Doctors of the Church

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Wednesday, 21 December 2022 : 4th Week of Advent, Memorial of St. Peter Canisius, Priest and Doctor of the Church (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today we listened to the words of the Scriptures reminding all of us to focus on the coming of the Lord Who has come to dwell among His people and how we, as those who are so fortunate to have been given such a great grace from God, should be ever grateful and appreciative of everything that He had done for our sake, from the very beginning until now. And as we continue to come ever closer to the season and celebrations of Christmas, we are constantly being reminded of why we rejoice this upcoming Christmas and what it is that we are all celebrating about. It is not about ourselves and our desires for merrymaking and festivities, all the joy and parties that we are celebrating Christmas for, but rather we rejoice because God’s love and mercy have been shown to us in the most concrete ways possible in Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Saviour.

In our first reading today, taken from the Book of Song of Songs, we heard the words of the joy that a lover had found in discovering the true love, which was in fact a reference to mankind and their love for God. It was in fact the Lord speaking directly to all of us, His beloved people, the ones whom He loves dearly, of the joyous and happy days that will come our way, when our Lord will come to us and we will walk in His Presence once again, with the fullness of joy, and with the shame and the veil of sin have been lifted up from us, and death and destruction no longer hold their power and dominion over us. God has always reached out to us and sought for us, seeking to reconcile us with Himself, and in doing so, He sent us His own begotten and beloved Son, to be our Saviour, Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Son of Man.

In our Gospel passage today, we heard of the account of the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth, her cousin, which happened because Mary heard from the Archangel Gabriel that Elizabeth, even in her old age and way past childbearing age, was bearing a child, who would be St. John the Baptist, the Herald of the Messiah. Meanwhile, Mary herself was in fact also bearing within her, her own Son, the Son of God just as the Archangel Gabriel had announced to her earlier on at the same occasion in Nazareth. It was the moment when God finally fulfilled the promises which He had promised mankind since the very beginning, that He would send unto them a Saviour, to deliver all of them from the hands of Satan, the dominion and bondage under sin, evil and death. Through the Son that Mary had borne within her, God will save all of His people.

Elizabeth herself, filled with the Holy Spirit and great joy, recognised Mary and the One she bore within her the very moment that she encountered her. She was thankful for the opportunity to be in the very presence of the Mother of God, to bring forth the Saviour Himself so close to her. Her own baby, St. John the Baptist, who was also still in her womb, also recognised his Lord and Master in the womb of Mary. Then, we heard as in our Psalm today, the glorious and most joyful words of Mary’s song of praise, the Magnificat, praising God for all that He had done for His people, and the grace He has bestowed on all of us mankind, and also for herself, to be the Mother of God and Saviour, bringing for His salvation to all the people, fulfilling the many promises and the Covenant that He had made with all of us.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, as we reflect on these words of the Scriptures, we can clearly see that there is that sense of great joy that should also be present in each one of us, as we await the imminent coming of our Lord and Saviour, just as He has come into this world and entered our human history two millennia ago. As we draw now already so close to Christmas and the end of the current preparatory season of Advent, we really ought to be asking ourselves, if God is truly at the centre of our lives and existence? Is God truly our Lover, the One Whom we truly we love with all of our hearts and might, the One to Whom we give our fealty and heartiest obedience, with the greatest devotion and commitment? Is God the One Whom we truly celebrate this Christmas and all of its joyful festivities, as we should?

Or have we instead allowed the many temptations of this world to distract us and to prevent us from finding our path towards God? Have we allowed the many excesses of worldly and secular Christmas festivities and celebrations to distract us and make us forget of why we celebrate Christmas in the first place? That is why today’s Scripture readings serve to remind us all that Christmas is truly all about Christ, of God’s Love made manifest and tangible to us through His Son, that we may truly come to Him, approach Him and be cared by Him, our loving God and Shepherd, Who embraced each one of us and is willing to forgive us all our many sins and faults. He has always loved us all, without exception, and we truly should do our best to do the same, beginning first of all by remembering this Love at our Christmas celebrations this year.

