Sunday

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Sunday, 7 December 2025 : Second Sunday of Advent (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Matthew 3 : 1-12

In the course of time John the Baptist appeared in the desert of Judea and began to proclaim his message, “Change your ways, the kingdom of God is now at hand!” It was about him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said : A voice is shouting in the desert, ‘Prepare a way for the Lord, make His paths straight!'”

John had a leather garment around his waist and wore a cloak of camel’s hair; his food was locusts and wild honey. People came to him from Jerusalem, from all Judea and from the whole Jordan valley, and they were baptised by him in the Jordan as they confessed their sins.

When he saw several Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he baptised, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who told you that you could escape the punishment that is to come? Let it be seen that you are serious in your conversion, and do not think : We have Abraham for our father. I tell you that God can raise children for Abraham from these stones! The axe is already laid to the roots of the trees; any tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown in the fire.”

“I baptise you in water for a change of heart, but the One Who is coming after me is more powerful than me; indeed I am not worthy to carry His sandals. He will baptise you in Holy Spirit and fire. He has the winnowing fan in His hand and He will clear out His threshing floor. He will gather His wheat into the barn, but the chaff He will burn in everlasting fire.”

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Sunday, 7 December 2025 : Second Sunday of Advent (Second Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Romans 15 : 4-9

And we know that whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction, for both perseverance and comfort given us by the Scripture sustain our hope. May God, the source of all perseverance and comfort, give to all of you to live in peace in Christ Jesus, that you may be able to praise in one voice God, Father of Christ Jesus, our Lord.

Welcome, then, one another, as Christ welcomed you for the glory of God. Look : Christ put Himself at the service of the Jewish world to fulfil the promises made by God to their ancestors; here you see God’s faithfulness. The pagans instead give thanks to God for His mercy, as Scripture says : Because of that, I will sing and praise Your Name among the pagans.

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Sunday, 7 December 2025 : Second Sunday of Advent (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Psalm 71 : 2, 7-8, 12-13, 17

May He rule Your people justly and defend the rights of the lowly.

Justice will flower in His days, and peace abound till the moon be no more. For He reigns from sea to sea, from the River to the ends of the earth.

He delivers the needy who call on Him, the afflicted with no one to help them. His mercy is upon the weak and the poor, He saves the life of the poor.

May His Name endure forever; may His Name be as lasting as the sun. All the races will boast about Him, and He will be blessed by all nations.

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Sunday, 7 December 2025 : Second Sunday of Advent (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Isaiah 11 : 1-10

From the stump of Jesse a Shoot will come forth; from his roots a Branch will grow and bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest upon Him – a Spirit of wisdom and understanding, a Spirit of counsel and power, a Spirit of knowledge and fear of YHVH.

Not by appearances will He judge, nor by what is said must He decide, but with justice He will judge the poor and with righteousness decide for the meek. Like a rod, His word will strike the oppressor, and the breath of His lips slay the wicked. Justice will be the girdle of His waist, truth the girdle of His loins.

The wolf will dwell with the lamb, the leopard will rest beside the kid, the calf and the lion cub will feed together and a little child will lead them. Befriending each other, the cow and the bear will see their young ones lie down together. Like cattle, the lion will eat hay. By the cobra’s den the infant will play. The child will put his hand into the viper’s lair. No one will harm or destroy over My holy mountain, for as water fills the sea the earth will be filled with the knowledge of YHVH.

On that day the “Root of Jesse” will be raised as a signal for the nations. The people will come in search of Him, thus making His dwelling place glorious.

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(Usus Antiquior) Second Sunday of Advent (I Classis) – Sunday, 7 December 2025 : Offertory, Secret Prayer of the Priest, Communion and Post-Communion Prayer

Liturgical Colour : Violet

Offertory

Psalm 84 : 7-8

Deus, Tu conversus vivificabis nos, et plebs Tua laetabitur in Te : ostende nobis, Domine, misericordiam Tuam, et salutare Tuum da nobis.

English translation

O God, turning, You will bring us life, and Your people shall rejoice in You. Show us, o Lord, Your mercy and grant us Your salvation.

