3 April 2019

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Wednesday, 3 April 2019 : 4th Week of Lent (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, on this day we listened to the words of the Scriptures speaking to us about the love that God, our loving Creator and Father has for each and every one of us, and by which love we are so fortunate, because despite of our sins and all the wicked deeds and actions that we have done, God still loves us and is willing to forgive us from those sins and wickedness, provided that we are able to follow and commit ourselves to the path that He has shown to us all.

In both our first reading passage from the book of the prophet Isaiah and the Gospel passage today, this truth is reiterated before us all firmly, reminding us of the great love that God, our loving Father has for each and every one of us. In the book of the prophet Isaiah we heard how the Lord reminded His people of the love that He has for each and every one of them, and how He would save them from their enemies and from their troubles.

He reminded all of them that they will no longer need to worry and ought to rejoice because God has come to save them all. And this is precisely echoed and revealed through what we have heard in our Gospel passage today, when the Lord Jesus also mentioned the very same things, the assurance of God’s love and faithfulness, when He, our loving Father, will bless us and gather us into the bliss and eternal joy He has promised all of those who are faithful to Him.

And therefore, today we are reminded of the fulfilment of God’s promises that He has made through Jesus Christ, His Son, through Whom God has revealed to all of us, His perfect love, that He was willing to send His Son to us as the perfect gift, and as the Hope of our salvation. Through Christ, God’s own Son, God has brought us all from the darkness of this world and into the eternal joy and bliss He has prepared for all of us.

Today’s readings repeat this important truth because each and every one of us ought to remember why we go through this period of Lent, this time and period of purification and self-rediscovery. And that is because we are looking forward to the coming of the true joy of our lives, that will come with the fullness of our reconciliation with God, through Jesus Christ, His sacrifice and death on the cross, by which He has redeemed us all from our sins.

As we draw ever closer to the end of the season of Lent, and as we head towards the holiest week of our entire liturgical year, the Holy Week itself, we ought to spend some time to reflect on our own lives, and how we have lived these lives of ours thus far. Have we placed our faith in God and have we loved Him just as He Himself has first loved us? Have we realised just how much God cared for us, and how He has blessed us all these while without us probably even knowing it?

Indeed, just as we heard in the Gospel passage today, that some among the people who heard Jesus’ teachings opposed Him and wanted to kill Him because they refused to believe in Him, thus, our lives will be far from being smooth and easygoing. There will be plenty of challenges and obstacles in our journey, as there will be many of those who disagree with us and our choice to follow the Lord. And the devil is always busy at work trying to snare more souls to follow his lead into damnation.

But, shall we follow the falsehoods and the empty promises of Satan? He is full of sweet lies and false pretenses, that we can end up falling for if we do not have a strong faith and trust in God. This is where we need to strengthen our dedication to God, that each and every one of us may grow stronger and firmer in our faith, and not easily give in to the temptations of evil. This season of Lent is truly a time for us to make a difference in our lives, by changing our way of life.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all turn towards the Lord from now on with all of our strength, and focus our attention and effort towards Him. Let us grow ever more in love for Him and put our complete trust in Him, for He is ever always faithful, and will not abandon us at the time of our need. May God be with us always, now and forevermore. Amen.

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Wednesday, 3 April 2019 : 4th Week of Lent (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

John 5 : 17-30

At that time, Jesus replied to the Jews, “My Father goes on working and so do I.” And the Jews tried all the harder to kill Him, for Jesus not only broke the Sabbath observance, but also made Himself equal with God, calling God His own Father.

Jesus said to them, “Truly, I assure you, the Son cannot do anything by Himself, but only what He sees the Father do. And whatever He does, the Son also does. The Father loves the Son and shows Him everything He does; and He will show Him even greater things than these, so that you will be amazed.”

“As the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so the Son gives life to whom He wills. In the same way the Father judges no one, for He has entrusted all judgment to the Son, and He wants all to honour the Son as they honour the Father. Whoever ignores the Son, ignores as well the Father Who sent Him.”

“Truly, I say to you, anyone who hears My word and believes Him Who sent Me, has eternal life; and there is no judgment for him, because he has passed from death to life. Truly, the hour is coming and has indeed come, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and, on hearing it, will live. For the Father has life in Himself, and He has given to the Son also to have life in Himself. And He has empowered Him as well to carry out Judgment, for He is Son of Man.”

“Do not be surprised at this : the hour is coming when all those lying in tombs will hear My voice and come out; those who have done good shall rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned. I can do nothing of Myself, and I need to hear Another One to judge; and My judgment is just, because I seek not My own will, but the will of Him Who sent Me.”

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Wednesday, 3 April 2019 : 4th Week of Lent (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Psalm 144 : 8-9, 13cd-14, 17-18

Compassionate and gracious is the Lord, slow to anger and abounding in love. The Lord is good to everyone; His mercy embraces all His creation.

The Lord is true to His promises and lets His mercy show in all He does. The Lord lifts up those who are falling and raises those who are beaten down.

Righteous is the Lord in all His ways, His mercy shows in all His deeds. He is near those who call on Him, who call trustfully upon His Name.

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Wednesday, 3 April 2019 : 4th Week of Lent (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Isaiah 49 : 8-15

This is what YHVH says : “At a favourable time I have answered you, on the day of salvation I have been your help; I have formed you and made you to be My covenant with the people. You will restore the land, and allot its abandoned farms. You will say to the captives : Come out; and to those in darkness : Show yourselves.”

“They will feed along the road; they will find pasture on barren hills. They will neither hunger nor thirst, nor will the scorching wind or the sun beat upon them; for He Who has mercy on them will guide them and lead them to springs of water. I will turn all My mountains into roads and raise up My highways. See, they come from afar, some from the north and west, others from the land of Sinim.”

Sing, o heavens and rejoice, o earth; break forth into song, o mountains : for YHVH has comforted His people and taken pity on those who are afflicted. But Zion said : “YHVH has forsaken me, my Lord has forgotten me.” Can a woman forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child of her womb? Yet though she forget, I will never forget you.