30th Week of Ordinary Time

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Thursday, 2 November 2023 : Feast of All Souls, Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Black or Purple/Violet

Matthew 11 : 25-30

At that time, Jesus said, “Father, Lord of heaven and earth, I praise You; because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to simple people. Yes, Father, this was Your gracious will.”

“Everything has been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows the Son except the Father; and no one knows the Father except the Son, and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.”

“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble of heart; and you will find rest. For My yoke is easy; and My burden is light.”

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Thursday, 2 November 2023 : Feast of All Souls, Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (Second Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Black or Purple/Violet

Romans 5 : 5-11

And hope does not disappoint us, because the Holy Spirit has been given to us, pouring into our hearts the love of God. Consider, moreover, the time that Christ died for us : when we were still helpless and unable to do anything. Few would accept to die for an upright person; although, for a very good person, perhaps someone would dare to die.

But see how God manifested His love for us : while we were still sinners, Christ died for us; and we have become just, through His Blood. With much more reason now He will save us from any condemnation. Once enemies, we have been reconciled with God through the death of His Son; with much more reason, now we may be saved, through His life.

Not only that, but we even boast in God because of Christ Jesus, our Lord, through Whom we have been reconciled.

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Thursday, 2 November 2023 : Feast of All Souls, Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Black or Purple/Violet

Psalm 26 : 1, 4, 7-9, 13-14

YHVH is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? YHVH is the rampart of my life; I will not be afraid.

One thing I ask of YHVH, one thing I seek – that I may dwell in His house all the days of my life, to gaze at His jewel and to visit His Sanctuary.

Hear my voice when I call, o YHVH, have mercy on me and answer. My heart says to You, “I seek Your face, o YHVH.” Do not hide Your face from me nor turn away Your servant in anger. You are my protector, do not reject me; abandon me not, o God my Saviour!

I hope, I am sure, that I will see the goodness of YHVH in the land of the living. Trust in YHVH, be strong and courageous, yes, put your hope in YHVH!

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Thursday, 2 November 2023 : Feast of All Souls, Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Black or Purple/Violet

Isaiah 25 : 6-9

On this mountain YHVH Sabaoth will prepare for all peoples a feast of rich food and choice wines, meat full of marrow, fine wine strained. On this mountain He will destroy the pall cast over all peoples, this very shroud spread over all nations, and death will be no more.

The Lord YHVH will wipe away the tears from all cheeks and eyes; He will take away the humiliation of His people all over the world : for YHVH has spoken. On that day you will say : This is our God. We have waited for Him to save us, let us be glad and rejoice in His salvation.

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Wednesday, 1 November 2023 : Solemnity of All Saints (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : White

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today the Church celebrates the great Solemnity of All Saints, commemorating and honouring all the glorious saints, holy men and women of God, whom the Church had declared to be truly worthy of God, and by whose lives and examples, they have indeed been worthy and merited the immediate reward of heavenly glory and bliss. Those whom the Church had declared to be saints are deemed to be worthy of universal veneration and honour, because of their great and exemplary works and lives, which have shown true faith and obedience to God. There are many virtuous, faithful and dedicated men and women throughout the history of the Church that have been honoured with such designation, that they may indeed become great role models and sources of inspiration for us all to follow, so that we may also follow in their footsteps.

Today, the Church celebrates the saints, the innumerable holy men and women that have gone before us to the bliss and glory of Heaven, and whose lives we should also emulate in our own, and who we should also follow and be inspired to be like them and to follow them in their footsteps. The saints are the ones who have answered the Lord’s call with faith and conviction, and chose to dedicate themselves in following the path that the Lord had called them to walk in, and showed us all their virtues and good deeds, through the lives of the saints whom we have known, learnt about and celebrated throughout the whole liturgical calendar every year. They are the ones mentioned in our first reading today from the Book of the Revelations or the Apocalypse of St. John the Apostle, as the righteous ones whom the Lord have called and chosen, and who had also lived their lives worthily.

In our first reading passage, we heard of the a hundred and forty-four thousand righteous ones gathered in the presence of God at His Throne, the victorious and triumphant Lamb of God. Those represent symbolically the saints of God, all those holy men and women that had triumphed together with God, and been freed from the bondage of sin and death, saved and redeemed by the Lord, and justified through their faith and actions throughout their lives. This does not mean that the saints numbers are limited by the absolute limit of a hundred and forty-four thousand as mentioned. Rather, that number was used to highlight a rather large number, to show that many people will end up being triumphant and victorious in the end with God, and there are already some who are already enjoying the bliss of Heaven even before the Final and Last Judgment.

