14th Week of Ordinary Time

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Wednesday, 12 July 2023 : 14th Week of Ordinary Time (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today all of us are reminded of the responsibilities and the obligations that each one of us have received from the Lord, in our various vocations and callings, in whatever it is that God has called us to do with our lives. All of us have been entrusted by the Lord with various gifts, talents, abilities and opportunities, through which all of us can carry out God’s good works and proclaim His Good News in the midst of our communities and among our circle of friends and to all those whom we encounter in life. Each one of us are given the trust to do what we can with those gifts and abilities, to glorify God and to do His will, just as our Scripture passages today have told and reminded us.

In our first reading today, we heard from the Book of Genesis of the story of Joseph, one of the twelve sons of Jacob who also known as Israel, and in this case, Joseph had been sold off by his own brothers who resented him for having dreamt of things that indicated that they would all bow down to him and subordinated themselves to him. Little did they all realise that Joseph had actually been blessed with the gift of vision from the Lord, a gift that God would make use of in guiding Joseph in preparing the path for them, for his whole family, to be safeguarded and provided for many years in the future, when great famine would rampage the whole known world back then.

Despite having been betrayed and sold off by his brothers to the slavers of Midian, and brough to Egypt against his will, Joseph was guided and protected by the Lord, who helped him in his hour of need, when he was imprisoned for having been falsely accused of impropriety by one of the Pharaoh’s officials named Potiphar, even though Joseph was innocent of the crime he was accused of. Joseph was freed from prison and given very important positions in the Egyptian kingdom after he managed to interpret correctly the dreams of the Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt. God, Who has given Joseph the gift of dreams and the interpretation of dreams, helped Joseph to leave behind his difficult years of slavery behind, and to regain his honour, freedom and life back.

It is on the backdrop of these events that we heard of today’s first reading passage, that when the seven years of great famine came after seven years of great abundance just as what the Pharaoh’s dreams had foretold through Joseph’s interpretations, the whole family of Israel, the family of Jacob and his sons, suffered the same famine, and in the threat of being exterminated due to the adverse conditions, the brothers of Joseph came to the land of Egypt, doing exactly what they had been shown doing in the dream of the once young Joseph. Joseph tested his brothers and wanted to see their sincerity and in order to be reunited with his beloved younger brother, Benjamin, hence, Joseph, as the Regent of all Egypt and the second most powerful person in Egypt, arranged for the things to be carried out as they were.

In summary, after going through all these things and carrying out his plans, Joseph revealed himself to his brothers, and told them that everything that they had done, all were done in the end to fulfil God’s will. God sent Joseph ahead of his family, and all of his brothers, so that he could prepare the place for them in Egypt, a fact that none including Joseph himself could have known or foretold. We can clearly see through this example that God has always watched over us, and entrusted to us at the same time, the calling and the vocation, the responsibility and the charge to do what He wants us to do with our lives, in whatever opportunities and places, areas and circumstances that we have been placed in.

This is just like how the Lord Jesus in our Gospel passage today having sent out His disciples to carry out His works among the people, choosing twelve among all of them to be His chief disciples, as the Twelve Apostles, who were introduced to us all by name. Each and every one of them had been entrusted by the Lord with a certain mission, and later on, except for the traitor Judas Iscariot, they would go on to proclaim the truth and Good News of God in various places, in distant realms and facing many struggles and encountering successes both. Through them and their dedication, the Lord has performed many great and wonderful works, reaching out to many people throughout the world, revealing the salvation and love, and the many promises that He has always reassured His people, His faithful ones.

That is why today, all of us who have heard these words from the Scriptures and received these reminders from the Lord are all encouraged and exhorted to do what we can in order to follow the Lord to whatever and wherever that He is leading us towards. All of us have been entrusted with the various gifts, talents, opportunities and blessings from God, and it is now up to us whether we can make good use of all of them for the sake and for the good of everyone all around us, such that in everything which we say and do, we will always bring glory to God, and we will be good role models and inspiration for one another. We must remember that each one of us have the capacity for great and worthy things, as well as for wicked and vile things, and what matters is our choice and the decisions that we make, on whether we want to follow the Lord and obey His will, or whether we prefer to walk down the path of sin and disobedience against God.

