Coming of the Saviour

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Monday, 1 June 2015 : 9th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Justin, Martyr (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Red

Mark 12 : 1-12

At that time, using parables, Jesus went on to say, “A man planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a hole for the wine press and built a watch tower. Then he leased the vineyard to tenants and went abroad.”

“In due time he sent a servant to receive from the tenants his share of the fruit. But they seized the servant, struck him and sent him back empty-handed. Again the man sent another servant. They also struck him on the head and treated him shamefully.”

“He sent another and they killed him. In the same way they treated many others : some they beat up and others they killed. One was still left, his beloved son. And so, last of all, he sent him to the tenants, for he said, ‘They will respect my son.'”

“But those tenants said to one another, ‘This is the one who is to inherit the vineyard. Let us kill him and the property will be ours.’ So they seized him and killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard. Now what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others.”

And Jesus added, “Have you not read this text of the Scriptures : ‘The stone which the builders rejected has become the keystone; this is the Lord’s doing, and we marvel at it?'”

They wanted to arrest Him, for they realised that Jesus meant this parable for them, but they were afraid of the crowd; so they left Him and went away.

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Saturday, 20 December 2014 : Third Week of Advent (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Purple or Violet

Isaiah 7 : 10-14

Once again YHVH addressed Ahaz, “Ask for a sign from YHVH your God, let it come either from the deepest depths or from the heights of heaven.”

But Ahaz answered, “I will not ask, I will not put YHVH to the test.” Then Isaiah said, “Now listen, descendants of David. Have you not been satisfied trying the patience of people, that you also try the patience of my God?”

“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign : The Virgin is with Child and bears a Son and calls His Name Immanuel.”

 

Homily and Reflection :

https://petercanisiusmichaeldavidkang.com/2014/12/18/saturday-20-december-2014-third-week-of-advent-homily-and-scripture-reflections/

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(Usus Antiquior) First Sunday of Advent (I Classis) – Sunday, 30 November 2014 : Holy Gospel

Liturgical Colour : Purple or Violet

Sequentia Sancti Evangelii secundum Lucam – Continuation of the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke

Luke 21 : 25-33

In illo tempore : Dixit Jesus discipulis suis : Erunt signa in sole et luna et stellis, et in terris pressura gentium prae confusione sonitus maris et fluctuum : arescentibus hominibus prae timore et exspectatione, quae supervenient universo orbi : nam virtutes caelorum movebuntur.

Et tunc videbunt Filium Hominis venientem in nube cum potestate magna et majestate. His autem fieri incipientibus, respicite et levate capita vestra : quoniam appropinquat redemptio vestra.

Et dixit illis similitudinem : Videte ficulneam et omnes arbores : cum producunt jam ex se fructum, scitis, quoniam prope est aestas. Ita et vos, cum videritis haec fieri, scitote, quoniam prope est regnum Dei.

Amen, dico vobis, quia non praeteribit generatio haec, donec omnia fiant. Caelum et terra transibunt : verba autem mea non transibunt.

 

English translation

At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, “There shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars, and upon the earth distress of nations, by reason of the confusion of the roaring of the sea and of the waves, men withering away for fear and expectation of what shall come upon the whole world. For the powers of heaven shall be moved.”

“And then they shall see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with great power and majesty. But when these things begin to come to pass, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is at hand.”

And He spoke to them a parable, “See the fig tree, and all the trees, when they now shoot forth their fruits, you know that summer is nigh. So you also, when you shall see these things come to pass, know that the kingdom of God is at hand.”

“Amen, I say to you, this generation shall not pass away, till all things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away.”

 

Homily and Reflection :

https://petercanisiusmichaeldavidkang.com/2014/11/28/sunday-30-november-2014-first-sunday-of-advent-feast-of-st-andrew-apostle-homily-and-scripture-reflections/

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Tuesday, 30 September 2014 : 26th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

Luke 9 : 51-56

As the time drew near when Jesus would be taken up to heaven, He made up His mind to go to Jerusalem. He sent ahead of Him some messengers, who entered a Samaritan village to prepare a lodging for Him.

But the people would not receive Him, because He was on His way to Jerusalem. Seeing this, James and John, His disciples, said, “Do You want us to call down fire from heaven to reduce them to ashes?” Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they went on to another village.

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Friday, 22 August 2014 : 20th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

Luke 1 : 26-38

In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth. He was sent to a young virgin, who was betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the family of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.

