Christmas 2023

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Tuesday, 2 January 2024 : Weekday of Christmas Time, Memorial of St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of the Church (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : White

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we listened to the words of the Scriptures, we are reminded of why we celebrate this Christmas season, which we are still in the midst of. In this time and season of Christmas, as we rejoice in the Lord, we joyfully welcome Him into our lives, remembering how He has come into our midst, embracing our humanity and becoming incarnate in the flesh, showing us the truth and Good News of God. This is why today we all are reminded to be committed to keep firmly the truth and the Good News which the Lord has taught us, and not to fall victim to the lies and falsehoods which the devil and all the enemies of the Lord have put all around us so that we may end up being misled by all of their efforts.

This is what St. John spoke about in his Epistle which is our first reading passage today. He mentioned about the dangers of the antichrists, all those who denied the truth of God, and spread false teachings and heresies. Heresies and false teachings are quite common throughout the history of the Church, right up to this day, but those words from St. John highlighted the fact that even from the earliest days of the Church there had been those antichrists and false prophets and leaders who had been subverting the message of truth and the Good News of God, which brought about a lot of confusion and divisions among the Church and the faithful community of God’s people, as those antichrists and false leaders led many among the people of God into the wrong paths.

That was why St. John the Apostle reminded all the faithful Christians that they should always remain focused on the Lord and His truth, and they should not allow the confusions and divisions sown by those antichrists and false prophets and leaders from dividing them into factions, sects and groups, that lead into further disagreements and divisions that could harm not only the unity of the Church, but also the state and salvation of many souls that might be led astray from the path of God’s righteousness and grace. This reminder remains true for us all even today because we are all also still exposed to all those falsehoods, temptations and persuasions from those who sought to bring us to our downfall and destruction.

In our Gospel passage today, taken from the Gospel of St. John, we are all further reminded of this truth, as we heard how St. John the Baptist responded to all those who queried and asked him about his works and whether he was the Messiah or not. St. John the Baptist was very popular back then and many people came to follow him, going to him in large numbers, seeking to be baptised by him, and repenting from their wicked and sinful ways. Yet, he clearly stated before all those who asked him whether he was the Messiah that God had promised His people, that he was not the One that they were waiting for, but rather, he was merely the Herald and servant who was to prepare the path for the coming of the Lord, to make His path and way straight before His coming.

Many people would have been tempted by the temptations of fame, glory and renown that they might end up doing things that benefit themselves and this was the main reason why all those antichrists and false prophets and leaders had risen up. Many of them confused the faithful and the people of God because they wanted to draw all of these people to themselves, for their own benefits, so that they could gain more fame, wealth, renown and glory for themselves. But St. John the Baptist remained firm in his conviction and commitment to see through what the Lord had entrusted to him, the mission and calling which he has been given, to call on all the people of God to return to Him, and to open their hearts and minds to welcome the Lord and Saviour of the world when He came.

This is why all of us as Christians should always be reminded by those Scripture passages, that we should not allow worldly temptations, attachments and ways to corrupt us and to lead us down the wrong paths in life. We should not allow our desires and greed to mislead us down the path towards sin and evil, and we should always do our best to commit our hearts and minds to follow the Lord and focus our attention on Him, and not on ourselves and our selfish ambitions, greed and desires. We must always be centred on Christ in all things, and not to let ourselves be dragged into sin and downfall, and hence we should model ourselves on our holy predecessors, those holy men and women who had gone before us.

Today, the Church also celebrates the Feast of two great saints and holy men of God, great and respected early Church fathers who were remembered for their steadfast faith and commitment as shepherds to their respective flock, and also active participation in the greater Church matters, in their commitment to resist the various heresies and falsehoods which had been widespread throughout the Church and Christendom at that time. St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory Nazianzen were bishops and elders of the Church during the time when the Church’s orthodoxy and truth were being challenged by those who had perverted and misconstrued the teachings of the Lord for their own agenda and benefits.

