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Thursday, 11 January 2018 : 1st Week of Ordinary Time (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, on this day we listened to two stories from the Scriptures, beginning with the Book of the prophet Samuel, from which we heard about the time when Israel went to war against the Philistines, who were hostile against the Israelites and frequently carried out raids against them. As mentioned in the Scripture passage, we heard how the Israelites brought the Ark of God with them, because they thought that God would be with them and would help them win the war against their enemies.

But as we heard in the same reading, even though the Ark of the Covenant was with them, but the Philistines inflicted a serious defeat upon the Israelites, killing the two sons of Eli, the judge and high priest of Israel at the time, and capturing the Ark of God itself, they brought the Ark to their own land. It was truly a very humiliating and disastrous moment for the people of Israel.

We may be wondering, as we listen to this story, as to why the Lord would abandon His people in such a manner. If you heard the story, you must have seen how they believed that God would be with them in the battle, and that He would lead them to win against their enemies. But He did not do so, as if He had, the Israelites would have won the battle and the Ark would not have been captured by the Philistines.

In order to understand the passage better, let us all look to the Gospel passage which we have heard just now as well. In today’s Gospel, we heard of Jesus Our Lord healing a leper, who asked Him to heal him from his sickness. Our Lord was moved with pity and love for the leper, and He healed him from his leprosy. But the Lord also mentioned to him, that he must not tell others of what had happened to him, that Jesus healed him. Instead, he must go to the priests as prescribed by the Law, and follow the necessary procedure.

Yet, the man healed of his leprosy disobeyed Jesus and went on to tell many others of what He had done to him. As a result, Jesus ended up suffering many difficulties and persecutions, and He could no longer enter any town openly, lest He became the object of criticism and harassment. And the reason for this is truly multifaceted, but if we are to understand it deeper, we should be more careful in our reading of what had happened at that time.

Jesus healed the leper by stretching out His hand and touching him. Instantly, the leprosy left the man and he was completely healed. However, according to the Jewish laws and customs, it was forbidden for someone to come into close contact, less still touch, those who have contracted leprosy. If anyone has come into close contact with someone who had leprosy, then they would also be considered as a leper, and would be cast out of the society.

This shows us that if we are faithful to the Lord, and if we truly love Him, then we should obey Him in all that He had commanded and told us to do. Because of what the healed leper man had done, Jesus and His disciples encountered much difficulty and challenges, and their good works were hampered in various ways. And this is how it is indeed related to what we have heard from the first reading today, of the time when the Philistines defeated Israel even when they brought the Ark of God with them.

If we read through the Book of Judges and the Book of the prophet Samuel, we will realise that after the people of Israel had reached the Promised Land from their Exodus from Egypt, they had not always been faithful to God. They frequently disobeyed Him and refused to listen to Him and His judges, despite the Lord having frequently sent help along the way to rescue His people from their troubles and from their enemies.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, on this day, as we listened to God’s words in the Scriptures and as we reflect on what had happened to our predecessors, let us all therefore commit to renew our faith in God, and devote ourselves more faithfully and more wholeheartedly to Him, to love Him genuinely with all of our hearts, and to obey Him in all the things we do, and in all that He has commanded us to do. Let us not be halfhearted or superficial in our faith.

Let us remember the Lord always in good times and in bad times. He will always be faithful to the Covenant which He had established and renewed with us through Christ His Son, that He willingly died for us on the cross, a show of His ultimate and pure love for each one of us. Let us show Him the love that He therefore deserves. May God bless us all, now and always. Amen.

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Thursday, 11 January 2018 : 1st Week of Ordinary Time (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Mark 1 : 40-45

A leper came to Jesus and begged Him, “If You want to, You can make me clean.” Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, “I do want to; be clean.”

The leprosy left the man at once and he was made clean. As Jesus sent the man away, He sternly warned him, “Do not tell anyone about this, but go and show yourself to the priest; and for the cleansing, bring the offering ordered by Moses in this way, you will give to them your testimony.”