Let us therefore spend some time today to discern our path going forward in life. Let us think carefully how we should carry on living our lives, in our every actions and works, in our every words and deeds, so that we will always strive to do God’s will at all and every possible opportunities. Let us all make good use of the talents, abilities and gifts, the many opportunities and blessings that we have been given that we may always be filled with God’s grace and love, and be ever closer to Him, worthy of His saving grace and Presence. May God bless our every good works and efforts, our every good endeavours for His greater glory. Amen.

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Wednesday, 12 July 2023 : 14th Week of Ordinary Time (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Matthew 10 : 1-7

At that time, Jesus called His Twelve disciples to Him, and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to drive them out, and to heal every disease and sickness.

These are the names of the Twelve Apostles : first Simon, called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew, the tax collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon, the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, the man who would betray Him.

Jesus sent these Twelve on mission, with the instruction : “Do not visit pagan territory and do not enter a Samaritan town. Go, instead, to the lost sheep of the people of Israel. Go, and proclaim this message : The kingdom of Heaven is near.”

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Wednesday, 12 July 2023 : 14th Week of Ordinary Time (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Psalm 32 : 2-3, 10-11, 18-19

Give thanks to YHVH on the harp and lyre, making melody and chanting praises. Amid loud shouts of joy, sing to Him a new song and play the ten-stringed harp.

YHVH frustrates the plans of the nations and brings to nothing the peoples’ designs. But His plan stands forever, and His heart’s design, through all generations.

But YHVH’s eyes are upon those who fear Him, upon those who trust in His loving kindness; to deliver them from death and preserve them from famine.

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Wednesday, 12 July 2023 : 14th Week of Ordinary Time (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Genesis 41 : 55-57 and Genesis 42 : 5-7a, 17-24a

When the land of Egypt began to suffer from the famine, the people came to Pharaoh for bread. But Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph and do as he tells you.” When the famine had spread throughout the land, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians for the famine was indeed severe over the land.

As the famine had worsened throughout the whole world, people came from other countries to buy grain from Joseph. So the sons of Israel were among those going to buy grain, for there was famine in Canaan. It was Joseph, as governor of the land, who sold the grain to all the people. When his brothers arrived they bowed before him, with their faces to the ground.

Joseph recognised his brothers but did not make himself known and so he put them in prison for three days. On the third day Joseph said to them, “I will help you save yourselves, for I am a man who fears God. If you are sincere, let one of your brothers remain prisoner in the house of the guard where you now are, and the rest of you take the grain to save your families from famine. Then you will bring back your youngest brother; so the truth of what you say will be proved and your lives spared.”

They did as they were ordered and said among themselves, “Alas! We are guilty because of the way we treated our brother when he pleaded with us for mercy, but we did not listen. That is why this trouble has come upon us.” Reuben answered them, “Did I tell you not to sin against the boy. But you did not listen and now we are brought to account for his blood.”

Now they did not know that Joseph understood them as there was an interpreter between them. As for Joseph, he withdrew and wept.

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Tuesday, 11 July 2023 : 14th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Benedict, Abbot (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : White

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we listened to the words of the Scriptures, all of us are reminded that each and every one of us have been called and chosen by God to be His disciples and followers, as those whom He has shown His favour and blessings on, and of us, He therefore requires our commitment and efforts, contributions and dedication, just as He has committed Himself to the Covenant which He has established with all of us. All of us are truly blessed to have been given this opportunity and grace by God, Who has always patiently loved us and cared for each one of us, without exception. None of us are truly beyond God’s love and attention, and none of us can be separated from the most wonderful love of God unless it is we ourselves who have constantly and repeatedly rejected and refused His love and kindness.

In our first reading passage today, taken from the Book of Genesis, we heard of the moment when Jacob, the ancestor and forefather of all the Israelites, came back to the Promised Land of Canaan with his wives and children, with his whole family and possessions, and in the region of Bethel, where Jacob had once passed through on his way to flee from his brother’s wrath, he encountered the Lord Himself, Who was disguised in the form of a great Man, that struggled with Jacob till the daybreak. That was how Jacob became known as Israel, as one who has struggled and brawled with the Lord Himself and prevailed. God therefore showed His reassurance and guidance to Jacob, reminding him of His ever presence and providence throughout the path that Jacob had walked through, and how He would continue to affirm and bless him and his descendants just as He has promised them all.

