Dominican saints

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Wednesday, 7 January 2015 : Wednesday after the Epiphany, Memorial of St. Raymond of Penyafort, Priest (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : White

Psalm 71 : 1-2, 10-11, 12-13

O God, endow the King with Your justice, the Royal Son with Your righteousness. May He rule Your people justly and defend the rights of the lowly.

The kings of Tarshish and the islands render Him tribute, the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts, all the kings bow down to Him, and all nations serve Him.

He delivers the needy who call on Him, the afflicted with no one to help them. His mercy is upon the weak and the poor, He saves the life of the poor.

 

Homily and Reflection : 

https://petercanisiusmichaeldavidkang.com/2015/01/06/wednesday-7-january-2015-wednesday-after-the-epiphany-memorial-of-st-raymond-of-penyafort-priest-homily-and-scripture-reflections/

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Wednesday, 7 January 2015 : Wednesday after the Epiphany, Memorial of St. Raymond of Penyafort, Priest (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

1 John 4 : 11-18

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 in 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. When do we know that we have reached a perfect love? When in this world, we are like Him in everything, and expect with confidence the Day of Judgment.

There is no fear in love. Perfect love drives away fear, for fear has to do with punishment; those who fear do not know perfect love.

 

Homily and Reflection : 

https://petercanisiusmichaeldavidkang.com/2015/01/06/wednesday-7-january-2015-wednesday-after-the-epiphany-memorial-of-st-raymond-of-penyafort-priest-homily-and-scripture-reflections/

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Saturday, 15 November 2014 : 32nd Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Albert the Great, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Bishops or Saturday Mass of our Lady)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today we heard in the Gospel the parable mentioned by Jesus on an evil and proud judge, and a persistent old woman who continued to pester that particular judge to stand up for her case. And that judge, even though he did not fear God nor man, and did not listen or submit to anyone, eventually gave in to the old woman who continued to pester him and plead with him to advance her case.

This parable is a clear message to all of us, that we cannot be complacent in our faith. Besides that we need to act with concrete and genuine love, and live our faith fully through our deeds and actions, we also have to have a good and healthy prayer life. Prayer is for us a connection and a highway that links us to our Lord. It is a two-way conversation between Him and us, through which we can listen to Him and He too can listen to us speaking directly towards Him.

What our Lord Jesus mentioned to us today in the parable is that, if that evil judge, despicable, wicked and irresponsible as he was, not fearing God nor men, could eventually succumb to the pressures of the old woman, just so that she would no longer pester him, how much more will our loving God then harken and listen to our prayers and petitions?

However, be reminded, brothers and sisters, that our prayers and petitions do not equate with what demands we have in this life, and they do not equate with our desires and wants, that means, these do not include our desires for many things, from material wealth to other things. God is loving and He will listen to us, but He also knows our needs and our greatest details till the greatest secrets we keep in the depths of our hearts.

Therefore, our Lord is not held hostage to our wishes and demands, and He is not obliged to fulfill all of our wishes, and neither is He subordinate to us and our will. And He does what seems to fit His will. But this does not mean that He is a heartless God who does not care about us, as if we are in genuine need, He will know it, and He will want to help us.

On our part therefore, we have to act like the old woman who persistently pursued the evil judge in order to have her wishes fulfilled. But did she ask for her own selfish wish? No, it is so that she can have justice shown to her, for she had been wronged. It is the same therefore for all or us, that we have to take out two things from this day’s Scripture readings.

First, we have to persist in our prayers, to pray without cease, on regular basis, constantly contacting and talking with the Lord our God, like the old woman pestering the evil judge for his attention and help. But the difference is that, if the evil judge hated the woman’s persistence and pleas, our Lord who is loving and kind to us, will never be tired of listening to our constant pleas and prayers. Instead, He will listen to them and then act as it is right according to Him and His own will for us.

And then second, all of us must realise that God loves us all and He wants us to be righteous and just in all things. He wants us to have love and faith in ourselves, so that in all of our actions we will no longer put forward our desires or greed, but instead to submit to the greater will of the Lord. And therefore, in that, in our prayer life too, we have to realise that our prayers are not merely just list of petitions and demands against the Lord.

Prayer is all about keeping in contact with our Lord, from heart to heart, an intimate and personal relationship we must have and nourish between us and our God. In prayer, we should air our concerns and wishes, but at the same time, we must also open our ears wide in order to be able to listen to the word of God which He spoke softly deep in our hearts.

