Liturgical Colour : White
Psalm 113B : 1-2, 3-4, 15-16
Not to us, o Lord, not to us, but to Your Name be the glory, for the sake of Your love and faithfulness. Why should the pagans say, “Where is their God?”
There in heaven is our God; whatever He wishes, He does. Not so the hand-made idols, crafted in silver and gold.
May you be blessed by the Lord, Maker of heaven and earth. Heaven belongs to the Lord, but the earth He has given to humans.
Liturgical Colour : White
Acts 14 : 5-18
A move was made by pagans and Jews, together with their leaders, to harm the Apostles and to stone them. But Paul and Barnabas learnt of this and fled to Lycaonian towns of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding countryside, where they continued preaching the Good News.
Paul and Barnabas spent a fairly long time at Lystra. There was a crippled man in Lystra who had never been able to stand or walk. One day, as he was listening to the preaching, Paul looked intently at him and saw that he had the faith to be saved. So he spoke to him in a loud voice, “In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I command you to stand up on your feet!” And the man stood up and began to walk around.
When the people saw what Paul had done, they cried out in the language of Lycaonia, “The gods have come to us in human likeness!” They named Barnabas Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes, since he was the chief speaker. Even the priest of the Temple of Zeus, which stood outside the town, brought oxen and garlands to the gate; together with the people, he wanted to offer sacrifice to them.
When Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their garment to show their indignation and rushed into the crowd, shouting, “Friends, why are you doing this? We are human beings with the same weakness you have and we are now telling you to turn away from these useless things to the living God Who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and all that is in them.”
“In past generations He allowed each nation to go its own way, though He never stopped making Himself known; for He is continually doing good, giving you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, providing you with food and filling your hearts with gladness.”
Even these words could hardly keep the crowd from offering sacrifice to them.
Liturgical Colour : White
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, this Sunday is the Fifth Sunday of Easter and all of us are reminded through what we have heard from the Sacred Scriptures, of the great love of God for each and every one of us mankind, how He has willingly shown us this love to us through everything that He had done for us, in revealing to us His beloved Son, His only Begotten One, the One through Whom He has made His love manifested in this world, becoming tangible and real for us. And in His glorious Resurrection that we have been celebrating throughout this time and season of Easter, we have seen the hope which the Lord has brought upon us, the hope of life beyond death, life that is everlasting and bringing us true happiness and joy, one that no one and nothing else can provide to us.
In our first reading this Sunday, taken from the Acts of the Apostles, we heard of the actions of St. Paul and St. Barnabas who were returning to Antioch after the missionary journey in Asia Minor, where they encountered both successes and obstacles. St. Paul and St. Barnabas encouraged and strengthened the faithful there in Antioch with their stories and testimonies, reminding all of them that to be a missionary and disciple of the Lord, one must be prepared and ready to endure challenges, difficulties and trials, to suffer for the sake of the kingdom of God, just as St. Paul and St. Barnabas had experienced. But at the same time, they strengthened and encouraged the other disciples and members of the faithful by reminding them of God’s guidance and providence throughout their ministry.
We heard more of the exploits and works of the two faithful and courageous servants of God, who continued to work for the greater glory of God, going from places to places proclaiming the word of God and His Good News to more and more people while strengthening the faith of those who have believed in God. Through all these tireless and ceaseless efforts we can see how the Apostles became important parts of the Church’s missions and works, and they were indeed the pillars of the Church of God. But we must also realise that they did not do their work alone, and in fact, they had many collaborators and fellow missionaries, and many others who assisted and helped throughout their ministries, journeys and other efforts. We too, therefore, as Christians should be active in taking part in and in supporting the works of the Church.
We also heard of how the works of God’s salvation and His Good News were also intended for the Gentiles or the non-Jewish people, as much as they had been intended also for the Jewish people. This is yet another reminder for all of us of the universality of the Church and the salvation that God has promised and offered to us. The Lord has offered His salvation to each and every one of us, His beloved children and people, and not just being limited to a certain group of people like the Israelites and their descendants. While it was indeed true that they were God’s first chosen people, but through them, God revealed His true intention, that the chosen people He really wanted to gather together includes all of mankind, the entire world and its people. All of us living today in this world are also part of this God’s plan of salvation.
Then, from our second reading this Sunday, we heard of the passage from the Book of Revelations of St. John, in which we heard the powerful words of reassurance from God for His people, revealing to them the great joy and happiness that He will bring about to us, at the end of time, after the reckoning for everything. The Lord showed the vision of the new Heaven and the new Earth to St. John the Apostle as part of the visions that he received while he was exiled at the island of Patmos. This vision of the new Heaven and Earth came after the vision of the times of tribulations, hardships and trials that would come against all those who continue to be faithful to God. And yet, God does not abandon or neglect His people, as even throughout the greatest persecutions and difficulties, He is and will still be with us, journeying with us.
