Sunday

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Sunday, 9 February 2025 : Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Luke 5 : 1-11

At that time, one day, as Jesus stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, with a crowd gathered around Him listening to the word of God, He caught sight of two boats, left at the water’s edge by fishermen, now washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to pull out a little from the shore. There He sat, and continued to teach the crowd.

When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” Simon replied, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing. But if You say so, I will lower the nets.” This they did, and caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. They signalled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. They came, and they filled both almost to the point of sinking.

Upon seeing this, Simon Peter fell at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Leave me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” For he and his companions were amazed at the catch they had made, and so were Simon’s partners, James and John, Zebedee’s sons. Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. You will catch people from now on.” So they brought their boats to land and followed Him, leaving everything.

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Sunday, 9 February 2025 : Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time (Second Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

1 Corinthians 15 : 1-11

Let me remind you, brothers and sisters, of the Good News that I preached to you and which you received and on which you stand firm. By that Gospel you are saved, provided that you hold to it as I preached it. Otherwise, you will have believed in vain.

In the first place, I have passed on to you what I myself received that Christ died for our sins, as Scripture says; that He was buried; that He was raised on the third day, according to the Scriptures; that He appeared to Cephas and then to the Twelve. Afterwards He appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters together; most of them are still alive, although some have already gone to rest.

Then He appeared to James and after that to all the Apostles. And last of all, He appeared to the most despicable of them, this is to me. For I am the last of the Apostles, and I do not even deserve to be called an Apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God. Nevertheless, by the grace of God, I am what I am, and His grace toward me has not been without fruit. Far from it, I have toiled more than all of them, although, not I, rather the grace of God, in me.

Now, whether it was I or they, this, we preach, and this, you have believed.

Alternative reading (shorter version)

1 Corinthians 15 : 3-8, 11

In the first place, I have passed on to you what I myself received that Christ died for our sins, as Scripture says; that He was buried; that He was raised on the third day, according to the Scriptures; that He appeared to Cephas and then to the Twelve. Afterwards He appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters together; most of them are still alive, although some have already gone to rest.

Then He appeared to James and after that to all the Apostles. And last of all, He appeared to the most despicable of them, this is to me. Now, whether it was I or they, this, we preach, and this, you have believed.

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Sunday, 9 February 2025 : Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Psalm 137 : 1-2a, 2bc-3, 4-5, 7c-8

I thank You, o YHVH, with all my heart, for You have heard the word of my lips. I sing Your praise in the presence of the gods. I bow down toward Your holy Temple and give thanks to Your Name.

For Your love and faithfulness, for Your word, which exceeds everything. You answered me when I called; You restored my soul and made me strong.

O YHVH, all kings on earth will give You praise, when they have heard Your words. They will celebrate the ways of YHVH, “Great is the glory of YHVH!”

You save me from the wrath of my foes, with Your right hand You deliver me. How the Lord cares for me! Your kindness, o Lord, endures forever. Forsake not the work of Your hands.

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Sunday, 9 February 2025 : Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Isaiah 6 : 1-2a, 3-8

In the year that king Uzziah died I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted; the train of His robe filled the Temple. Above Him were Seraphs, each with six wings.

They were calling to one another : “Holy, Holy, Holy is YHVH Sabaoth. All the earth is filled with His glory!” At the sound of their voices the foundations of the threshold shook and the Temple was filled with smoke. I said, “Poor me! I am doomed! For I am a man of unclean lips living among a people of unclean lips, and yet I have seen the King, YHVH Sabaoth.”

Then one of the Seraphs flew to me; in his hands was a live coal which he had taken with tongs from the Altar. He touched my mouth with it and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin is forgiven.”

Then I heard the voice of the Lord, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for Us?” I answered, “Here I am. Send me!”

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(Usus Antiquior) Fifth Sunday after Epiphany (II Classis) – Sunday, 9 February 2025 : Offertory, Secret Prayer of the Priest, Communion and Post-Communion Prayer

Liturgical Colour : Green


Offertory
Psalm 117 : 16-17
Dextera Domini fecit virtutem, dextera Domini exaltavit me : non moriar, sed vivam, et narrabo opera Domini.

English translation
The right hand of the Lord had wrought strength, the right hand of the Lord had exalted me. I shall not die, but live, and shall declare the works of the Lord.