Therefore, we ought to learn to listen and to listen well, so that our hearts be cleared from all forms of hubris and pride, of desire and greed that we may truly be transformed from creatures of sin and darkness, into the children of the light, of our Lord who is Love. This is what we need to do, and there is today a saint, whose feast day we celebrate this day, and whose life examples may be an inspiration to all of us.

Today we celebrate the feast of St. Albert of Cologne, also more famously known by his epithet ‘the Great’ as St. Albertus Magnus or St. Albert the Great. He was a Dominican friar and then bishop in the High Middle Ages era Germany, who was renowned particularly for his faith, for his zeal, for his numerous works and writings, as well as for his great contributions to the growth of the spiritual aspect in many of the faithful, both whom he directly and indirectly touched.

St. Albert the Great is honoured with the title of the Doctor of the Church, to be among the few so honoured as such. His works in both philosophy and theology were of great importance to the Church and to the faithful. His dedication to the advancement of the Lord’s teaching and cause was truly remarkable and commendable, and he was also devoted to helping the people of God, both through his works and through his writings.

Through the examples of St. Albert the Great, we can see how if we devoted ourselves in deep prayer and develop our spirituality in the way of St. Albert the Great, we can truly be like him. St. Albert the Great spent much of his time in prayer and devotion to God, and through that devotion, he produced many good works that benefit not just himself, but countless others around him.

And in the first reading, St. John the Apostle and Evangelist advised us all how we should live out our lives, to be righteous and just before God, by loving one another sincerely and genuinely, and most especially, to show our love and care to our brothers and sisters around us, who needs our love the most. Thus these are the two pillars of our faith, namely our loving actions to one another, and our strong and devoted prayer life.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us therefore from now on, renew our commitment to the Lord and ask for the intercession of St. Albert the Great, that our faith too may be strengthened by God just as his was strengthened. May we all grow stronger and more devoted in our prayer life, so that we may not be lost but remain in close and intimate contact with the Lord our loving God, at all the moments of our lives. God bless us all. Amen.

 

First Reading :

https://petercanisiusmichaeldavidkang.com/2014/11/13/saturday-15-november-2014-32nd-week-of-ordinary-time-memorial-of-st-albert-the-great-bishop-and-doctor-of-the-church-first-reading/

Psalm :

https://petercanisiusmichaeldavidkang.com/2014/11/13/saturday-15-november-2014-32nd-week-of-ordinary-time-memorial-of-st-albert-the-great-bishop-and-doctor-of-the-church-psalm/

Gospel Reading :

https://petercanisiusmichaeldavidkang.com/2014/11/13/saturday-15-november-2014-32nd-week-of-ordinary-time-memorial-of-st-albert-the-great-bishop-and-doctor-of-the-church-gospel-reading/

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Saturday, 15 November 2014 : 32nd Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Albert the Great, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Bishops or Saturday Mass of our Lady)

Luke 18 : 1-8

At that time, Jesus told His disciples a parable, to show them that they should pray continually, and not lose heart. He said, “In a certain town there was a judge, who neither feared God nor people. In the same town there was a widow, who kept coming to him, saying, ‘Defend my rights against my opponent!'”

“For a time he refused, but finally he thought, ‘Even though I neither fear God nor care about people, this widow bothers me so much, I will see that she gets justice; then she will stop coming and wearing me out.'”

And Jesus said, “Listen to what the evil judge says. Will God not do justice for His chosen ones, who cry to Him day and night, even if He delays in answering them? I tell you, He will speedily do them justice. But, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?”

 

Homily and Reflection :

https://petercanisiusmichaeldavidkang.com/2014/11/13/saturday-15-november-2014-32nd-week-of-ordinary-time-memorial-of-st-albert-the-great-bishop-and-doctor-of-the-church-homily-and-scripture-reflections/

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Saturday, 15 November 2014 : 32nd Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Albert the Great, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Bishops or Saturday Mass of our Lady)

Psalm 111 : 1-2, 3-4, 5-6

Alleluia! Blessed is the one who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in His commands. His children will be powerful on earth; the upright’s offspring will be blessed.

Wealth and riches are for his family, there his integrity will remain. He is for the righteous a light in darkness, he is kind, merciful and upright.

It will be well with him who lends freely, who leads a life of justice and honesty. For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered and loved forever.