Not only that, but we should also be ever more exemplary Christians in our way of life and deeds, following the good examples of the saints, our holy predecessors. And today we have a great example in St. Peter Canisius, holy Priest and one of the venerable Doctors of the Church, through whom many people had great inspiration and strength, hope and perseverance because of his many hard works and efforts, his patient teaching and ministry among the people who have gone wayward in their faith and lives. St. Peter Canisius was one of the founders of the Jesuits or the Society of Jesus, who was close friend of the founder of the Jesuits, St. Ignatius of Loyola. St. Peter Canisius hence became an integral part and member of the Jesuits, and was tasked with the conversion of all those who had lapsed and broken away from the Church during the height of the Protestant reformation.

St. Peter Canisius carried out his mission patiently, and went through many places in what is today Switzerland and Germany, preaching the word of God and establishing Jesuit institutions and also put a lot of emphasis on Catholic education and teaching, as according to him, it was poor understanding of the faith that led to many Christians falling away from the Church and its teachings and embracing false ideas and heresies that were aplenty at that time, as various dissidents proclaimed their own versions of the Christian faith and led many to the wrong paths. St. Peter Canisius calmly and patiently reached out to all those who have left the Church while caring for those who still remained in the Church, and expressly warned against actions that can be considered hostile or violent against those who have separated themselves from the Church could backfire and make things worse. In his own words, he said that ‘with words like these, we don’t cure patients, we make them incurable.’

St. Peter Canisius emphasised on proper teaching, catechism and better understanding and appreciation of the faith as the way to lead the people of God back to Him, and he was also credited with his famous Catechism, through which countless multitudes of people have believed in the Lord and knew more about Him, returning back from their rebellious path and being reconciled with God. These were just some of the many other great deeds that St. Peter Canisius had done, and which all of us should also therefore be inspired to follow in our own lives as well. We are all called and reminded to be focused on God and to dedicate our lives and works to Him just as St. Peter Canisius himself had done. Are we able to do that, brothers and sisters in Christ? Are we willing and able to commit our time and effort to serve the Lord and to honour Him at all times?

Let us all therefore do our best to do what we can to be ever more faithful and committed to God, in everything we say and do, in our every actions and interactions with one another. Let us also make our upcoming Christmas celebrations one that is truly centred on Christ, Our Lord and Saviour, that each and every one of us may become inspirations and source of strength for one another to be the beacons of God’s hope and light in the midst of our communities, walking in the same path that our holy predecessors had walked, especially that of St. Peter Canisius. May the Lord be with us always and may He bless our every good works and endeavours, all for His greater glory. Amen.

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Wednesday, 21 December 2022 : 4th Week of Advent, Memorial of St. Peter Canisius, Priest and Doctor of the Church (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Luke 1 : 39-45

Mary then set out for a town in the hill country of Judah. She entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leapt in her womb.

Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and, giving a loud cry, said, “You are most blessed among women; and blessed is the Fruit of your womb! How is it, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? The moment your greeting sounded in my ears, the baby within me suddenly leapt for joy. Blessed are you, who believed that the Lord’s word would come true!”

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Wednesday, 21 December 2022 : 4th Week of Advent, Memorial of St. Peter Canisius, Priest and Doctor of the Church (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Psalm 32 : 2-3, 11-12, 20-21

Give thanks to YHVH on the harp and lyre, making melody and chanting praises. Amid loud shouts of joy, sing to Him a new song and play the ten-stringed harp.

But His plan stands forever, and His heart’s design, through all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is YHVH – the people He has chosen for His inheritance.

In hope, we wait for YHVH, for He is our help and our shield. Our hearts rejoice in Him, for we trust on His holy Name.

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Wednesday, 21 December 2022 : 4th Week of Advent, Memorial of St. Peter Canisius, Priest and Doctor of the Church (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Song of Songs 2 : 8-14

The voice of my Lover! Behold He comes, springing across the mountains, jumping over the hills, like a gazelle or a young stag. Now He stands behind our wall, looking through the windows, peering through the lattice.

My Lover speaks to me, “Arise, My love, My beautiful one! Come, the winter is gone, the rains are over. Flowers have appeared on earth; the season of singing has come; the cooing of doves is heard. The fig tree forms its early fruit, the vines in blossom are fragrant. Arise, My beautiful one, come with Me, My love, come.”

