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(Usus Antiquior) Palm Sunday (I Classis) – Sunday, 24 March 2024 : Procession with Blessed Palms

Liturgical Colour : Red

Procedamus in pace.

Response : In Nomine Christi. Amen.

English translation

Let us go forth in peace.

Response : In the Name of Christ. Amen.

First Antiphon

Occurrunt turbae cum floribus et palmis Redemptori obviam : et victori triumphanti digna dant obsequia : Filium Dei ore gentes praedicant : et in laudem Christi voces tonant per nubila : Hosanna in excelsis!

English translation

The multitude goes forth to meet our Redeemer with flowers and palms, and pays the homage due to a triumphant conqueror : the Gentiles proclaim the Son of God, and their voices thunder through the skies in praise of Christ. Hosanna in the highest!

Second Antiphon

Cum angelis et pueris fideles inveniamur, triumphatori mortis clamantes : Hosanna in excelsis!

English translation

Let the faithful join with the angels and children, singing to the conqueror of death, “Hosanna in the highest!”

Third Antiphon

Turba multa quae convenerat ad diem festum, clamabat Domino : Benedictus qui venit in Nomine Domini : Hosanna in excelsis!

English translation

A great multitude that was met together at the festival cried out to the Lord, “Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord, Hosanna in the highest!”

Fourth Antiphon

Coeperunt omnes turbae descendentium gaudentes laudare Deum voce magna, super omnibus quas viderant virtutibus, dicentes : Benedictus qui venit Rex in Nomine Domini; pax in terra et gloria in excelsis.

Gloria, laus et honor tibi sit, Rex Christe, Redemptor : Cui puerile decus prompsit Hosanna pium.

Response : Gloria, laus et honor tibi sit, Rex Christe, Redemptor : Cui puerile decus prompsit Hosanna pium.

Israel es Tu Rex, Davidis et inclita proles : Nomine qui in Domini, Rex benedicte, venis.

Response : Gloria, laus et honor tibi sit, Rex Christe, Redemptor : Cui puerile decus prompsit Hosanna pium.

Caetus in excelsis Te laudat caelicus omnis, et mortalis homo, et cuncta creata simul.

Response : Gloria, laus et honor tibi sit, Rex Christe, Redemptor : Cui puerile decus prompsit Hosanna pium.

Plebs Hebraea tibi cum palmis obvia venit : Cum prece, voto, hymnis, adsumus ecce tibi.

Response : Gloria, laus et honor tibi sit, Rex Christe, Redemptor : Cui puerile decus prompsit Hosanna pium.

Hi tibi passuro solvebant munia laudis : Nos tibi regnanti pangimus ecce melos.

Response : Gloria, laus et honor tibi sit, Rex Christe, Redemptor : Cui puerile decus prompsit Hosanna pium.

Hi placuere tibi placeat devotio nostra : Rex bone, Rex clemens, cui bona cuncta placent.

Response : Gloria, laus et honor tibi sit, Rex Christe, Redemptor : Cui puerile decus prompsit Hosanna pium.

English translation

Near the descent the whole multitude began with joy to praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, saying, “Blessed be the King who comes in the Name of the Lord, peace on earth and glory on high!”

Glory, praise and honour to You, o Christ the King, the Redeemer, to whom children poured their glad and sweet Hosanna’s song.

Response : Glory, praise and honour to You, o Christ the King, the Redeemer, to whom children poured their glad and sweet Hosanna’s song.

Hail, King of Israel, David’s Son of royal fame! He who comes in the Name of the Lord, o blessed King.

Response : Glory, praise and honour to You, o Christ the King, the Redeemer, to whom children poured their glad and sweet Hosanna’s song.

The Angel host laud You on high, on earth mankind, with all created things.

Response : Glory, praise and honour to You, o Christ the King, the Redeemer, to whom children poured their glad and sweet Hosanna’s song.