They are all clothed in white in the vision of St. John, and according to one of the Elders who guided St. John in the vision, those saints had already washed their garments clean in the Blood of the Lamb, which also symbolically represent our baptism, in us accepting the grace of God brought to us through Christ, Who has shed His Most Precious Blood and died for us on His Cross. This same Precious Blood has washed away from us the taint of our original sin, and as a perfect and most worthy offering, the Lord Himself has delivered us all from the tyranny and dominion of sin. Then, at the same time, some of those saints were also martyrs who have shed their own blood for the sake of the Lord, while others have led a life of virtue and holiness, all of which actions and commitments allow them to enter into the great glory of Heaven.

This does not mean that the saints had always been perfect and immaculate in their lives. Rather, they were sinners just like us, and they have also committed sins, be it simple, venial, or even serious and mortal sins. Yet, what is important is the fact that, they all turned away from those paths of sin and disobedience against God, chose to embrace God’s mercy and love, and either by the virtues of their lives, and/or their courageous defence of their faith, even to the point of shedding their blood and dying for their faith in God, they have been deemed worthy by God and by His Church, to enjoy immediately at the point of death, to enter right away into the glory of Heaven. Some of the saints that we are all familiar with were great sinners earlier on in their lives, and many others were flawed in their character and actions, but they then chose the better path with God.

Now, brothers and sisters in Christ, this means that the same applies to all of us as well, each one of us who are still living in this world. And how do we make sure that one day we can also enjoy the glory of Heaven like that of the saints? It is by heeding what the Lord Himself had taught His disciples and all of us through the Eight Beatitudes, the series of blessings that the Lord pronounced in our Gospel passage today. He praised and blessed all those who are poor in spirit, meaning those who are humble and always seeking God, being aware of their sins and imperfections, as well as those who mourn and suffer because of their faith and commitment to God, and all those who are gentle and loving towards each other, in showing love and compassion to their fellow men and women, and those who show justice and righteousness in their lives, those who show mercy, work for peace and have been persecuted and insulted because of their faith in God.

Essentially all of these are the qualities and signs of what sainthood is all about. These are the parameters, actions and characteristics that defined those who have been officially recognised and canonised to be saints, as great role models and inspirations for their fellow brothers and sisters. And each and every one of us can also be like them as well. As Christians, it is imperative and important for all of us to be ever more committed to God in all of our actions, works and way of life, to be like what the Eight Beatitudes have shown us, that we should be people who are with God’s love, with all the Christian virtues and righteousness, in obeying the Law and commandments of God, in doing God’s will and in showing forth His truth and Good News, revealing His love and kindness to more and more people throughout the world, in all of our every interactions and efforts.

Now, on this day, as we rejoice upon the glory and honour of the glorious saints of God, let us all remember that they are also part of the same Church like us all as well. While we are all still living in this world as the visible aspects and parts of the Church, as the Church Militant, called as such because we are still struggling daily and putting the effort to resist against the temptations and the threats of sin and evil all around us, the saints of God are part of the Church Triumphant, those who have triumphed in their faith, and have now gone to enjoy the beatific vision of Heaven, to rejoice in the joy and gladness, the comfort, peace and happiness that God has prepared for all those who have been faithful and committed to Him. We too can be part of the Church Triumphant one day, if we choose to do so, and do what the saints had themselves done when they were still living in this world just like us.

And more than just being examples and role models for us, the saints also constantly pray for each and every one of us in this world. They are our intercessors and they always pray for our sake, being closer to God, and hence, have the Lord’s listening ears on our behalf. This is where it is important that as Christians, all of us know well what our beliefs are about regarding the saints, as there are misconceptions and misunderstandings on what saints are and how they play a part in our faith and journey in life, both from within and outside the Church. Some misunderstood that the saints were like deities or gods that we pray to in order for them to do things for us, or for them to give us their blessings, but this is not what saints are. Saints pray and intercede for us, and since they are closer to God, their prayers are truly more effective for us, as they are already in a perfect state of grace.