“O My dove in the rocky cleft, in the secret places of the cliff, let Me see your face, let Me hear your voice. Your face – how lovely! Your voice – how sweet!”

Alternative reading

Zephaniah 3 : 14-18a

Cry out with joy, o daughter of Zion; rejoice, o people of Israel! Sing joyfully with all your heart, daughter of Jerusalem! YHVH has lifted your sentence and has driven your enemies away. YHVH, the King of Israel is with you; do not fear any misfortune.

On that day, they will say to Jerusalem : Do not be afraid nor let your hands tremble, for YHVH your God is within you, YHVH, saving warrior. He will jump for joy on seeing you, for He has revived His love. For you He will cry out with joy, as you do in the days of the feast. I will drive away the evil I warned you about.

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Wednesday, 14 December 2022 : 3rd Week of Advent, Memorial of St. John of the Cross, Priest and Doctor 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 all reminded of our calling as Christians to be focused on God, Our Lord and Saviour, and remember everything that He had done for us, and for all the wonderful things that He had done to us, His beloved people. God has done all sorts of wonderful things for His people despite of their constant rebelliousness and stubbornness, their betrayal of Him for pagan idols and gods, and their hardened hearts and closed minds. God still reached out to them, loved them and showed them that truly, He is the one and only true God, and they ought to turn away from their wicked and evil ways, and embrace His love and truth once again.

In our first reading today, taken from the Book of the prophet Isaiah, we heard of the words of the Lord for His people, reminding all of them that all of creation, all their lands, their kingdoms and dominions, everything that happened all around them are due to the Lord’s works. God is the reason for all things and the centre of everything that have ever existed, and He shows forth His might before the people to remind them that they are His people and that they should keep in mind that they ought to walk in His path and obey His Law and commandments, trusting in Him and His providence, not to be swayed or easily distracted by the temptations of the world, and the many obstacles that the devil and all of his allies have placed in our path, preventing us from returning towards God.

The Lord has called upon all of His people to return to Him, rejecting the path of evil and sin, and He sent unto us all the salvation and deliverance through His Son, Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, Who came into this world, born of His mother Mary and becoming unto us the source of Hope and Light that pierced through the darkness and the hopelessness of our wretched lives and existences. He fulfilled all the promises He had made to our ancestors, all the promises He made of saving all of them and liberating them from their hardships and troubles. He sent them His Son, the Divine Word Incarnate, to redeem all of us and to lead us all back to Himself, to be our Shepherd Who is calling on us to embrace Him once again, and to be lost from God no more.

In our Gospel passage today, we heard the Lord performing His miracles and wonders, how He healed the sick and those afflicted with various conditions like blindness, deafness, mute, and also possession by evil spirits and demons among other things. We heard how the Lord rescued all of those people from their troubles and difficulties, and when those people sent by St. John the Baptist asking Him whether He was the One Who was promised, essentially, they could witness for themselves that everything which the prophets had spoken about, all came true with Christ, His coming into this world and His works. And today as we listened to these words, we are reminded that this Advent, all of us are preparing ourselves to welcome this same Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Saviour, as our Redeemer and King.

Now, brothers and sisters in Christ, as we reflect upon this season of Advent and what it means for us to prepare ourselves for the glorious celebration of Christmas, of its true meaning and purpose, let us all contemplate on whether we have been using this time well and good for the purpose of reorienting ourselves and our focus on the Christmas preparations so that we do not end up preparing ourselves in the wrong way. Many people have spent a lot of time trying to celebrate Christmas in the secular and worldly way, spending a lot of time trying to outdo each other in how lavish and great we can celebrate Christmas with all of its festivities and merrymaking. But in doing so, we often forget and neglect why it is that we should celebrate Christmas in the first place. We forget that in the end, Christmas is not about all the celebrations and rejoicing, in the manner that we are often presented in all around us this time and season.