 

Homily and Reflection :

https://petercanisiusmichaeldavidkang.com/2014/11/13/saturday-15-november-2014-32nd-week-of-ordinary-time-memorial-of-st-albert-the-great-bishop-and-doctor-of-the-church-homily-and-scripture-reflections/

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Saturday, 15 November 2014 : 32nd Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Albert the Great, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Bishops or Saturday Mass of our Lady)

3 John : 5-8

Beloved, you do well to care for the brothers and sisters as you do. I mean those coming from other places. They spoke of your charity before the assembled Church. It will be well to provide them with what they need to continue their journey, as if you did it for God.

In reality, they have set out on the road for His Name without accepting anything from the pagans. We should receive such persons, making ourselves their cooperators in the work of the truth.

 

Homily and Reflection :

https://petercanisiusmichaeldavidkang.com/2014/11/13/saturday-15-november-2014-32nd-week-of-ordinary-time-memorial-of-st-albert-the-great-bishop-and-doctor-of-the-church-homily-and-scripture-reflections/

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Monday, 3 November 2014 : 31st Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Martin de Porres, Religious (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Religious)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today we are urged through the readings of the Holy Scriptures, to follow the path of righteousness, namely by abandoning all the wicked and selfish urgings of our own desires and wants, and also to distance ourselves from the temptations of the flesh. As we are all members of the Church and the children of God by the virtue of baptism, we should follow the Lord in His ways and obey His will.

And what is this will which we should all obey, brothers and sisters in Christ? It is for us to love, and love genuinely and tenderly, without thinking or asking for returns, and without contemplating the potential benefits to ourselves, putting the needs for others ahead of our own. Only then, that our faith will truly be genuine and good for our salvation, as not only that our faith is not just mere words like the hypocrites, but that our faith is truly concrete, founded on love, which we ought to show our Lord, and our fellow men.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, faith without love is incomplete, and love with condition, or conditional love is also incomplete. Why is this so? That is because, we mankind by nature are creatures who always like to demand for more, and who are prone to think about ourselves first before others, and we are naturally selfish, driven by our human instincts of self-preservation.

Let us all look into our own lives, when we are interacting with one another, even with those closest to us, how often is it that we think first of the costs incurred to us, and the potential benefits we may gain by performing certain actions with another? How often indeed men bicker over small matters, just because nobody wants to lose, and indeed as nobody wants to lose face in front of the other?

How often is it that mankind become jealous over his or her brother and sister over a small matter such as possession, inheritance and others? That is because mankind always have desire in their hearts, their wants and what they seek in life. And these are difficult to satisfy, as the tendency is for us, after having our desires fulfilled, to have even more of what we desire or that we desire even more other things.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, therefore if our love is based upon such materialistic attitude, and the desire to be repaid with the same love, for the love we have been given, then it is not fully sincere nor genuine, as such love will become merely a ‘transaction’ between us and the other one we ‘love’. Instead when we love, we ought to follow the examples of Jesus Himself, who had loved us unconditionally and completely, even unto death, death on the cross for us.

I would like to bring to your attention, therefore, the words of St. Paul in one of his letters, that while it is indeed perhaps worthy for one to give up his or her life for one of the friends he or she have, as Jesus mentioned that there is no greater love than for us to lie down our life for a friend, but this is, according to St. Paul, in the argument and idea of men, only makes sense if the one whom we gave up our life for, is someone who is righteous and good.

Will one then want to die for a wicked person? Will one then want to die for his or her enemy? This is the question that we can ask ourselves as well. Can we love our enemies and forgive them their sins, as well as whatever evil and wickedness they have committed to us? This is exactly what Christ had done for us, even to those who had rejected Him and persecuted Him unto death.

Yes, He sacrificed His life for us, endured for Himself the entirety of our mountains of sins, the weight of all those sins combined which would crush anything under it, but not the Lord, who bore them patiently, though in pain, on that way of sorrow and suffering towards Golgotha, where He died. Therefore, what the Lord had said as we heard in the Gospel reading today, is not just mere words, but what He really had done.

He had indeed invited us and brought us to His own heavenly feast, although we are unworthy, and to us, He gave the chance and opportunity to become the children of God and the inheritor of God’s heavenly promise and inheritance. He died for us and sacrificed Himself for us, even when we are still sinners and committing fornications of the body and soul daily. He died and offered Himself to us, so that we may have hope of salvation in Him.

Nevertheless, if we do not believe in Him and reject Him, then we can have no part in Him. And even though He offered us sinners a new chance and opportunity, but if we remain and linger in our sinfulness, then His wrath and anger will instead be upon us. That is just like the king who invited guests to his banquet, in another similar parable of Jesus, and yet the guests refused to come to the banquet because they were busy with their own works, just like us, always making excuses before God and preferring to live in sin than to embrace God’s forgiveness and ways.