We can definitely pray for ourselves as well, but there is definitely nothing wrong to ask someone else to pray for us as well. And if we can ask our fellow brothers and sisters around us to pray for us, then why don’t we also ask those who have gone before us, and whom we know that they are already in Heaven, to pray for us all as well? This is why we ask the saints to pray for us, on our behalf, and among all of them, the one who is the best to do it for us, is none other than Mary, the Mother of God herself, who is truly the greatest among all the saints. That is why many Catholics also have deep devotion to Mary, as she is always constantly praying for us, as our loving mother, entrusted to us by the Lord Himself, who made us all to be her children as well. Not only that, but just like that of the other saints, Mary is also a great role model and example for us all to follow in our lives, so that our own lives may be holy just like they are holy, and like how our Lord and God is holy.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, lastly, as we honour and glorify the saints today, let us also pray for one another, and ask the saints to pray for all those around us who need help. Let us all strive to live a holy and worthy life at all times, and be exemplary in our way of life, that one day, we too may be found and deemed worthy, to share in the glory of the saints. Let us also pray for the holy souls in Purgatory, all those who are also part of the Church, as the Church Suffering, as those who have already lived a life of faith, and yet, because of their residual venial sins, they have not yet been able to enjoy the bliss of Heaven, unlike the saints. Let us all pray for them, that God may show them His mercy and love, compassion and kindness, especially that we will remember them tomorrow on All Souls Day. May the glorious saints always pray for us all, and for our fellow brothers and sisters in Purgatory, and may the Lord bless us all and our lives, that we may continue to emulate His saints, and lead lives that are truly holy and worthy of Him. Amen.

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Wednesday, 1 November 2023 : Solemnity of All Saints (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

Matthew 5 : 1-12a

At that time, when Jesus saw the crowds, He went up the mountain. He sat down and His disciples gathered around Him. Then He spoke and began to teach them :

“Fortunate are those who are poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. Fortunate are those who mourn; they shall be comforted. Fortunate are the gentle; they shall possess the land.”

“Fortunate are those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall be satisfied. Fortunate are the merciful, for they shall find mercy. Fortunate are those with pure hearts, for they shall see God.”

“Fortunate are those who work for peace; they shall be called children of God. Fortunate are those who are persecuted for the cause of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.”

“Fortunate are you, when people insult you and persecute you and speak all kinds of evil against you because you are My followers. Be glad and joyful, for a great reward is kept for you in God.”

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Wednesday, 1 November 2023 : Solemnity of All Saints (Second Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

1 John 3 : 1-3

See what singular love the Father has for us : we are called children of God, and we really are. This is why the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.

Beloved, we are God’s children, and what we shall be has not, yet, been shown. Yet, when He appears in His glory, we know, that we shall be like Him, for, then, we shall see Him as He is. All who have such a hope, try to be pure, as He is pure.

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Wednesday, 1 November 2023 : Solemnity of All Saints (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : White

Psalm 23 : 1-2, 3-4ab, 5-6

The earth and its fullness belong to YHVH, the world and all that dwell in it. He has founded it upon the ocean and set it firmly upon the waters.

Who will ascend the mountain of YHVH? Who will stand in His holy place? Those with clean hands and pure heart, who desire not what is vain.

They will receive blessings from YHVH, a reward from God, their Saviour. Such are the people who seek Him, who seek the face of Jacob’s God.

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Wednesday, 1 November 2023 : Solemnity of All Saints (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

Revelations 7 : 2-4, 9-14

I saw another Angel, ascending from the sunrise, carrying the seal of the living God, and he cried out with a loud voice, to the four Angels empowered to harm the earth and the sea, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God upon their foreheads.”

Then, I heard the number of those marked with the seal : a hundred and forty-four thousand, from all the tribes of the people of Israel. After this, I saw a great crowd, impossible to count, from every nation, race, people and tongue, standing before the Throne, and the Lamb, clothed in white, with palm branches in their hands, and they cried out with a loud voice, “Who saves, but our God, Who sits on the Throne, and the Lamb?”

All the Angels were around the Throne, the elders and the four living creatures; they, then, bowed before the Throne, with their faces to the ground, to worship God. They said, “Amen, Praise, glory, wisdom, thanks, honour, power and strength to our God forever and ever. Amen!”

At that moment, one of the elders spoke up, and said to me, “Who are these people clothed in white, and where did they come from?” I answered, “Sir, it is you who know this.” The elder replied, “They, are those who have come out of the great persecution, they have washed, and made their clothes white, in the Blood of the Lamb.”

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Tuesday, 31 October 2023 : 30th Week of Ordinary Time (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we listened to the Scripture passages, all of us are reminded that while we may suffer in this world, but in the end, all of those sufferings and hardships are not permanent, and in the end, we shall be reunited with the Lord, our most loving God and Father, Who wants us all to be reconciled and reunited with Him. The Lord has given us the assurance of salvation and eternal life through His own beloved Son, Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Saviour, and called all of us to enter into His eternal kingdom, the kingdom of God, into which all of us have been assembled, gathered and led, so that every one of us may truly be saved, liberated and freed from the tyranny and dominion of sin and evil, which had afflicted us for so long.

