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(Usus Antiquior) Fourth Sunday after Pentecost (II Classis) – Sunday, 21 June 2026 : Holy Gospel

Liturgical Colour : Green

Sequentia Sancti Evangelii secundum Lucam – Continuation of the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke

Luke 5 : 1-11

In illo tempore : Cum turbae irruerent in Jesum, ut audirent verbum Dei, et ipse stabat secus stagnum Genesareth. Et vidit duas naves stantes secus stagnum : piscatores autem descenderant et lavabant retia. Ascendens autem in unam navim, quae erat Simonis, rogavit eum a terra reducere pusillum. Et sedens docebat de navicula turbas.

Ut cessavit autem loqui, dixit ad Simonem : Duc in altum, et laxate retia vestra in capturam. Et respondens Simon, dixit illi : Praeceptor, per totam noctem laborantes, nihil cepimus : in verbo autem tuo laxabo rete.

Et cum hoc fecissent, concluserunt piscium multitudinem copiosam : rumpebatur autem rete eorum. Et annuerunt sociis, qui erant in alia navi, ut venirent et adjuvarent eos. Et venerunt, et impleverunt ambas naviculas, ita ut paene mergerentur.

Quod cum videret Simon Petrus, procidit ad genua Jesu, dicens : Exi a me, quia homo peccator sum, Domine. Stupor enim circumdederat eum et omnes, qui cum illo erant, in captura piscium, quam ceperant : similiter autem Jacobum et Joannem, filios Zebedaei, qui erant socii Simonis. Et ait ad Simonem Jesus : Noli timere : ex hoc jam homines eris capiens. Et subductis ad terram navibus, relictis omnibus, secuti sunt eum.

English translation

At that time, when the multitude pressed upon Jesus to hear the word of God. He stood by the lake of Gennesaret. And He saw two ships standing by the lake, but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets and going up into one of the ships that was Simon’s. He desired him to draw back a little from the land, and sitting down, He taught the multitudes out of the ship.

Now when He had ceased to speak, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. And Simon, answering, said to Him, “Master, we have laboured all the night, and have taken nothing. But at Your word I will let down the net.”

And when they had done this, they enclosed a very great multitude of fishes, and their net broke, and they beckoned to their partners that were in the other ship, that they should come and help them; and they came, and filled both the ships, so that they were almost sinking.

Which when Simon Peter saw, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, o Lord.” For he was wholly astonished, and all who were with Him, at the draught of fishes which they had taken, and so were also James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were Simon’s partners. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not fear, from henceforth you shall catch men.” And having brought their ships to land, leaving all things they followed Him.

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(Usus Antiquior) Fourth Sunday after Pentecost (II Classis) – Sunday, 21 June 2026 : Gradual and Alleluia

Liturgical Colour : Green

Psalm 78 : 9, 10 and Psalm 9 : 5, 10

Propitius esto, Domine, peccatis nostris : ne quando dicant gentes : Ubi est Deus eorum?

Response : Adjuva nos, Deus, salutaris noster : et propter hominem Nominis Tui, Domine libera nos.

Alleluja, Alleluja.

Response : Deus, qui sedes super thronum, et judicas aequitatem : esto refugium pauperum in tribulatione. Alleluja.

English translation

Forgive us our sins, o Lord, lest the Gentiles should at any time say, “Where is their God?”

Response : Help us, o God our Saviour, and for the honour of Your Name, o Lord, deliver us.

Alleluia, Alleluia.

Response : O God, You who sits upon the throne, and judges justice, may You be the refuge of the poor in tribulation. Alleluia.

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(Usus Antiquior) Fourth Sunday after Pentecost (II Classis) – Sunday, 21 June 2026 : Epistle

Liturgical Colour : Green

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

Romans 8 : 18-23

Fratres : Existimo, quod non sunt condignae passionis hujus temporis ad futuram gloriam, quae revelabitur in nobis. Nam exspectatio creaturae revelationem filiorum Dei exspectat Vanitati enim creatura subjecta est, non volens, sed propter eum, qui subjecit eam in spe : quia et ipsa creatura liberabitur a servitute corruptionis, in libertatem gloriae filiorum Dei.