This encouragement is truly very important especially to those to whom St. John the Apostle recounted his visions as they were all suffering then from persecutions by the Romans, who were causing great hardships and sorrows among the Christians, especially during the reign of the Roman Emperor Domitian, who wanted to be worshipped as god, and found the refusal by Christians to do so as a reason for persecuting them. Therefore, amidst such great trials and tribulations, the message of hope that God had shown through St. John the Apostle must have been very encouraging and uplifting, that despite the hardships and trials they were facing, in the end, the Lord would provide for His people and would not abandon them to the darkness and evil.
From our Gospel passage this Sunday, the Lord then reminds all of His disciples and followers of how God’s love has been given to them, and therefore just as they have been beloved by God, they should all love one another as well. The commandments of love that the Lord gave to them all highlight that there are two most important among the many commandments and laws of God, principally being the fact that one is called to love God first and foremost above all else, and then to show that same love to their brothers and sisters around them. One cannot be a true Christian and disciple of the Lord unless one show this love, which we all therefore ought to show as well in our own lives. And the Lord also reminded the disciples that He would soon go away from them, but they would have to continue to do what He has taught them to do.
Therefore, as we have heard from our earlier Scripture passages this Sunday, all of us as Christians are reminded that God’s love for us is truly very generous and beyond comparison, and His love for us have been given to everyone, without any exceptions. Each and every one of us are precious and important to God, and all of us are equally beloved by Him. And this same love we have to show to everyone around us, not just those whom we love and hold precious, but also to those whom we encounter in life. It is by our actions filled with love that everyone will come to know that we truly belong to God, and that God is really present in us all. Through us, God’s love will become manifest in this world, in how we love our loved ones, our family and everyone else we encounter in life.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all therefore strive to love the Lord our God and to show this love in each and every one of our actions and deeds, in our words and interactions with each other. Let us all continue to be good and worthy bearers of our faith to everyone whom we encounter in life, and let us all do our very best so that we can commit ourselves ever more wholeheartedly to whatever missions and callings that He has entrusted to us in our respective areas in life. May the Lord be with us always, and may He strengthen each and every one of us so that we may always be faithful and strong in our living of our Christian life, in each and every moments. Amen.
Liturgical Colour : White
John 13 : 31-33a, 34-35
At that time, when Judas had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him. God will glorify Him, and He will glorify Him very soon. My children, I am with you for only a little while.”
“I give you a new commandment : Love one another! Just as I have loved you, you also must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Liturgical Colour : White
Revelations 21 : 1-5a
Then, I saw a new heaven and a new earth. The first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and no longer was there any sea. I saw the new Jerusalem, the holy city, coming down from God, out of heaven, adorned as a bride prepared for her husband.
A loud voice came from the throne, “Here is the dwelling of God among mortals : He will pitch His tent among them, and they will be His people; He will be God-with-them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There shall be no more death or mourning, crying out or pain, for the world that was, has passed away.”
The One seated on the throne said, “See, I make all things new.”
Liturgical Colour : White
Psalm 144 : 8-9, 10-11, 12-13ab
Compassionate and gracious is YHVH, slow to anger and abounding in love. YHVH is good to everyone; His mercy embraces all His creation.
All Your works will give You thanks; all Your saints, o Lord, 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 endures from generation to generation.
Liturgical Colour : White
Acts 14 : 21b-27
Paul and Barnabas returned to Lystra and Iconium, and on to Antioch. They were strengthening the disciples, and encouraging them to remain firm in the faith; for they said, “We must go through many trials to enter the kingdom of God.” In each church they appointed elders and, after praying and fasting, they commended them to the Lord, in Whom they had placed their faith.
Then they travelled through Pisidia, and came to Pamphylia. They preached the word in Perga and went down to Attalia. From there, they sailed back to Antioch, where they had first been commended to God’s grace, for the task they had now completed. On their arrival, they gathered the Church together, and told them all that God had done through them, and how He had opened the door of faith to the non-Jews.
Liturgical Colour : White
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we all listened to the words of the Sacred Scriptures, and as we continue to progress through this joyful time and season of Easter, we are all reminded of the need for all of us to continue proclaiming and revealing the truth of God to our fellow brothers and sisters around us, as part of our Christian calling and mission, in whatever way and areas that we have been entrusted and called to, in our various vocations in life as parts and members of God’s Church. We must always do the works of the Lord which we have been given, to the best of our abilities so that hopefully through our labours and works, many people may come to the salvation in God through us. As Christians, all of us should be the reflection of God’s light and hope, His hope and compassion, at all times.
