who are living in idleness, contrary to the traditions we passed on to you. You know, how you ought to follow our example : we worked while we were with you. Day and night, we laboured and toiled so as not to be a burden to any of you.

We had the right to act otherwise, but we wanted to give you an example. Besides, while we were with you, we said clearly : if anyone is not willing to work, neither should that one eat.

May the Lord of peace give you His peace at all times and in every way. May the Lord be with you all. I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is my signature in all my letters. This is how I write. May the grace of Christ Jesus our Lord be with you.

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Wednesday, 21 August 2024 : 20th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of Pope St. Pius X, Pope (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : White

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we all listened to the words of the Sacred Scriptures, we are all reminded of the need for all of us to embrace God’s call and listen to Him calling us to follow Him. And as Christians, as God’s holy and beloved people, we have also been tasked with the various missions, responsibilities and opportunities through which we are expected to do our part as members of the Church of God, to do our actions and deeds in accordance to what God Himself has shown and taught us to do. Each and every one of us have these responsibilities and duties that God has entrusted to us, and we should not ignore or neglect them, because then the Lord will ask us to account for everything that we have done, and what we have failed to do, in the end, at the time of Judgment.

In our first reading today, we heard of the passage from the Book of the prophet Ezekiel in which the Lord issued strong rebuke and condemnation against those shepherds of Israel who have not done as they should in guiding and taking care of the people of God, the flock of Israel, God’s own beloved people. This was a reference to how the kings and the other leaders of the Israelites had not done what they were supposed to do in leading the people of God and shepherding them properly as they should have done. They instead misled them down the path of sin, by disobeying God’s Law and commandments, worshipping pagan gods and false idols that led the people away from the worship of God, the one and only True God Whom alone they ought to worship.

In their lack of faith and obedience to God, that was why the Lord warned all those wicked shepherds, leaders and guides, reminding them all how misfortune and sufferings would befall them as a just consequence for their lack of virtue and commitment to the missions entrusted to them. And to us all, this is a reminder that we ourselves are also entrusted with similar tasks, missions and responsibilities in our own paths and journeys in life. And if we do not make the necessary efforts to live our lives worthily of the Lord and be the good role models and inspirations for one another, then we shall also be held accountable by the Lord as well. We must not this happen to us, and we should always remind ourselves to be ever more committed and true to our faith in God at all times.

Then, in our Gospel passage today, we heard from the Gospel according to St. Matthew in which we heard the words of the Lord to His disciples as He told them the parable of the workers in a vineyard, called and chosen by the master of the vineyard to be working in his field at different appointed times, right up to the very last moments. In that parable we heard how different people responded to the master’s call at different times, some earlier while some later, and in the end, they all received the same pay and compensation from the master of the vineyard, a silver coin each as he had agreed with each and every one of them. But as we heard, some of those people were unhappy because they had answered the master’s call earlier and worked for longer, and yet, they were not rewarded more. They had likely expected that they would be awarded more for their efforts.

This is an important reminder for each and every one of us that we should not allow ourselves to be easily swayed by worldly desires, ambitions and the seeking of attainments and achievements in this world. God gives us all freely His love and salvation, assuring each and every one of us of His equal and most generous love, but He does not discriminate us by our efforts, nor that we can be more worthy or any better than our fellow brethren simply by us thinking that we have done more good things and deeds in our lives, or that we have observed more of God’s Law and commandments. This was in fact also a veiled criticism that the Lord directed towards the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law of His time, many of whom had elitist attitudes and often looked down on those whom they viewed as inferior and unworthy of God’s salvation, love and grace.

Instead of being jealous of one another or thinking that we are in any way superior than one another, we should help each other in our path towards the Lord. And rather than comparing ourselves with others, thinking that we are superior and better, or by being endlessly preoccupied with finding out whether we are more worthy or not, we should instead focus our thoughts, efforts and attention to reorientate our lives towards the Lord and to do our best at every opportunities that have been given to us so that we may remember to do our works, our every actions, efforts and deeds all for the sake and glory of God instead of for our own glorification, fame, power or benefits instead. If we allow the temptations of our ego, pride and desire to corrupt and turn us away from the focus that we ought to have in God, then we may end up falling through the slippery slope of sin instead of coming closer to God and His salvation.

Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of Pope St. Pius X, a great and holy Pope well-remembered for his great piety and devotion to God, his many works and contributions to the Church, especially in championing the easier access to the Sacrament of the Most Holy Eucharist to the children of a younger age, that he is now known as the Pope of the Eucharist. Pope St. Pius X was born into a poor Italian family as Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto, the second of ten children. His parents, while poor, was very devout to the Lord and valued education and formation for their family, ensuring that the young Giuseppe was properly educated despite their poverty and situation. Eventually, Giuseppe Sarto continued to do well in his education and eventually received a scholarship to continue with his priestly formation in a seminary, eventually ordained as a priest.

During his priestly ministry, he was well-known for his great holiness and care for his flock, and was very dedicated in one occasion as the Archpriest of Salzano, where he helped to restore the church that had been run down at the time and building expansion to the local hospital, which he managed to support from his efforts, including even begging and other things that he had done for his flock. He also cared greatly for the people under his care during an epidemic of cholera that struck the area. Eventually this gained the attention of the diocese, and he was trusted as a canon of the Cathedral and then as the Chancellor for the Diocese of Treviso in northern Italy. He continued to do his best to care for the needs of the people entrusted to him, placing a lot of emphasis on the youth, on their education and upbringing, which he would continue as the Pope many years later.

Then, the future Pope St. Pius X was appointed and ordained as the Bishop of Mantua, continuing with his many earlier good works and efforts. He was made a Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church and then soon after the Patriarch of Venice, entrusted with the care of one of the largest and the most prominent dioceses in the Church at the time. He continued to labour hard for the sake of his beloved flock, being a very pastoral shepherd to his people, reaching out to them and being concerned about their needs, both physical and spiritual. Then, he was eventually elected as Pope, taking the name of Pius, in the Year of Our Lord 1903, during whose Pontificate, he was truly well known as mentioned, for his championing of the cause of earlier age for the reception of the First Holy Communion by the young children as long as they have reached the age of reason and received proper catechesis and preparation.

He was also renowned for his hard work against the dangers of modernism that was then harming the Church and the Christian community. He continued to work hard to the very end, dying heartbroken over the terrible wars that began in Europe, which would become the First World War. To that very end, Pope St. Pius X showed us that he was truly a great and loving shepherd to all of God’s flock and people, whom he has always been concerned about, thinking about them at each and every moments, worrying about their well-being and salvation at all times. The courageous and faithful life, work and dedication of Pope St. Pius X, holy man of God should indeed be great inspirations for all of us to follow in our own lives.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we remembered what we have just discussed from the Sacred Scriptures regarding the need for all of us as Christians to live our lives to the fullest and focus ourselves on the Lord instead of upon our own selfish desires and ambitions, and inspired by the great examples of Pope St. Pius X, his dedication and commitment to God, in everything that he had done throughout his life from his early years up to his Pontificate and leadership of the Universal Church, let us all hence do our part as holy and beloved people of God so that we may truly live our lives worthily of the Lord from now on if we have not done so. Each and every one of us have been called by the Lord to follow Him, to do what He has tasked and entrusted us to do, and let us all hence do our best to live up to what He has expected us to do in each and every moments of our lives henceforth.

May the Lord be with us always, and may He continue to empower each and every one of us so that we may continue to draw ever closer to Him, and continue to focus our efforts and attention on Him, putting Him as the focus and centre of our whole lives and existence. May God be with us all His Church and His beloved disciples and followers, and may He empower us all to continue to be able to persevere and to be strong in our Christian faith and living, despite all the challenges and trials that we may have to face, now and always. Amen.

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Wednesday, 21 August 2024 : 20th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of Pope St. Pius X, Pope (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

Matthew 20 : 1-16a

At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, “This story throws light on the kingdom of heaven : A landowner went out early in the morning, to hire workers for his vineyard. He agreed to pay each worker the usual daily wage, and sent them to his vineyard.”

“He went out again, at about nine in the morning, and, seeing others idle in the town square, he said to them, ‘You also, go to my vineyard, and I will pay you what is just.’ So they went. The owner went out at midday, and, again, at three in the afternoon, and he made the same offer.”

“Again he went out, at the last working hour – the eleventh – and he saw others standing around. So he said to them, ‘Why do you stand idle the whole day?’ They answered, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ The master said, ‘Go, and work in my vineyard.'”

“When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wage, beginning with the last and ending with the first.’ Those who had gone to work at the eleventh hour came up, and were each given a silver coin. When it was the turn of the first, they thought they would receive more. But they, too, received one silver coin. On receiving it, they began to grumble against the landowner.”