Scimus enim, quod omnis creatura ingemiscit et parturit usque adhuc. Non solum autem illa, sed et nos ipsi primitias spiritus habentes : et ipsi intra nos gemimus, adoptionem filiorum Dei exspectantes, redemptionem corporis nostri : in Christo Jesu, Domino nostro.

English translation

Brethren, I reckon that the sufferings of this time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come, that shall be revealed in us. For the expectation of the creature waited for the revelation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of Him that made it subject in hope, because the creature also itself shall be delivered from the servitude of corruption, into the liberty of the glory of the children of God.

For we know that every creature groans and travails in pain, even till now, and not only it, but ourselves also, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves, groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption of the sons of God, the redemption of our body, in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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(Usus Antiquior) Fourth Sunday after Pentecost (II Classis) – Sunday, 21 June 2026 : Introit and Collect

Liturgical Colour : Green

Introit

Psalm 26 : 1, 2, 3

Dominus illuminatio mea et salus mea, quem timebo? Dominus defensor vitae meae, a quo trepidabo? Qui tribulant me inimici mei, ipsi infirmati sunt, et ceciderunt.

Si consistant adversum me castra : non timebit cor meum.

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

English translation

The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the protector of my life of whom shall I be afraid? My enemies that trouble me have themselves been weakened and have fallen.

If armies in camp should stand together against me, my heart shall not fear.

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

Da nobis, quaesumus, Domine : ut et mundi cursus pacifice nobis Tuo ordine dirigatur; et Ecclesia Tua tranquilla devotione laetetur. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium Tuum, qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

English translation

Grant us, we beseech You, o Lord, that the course of the world may be directed for us, and that Your Church may rejoice in peace. 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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Saturday, 20 June 2026 : 11th Week of Ordinary Time (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Saturday Mass of Our Lady)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we listened to the words of the Scripture, we are all reminded of the words of the Lord telling us and reassuring us that there is nothing that we really need to worry about in life as the Lord Who is always by our side will always provide for us and strengthen us. He will not abandon us or ignore our plight, and in the end, those who keep their faith in God will be justified and will be blessed. Our first reading today from the Old Testament provided just one of the many proofs of these, just as I am sure that many of us have experienced God’s providence and help ourselves in our own lives, that He is always around us even through the most difficult times, as He is also always there in good times.

In that first reading passage, taken from the Second Book of Kings, we heard of the account of what happened in the southern kingdom of Judah as the High Priest Jehoiada passed away, and the young king whose rise to power he had supported, namely king Joash of Judah, began falling away from the path of the Lord, and he began to reverse some of the reforms initiated and put in place by Jehoiada in leading the people back towards the Lord. This resulted in the people of God sliding back into the path to sin and damnation, and God raised the spirit of the son of Jehoiada, one named Zechariah as mentioned in our first reading, to speak up against the king and his wicked actions, to criticise him for his lack of virtue and disobedience against God.

That led to him being persecuted and attacked, and eventually was martyred, as a faithful servant of God. We then heard of the retribution and justice from the Lord, as a short while later the forces of the Arameans defeated the kingdom of Judah and ended up with the death of Joash, who had caused the death of the righteous Zechariah. Joash got his just consequence of having persecuted and killed a righteous man, and for his refusal to listen to Zechariah and his criticism, served to remind him to return to God. Joash suffered and perished because of his mistakes and sins, in allowing the people of God to slide back into the path of sin and darkness, and therefore, all those things were what the king eventually had to account for.