In our first reading today, we heard from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans, in which we heard about how the whole world and all of creation longed for the birth, in glory, of the children of God. What this means and symbolises is that, the whole creation is expecting the restoration of everything to how it is originally intended to be, when everything was still without any taints of sin and corruption, and when everything was still perfect and good just as the Lord originally created it, and sin has not yet crept up and corrupted us all due to our disobedience. The birth of the children of God refers to us all having been made to be the adopted children of God, through the grace of baptism, by which we have been rescued and delivered from the tyranny and dominion of sin, and through which sanctifying grace have been restored and given to us.

This is also an expectation of what is to come in the future, as we have not yet attained the state of perfection and fullness of grace yet in this world, and all of us are eagerly looking forward to and expecting the coming of the kingdom of God that is to come, when we shall be fully and completely reunited with God, as St. Paul has mentioned it in the same passage, although that moment will not yet come till the time of the Lord’s choosing. This is because even those who have died and passed on from this world, and even the saints in Heaven, have not yet experienced the fullness of heavenly glory in body and soul, except for that of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, who have been assumed and taken up to Heaven, body and soul. The saints experienced the joy of Heaven, the beatific vision and the happiness due to their virtues, but their bodies remained in this world.

Thus, all of us are reminded today of this world that is to come, when we all, in the state of perfection and grace, will be once again with God, which is truly apt and perfect reminder today, being the day before the All Saints Day and the beginning of the Allhallowtide. Today as the All Hallows’ Eve, the Church reminds us all through these Scripture readings and messages, so that each and every one of us remember of the life that we are going to have in this world that is to come, the bliss and the perfection of joy with God, which we will enjoy forevermore, if we are to remain faithful to Him, and obey Him in His Law, commandments and do whatever which He has asked, told and commanded us to do in our lives. Each and every one of us as Christians are expected to do whatever we can to glorify God by our lives, and to follow in the examples and the footsteps of the glorious saints.

In our Gospel passage today, we heard of the Lord speaking to His disciples and all the people who were listening to Him regarding the matter of the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God has already been revealed to us with the coming of Christ, and He has established it just as He has established His Church, with the Church being the tangible and real manifestation of the kingdom of God in this world. However, we must also realise that the kingdom of God, that is the Church of God does not just involve all those who are now living in this world, but also in fact, all those who have departed from this world, just as we are going to celebrate it in the next two days, with the All Saints Day, honouring and glorifying the saints, the holy men and women who have already enjoyed the bliss of Heaven, and the All Souls Day, when we remember all the holy souls who are still awaiting patiently the glory of Heaven in their current state of Purgatory.

The Lord used the parable to highlight the fact that the kingdom of God is something that is truly wonderful, as God gathered all of His beloved ones to be part of one Body, the Body of Christ. However, it is something that is to be nurtured and requires a lot of efforts and works from all of its members and parts, that is all of us. The parable mentioned the measures of flour and yeast, which when placed together, will become dough that rises and eventually become a good bread. He also used the example of mustard seed that is sowed and then germinated, and eventually grew into a large tree, that takes everything under its branches. Both of these, the dough and the mustard plant, require good conditions and investment of time and effort, in order for them to flourish and develop as expected. Thus, this is a reminder that each one of us as Christians have to do our part to follow the Lord, to do what is right and just in our every moments.

We are all reminded that each and every one of us as God’s beloved children and people, all of us must always embody our Christian faith and beliefs in our every actions, in our every words and deeds, and in everything that we interact with, with all those whom we encounter and work with. Each one of us must always be exemplary and inspirational in our lives, and be truly obedient to God, doing His will and walking in His path, being filled with love and virtue, so that all those who witness our works and interact with us, all of us may indeed be great missionaries and evangelisers of our faith, and spread ever more the Good News of God in the midst of our communities and all those whom we encounter in life. As Christians, we must be truly faithful not just in mere words only, but also in real action and commitment to God, at all times.

As we enter today into this solemn time and occasion of the Allhallowtide, beginning with this day’s All Hallows’ Eve, let us all enter into deeper realisation of our lives and reflect on whether we have truly obeyed the Lord and walked in His ways as we should have, and let us all remember that in the end, our goal and focus should be to look forward to the perfection and fullness of grace that will come one day, when the Lord will come to gather all of His faithful and worthy ones back to Him, and bring us all into His eternal kingdom, in the fullness of grace, of perfection of bliss and love. And when the world celebrates the secular celebrations of Halloween, which was inspired and actually originated from this celebration of the All Hallows’ Eve, let us all celebrate the true spirit of Halloween, that is modelling ourselves upon the examples of the virtuous and worthy saints of God, so that we too may one day be worthy of Heaven as they are.

May the Lord help us all in our journey and struggle towards Him, and empower us with the courage and strength, so that we may always be strong in our commitment and dedication to serve the Lord at all times. May God bless us all and be with us always, now and forevermore. Amen.