Yes, I am sure we can see just how ubiquitous the secular Christmas all around us are, in everywhere we go to, and in all of the festivities arrayed everywhere. However, amidst all of these, we must always keep in mind what the true reason for Christmas is, the true joy and happiness which has come to us through Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. It is not in all the merrymaking and festivities that we can find our true Christmas joy, but in the salvation which our Lord has brought into our midst. And that is why as Christians, each and every one of us should have a profound change in our way of life as well as our way of celebrating and preparing ourselves for Christmas. This is what we should be doing, to show others what it truly means to be joyful in Christmas, and what Christmas is all about.

Today, we have the example and role model in St. John of the Cross, whose life and actions can be great example for us all. St. John of the Cross was one of the founders of the Discalced Carmelites order together with St. Teresa of Avila, another great and renowned saint of the Church, and both of whom are considered as Doctors of the Church for their many contributions and works, writings and inspirations in their commitment to reform the Church and the Carmelites order. Back then, the Carmelites had fallen under a period of disrepair and waywardness, as excesses of worldly corruptions and ways had crept into the order and caused its members to be veering further and further away from the path which the founders of the Carmelites had once envisioned for the order. Hence, both St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila, together with the other reformers all worked together to reform the order and the Church.

Back then, it was also a time of great turmoil for the Church, having gone through a difficult period with the Church being attacked from outside and within, as threats from the external invaders and those opposed to the Christian faith in the case of the threat of the Ottoman Turks, as well as the splintering and fraying of Church unity and communities due to the Protestant reformation, which raged all around Christendom back then. St. John of the Cross joined the reform efforts initiated by St. Teresa of Avila, purifying and returning the Carmelites back on the right track, facing many oppositions and obstacles along the way. Through his persistence and efforts, there were quite a few people who were inspired and touched by the efforts of the reformers, and came to join the reformed order, henceforth known as the Discalced Carmelites.

St. John of the Cross had to face a lot of trials and challenges in the midst of all of his efforts, having to endure even incarceration and prison, ridicule and humiliations from other friars, and all other people who were opposed to his works and his efforts at reform. Yet, that did not prevent him or discourage him from continuing to devote his time and efforts in serving the Lord to the best of his abilities. This should also therefore be a source of inspiration and example for all of us to follow so that we may all grow ever stronger in faith and love for God, and that we may draw ever closer to Him, and be reconciled to Him thoroughly as we ought have, and reorientate our lives particularly making good use of this time and season of Advent to rediscover our faith in God, and our true joy in Christ.

May the Lord continue to guide and strengthen us in our journey of faith through life, and may He empower each and every one of us to walk ever more faithfully in His ways, reminding us all of His guidance, protection and providence throughout the way. May we make good use of this season of Advent to prepare ourselves well to celebrate Christmas worthily, inspired by the examples of the holy saints and martyrs, especially that of St. John of the Cross, whose life and works we have just reflected upon. May God bless us all in our every good efforts and endeavours, all for His greater glory, now and always. Amen.

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Wednesday, 14 December 2022 : 3rd Week of Advent, Memorial of St. John of the Cross, Priest and Doctor of the Church (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

Luke 7 : 19-23

At that time, John the Baptist sent two of his disciples to the Lord with this message, “Are You the One we are expecting, or should we wait for another?” These men came to Jesus and said, “John the Baptist sent us to ask You : Are You the One we are to expect, or should we wait for another?”

At that time Jesus healed many people of their sickness and diseases; He freed them from evil spirits and He gave sight to the blind. Then He answered the messengers, “Go back and tell John what you have seen and heard : the blind see again, the lame walk, lepers are made clean, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the poor are given Good News.”

“Now, listen : Fortunate are those who meet Me, and are not offended by Me.”

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Wednesday, 14 December 2022 : 3rd Week of Advent, Memorial of St. John of the Cross, Priest and Doctor of the Church (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : White

Psalm 84 : 9ab and 10, 11-12, 13-14

Would that I hear God’s proclamation, that He promise peace to His people, His saints. Yet His salvation is near to those who fear Him, and His Glory will dwell in our land.

Love and faithfulness have met; righteousness and peace have embraced. Faithfulness will reach up from the earth while justice bends down from heaven.

The Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its fruit. Justice will go before Him, and peace will follow along His path.

