30 October 2019

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Wednesday, 30 October 2019 : 30th 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 speaking to us about the need for us to make the effort to be righteous and worthy of God as even though we seek His salvation and the eternal life He has promised us, but the path that we have to follow is littered with much suffering and challenges.

There are plenty of temptations and pressures that are pushing us away from the path of the Lord, and we are often easily swayed and tempted by these things. The Lord Himself plainly said how the path to the kingdom of God is through a narrow door, and while many may claim that they know God or profess faith in Him, but they cannot attain the salvation in God because they did not have genuine faith in Him.

What does this mean, brothers and sisters in Christ? It means that we can call ourselves as Christians and claim that we have been saved by God but unless our hearts and minds are truly attuned to Him, centred on Him and all of our attention and focus are on Him, then we may still be far away from being saved, as our faith is not genuine or only nominal on paper alone.

There are many of us who call ourselves as Christians, and yet in the way we interact with one another, in the words we say and use, in the actions we took and in the way we live our lives, the presence of God can neither be felt or seen. People who saw us, heard us and witnessed our actions and deeds saw in us not God’s presence and love, but worldliness, selfishness, pride, greed and many others.

And why is that so? That is because we are often too proud and take things into our own hands, thinking that we are able to brave through all the challenges and obstacles alone on our own. But we are by nature weak and easily tempted, and unless we have a firm foundation of faith, we are likely to fall deeper and deeper into sin and darkness, and from there, eventually to damnation.

In our first reading today, St. Paul in his Epistle to the Church and the faithful in Rome reminded them of the need for the faithful people of God to put their trust in the Lord through the works of the Holy Spirit, for it is through the Holy Spirit that God guides His people into the right path, strengthening them and encouraging them to live and persevere through the difficulties with faith.

But we often do not allow the Spirit of God to do its work in us and through us. As mentioned, our pride and our attachments to worldliness prevented us from allowing God and His Holy Spirit from transforming us, our beings and our actions from one of sin and darkness into one of faith and light. Unless we allow God and His Holy Spirit to be an integral part of our daily living, in our every words and actions, there can be little progress for us in the way of faith.

Therefore, brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all from now on learn to put our trust in God and open our hearts and minds to allow Him and His Spirit to penetrate through the deepest part of our inner beings and no longer being lukewarm in how we live our faith from now on. Instead of living our lives the way we see fit or how the world wants it to be, let us from now on truly live up to our faith, in our every words, actions and deeds.

May the Lord our God continue to bless us and guide us, so that throughout our lives’ journeys we may persevere through the many challenges and temptations, and grow ever deeper in our faith and devotion to the Lord. May God be with us always, now and forevermore. Amen.

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Wednesday, 30 October 2019 : 30th Week of Ordinary Time (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Luke 13 : 22-30

At that time, Jesus went through towns and villages teaching, and making His way to Jerusalem. Someone asked Him, “Lord, is it true that few people will be saved?”

And Jesus answered, “Do your best to enter by the narrow door, for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able. When once the master of the house has gone inside and locked the door, you will stand outside. Then you will knock at the door, calling, ‘Lord, open to us!’ But He will say to you, ‘I do not know where you come from.'”

“Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets!’ But He will reply, ‘I do not know where you come from. Away from Me, all you workers of evil.’ You will weep and grind your teeth, when you see Abraham and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves left outside.”

“Others will sit at table in the kingdom of God, people coming from east and west, from north and south. Some who are among the last, will be first; and some who are among the first, will be last!”

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Wednesday, 30 October 2019 : 30th Week of Ordinary Time (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Psalm 12 : 4-5, 6

Look upon me and answer, o YHVH my God! Give light to my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death; lest my enemy say, “I have routed him,” lest my foes rejoice of my fall.

But I put my trust in Your unfailing love, my heart will rejoice on seeing Your salvation. I will sing to YHVH, for He has been good to me!

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Wednesday, 30 October 2019 : 30th Week of Ordinary Time (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Romans 8 : 26-30

Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes for us, without words, as if with groans. And He, Who sees inner secrets, knows the desires of the Spirit, for He asks for the holy ones, what is pleasing to God.

We know that in everything, God works for the good of those who love Him, whom He has called, according to His plan. Those whom He knew beforehand, He has also predestined, to be like His Son, similar to Him, so, that, He may be the Firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And so, those whom God predestined, He called; and those whom He called, He makes righteous; and to those whom He makes righteous, He will give His glory.