In our Gospel passage today, we heard of the words of the Lord speaking to His disciples with the main intention of telling them that they must not be worried, concerned and afraid of what they would have to face and endure in the world, for the Lord will provide for each one of us in our hour of need. We have no need to be afraid or worried because no matter what we have to go through in life, the Lord will triumph with us in the end. Of course the path and journey towards there will not be easy, and there will be plenty of challenges going forward, but we should not let those from preventing us to walk in the path that the Lord has shown us, or distract us into the wrong paths. We must always trust in the Lord and in His providence on this.

Many of us have spent too much time focusing on our desires and concerns, our fears and worries that we have neglected our calling in life to be good and devout Christians. And we ended up doing things that bring harm to others and caused plenty of sufferings and pain, as what king Joash, his officials and many of our other predecessors had done. They sought worldly power and glory, and in trying to gain the approval of the world and the society, they had caused the people of God to lapse into the path of sin, and hence, they had fallen into the path from which it was difficult to get out from, the slippery path of sin. But with God’s help and strength, it is possible for us to remain strong and steadfast in our faith despite all these challenges.

And God did not forget about Zechariah and those who were righteous, as we heard how He justly punished Joash and his supporters for having persecuted and killed Zechariah. While Zechariah did have to suffer, but in the end, he was justified and triumphed in the end with God, while those who persecuted him faced their just consequences, as how Joash was humbled and brought low, and as mentioned in the Scriptures, that his deeds in murdering a dedicated servant of God and son of the High Priest, who was his own protector, had earned Joash a scorn and being despised by his own people, that he was not even entombed within the tombs of the kings of Judah. This is a reminder therefore that we must always remain upright in all things, as best as we can.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, through what we have heard in the Scriptures today, all of us are reminded that we must not allow the temptations of worldly power and glory from distracting us in our journey towards God and His salvation. We must not let the temptations and pressures of worldly desires and the allures of sin from dragging us down the slippery path towards damnation. That is why, we have to learn to trust more in the Lord, and to put ourselves in His hands, and entrust our lives, our efforts and works, and everything we say and do, to Him. And we are also called to help one another and be sources of inspiration to each other so that we may remain ever faithful to God, at all times.

May the Lord continue to be with us, guiding us and strengthening us along the way, so that each and every one of us may grow ever more committed to walk in the path that He has set before us. May He help us all to endure the persecutions, oppositions, sufferings and trials that we may have to face, in each and every moments of our lives. May He empower us all that we may be better and more resolute Christians that can help one another to stay committed to our path in life, in serving God and in inspiring more and more people to come ever closer to God and His salvation. May God bless our every good works and endeavours, now and always, forevermore. Amen.

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Saturday, 20 June 2026 : 11th Week of Ordinary Time (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Saturday Mass of Our Lady)

Matthew 6 : 24-34

At that time, Jesus said to the people, “No one can serve two masters, for he will either hate one and love the other; or he will be loyal to the first and look down on the second. You cannot, at the same time, serve God and money.”

Therefore, I tell you, not to be worried about food and drink for yourself, or about clothes for your body. Is not life more important than food; and is not the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow, they do not harvest, and do not store food in barns; and yet, your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not more worthy than they are?”

“Can any of you add a day to your life by worrying about it? Why are you so worried about your clothes? Look at how the flowers in the fields grow. They do not toil or spin. But I tell you, that not even Solomon, in all his glory, was clothed like one of these. If God so clothes the grass in the field, which blooms today and is to be burnt in an oven tomorrow, how much more will He clothe you? What little faith you have!”

“Do not worry, and say : What are we going to eat? What are we going to drink? or : What shall we wear? The pagans busy themselves with such things; but your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. Set your heart, first, on the kingdom and righteousness of God; and all these things will also be given to you. Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

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Saturday, 20 June 2026 : 11th Week of Ordinary Time (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Saturday Mass of Our Lady)

Psalm 88 : 4-5, 29-30, 31-32, 33-34

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.

I will keep My Covenant firm forever, and My love for him will endure. His dynasty will last forever; and his throne, as long as the heavens.

If his sons forsake My law and fail to follow My decrees, if they violate My statutes and do not keep My commandments.

