Ordinary Time

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Monday, 21 August 2023 : 20th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of Pope St. Pius X, Pope (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : White

Psalm 105 : 34-35, 36-37, 39-40, 43ab and 44

They dared not destroy the pagans, as YHVH commanded; they mingled with these nations and learnt to do as they did.

In serving the idols of the pagans, they were trapped into sacrificing children to demons.

They defiled themselves by what they did, playing the harlot in their worship. The anger of YHVH grew intense and He abhorred His inheritance.

He delivered them many a time, but they went on defying Him and sinking deeper into their sin. But He heard their cry of affliction and looked on them with compassion.

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Monday, 21 August 2023 : 20th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of Pope St. Pius X, Pope (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

Judges 2 : 11-19

The Israelites treated YHVH badly for they served the Baals instead. They abandoned YHVH, the God of their ancestors who had brought them out of Egypt, and served other gods, the gods of the neighbouring peoples. They bowed before those gods and offended YHVH.

When YHVH saw that they had abandoned Him to serve Baal and Ashtaroth, He became angry with His people and gave them into the hands of plunderers who left them in misery. He Himself sold them to their enemies who completely surrounded the Israelites, so that these Israelites could no longer withstand them. Whenever they felt strong for an offensive, YHVH would turn against them and send evil upon them, as He had warned them and sworn to do. And this caused much distress and anguish for the Israelites.

YHVH raised up “judges” (or liberators) who saved the Israelites from their exploiters. But neither did they obey those “judges” for they still prostituted themselves to other gods and worshipped them. They soon left the way of their fathers who obeyed the commandments of YHVH; they did not follow the way of their fathers.

When YHVH made a judge appear among His people, YHVH was with him and saved them from their enemies. That lasted as long as the judge lived, for YHVH was moved to pity by the lament of His people who were oppressed and persecuted. But when the judge died, they again became worse than their ancestors – worshipping and serving other gods. They would not renounce their pagan practices and stubborn ways.

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Sunday, 20 August 2023 : Twentieth Sunday of Ordinary Time (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, this Sunday all of us are reminded that God’s love for us is truly beautiful, enduring and universal, and all of us are equally beloved by God, regardless of our background or origin, our race or beliefs, our cultures or customs, and regardless of any other parameters by which we tend to divide and separate ourselves in this world. All of us are God’s precious ones, and He has always looked upon us with love and kindness, ever since He created us from nothingness. That is why all of us are reminded of His love and kindness today, so that we do not take them for granted, and we do not forget all the great things that He had done for us all these while, as often we do not realise and recognise what God has always blessed us with.

In our first reading today, taken from the Book of the prophet Isaiah, we heard of the Lord speaking to His people through His prophet Isaiah, in which He reminded all of them to stay true to the Covenant that He has established with them, and how He showed them that He would also call all the other people of all the nations to be His disciples and followers, to be His people. It revealed to all of us that while God did call the Israelites first among others, but it was never God’s intention to exclude all others who did not belong to the race of Israel from His salvation and grace. All of us are equally the same children of mankind, descendants of Adam and Eve, all those whom God had created equally with love, and therefore share in His love and kindness. Therefore, God’s love are also extended to every one of us, who belong to Him and are part of His one, united flock and people.

In fact, as shown by our Gospel passage today, even the so-called pagans are even more committed, faithful and dedicated than the ones who called themselves God’s chosen people. In that passage, we heard of the interactions between the Lord Jesus, His disciples and a Canaanite woman who pleaded with the Lord to heal her daughter that had been tormented by a demon. The same woman was also identified similarly as a Syro-Phoenician woman in the Gospel of St. Mark, with similar request and pleading for the Lord to help her troubled daughter. Despite the Lord clearly having pointed out that He was only sent to the lost sheep of the chosen people of God, the Israelites, but the woman persisted in her pleading and trust in the Lord, that despite the harsh words and replies which she had received, she still trusted in the Lord wholeheartedly and persisted in asking Him to heal her daughter.

Now, brothers and sisters in Christ, the Lord did not do this on the woman on purpose, as it was not His intention to humiliate or make things difficult for her. And He did not despise or hate the woman either, as on the contrary, in fact, what the Lord was doing, was to highlight the unfortunate and terrible prejudices, biases and other things which the descendants of the Israelites, the Jewish people, by the time of the Lord and His ministry, liked to have against those whom they deemed as pagans and inferior to them. At that time, those who did not belong or were not counted among the Jewish people were often looked down by those who took pride in their inheritance and status, as those descended directly from the chosen people of God, the Israelites, descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to the point that the pagans or the Gentiles as they were often called, were perhaps even deemed as being sinners and unworthy of God.