In our first reading today, we heard from the Acts of the Apostles where St. Paul and St. Barnabas were ministering to the people in the region of Pisidia, where St. Paul had earlier on spoken in the local synagogue to the members of the Jewish diaspora community. St. Paul and St. Barnabas reached out to the members of the non-Jewish people or the Gentiles because many among the Jews themselves were unwilling to listen to what they had brought to them, and some of them sided with the Pharisees on their opposition against the ways and teachings of Jesus, that is the Christian faith. But St. Paul and St. Barnabas continued God’s works and chose to minister to the Gentiles, some of whom were willing to accept God’s words and truth, and as we heard, some among the Gentiles believed in God because of this.
Of course as we have also heard, that St. Paul and St. Barnabas did not have it easy, as they had to face opposition from those who were annoyed at their works, from some among the Jewish community and from others that were against their evangelisation mission. And we heard how due to the plotting of their enemies, the ruckus and problems caused, St. Paul and St. Barnabas were forced to leave the region. Yet, their presence and works there were not in vain, as they had indeed managed to plant the seeds of faith among the people, both among the Jews and the Gentiles alike. And this would become the foundation of the Church and the community of the faithful in those areas in the future, as how it had happened in the places where the Apostles had encountered more successes too.
This is a reminder for all of us, once again, that God’s grace and salvation, His favour and blessings are given freely and generously to everyone, regardless whatever background or origins one may have, or whatever race or identity one belongs to. All of us mankind are truly beloved by God, Who has always loved us all from the very beginning, from when He created us, each and every one of us. After all, God did not create us only to destroy us afterwards, because He created us all out of love and also He wants us all to share in His love. Hence, that was why through His Son and through the Apostles and their successors, the Lord has reached out to us in this manner, that is to call us back to His Presence and to live wonderfully in our faith in God.
In our Gospel passage today from the Gospel of St. John the Apostle and Evangelist, as we heard the interaction between the Lord and His disciples, with Him telling the disciples of the relationship that He, as the Son, had with His heavenly Father, all of us are reminded of the love of God that had been manifested in our midst through the incarnation of the Son of God in the flesh, Christ Himself Who made God’s love to become tangible, approachable and real before all of us. And the Lord Jesus as the obedient Son has come into this world to carry out everything that the Father had told Him to do, to bring all of the scattered people of God and to gather them all, bringing them once again into God’s Holy Presence and making them to be part of the same one flock of the Lord, the Church of God.
Through His obedience and commitment to His mission, all of us are reminded again today of the love which our God, our most loving Father and Creator has for us all. We are reminded just how loving He has been towards us that He extends His love through His Son so that He can reach out to us, loving us and showing us His compassion, soothing us and reassuring us of His company and presence even in the most difficult moments in our lives. And because of this, we should always strive and endeavour to love God first and foremost in our lives, to obey Him and to do His will at all times. We must not allow ourselves to be swayed easily by the many temptations present all around us, which may distract us from our attention and focus towards God.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all therefore reflect upon what we have just heard from our Scripture passages today, reminding ourselves of the important responsibilities and opportunities that God had provided to all of us as Christians, that is as those whom He had called and chosen to be His own, to be the ones He sent into this world so that more and more people may come to know Him, to know of His love and truth. We should embrace what the Lord has entrusted to us and realise that our every efforts and contributions are important, as although our efforts may seem to be small and insignificant, but when all of these are combined together, plus the ripple effect of our good efforts may have, all these will amount to a huge impact on the world and everyone around us.
May the Risen Lord, our Saviour and King, continue to strengthen us all each day and help us so that we may continue to persevere through the many challenges, trials and hardships that we may encounter daily in life so that we do not end up easily giving up our faith in the Lord, and that we will always remain faithful in God no matter what happens. Let us all be good role models and inspirations, examples and guides for each other in faith, in how we live our lives each day and every moment. May God bless us in all of our good efforts, works and endeavours, now and always. Amen.
Liturgical Colour : White
John 14 : 7-14
At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, “If you know Me, you will know the Father also; indeed you know Him, and you have seen Him.”
Philip asked Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and that is enough.” Jesus said to him, “What! I have been with you so long and you still do not know Me, Philip? Whoever sees Me sees the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me?”
“All that I say to you, I do not say of Myself. The Father Who dwells in Me is doing His own work. Believe Me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; at least believe it on the evidence of these works that I do. Truly, I say to you, the one who believes in Me will do the same works that I do; and he will even do greater than these, for I am going to the Father.”
“Everything you ask in My Name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. Indeed, anything you ask, calling upon My Name, I will do it.”
Liturgical Colour : White
Psalm 97 : 1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4
Sing to YHVH a new song, for He has done wonders; His right hand, His holy arm, has won victory for Him.
YHVH 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 YHVH, break into song and sing praise.
petercanisiusmichaeldavidkang 