Secret Prayer of the Priest
Hostias Tibi, Domine, placationis offerimus : ut et delicta nostra miseratus absolvas, et nutantia corda Tu dirigas. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium Tuum, Qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus : per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

English translation
We offer You, o Lord, the sacrifice of reconciliation, that You may mercifully forgive our sins and direct our wavering hearts. Through our Lord Jesus Christ Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.

Communion
Luke 4 : 22
Mirabantur omnes de his, quae procedebant de ore Dei.

English translation
They all wondered at these things, which proceeded from the mouth of God.

Post-Communion Prayer
Quaesumus, omnipotens Deus : ut illius salutaris capiamus effectum, cujus per haec mysteria pignus accepimus. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium Tuum, Qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus : per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

English translation
We pray to You, o Almighty God, that we may receive the effect of that salvation of which we have received the pledge in these mysteries. Through our Lord Jesus Christ Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.

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(Usus Antiquior) Fifth Sunday after Epiphany (II Classis) – Sunday, 9 February 2025 : Holy Gospel

Liturgical Colour : Green


Sequentia Sancti Evangelii secundum Matthaeum – Continuation of the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew
Matthew 13 : 24-30

In illo tempore : Dixit Jesus turbis parabolam hanc : Simile factum est regnum caelorum homini, qui seminavit bonum semen in agro suo. Cum autem dormirent homines, venit inimicus ejus, et superseminavit zizania in medio tritici, et abiit.

Cum autem crevisset herba et fructum fecisset, tunc apparuerunt et zizania. Accedentes autem servi patrisfamilias, dixerunt ei : Domine, nonne bonum semen seminasti in agro tuo? Unde ergo habet zizania? Et ait illis : Inimicus homo hoc fecit. Servi autem dixerunt ei : Vis, imus, et colligimus ea?

Et ait : Non : ne forte colligentes zizania eradicetis simul cum eis et triticum. Sinite utraque crescere usque ad messem, et in tempore messis dicam messoribus : Colligite primum zizania, et alligate ea in fasciculos ad comburendum, triticum autem congregate in horreum meum.

English translation
At that time, Jesus spoke this parable to the multitudes, “The kingdom of heaven is likened to a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while men were asleep, his enemy came, and oversowed cockle among the wheat, and went his way.”

“And when the blade has sprung up, and had brought forth fruit, then the cockle has also appeared. And the servants of the good man of the house coming, said to him, ‘Sir, have you not sown good seeds in your field? How is it that the cockle had appeared?’ And he said to them, ‘An enemy had done this.’ And the servants said to him, ‘Do you want that we go and gather them up?'”

“And he said, ‘No, lest perhaps gathering up the cockle you also root the wheat together with it. Suffer both to grow until the harvest, and in the time of the harvest, I will say to the reapers to gather up first the cockle, and bind it into bundles to burn, but you should gather the wheat into my barn.'”

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(Usus Antiquior) Fifth Sunday after Epiphany (II Classis) – Sunday, 9 February 2025 : Gradual and Alleluia

Liturgical Colour : Green

Psalm 101 : 16-17 and Psalm 96 : 1

Timebunt gentes Nomen Tuum, Domine, et omnes reges terrae gloriam Tuam.

Response : Quoniam aedificavit Dominus Sion, et videbitur in majestate Sua.

Alleluja, Alleluja.

Response : Dominus regnavit, exsultet terrae : laetentur insulae multae. Alleluja.

English translation
The Gentiles shall fear Your Name, o Lord, and all the kings of the earth Your glory.

Response : For the Lord had built up Zion, and He shall be seen in His majesty.

Alleluia, Alleluia.

Response : The Lord had reigned, let the earth rejoice, let many islands be glad. Alleluia.

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(Usus Antiquior) Fifth Sunday after Epiphany (II Classis) – Sunday, 9 February 2025 : Epistle

Liturgical Colour : Green

Lectio Epistolae Beati Pauli Apostoli ad Colossenses – Lesson from the Epistle of Blessed Paul the Apostle to the Colossians
Colossians 3 : 12-17

Fratres : Induite vos sicut electi Dei, sancti et dilecti, viscera misericordiae, benignitatem, humilitatem, modestiam, patientiam : supportantes invicem, et donantes vobismetipsis, si quis adversus aliquem habet querelam : sicut et Dominus donavit vobis, ita et vos.