However, as soon as the man went out, he began spreading the news everywhere, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter any town. But even though He stayed in the rural areas, people came to Him from everywhere.

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Thursday, 11 January 2018 : 1st Week of Ordinary Time (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Psalm 43 : 10-11, 14-15, 24-25

Yet now, You have rejected and humbled us; You no longer go forth with our armies. You have let our enemies drive us back and our adversaries plunder us.

You have made us the butt of our neighbours’ insult, the scorn and laughingstock of those around us. You have made us a byword among the nations; they look at us and shake their heads.

Awake, o Lord! Why are You asleep? Arise! Reject us not forever. Why hide Your face from us? Why forget our misery and woes?

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Thursday, 11 January 2018 : 1st Week of Ordinary Time (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

1 Samuel 4 : 1-11

At that time Samuel was a prophet of Israel. The Israelites went out to battle against the Philistines. They encamped at Ebenezer, while the Philistines encamped at Aphek. The Philistines then drew up in battle formation. They attacked Israel and after a fierce fighting, Israel was defeated, leaving about four thousand men dead on the battlefield.

When the troops retreated to their camp, the elders of Israel asked, “Why has YHVH allowed us to be defeated by the Philistines? Let us take the Ark of God from Shiloh and bring it here so that YHVH may be with us and save us from our enemies.” So the people sent messengers to Shiloh to take the Ark of YHVH Who is seated on the Cherubim. Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, accompanied the Ark.

As soon as the Ark of YHVH entered the camp, the Israelites began to cheer so loudly that the earth resounded. The Philistines heard the shouting and asked, “What does this loud shout in the camp of the Hebrews mean?” And they were told that the Ark of YHVH had been brought to the camp.

The Philistines were overcome with fear. They exclaimed, “A God has come into the camp. Woe to us! For nothing like this has happened before. Woe to us! Who can save us from the power of these mighty Gods? These are the Gods Who struck the Egyptians with all sorts of plagues – and in the desert. Take courage and conduct yourselves like men, o Philistines, lest you become slaves to the Hebrews in the same way they have been slaves to you. Be manly and fight.”

So the Philistines fought and Israel was defeated. Everyone fled to his home. It was a disastrous defeat; thirty thousand foot soldiers of Israel were killed. The Ark of God was captured and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.

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Wednesday, 10 January 2018 : 1st Week of Ordinary Time (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, on this day we continue to hear about the story of the prophet and judge Samuel, during his early years, when he began to stay with Eli the judge, after having been dedicated to God’s service by his mother Hannah. Samuel did not really know God yet, as he was still very young, and he was called by Him, hearing the words, “Samuel! Samuel!” in the middle of the night.

Samuel asked Eli if he had called him, but at first Eli also did not know that it was God who called Samuel. This happened three times, until Eli recognised the truth. And Eli instructed Samuel to respond to the Lord’s call. And Samuel responded to the Lord by saying, “Lord, speak, for Your servant is listening.” And God told Samuel all that He wanted to tell him, and His grace and favour rested upon Samuel.

In the Gospel passage we heard today, we heard about the ministry of Our Lord Jesus Christ, after He had healed the mother-in-law of St. Peter, who was quite ill. He cured her from her fever and illness, and she was restored to good health. Many others brought their own sick relatives, and also those who were possessed by evil spirits and those who were afflicted in one way or another.

And the Lord healed all of them, and ministered to them. Many more came to Him and wanted to be healed by Him, and naturally they would want Him to stay with them at their place, and not to depart for any other place. Yet, the Lord Jesus chose to depart from that place to go to other places, and when His disciples asked Him, He explained that He was called to serve the people of God, not just in that one place, and many others needed Him as well.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, today’s Scripture passages remind us about the value and the importance of discipleship and following the Lord, Our God. Each and every one of us as Christians are called and indeed have been called by the Lord, just as He has called Samuel to do His will, in the capacity he was led and taught to be, as the judge of the people of Israel and as His prophet.