“They said, ‘These last, hardly worked an hour; yet, you have treated them the same as us, who have endured the heavy work of the day and the heat.’ The owner said to one of them, ‘Friend, I have not been unjust to you. Did we not agree on one silver coin per day? So take what is yours and go. I want to give to the last the same as I give to you. Do I not have the right to do as I please with what is mine? Why are you envious when I am kind?'”

“So will it be : the last will be first.”

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Wednesday, 21 August 2024 : 20th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of Pope St. Pius X, Pope (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : White

Psalm 22 : 1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul.

He guides me through the right paths for His Name’s sake. Although I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are beside me : Your rod and Your staff comfort me.

You spread a table before me in the presence of my foes. You anoint my head with oil; my cup is overflowing.

Goodness and kindness will follow me all the days of my life. I shall dwell in the house of the Lord as long as I live.

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Wednesday, 21 August 2024 : 20th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of Pope St. Pius X, Pope (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

Ezekiel 34 : 1-11

The word of YHVH came to me in these terms, “Son of man, speak on My behalf against the shepherds of Israel! Say to the shepherds on My behalf : Woe to the shepherds of Israel, who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flock? But you feed on milk and are clothed in wool, and you slaughter the fattest sheep. You have not taken care of the flock; you have not strengthened the weak, cared for the sick or bandaged the injured.”

“You have not gone after the sheep that strayed or searched for the one that was lost. Instead, you ruled them harshly and were their oppressors. They have scattered, for want of a shepherd, and became prey of wild animals. My sheep wander over the mountains and high hills; and when they are scattered throughout the land, no one bothers about them or looks for them.”

“Hear then, shepherds, what YHVH says : As I live – word of YHVH, – because My sheep have been the prey of wild animals and become their food for want of shepherds, because the shepherds have not cared for My sheep, because, you, shepherds have not bothered about them, but fed yourselves, and not the flocks, because of that, hear the word of YHVH.”

“This is what YHVH says : I will ask an account of the shepherds and reclaim My sheep from them. No longer shall they tend My flock; nor shall there be shepherds who feed themselves. I shall save the flock from their mouths; and no longer shall it be food for them.”

“Indeed YHVH says this : I, Myself, will care for My sheep and watch over them.”

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Friday, 2 August 2024 : 17th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Eusebius of Vercelli, Bishop, and St. Peter Julian Eymard, Priest (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Bishops or Priests)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, as we listened through the readings of the Sacred Scriptures that we have received today, we are all reminded that we must not be like those hypocrites and our fallen predecessors who have not truly dedicated and committed themselves to the Lord as they should have done. We must be truly faithful and humble in what we do in our lives so that we do not end up falling into temptations of pride, ego and human ambitions, and all other things that may prevent and distract us from finding the true path towards the Lord and His salvation. We must learn to listen to the Lord speaking to us in each and every moments of our lives, heeding His words which He has spoken to us in the depth of our hearts and minds.

In our first reading today, we heard from the Book of the prophet Jeremiah in which the account of the works of Jeremiah amongst the people of the kingdom of Judah is highlighted to us. The prophet Jeremiah was sent by God to His people living in Judah, the southern half of the once united kingdom of Israel. Back then, at that time, the northern half of the kingdom, also known as Israel, had been destroyed and conquered by their enemies, the Assyrians, which destroyed not just their towns and homes, but also uprooted and forcibly moving many of them far away from their ancestral lands, bringing them into exile in distant and far-off lands of Mesopotamia and Assyria. It is this same exact fate which would soon befall the kingdom and people of Judah as well.

Thus, the Lord told Jeremiah to go up to the Temple, the Holy House of God which had been built and established by King Solomon of Israel to be the great and worthy House where God Himself would dwell among His people. However, people of Judah had also disobeyed the Lord and refused to follow and obey His Law and commandments truthfully and wholeheartedly. They allowed themselves to be tempted and swayed by the temptations of the evil ones, and they did not offer their sacrifices and offerings with hearts and minds that were truly focused and centred on God. Instead, they also worshipped other pagan idols and false gods, corrupting the Temple and the worship of God with their attitude and actions. For all those things God therefore chastised them and wanted them to realise that they had to be responsible for their choice of actions in life.