At that time, Jacob had spent many years in the land of Harran beyond the Euphrates River, in serving Laban, his uncle, and he has grown rich and great, with many children that God has blessed him with. Jacob brought his family back to his ancestral lands, to return to his father Isaac and hopefully to reconcile with his brother Esau, whom he had fled from. That God has blessed him such was a proof of His faithfulness to the Covenant which He has made with His loved ones. Jacob and his descendants would become the chosen people of God, the Israelites, who would prosper greatly and gained the grace of God. He called on them therefore to put their trust and faith in Him, and to continue to live ever more faithfully in His Presence, following His commands and walking in the path that He has revealed before them.

In our Gospel passage today, we then heard of the Lord performing His miracles and wonders, as He healed two blind men and then cast out the evil spirits and demons from a man who had been struck dumb because of the demonic possession. The people hailed the Lord Jesus for His works, rejoicing because such great miracles and wonders had not been seen among the people before. Truly, Christ was the love and promises of God made manifest in the flesh, the Divine Word Incarnate, the Son of God, Who came into our midst bearing the will and desire of His Heavenly Father, our Lord and Master, Who sought to be reconciled and reunited with us all. Yet, the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law disparaged Him and refused to believe in Him, and even went on to the point of accusing Him falsely of colluding with the prince of demons in His works.

Now, we all can see there just how stubborn some of the people of God could be, all because of their pride and ego, their unbridled desires and ambitions, through which they had been blinded and their thoughts muddled. Those Pharisees and teachers of the Law, the elders and the chief priests were easily swayed by the temptations of worldly desires and wants, so much so that they were willing to persecute the Lord for crimes and faults that He did not do, and to put obstacles and trials in His path simply because they saw Him as a rival to their power, influence and privileges. Yet, the Lord was still patient in showing His love and care even to those who have rejected and refused to believe in Him. We are all truly undeserving of God’s love, and yet, just as He has affirmed His love to Jacob and to our forefathers, He has renewed this love to us all.

That is why as Christians, all of us whom God had called and chosen, and made to be His own beloved and precious ones, all of us are called to commit ourselves to the Lord in the way that our righteous and holy predecessors had done, just as they all have committed their lives to God, and did what the Lord had commanded and asked them to do. This is something that is easier said than done, just as the Lord Himself in our Gospel passage today had said, asking His disciples to pray and ask the Master of the harvest to send the labourers to gather His harvest, as the harvest is plentiful but the labourers are few. This highlights to us just how few of us have truly dedicated ourselves to follow Him, and if only more people are willing to entrust themselves to the Lord, then there would have been more people who will come to know of the Lord, His love and truth, through us and our good examples.

Today, the Church celebrates the feast of a great and renowned saint whose life can and should indeed be a source of great inspiration for all of us as Christians, as God’s beloved people. St. Benedict, also known as St. Benedict of Nursia, was the founder of the Benedictine Order, and is also the Patron Saint of Europe, whose influence and works lasts till this very day in the large number of religious organisations, institutions that are directly descended from his original Benedictine Order, as well as the many other religious institutes that follow his Rule of St. Benedict, as well as countless others who had devoted themselves to the Lord while following the examples and inspirations of this great saint and man of God. St. Benedict is indeed a great role model for us in how each and every one of us ought to live our lives as devout and committed Christians.

How is that so? St. Benedict was the son of a Roman noble in what is now part of Italy, who was well-educated in his youth but became disillusioned with the excesses of worldliness, and beginning to seek a new life of being a hermit and monk. Thus, he began to live in seclusion, away from the glory and temptations of the world, in which he continued to grow in wisdom and holiness, and in his love and commitment for God, which drew many to be attracted to his way of life, establishing the foundation for the later Benedictine Order and the flourishing of religious life and monasteries all throughout Christendom. Through St. Benedict and his great examples in faith and commitment to God, many came to seek the Lord and abandon the excesses of this world, in exchange for the true happiness that one can find in God alone. Thus was how many were called to God and His salvation by the great faith and examples shown by St. Benedict.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, are we willing and able to commit ourselves to follow the Lord wholeheartedly, and to dedicate ourselves each day and at every moment, so that we may indeed be worthy followers and disciples of our Lord, inspired by His holy servants like St. Benedict and many others? Are we able to entrust ourselves to His cause, and do whatever we can to glorify the Lord by our lives? May the Lord continue to guide and strengthen us, and may He empower us all to live ever more worthily in His Presence, now and always. Amen.