St. Basil the Great was also known as St. Basil of Caesarea, as the Bishop of Caesarea in Asia Minor during the time of the late Roman Empire when the Empire has gradually accepted Christianity as its dominant religion and belief, and persecutions had ceased earlier on with the toleration Edict of Milan. He was known well for his theological works and efforts in opposing the encroachment of the Arians and other heresies threatening his flock. Both him and St. Gregory Nazianzen, the then Archbishop of Constantinople, who were friends and contemporaries, courageously defended the Church against the heresy of Arianism, which had affected many parts of the Church, and which had misled many of the faithful people of God into the wrong paths. Back then, the Arian heresy had a rather strong following from the clergy and the laity alike, and they had strong following and support especially among the Imperial family and nobles.

This made it rather difficult and challenging for St. Basil and St. Gregory to carry out their mission and works, but they continued to persevere through nonetheless, facing hardships, trials and challenges for their constant commitment to the true teachings of the Lord, but they continued to devote themselves to God. St. Gregory Nazianzen in particular was also known for his great humility and refusal to entangle himself in any matters pertaining to worldly ambitions and power. He refused to be ordained a bishop for a while before eventually, he accepted the role as Archbishop of Constantinople, with the support of the new Roman Emperor, Theodosius the Great, who supported the cause of the Nicene and Trinitarian party, against the Arians. St. Gregory Nazianzen would go on to preside over the Second Ecumenical Council at Constantinople, which further solidified the true Christian teachings against the heretics. And when controversies arose because of all the disagreements and intrigues that surrounded that Council and its aftermath, St. Gregory Nazianzen chose to humbly retire and while continuing to quietly work for the greater glory of God in his retirement.

Through the many great works of St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory Nazianzen, their fearless defence of the true faith, and their commitment to God, to those flock entrusted to them, both of these holy saints of God should indeed be great inspirations and role models for all of us in how we should live our lives with faith. Let us all always be inspired by the great faith, commitment and humility which they have shown us, and do our best that our lives will always be centred and focused on the Lord as well. May the Lord be with us all and may He continue to lead us down the path of righteousness, in the path of His servants, especially St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory Nazianzen, now and always. Amen.

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Tuesday, 2 January 2024 : Weekday of Christmas Time, Memorial of St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of the Church (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

John 1 : 19-28

This was the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites to ask him, “Who are you?” John recognised the truth, and did not deny it. He said, “I am not the Messiah.”

And they asked him, “Then who are you? Elijah?” He answered, “I am not.” They said, “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” Then they said to him, “Tell us who you are, so that we can give some answer to those who sent us. How do you see yourself?”

And John said, quoting the prophet Isaiah, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness : Make straight the way of the Lord!”

Those who had been sent were Pharisees; and they put a further question to John, “Then why are you baptising, if you are not the Messiah, or Elijah, or the Prophet?” John answered, “I baptise you with water, but among you stands One Whom you do not know; although He comes after me, I am not worthy to untie the strap of His sandal.”

This happened in Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John was baptising.

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Tuesday, 2 January 2024 : Weekday of Christmas Time, Memorial of St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of the Church (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : White

Psalm 97 : 1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4

Sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done wonders; His right hand, His holy arm, has won victory for Him.

The Lord has shown His salvation, revealing His justice to the nations. He has not forgotten His love nor His faithfulness to Israel.

The farthest ends of the earth all have seen God’s saving power. All you lands, make a joyful noise to the Lord, break into song and sing praise.

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Tuesday, 2 January 2024 : Weekday of Christmas Time, Memorial of St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of the Church (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

1 John 2 : 22-28

Who is the liar? The one who denies that Jesus is the Christ. This is an antichrist, who denies both the Father and the Son. The one who denies the Son is without the Father, and those who acknowledge the Son also have the Father.