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Wednesday, 14 December 2022 : 3rd Week of Advent, Memorial of St. John of the Cross, Priest and Doctor of the Church (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

Isaiah 45 : 6b-8, 18, 21b-25

From the rising to the setting of the sun, all may know that there is no one besides Me; I am YHVH, and there is no other. I form the light and create the dark; I usher in prosperity and bring calamity. I, YHVH, do all this.

Let the heavens send righteousness like dew and the clouds rain it down. Let the earth open and salvation blossom, so that justice also may sprout; I, YHVH, have created it.

Yes, this is what YHVH says, He Who created the heavens, – for He is God, Who formed and shaped the earth, – for He Himself set it : “I did not let confusion in it, I wanted people to live there instead!” – for I am YHVH and there is no other.

Who announced this from the beginning, who foretold it in the distant past? Is it not Me YHVH? There is no other God besides Me, a Saviour, a God of justice, there is no other one but Me. Turn to Me and be saved, all you from the ends of the earth, for I am God and there is no other. By My own self I swear it, and what comes from My mouth is truth, a word I say will not be revoked.

Before Me every knee will bend, by Me every tongue will swear, saying, “In YHVH alone are righteousness and strength.” All who have raged against Him will come to Him in shame. But through YHVH there will be victory and glory to the people of Israel.

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Wednesday, 7 December 2022 : 2nd 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, today as we listened to the words of the Scriptures, we are called to remember the loving care of God, our Lord and Creator, the One Who has always provided for each one of us and protected us from harm’s way, and how He has always looked out for those who are downtrodden and troubled. He did not forget those whom He has called and chosen to be His own, and He gathered all of them from among the nations, and gave them renewed strength and hope, encouragement and assurance that He, their Lord and God, will be with them, and will guide and protect them through the hardships and challenges of the world. That is why we have to put our faith and trust in Him, and not be easily swayed by worldly temptations and distractions all around us.

In our first reading today, taken from the Book of the prophet Isaiah, God has shown His people His power and might, reminding them of everything that He had done for all those times that they had journeyed with Him, and rebuking those who had not placed their faith in Him, but instead entrusting themselves to wicked pagan idols and gods. God told them all through His prophet Isaiah of everything that He had done, and how He had raised them up, giving them hope and strength although they had fallen and been downtrodden, cast down and brought low, humbled and suffered as a result of their own actions, their own lack of faith in Him and wayward attitudes. They had not been faithful and true to the path that God had shown them, and yet, God still loved them nonetheless.

Back then, the people to whom Isaiah ministered to, the people of the southern kingdom of Judah, had experienced many years of tribulations and hardships, witnessing the downfall and destructions of their northern neighbours, the kingdom of Israel, who were their own fellow brothers and sisters, conquered and exiled by the Assyrians who crushed them and their cities, humbled and humiliated them, because they refused to place themselves in the hands of the Lord, and their wickedness, evils and persecutions of the Lord’s prophets and messengers eventually caught up to them, and the same, although to a lesser degree had happened to the people of Judah as well. The people of God there had not been completely faithful to God, and had from time to time, fell again and again into the path of sin.

They often rebelled and disobeyed God, refusing to listen to Him or obey His Law and commandments, and as such, they suffered the just consequences of their actions. They chose to put themselves under the yoke of the devil and the idols, preferring to enjoy the corrupt fruits of worldly desires, power and glory, succumbing to those temptations of their pride, ego and greed, and not listening to God and His truth. God reminds us all therefore, just as we heard in our Gospel passage today, that He loves us all and calls upon us to return to Him, and to get out of all of that yoke of the world, and embrace Him and His path instead, with the well-known words, “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” He reminds us all that while His path is not going to be easy, but in the end, compared to the path of worldliness, sin and evil, His path is going to be good and leads us to happiness, while the so-called more enjoyable path of the world, will lead us to nothing but regret and eternal suffering.

As Christians, each and every one of us must realise that God has shown us His love all these while, and He never gave up on us even when we have often been difficult and stubborn in refusing to embrace His love, kindness, compassion and mercy. He has always ever been patient in loving us and in reaching out to us, as a loving Father and Shepherd, calling out to us His beloved children and sheep who have been lost and separated from Him. Yet, we also must realise that unless we make the effort to welcome Him into our lives and open our hearts and minds to let Him enter into our existence and lives, then we are likely going to remain separated from Him and like many of us realised too late, that we may end up being forever sundered and separated from Him, for those who are eventually judged to be unworthy of God.