Secret Prayer of the Priest

Placare, quaesumus, Domine, humilitatis nostrae precibus et hostiis : et, ubi nulla suppetunt suffragia meritorum, Tuis nobis succurre praesidiis. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium Tuum, qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

English translation

Be appeased, we beseech You, o Lord, by the prayers and offerings of our lowliness, and where no support of merits is at hand, do You hasten to us with Your aid. 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

Baruch 5 : 5 and Baruch 4 : 36

Jerusalem, surge et sta in excelso, et vide jucunditatem, quae veniet tibi a Deo tuo.

English translation

Arise, o Jerusalem, and stand on high, and behold the joy that comes to you from your God.

Post-Communion Prayer

Repleti cibo spiritualis alimoniae, supplices Te, Domine, deprecamur : ut, hujus participatione mysterii, doceas nos terrena despicere et amare caelestia. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium Tuum, qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

English translation

Filled with the food of spiritual nourishing, we humbly beseech You, o Lord, that by our partaking of this mystery You would teach us to condemn earthly and love heavenly things. 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) Second Sunday of Advent (I Classis) – Sunday, 7 December 2025 : Holy Gospel

Liturgical Colour : Violet

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

Matthew 11 : 2-10

In illo tempore : Cum audisset Joannes in vinculis opera Christi, mittens duos de discipulis Suis, ait illi : Tu es, qui venturus es, an alium exspectamus? Et respondens Jesus, ait illis : Euntes renuntiate Joanni, quae audistis et vidistis.

Caeci vident, claudi ambulant, leprosi mundantur, surdi audiunt, mortui resurgunt, pauperes evangelizantur. : et beatus est, qui non fuerit scandalizatus in me. Illis autem abeuntibus, coepit Jesus dicere ad turbas de Joanne : Quid existis in desertum videre? Arundinem vento agitatam? Sed quid existis videre? Hominem mollibus vestitum? Ecce, qui mollibus vestiuntur, in domibus regum sunt.

Sed quid existis videre? Prophetam? Etiam dico vobis, et plus quam Prophetam. Hic est enim, de quo scriptum est : Ecce, ego mitto Angelum meum ante faciam Tuam, qui praeparabit viam Tuam ante Te.

English translation

At that time when John had heard in prison the works of Christ, sending two of his disciples, he said to Him : “Are You He Who is to come, or do we look for another?” And Jesus making answer, said to them, “Go and relate to John what you have heard and seen.”

“The blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead rise again, the poor have the Gospel preached to them, and blessed is he who shall not be scandalised in Me.” And when they went their way, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John, “What did you go out into the desert to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Behold those who are clothed in soft garments are in the houses of kings.”

“But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yea, I tell you, and more than a prophet. For this is he of whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send My Angel before Your face, who shall prepare Your way before You.’.

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(Usus Antiquior) Second Sunday of Advent (I Classis) – Sunday, 7 December 2025 : Gradual and Alleluia

Liturgical Colour : Violet

Psalm 49 : 2-3, 5 and Psalm 121 : 1

Ex Sion species decoris ejus : Deus manifeste veniet.

Response : Congregate illi sanctos Ejus, qui ordinaverunt testamentum Ejus super sacrificia.

Alleluja, Alleluja.

Response : Laetatus sum in his, quae dicta sunt mihi : in domum Domini ibimus. Alleluja.

English translation

Out of Zion the loveliness of His beauty, God shall come manifestly.

Response : Gather all of you together His saints to Him, who have set His covenant before sacrifices.

Alleluia, Alleluia.

Response : I rejoiced at the things that were said to me, we shall go into the house of the Lord. Alleluia.

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(Usus Antiquior) Second Sunday of Advent (I Classis) – Sunday, 7 December 2025 : Epistle

Liturgical Colour : Violet

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

Romans 15 : 4-13

Fratres : Quaecumque scripta sunt, ad nostram doctrinam scripta sunt : ut per patientiam et consolationem Scripturarum spem habeamus. Deus autem patientiae et solacii det vobis idipsum sapere in alterutrum secundum Jesum Christum : ut unanimes, uno ore honorificetis Deum et Patrem Domini nostri Jesu Christi.

Propter quod suscipite invicem, sicut et Christus suscepit vos in honorem Dei. Dico enim Christum Jesum ministrum fuisse circumcisionis propter veritatem Dei, ad confirmandas promissionem patrum : gentes autem super misericordia honorare Deum, sicut scriptum est : Propterea confitebor Tibi in gentibus, Domine, et Nomini Tuo cantabo.