Let what you heard from the beginning remain in you. If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, you, too, will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise He Himself gave us : eternal life.

I write this to you thinking of those who try to lead you astray. You received from Him an anointing, and it remains in you, so you do not need someone to teach you. His anointing teaches you all things, it speaks the truth and does not lie to you; so remain in Him, and keep what He has taught you.

And now, my children, live in Him, so that when He appears in His glory, we may be confident and not ashamed before Him when He comes.

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Monday, 1 January 2024 : Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, and World Day of Prayer for Peace (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : White

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today on New Year’s Day of this Year of Our Lord 2024, we also mark the occasion of the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, in Greek known as ‘Theotokos’ or ‘God-bearer’. This is a title of the Blessed Virgin Mary which had originated from early in the history of the Church, as since the days of the Apostles, the Church and the faithful had consistently treated Mary with the greatest respect among all of mankind and of all the members of the Church because of her unique role in the history of salvation of mankind. By her other titles that we celebrate in the liturgical year, especially that of the Mother of the Church after Pentecost Sunday, Mary is also the Mother of the Church and the Mother of us all, because the Lord Himself has entrusted her to us to be our own loving Mother.

As the Mother of God, Mary is respected above all other saints and all the created beings, living or dead, because this is a truly unique role surpassing anything that any saints by their lives and deeds had done. After all, no one else can be the one to bear the Lord Himself like Mary had done in her blessed womb for a whole period of nine months. Mary was told by the Archangel Gabriel that she would become the one to bear the Saviour of the world, the Son of God Most High Himself. And this belief that Mary as the Mother of God has a much deeper meaning, symbolism and importance to our faith than what it may appear at a glance. Why is that so, brothers and sisters in Christ? This is because the nature of Mary as the ‘Mother of God’ is inextricably linked to the nature of her Son, Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

There was a time in the early Church when there were varying beliefs and schools of thought regarding the nature of Our Lord Jesus, as while the Apostles had taught and most of the Church fathers had preserved the teachings that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and Son of Man at the same time, co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and the Holy Spirit, with distinct yet indivisible Divine and Human natures, united in the Person of Jesus Christ, there were some who considered that Jesus Christ as born of the Blessed Virgin Mary was merely a Man, and has separate nature from His Divine nature. This stemmed from a belief that Mary could not have been the Mother of God as how could God be contained in the womb of a woman like Mary?

However, this contradicted everything that the Church had always taught and believed from the beginning about Mary, whom the Church had always believed to be holy and full of grace, according to the words of the Archangel Gabriel himself. When Archangel Gabriel mentioned to Mary, ‘Hail Mary, full of grace!’ as we also repeat every time when we pray the Ave Maria or Hail Mary prayer, he was in fact referring to the fact that Mary is truly full of God’s grace, and if we understand better what grace is, it means that one’s actions and life are aligned with God, and fullness of grace means that Mary is perfectly attuned to the Lord, and hence, was not tainted by the taint and corruption of sin at all throughout her whole life.

And that is what we all believe in Mary’s special role in delivering unto us the Saviour of the world, the Divine Word of God Incarnate, that she, by the singular grace of God, had been protected and spared from any taint of sin, in the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception, which while it was only formally codified and defined over a hundred and fifty years ago by the Church, it had been part of the Church teachings and beliefs since the very beginning of the Church. And this is inextricably linked to the Dogma of the Divine Motherhood, which the Church celebrates today, as the fact that Mary was hallowed and made perfect highlighted that the One Whom she bore in her womb was none other than the Lord Himself, fully Divine and fully Man.

This is because like the old Ark of the Covenant, which God had hallowed and blessed, to bear His Holy Presence coming down among His people, thus, Mary, as the New Ark of the New Covenant of God, had been made not by human hands but by the Lord Himself, hallowed and blessed, to be the worthy vessel to bear the Son of God, the Divine being contained in the flesh, in the Person of Our Lord and Saviour. This would not have been necessary if Mary was merely the mother of Jesus Christ, the Man, and not the Mother of God as well. Some of those who held on to false and heretical beliefs back then argued that Mary was merely the Mother of Christ, or Christotokos, and not Theotokos, or the Mother of God as the Church has always upheld.