With palms the Jews went forth to meet You. We greet You now with prayers and hymns.

Response : Glory, praise and honour to You, o Christ the King, the Redeemer, to whom children poured their glad and sweet Hosanna’s song.

On Your way to die, they crowned You with praise. We raise our song to You, now King on high.

Response : Glory, praise and honour to You, o Christ the King, the Redeemer, to whom children poured their glad and sweet Hosanna’s song.

Their poor homage pleased You, o gracious King! O clement King, accept ours too, the best that we can bring.

Response : Glory, praise and honour to You, o Christ the King, the Redeemer, to whom children poured their glad and sweet Hosanna’s song.

Fifth Antiphon

Omnes collaudant Nomen Tuum et dicunt : Benedictus qui venit in Nomine Domini : Hosanna in excelsis.

Psalm 147

Lauda, Jerusalem, Dominum : lauda Deum tuum, Sion.

Quod firmavit seras portarum tuarum : benedixit filiis tuis in te.

Composuit fines tuos in pace : medulla tritici satiat te.

Emittit eloquium suum in terram : velociter currit verbum ejus.

Dat nivem sicut lanam : pruinam sicut cinerem spargit.

Projicit glaciem siam ut frustula panis : coram frigore ejus aquae rigescunt.

Emittit verbum suum et liquefacit eas : flare jubet ventum suum et fluunt aquae.

Annuntiavit verbum suum Jacob : statuta et praecepta sua Israel.

Non fecit ita ulli nationi : praecepta sua non manifestavit eis.

Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto.

Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.

Omnes collaudant Nomen Tuum et dicunt : Benedictus qui venit in Nomine Domini : Hosanna in excelsis.

English translation

All praise Your Name highly and say, “Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord, Hosanna in the highest!”

Psalm 147

Praise the Lord, o Jerusalem, praise your God, o Zion.

Because He had strengthened the bolts of your gates, He had blessed your children within you.

Who had placed peace in your borders and filled you with the fat of corn.

Who sends forth His speech to the earth, His word runs swiftly.

Who gives snow like wool, scatters frost like ashes.

He sends His crystal like morsels, who shall stand before the face of His cold?

He shall send out His word and shall melt them, His wind shall blow and the waters shall run.

Who declares His word to Jacob, His justices and His judgments to Israel.

He had not done in like manner to every nation, and His judgments He had not made manifest to them.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

All praise Your Name highly and say, “Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord, Hosanna in the highest!”

Sixth Antiphon

Fulgentibus palmis prosternimur advenienti Domino; huic omnes occurramus cum hymnis et canticis, glorificantes et dicentes : Benedictus Dominus!

English translation

We are strewn with the shining palms before the Lord as He approaches, let us all run to meet Him with hymns and songs, glorify Him and say, “Blessed be the Lord!”

Seventh Antiphon

Ave, Rex noster, Fili David, Redemptor mundi, quem prophetae praedixerunt Salvatorem domui Israel esse venturum. Te enim ad salutarem victimam Pater misit in mundum, quem exspectabant omnes sancti ab origine mundi, et nunc : Hosanna Filio David. Benedictus qui venit in Nomine Domini. Hosanna in excelsis!

English translation

Hail, our King, o Son of David, o world’s Redeemer, whom prophets did foretell as the Saviour to come of the house of Israel. For the Father sent You into the world as victim for salvation, from the beginning of the world all the saints awaited You. Hosanna now to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!

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(Usus Antiquior) Palm Sunday (I Classis) – Sunday, 24 March 2024 : Holy Gospel

Liturgical Colour : Red

Sequentia Sancti Evangelii secundum Matthaeum – Continuation of the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew

Matthew 21 : 1-9

In illo tempore : Cum appropinquasset Jesus Jerosolymis, et venisset Bethphage ad montem Oliveti : tunc misit duos discipulos suos, dicens eis : Ite in castellum, quod contra vos est, et statim invenietis asinam alligatam, et pullum cum ea : solvite, et adducite mihi : si quis vobis aliquid dixerit, dicite quia Dominus his opus habet, et confestim dimittet eos.