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Tuesday, 11 July 2023 : 14th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Benedict, Abbot (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

Matthew 9 : 32-38

At that time, as the two blind men were going away, some people brought to Jesus a man who was dumb, because he was possessed by a demon. When the demon was driven out, the dumb man began to speak. The crowds were astonished and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”

But the Pharisees said, “He drives away demons with the help of the prince of demons.”

Jesus went around all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom; and He cured every sickness and disease. When He saw the crowds, He was moved with pity; for they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are only few. Ask the Master of the harvest to send workers to gather His harvest.”

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Tuesday, 11 July 2023 : 14th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Benedict, Abbot (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : White

Psalm 16 : 1, 2-3, 6-7, 8 and 15

Hear a just cause, o YHVH, listen to my complaint. Give heed to my prayer, for there is no deceit on my lips.

Let my defence come forth from You; Your eyes see what is right. You have probed my heart, searched me at night, tested me by fire, and You have seen no wickedness in me.

I call on You, You will answer me, o God; incline Your ear and hear my word. For You do wonders for Your faithful, You save those fleeing from the enemy as they seek refuge at Your right hand.

Keep me as the apple of Your eye; under the shadow of Your wings hide me. As for me, righteous in Your sight, I shall see Your face and, awakening, gaze my fill on Your likeness.

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Tuesday, 11 July 2023 : 14th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Benedict, Abbot (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

Genesis 32 : 23-33

Jacob took his two wives, his two maidservants and his eleven sons, and sent them across the stream and likewise everything he had. And Jacob was left alone. Then a Man wrestled with him until daybreak. When the Man saw that He could not get the better of Jacob, He struck him in the socket of his hip and dislocated it as He wrestled with him.

The Man said, “Let Me go, for day is breaking.” But Jacob said, “I will not let You go until you have given me Your blessing.” The Man then said, “What is your name?” “Jacob” was the reply. He answered, “You will no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have been strong-with-God as you have been with men and have prevailed.”

Then Jacob asked Him, “What is Your Name?” He answered, “Why do you ask My Name?” And He blessed him there. So Jacob called the place Penuel, saying, “I have seen God face to face and survived.” The sun rose as he passed through Penuel, limping because of his hip. That is why to this day the Israelites do not eat the sciatic nerve which is in the hip socket because the sciatic nerve in Jacob’s hip had been touched.

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Monday, 10 July 2023 : 14th Week of Ordinary Time (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we listened to the words of the Scriptures, all of us are reminded that we are all the beloved people of God, and He always provides for us, and has always been with us, journeying with us and guiding us throughout the way, in our lives and beyond. God has never abandoned us even in the moments of our greatest hardships and difficulties, and He has always been faithful to the Covenant and true to the promises that He has established and made with us and our ancestors. We must always trust in the Lord and believe in everything that He will do for our sake, in helping and providing for us all in our time and moments of greatest need. God is always with us at all times, even when we do not realise this.

In our first reading today, we heard from the story of Jacob who was on his way in exile, fleeing from the wrath of his brother Esau after he has taken away his inheritance and the blessing that his father Isaac had meant to give to the elder brother. Jacob was by himself, an exile from his own family and homeland, at Bethel, where he laid down his head and slept. God showed Jacob a great heavenly vision, showing him His might and power, and how He was with him, and would be with him throughout his path and journey forward, reaffirming with him the same promises that He had made with Jacob’s grandfather, Abraham, in the Covenant that God Himself has made and established with Abraham and his descendants.

God reaffirmed that everything would come true just as He has promised them all to Jacob and his descendants, and he would receive the land that was promised to him, despite his then predicament and uncertainty. And thus, Jacob also renewed the Covenant by promising to God that if God would guide him through his difficult moments and through the struggles that he would be facing, upon his return, he would dedicate that place to God, and true enough, indeed, that God really guided Jacob, helped him to survive those difficult years afterwards, providing him with a woman whom he truly loved, in Rachel, and through her and Jacob’s other wife, he would have twelve sons, and other children, becoming great in wealth and status.