All of these disagreements and differences were resolved at the Ecumenical Council of Ephesus where those who adhered to the heresy of Nestorianism were condemned, and the Church officially declared Mary as the Mother of God, or Theotokos. Nestorianism was a heresy championed by the then Archbishop of the See of Constantinople, Nestorius, who propagated the extreme dyophysite idea that the Divine nature and the Human nature of Christ were separate and distinct, and not united in the Person of Jesus Christ. As such, significant numbers of the Nestorians also believed that Mary was only the Mother of Jesus Christ in His human nature, not in His Divine nature, hence rejecting the title of Mother of God for her.

The Ecumenical Council of Ephesus resoundingly rejected that view and idea, and reaffirmed the Church’s beliefs that Jesus Christ is truly Divine and Human, and His two natures, while distinct, are united indivisibly and cannot be separated, united perfectly in a hypostatic union in His Person. Because of that, Mary is not merely just the Mother of Jesus Christ, the Son of Man, but also the Mother of God the Son, hence being the Mother of God. And it is this great position and honour that Mary has, which made her to be esteemed and honoured above all the other saints and holy men and women of God. But all of us as Christians also honour her ultimately because of her great faith, obedience to God and commitment to Him.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we all celebrate the Divine Motherhood of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, let us all remember that she is also our mother as well, for the Lord has entrusted her to us, and all of us to her vice versa. Not only that, but by sharing in our humanity, the Lord has brought us all under His mother’s loving care and attention. Mary has always been loving and attentive towards us all, whom she has treated as her own beloved children. This is why she has always interceded for us, and appeared many times to remind us and to chastise us for our sinful ways and wickedness, through time and history. As our mother, she has always looked upon us with love and pity, seeing how we are all still shackled by the many bonds and entanglements of sin and worldly desires.

Let us all therefore today strive to change our ways for the better, heeding our loving Mother’s call, for us to repent and turn back towards her Son, Our Lord and Saviour. Let us all be thankful that the Mother of God herself has always loved us and cared for us, and has shown us the surest and best path towards salvation in her Son. Let us all hence do our part so that our new year may begin in the right manner, free from the corruption of sin and evil, and let us all do our best so that our lives may truly be exemplary and holy, following the examples of Mary herself, the Mother of God, our loving Mother. Let us all follow her examples so that we may also be filled with God’s grace, and be freed from the attachments we had to sin and evils all around us.

Today, the Church also commemorates the World Day of Peace or the World Day of Prayer for Peace. Therefore, on this particular occasion, and keeping in mind how conflicts are still raging all around the world, particularly in Ukraine and in the Holy Land, let us all ask the Blessed Mother of God to intercede for us, and let us all also pray together as one people, seeking and desiring for peace in our world today. Let us all do whatever we can to promote peace and to work against misinformations and efforts by some to stir hatred and anger amongst us, so that we may indeed all work together towards genuine peace in our world. Let us all pray and support all of our leaders and everyone involved in negotiating the peace process.

May the Blessed Mother of God, Theotokos, continue to guide us as always, towards her Son, our Lord and Saviour, and may she always direct us and our attention towards Him, and no longer towards all the temptations of this world. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.

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Monday, 1 January 2024 : Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, and World Day of Prayer for Peace (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

Luke 2 : 16-21

So the shepherds came hurriedly, and found Mary and Joseph, and the Baby lying in the manger. On seeing Him, they related what they had been told about the Child, and all were astonished on hearing the shepherds.

As for Mary, she treasured all these words, and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds then returned, giving glory and praise to God for all they had heard and seen, just as the Angels had told them.