Then in the Gospel passage today taken from the Gospel according to St. Matthew where we heard of the time when the Lord Jesus went back to Nazareth, to His own hometown where He grew up in. The people of that town refused to believe in the Lord and even openly doubted Him, quoting how He was merely the Son of the village carpenter, namely St. Joseph, the foster father of the Lord. This means that they belittled the Lord and thought that it was impossible for someone of such a humble and lowly stature and status in the society to have been given the power and wisdom as they had heard about the Lord. At that time, as is also often throughout history, jobs like that of a carpenter, while truly essential and important for the community, it was also one that is often looked down upon and be prejudiced against.

Essentially, the people of Nazareth thought that they knew it better, and in their pride, they closed their hearts and minds against the Lord, refusing to listen to Him and to believe in Him despite everything that they themselves might have witnessed, seen and heard, from all the signs and wonders that the Lord Jesus had performed in their midst and in the regions surrounding Nazareth. This was in fact the same attitude shown by the people of Judah at the time of the prophet Jeremiah, in refusing to believe in this prophet of God, preferring to dwell in their own denial and thoughts that what the prophet Jeremiah had told and forewarned them could not have come to reality. It was too late for many of them by the time they realised that Jeremiah was speaking the truth.

This is also a reminder for all of us as God’s followers and disciples that in the course of our lives as Christians and in the midst of our faithful living of our respective missions and works, our everyday living as the faithful and holy people of God we may encounter challenges and difficulties in our journey of faith and life, especially from those who refuse to believe in the Lord and His truth, and also those who have allowed their pride and ego to cloud their thoughts and minds, their judgments and ways. It is also a reminder for us therefore not to be distracted by these same temptations either. We should always keep in mind that we are all called to holy and worthy lives that are truly reflecting our beliefs in the Lord, at all times, and we should be good role models and examples for our fellow brethren as well.

Today, the Church also celebrates the feast of two great saints, whose life and faith in God should serve as good examples and inspiration for every one of us in how we should live our own lives as Christians, namely that of St. Eusebius of Vercelli, a holy bishop that was one of the great early Church fathers during the time when Christianity was emancipated from its persecutions under the Roman Empire, as well as St. Peter Julian Eymard, a courageous and holy priest who founded two religious institutes and popularised the devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, to the Real Presence of the Lord in the Eucharist. Each one of them are great inspirations and role models for us all in their own respective ways, showing us what we should do as Christians in each and every moments of our own lives.

St. Eusebius of Vercelli was the Bishop of Vercelli during the time when Christianity had no longer been persecuted by the Roman state, and became increasingly widespread throughout the Empire. He was born in Sardinia, and eventually was elected as the Bishop of Vercelli by the local populace as was the common custom at the time because of his great piety and exemplary life, which according to the tradition of his life led him to be elected instead of the local members of the clergy. He founded a priestly community that lived together and supporting each other, living with great example of piety and faith in God. He was also well remembered for his great stand for his faith in the Lord, in opposing the heretics and all those who sided with them like the Arians and other heresies of the time.

St. Eusebius was even persecuted and made to suffer for this great faith he had in the Lord, refusing to condemn his fellow bishop, the holy and committed St. Athanasius of Alexandria who also stood by the orthodox and true Christian faith against the heretics. St. Eusebius was even dragged through the streets amidst one of these persecutions, but all these things could not dampen his courage and enthusiasm in serving the Lord and proclaiming His truth among the people of God. He also worked hard in trying to bring about reconciliation and reunion between those who been separated and torn apart by all the divisions caused by the heresies of that time. He continued to minister to his flock faithfully and devotedly to the end of his life.

Meanwhile, St. Peter Julian Eymard as mentioned was a priest that helped to spread the popular devotions to the Blessed Sacrament, the Real Presence of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in the Most Holy Eucharist. Most Holy Eucharist. He was born in the French Alps region and had been known for his intense devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God since very early on in his life. And after he entered the seminary and eventually becoming a priest, he grew ever stronger in his dedication to the Blessed Sacrament, and eventually leading to him establishing two congregations closely related to the Blessed Sacrament in their charism and works, namely the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament and the Servants of the Blessed Sacrament for men and women respectively, spreading the devotion and love for the Lord in the Eucharist to many more people, helping many of them on the way to the salvation in God.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, as we have heard from our Scripture passages today and from the courageous and faithful lives of God’s holy servants, our predecessors, St. Eusebius of Vercelli and St. Peter Julian Eymard, let us all therefore do our part to continue living our lives with great faith and commitment to God. We should be inspired by the great examples of those who have gone before us, especially during times when we may be facing lots of challenges and difficulties in our journey as Christians, as God’s holy and faithful people. Let us all never be discouraged and disheartened by the persecutions and trials we may have to endure in our lives as the faithful disciples of the Lord. May God continue to bless and strengthen us all in our every moments in life, now and always. Amen.