I will punish their crime with the rod, and their offences, with the scourge; yet, I will not withdraw My love from him, nor will I withdraw My faithfulness.

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Saturday, 20 June 2026 : 11th Week of Ordinary Time (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Saturday Mass of Our Lady)

2 Chronicles 24 : 17-25

After the death of Jehoiada, the officials of Judah came to pay court to the king, and the king now turned to them for advice. The Judaeans abandoned the house of YHVH, the God of their ancestors, and worshipped the Asherah poles and idols. Because of this sinful activity, God was angry with Judah and Jerusalem. He sent them prophets to bring them back to YHVH, but when the prophets spoke, they would not listen.

The Spirit of God took control of Zechariah, son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood up before the people and said, “God says this : Why are you disobeying the commandments of YHVH? You cannot prosper. You have abandoned YHVH and He will abandon you.”

They then plotted against him and, by order of the king, stoned him in the court of YHVH’s house. King Joash forgot the kindness of Jehoiada, the father of Zechariah, and killed Jehoiada’s son who cried out as he died, “Let YHVH see and do justice!” When a year had gone by, the Aramaean army made war on Joash. They reached Judah and Jerusalem, and killed all the officials among the people, sending back to the king of Damascus all that they had plundered from them.

Though the Aramaean army was small, YHVH delivered into its power an army of great size, for they had abandoned Him, the God of their ancestors. The Aramaeans wounded Joash and when they withdrew they left him a very sick man; and his officers, plotting against him to avenge the death of the son of Jehoiada the priest, murdered him in his bed. So he died, and they buried him in the city of David, though not in the tombs of the king.

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Friday, 19 June 2026 : 11th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Philip Minh, Priest and Martyr, and Companions, Martyrs (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Red

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we listened to the words of the Scriptures, we are all reminded to seek the true treasures of our lives, that we cannot find in the world, but in the Lord alone. Through our Scripture passages today, we are reminded that each one of us are called to be righteous and just, and to be good disciples and followers of our Lord, in all the things we say and do in life. We should learn from the past examples highlighted in the Scriptures that we may learn more about how not to live our lives in a sinful manner. If we allow ourselves to be swayed by the temptations and pressured present all around us, then it is likely that we will falter and fall into the path of wickedness like how Queen Athaliah had done as described by our Scriptures today.

In our first reading today, taken from the Second Book of Kings, we heard of the story of the usurpation of queen Athaliah of Judah, the daughter of king Ahab of Israel and queen Jezebel, who seized power unlawfully from the House of David, after her son, king Ahaziah of Judah was killed by the actions of Jehu, the one that God had appointed to be king over Israel. The death of Ahaziah prompted Athaliah to attempt seizing power for herself, and she initiated a great purge and elimination of all the heirs of Ahaziah and his relatives, so that she could secure herself in her position of power as the reigning queen of Judah. She thought that by her machinations and efforts, she had managed to gain the dominion over her kingdom, but she was mistaken.

This is because God had intervened and helped the House of David from extermination as He Himself had promised to David that his house would endure and would sit on the throne of Israel forever. He rescued the son of Ahaziah, Joash, who was then hidden with the help of Ahaziah’s sister, from the sight and knowledge of queen Athaliah. Athaliah was likely driven by greed and desire for power, which became her undoing as she committed great sins of murder and others in order to secure for herself the rulership and dominion over the kingdom of Judah. She would do everything in order to secure the rulership and glory for herself, and was not hesitant to destroy everyone and everything that were in her path.

That was what eventually led to her downfall, as Athaliah ruled Judah illegally and unlawfully, and continuing to promote the pagan worship of Baal and other idols. The time of reckoning and retribution finally came upon Athaliah when the forces loyal to the House of David, including the High Priest, Jehoiada, launched a counter-coup to restore Joash, the descendant and heir of David to his rightful throne. Athaliah was deposed and later on was executed, a justified end to her unlawful rule and the consequence of her crimes. This reminds us that there is nothing that can escape God’s attention and that God will always be just and caring towards His people, especially to those who have always kept their faith and trust in Him.

