Saints

by

Thursday, 28 August 2025 : 21st Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

Matthew 24 : 42-51

At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, “Stay awake then, for you do not know on what day your Lord will come. Obviously, if the owner of the house knew at what time the thief was coming, he would certainly stay up and not allow his house to be broken into. So be alert, for the Son of Man will come at the hour you least expect.”

“Imagine a faithful and prudent servant, whom his master has put in charge of his household, to give them food at the proper time. Fortunate, indeed, is that servant, whom his master will find at work when he comes. Truly I say to you, his lord will entrust him with everything he has.”

“Not so with the bad servant, who thinks, ‘My master is delayed.’ And he begins to ill-treat his fellow servants, while eating and drinking with drunkards. But his master will come on the day he does not know, and at the hour he least expects. He will punish that servant severely; and place him with the hypocrites. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

by

Thursday, 28 August 2025 : 21st Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : White

Psalm 89 : 3-4, 12-14, 17

You turn humans back to dust, saying, “Return, o mortals!” A thousand years in Your sight are like a day that has passed, or like a watch in the night.

So make us know the shortness of our life, that we may gain wisdom of heart. How long will You be angry, o YHVH? Have mercy on Your servant.

Fill us at daybreak with Your goodness, that we may be glad all our days. May the sweetness of YHVH be upon us; may He prosper the work of our hands.

by

Thursday, 28 August 2025 : 21st Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

1 Thessalonians 3 : 7-13

What a consolation for us, brothers and sisters, in the midst of our troubles and trials, this faith of yours! It is a breath of life for us, when you stand firm in the Lord. How can we thank God enough, for all the joy that we feel before God, because of you? Day and night, we beg of Him, to let us see you again, that we may complete the instruction of the believers.

May God, our Father, and Jesus, our Lord, prepare the way for us to visit you. May the Lord increase, more and more, your love for each other and for all people, as He increases our love for you. May He strengthen you, internally, to be holy and blameless before God, our Father, on the day that Jesus, our Lord, will come with all His saints.

by

Wednesday, 27 August 2025 : 21st Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Monica (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : White

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, as we listened to the words of the Sacred Scriptures, we are reminded that as Christians, as God’s holy and beloved people, we must always be truly and genuinely faithful to the Lord our God, and we should not allow ourselves to be swayed by the sin of hypocrisy, of professing to believe in a certain way and yet acting and carrying out our lives in the manner that is truly different from what we professed to believe in. If that is how we live our faith as Christians, then we truly have not lived our lives genuinely as those whom God had called and chosen, and we are no better than the hypocrites whom the Lord had frequently criticised and rebuked during the time of His ministry.

In our first reading today, taken from the Epistle of St. Paul the Apostle to the Church and the faithful people of God in the city and region of Thessalonica, we heard of the continuation of the Apostle’s exhortation to the faithful people of God there, who had been faithful and true to the teachings of the Apostle and the other Christian missionaries. Earlier on in this Epistle, St. Paul praised the faith of the Thessalonian Christians as compared to the lack of faith and difficulties which he and the other missionaries had been encountering in Philippi, in the nearby region of Greece. Nonetheless, as we heard in that passage today, the Apostle still reminded them to remain true to the teachings of the Church as they have received through the Apostle and the missionaries.

This is because it is easy for any one of us to be easily swayed by the many temptations, pressures, coercions and all the trials and challenges that we may have to face in our journey. And if we are not careful, we may end up falling into this trap and be dragged down the wrong path in life, and hence, this is why we should continue to remind ourselves to be ever more faithful to the Lord in all the things that we do in life. Despite all the temptations and challenges present all around us in this life, we should still strive and do our best to live our lives in each and every moments, in our everyday living to be truly good examples of our Christian faith and discipleship, in being the worthy bearers of God’s truth, Good News and love to everyone around us.

