Church fathers

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Saturday, 13 September 2025 : 23rd Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. John Chrysostom, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

Luke 6 : 43-49

At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, “No healthy tree bears bad fruit, no poor tree bears good fruit. And each tree is known by the fruit it bears : you do not gather figs from thorns, or grapes from brambles. Similarly, the good person draws good things from the good stored in his heart, and an evil person draws evil things from the evil stored in his heart. For the mouth speaks from the fullness of the heart.”

“Why do you call Me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ and do not do what I say? I will show you what the one is like, who comes to Me, and listens to My words, and acts accordingly. That person is like the builder who dug deep, and laid the foundations of his house on rock. The river overflowed, and the stream dashed against the house, but could not carry it off because the house had been well built.”

“But the one who listens and does not act, is like a man who built his house on the ground without a foundation. The flood burst against it, and the house fell at once : and what a terrible disaster that was!”

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Saturday, 13 September 2025 : 23rd Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. John Chrysostom, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : White

Psalm 112 : 1-2, 3-4, 5a and 6-7

Alleluia! Praise, o servants of YHVH, praise the Name of YHVH! Blessed be the Name of YHVH now and forever!

From eastern lands to the western islands, may the Name of YHVH be praised! YHVH is exalted over the nations; His glory above the heavens.

Who is like YHVH our God, Who also bends down to see on earth as in heaven? He lifts up the poor from the dust and the needy from the ash heap.

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Saturday, 13 September 2025 : 23rd Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. John Chrysostom, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

1 Timothy 1 : 15-17

This saying is true and worthy of belief : Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the first. Because of that, I was forgiven; Christ Jesus wanted to display His utmost patience, so that I might be an example for all who are to believe, and obtain eternal life.

To the King of ages, the only God, Who lives beyond every perishable and visible creation – to Him, be honour and glory forever. Amen!

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Tuesday, 18 March 2025 : 2nd Week of Lent, Memorial of St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today all of us are reminded through the readings of the Sacred Scriptures during this time and season of Lent that all of our actions and practices during this time of repentance and reorientation towards God should always be based and founded upon the desire for us to return towards our loving God and Father, ever being mindful of our fallen and wicked nature, having been tempted and corrupted by those sins and wickedness present all around us. During this time of Lent, all of us are made more aware of all the obstacles that prevented us from coming back towards God and His love, to our loving Father and Creator, Who has always desired for us to return to Him and to be reunited with Him, no longer separated from Him due to our sins.

In our first reading today, taken from the Book of the prophet Isaiah, we heard of the words of the Lord warning His people, the Israelites of the dangers of sin, reminding them of what had happened in the past to the two cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, which in history had been destroyed because of their grievous and terrible sins, and most importantly, because they refused to listen to God’s words and reminders, ignoring the opportunities given to them to repent and turn away from their sins. For the context, the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were where Lot, the nephew and relative of Abraham settled in after they parted ways from each other. God first revealed to Abraham His plan of destroying the two cities for their wickedness and sins, but Abraham pleaded with the Lord a few times, asking Him to spare the cities if some righteous ones could be found in them, likely also for the sake of Lot, his relative.

Unfortunately, despite the pleading from Abraham, not even few righteous in those cities could be found save that of Lot himself and his immediate family. And when God sent His Angels to those cities, the wicked people of Sodom and Gomorrah, who according to tradition involved themselves in perverse sins and corruption of the flesh, demanded that the guests of Lot, who were the Angels in disguise, were to be surrendered to them. This was the last straw that sealed their fate, as the Angels led Lot and his family out of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, which ended up being destroyed by fire and brimstone from Heaven. God told the people through the prophet Isaiah about this reference to Sodom and Gomorrah to remind and warn them of the dangers of the sins that they had committed, in disobeying His Law and commandments, which could eventually lead them into the same path towards destruction.

The lesson from this story of Sodom and Gomorrah, and what the Lord Himself has told His people, the Israelites through the prophet Isaiah is that, while God is truly loving and merciful towards us, His beloved ones, but we must not take this love and mercy for granted, as in the end, at the time of reckoning and judgment, we will be condemned by whatever sins and wickedness that we have committed, if we do not repent from them. God did remind His people of His mercy and love as well, giving them reassurance and hope that if they were to change their ways and embrace His love and mercy, then they would be fully forgiven from their faults, mistakes and sins. But if they were to persist in their sins, then they would eventually face destruction and damnation.