Hoc autem totum factum est, ut adimpleretur quod dictum est per prophetam, dicentem : Dicite filiae Sion : Ecce Rex tuus venit tibi mansuetus, sedens super asinam et pullum, filium subjugalis.

Euntes autem discipuli, fecerunt sicut praecepit illis Jesus. Et adduxerunt asinam et pullum : et imposuerunt super eos vestimenta sua, et cum desuper sedere fecerunt. Plurima autem turba straverunt vestimenta sua in via : alii autem caedebant ramos de arboribus, et sternebant in via : turbae autem, quae praecedebant, et quae sequebantur, clamabant, dicentes : Hosanna Filio David : Benedictus qui venit in Nomine Domini.

English translation

At that time, when Jesus drew nigh to Jerusalem, and had come to Bethphage, unto the Mount of Olives, He then sent two disciples, and said to them, “Go to the village that is over there against you, and immediately you shall find a donkey tied, and a colt with her, loosen them and bring them to Me, and if anyone shall say anything to you, say that the Lord had need of them, and forthwith He shall let them go.”

Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, which says, “Tell to the daughter of Zion, behold your King comes to you meekly, and sitting upon a donkey, and the colt that is her foal who is used to the yoke.”

And the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. And they brought the donkey and its colt, and laid their garments upon them, and made Him to sit upon them. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way, and others cut boughs from the trees and strewed them along the way, and the multitudes who went before and those who followed after cried, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord!”

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(Usus Antiquior) Palm Sunday (I Classis) – Sunday, 24 March 2024 : Distribution of the Palms

Liturgical Colour : Red

First Antiphon

John 12 : 13 and Mark 11 : 9

Pueri Hebraeorum, portantes ramos olivarum, obviaverunt Domino, clamantes, et dicentes : Hosanna in excelsis.

English translation

The children of the Hebrews, carrying olive branches went forth to meet the Lord, crying aloud and repeating, “Hosanna in the highest!”

Psalm 23

Domini est terra, et plenitudo ejus : orbis terrarum et universi qui habitant in eo.

Quia ipse super maria fundavit eum : et super flumina praeparavit eum.

(First Antiphon)

Attollite portas, principes, vestras, et elevamini portae aeternales : et introibit Rex gloriae.

Quis est iste Rex gloriae? Dominus fortis et potens : Dominus potens in proelio.

(First Antiphon)

Attollite portas principes vestras, et elevamini portae aeternales : et introibit Rex gloriae.

Quis est iste Rex gloriae? Dominus virtutum ipse est Rex gloriae.

(First Antiphon)

Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto.

Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.

(First Antiphon)

English translation

The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and all those who dwell in it.

For He had founded it upon the seas, and had prepared it upon the rivers.

(First Antiphon)

Lift up your gates, o you princes, and may you be lifted up, o eternal gates, and the King of Glory shall enter in.

Who is the King of Glory? The Lord who is strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.

(First Antiphon)

Lift up your gates, o you princes, and may you be lifted up, o eternal gates, and the King of Glory shall enter in.

Who is the King of Glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of Glory.

(First Antiphon)

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

(First Antiphon)

Second Antiphon

Matthew 21 : 8-9

Pueri Hebraeorum vestimenta prosternebant in via et clamabant, dicentes : Hosanna Filio David : Benedictus, qui venit in Nomine Domini.

English translation

The children of the Hebrews strewed their garments in the way and cried aloud, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord!”

Psalm 46

Omnes Gentes, plaudite manibus : jubilate Deo in voce exsultationis.

Quoniam Dominus excelsus, terribilis : Rex magnus super omnem terram.

(Second Antiphon)

Subjecit populos nobis : et Gentes sub pedibus nostris.