The angel came to her and said, “Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord is with you.” Mary was troubled at these words, wondering what this greeting could mean. But the angel said, “Do not fear, Mary, for God has looked kindly on you. You shall conceive and bear a Son, and you shall call Him Jesus. He will be great, and shall rightly be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the kingdom of David, His ancestor; He will rule over the people of Jacob forever, and His reign shall have no end.”

Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” And the angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore, the Holy Child to be born of you shall be called the Son of God.”

“Even your relative Elizabeth is expecting a son in her old age, although she was unable to have a child; and she is now in her sixth month. With God nothing is impossible.”

Then Mary said, “I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me as you have said.” And the angel left her.

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Friday, 22 August 2014 : 20th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

Isaiah 9 : 1-6

The people who walk in darkness have seen a great light. A light has dawned on those who live in the land of the shadow of death.

You have enlarged the nation; you have increased their joy. They rejoice before You, as people rejoice at harvest time and as they rejoice in dividing the spoil. For the yoke of their burden, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressors, You have broken it as on the day of Midian.

Every warrior’s boot that tramped in war, every cloak rolled in blood, will be thrown out for burning, will serve as fuel for the fire. For a Child is born to us, a Son is given us; the royal ornament is laid upon His shoulder, and His Name is proclaimed : “Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

To the increase of His powerful rule in peace, there will be no end. Vast will be His dominion, He will reign on David’s throne and over all His kingdom, to establish and uphold it with justice and righteousness from this time onward and forever. The zealous love of YHVH Sabaoth will do this.

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Sunday, 10 August 2014 : 19th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Second Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Romans 9 : 1-5

I tell you sincerely in Christ, and my conscience assures me in the Holy Spirit that I am not lying. I have great sadness and constant anguish for the Jews. I would even desire that I myself suffer the curse of being cut off from Christ, instead of my brethren : I mean my own people, my kin.

They are Israelites whom God adopted, and on them rests His Glory. Theirs are the covenants, the Law, the worship and the promises of God. They are descendants of the Patriarchs and from their race Christ was born, He who as God is above all distinctions. Blessed be He forever and ever. Amen!

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Tuesday, 29 July 2014 : 17th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Martha (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

1 John 4 : 7-16

My dear friends, let us love one another for love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Those who do not love have not known God, for God is love.

How did the love of God appear among us? God sent His only Son into this world that we might have life through Him. This is love : not that we loved God but that He first loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Dear friends, if such has been the love of God, we, too, must love one another. No one has ever seen God, but if we love one another, God lives in us, and His love comes to its perfection in us.

How may we know that we live in God and He is us? Because God has given us His Spirit. We ourselves have seen and declare that the Father sent His Son to save the world. Those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God remains in them and they in God.

We have known the love of God and have believed in it. God is love. The one who lives in love, lives in God and God in him.

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Christmas Message and Reflections, Anno Domini 2013

Christ our Lord is born in Bethlehem, in the city of David. Alleluia!

He who is the king of kings is born among us and dwell among us His people. Alleluia!

Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour is born to us, out of His love that in Him we may have new hope. Alleluia!

Brothers and sisters in Christ, today we celebrate with the entire Church and with the entire world, the coming of one Man, but not like any man, because He was truly special. Jesus our Lord was born in Bethlehem, in the city of David, as prophesied throughout the ages, as the Messiah who would come to save all of God’s multitudes of peoples.

Christmas is a time for joy, and not just our own joy, but everyone’s joy, because Christ the Messiah is born for us, for our sake. In Christ is the culmination of God’s long-planned salvation for all of us. Mankind waited years and many, many years just for the coming of the deliverer, much like the people of Israel waited many years for the coming of the promised deliverer, suffering for hundreds of years in slavery in Egypt.

With Christ, a new hope for all mankind had dawned, and the royal baby, whose birth we celebrate today is the Saviour. He came into this world not for leisure or for a picnic, but for the deliverance of us all, none other than through His own sacrifice on the cross. Yes, that was the very reason why God came down upon us, incarnate as Man born of the Blessed Virgin Mary, His mother. He came to liberate us forever, from the slavery under sin and the power of evil, and to give us our inheritance, promised to us since the beginning of time. And this is joy!

Christmas is not just joyful because it is a holiday time, or a rime to relax from our work. And Christmas is also not just joyful because of all the partying and all the festivities that our societies often rejoice in. Christmas is not just about the gifts or merely about the shopping spree and the massive discounts that the shops offer us. Christmas is about Christ, and it is about Him. It is His birthday, and yet many of us often seem to forget that reality.