In our Gospel passage today, we heard from the Gospel according to St. Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist in which the Lord Jesus told His disciples regarding the behaviour and attitude of the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law, many of whom liked to showcase their piety and actions among the people around them, praying visibly in public places and wearing long and wide bands of prayer tassels and cloaks that the Jewish elders and intellectuals often wore, so that they would be praised by the people who saw them and their pious behaviour and actions. The Lord was warning His disciples and therefore also all of us against following this kind of behaviour so that we will not end up being tempted by pride, ambition and desire, all of which may lead to us into this same path of arrogance and egoistic behaviour that will likely lead us away from God.

Instead, the Lord said that to be His faithful and true followers, we must be humble and we must always keep our focus on the Lord, our one and only true Master. We must not let ourselves to be deluded into thinking that we are the master of our lives and our fates, or that we can gain the riches and glory of the world that will last forever. None of these worldly things, attachments and pursuits will last forever, and they will not avail us on the time and moment of reckoning and judgment of our lives. And if we spend so much time in trying to gain all these at the expense of our relationship with God, then in the end there may be nothing left for us except regret because we have spent so much time and effort to gain all these in vain, because none of those things will last for us. All of them are ultimately fleeting and impermanent.

Today, the Church also celebrates the Feast of St. Cyril of Jerusalem, a holy man and servant of God who had devoted himself thoroughly to the service of God. St. Cyril of Jerusalem was born in Jerusalem in the early fourth century, and was ordained as a deacon, priest and eventually became the Bishop of Jerusalem, which was why he was known as St. Cyril of Jerusalem. St. Cyril as the Bishop of Jerusalem became one of the most steadfast defenders of the true and orthodox Christian faith against those who sought to change and twist the teachings of the Church to suit their own agenda and ambitions. He met a lot of opposition from those who embraced the heretical Arian teachings and ways, and such as from one Arian bishop Acacius, he had to face stubborn resistance which led to him being banished by those in power who were favourable to the Arian cause.

St. Cyril endured patiently all these challenges and hardships, giving his all in the struggles for the souls of the faithful people of God. He embraced the fullness of the orthodox teachings after having been influenced by Arian teachings and ideas himself in his youth. During those turbulent years when he was exiled from his See of Jerusalem, and after, when he returned in favour and power, he wrote extensively about the faith, which is the basis for his later elevation as one of the Doctors of the Church, a rare privilege among the saints of God. His great series of catechises on various matters and aspects of the Christian faith still inspired many people long after his passing, much as his great faith and piety are truly examples for all of us to follow in our own lives.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, today all of us have discussed from the words of the Sacred Scriptures that we have received regarding the need for us to repent and turn away from our sins, and on the need for us all to be humble in all things, to seek the Lord, His love and mercy at all times in our lives. We have also listened to the life and ministry of St. Cyril of Jerusalem, the faithful servant of God whose life should serve as a good inspiration for all of us so that we may know how to move forward in life, striving to distance ourselves away from the corruptions and temptations of sin. Let us all therefore be good role models and examples for one another, and do our part as good, holy and devoted Christians, as God’s holy people, to be the ones to glorify the Lord by our lives and examples. May our Lenten journey continue to bear rich fruits of faith, and help us to draw ever closer to the Lord, our God and His salvation. Amen.

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Tuesday, 18 March 2025 : 2nd Week of Lent, Memorial of St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Matthew 23 : 1-12

At that time, then Jesus said to the crowds and to His disciples, “The teachers of the Law and the Pharisees have sat down on the chair of Moses. So you shall do and observe all they say, but do not do as they do, for they do not do what they say. They tie up heavy burdens and load them on the shoulders of the people, but they do not even raise a finger to move them.”

“They do everything in order to be seen by people : they wear very wide bands of the Law around their foreheads, and robes with large tassels. They enjoy the first places at feasts and reserved seats in the synagogues, and they like being greeted in the marketplace, and being called ‘Master’ by the people.”