Today, let us all therefore be inspired by the great examples shown to us by one great saint whose feast we celebrate this day, namely that of St. Ambrose of Milan, the well-known Bishop of Milan and one of the most influential Church leaders of his time, through his piety and good works, his courageous and fearless efforts in leading the people of God to the right path, not afraid of oppositions and hardships, and his many contributions being recognised later on as one of the four original Doctors of the Church, together with St. Augustine of Hippo, St. Gregory Nazianzen and St. Basil the Great or St. Jerome, which highlighted just how great an impact that St. Ambrose of Milan had in the Church and the Christian community, not just in his See of Milan but also throughout the whole entire Christendom.

St. Ambrose was born into a Christian family, a rather influential and powerful family, and he was brought up with good education, preparing him for a life of service in the Roman administration, becoming a government official and finally being appointed as the regional governor of the regions of Liguria and Emilia in what is now present day northern parts of Italy, with the headquarters in Milan. Back then, there was bitter divisions within the Church in Milan as those who believed in the falsehoods of the Arian heresy, popularised by the famous preacher Arius, were in conflict with those who believed in the true teachings of the Church, the true and orthodox Christian faith. At that time, the death of the Arian bishop of Milan led to heated debate and conflict in the election of his successor, as each parties desired to elect their own candidates.

St. Ambrose had to step in to settle the issue, and after protracted and heated struggle to elect the new Bishop of Milan, the assembled faithful were inspired by the Holy Spirit to elect St. Ambrose himself, despite not being a clergyman, to be the new Bishop of Milan. He was also acceptable to those who sided with the heretical teachings of Arius. St. Ambrose embraced God’s call and became a most dedicated servant of His in his duty and ministry as the Bishop of Milan, in building up the Church and the Christian community. He helped to steer the Church out of the influence and the falsehoods of the Arian heresy mentioned earlier, and fearlessly faced the opposition from the powerful supporters of the Arians, which included the Roman nobles and distinguished personas, that included the Emperor and his family.

St. Ambrose patiently endured the challenges and was persistent in his efforts to reform the Church, proclaiming God’s truth among His people. When later on the faithful and orthodox Emperor Theodosius the Great became the ruler of all the Roman Empire, he did not stop himself from opposing the Emperor himself in a very well-known occasion as St. Ambrose excommunicated the Emperor for having been complicit in his role in the massacre of the people and the innocent population of the great city of Thessalonica. That led to the Emperor himself humbling himself before God and the people, as he put aside his Imperial cloak and garments, wearing the garments of a penitent, and repented from his sins, and welcomed back into the Church by St. Ambrose himself. There were also many other contributions that this holy man of God had done, in his many writings and works, and in helping the aforementioned St. Augustine of Hippo, another original Doctor of the Church, in finding his way towards God.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, having heard the inspiring examples and dedications showed by St. Ambrose of Milan, and also of God’s love, compassion and mercy for all of us His people, and how many of those people had let Him down and betrayed Him for worldly temptations, let us all ask ourselves then, whether we have been truly faithful to God in our daily living and works. Have we spent our days and lives in faithful ways as our faith has called us to do? Or have we instead preferred to follow the whims of our worldly desires and the myriad of the temptations surrounding us? Let us all discern our path carefully, brothers and sisters, and be more faithful from now on, especially during this time of blessed Advent, when we are constantly being reminded of what we are supposed to do as Christians to welcome the Lord into our lives.

May God be with us all, especially as we continue to journey through this season of Advent, that we may be ever closer to Him, and that we may find our path towards Him, and be ever more attuned to His will, His Law and commandments. May God bless us all in our every good deeds and endeavours, all for His greater glory. Amen.

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Wednesday, 7 December 2022 : 2nd Week of Advent, Memorial of St. Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

Matthew 11 : 28-30

At that time, Jesus said to the people, “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble of heart; and you will find rest. For My yoke is easy; and My burden is light.”