Super omnia autem haec caritatem habete, quod est vinculum perfectionis : et pax Christi exsultet in cordibus vestris, in qua et vocati estis in uno corpore : et grati estote, Verbum Christi habitet in vobis abundanter, in omni sapientia, docentes et commonentes vosmetipsos psalmis, hymnis et canticis spiritualibus, in gratia cantantes in cordibus vestris Deo.

Omne, quodcumque facitis in verbo aut in opere, omnia in Nomine Domini Jesu Christi, gratias agentes Deo et Patri per Jesum Christum, Dominum nostrum.

English translation
Brethren, put you on, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, the bowels of mercy, benignity, humility, modesty, patience, bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if any have a complaint against another, even as the Lord had forgiven you, so you also.

But above all these things, have charity, which is the bond of perfection, and let the peace of Christ rejoice in your hearts, wherein you also are called in one body, and may you be thankful. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you abundantly, in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another, in psalms, hymns and spiritual canticles, singing in grace in your hearts to God.

All whatsoever you do in word or in work, all things do all of you in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God and the Father through Jesus Christ our Lord.

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(Usus Antiquior) Fifth Sunday after Epiphany (II Classis) – Sunday, 9 February 2025 : Introit and Collect

Liturgical Colour : Green


Introit
Psalm 96 : 7-8 and Psalm 96 : 1

Adorate Deum, omnes Angeli Ejus : audivit, et laetata est Sion : et exsultaverunt filiae Judae.

Dominus regnavit, exsultet terra : laetentur insulae multae.

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

English translation
Adore God, all you His Angels. Zion heard, and was glad, and the daughters of Judah rejoiced.

The Lord had reigned, let the earth rejoice, let many islands be glad.

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
Familiam Tuam, quaesumus, Domine, continua pietate custodi : ut, quae in sola spe gratiae caelestis innititur, Tua semper protectione muniatur. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium Tuum, Qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus : per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

English translation
Keep Your family, we beseech You, o Lord, with Your continual mercy that, leaning only upon the hope of Your heavenly grace, it may ever be defended by Your protection. Through our Lord Jesus Christ Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.

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Sunday, 2 February 2025 : Feast of the Presentation of the Lord (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : White

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, this Sunday as it happens on the second day of February this year, it coincides with the celebration of the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, traditionally also known as the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary or Candlemas, the fortieth day since the beginning of the Christmas season on Christmas Day. This day marks the definitive end for all Christmas events and festivities, which traditionally observes forty days period for Christmas. On this day we remember once again everything that has happened during the time when the Lord Jesus, the Saviour of the world was finally born into the world, revealing to everyone the great grace and salvation which God has long assured us all His people.

In this celebration of the Presentation of the Lord, we celebrate the moment when the Holy Child, the firstborn Son of Mary and His foster father, St. Joseph was presented to the Temple and House of God in Jerusalem as prescribed by the Law of God revealed through Moses. The Law prescribed that all the firstborn sons of the Israelites ought to be offered to God as a sign of the Covenant which He has made with all of them, and that was what Mary and St. Joseph had done, bearing the Child that was born in Bethlehem, the Saviour of the world. And it was on this occasion that the Lord revealed Himself to the Jewish people, as He was welcomed by the old man and prophet Simeon, and the prophetess Anna at the Temple, representing His coming and arrival to the people who had long awaited Him.

This Presentation of the Lord also foreshadowed His later role and ministry, in what He would do and fulfil for the salvation of all mankind, in the role that He would take as our One, True and Eternal High Priest, as the One to offer the perfect and most worthy sacrifice and offering for our redemption and salvation, liberating us from the darkness of evil and death, breaking us free from the chains of sin and death that have dominated us over from the beginning of time. And this marks the definitive end of the Christmas Season, as henceforth, we are preparing ourselves to enter into the season of Lent, the time of preparation and renewal, the journey of faith towards the celebration the aforementioned works and ministry that the Lord Himself would perform, as our High Priest and the Lamb of God, in His Passion, suffering and death on the Cross, and ultimately, His glorious Resurrection.