“But you, do not let yourselves be called Master, because you have only one Master, and all of you are brothers and sisters. Neither should you call anyone on earth Father because you have only one Father, He Who is in heaven. Nor should you be called Leader, because Christ is the only Leader for you.”

“Let the greatest among you be the servant of all. For whoever makes himself great shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be made great.”

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Tuesday, 18 March 2025 : 2nd Week of Lent, Memorial of St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Psalm 49 : 8-9, 16-17, 21, 23

Not for your sacrifices do I reprove you, for your burnt offerings are ever before Me. I need no bull from your stalls, nor he-goat from your pens.

What right have you to mouth My laws, or to talk about My covenant? You hate My commands and cast My words behind you.

Because I was silent while you did these things, you thought I was like you. But now I rebuke you and make this charge against you. Those who give with thanks offerings honour Me, but the one who walks blamelessly, I will show him the salvation of God.

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Tuesday, 18 March 2025 : 2nd Week of Lent, Memorial of St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Isaiah 1 : 10, 16-20

Hear the warning of YHVH, rulers of Sodom. Listen to the word of God, people of Gomorrah. Wash and make yourselves clean. Remove from My sight the evil of your deeds. Put an end to your wickedness and learn to do good.

Seek justice and keep in line the abusers; give the fatherless their rights and defend the widow. “Come,” says the Lord, “let us reason together. Though your sins be like scarlet, they will be white as snow; though they be as crimson red, they will be white as wool.”

“If you will obey Me, you will eat the goods of the earth; but if you resist and rebel, the sword will eat you instead.” Truly the Lord has spoken.

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Thursday, 2 January 2025 : Weekday of Christmas Time, Memorial of St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of the Church (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : White

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we all listened to the words of the Scriptures we are all reminded to stay true to the Lord and His truth, His Good News and all that He has revealed and taught to us through His Church. As we are still currently in the Christmas time and season, we are still constantly being reminded of the coming of God’s salvation in His Son, Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Saviour, through Whom we have received the assurance of God’s salvation and grace, His love and kindness which He has always provided for us, ever remembering the love that He has for each one of us, desiring us all to be reconciled and reunited fully and perfectly with Him in His heavenly Kingdom, no longer separated from Him because of our sins and wickedness.

In our first reading today, we heard of the words of St. John the Apostle in one of his Epistles in which he continued to speak about the lies and falsehoods of the antichrists, all the false prophets and messengers who did not speak truly about the Lord and His salvation, misleading the faithful people of God down the wrong path in life. And St. John also reiterated once again the truth and the Good News of God’s salvation which He has presented unto us and revealed to everyone through His Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour of all the whole world. Amidst all the falsehoods and the heresies that happened even very early on in the Church history, which prompted St. John to speak up about it, the truth and the Good News of God’s salvation in Christ His Son remained firm and strongly entrenched in His Church and among the faithful.

However, it was indeed easy for many among the faithful and others to fall prey into those lies and falsehoods, and unless they all make the conscious effort to remain vigilant against those falsehoods and lies, and remain truly committed to the truth enshrined in the Church of God, it is really easy for all of us to fall astray and to be misled into the path towards our downfall, which was indeed the intention of the evil one and all of his wicked forces, that had led to this proliferation of lies and falsehoods, of salvation and joy that do not have their origin in Christ, Our Lord. That is why as Christians all of us ought to take a firm stand in defending our faith and in remaining true to our calling at all times, to proclaim the truth of God and to keep our focus in Christmas on Christ.

Then, from our Gospel passage today taken from the Gospel according to St. John the Apostle, we heard of the words of the testimony of faith by St. John the Baptist when he was confronted and asked by the Jewish authorities, the elders of the people and the members of the Pharisees about his intentions, his true identity and his works. Back then, St. John the Baptist was truly very popular, as thousands came flocking to him seeking to listen to his words and to be baptised by him, heeding his call for repentance and to seek reconciliation with the Lord, their loving and compassionate God. He could very well have declared himself as the Messiah or Saviour from God, or as the great Prophet who was promised to come, but he did not do so, unlike some others during his time who claimed to be the Messiah.