On the eighth day the circumcision of the Baby had to be performed; He was named Jesus, the Name the Angel had given Him before He was conceived.

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Monday, 1 January 2024 : Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, and World Day of Prayer for Peace (Second Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

Galatians 4 : 4-7

But when the fullness of time came, God sent His Son. He came born of woman and subject to the Law, in order to redeem the subjects of the Law, that we might receive adoption as children of God.

And because you are children, God has sent into your hearts the Spirit of His Son which cries out : Abba! That is, Father! You yourself are no longer a slave but a son or daughter, and yours is the inheritance by God’s grace.

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Monday, 1 January 2024 : Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, and World Day of Prayer for Peace (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : White

Psalm 66 : 2-3, 5, 6 and 8

May God be gracious and bless us; may He let His face shine upon us, that Your way be known on earth and Your salvation among the nations.

May the countries be glad and sing for joy, for You rule the peoples with justice and guide the nations of the world.

May the peoples praise You, o God, may all the peoples praise You! May God bless us and be revered, to the very ends of the earth.

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Monday, 1 January 2024 : Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, and World Day of Prayer for Peace (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

Numbers 6 : 22-27

Then YHVH spoke to Moses saying, “Speak to Aaron and his sons and say to them : This is how you shall bless the people of Israel; you shall say : May YHVH bless you and keep you! May YHVH let His face shine on you, and be gracious to you! May YHVH look kindly on you, and give you His peace!”

“In that way they put My Name on the people of Israel and I will bless them.”

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(Usus Antiquior) Feast of the Circumcision of our Lord, Octave Day of Christmas (Double II Classis) – Monday, 1 January 2024 : Offertory, Secret Prayer of the Priest, Communion and Post-Communion Prayer

Liturgical Colour : White

Offertory

Psalm 88 : 12, 15

Tui sunt caeli et Tua est terra : orbem terrarum et plenitudinem ejus Tu fundasti : justitia et judicium praeparatio sedis Tuae.

English translation

Yours are the heavens and Yours is the earth, the world and the fullness thereof You have found. Justice and judgment are the preparation of Your throne.

Secret Prayer of the Priest

Muneribus nostris, quaesumus, Domine, precibusque susceptis : et caelestibus nos munda mysteriis, et clementer exaudi. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium Tuum, qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus. Per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

English translation

Accept our offerings and prayers, we beseech You, o Lord. Cleanse us by Your heavenly mysteries and graciously hear us. 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.

Preface of the Nativity

Vere dignum et justum est, aequum et salutare, nos tibi semper et ubique gratias agere : Domine, Sancte Pater omnipotens, aeterne Deus : Quia per incarnati Verbi mysterium nova mentis nostrae oculis lux Tuae claritatis infulsit : ut, dum visibiliter Deum cognoscimus, per hunc in invisibilium amorem rapiamur. Et ideo cum Angelis et Archangelis, cum Thronis et Dominationibus cumque omni militia caelestis exercitus hymnum gloriae Tuae canimus, sine fine dicentes :

English translation

It is truly meet and just, right and available to salvation, that we should always and in all places give thanks to You, o Holy Lord, Father Almighty, eternal God, because by the mystery of the Word made flesh, from Your brightness a new Light had risen to shine on the eyes of our souls, in order that, God becoming visible to us, we may be borne upward to the love of things invisible. And therefore with the Angels and Archangels, with the Dominions and Powers, with all the hosts of the heavenly army, we sing of Your glory without end saying :

Communion

Psalm 97 : 3

Viderunt omnes fines terrae salutare Dei nostri.

English translation

All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

Post-Communion Prayer

Haec nos communio, Domine, purget a crimine : et, intercedente Beata Virgine Dei Genetrice Maria, caelestis remedii faciat esse consortes. Per eumdem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

English translation

May this communion, o Lord, cleanse us from sin and, by the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, make us partakers of the heavenly remedy. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.