Then, from our Gospel passage today taken from the Gospel according to St. Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist, we heard of the continuation of the series of criticisms and rebuke which the Lord Jesus presented against the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law before His disciples and all the people who were listening to His teachings. We have heard in the past few days of everything that the Lord spoke up against those supposed elders and elites of the Jewish community, who were highly respected and even feared by the people of God. Those Pharisees and the teachers of the Law were the ones that were the most knowledgeable about the Law of God and the teachings and prophecies of the Lord’s prophets, the intellectual elites of the community.

And yet, they did not recognise the Lord and His miracles and wonders, all the signs which He had performed that in fact fulfilled all the prophecies which the prophets had spoken about the Messiah or the Saviour of the world. They were supposed to be the first ones to recognise the signs and miracles of the Messiah, and yet, they hardened their hearts and refused to believe in Him. Not only that, but as we have heard in that same Gospel passage today, the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law often were hypocritical in their way of living their faith, as they were like whitewashed tombs and bones, looking good on the outsides but they were truly empty inside. This means that in them can be found no true and genuine faith or love for God.

While it is then easy for us to attribute the blame to the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law, let us all not be quick to point fingers to them, as we should all look upon ourselves and our own actions in life first and foremost. Have we ourselves lived the lives we have in this world in the manner that the Lord has taught and wanted us all to live them, or have we instead lived our lives in the similar way as those Pharisees and teachers of the Law, in hypocrisy and in self-serving, self-righteous attitudes, lacking for true and genuine concern and care for others around us? This is precisely why the Lord criticised those Pharisees and the teachers of the Law because of their selfishness and lack of concern and love for those around them, in them being biased and prejudiced against the less fortunate in their midst.

Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Monica, who is well-known for her being the mother of another great and famous saint, St. Augustine of Hippo, one of the Church’s most famous early Church fathers. St. Monica was a Christian married to a pagan Roman nobleman named Patricius in the fourth century in the region of northern Africa. St. Monica was a pious Christian who was caring and loving towards others around her, giving alms and other efforts for the less fortunate, and spending time in prayer, amidst her own turbulent family life, as her pagan husband had a violent temper and immoral habits. Their son, the future St. Augustine of Hippo grew up in worldly ways as well, and as he was educated in rhetoric and philosophy, he pursued worldly matters and became a Manichaean, to the great distress of his mother.

But St. Monica continued to have faith in the Lord and in her family, and she ceaselessly prayed and made efforts to help her son and husband to be reconciled with her and with God. Eventually, her prayers were answered as first, her ailing husband eventually accepted the Lord and was baptised as a Christian, repenting from his prior wayward way of life, and then, her son, St. Augustine of Hippo, eventually came to seek the Lord as well, abandoning his past hedonistic and materialistic way of life, which included even having a child outside of marriage. St. Monica’s great love for her family members is truly an inspiration for all of us as Christians in how we ourselves should show love and concern, care and compassion to our loved ones, and also to others whom we encounter daily in life.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all therefore be inspired by the great faith and love which St. Monica has shown us all so that we too may truly be loving and genuine Christians in all things, in truly loving God with all of our heart and might, and then to do the same with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, to those whom we love and who are dear to us and also to those whom we encounter daily in life. May the Lord be with us all in our journey in faith and may He strengthen and help us to continue living our lives in the manner that is truly both worthy and faithful, now and always. Amen.

by

Wednesday, 27 August 2025 : 21st Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Monica (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

Matthew 23 : 27-32

At that time, Jesus said to the people and to His disciples, “Woe to you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, beautiful in appearance; but, inside, there are only dead bones and uncleanness. In the same way, you appear religious to others, but you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness within.”

“Woe to you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets, and decorate the monuments of the righteous. You say : Had we lived in the time of our ancestors, we would not have joined them in shedding the blood of the prophets. So, you, yourselves, confess to be the descendants of those who murdered the prophets.”

“And now, finish off what your ancestors began!”

by

Wednesday, 27 August 2025 : 21st Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Monica (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : White

Psalm 138 : 7-8, 9-10, 11-12ab

Where else could I go from Your Spirit? Where could I flee from Your presence? You are there, if I ascend the heavens; You are there, if I descend to the depths.

If I ride on the wings of the dawn, and settle on the far side of the sea, even there, Your hand shall guide me, and Your right hand shall hold me safely.