In our first reading today, we heard from the Book of the prophet Malachi, of the prophecy which the Lord passed to His people through Malachi, one of the last of the prophets of the Old Testament, who lived and ministered to the people of God about three to four centuries before the coming of the Messiah. After which, the Lord sent no more prophets until the fulfilment of what He had spoken through Malachi in what we had heard in our first reading today, of the coming of the messenger of God, preparing the path for the coming of the Saviour of the world. This prophecy of God passed through the prophet Malachi was speaking about St. John the Baptist, the Herald and the one who would proclaim the coming of the Saviour to the people. Indirectly, it also preempted the coming of the Messiah and His role as well, in the salvation and purification which He would give to all of us, God’s people.

Many of the people of Israel and their descendants at that time had the idea and understanding, expectation and vision that the Messiah sent by God, the Son and Heir of David, the Heir to the Kingdom of Israel, would be a great and conquering King, the One to liberate them from their enemies and overlords, to reestablish the glorious Kingdom of Israel as how it was during the glorious days of King David and King Solomon. However, the truth and reality is such that God sent His Son, our Lord and Saviour, to all of us so that He can deliver us all from the certainty of death and destruction because of our sins, and as He revealed Himself to us, in the form of that Holy Child, presented at the Temple in Jerusalem, we are all reminded of how great God’s love is for us, that He chose to be incarnate and to assume our human form and existence so that we can be saved.

God has always loved us all and He has given us His Son, and just as the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews in our second reading today highlighted to us, and as we have just discussed earlier on, He has come to share in our nature, because exactly by doing so, He can purify us all from our sins and wickedness, from all the corruptions and evils which had held us in bondage, keeping us away from the salvation and grace in God. In order for Him to offer the perfect and most worthy offering for the atonement of our sins, He has to come to us in the flesh, and in His humanity, bear the punishments for our sins. In doing so, He has united us all through His suffering and death, and by sharing in that suffering and death, we are led to die to our past selves and sins, and brought into the glory of everlasting life through His glorious Resurrection.

Through His perfect obedience to the will of His heavenly Father, Christ our Lord and Saviour has also shown us all the example to follow in how we all ought to obey the Lord, His Law, His commandments and will. It was because of our disobedience and unwillingness to follow His Law and commandments, our rebellion and our choice to follow the temptations of Satan and our desires that led us into ruin, separating us from the grace and love of God, falling into the path towards damnation and destruction, for separated from God and His love, He Who is the Lord and Master of Life, there can be no hope and future for us. But God never gave up on us, and He loves us all so much that He has promised us to send us the deliverance, which He fulfilled and accomplished through His only Begotten Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, Whose Presentation at the Temple we commemorate today.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, as we all rejoice greatly today celebrating this occasion of the Presentation of Our Lord and Saviour at the Temple, let us all remember the love that God has for us, and the coming of this great Light and Hope that we have received through His coming into our midst. This day is also known as Candlemas, because in our Church tradition, this day the blessing of candles is carried out, with the lighted candles as reminders of the Light of Christ, the Light of our Hope and salvation which we have received through Christ and His coming into this world. And it is because of His coming that we have the assurance of freedom from the domination and bondage to sin and corruption of evil around us, which only the Lord can free us from.

Let us all therefore renew our commitment to the Lord, to follow Him wholeheartedly and to remain ever faithful to His cause, doing our best so that in everything that we say and do we will always strive to be worthy of God and be good examples and role models for one another. We also should remind ourselves of the commitments that we all have as Christians, as those whom God had called and chosen, that we all have been entrusted with the unique missions and vocations in life. Particularly today we pray on this day, which is also the World Day of Consecrated Life, for those who have dedicated and committed themselves in religious life, offering themselves to a life of prayer and virtue, as members of religious congregations and orders. Let us all pray that all of them will continue to be faithful to the Lord and continue to carry out their respective missions faithfully, just as we ourselves also do the same in our lives.

May our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, the Light of the world, and our One, True Eternal High Priest, Who has offered Himself as the perfect and most worthy offering for the atonement of our many sins, continue to bless us all and guide us in our journey of faith through life, and may He continue to strengthen and bless us all so that we will continue to persevere well throughout the many obstacles, hardships and challenges that we may encounter in our path, so that one day, we may truly be completely and fully reunited with Him in the glory of everlasting life with Him. May God bless our every good efforts and endeavours, now and always. Amen.