25th Sunday of Ordinary Time

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Friday, 27 September 2019 : 25th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Vincent de Paul, Priest (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

Haggai 1 : 15b – Haggai 2 : 9

On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, of the second year of the reign of Darius, this word of YHVH was sent through the prophet Haggai, “Give this message to Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah, and to Joshua, the High Priest, and to all the people : Is there left among you one of those who saw this House long ago, in the time of its glory? What do they think, of what they see now? Is it not a very little thing?”

“But I say to you, Zerubbabel, Joshua and My people : do not be discouraged. Begin to work, for I am with you, says YHVH. Do not be afraid, for My Spirit is in your midst. Thus says YHVH of hosts, within a short while, I will shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the continents. Then I will shake all the nations; and bring in the treasures of the whole world.”

“I will fill this House with glory, says YHVH. I will have as much silver and gold as I wish. The renown of this Temple will be greater than before, and in this place I will give peace,” says YHVH of hosts.

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Thursday, 26 September 2019 : 25th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Cosmas and St. Damian, Martyrs (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green or Red (Martyrs)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, on this day we listened to the words of God in the Scriptures reminding us about the time for us to embrace God’s love and compassion to their fullest, knowing that He has always loved us dearly and He never ceases to want to reach out to us, welcoming us back into His embrace and forgiving us from our sins. And we should not wait any longer and try our best to seek Him out at the soonest opportunity available.

In our first reading today, we heard the passage taken from the Book of the prophet Haggai in which God spoke through the prophet Haggai to the people of God represented by their leader Zerubbabel, the heir of David and the other leaders and elders of the community. God told them all to reconsider their continued delaying and refusal to rebuild the House of God in Jerusalem even after they have returned to their ancestral homeland from their exile in Babylon.

The people have rebuilt their houses and cities and they have resettled back nicely in their ancestral land, and yet, the prophet Haggai pointed out that as long as the House of their Lord, the Temple in the city of Jerusalem has not been rebuilt yet, to replace the one built by Solomon that has been destroyed by the Babylonians, the Israelites would not be able to find true and lasting happiness and peace.

And that is all because of the fact that God has not been truly at the heart and centre of their community, and the Lord had not yet dwelled again amidst His people as He had once done. And that was why the prophet Haggai insisted that the people rebuild the Temple of Jerusalem and put their priorities right, spending the effort to return the Lord’s glory back in the midst of His people.

The Temple is a very important centre of the community of the Israelites, especially for the community post-exile from Babylon, as it was a new centre of their community that had once been scattered in the faraway lands, as the focal point of all the believers in God, and where they would go on the days of the important festivals and celebrations like the Passover among many other festivals and celebrations.

And we can see all that in how at the time of the Lord Jesus, throughout the Gospels and into the time of the Apostles and the early Church, the Temple played such a very important role in the Jewish community and also among the earliest Christians who went to the Temple to gather and worship, and the Lord Himself spent a lot of time teaching at the Temple, and as we all know, He once cleared that same Temple from the corruption of merchants and cheaters with zealous anger.

Now, brothers and sisters in Christ, what then is the significance of today’s Scripture readings to us? It is the fact that all of us are God’s chosen people, and therefore, rightfully, God should be at the very centre of our lives and our existences. We should not tarry and wait, postpone and delay in doing this just as what the Israelites had done in rebuilding the House of God while they have rebuilt their houses and cities.

It means that just as we continue to live our lives, building our careers and families, and even our wealth and property, our worldly belongings and things that we desire, we must always remember that our obligation is to focus ourselves on God and place Him at the very centre of our lives, and in everything we say and do, we must always have God in mind, or else indeed it will be very easy for us to go astray and fall into sin.

Today let us all reflect on this, and how we can make ourselves to be better Christians more attuned to God’s will and more capable of walking down this journey of faith. And we should look for inspiration from two of His faithful saints, St. Cosmas and St. Damian, two holy martyrs of the Church and devout servants of God who had given their whole lives to the service of God, and remained faithful to the very end.

St. Cosmas and St. Damian were known as famous physicians who were also twins, and they were known to treat the poor and the needy without charging them for their services. They also remained true and faithful to God even amidst the persecution of Christians at that time under the Roman Emperor Diocletian. St. Cosmas and St. Damian were martyred, but their courageous faith and also upright life and generosity in loving others truly showed us what it truly means for us to be Christians.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, are we able to follow in their footsteps? Are we able to walk the same path that St. Cosmas and St. Damian had walked, in following God wholeheartedly and giving ourselves to Him in each and every words, actions and deeds we take? Let us all draw ever closer to God and let us be ever more faithful to Him from now on, so that we may truly come to the eternal glory He has promised us all who are faithful to Him. Amen.

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Thursday, 26 September 2019 : 25th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Cosmas and St. Damian, Martyrs (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green or Red (Martyrs)

Luke 9 : 7-9

At that time, king Herod heard of all that Jesus and His disciples had done, and did not know what to think, for people said, “This is John, raised from the dead.”