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Friday, 2 August 2024 : 17th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Eusebius of Vercelli, Bishop, and St. Peter Julian Eymard, Priest (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Bishops or Priests)

Matthew 13 : 54-58

At that time, Jesus went to His hometown and taught the people in their synagogue. They were amazed and said, “Where did He get this wisdom and these special powers? Is He not the carpenter’s Son? Is Mary not His mother and are James, Joseph, Simon and Judas not His brothers? Are not all His sisters living here? How did He get all this?” And so they took offence at Him.

Jesus said to them, “The only place where prophets are not welcome is their hometown and in their own family.” And He did not perform many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

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Friday, 2 August 2024 : 17th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Eusebius of Vercelli, Bishop, and St. Peter Julian Eymard, Priest (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Bishops or Priests)

Psalm 68 : 5, 8-10, 14

More than the hairs of my head are those who hate me for no reason; mighty are those who attack me, many are my enemies without cause. What I did not steal I am forced to restore.

Since I am held in contempt for Your sake, and shame has covered my face. I have become a stranger to my kindred, an alien to my mother’s sons. Zeal for Your House consumes me, as fire, and those who insult You, insult me as well.

But I pray to You, o YHVH. At a time most favourable to You, in Your great love, o God, answer me, with Your unfailing help.

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Friday, 2 August 2024 : 17th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Eusebius of Vercelli, Bishop, and St. Peter Julian Eymard, Priest (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Bishops or Priests)

Jeremiah 26 : 1-9

At the beginning of the reign of Judah’s king Jehoiakim son of Josiah, the word of YHVH came to Jeremiah : YHVH says this, “Stand in the courtyard of YHVH’s House and say to all who come from the towns of Judah to worship in YHVH’s House – all that I command you to say; do not omit anything! Perhaps they will listen to you. Perhaps each one will turn from his wicked ways. Then I will change My mind and forget the destruction that I have planned to inflict on them because of their wicked deeds.”

“Tell them : This is what YHVH says : ‘You have not obeyed Me and you have failed to walk according to My law which I have set before you. You have not heeded My servants, the prophets, whom I have persistently sent to you. If you stubbornly close your ears to them, I will treat this House of Mine as I treated the Sanctuary of Shiloh and let all the nations see that Jerusalem is a cursed city.’”

The priests, the prophets and all the people heard what Jeremiah said in YHVH’s House. When Jeremiah finished saying all that YHVH had commanded, he was besieged by the priests and prophets saying, “You are bound to die! How dare you speak in YHVH’s Name telling us that this House will be treated like Shiloh and this city is to become a deserted ruin.” And all the people gathered around Jeremiah in the House of YHVH.

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Thursday, 1 August 2024 : 17th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : White

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, as we listened to the words of the Sacred Scriptures we have received today, we are all again reminded as ever of God’s ever bountiful and generous love and mercy, which He has always extended to us all without exception. Each and every one of us are truly precious to God and He has loved us all patiently and wonderfully despite our frequent disobedience and stubborn attitudes, in refusing to listen to Him and in choosing to follow the path of the evil one instead of His path. God has always been kind, loving and merciful towards us, but ultimately, the choice is ours whether we want to embrace God’s mercy and forgiveness, or whether we continue to walk down the path towards ruin and damnation, as sin will lead us surely to those.

In our first reading today, we heard the continuation of the discourse from the Book of the prophet Jeremiah in which God spoke to His people in the kingdom of Judah, to whom Jeremiah had been sent to be minister and guide. Prophet Jeremiah had faced a lot of difficulties, challenges and hardships throughout his years of ministry and work among the people of Judah, as he had to face the stubborn attitude of all those who refused to believe in God and His truth. Yet, the Lord continued to support and strengthen Jeremiah in his ministry, and continued to send His words of reassurance and love for His people in the midst of all the warnings and premonitions He had told them all, of the consequences of their wickedness and sins.