Instead, first of all St. John the Baptist put it very clearly that he was not the Messiah and that he was merely the one who had been sent into this world and among the people of God in order to prepare the path for the One Who would save the world, that is the true Messiah. He did not give in to the temptations of power, glory, ambition, ego and greed to seek popularity, influence and power for himself, but as a faithful, humble and loyal servant of God, he did what he had been told to do, and courageously embraced the mission and tasks that he had been entrusted with. He spoke to the people and before all those leaders and Pharisees that he was a mere servant tasked to prepare the way for the Lord’s coming, and he did his works dutifully, criticising those leaders who have misled the people into the wrong path and calling on all sinners to return to God with repentance.

This is an important reminder for all of us that we should always live up to our Christian faith in each and every moments of our lives with true sincerity and desire to glorify God, distancing ourselves from the wickedness and temptations of the world so that we will not fall prey to those temptations and desires that may lead us all into our downfall and destruction. We have to remember our calling as Christians, our mission to proclaim the Lord and His salvation to more and more people throughout the world, to glorify Him by our lives and not to gain glory and fame for ourselves, for our selfish desires or ambitions. This is why, as we still continue to celebrate the joy of Christmas, it is important that we should always be focused on the Lord in all things.

Today the Church also celebrates the Feast of two great saints of God, namely St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory Nazianzen. St. Basil the Great, also known as St. Basil of Caesarea, was the Bishop of Caesarea in what is now part of Turkey. Meanwhile, St. Gregory Nazianzen was the Archbishop of Constantinople who was the close friend and contemporary of St. Basil. Both of them were remembered for the great faith and courage that they showed in their leadership in the Church, as shepherds of the flock of the Lord and also as theologians who were committed to proclaim the truth of God to the people who at that time faced a lot of falsehoods and heresies, just like it had been in the earlier years and times during the time of the Apostles.

St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory Nazianzen were both known for their great piety and staunch defence of the Christian faith throughout all their respective lives and ministries, standing up faithfully against the falsehoods spread by the popular Arian heretics and also by others who claimed to represent God’s truth. They worked tirelessly among the people of God to restore the unity among the faithful and to proclaim the truth about the Lord, opposing all the influences of the heretical teachers and all those who have subverted the Good News of God for their own selfish desires and ambitions. They are truly good role models and inspirations for each and every one of us, showing us all the path towards God and His true salvation and grace, away from all the falsehoods of the antichrists, false prophets and heretical teachings.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all therefore commit ourselves anew to the Lord from now on, striving to do our best to glorify Him and to proclaim His truth and Good News as we should always do in our lives. Let us all continue to walk faithfully in the path that He has shown us, and remain firmly committed to Him as our Lord and Saviour, putting Him ever at the heart and centre of our whole lives. May the Lord continue to bless us all and guide us in our journey of faith and life so that we may be the shining beacons of God’s light, truth and love, now and always. Amen.

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Thursday, 2 January 2025 : Weekday of Christmas Time, Memorial of St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of the Church (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

John 1 : 19-28

This was the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites to ask him, “Who are you?” John recognised the truth, and did not deny it. He said, “I am not the Messiah.”

And they asked him, “Then who are you? Elijah?” He answered, “I am not.” They said, “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” Then they said to him, “Tell us who you are, so that we can give some answer to those who sent us. How do you see yourself?”

And John said, quoting the prophet Isaiah, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness : Make straight the way of the Lord!”

Those who had been sent were Pharisees; and they put a further question to John, “Then why are you baptising, if you are not the Messiah, or Elijah, or the Prophet?” John answered, “I baptise you with water, but among you stands One Whom you do not know; although He comes after me, I am not worthy to untie the strap of His sandal.”

This happened in Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John was baptising.

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Thursday, 2 January 2025 : Weekday of Christmas Time, Memorial of St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of the Church (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : White

Psalm 97 : 1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4

Sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done wonders; His right hand, His holy arm, has won victory for Him.

The Lord has shown His salvation, revealing His justice to the nations. He has not forgotten His love nor His faithfulness to Israel.

The farthest ends of the earth all have seen God’s saving power. All you lands, make a joyful noise to the Lord, break into song and sing praise.