Others believed that Elijah, or one of the ancient prophets, had come back to life. As for Herod, he said, “I had John beheaded. Who is this Man, about Whom I hear such wonders?” And he was anxious to see Him.

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Thursday, 26 September 2019 : 25th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Cosmas and St. Damian, Martyrs (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Green or Red (Martyrs)

Psalm 149 : 1-2, 3-4, 5-6a and 9b

Alleluia! Sing to YHVH a new song, sing His praise in the assembly of His saints. Let Israel rejoice in his Maker; let the people of Zion glory in their King!

Let them dance in praise of His Name; and make music for music for Him with harp and timbrel. For YHVH delights in His people; He crowns the lowly with victory.

The saints will exult in triumph; even at night, on their couches, let the praise of God be on their lips. This is the glory of all His saints. Alleluia!

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Thursday, 26 September 2019 : 25th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Cosmas and St. Damian, Martyrs (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green or Red (Martyrs)

Haggai 1 : 1-8

In the second year of the reign of Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, a word of YHVH was directed to the prophet Haggai, for the benefit of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest.

So says YHVH of hosts : This people claim that the time to rebuild the House of YHVH has not yet come. Well now, hear what I have to say through the prophet Haggai : Is this the time for you to live in your well-built houses while this House is a heap of ruins? Think about your ways : you have sown much but harvested little; you eat and drink, but are not satisfied; you clothe yourselves, but still feel cold; and the labourer puts the money he earned in a tattered purse.

Now think about what you must do : go to the mountain and look for wood to rebuild the House. This will make me happy; and I will feel deeply honoured, says YHVH.

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Wednesday, 25 September 2019 : 25th Week of Ordinary Time (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, on this day we listened to the words of the Scriptures speaking to us about the love which God has given to us His people, the infinite and boundless mercy and compassion which He has shown to each and every one of us despite of our stubbornness and constant refusal to believe in Him and His love. We have always walked waywardly in sin, but He is ever patient, waiting for us to return to Him.

In our first reading passage today, taken from the Book of the prophet Ezra and continuing from the story of the return of the Israelites from their exile in Babylon of this week, we heard how after the rebuilding of Jerusalem and Judah, Ezra had earlier on celebrated the Passover with the people of God and reestablished order and proceedings in the whole land, appointing priests and those in charge of customs and administration.

And what we have then heard in our first reading today is Ezra’s prayer made on behalf of the people, as he humbled himself before God as a penitent and with torn and unkempt clothes. He humbled himself because of the sins which the people of God had committed for all those years when they disobeyed Him and continued to refuse to listen to the prophets and messengers sent into their midst to remind them.

In that prayer, which was divided into two main parts, we heard both Ezra’s supplication on behalf of the people, first of all admitting the sins they have committed, all the wickedness and unworthy deeds they have done, in rejecting God’s love and grace, in their stubbornness and vile ways. But then, Ezra also glorified and gave thanks to God on behalf of the people that despite all of that, when the people genuinely repented of their sins, God extended the same love He has always given them and brought them back to their homeland.

In our Psalm today, we heard then of the song of Tobit, another man of God who have been brought low and suffered greatly because of many persecutions and unfortunate tragedies, being sent into exile by the Assyrians far away from his ancestral lands, and then being accused of helping those who were persecuted, and losing his eyesight in an unfortunate incident. And yet, Tobit remained true to his faith in God.

Tobit eventually received help from God, as He sent His Archangel Raphael to help both Tobit and also another person, Sara, who had also been beset with problems. The Archangel Raphael in disguise together with Tobias, the son of Tobit went on a journey in which at the end, Sara was eventually also freed from the torment of a demon, and the eyesight of Tobit was restored to him. Through all these, God showed how He loves each and every one of His people.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, on this day therefore having been reminded of God’s love for us, we should reflect on our own lives as well. How have we lived our lives thus far? Have we been obedient to God or have we instead walked in the path of sin? Through sin we may have been driven away from God, but we must remember that God is always ready to forgive us our sins if we want to repent from them with sincerity of heart.

Are we able to make the commitment to walk that path of repentance though? In our Gospel passage today, we heard the Lord sending His disciples out on a mission, and told them of what they ought to be doing during their mission and to expect rejection and challenges along the way. Similarly, if we walk in God’s path, it is likely for us to encounter challenges, difficulties and problems, as well as temptations along our way.

Let us all devote ourselves anew to God and putting our trust in Him wholeheartedly. Let us all turn to Him with a new zeal and heart filled with love from now on. Let us all appreciate the wonderful love and generous mercy with which He has provided for us. May the Lord continue to watch over us and guide us in our journey of faith in this life. May God bless us all and be with us. Amen.

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Wednesday, 25 September 2019 : 25th Week of Ordinary Time (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Luke 9 : 1-6

At that time, Jesus called His Twelve disciples and gave them power and authority to drive out all evil spirits and to heal diseases. And He sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He instructed them, “Do not take anything for the journey, neither staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not even take a spare tunic.”