Today we also celebrate the feast of St. Martin de Porres, a Peruvian saint, who hailed from the New World. He was a lay member of the Dominican order, or the Order of Preachers who was of mixed race parentage, between the local native and the Spanish coloniser. St. Martin de Porres grew up in poverty, and because of his parentage and heritage, he was not allowed to join the priesthood of the Dominican order, but nevertheless, he persevered on and continued to do good works in his part as the lay member of the order.

St. Martin de Porres was renowned for his great humility and charity, giving away whatever he has to help others who were poor and less fortunate, and those without love. He performed numerous miracles, and by the power granted to him by God, he dedicated himself even more to help his fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. He is the patron saint of those of mixed race and also those who are less fortunate.

How is his life relevant to us? If we look at the readings today, we see indeed that what St. Martin de Porres had done was truly in accordance to the words of the Scriptures. He had loved unconditionally, both God and his fellow men. And he gave himself in dedication to them, not asking for any return, but all only for the sake of serving for the greater glory of God.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us from today on, realise our own sinfulness, as well as our capacity to love one another, unconditionally and with genuine love, just as our Lord Jesus Christ had done for us, and as St. Martin de Porres had shown us by his actions.

Let us stop sinning and fornicating our bodies and souls, seeking instead the love and mercy of God, which He will gladly give us, if we sincerely want to repent from our sins and begin to love Him and our fellow men, with all of our heart and strength, just as He always does to us. That we will indeed throw away our selfishness and begin to embrace with all of our hearts, the unconditional love that is of God. God bless us all, forever and ever. Amen.

 

First Reading : 
https://petercanisiusmichaeldavidkang.com/2014/11/02/monday-3-november-2014-31st-week-of-ordinary-time-memorial-of-st-martin-de-porres-religious-first-reading/

Psalm : 
https://petercanisiusmichaeldavidkang.com/2014/11/02/monday-3-november-2014-31st-week-of-ordinary-time-memorial-of-st-martin-de-porres-religious-psalm/

Gospel Reading : 
https://petercanisiusmichaeldavidkang.com/2014/11/02/monday-3-november-2014-31st-week-of-ordinary-time-memorial-of-st-martin-de-porres-religious-gospel-reading/

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Monday, 3 November 2014 : 31st Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Martin de Porres, Religious (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Religious)

Luke 14 : 12-14

At that time, Jesus also addressed the man who had invited Him, and said, “When you give a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends, or your brothers and relatives, or your wealthy neighbours. For surely they will also invite you in return, and you will be repaid.”

“When you give a feast, invite instead the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind. Fortunate are you then, because they cannot repay you; you will be repaid at the resurrection of the upright.”

 

Homily and Reflection : 
https://petercanisiusmichaeldavidkang.com/2014/11/03/monday-3-november-2014-31st-week-of-ordinary-time-memorial-of-st-martin-de-porres-religious-homily-and-scripture-reflections/

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Monday, 3 November 2014 : 31st Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Martin de Porres, Religious (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Religious)

Psalm 130 : 1, 2, 3

O Lord, my heart is not proud nor do I have arrogant eyes. I am not engrossed in ambitious matters, nor in things too great for me.

I have quieted and stilled my soul like a weaned child on its mother’s lap; like a contented child is my soul.

Hope in the Lord, o Israel, now and forever.

 

Homily and Reflection : 
https://petercanisiusmichaeldavidkang.com/2014/11/03/monday-3-november-2014-31st-week-of-ordinary-time-memorial-of-st-martin-de-porres-religious-homily-and-scripture-reflections/

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Monday, 3 November 2014 : 31st Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Martin de Porres, Religious (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Religious)

Philippians 2 : 1-4

If I may advise you in the Name of Christ and if you can hear it as the voice of love; if we share the same Spirit and are capable of mercy and compassion, then I beg of you, make me very happy : have one love, one Spirit, one feeling, do nothing through rivalry or vain conceit.

On the contrary let each of you gently consider the others as more important than yourselves. Do not seek your own interest, but rather that of others.

 

Homily and Reflection : 
https://petercanisiusmichaeldavidkang.com/2014/11/03/monday-3-november-2014-31st-week-of-ordinary-time-memorial-of-st-martin-de-porres-religious-homily-and-scripture-reflections/