Similarly therefore, as St. Paul mentioned in his Epistle to the Corinthians, that there are many kinds of spiritual gifts and talents which God has given to all of us His people. We are then called to embrace and to make use of these gifts, following on the path which He has shown us, or which He will show us in the future, that through us and our good works, we may glorify the Lord’s Name ever more.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, now, let us all reflect on our own lives and actions. What have we done in response to the Lord’s call? Have we responded positively to His call and listened to Him, just as His servant Samuel had done? Or have we instead turned a deaf ear to His call and closed our hearts from Him? He has given us the free will and the choice to choose between obedience and disobedience, and between listening and not listening. It is then our choice to choose between the two.

Let us all as Christians seek to devote ourselves ever more wholeheartedly to the Lord, by first of all, answering His call and listening to Him speaking in the deepest parts of our being, that we may truly be able to understand and perceive what He has willed for us, and what He wants us to use our talents and spiritual gifts, in each and our own way.

Let us all work together, as members of God’s one and holy Church, that we will be able to actively participate in the good works of the Church, for the good of all men and women, and to glorify the Lord at all times. May the Lord be with us always, and may He continue to strengthen our faith, so that we will be able to respond His call with courage and hope. May God bless us all. Amen.

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Wednesday, 10 January 2018 : 1st Week of Ordinary Time (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Mark 1 : 29-39

At that time, on leaving the synagogue, Jesus went to the home of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. As Simon’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with fever, they immediately told him about her. Jesus went to her and, taking her by the hand, raised her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.

That evening, at sundown, people brought to Jesus all the sick and those who had evil spirits : the whole town was pressing around the door. Jesus healed many who had various diseases, and drove out many demons; but He did not let them speak, for they knew Who He was.

Very early in the morning, before daylight, Jesus went off to a lonely place where He prayed. Simon and the others went out also, searching for Him; and when they found Him, they said, “Everyone is looking for You.” Then Jesus answered, “Let us go to the nearby villages so that I may preach there too; for that is why I came.”

So Jesus set out to preach in all the synagogues throughout Galilee; He also cast out demons.

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Wednesday, 10 January 2018 : 1st Week of Ordinary Time (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Psalm 39 : 2 and 5, 7-8a, 8b-9, 10

With resolve I waited for YHVH; He listened and heard me beg. Blessed is the one who relies on YHVH and does not look to the proud, nor go astray after false gods.

Sacrifice and oblation You did not desire; this, You had me understand. Burnt offering and sin offering You do not require. Then I said, “Here I come!”

As the scroll says of me. To do Your will is my delight, o God, for Your Law is within my heart.

In the great assembly I have proclaimed Your saving help. My lips, o YHVH, I did not seal – You know that very well.

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Wednesday, 10 January 2018 : 1st Week of Ordinary Time (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

1 Samuel 3 : 1-10, 19-20

The boy Samuel ministered to YHVH under Eli’s care in a time in which the word of YHVH was rarely heard. Visions were not seen. One night Eli was lying down in his room, half blind as he was. The lamp of God was still lighted and Samuel also lay in the house of YHVH near the Ark of God.

Then YHVH called, “Samuel! Samuel!” Samuel answered, “I am here!” and ran to Eli saying, “I am here, did you not call me?” But Eli said, “I did not call. Go back to sleep.” So he went and lay down. Then YHVH called again, “Samuel!” and Samuel stood up and went to Eli saying, “You called me; I am here.” But Eli answered, “I did not call you, my son. Go back to sleep.”

Samuel did not yet know YHVH; and the word of YHVH had not yet been revealed to him. But YHVH called Samuel for the third time; and he went again to Eli saying, “I am here for you have called me.” Eli realised that it was YHVH calling the boy. So he said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if He calls you again, answer : ‘Speak, YHVH, Your servant listens.’”

