16 May 2016

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(College of Cardinals Update) Cardinal Karl Lehmann (Germany), Bishop Emeritus of Mainz turned 80 and becomes ineligible to participate in a future Papal Conclave

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Cardinal Karl Lehmann, Cardinal Priest of S. Leone I, Bishop Emeritus of Mainz has turned 80 on Monday, 16 May 2016. Therefore, in accordance to the Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici Gregis, he can no longer vote in a future Papal Conclave.

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Cardinal Karl Lehmann was the longtime Bishop of Mainz from 1983 to 2016, and he retired just exactly on his 80th birthday on 16 May 2016. As the Bishop of Mainz in Germany for over 33 years, he was also the longtime President of the German Episcopal Conference from 1987 to 2008. He was made a Prince of the Church, as the Cardinal Priest of S. Leone I at the Consistory of 21 February 2001 by Pope St. John Paul II, the Vicar of Christ.

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We pray for Cardinal Lehmann, that even in his retirement years, he may continue to inspire the faithful and the Church, and keep strongly the teachings of the Church. May he have a good health and be blessed all the days of his life. Ad multos annos!

Currently, there are 114 Cardinal-electors in the College of Cardinals, which means that there are 6 vacancies for Cardinal-electors available at the moment. The next Cardinal to age out will be Cardinal William Joseph Levada, Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith on 15 June 2016.

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Monday, 16 May 2016 : 7th Week of Ordinary Time (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today we heard the story of how the Lord Jesus cast out evil spirits from a boy who was possessed and became deaf and mute because of that. The disciples of Jesus tried to cast out the demons but they were not able to do so. And Jesus told them all, that those kinds of demons can only be removed through prayer.

What does this mean, brothers and sisters in Christ? It means that with faith in the Lord, everything is possible for us, as through faith we receive the power and the authority which our Lord Jesus gave to all those to whom He deems worthy to receive His grace and power, and it is by that power and authority that He has cast out those demons and those evil spirits.

Why were the Apostles unable to cast out those evil spirits on their own? It is likely because they still had uncertainties and doubts in their hearts. Even when they had witnessed firsthand the power and wonders of God shown through Jesus and the miracles they had seen themselves, in the feeding of many thousands with just five loaves of bread and two fish, in the healing of the sick and the possessed, and in the resurrection of those who were dead, their hearts were still uncertain, and their minds were still blocked from truly understanding the truth of God.

And because of that doubt, they were unable to truly draw on the power and authority of the Lord, and in their doubt and uncertainty, they stumbled and failed. But this did not mean that their faith and efforts were meaningless, but rather, it is what the Lord wanted to teach His disciples, that following Him does not mean to seek for personal glory, or for praise or fame or for glory of the world.

Many people at that time, especially among the pagans were going around from places to places, gaining fame for themselves or acquire a following and a cult, by their actions that supposedly show the supernatural and the things that amazed many who saw them. And these claimed their own might and power in doing all those wondrous things and actions.

But this is not what Jesus wanted His disciples and His faithful ones to do. As all of us Christians, we do not serve ourselves, our own needs or our own desires, but instead all of us serve the greater glory and the greater purpose of our Lord. It was not by our own greatness and power that we have achieved great things, but instead, it is only through the grace of God, that the Lord has allowed us to perform all of these great things and wonders.

Today, as we heard this message from the Scriptures, let us all keep in mind this fact, that when we are tempted to satisfy our own personal greed and desire, and when we are tempted to do things to glorify ourselves, let us not lose sight of the truth and let us be resolute in persisting and resisting the devil and all of his false promises. It was after all because he was playing around with our human vulnerabilities and weakness to temptation that he had been able to lure us all into sin and therefore towards the risk of damnation in hell.

Let us be mindful in our lives, that each and every one of us may find our way to the Lord, by showing love in our actions, by obeying the Law which God has given us, the commandments of love, as He had commanded the disciples and thus all of His faithful ones to do. And in this, we should reflect back on the reading we received from the Epistle according to St. James.

St. James mentioned that we all should live humbly and filled with love, and not with jealousy or hatred. We should not show off or be prideful, but instead, as the children of God, we all should be humble and be committed to love and help one another instead. And filled with love, may our actions be worthy in the sight of God, that when He comes again in His glory, He may gather us all in and bring us together into His eternal glory in heaven. God bless us all. Amen.

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Monday, 16 May 2016 : 7th Week of Ordinary Time (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Mark 9 : 14-29

At that time, when Jesus with Peter, James and John after His transfiguration came to the place where they had left the disciples, they saw many people around them and some teachers of the Law arguing with them. When the people saw Jesus, they were astonished and ran to greet Him.

He asked, “What are you arguing about with them?” A man answered Him from the crowd, “Master, I brought my son to You, for he has a spirit, deaf and mute. Whenever the spirit seizes him, it throws him down and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth and becomes stiff all over. I asked Your disciples to drive the spirit out, but they could not.”

Jesus replied, “You faithless people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him to Me.” And they brought the boy to Him. As soon as the spirit saw Jesus, it shook and convulsed the boy, who fell on the ground and began rolling about, foaming at the mouth.”

Then Jesus asked the father, “How long has this been happening to him?” He replied, “From childhood. And it has often thrown him into the fire and into the water to destroy him. If You can do anything, have pity on us and help us.”

Jesus said to him, “Why do you say, ‘If You can?’ All things are possible for the one who believes.” Immediately the father of the boy cried out, “I do believe, but help the little faith I have.”

Jesus saw that the crowd was increasing rapidly, so He ordered the evil spirit, “Dumb and deaf spirit, I command you : Leave the boy and never enter him again.” The evil spirit shook and convulsed the boy and with a terrible shriek came out. The boy lay like a corpse and people said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him and the boy stood up.

After Jesus had gone indoors, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not drive out the spirit?” And He answered, “Only prayer can drive out this kind, nothing else.”

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Monday, 16 May 2016 : 7th Week of Ordinary Time (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Psalm 18 : 8, 9, 10, 15

The Law of the Lord is perfect : it gives life to the soul. The word of the Lord is trustworthy : it gives wisdom to the simple.

The precepts of the Lord are right : they give joy to the heart. The commandments of the Lord are clear : they enlighten the eyes.

The fear of the Lord is pure, it endures forever; the judgments of the Lord are true, all of them just and right.

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart find favour in Your sight, o Lord – my Redeemer, my Rock!

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Monday, 16 May 2016 : 7th Week of Ordinary Time (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

James 3 : 13-18

If you consider yourself wise and learnt, show it by your good life and let your actions, in all humility, be an example for others. But if your heart is full of bitter jealousy and ambition, do not try to show off; that would be covering up the truth; this kind of wisdom does not come from above but from the world and it is earthly and devilish.

Wherever there is jealousy and ambition, you will also find discord and all that is evil. Instead, the wisdom that comes from above is pure and peace-loving. Persons with this wisdom show understanding and listen to advice; they are full of compassion and good works; they are impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow peace reap a harvest of justice.