That was why the Lord purposefully brought out the ugly and uncharitable nature of such biases and prejudices which the Jewish people had against their neighbours, and He used that example to show all of His disciples and followers, that they cannot show this kind of attitude in life, and that they must not treat others with contempt or disdain simply because they deemed themselves as better or superior in any way. And as mentioned, the Lord also wanted to highlight that there is innate good and grace in all of us, and the capabilities to embrace God and His love. As the Canaanite woman showed, that her faith in the Lord remained firm and strong despite the apparent rejections and harsh words from the Lord Himself. The Canaanite woman did not even hesitate to humble herself and to assume the position of a slave, a penitent and as one who sought for God’s mercy, before everyone who were present.

Now, this kind of faith was great, especially when compared to the lukewarmness of the faith found among the Jewish people of that time, who doubted the Lord and refused to believe in Him, even after He has performed so many wonderful miracles and works before them throughout all those times. In particular, the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law, the ones who were the most knowledgeable and those who were supposedly the wisest among all the people of God, all these were entrusted with the knowledge of the Scriptures and the teachings and words of the prophets, which all pointed out to the Lord Jesus being the Messiah or Saviour that the people had long awaited for, and yet, they all failed to believe in Him, and on the contrary, they persecuted Him and His disciples instead.

If we are wondering as of why this was the case, then we do not have to look further beyond what I have just mentioned earlier regarding the problem of elitism and exclusivism amongst many of the Jewish people at that time, as they tend to see themselves as God’s chosen ones, and were therefore better, superior, more righteous and more worthy than all the others around them. Even among the Jews themselves, the Pharisees, the teachers of the Law and the religious elites tend to look down on those whom they deemed to be unworthy and sinners, like the tax collectors and the prostitutes, or those who were suffering from sickness and demonic possessions. All those people were often ostracised and blamed for their lack of faith, while the others mentioned earlier were lauded for their exemplary piety and faith.

Unfortunately, such an attitude led to the stagnation in the faith and the loss of focus in many among those that I mentioned, as their pride and ego got the better of them, which likely made them to think that they could never go wrong or be mistaken in their thoughts and ways of living their lives. This is why many of them became egoistic and proud, and unbending, rigid and elitist in their behaviour, imposing on others their ideals and thoughts, without truly understanding the importance and significance of their faith and the related practices, and in the end, it distracted them so much that they lost sight on what truly matters, that is their need to believe in God and to listen to His words, obeying His will and commandments wholeheartedly.

Not only that, but they were all, as God’s own chosen people, expected to lead lives that inspired others to come to know and recognise the Lord more. Instead, they chose to revel in fame and worldly glory, and closed themselves off from the Lord and His love, while excluding and ignoring all those whom they could have helped and guided towards God. All these had prevented many of those whom God could have saved through those that He had entrusted the care over His people, and hence that was why the Lord was often critical at their actions. This is why we should not follow their examples, and instead remind ourselves that God treats everyone, all of His beloved people equally, regardless of their background or origin, and regardless of whatever they were like, as what truly matters is how all of us follow God, and obey His Law and commandments.

What the Lord truly wants from us is our love and dedication, and not merely just lip service and outward expressions of faith and piety. We should indeed be inspired by the examples of the Canaanite woman, whose faith and determination to believe in the Lord were unwavering and true, undeterred even by opposition and prejudices, differences or discomfort. Like that of the many other examples of our holy predecessors, the holy saints of God, whose lives have been truly exemplary and worthy, and whose faith had been true and genuine, let us all therefore be the great beacons of God’s light and truth to the nations, while constantly reminding ourselves of God’s most generous love and kindness to everyone, that no one is truly out of His love and kindness, mercy and compassion. Let us all be the inspiration and strength for countless others who may come to know the Lord through us and our actions.

May the Lord, our most loving God and Father, continue to be with us and bless our ways, our works and good efforts, in everything that we say and do, so that hopefully more and more may come to realise the most generous and impartial love of God, ever poured generously upon us, and therefore many more may come to be saved and share in the joy of everlasting life that we shall experience and enjoy in the end with God. Let us all be the reflections of God’s hope and light, truth and love in our darkened world today. Amen.