Then YHVH came and stood there calling “Samuel! Samuel!” as He did before. And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant listens.” Samuel grew. YHVH was with him and made all his words become true. All Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, knew that Samuel was really YHVH’s prophet.

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Tuesday, 9 January 2018 : 1st Week of Ordinary Time (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, on this day we listened to the moment when Hannah, the mother of the judge and prophet Samuel, prayed to the Lord and asked Him to grant her wish to have a child. As some background information, Hannah was one of the two wives of Elkanah, as mentioned in the Book of the prophet Samuel. While Penninah, the other wife had many children with Elkanah, but Hannah had none, and Penninah often ridiculed Hannah and bullied her.

In order to understand the full gravity of what had happened at that time, we have to understand that for the Jewish people, marriage and family is considered a blessing from God. And having children through marriage is an obligation, as according to the Book of Genesis, God Himself commanded mankind to go forth and multiply, through marriage and by giving birth to their children.

Therefore, there was a great prejudice against those who were barren and without children, as a kind of social stigma, which partly explained why Penninah gloated over Hannah, and why Hannah was so upset that she was not able to bear a child to Elkanah, while Penninah bore many children in return. And Hannah prayed sincerely to God, begging Him to listen to her pleas, and God, Who knew all that He would do through her, answered Hannah’s prayer and gave her a son, Samuel.

Then, in the Gospel today, we heard of how Jesus Our Lord cast out demons and evil spirits from a man who was possessed by them. He commanded with great authority and power, and the evil spirits had no choice but to obey Him. They went out from the man and the possessed man was thus healed completely from his troubles. God showed His loving and tender care through the power and authority of His Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ.

In each of the stories that we heard today, both regarding Hannah and the man who was possessed by the evil spirits, we heard of people who were downtrodden and suffering. One of them suffered from humiliation and constant bullying, while the other one suffered from possession by the evil spirits, and God rescued all of them by His mighty deeds, bringing them into His saving grace.

We can see through what we have witnessed in the Sacred Scriptures, that God is always loving and faithful to the Covenant which He had made with us mankind. He will protect the weak, the lowly and the downtrodden, while bringing down and destroying the plans of the proud, the wicked, the haughty and all those who had no concern for their fellow brothers and sisters.

He has released us mankind from the chains of sin which prevented us from truly being able to reunite with Him, just as He has released Hannah from the chains of her humiliation and barrenness, and how He has released the possessed man from the chains imposed on him by the evil spirits. He has given us a new hope and light, where there was once darkness and despair. He has given us a new love, where there was once bitter hatred and anger.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, therefore, today each and every one of us are called to follow the Lord, and to learn to put our complete trust in Him. For it is in Him alone that we will receive true satisfaction and perfect fulfilment of all that we will ever need in life. Let us pray fervently to the Lord, like what Hannah had done, and give all of our heart to Him, opening ourselves to receive His love and grace.

May the Lord be with us always, and may He continue to love us as He has always done, and guide us on our journey of faith towards Him. May He give us the strength and courage that we need, in order to persevere through the difficult moments and challenges we will surely encounter on our way. May God bless us always and be with all of our endeavours. Amen.

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Tuesday, 9 January 2018 : 1st Week of Ordinary Time (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Mark 1 : 21b-28

At that time, Jesus taught in the synagogue on the Sabbath day. The people were astonished at the way He taught, for He spoke as One having authority, and not like the teachers of the Law. It happened that, a man with an evil spirit was in their synagogue, and he shouted, “What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are : You are the Holy One of God.”

Then Jesus faced him and said with authority, “Be silent, and come out of this man!” The evil spirit shook the man violently and, with a loud shriek, came out of him. All the people were astonished, and they wondered, “What is this? With what authority He preaches! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey Him!”

And Jesus’ fame spread throughout all the country of Galilee.