God was essentially telling His people and reminding them that while they had to be responsible for the wickedness and evil deeds that they had committed, and while they had to realise that their sins and wickedness could tear them away from God’s love and kindness, His mercy and love, but if they remember God’s love and the great and loving mercy and compassion that the Lord has for them, and if they repent from their sinful ways, there would be path for them to enter into God’s glorious inheritance and receive the bountiful blessings that He has prepared for all of them. God does not desire the destruction and doom of any of those whom He loves, and He truly loves each and every one of us, brothers and sisters. Through the example of a potter moulding his pottery that the prophet Jeremiah mentioned, we are reminded that we should allow the Lord to mould us all and our lives so that our lives henceforth may truly be pleasing to God.

Then, in our Gospel passage today from the Gospel of St. Matthew, in continuation of the parables that the Lord used to describe and proclaim the Kingdom of Heaven or the Kingdom of God, He described it as we heard in today’s passage using the example of a great fishing net that gathered all kinds of fish, big and small, and where the Angels of God sort out the good from the bad ones. These are reminders for us all that first of all, the Kingdom of God is open to everyone, to all of God’s children because God truly loves each and every one of us without exception. God wants all of us to come to Him, and He has extended this generously and freely to us. However, just as we have been reminded as well, how the bad and flawed fish are rejected and destroyed, we must remember that God calls us all to follow Him into the path of righteousness and virtue.

This means that just as how God described Himself like a Potter in the reading from the Book of the prophet Jeremiah, thus, all of us must also allow the Lord to transform us according to His will. We must not be stubborn and hardened in our hearts and minds anymore, but we must be willing to listen to God speaking in the depth of our hearts, as He constantly reached out to us and calling us to embrace His love and compassionate mercy. We should heed His call and appreciate all the efforts that He had put into caring for us and our needs, in patiently guiding us down the right path in life. We should not take this love we have been blessed with for granted, as we have been reminded that at the end of time, at the moment of reckoning, we will have to account for everything we do, be it good or wicked deeds. We do not want the situation when it is too late for us to repent and return to God especially when He has given us so many opportunities to do so.

Today, the Church also celebrates the Feast of St. Alphonsus Liguori, who is known well today as the founder of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, also known as the Redemptorists. He was born in what is today the southern part of Italy near the city of Naples to a noble but impoverished family. As he had physical and visual defects that prevented any careers in the military, he was prepared to a career in the civil and legal profession as a lawyer. He became a successful lawyer but later on heard a calling from God to be His servant, especially so after he lost an important legal case. He began preparing to be a priest, and had some initial tussle with his father who disagreed with his decision. Eventually he was ordained as a priest and began a wonderful work and mission as a servant of God spanning no less than six decades.

St. Alphonsus Liguori reached out to many of the people in the various places that he ministered in, becoming well known and loved for his simple yet powerful homilies which touched the hearts and minds of many among the people, encouraging many of them to be active in living their Christian faith, with many following in his footsteps and participating in his popular Evening Chapels program run by the young people. And eventually, as mentioned, he founded the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, the Redemptorists, gathering those who have been called by God to preach and minister to the people of God especially those who have been living in ignorance of God and His ways, corrupted and misguided by sin, and to all those who are poor and disadvantaged in the community.

And even when later on he was appointed as bishop, as the Bishop of Sant’ Agata de Goti, he devoted himself to his flock and diocese, caring for the people of God and devoting himself to the reform of the Church and his diocese, rooting out corruptions and excesses that had afflicted many of the members of the clergy that had brought upon scandal on the Church. St. Alphonsus Liguori continued to dedicate himself to the last moments of his life, and after he retired from his works as bishop, he continued to minister through prayer and righteous life, which inspired many others to follow his examples, as shown by the rapid growth of the Redemptorists, which flourished to this very day, with many answering God’s call to proclaim His mercy and compassion, His redemption and love to the people of all the nations.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, as we have heard from today’s Scripture passages and the life and examples of St. Alphonsus Liguori, let us all therefore strive to be ever more faithful and committed to God in all things. Let us all first be reminded of God’s ever wonderful love and compassion for us, and then let us all follow in the footsteps of St. Alphonsus Liguori in always doing our very best to show God’s love and truth in the midst of our communities, by living our whole lives worthily and faithfully as Christians, in being good role models and examples to our fellow brothers and sisters around us. May the Lord, our ever loving and merciful God continue to bless us with His love and grace, and may He continue to empower us all to live ever more worthily in His Presence, now and always. Amen.