Et iterum dicit : Laetamini, gentes, cum plebe ejus. Et iterum : Laudate, omnes gentes, Dominum : et magnificate eum, omnes populi. Et rursus Isaias ait : Erit radix Jesse, et qui exsurget regere gentes, in eum gentes sperabunt. Deus autem spei repleat vos omni gaudio et pace in credendo : ut abundetis in spe et virtute Spiritus Sancti.

English translation

Brethren, what things so ever were written, were written for our learning, that through patience and the comfort of the Scriptures we might have hope. Now the God of patience and of comfort grant you to be of one mind, toward one another, according to Jesus Christ, that with one mind, and with one mouth, you may glorify God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Wherefore receive one another, as Christ had also received you, unto the honour of God. For I say that Christ Jesus was minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers. But that the Gentiles are to glorify God for His mercy, as it is written : “Therefore, I will confess to You, o Lord, among the Gentiles, and I will sing to Your Name.”

And again He said : “Rejoice, you Gentiles, with His people.” And again : “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and magnify Him, all you people.” And again, Isaiah said : “There shall be a root of Jesse, and He Who shall rise up to rule the Gentiles, in Him the Gentiles shall hope.” Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, and in the power of the Holy Spirit.

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(Usus Antiquior) Second Sunday of Advent (I Classis) – Sunday, 7 December 2025 : Introit and Collect

Liturgical Colour : Violet

Introit

Isaiah 30 : 30 and Psalm 79 : 2

Populus Sion, ecce, Dominus veniet ad salvandas gentes : et auditam faciet Dominus gloriam vocis suae in laetitia cordis vestri.

Qui Regis Israel, intende : qui deducis, velut ovem, Joseph.

Response : Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto, sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper : et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.

English translation

People of Zion, behold, the Lord shall come to save the nations, and the Lord shall make the glory of His voice to be heard in the joy of your heart.

Give ear, o You Who rule Israel, You Who lead Joseph like a sheep.

Response : 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.

Collect

Excita, Domine, corda nostra ad praeparandas Unigeniti Tui vias : ut, per ejus adventum, purificatis Tibi mentibus servire mereamur : Qui Tecum vivis et regnas in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

English translation

Stir up our hearts, o Lord, to prepare the ways of Your only begotten Son, that through His coming we may be worthy to serve You with purified minds. You Who lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.

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Sunday, 30 November 2025 : First Sunday of Advent (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, this Sunday marks the First Sunday of Advent, which not only marks the beginning of the Season of Advent, the time of preparation for the upcoming celebrations of Christmas, but also the beginning of the new liturgical year cycle. Therefore, as we begin this new time and season, all of us are reminded as we begin our preparation for the joyful celebration of Christmas that we should renew our determination and commitment to live our lives in the manner that is truly pleasing to God and worthy of Him. As we begin this new liturgical year, our mindset should be improving and not remaining in the same way we have been doing things all these while, especially if we have been distant away from God.

In our first reading this Sunday, we heard from the Book of the prophet Isaiah in which the reassuring vision of Isaiah was told to us, in all that God has revealed to him to be told to His beloved people who at that time had been suffering lots of setback, humiliation, struggles and challenges, all mainly due to their own disobedience and lack of faith in Him. Contextually, the prophet Isaiah was sent to the people of the southern kingdom of Judah to help guide and assist them in their ways, in returning to God after many of their ancestors and predecessors had been living in long periods of disobedience and disregard for the Law and commandments of God. Their disobedience and sins have separated them from the fullness of God’s grace and blessings, and they faced the consequences of their disobedience as their fortunes turned downhill.

At about that time, the northern kingdom of Israel was also attacked, conquered and destroyed by the forces of the Assyrians, who destroyed their cities and capital Samaria, and brought many among the people to exile in distant lands. Then the king of Assyria, Sennacherib, also came up with his great and vast army to attack Judah and Jerusalem itself, and this same king mockingly spoke ill of the Lord and the people’s faith in Him, boasting that his armies and forces have crushed and conquered countless nations and states, overthrowing their gods and idols. But God rebuked the Assyrian king and gave him a fitting punishment for having boasted in such a manner and for raising his hands against the people of God, as He sent His Angels to decimate the Assyrian army, sending king Sennacherib back to his lands in great shame.