We spend long hours hunting for gifts and spend lots of time decorating our homes and our places, but do we all know the reason why we even do all of these. That is because we have been long immersed in the secularised version of Christmas that took Christ out of Christmas, and made it no different than other festivals and celebrations.

Yet, Christmas, besides that of Easter should be the greatest of our celebrations in the whole of our lives. That is because just as we are often exposed to the fact that Christmas is a season of giving, it is truly a season of giving, but it represents ultimately, the gift of our Lord to us, in Jesus Christ. Remember what is said in the Gospel of John, that God so loved the world, that He gave us His only Son, that all who believe in Him will not die, but receive eternal life.

Christ is the Lord’s gift to us, the ultimate gift of all. And Christmas marked that gift’s entry into the world, when God’s gift is made manifest and true to us. God fulfilled His promises to us, and He gave us the perfect gift, to liberate us from the power of sin and death. In Easter too, is the time of remembrance of the time when Christ gave Himself as a perfect and worthy sacrifice as the reparation for all of our sins.

So, we cannot omit or ignore Christ at all, whenever we make any festivities and celebrations this Christmas. To ignore Christ at His own birthday is pagan, and to exclude the values that Christ had taught us at Christmas is pagan. We cannot be too engulfed in our own joy and happiness, that we forget those who are less fortunate than us. Yes, those who cannot even afford to get their daily food and daily sustenance, much less still to celebrate Christmas in the way that we do.

This brings us yet into another important point to consider about Christmas. Christmas is not about the glamour and the wealth being displayed around, not in the lavishness or size of the gifts that we receive. Yes, Christmas can include all of these, but we cannot miss the true essence of Christmas, that is love. For it is God’s love for us that brought Christmas to us, and it is God’s love that enables us to even rejoice and be glad on this great and sacred day.

Christmas is about love, and about us understanding fully the love of God for us, and the love He had for this world, and also about us sharing, this love that God had shown us, which He had also poured generously on us, with one another. We cannot profess to be Christians, that is to be the believers of Jesus Christ our Lord, if we do not profess love. And what time is better to show that this Christmas? It is a season of giving indeed, but not just of material goods. Instead, let us resolve to also give of our hearts, to share the love, the joy, and the happiness we have with one another.

Seek out those who are without love, and those who are less fortunate than us. We do not have to go far! And indeed, it does not always mean that we have to go to the streets and seek out beggars in order to do so. We can do those things certainly, but what about our own homes, our own families, and our own circle of friends and acquaintances?

Yes, if we know anyone who is forsaken and devoid of love in our own communities, even within our own families, and those who are unloved, and indeed, those who held grudge and hatred against us, this is the time, the perfect time to show the love of God, and share with them what joy we have. For are we not the children of the same God? The same God who had resolved to come upon us to be our salvation through His birth, death, and resurrection?

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, this Christmas day and the Christmas season is the best day and time to begin life anew. If we have not been professing love, that is Christian love, then let us reflect on the love that God showed us through His Son. Follow what God had done, and show that same love to one another. This is a good time to forgive one another, and let go of our anger, hatred, jealousy, and any kind of ill feeling, and instead rejoice together with the angels and saints as they proclaim the glory of God who was born on Christmas day.

We cannot celebrate Christmas yet, and we are not ready to rejoice too, if we still hold grudge against one another, or against any of our brother and sister in Christ. That is why we often have penitential services and confessions during the Advent season, that is to clear up our sinfulness and to be ready for the celebration of Christmas. If you have not done so, then do not wait, but use this very opportunity to do so, and then rejoice together at the coming of our Lord.

Therefore, may this Christmas be a season of renewal for us all, that we will be renewed in faith and in love. And as much as it is a season of renewal, let it be a season of joy, but that of true joy, and not the masked joy of secularised Christmas celebrations. Yes, let this time be a time of joy, rejoicing in the coming of Jesus Christ our Lord, born a baby in Bethlehem to be the Saviour of all. Let us never forget this, and keep Christ always at the centre of our lives, and at the very centre of our hearts.

May the Almighty God, who had loved us so much so as to give His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, continue to love us, and bless us, that we will be stronger and ever stronger in our faith, our hope, and our love. That our faith and trust in Him will only get stronger and stronger, that our hope in Him and the eternal life He promised will only get firmer and firmer, and that the love He had shown us, we too will be able to replicate in our own lives.

Have a blessed Christmas, and rejoice in the Lord! Rejoice in the coming of our Lord Jesus, Saviour of the world. Merry Christmas! Buon Natale!