God did guide Jacob and his whole family back to the promised land, and Jacob made good of his promise, building an altar to God there in that place, and that place was henceforth known as Bethel thereon, because of Jacob’s vision detailed in our first reading today, and because of God’s providence for His people in their time and hour of need. We are assured as we have always been, by the Lord’s constant presence in our midst, in guiding and helping us so that we may find our path in life. We must always trust in Him and follow Him faithfully, even amidst the challenges and hardships that we may have to face in our journey through life. Jacob could not have known what he would have to experience and to endure in the years after the events at Bethel, but he remained steadfast in entrusting himself to God, and his faith was indeed greatly rewarded, in God’s good time.

In our Gospel passage today, we all heard of the time when the Lord Jesus miraculously healed a woman who had suffered from severe bleeding issue for more than twelve years as well as miraculously raising the daughter of a synagogue official from the dead, in the presence of many witnesses who were present then. From those accounts and examples, we can clearly see how the Lord has always shown His care and providence for us, and how He has never abandoned us, but continuously and patiently loving us, and how nothing is truly impossible for Him to do, that when we have given up hope in any earthly means of sustenance and provision, the Lord’s providence never failed. In whatever things we encounter, in our many hardships and challenges that we have had to face, if we put our trust in the Lord, in the end, we shall be triumphant with Him.

That woman who had been suffering from the bleeding problems, likely one that was related to her reproductive organs, must have truly suffered a lot, not just physically but also socially, as according to the old Jewish laws and customs, a woman who was suffering or experiencing bleeding or discharge was considered as unclean and was therefore unable to join the greater community of the people of God until their bleeding or discharge had ceased. And since she had been suffering the problem for over twelve years, she must have either had to endure being ostracised, shunned and cut out for that whole period, or she must have had to hide her condition from others, out of fear and shame, and the treatments that she might have to face, should everyone were to know of her condition, which was why she was looking for the Lord in secret. But her faith in the Lord saved her, and she was healed because she truly believed that the Lord could heal her.

Meanwhile, with regards to the daughter of the synagogue official, who was very sick and eventually passed away before the Lord reached her place, it was the faith that her father, the synagogue official, which was identified as Jairus in another Gospel, which saved her. He trusted in the Lord and sought for him when he needed help, just like that of the woman who was suffering from the haemorrhage. Like Jacob their forefather, they both turned towards the Lord when there was no other hope or means for healing and help, and God showed them His most wonderful and eminent love and compassion, His providence and help, by raising Jairus’ daughter back to life, and healing the woman from her bleeding issue, when no other worldly or earthly means had been possible, while at the same time showing that He was indeed God in the flesh, Son of God and Son of Man alike.

Now, we also have to take note that I do not mean that we do not have to suffer or endure hardships if we are to follow the Lord. All those whom I had mentioned, particularly Jacob and the woman who had bleeding problems, both had to endure hardships, cast out and exiled, endured scorn and difficulties for many long years. Yet, they persevered and endured in faith, and in the end, trusted in the Lord, Who showed them His most wonderful love and care, in providing for them and in guiding them towards true joy and freedom, blessed anew and strengthened once again by His hands. Thus, in the same manner, each one of us must also be prepared to face hardships and challenges, and we have to be always ready to stand up for our faith, and to persevere through despite the trials and challenges that we may face, in our paths going forward.

May the Lord continue to help and guide us, and may He always be with us, journeying with us and guiding us as He has always done so far, that no matter what hardships and trials we may have to face, we will always put our trust and faith in Him at all times. May He be with us always and be with His Church in all circumstances, and bless us all and our many good works, our good efforts and endeavours, all for His greater glory. Amen.

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Monday, 10 July 2023 : 14th Week of Ordinary Time (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Matthew 9 : 18-26

At that time, while Jesus was speaking to the disciples of John and the Pharisees, an official of the synagogue came up to Him, bowed before Him and said, “My daughter has just died, but come and place Your hands on her, and she will live.”

Jesus stood up and followed him with His disciples. Then a woman, who had suffered from a severe bleeding for twelve years, came up from behind and touched the edge of His cloak; for she thought, “If I only touch His cloak, I will be healed.”

Jesus turned, saw her and said, “Courage, my daughter, your faith has saved you.” And from that moment, the woman was cured. When Jesus arrived at the official’s house and saw the flute players and the excited crowd, He said, “Get out of here! The girl is not dead. She is only sleeping!” And they laughed at Him.

But once the crowd had been turned out, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she stood up. The news of this spread through the whole area.