Elegit nobis hereditatem suam : speciem Jacob, quam dilexit.

(Second Antiphon)

Ascendit Deus in jubilo : et Dominus in voce tubae.

Psallite Deo nostro, psallite : psallite Regi nostro, psallite.

(Second Antiphon)

Quoniam Rex omnis terrae Deus : psallite sapienter.

Regnabit Deus super Gentes : Deus sedet super sedem sanctam suam.

(Second Antiphon)

Principes populorum congregati sunt cum Deo Abraham : quoniam dii fortes terrae vehementer elevati sunt.

(Second Antiphon)

Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto.

Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.

(Second Antiphon)

English translation

O clap your hands, all you nations. Shout unto God with the voice of joy.

For the Lord is high, terrible, a great King over all the earth.

(Second Antiphon)

He had subdued the people under us, and the nations under our feet.

He had chosen for us His inheritance, the beauty of Jacob which He had loved.

(Second Antiphon)

God is ascended with jubilee, and the Lord with the sound of trumpet.

Sing praises to our God, sing all of you, sing praises to our King, sing all of you.

(Second Antiphon)

For God is the King of all the earth, sing all of you wisely.

God shall reign over the nations, God sits on His holy throne.

(Second Antiphon)

The princes of the people are gathered together, with the God of Abraham, for the strong gods of the earth are exceedingly exalted.

(Second Antiphon)

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

(Second Antiphon)

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(Usus Antiquior) Palm Sunday (I Classis) – Sunday, 24 March 2024 : Blessing of the Palms

Liturgical Colour : Red

Antiphon

Matthew 21 : 9

Hosanna Filio David : benedictus, qui venit in Nomine Domini. Rex Israel : Hosanna in excelsis.

Priest : Dominus vobiscum.

Response : Et cum spiritu tuo.

Oremus :

Benedic +, quaesumus, Domine, hos palmarum ramos : et praesta; ut quod populus Tuus in Tui venerationem hodierna die corporaliter agit, hoc spiritualiter summa devotione perficiat, de hoste victoriam reportando et opus misericordiae summopere diligendo. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

English translation

Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord. O King of Israel : Hosanna in the highest!

Priest : The Lord be with you.

Response : And with your spirit.

Let us pray :

Bless +, we beseech You, o Lord, these palm branches, and grant that what Your people this day do in the flesh in Your honour, it may do in spirit with uttermost devotion, winning the victory over the enemy, and loving with all its heart the exercise of mercy. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Tuesday, 19 March 2024 : Solemnity of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : White

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today we mark and celebrate the great occasion of the Solemnity of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. St. Joseph according to the Scriptures and Church traditions was a carpenter living in the town of Nazareth of Galilee, who was the husband of Mary, the Mother of Jesus Christ, Son of God and our Saviour. Therefore, as the Spouse of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, St. Joseph is the foster-father of Our Lord and Saviour Himself, and also an integral member and part of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. St. Joseph is also the Heir of David, being descended after many generations from King David through the kings of Judah and their descendants, as the one through whom God’s promises to David would be fulfilled.

And as St. Joseph was legally married to Mary, the Mother of Our Lord and Saviour, thus this made the Lord to be the legal heir of St. Joseph and hence, making Him the Heir and Son of David as in accordance to the Law of Moses. St. Joseph was also remembered as a great and righteous man, who was upright and just in all of his works and deeds, in all of his ways and obedience to God. He is therefore a great role model for us all and not merely meriting that great honour which had been given to him solely from being the foster-father of Our Lord. St. Joseph’s virtues and righteousness made him to be a truly ideal person to be the protector and guardian, and as an essential member of the Holy Family, as he carried out his responsibilities with great faith and commitment.

