disciples of Jesus Christ

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Monday, 13 November 2017 : 32nd Week of Ordinary Time (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Luke 17 : 1-6

At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, “Scandals will necessarily come and cause people to fall; but woe to the one who brings them about. It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone around his neck. Truly, this would be better for that person, than to cause one of these little ones to fall.”

“Listen carefully : if your brother offends you, tell him, and if he is sorry, forgive him. And if he offends you seven times in one day, but seven times he says to you, ‘I am sorry,’ forgive him.”

The Apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” And the Lord said, “If you have faith, even the size of a mustard seed, you may say to this tree, ‘Be uprooted, and plant yourself in the sea!’ and it will obey you.”

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Wednesday, 18 October 2017 : Feast of St. Luke, Evangelist (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Red

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, on this day we celebrate the feast of one of the four writers of the Holy Gospels, or the Evangelists, namely St. Luke the Evangelist. The Gospel he wrote, the Gospel according to St. Luke, was known for its rich attention to details, showing in great detail especially the early life of Jesus, from the time when He was still in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary, His mother.

St. Luke was told to be a renowned physician and doctor who became a follower of Jesus. He then accompanied St. Paul in his travels across the Eastern Mediterranean region, and visited many places, during which he recorded many of his experiences. It was possible that the Acts of the Apostles itself was written and recorded by St. Luke on top of his involvement in the writing of the Gospel of St. Luke.

St. Luke was dedicated to serve the Lord through his eloquence with language and the literary works. That was how he helped to record the works and life of the Lord Jesus and His Apostles, that in the end, a comprehensive collection of the Word of God could be compiled, in the form of the Gospels, the Epistles of the Apostles, and also the Holy Bible as a whole with the accounts of the Old Testament.

Through the Scriptures and particularly the Holy Gospels, many people have been touched by the Word of God, and therefore, were converted to the Lord’s cause. The Gospels contain within them the Word of God Himself, for they contain the words directly spoken by the Lord, as well as accounting the life of the Divine Word made flesh, Our Lord Jesus.

The examples of St. Luke, his dedication and hard work, together with that of the other Holy Apostles and disciples of the Lord should become sources of inspiration for each and every one of us Christians, as in the Gospel passage today, we are reminded of our obligation as those who believe in God and as those who follow Him and obey His laws. In that Gospel passage, we heard how the Lord Jesus commissioned and sent His disciples ahead of Him to do His works.

He sent His seventy-two disciples ahead of Him in order to prepare the way for the coming of the Lord to those places He were to visit. The disciples were told to preach the Good News to the people living in those places, and if they were receptive to the message of God, they were to continue dwelling there and bless the people. But if the disciples were rejected and the people refused to listen to them, they were to leave that place.

This passage serves as a reminder to all of us Christians, that in our world today, there is still indeed a great need for us to do what the Lord Jesus had sent His disciples to do at that time. Why is that so? That is because just as there were many who had not yet heard about the Lord Jesus and His truth at that time, there are also still many people living in our time who are still ignorant or purposely shutting themselves from God’s truth.

And this should bring our attention to the other words that the Lord Jesus spoke, the well-known phrase of ‘the harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few.’ This is the reality of our world today, as Christians living in the world still filled with darkness and sin, and yet with tremendous potential for conversion and change. And each and every one of us Christians are these labourers of Christ, the workers of the field of the Lord, that is this world and the multitudes of mankind.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, there are many ways in which we are able to serve the Lord, as St. Luke the Evangelist has shown us. St. Luke proclaims the Word of God through his writings and literary works, documenting the important moments of the history of our salvation, providing a safe anchor for all the faithful to adhere on, the Books of the Gospels through which many people had been saved because they listened and repented from their sins.

And others still went about, preaching the truth by words and by actions, as we see our holy predecessors, the holy saints and martyrs, who had devoted their lives to the Lord, caring for the people of God, and showing tender love for them, by calling them to the Lord’s salvation and forgiveness. We can do much to emulate their examples, and follow in their footsteps.

The reason why there are so few labourers for the plentiful harvests of the Lord, is because of our reluctance and refusal to obey the call of the Lord, either because of our fears and uncertainties, or because of our lack of faith in God and the distractions which prevented us from being able to commit ourselves completely to the Lord’s cause. This is what we must overcome, brothers and sisters in Christ, by actively engaging ourselves in our faith life, and committing ourselves to God.

Let us all devote ourselves, our time, effort and attention to serve the Lord with all of our hearts. Let us be faithful and dedicated servants of the Lord, that through our every actions, no matter how small they are, we may bring many more people and souls closer to the salvation in God. Let us be active in our faith, and live according to what the Lord had commanded us to do. May the Lord be with us all, and through the intercession of St. Luke the Evangelist, may He always inflame our hearts with the love for the Word of God. Amen.

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Wednesday, 18 October 2017 : Feast of St. Luke, Evangelist (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Red

Luke 10 : 1-9

At that time, the Lord appointed seventy-two other disciples, and sent them, two by two, ahead of Him, to every town and place, where He Himself was to go. And He said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. So you must ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers to His harvest. Courage! I am sending you like lambs among wolves. Set off without purse or bag or sandals; and do not stop at the homes of those you know.”