Shall I say, “Let darkness hide me, I prefer the night as my light?” But darkness, for You, is not dark.

by

Wednesday, 27 August 2025 : 21st Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Monica (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

1 Thessalonians 2 : 9-13

Remember our labour and toil; when we preached the Gospel, we worked day and night, so as not to be a burden to you. You are witnesses, with God, that we are holy, just and blameless toward all of you who now believe. We warned each of you, as a father warns his children; we encouraged you, and urged you to adopt a way of life worthy of God, Who calls you to share His own glory and kingdom.

This is why we never cease giving thanks to God for, on receiving our message, you accepted it, not as human teaching, but as the word of God. That is what it really is, and, as such, it is at work in you who believe.

by

Monday, 25 August 2025 : 21st Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Louis, and St. Joseph Calasanz, Priest (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Saints or Priests)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we all listened to the words of the Sacred Scriptures, we are reminded that we should be truly and genuinely faithful to God in all things and not merely just paying lip service or having just superficial and shallow faith that is not founded upon firm and strong love and commitment towards God. If we do not live our lives in the manner such that we are truly and sincerely faithful to God, how can we then claim to be true disciples and followers of the Lord, that is as good and faithful Christians? If we are truly committed to be the followers and disciples of the Lord, then we ought to be truly genuine in loving Him and in following all that He has taught and shown us to do, and to glorify Him by our every actions in life, in our every words and interactions with each other.

In our first reading today, taken from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Church and the faithful people of God in the city and region of Thessalonica, we heard of the words of St. Paul greeting the faithful there together on behalf of Silvanus and Timothy, who were companions of St. Paul in his journeys. St. Paul commended those who have kept their faith in the Lord and devoted themselves faithfully and courageously, living their lives in the manner that the Apostles and the other Christian missionaries had shown and taught them. St. Paul praised the faithful in Thessalonica for their exemplary faith and commitment to God, how they turned away from the pagan idols and from their sins, welcoming the missionaries warmly and willingly.

Through what we have heard of this, we are reminded that all of us, God’s faithful and holy people are also called to do the same in our own lives, in each and every moments of our existence, to do what the Lord has commanded us to do so that we may truly be good examples and role models to inspire one another in faith. Each and every one of us are the bearers of the Good News and salvation of God to our brethren around us, to all those who may not have known God or recognised Him being present in their lives. That is why we are reminded to be ever faithful and committed in all things, to live in the manner that is truly worthy of God so that we may indeed glorify Him in each and every things that we do, even to the smallest among those.

Then, from our Gospel passage today, taken from the Gospel according to St. Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist, we heard of the woes and criticisms which the Lord Jesus made against many among the members of the Pharisees. He spoke up against their duplicities and inconsistencies in the manner that they practiced and lived their faith, all of which had scandalised the Lord’s Holy Name and the true Law and commandments of God. This was especially severe because the Pharisees were the ones who were often entrusted with the guardianship of the Law and the commandments of God together with the teachers of the Law, many of whom belonged to both groups at once. The Pharisees themselves were also known for their very rigid and unbending interpretation of the Law as well.

However, as we heard of what the Lord had said, those teachers of the Law and the Pharisees were inconsistent and they in fact bent the Law and the commandments of God to suit their own desires and wishes, and they became entangled and pulled by desires for worldly glory, power and wealth, and in their own way of life and in their actions, those teachers of the Law and the Pharisees had not been truly genuine in loving and trusting in God. They loved themselves and their ambitions, their desires and pursuits more than they loved God and their fellow brethren, when the latter was what they should have done, especially so as the elders and guides of the community of the people of God. This is why, we are also reminded then not to live our lives and faith in this manner either.

Today, the Church also celebrates the Feast of St. Louis, also better known as St. Louis IX, King of France, and also St. Joseph Calasanz. The former was one of the most renowned Kings of France during the Middle Ages, and one of the few kings honoured with sainthood, while the latter was the Spanish priest known for his dedication to the less fortunate especially to the education of the poor young boys in the society. First of all, let us start with the deeds of the renowned St. Louis IX, one of the most renowned of the Kings of France, who reigned a very long reign of forty-four years, and in that long period of his reign, he was remembered for his great commitment to his people and kingdom, his wise and just rule, as well as his dedication to the Lord, in his courageous efforts to unite his kingdom in the one faith and in his participation in the Crusades in the later years of his reign.