“Whatever house you enter, remain there until you leave that place. And wherever they do not welcome you, leave the town and shake the dust from your feet : it will be as a testimony against them.”

So they set out, and went through the villages, proclaiming the Good News and healing people everywhere.

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Wednesday, 25 September 2019 : 25th Week of Ordinary Time (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Tobit 13 : 2, 3-4a, 4bcd, 5, 8

It is He Who punishes and He Who has mercy; Who makes people go down to the depths off the underworld and rise up again from the great abyss. No one can escape His hand.

Give Him thanks, people of Israel, before all the nations. Though He has dispersed you among them, He now shows you His greatness.

Exalt Him before all the living, because He is our God and Lord, our Father forever.

He punishes us for our wrongdoing but again He will forgive us. He will bring us together again from amongst all the nations among whom we have been dispersed.

I, in the land of my captivity, will return Him thanks and show His strength and greatness to My sinful people. Be converted, you sinners, and live justly before Him, certain that He will be pleased with you and show you mercy.

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Wednesday, 25 September 2019 : 25th Week of Ordinary Time (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Ezra 9 : 5-9

I remained seated and dismayed until the evening sacrifice; and then, at the time for the evening offering, I rose from my fasting, and with my clothes and mantle torn, I knelt down, spreading out my hands to YHVH, my God.

I said, “My God! I am ashamed and confused, my God, I do not dare raise my eyes to You; for our sins have increased over our heads and our crimes reach up to the heavens. From the days of our ancestors to this day, our guilt has been great. We, our kings and priests have been given into the hands of foreign kings because of our crimes; we have been delivered to the sword, to captivity, to plunder, and put to shame as on this day.”

“However, for a brief moment, the mercy of YHVH, our God, has been shown to us. He made a remnant of our people survive, and allowed the survivor to settle once again in His Holy Place. He has given us joy and life, though we are in bondage. We are no more than slaves, but in the midst of our slavery, God has not abandoned us, He has extended a merciful hand over us to support us before the kings of Persia. He has revived our life, enabled us to rebuild the House of our God, and to have walls in Jerusalem and in the other cities of Judah.”

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Tuesday, 24 September 2019 : 25th Week of Ordinary Time (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, on this day we listened to the words of the Scripture which reminds us of the need for us to follow God’s will and to be righteous and just in all of our actions in life, so that we can be truly reunited and reconciled with Him, and therefore receive the fullness of His love and grace once again. And we heard this being represented in our Scripture passages today, beginning from the account of the Book of Ezra in our first reading which told us about the moment when the Israelites returned from their exile in Babylon.

At that time, the remnants of the Israelites who had been exiled for decades in Babylon after the destruction of Jerusalem and Judah were allowed to return to their homeland by the King of Persia, Cyrus the Great. Many of them went back to the land of their ancestors, led by a priest called Ezra and also by a scribe of the King, Nehemiah. It was this Ezra who was mentioned in our first reading passage today.

Ezra supervised the rebuilding efforts in Jerusalem and Judah, and began the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem. That was what we have heard in our first reading today, as the people were organised to work on the rebuilding efforts. In all that we have heard in that passage, the destruction of the society of God’s people were overcome, as the society began to rebuild itself and a semblance of order returned.

After the Temple has been rebuilt, the priests and all those who were in charge of the Temple and worship were reappointed together with the other important roles within the community. This actually symbolised the rejuvenation and restoration of a nation which had been brought low and humbled by their disobedience against God, their sins which had caused them to meet their downfall in the hands of their enemies.

The priest Ezra led the people in the effort to be reconciled with God, as they picked up the pieces left after the destruction of their homeland. The rebuilding and its completion, the sacrifices and celebrations, especially that of the Passover signified a very important event in the reconciliation between God’s people and their Lord and Master. While before the people of Israel have sinned and worshipped pagan idols and disobeyed the Law, afterwards, they were all realigning their lives and way of life, following God from then on.

That is what the Lord in fact also stressed in His message to His disciples in our Gospel passage today, and that is to obey the will of God and for us to follow the path that God has shown to us. It is those who truly believe in God, walking in His path and obeying His will that will be considered as God’s own people. We may have sinned against Him, but as mentioned earlier, God loves us no matter what, and He has always given us many opportunities, one after another to be reconciled with Him.

Now, brothers and sisters in Christ, are we willing and able to make the same commitment as what the Israelites had done under the leadership of the priest Ezra? Are we able to rebuild our lives with faith and renewed conviction and love for God? Are we able to turn away from our sins and resist the many temptations in life? We need to think and reflect about this, and find how we can be more faithful to God.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all therefore draw closer to God, by doing His will and obeying Him in all of our words, actions and deeds. Let our every actions, and let our whole being glorify God in all things. May the Lord continue to guide us and may He bless us all in our endeavours and good works. Amen.