“Whatever house you enter, first bless them, saying, ‘Peace to this house!’ If a friend of peace lives there, the peace shall rest upon that person. But if not, the blessing will return to you. Stay in that house, eating and drinking at their table, for the worker deserves to be paid. Do not move from house to house.”

“When they welcome you to any town, eat what they offer you. Heal the sick who are there, and say to them : ‘The kingdom of God has drawn near to you.'”

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Wednesday, 18 October 2017 : Feast of St. Luke, Evangelist (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Red

Psalm 144 : 10-11, 12-13ab, 17-18

All Your works will give You thanks; all Your saints, o YHVH, will praise You. They will tell of the glory of Your kingdom, and speak of Your power.

That all may know of Your mighty deeds, Your reign, and its glorious splendour. Your reign is from age to age; Your dominion endured, from generation to generation.

Righteous is YHVH in all His ways, His mercy shows in all His deeds. He is near those who call on Him, who call trustfully upon His Name.

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Wednesday, 18 October 2017 : Feast of St. Luke, Evangelist (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Red

2 Timothy 4 : 10-17b

You must know, that Demas has deserted me, for the love of this world : he returned to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia and Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke remains with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is a useful helper in my work. I sent Tychicus to Ephesus.

Bring with you the cloak I left at Troas, in Carpos’ house, and also the scrolls, especially the parchments. Alexander, the metalworker, has caused me great harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. Distrust him, for he has been very much opposed to our preaching.

At my first hearing in court, no one supported me; all deserted me. May the Lord not hold it against them. But the Lord was at my side, giving me strength, to proclaim the word fully, and to let all the pagans hear it.

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Friday, 22 September 2017 : 24th Week of Ordinary Time (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Luke 8 : 1-3

At that time, Jesus walked through towns and countryside, preaching and giving the Good News of the kingdom of God. The Twelve followed Him, and also some women, who had been healed of evil spirits and diseases : Mary called Magdalene, who had been freed of seven demons; Joanna, wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward; Suzanna; and others, who provided for them out of their own funds.

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Thursday, 3 August 2017 : 17th Week of Ordinary Time (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Matthew 13 : 47-53

At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a big fishing net, let down into the sea, in which every kind of fish has been caught. When the net is full, it is dragged ashore. Then they sit down and gather the good fish into buckets, but throw the bad away. That is how it will be at the end of time; the Angels will go out to separate the wicked from the just, and to throw the wicked into the blazing furnace, where they will weep and gnash their teeth."

Jesus asked, "Have you understood all these things?" "Yes," they answered. So He said to them, "Therefore, every teacher of the Law who becomes a disciple of the kingdom of heaven, is like a householder, who can produce from his store things both new and old."

When Jesus had finished these parables, He left that place.

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Wednesday, 2 August 2017 : 17th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Eusebius of Vercelli, Bishop and St. Peter Julian Eymard, Priest (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Bishops or Priests)

Matthew 13 : 44-46

At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, "The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure, hidden in a field. The one who finds it, buries it again; and so happy is he, that he goes and sells everything he has, in order to buy that field."

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a trader, who is looking for fine pearls. Once he has found a pearl of exceptional quality, he goes away, sells everything he has and buys it."

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Sunday, 30 July 2017 : Seventeenth Sunday of Ordinary Time (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Matthew 13 : 44-52

At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, "The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure, hidden in a field. The one who finds it, buries it again; and so happy is he, that he goes and sells everything he has, in order to buy that field."

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a trader, who is looking for fine pearls. Once he has found a pearl of exceptional quality, he goes away, sells everything he has and buys it."

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a big fishing net, let down into the sea, in which every kind of fish has been caught. When the net is full, it is dragged ashore. Then they sit down and gather the good fish into buckets, but throw the bad away."

"That is how it will be at the end of time; the Angels will go out to separate the wicked from the just, and to throw the wicked into the blazing furnace, where they will weep and gnash their teeth."

Jesus asked, "Have you understood all these things?" "Yes," they answered. So He said to them, "Therefore, every teacher of the Law, who becomes a disciple of the kingdom of heaven, is like a householder, who can produce from his store things both new and old."

Alternative reading (shorter version)

Matthew 13 : 44-46

At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, "The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure, hidden in a field. The one who finds it, buries it again; and so happy is he, that he goes and sells everything he has, in order to buy that field."

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a trader, who is looking for fine pearls. Once he has found a pearl of exceptional quality, he goes away, sells everything he has and buys it."

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Saturday, 29 July 2017 : 16th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Martha (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

John 11 : 19-27

At that time, many Jews had come to Martha and Mary, after the death of their brother, to comfort them. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet Him, while Mary remained sitting in the house. Martha said to Jesus, "If You had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that whatever You ask from God, God will give You." Jesus said, "Your brother will rise again."

Martha replied, "I know that He will rise in the resurrection, at the last day." But Jesus said to her, "I am the Resurrection. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, shall live. Whoever lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?"

Martha then answered, "Yes, Lord, I have come to believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, He Who is coming into the world."

Alternative reading

Luke 10 : 38-42

At that time, as Jesus and His disciples were on their way, He entered a village, and a woman called Martha welcomed Him to her house. She had a sister named Mary, who sat down at the Lord's feet to listen to His words. Martha, meanwhile, was busy with all the serving, and finally she said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the work? Tell her to help me!"

But the Lord answered, "Martha, Martha, you worry and are troubled about many things, whereas only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the better part, and it will not be taken away from her."