In our Gospel passage today, we heard of the Lord Jesus speaking to His disciples with regards to finding the treasures that are not of this world. He told them all not to seek the treasures of this world, but to seek rather the true treasures that can be found in the Lord alone. The Lord told His disciples not to seek and store up treasures of this world that can be destroyed by earthly means, and do not last. Instead, the true heavenly treasures that He wanted them all to seek, last for an eternity, and one that will not be lost from them, for those treasures will always be theirs, by God’s assurance. We are reminded that it is much better indeed to put our efforts and trust to seek for the true joy and glory that can be found in the Lord alone, things that will not be found elsewhere or in this world.

This is related to what we heard in our first reading today. The example of what happened to Athaliah, her usurpation, reign and ultimate end are reminders for us not to be swayed and blinded by the pursuits for worldly glory and power. It was her greed and desire for power and glory that led her to her ultimate undoing, and those had also led her to committing sins and wicked deeds, in murdering the innocent children of the House of David. Her desire for power blinded her to reason and made her to be paranoid and afraid of losing her influence and hold onto the matters of the world, which led her to the heinous acts. This is something that we ourselves may end of committing if we continue to walk down this path of wickedness and worldly ambitions.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, this is also a reminder for each one of us that we have to be vigilant against the temptations of our desires, of the many vices and other things that can lead us away from the Lord and His path. These temptations are plenty all around us, and if we are not careful, we may end up being dragged in ever deeper and deeper into the path of darkness and sin, like what Athaliah and many others of our predecessors had experienced. The Lord had reminded us of all these, so that by these reminders we may be more vigilant and have the opportunity to turn away from the often steep and slippery path of sin and darkness. The Lord wants us all to live according to what He had taught us to do, and not in following the whims of our desires and wants.

Today, as we reflect on these words and reminders from the Sacred Scriptures, the Church also marks the commemoration of the memories and the lives of those holy predecessors of ours, who have suffered greatly and perished during an episode of intense persecution of Christians in what is today Vietnam. Today is the Feast of St. Philip Minh and his companions, who have endured intense oppression for being Christians, in their dedication and commitment to God as Christians. The state and the governmental apparatus back then viewed all Christians and their faith, as well as the missionaries who came to Vietnam to preach the Good News of God with great suspicion and fear, considering them as agents of foreign powers and as threat to their existence and sovereignty. Therefore, in consideration of all these, that was why St. Philip Minh and others faced those bitter experiences and hardships. Yet, they all faced those sufferings and hardships with faith and courage, not giving in to those who seek to destroy them or force them to abandon their faith in God.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all be inspired by the examples of St. Philip Minh and his companions in martyrdom, the Holy Martyrs of Vietnam, that we may also aspire and strive to do what we can so that our lives and actions are true reflection of our Christian faith, so that we ourselves may inspire many others around us by our good examples and way of life. May the Lord, our most loving God and Master continue to help and guide us all in our journey throughout our lives, and may He empower all of us to continue living our lives with dedication and commitment, and doing our very best to be the true and shining beacons of His light and truth, His Good News and love, now and always, forevermore. May God bless us in our every good works and endeavours, in all things. Amen.

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Friday, 19 June 2026 : 11th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Philip Minh, Priest and Martyr, and Companions, Martyrs (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Red

Matthew 6 : 19-23

At that time, Jesus said to His disciples and to the people, “Do not store up treasures for yourself here, on earth, where moth and rust destroy it; and where thieves can steal it. Store up treasures for yourself with God, where no moth or rust can destroy it, nor thief come and steal it.

For where your treasures are, there, also, will your heart be. The lamp of the body is the eye; if your eyes are sound, your whole body will be full of light. If your eyes are diseased, your whole body will be full of darkness. If, then, the light in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!