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Sunday, 20 August 2023 : Twentieth Sunday of Ordinary Time (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Matthew 15 : 21-28

At that time, leaving that area, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A Canaanite woman from the area, came and cried out, “Lord, Son of David, have pity on me! My daughter is tormented by a demon.”

But Jesus did not answer her, not even a word. So His disciples approached Him and said, “Send her away! See how she is shouting after us.” Then Jesus said to her, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the nation of Israel.”

But the woman was already kneeling before Jesus, and said, “Sir, help me!” Jesus answered, “It is not right to take the bread from the children and throw it to puppies.”

The woman replied, “That is true, Sir, but even puppies eat the crumbs which fall from their master’s table.” Then Jesus said, “Woman, how great is your faith! Let it be as you wish.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.

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Sunday, 20 August 2023 : Twentieth Sunday of Ordinary Time (Second Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Romans 11 : 13-15, 29-32

Listen to me, you who are not Jews : I am spending myself, as an Apostle to the pagan nations, but I hope my ministry will be successful enough to awaken the jealousy of those of my race, and, finally, to save some of them. If the world made peace with God, when they remained apart, what will it be, when they are welcomed? Nothing less than, a passing from death to life.

Because the call of God, and His gifts, cannot be nullified. Through the disobedience of the Jews, the mercy of God came to you who did not obey God. They, in turn, will receive mercy, in due time, after this disobedience, that brought God’s mercy to you. So, God has submitted all to disobedience, in order to show His mercy to all.

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Sunday, 20 August 2023 : Twentieth Sunday of Ordinary Time (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Green

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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Sunday, 20 August 2023 : Twentieth Sunday of Ordinary Time (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Isaiah 56 : 1, 6-7

This is what YHVH says : Maintain what is right and do what is just, for My salvation is close at hand, My justice is soon to come. YHVH says to the foreigners who join Him, serving Him and loving His Name, keeping His Sabbath unprofaned and remaining faithful to His Covenant.

I will bring them to My holy mountain and give them joy in My house of prayer. I will accept on My altar their burnt offerings and sacrifices, for My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations.

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(Usus Antiquior) Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost (II Classis) – Sunday, 20 August 2023 : Offertory, Secret Prayer of the Priest, Communion and Post-Communion Prayer

Liturgical Colour : Green

Offertory

Exodus 32 : 11, 13, 14

Precatus est Moyses in conspectu Domini, Dei sui, et dixit : Quare, Domine, irasceris in populo Tuo? Parce irae animae Tuae : memento Abraham, Isaac et Jacob, quibus jurasti dare terram fluentem lac et mel. Et placatus factus est Dominus de malignitate, quam dixit facere populo suo.

English translation

Moses prayed in the sight of the Lord his God, and said, “Why, o Lord, is Your indignation enkindled against Your people? Let the anger of Your mind cease, remember Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to whom You had sworn to give a land flowing with milk and honey.” And the Lord was appeased from doing the evil, which He had spoken of doing against the people.

Secret Prayer of the Priest

Hostias, quaesumus, Domine, propitius intende, quas sacris altaribus exhibemus : ut, nobis indulgentiam largiendo, Tuo Nomini dent honorem. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium Tuum, qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

English translation

Graciously behold, we pray to You, o Lord, the sacrifices which we lay upon Your sacred altars, that, in bringing us plentiful forgiveness, they may give honour to Your Name. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who with You lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.

Communion

Psalm 103 : 13, 14-15

De fructu operum Tuorum, Domine, satiabitur terra : ut educas panem de terra, et vinum laetificet cor hominis : ut exhilaret faciem in oleo, et panis cor hominis confirmet.

English translation

The earth shall be filled with the fruit of Your works, o Lord, that You may bring bread out of the earth, and that wine may cheer the heart of man, that he may make the face cheerful with oil, and that bread may strengthen man’s heart.

Post-Communion Prayer

Vivificet nos, quaesumus, Domine, hujus participatio sancta mysterii : et pariter nobis expiationem tribuat et munimen. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium Tuum, qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

English translation

May the holy partaking of this mystery, we pray to You, o Lord, vivify us, bringing us at once forgiveness and strengthening. 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.