St. Louis IX succeeded to the throne of the kingdom of France at the young age of twelve, at the time when the kingdom was beset by divisions and problems, such as the Cathar heresy raging in what is southern parts of France today, and also the threats from the foreign powers and rulers such as the English and other nobles both within and outside his realm. But under the guidance of his regents and through his own great efforts, eventually St. Louis IX was able to overcome all those challenges, establishing a strong, powerful and prosperous kingdom while uniting the people under his rule and ending the divisions caused by heresies and religious disagreements. St. Louis IX was a truly great king devoted to his people and also to the Lord and His Church, embarking on many great works to support the Christian faith and also embarked on the Crusades as mentioned, which unfortunately ended poorly and the saintly king was struck down by disease during that occasion, faithful to the end of his life.

Meanwhile, St. Joseph Calasanz was born in the Kingdom of Aragon in what is today part of Spain, where he was the youngest in a large family of eight children. He was well educated and wanted to be a priest, although his parents did not approve of his wish. After the death of his mother and brother, which made St. Joseph Calasanz as the heir of the family, his father wanted him to marry to carry on the family legacy, but after an illness that brought him close to death, St. Joseph Calasanz was finally allowed to pursue his desire to be a priest. In his many years of ministry, St. Joseph Calasanz spent a lot of time managing administrative matters in different dioceses and also established education institutes for poor boys. He continued to work hard for the Lord’s people all throughout his life to the very end.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, as we have reflected upon the words of the Sacred Scriptures and as we have heard from the lives of St. Louis IX, King of France and St. Joseph Calasanz, let us all therefore do our best to follow their examples in devoting themselves to the Lord. Let us all continue to live our lives ever more faithfully from now on, doing our best to glorify God through our every words, actions and deeds, at all times, to be good role models and examples for one another as St. Louis IX of France and St. Joseph Calasanz had been for us. May God be with us always and may He bless each and every one of us, in everything that we say and do, now and forevermore. Amen.

by

Monday, 25 August 2025 : 21st Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Louis, and St. Joseph Calasanz, Priest (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Saints or Priests)

Matthew 23 : 13-22

At that time, Jesus said to the people and to His disciples, “But woe to you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door to the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You, yourselves, do not enter it, nor do you allow others to do so.”

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You devour widows’ property; and as a show, you pray long prayers! Therefore, you shall receive greater condemnation. Woe to you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel by sea and land to make a single convert; yet, once he is converted, you make him twice as fit for hell as yourselves!”

“Woe to you, blind guides! You say : To swear by the temple is not binding; but, to swear by the gold of the temple is binding. Foolish men! Blind men! Which is of more worth : the gold in the temple, or the temple which makes the gold a sacred treasure? You say : To swear by the altar is not binding, but to swear by the offering on the altar is binding. How blind you are! Which is of more value : the offering on the altar, or the altar which makes the offering sacred?”

“Whoever swears by the altar, is swearing by the altar and by everything on it. Whoever swears by the temple, is swearing by the temple, and by God, Who dwells in the temple. Whoever swears by heaven, is swearing by the throne of God, and by Him, Who is seated on it.”

by

Monday, 25 August 2025 : 21st Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Louis, and St. Joseph Calasanz, Priest (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Saints or Priests)

Psalm 149 : 1-2, 3-4, 5-6a and 9b

Alleluia! Sing to YHVH a new song, sing His praise in the assembly of His saints. Let Israel rejoice in his Maker; let the people of Zion glory in their King!

Let them dance in praise of His Name; and make music for Him with harp and timbrel. For YHVH delights in His people; He crowns the lowly with victory.

The saints will exult in triumph; even at night, on their couches, let the praise of God be on their lips. This is the glory of all His saints. Alleluia!