Liturgical Colour : White

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we all listened to the Sacred Scriptures, we are again reminded just as yesterday of the need for all of us to continue to be well-attuned and connected to God, to trust in Him and in His Providence, to keep an active and dynamic prayer life, so that we may truly know what the Lord wants to do with our lives, as well as knowing where He is leading us towards. As Christians, that is as those who believe in Christ as our Lord and Saviour, we may encounter a lot of hardships and challenges, trials and even persecutions in our path, but we must not lose faith in the Lord, as we must remember, as what we have heard from our Scripture passages today, that the Lord is and will always be with us, journeying with us and providing all that we need.

In our first reading today, we continue to hear the farewell speech which St. Paul the Apostle told to the elders of the community and the faithful in the city of Ephesus during the time when he was to embark on his last missionary journey, one which eventually led him to the city of Rome and then his martyrdom there. He was on the way back to Jerusalem to address the accusations and the other matters that the Jewish authorities, the Sanhedrin and its members had been bringing up against him to the Roman governor. Hence, St. Paul chose to obey the Lord and follow His guidance, in choosing to go back to Jerusalem knowing full well that there he would likely face hardships and persecutions, instead of staying away and perhaps having a better life where he was accepted and embraced.

St. Paul encouraged the faithful community in Ephesus through his speech, reminding them all to stay faithful in all things, and especially to the elders to take good care of the flock that had been entrusted to them. St. Paul also highlighted the examples of his own mission and how he carried out his ministry, in trusting completely in the Lord, and in not seeking for material and worldly desires, or any kind of earthly glory, and desiring instead in giving of himself in love to the people to whom he had been ministering to, sharing the love of God to all of them. And he used this example to encourage them all to do the same as well in how they carry out their Christian life and missions, so that they may truly be good and faithful disciples and followers of the Lord at all times.

Then, we heard how St. Paul knelt and prayed together with them, and how the faithful in Ephesus were sorrowful and supported him, and were distressed because they likely would not see him again. And yet, through the words that St. Paul had imparted to them, this likely strengthened them for the challenges, trials and hardships that were to come, as there were many among those faithful who would encounter those persecutions in various forms in the early days of Christianity, the opposition from both the Jewish authorities, and later on, the official persecutions from the Roman state and government. It is also an important reminder for all of us that we must also be faithful to the Lord and put our trust in Him, so that even despite the challenges and trials that we may have to face, we will continue to keep up our faith in Him.

From our Gospel passage today, taken from the Gospel according to St. John the Apostle and Evangelist, we heard of the continuation of the prayer that the Lord Jesus had prayed for His disciples and followers, asking His heavenly Father to pray for the disciples, to strengthen and encourage them all so that despite all the challenges and persecutions, uncertainties and difficulties that they might have to endure and go through, particularly during the time of His Passion that He was soon to go through, those disciples would not lose faith and their path in the Lord, and that they would remain united as one faithful people and flock of the Lord. Through that prayer, the Lord wanted to reassure the disciples that God would always be with them, providing and protecting them, and they would never be alone.

The Lord also highlighted an important fact in that prayer, as He also reminded His disciples and followers how following Him would often mean that they would likely have to face rejection, oppression, hardships and trials from the world, because the same world had also rejected Him. The ways of the world are likely not compatible to the ways of the Lord, and this would make many among the disciples to face difficult moments where they might be tempted to give up their faith in God and instead conform to the expectations and ways of the world. But the Lord prayed for them so that hopefully their faith might be strengthened, and through encouragement and the right guidance, they may continue to persevere in their faith and commitment to Him, and that they will not lose their faith and path in life.

This is therefore an important reminder for all of us that as Christians, all of us must always care for our fellow brothers and sisters around us, ever always praying for those who are in need of them and extending our hands to actively help all those to whom we are in the position to help and assist. Like the faithful in Ephesus praying for and supporting St. Paul, we should always continue to be good and loving brothers and sisters to our fellow Christians, showing God’s love in all our words, actions and deeds, in all of our interactions with one another. We should always show sincerity and genuine love in our love and commitment to one another, to fulfil what the Lord has commanded us to do, to love one another just as we have loved Him with all of our heart and might.

May the Risen Lord, our Saviour and Master continue to help and strengthen us all in our own respective journeys and paths in life. May He continue to strengthen, empower and encourage each one of us in our progress forward in faith and life so that we may be good role models and inspirations for everyone around us. May God bless our every good efforts, endeavours and works, and may He continue to be with us and guide us through life, now and always. Amen.