St. Joseph was upright, just and caring for others because as mentioned in the Scriptures, he could have divorced Mary or cancelled his engagement to her upon knowing that she had become pregnant. Before he knew more about it, he decided to do things quietly because if everyone else had known that Mary became pregnant outside of marriage and that the Child did not belong to St. Joseph, the young Mary could have been condemned and stoned to death according to the Law of Moses, as she would have then been accused of adultery and sin. But St. Joseph cared about Mary and wanted her to avoid that predicament. That was when the Lord told St. Joseph of everything that He had planned, and the true identity of the Child that Mary bore within her.

St. Joseph willing took up and shouldered the responsibilities that had been entrusted to him by the Lord. He took Mary as his own wife and accepted the Lord Jesus, the Child that Mary bore within her as his own even though He was not his biological Son. He devoted himself to a life of service to God, being the protector and head of the Holy Family henceforth, facing many struggles and difficulties, and helping both Mary and her Child to endure and persevere through all those issues all throughout their journeys. I am sure we are all well aware of how St. Joseph helped Mary on their way from Nazareth to Bethlehem when they were all expected to be part of the Roman Emperor’s great Census, while Mary was heavily pregnant and was almost due to give birth.

We all know how St. Joseph helped Mary to find a lodging in Bethlehem, despite having difficulties to get one because all the inns and houses were full. He helped the Holy Family to face the struggles and difficulties thereafter, evading Herod the Great’s efforts to destroy the young Messiah, the Lord Jesus, when he heard of His coming through the Magi. St. Joseph patiently and obediently led the Holy Family to seek refuge in Egypt, staying there until Herod had died, and then returning back to Nazareth. The last time he was heard in the Scriptures was in our Gospel passage today, where we heard how St. Joseph led the twelve years old Lord Jesus and His mother Mary to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover, and it was there that Jesus purposefully stayed behind in His Father’s House.

We heard how Mary and St. Joseph went to look for the missing Jesus, and found Him at the Temple of Jerusalem, speaking with the priests and others assembled there at the Temple. Throughout the whole thing, St. Joseph was shown as being the quiet one, but the Gospels recorded how the Lord Jesus went back to Nazareth together with His parents, and subjected Himself to their authority. It was likely from St. Joseph that the Lord learnt many skills in this world, as well as other knowledge and also understanding of God’s Law and commandments. He was not mentioned anymore after that, and it was likely that he had passed away before the Lord began His ministry, and yet, St. Joseph had done so much for the Lord, for His mother Mary and had become great role model and example for all of us.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, today therefore on this great Feast and celebration of St. Joseph, head and protector of the Holy Family, Foster-father of Our Lord and Saviour, and the Spouse of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, let us all be inspired by all the good examples, righteousness and faith which St. Joseph has shown each and every one of us. St. Joseph has also been declared as the Patron and Protector of the Universal Church by Blessed Pope Pius IX over a century and half ago, and in that role, he continued to intercede on behalf of the Church, for all of us living in this world, as members of the Church, that his watching eyes and guidance continue to help us in living our lives and in doing what God had commanded us to do, just as St. Joseph himself had done earlier.

Let us all hence continue to live our lives faithfully as Christians, as God’s holy people, in all righteousness and justice, in following His Law and commandments, in being responsible towards our many commitments, responsibilities and missions in life, following the good and inspiring examples shown by St. Joseph himself. Great and holy Patron, St. Joseph, pray for all of us and pray for the Church of God, so that we will continue to be good role models and inspirations to everyone through our way of life, actions and works. May God be with us all and may He empower us to continue living our lives faithfully at all times. Amen.

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Tuesday, 19 March 2024 : Solemnity of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

Matthew 1 : 16, 18-21, 24a

Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and from her came Jesus Who is called the Christ – the Messiah.

This is how Jesus Christ was born : Mary His mother had been given to Joseph in marriage, but before they lived together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph, her husband, made plans to divorce her in all secrecy. He was an upright man, and in no way did he want to discredit her.