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(Usus Antiquior) Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost (II Classis) – Sunday, 20 August 2023 : Holy Gospel

Liturgical Colour : Green

Sequentia Sancti Evangelii secundum Lucam – Continuation of the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke

Luke 10 : 23-37

In illo tempore : Dixit Jesus discipulis Suis : Beati oculi, qui vident quae vos videtis. Dico enim vobis, quod multi prophetae et reges voluerunt videre quae vos videtis, et non viderunt : et audire quae auditis, et non audierunt. Et ecce, quidam legisperitus surrexit, tentans illum, et dicens : Magister, quid faciendo vitam aeternam possidebo?

At ille dixit ad eum : In lege quid scriptum est? Quomodo legis? Ille respondens, dixit : Diliges Dominum, Deum tuum, ex toto corde tuo, et ex tota anima tua, et ex omnibus viribus tuis; et ex omni mente tua : et proximum tuum sicut teipsum.

Dixitque illi : Recte respondisti : hoc fac, et vives. Ille autem volens justificare seipsum, dixit ad Jesum : Et quis est meus proximus? Suscipiens autem Jesus, dixit : Homo quidam descendebat ab Jerusalem in Jericho, et incidit in latrones, qui etiam despoliaverunt eum : et plagis impositis abierunt, semivivo relicto.

Accidit autem, ut sacerdos quidam descenderet eadam via : et viso illo praeterivut. Similiter et levita, cum esset secus locum et videret eum, pertransiit. Samaritanus autem quidam iter faciens, venit secus eum : et videns eum, misericordia motus est. Et appropians, alligavit vulnera ejus, infundens oleum et vinum : et imponens illum in jumentum suum, duxit in stabulum, et curam ejus egit.

Et altera die protulit duos denarios et dedit stabulario, et ait : Curam illius habe : et quodcumque supererogaveris, ego cum rediero, reddam tibi. Quis horum trium videtur tibi proximus fuisse illi, qui incidit in latrones? At ille dixit : Qui fecit misericordiam in illum. Et ait illi Jesus : Vade, et tu fac similiter.

English translation

At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, “Blessed are the eyes that see the things which you see. For I say to you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see the things that you see, and have not seen them, and to hear the things that you hear, and have not heard them.” And behold a certain lawyer stood up, tempting Him, and saying, “Master, what must I do to possess eternal life?”

But He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” He answering, said, “You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart, and with your whole soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbour as yourself.”

And He said to him, “You have answered rightly, do this and you shall live.” But he, willing to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbour?” And Jesus answering, said, “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, who also stripped him, and having wounded him, went away, leaving him half dead.”

“And it happened that a certain priest went down the same way, and seeing him, passed him by. In similar manner also a Levite, when he was near the place and saw him, he passed him by. But a certain Samaritan being on his journey, came near him, and seeing him, was moved with compassion, and going up to him, bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and setting him upon his own beast, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.”

“And the next day he took out two pence, and gave to the host, and said, ‘Take care of him, and whatsoever you shall spend over and above, I, at my return, shall repay you. Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbour to him who fell among robbers?” But he said, “He who showed mercy to him.” And Jesus said to him, “Go, and do it in similar manner.”

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(Usus Antiquior) Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost (II Classis) – Sunday, 20 August 2023 : Epistle

Liturgical Colour : Green

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

2 Corinthians 3 : 4-9

Fratres : Fiduciam talem habemus per Christum ad Deum : non quod sufficientes simus cogitare aliquod a nobis, quasi ex nobis : sed sufficientia nostra ex Deo est : qui et idoneos nos fecit ministros novi testamenti : non littera, sed spiritu : littera enim occidit, spiritus autem vivificat.

Quod si ministratio mortis, litteris deformata in lapidibus, fuit in gloria; ita ut non possent intendere filii Israel in faciem Moysi, propter gloriam vultus ejus, quae evacuatur : quomodo non magis ministratio Spiritus erit in gloria? Nam si ministratio damnationis gloria est, multo magis abundat ministerium justitiae in gloria.

English translation

Brethren, such confidence we have through Christ towards God. Not that we are sufficient to think anything of ourselves, as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God. He Who also had made us fit ministers of the New Testament, not in the letter, but in the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit quickens.

Now if the ministration of death, engraven with letters upon stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses, for the glory of His countenance; which is made void. How shall not the ministration of the Spirit be rather in glory? For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more ministration of justice abounds in glory.