21 July 2016

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Thursday, 21 July 2016 : 16th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Lawrence of Brindisi, Priest and Doctor of the Church (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Priests)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, on this day we heard the readings from the Holy Scriptures regarding the lack of faith and the lack of attentiveness amongst the people of God who refused to believe in Him even though He has in many occasions shown His majesty, glory and truth. God had done so many good things for them, and yet they betrayed Him for the pagan idols and for the pleasures of this world.

Why is this so, brothers and sisters in Christ? Why is it such that the people of God were so stubborn in their refusal to believe, even though they have seen, heard and witnessed all that God had done and performed in this world? And we may also ask why is it that God held Himself back, and not revealed His truth frankly and plainly for all the world to see? Surely if He was to show His great power among the people, then they would believe in Him and follow Him?

But then where will this lead us? We mankind are creatures who are easily tempted and lured by the wonders and goodness of this world. If Jesus was to declare Himself openly and truthfully for all to see, certainly He would have a much easier time, without the need to hide from all of His enemies, and yet, that would lead to the faithful believing in God because of their awe, and not because of the true desire to love and serve the Lord.

What Jesus wanted to teach us all and His disciples is that true faith requires a deeper understanding of God, His actions and His love for us, all of which should transcend the awe and preoccupation with appearances only. We should not be limiting ourselves to look at the exteriors, but instead deepen our own understanding and commitment to the Lord by deepening our relationship with Him.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, on this day, we are all called to be ever more devoted to God in all the things which we say and do. We are all called to commit ourselves by our dedication to the truth of the Lord, and not being afraid to stand up for our faith whenever it is called for. For many would be swayed by the persecutions and the challenges of the world, and many more would also be swayed by the temptations to turn away from the path of God and into the path towards damnation.

In this matter therefore, let us all look at the example of St. Lawrence of Brindisi, the holy saint of God whose devotion has allowed him to become an example for us all in the matter of faith. St. Lawrence of Brindisi was a Capuchin friar who was renowned for his devotion to God, and in his evangelisations, through which he was an integral part of the Counter-Reformation effort against the heresy of Protestantism, which saw many people repenting their heresy and returning to the Holy Mother Church through his efforts.

He went about to do many other works and commitments, leading the army of the faithful against the forces of the heathen and pagan Turks, successfully reclaiming territories of Christendom from the forces of evil. He devoted himself to the very end of his earthly life, and he was then even still remembered through his many writings and works through which he continued to inspire many other people through the generations on how to remain truly faithful to the Lord.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all follow in his footsteps, and also in the footsteps of the many other holy saints, holy men and women of God. Let us glorify God and declare our commitment to Him through our actions which bring joy to the world and to all those whom we have touched and healed with the truth and the word of God. May God help us all, now and forever. Amen.

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Thursday, 21 July 2016 : 16th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Lawrence of Brindisi, Priest and Doctor of the Church (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Priests)

Matthew 13 : 10-17

At that time, the disciples of Jesus came to Him and said, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” Jesus answered, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but not to these people. For the one who has, will be given more and he will have in abundance. But the one who does not have will be deprived of even what he has. That is why I speak to them in parables, because they look and do not see; they hear, but they do not listen or understand.”

“In them the words of the prophet Isaiah are fulfilled : However much you hear, you do not understand; however much you see, you do not perceive. For the heart of this people has grown dull. Their ears hardly hear and their eyes dare not see. If they were to see with their eyes, hear with their ears and understand with their heart, they would turn back, and I would heal them.”

“But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears, because they hear. For I tell you that many prophets and upright people have longed to see the things you see, but they did not see them, and to hear the things you hear, but they did not hear them.”

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Thursday, 21 July 2016 : 16th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Lawrence of Brindisi, Priest and Doctor of the Church (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Priests)

Psalm 35 : 6-7ab, 8-9, 10-11

Your love, o God, reaches the heavens; Your faithfulness, to the clouds. Your justice is like the mighty mountains; Your judgment like the unfathomable deep.

How precious, o God, is Your constant love! Mortals take refuge in the shadow of Your wings. In Your house they find rich food and they drink from Your spring of delight.

For with You is the fountain of life, in Your light we see light. Bestow on Your faithful Your love and give salvation to the upright of heart.

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Thursday, 21 July 2016 : 16th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Lawrence of Brindisi, Priest and Doctor of the Church (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Priests)

Jeremiah 2 : 1-3, 7-8, 12-13

A word of YHVH came to me, “Go and shout this in the hearing of Jerusalem. This is YHVH’s word : I remember your kindness as a youth, the love of your bridal days, when you followed Me in the wilderness, through a land not sown. Israel was holy to YHVH, the first-fruits of His harvest. All who ate of it had to pay and misfortune fell on them – it is YHVH Who speaks.”

“I brought you to a fertile land to eat of the choicest fruit. As soon as you came you defiled My land and dishonoured My heritage! The priests did not ask, ‘Where is YHVH?’ The masters of My teaching did not know Me; the pastors of My people betrayed Me; the prophets followed worthless idols and spoke in the name of Baal.”

“Be aghast at that, o heavens! Shudder, be utterly appalled – it is YHVH Who speaks – for My people have done two evils : they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living water, to dig for themselves leaking cisterns that hold no water!”