While he was pondering over this, an Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, descendant of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. She has conceived by the Holy Spirit, and now she will bear a Son. You shall call Him ‘Jesus’ for He will save His people from their sins.”

When Joseph woke up, he did what the Angel of the Lord had told him to do.

Alternative reading

Luke 2 : 41-51a

Every year the parents of Jesus went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover, as was customary. And when Jesus was twelve years old, He went up with them, according to the custom of this feast. After the festival was over, they returned, but the Boy Jesus remained in Jerusalem, and His parents did not know it.

They thought He was in the company, and after walking the whole day they looked for Him among their relatives and friends. As they did not find Him, they went back to Jerusalem searching for Him, and on the third day they found Him in the Temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking questions. And all the people were amazed at His understanding and His answers.

His parents were very surprised when they saw Him, and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Your father and I were very worried while searching for You.” Then He said to them, “Why were you looking for Me? Did you not know that I must be in My Father’s house?” But they did not understand this answer.

Jesus went down with them, returning to Nazareth, and He continued to be subject to them.

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Tuesday, 19 March 2024 : Solemnity of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Second Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

Romans 4 : 13, 16-18, 22

If God promised Abraham, or rather his descendants, that the world would belong to him, this was not because of his obeying the Law, but because he was just and a friend of God through faith.

For that reason, faith is the way and all is given by grace; and the promises of Abraham are fulfilled for all his descendants, not only for his children according to the Law, but also for all the others who have believed.

Abraham is the father of all of us, as it is written : I will make you father of many nations. He is our father in the eyes of Him Who gives life to the dead, and calls into existence what does not yet exist, for this is the God in Whom he believed. Abraham believed and hoped against all expectation, thus becoming father of many nations, as he had been told : See how many will be your descendants.

This was taken into account for him to attain righteousness.

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Tuesday, 19 March 2024 : Solemnity of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : White

Psalm 88 : 2-3, 4-5, 27 and 29

I will sing forever, o Lord, of Your love and proclaim Your faithfulness from age to age. I will declare how steadfast is Your love, how firm Your faithfulness.

You said, “I have made a covenant with David, My chosen one; I have made a pledge to My servant. I establish his descendants forever; I build his throne for all generations.”

“He will call on Me, ‘You are my Father, my God, my Rock, my Saviour.’ I will keep My covenant firm forever, and My love for him will endure.

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Tuesday, 19 March 2024 : Solemnity of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

2 Samuel 7 : 4-5a, 12-14a, 16

But that very night, YHVH’s word came to Nathan, “Go and tell My servant David, this is what YHVH says : When the time comes for you to rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your son after you, the one born of you and I will make his reign secure. He shall build a house for My Name and I will firmly establish his kingship forever. I will be a Father to him and he shall be My son.”

“Your house and your reign shall last forever before Me, and your throne shall be forever firm.”

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Wednesday, 13 March 2024 : 4th Week of Lent, Eleventh Anniversary of the Pontificate of Pope Francis (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we are all reminded through the readings of the Sacred Scriptures, we are presented with the important reminders of God’s salvation to all of us mankind, as He reached out to us with love, showing us all His compassion and mercy, the desire to forgive us all our many sins and wickedness, and His efforts in calling us all out of the darkness so that we may turn away from this path of evil and sin, embracing His ever generous mercy, compassion and love. During this time and season of Lent that we are currently progressing through, we should put a good and conscious effort to draw ever closer to God, renewing our commitment to follow Him and in doing our best to live out our lives ever more worthily in His path.

In our first reading today, taken from the Book of the prophet Isaiah, we heard of the words of the Lord reassuring His people, the people of Israel, of the love and kindness, the mercy and compassion which He has always had for them, and which He will continue to show, despite their sins and rebelliousness, their refusal to obey His Law and commandments. God has always been patient in caring for those people He loved, and He has always reached out to them, sending unto them His prophets and messengers, reminding them to turn away from the path of sin, evil and wickedness, and calling upon all of them to embrace once again the fullness of His love and grace. The Lord has always loved all of us, and despite our fallen state and corruption by sin, He loves us all equally and if not even greater.