Therefore, it was against this background and the other historical evidences that the Lord reassured His people, all of those who remained faithful in Him, that all of their trust and faith in Him were not misplaced, and that they would indeed rejoice in the end with Him, because God Who is always ever faithful and loving to all those who are true to Him will be rewarded and will be guided by Him to the right path, to the path of vindication and fulfilment. The Lord was always with His people, even in their darkest and most difficult moments, and the time of His renewal would eventually come, and the people really needed to put their faith and trust in their Lord and Master instead of continuing with their rebellion and disobedience.

And God Himself also revealed that He would also gather all the other nations and peoples, and that His salvation and grace would not be limited only to the Israelites, as ultimately, all the children of mankind are precious, beloved and dear to the Lord. Through Israel as the first example, ultimately, all the people of all the nations would be gathered together to praise the Lord their God, and all the people would be called to come to the Presence of God, to be reconciled and reunited once again with their most loving and compassionate God, their Creator, Who has always desired to be reunited with those whom He had created generously out of love, but have been scattered and lost to Him due to our disobedience and sins against Him.

From our second reading this Sunday, from the Epistle of St. Paul the Apostle to the Church and the faithful people of God in Rome, we are reminded by St. Paul that the time of the reckoning of our lives and the coming of God’s salvation, while it may not be as immediate as what St. Paul and the Apostles back then thought of, but it may be sooner than what we expected or may expect. Ultimately, the reality is such that, no one save that of the Lord Himself know when the exact moment of the Lord’s Second Coming and the end of the world and time as we all know it, which is known as parousia, the end of times prophesied and predicted, revealed and shown to us through the servants of God.

What we can be very sure of is the fact that the Lord will come again, at the time of His choosing, and what is most uncertain is the exact time that this will happen. That is why we have to be always ready and alert, vigilant and prepared at any time so that whenever we are expected to commit ourselves to the Lord and account for our actions and works in this life, and including even our failures to act whenever we are capable of and when we have been given the perfect opportunity for, that is where we need to realise that we have to account for all of that before the Judge of all the living and the dead in the end. All of us are sinners, imperfect and unworthy of God, and yet, at the same time, God is so infinite and boundless in His mercy and compassion that He has given His love and mercy towards us without end.

Then, lastly, from our Gospel passage this Sunday, taken from the Gospel according to St. Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist, we heard the similar message from the Lord Jesus telling His disciples of the certainty of what will happen one day, in the coming of God’s salvation at the end of time, the reckoning which will happen at the time of God’s choosing, when this will happen in the most unexpected of times and moments, which He likened in a simple parable and comparison, with how no one would have known when a thief would break into a house, and hence, the owner of the house ought to be always vigilant, ready and prepared against all eventualities. Essentially, those who failed to plan and prepare, they are all planning and heading to failure and doom.

That is why, each and every one of us are reminded that as we enter into this new season, the Season of Advent, being a time of spiritual rediscovery, renewal and reconnection with God, we are all called to turn once again towards the Lord. If our lives have been hectic, busy and if we have been distracted by our numerous commitments, responsibilities and attachments in the world, then we are reminded to keep our focus firmly directed towards the Lord, Who ought to be the centre and the focus of our whole lives and existences. We should not forget the presence of God in our lives and remember that no matter what, and no matter how difficult things may be for us, the Lord will always be present in our midst, supporting and strengthening us in our journeys in life.

As we reflect upon the words of the Sacred Scriptures which we have received just earlier on, we are reminded on this First Sunday of Advent that each and every one of us should make good use of this time, season and opportunity for us to prepare ourselves well not only for the upcoming Christmas season which we are surely going to celebrate joyfully and wonderfully, but also for the ultimate coming of our Lord, His Second Coming, given the dual nature of this Advent season, which commemorates both the first coming of Christ that had happened two millennia ago, and which we celebrate in Christmas, as well as the expectation of the parousia, the second coming of Our Lord and Saviour, which had been promised to us, and which will certainly happen in due time.

Let us all therefore live our lives courageously and worthily of the Lord, doing our very best in each and every moments in life. Let us continue to do our best to be good and worthy examples of our Christian faith in each and every actions, words and deeds, in all that we do for the greater glory of God. Let us all shine brightly with the light and hope of our Saviour. May the Lord be with us always, and may He continue to encourage and empower all of us to be His faithful and committed disciples and followers in all times and circumstances, becoming shining beacons of His light and hope to everyone we encounter, now and always. Amen.