31 October 2017

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Tuesday, 31 October 2017 : 30th Week of Ordinary Time (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, as we listened to the Word of God in the Sacred Scriptures today, we heard first of all, the exhortation by St. Paul to the Church and the faithful in the city of Rome, about the strong desire, the pangs and the want in many people, for God, for His love, kindness, mercy and compassion. All of us have been created by God through love, and because of love, the love He has shown us.

And because of this love, which we can feel and relate to, we also have that desire in each and every one of us, to love God equally in the same way that He has loved us. The question is then, why is it that there are still so many people in this world, who profess to be Christians and yet, in their actions, words and deeds, they completely show otherwise? In order to understand this better, let us discuss the Gospel passage we have just heard today.

In the Gospel passage, Jesus our Lord spoke of two parables, first of all, the parable of the mustard seed, and then secondly, the parable of the yeast hidden in three measures of flour. Jesus liked to use parables in order to help the people to understand better about His teachings, and He used these parables to show them what it is like in the kingdom of heaven, or rather, to put it plainly, what it will be like for those who have listened to the Word of God, and apply it in their lives.

The mustard seed is a very small type of seed, which is often very insignificant and often ignored. Yet, once it grows into a plant, it becomes a plant of sizeable proportion, a few metres tall, that no one would have imagined possible. Similarly, yeast are very small, microscopic organisms that cannot even be seen by the naked eyes. Yet, it is because of the yeast, placed inside a piece of dough, that fluffy and nice bread can be created.

But all these are not possible without the right conditions, as without those favourable conditions, none of the processes will work. Mustard seed being a plant, must be placed in the right type of soil to be able to grow, or else, the seeds will remain as seeds and nothing will happen to them. Similarly, the yeast without warm water will not be able to perform its function, and also if air is allowed into the mixture, the process of fermentation will also cease, and the bread dough will not rise.

In the same manner, therefore, the mustard seed and the yeast represent the seeds of faith that God has given us and put in our hearts and minds. All of us have been given the same gifts and the same blessings from God, but how they bear the good fruits in our lives depend entirely on whether we allow what the Lord has given us and provided us to grow and bear the good fruits of faith.

That is why there are many Christians who have lapsed in their faith, or even doing things that are contrary to the faith, ending up causing scandal for the Church and for the faith alike. They have not been truly faithful, and they allowed the temptations of this world, the allures of sin to corrupt them and to strangle the gift of God’s faith in our hearts. That is why they are not yet able to give themselves wholeheartedly to God.

Therefore, brothers and sisters in Christ, today, let us all reflect on our lives, how we have lived it thus far, and what are the things which each and every one of us can do, in order to grow in faith, and to realise the vision of the kingdom of God, which the Lord Jesus has brought upon us, and now lives in our hearts, in our minds, in our souls and indeed in our entire being.

May the Lord be with us always, and may He guide us in our journey of faith, so that we will be able to draw ever closer to Him, be ever more gracious, generous and loving, especially to those with whom we have been angry before, jealous at, or those who despises and hates us. Let us all throw all these things far away off from our lives, from our hearts and minds, that we may be able to purify ourselves and grow ever more dedicated to God day by day.

May God continue to guide us on our path and this journey of faith we embark on, and may His blessings continue to be with all of our endeavours. May God bless us all, our families and our loved ones, now and always. Amen.

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Tuesday, 31 October 2017 : 30th Week of Ordinary Time (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Luke 13 : 18-21

At that time, Jesus continued to say to the people, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? Imagine a person who has taken a mustard seed, and planted it in his garden. The seed has grown, and become like a small tree, so that the birds of the air shelter in its branches.”

And Jesus said again, “What is the kingdom of God like? Imagine a woman who has taken yeast, and hidden it in three measures of flour, until it is all leavened.”

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Tuesday, 31 October 2017 : 30th Week of Ordinary Time (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Psalm 125 : 1-2ab, 2cd-3, 4-5, 6

When YHVH brought the exiles back to Zion, we were like those moving in a dream. Then, our mouths were filled with laughter, and our tongues with songs of joy.

Among the nations it was said, “YHVH has done great things for them.” YHVH had done great things for us, and we were glad indeed.

Bring back our exiles, o YHVH, like fresh streams in the desert. Those who sow in tears will reap with songs and shouts of joy.

They went forth weeping, bearing the seeds for sowing, they will come home with joyful shouts, bringing their harvested sheaves.

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Tuesday, 31 October 2017 : 30th Week of Ordinary Time (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Romans 8 : 18-25

I consider, that the suffering of our present life cannot be compared with the glory that will be revealed, and given to us. All creation is eagerly expecting the birth, in glory, of the children of God. For, if now, the created world was unable to attain its purpose, this did not come from itself, but from the one who subjected it. But it is not without hope; for even the created world, will be freed from this fate of death, and share the freedom and glory of the children of God.

We know, that the whole creation groans and suffers the pangs of birth. Not creation alone, but even ourselves; although the Spirit was given to us, as a foretaste of what we are to receive, we groan in our innermost being, eagerly awaiting the day, when God will give us full rights, and rescue our bodies as well.

In hope, we already have salvation. But, if we saw what we hoped for, there would no longer be hope : how can you hope for what is already seen? So, we hope for what we do not see, and we will receive it, through patient hope.