At that time, the people of Israel had been long rebellious and disobedient against God, and they had long chosen to follow the path of evil and sin. They have ignored the messages of the Lord, His reminders and calls which He had made to them through those same prophets and messengers. They rebelled against Him, chose to put their lot and side with the pagan gods and idols of their neighbours and enemies instead. They took for granted all the love, kindness and compassion which God has given to each and every one of them, all the generous blessings that they have received. God despised their sins and wickedness, but that cannot erase the fact that He still loved them all regardless. His love for us endured and is far greater than the power of our sins and wickedness.

Why is that so, brothers and sisters in Christ? That is because God created us all out of love, and He wanted to love us all, and sharing that love with us, and He still loves us so even after we have betrayed and abandoned Him, preferring to listen to and believe in the evil ones rather than to believe in and trust in Him. God does not want us all to be separated from Him, and His love endured through all time. If He had hated us personally, He could have erased us from existence easily by the mere will of His thought alone, as easily as He had created us, and yet, He did not do that, because He saw in us, the ability and the potential to seek forgiveness and to attain full reconciliation in Him.

That is why, He gave us all the opportunities, help, guidance and the many other means through which He hoped that many of us will come to see reason and His truth, and be called to enter once again into His grace and love, and to walk and journey towards His salvation. He has opened wide the doors of Heaven, His path of mercy to us, so that through His most wonderful love and mercy, He would continue to bring us ever closer to Him, and cleanse from us our corruptions and wickedness, that hopefully one day, upon the time of reckoning, we may all be found worthy and just, and can enter into the everlasting kingdom of true happiness and joy with Him, which we shall enjoy forever.

In our Gospel passage today, we continue to be reminded of this through the words of the Lord Himself, Who affirmed His status to His disciples, the truth about Himself as the Son of God, Who has been sent into this world to come into our midst, to dwell amongst us, and to gather each and every one of us so that through Him all of us may be saved and be reunited wholly with God. The Lord highlighted to the people how He as the Son had to obey the Father’s will, in doing everything that He had been entrusted to do. He had done everything so that He can be the perfect example of faith and obedience for all of us, as the role model for us to follow in how we live our own lives with faith.

In that same occasion, the Lord also made it clear to everyone that the time is coming when the moment of reckoning will come for everyone, be it living or dead, for them to render an account of their lives before the great Judge, the Lord Himself, the One Who will mark if a person is either worthy or unworthy of eternity in Heaven, at the Last and Final Judgment. This reminder is also important for us because of the consequences that our sins and wickedness, all those corruptions and evils can do to us, if we let them to continue ruining our lives and refusing to accept God’s forgiveness and mercy right up to the very last moments. We must not be ignorant of this same reminder and call that the Lord has given us all, firstly through the prophets and messengers, and finally through His own Son.

We must remember that ultimately, while God has always been full of love, mercy and compassion upon us, and while He has always readily extended His love and care for us, calling us ever more to follow Him and to come to His embrace, but we must not take all these for granted, as it is by our own stubbornness and foolish rejection of God’s generous love and compassion that many among us and our predecessors have ended up in Hell and eternal damnation. It is by our own conscious choice in choosing sin over God, evil over righteousness that we have ended up in the fallen state and damnation. We must remember this so that we will not continue to walk down this wrong path. We should also make use of this time and opportunity given to us to deepen our relationship with God and to help others to come closer to God as well.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all therefore seek the Lord with renewed faith and contrite hearts, making best use of the opportunities that He has provided to us, especially during this time and season of Lent, so that we may be able to find our way back towards Him. May God continue to love us and help us in our journey of faith back to Him, lead and guide us ever always in the right path, now and forevermore. Amen.