Fifth Sunday of Easter

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Monday, 19 May 2025 : 5th Week of Easter (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : White

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we all listened to the words of the Sacred Scriptures, we are reminded of the fact that we serve the Lord not for our own glory but for the greater glory of God, and we should always listen to the Lord and keep His commandments and words. We should always strive to proclaim the Lord’s truth, His love and Good News together, to glorify Him with all of our hearts and might at every opportunities provided to us. We must not be easily swayed by the temptations of worldly glory, ambition and all the other things that may easily mislead us down the wrong path in life. We must always be focused on the Lord and do our very best in our every moments in life so that we will always be firmly rooted in our faith and commitment to Him, to live our lives as Christians each day and every moments to the best of our abilities.

In our first reading today, we heard from the Acts of the Apostles of the time when St. Paul and St. Barnabas was cast out from the place they were in because of the machinations of their opponents, some of the Jews and pagans  who were hostile to their efforts at evangelisation and mission, and how they then ended up in Lystra, where they performed more works and miracles, healing a crippled man in the Name of the Lord Jesus. And as we heard, there in that place the deed quickly became known to all the people, many if not most of whom were pagans, who believe in the Greek pantheon, and hence why the people considered the two Apostles as their gods that had come down in human forms, appearing before them.

For the context, for those who are not familiar with the Greek mythology and gods, this was what the Greek gods were commonly believed to do, as they regularly walked among the people in human form, taking up avatars and forms familiar to mankind, and interacting withthem, the mortals in various ways and means. That was why the miracle performed by St. Paul and St. Barnabas was easily mistaken by those people in Lystra as the actions of their pagan gods, and as we heard, they began treating both of the Apostles like as if they were their gods manifesting themselves in human forms, bringing sacrifices and offerings to them. The two Apostles were trying hard but mostly in vain in trying to persuade the people with the truth, that they were bringing unto them the revelation from the true God and Master of all.

St. Paul and St. Barnabas could have also been swayed by the temptations of power and glory, as those two Apostles were treated literally like kings and gods, and with all the adoration and praise from everyone in that place, it was easy for anyone with weak or no faith to succumb to the temptations of worldly power and glory. But they remained firm in their faith and in their commitment to the Lord, and did not let any temptations or pressures to affect them, as they continued to proclaim the Lord and His truth to the people, no matter how they were unwilling to listen to them and acting as if they were really their gods. To do such an action required great amount of faith and dedication, as well as humility and the strong desire to serve the Lord, and not doing things for one’s own glory and personal ambitions.

Then, as we listened from our Gospel passage today, we heard from the Gospel according to St. John the Apostle and Evangelist, the Lord Jesus told His disciples that He and the Father are really one and the same, and that all of them who obey Him also obey the Father, and those who listen to His commandments, the commandments that He revealed and presented to the disciples and all those whom He had taught, have also listened to the same commandments that the Lord has revealed from the time of Moses. Essentially, the Lord Jesus was highlighting that He is indeed the true Messiah, the One Whom the prophets since the ancient days had been prophesying and proclaiming about, and which the people had long awaited for, and yet, when He finally came into this world, many among the people, particularly among the leaders were skeptical and even hostile against Him.

Thus, the Lord reassured His disciples that everything that He had told them all were indeed true, and they were the witnesses of everything that He had done before them, all that He had taught and told them about the truth about Himself and His relationship with the Father, of which He as the Son and the Father are One and the same. Back then, in the Jewish community, there was no understanding and knowledge of the true nature of God that is in fact a Holy Trinity, of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and therefore, what the Lord Jesus presented to the disciples must also have been something that was quite difficult for the disciples to understand the words and revelations of the Lord to them, but the Lord kept on slowly and gradually teaching and enlightening their minds about His truth.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all therefore continue to put our trust and focus on the Lord, doing our very best to let Him be known to everyone we meet and encounter in life, not just through words but also through our actions in being good role models as faithful disciples and followers of Christ. In everything that we say and do, in all of our interactions, let us all be good and worthy bearers of our Christian faith and examples at all times, being the beacons of God’s light to everyone whom we encounter in our lives, to our communities and in our world today. That is what all of us have been entrusted by God to do as Christians, as those whom He has called and chosen, and entrusted with the truth and commandments that He has given us all through His Son, Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

May the Risen Lord continue to help and guide us all in our journey in life, and may He continue to strengthen us all in our every good efforts, works and endeavours, doing them for the greater glory of God and for the salvation of more souls. May all of us continue to be blessed with the strength and courage to carry out the missions entrusted to each one of us in our various and unique circumstances and opportunities, now and always. Amen.

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Monday, 19 May 2025 : 5th Week of Easter (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

John 14 : 21-26

At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, “Whoever keeps My commandments is the one who loves Me. If he loves Me, he will also be loved by My Father; I too shall love him and show Myself clearly to him.”

Judas – not Judas Iscariot – asked Jesus, “Lord, how can it be that You will show Yourself clearly to us and not to the world!” Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word and My Father will love him; and We will come to him and make a room in his home.”

“But if anyone does not love Me, he will not keep My words; and these words that you hear are not Mine, but the Father’s Who sent Me. I told you all this while I was still with you. From now on the Helper, the Holy Spirit Whom the Father will send in My Name, will teach you all things, and remind you of all that I have told you.”

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Monday, 19 May 2025 : 5th Week of Easter (Psalm)

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.

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Monday, 19 May 2025 : 5th Week of Easter (First Reading)

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.

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Sunday, 18 May 2025 : Fifth Sunday of Easter (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

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.

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Sunday, 18 May 2025 : Fifth Sunday of Easter (Gospel Reading)

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.”

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Sunday, 18 May 2025 : Fifth Sunday of Easter (Second Reading)

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.”

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Sunday, 18 May 2025 : Fifth Sunday of Easter (Psalm)

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.

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Sunday, 18 May 2025 : Fifth Sunday of Easter (First Reading)

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.

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Saturday, 4 May 2024 : 5th Week of Easter (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : White

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today we listened to the words of the Sacred Scriptures in which we are all reminded that as Christians, each and every one of us have been called from the world and chosen to be God’s own beloved people, as we have embraced His love and truth, His salvation and assurance of eternal life for all of us. All of us as His beloved and holy people have been called and expected to live our lives worthily of God, that we may do our very best in proclaiming His truth and love in our respective communities, in every opportunities and responsibilities entrusted to us. Each and every one of us as Christians have been called to be those who are truly exemplary and inspirational in our lives and actions so that by our every actions, words and deeds, we may continue to inspire and touch the lives of many others around us.

In our first reading today, we heard the continuation of the account from the Acts of the Apostles in which the works of St. Paul was further elaborated to us, in how he carried on his missionary journey and works among the people in various places. At that time in particular, St. Paul was travelling with his companions such as St. Timothy mentioned in the passage today, and others like St. Luke, St. Barnabas and more, all throughout the different parts and regions of Asia Minor, going from place to place, towns to towns to glorify the Lord and to proclaim His Good News and truth. Through their hard works and efforts, they had convinced many people to become Christian believers as well, embracing God’s fullness of truth and love, and entering into a new relationship with Him and a new life in Him.

We heard how the Lord was with His Apostles, guiding and strengthening them in their path as they carried out their mission, amidst all the challenges and trials that they were facing. He guided them through the Holy Spirit, Who led and guided them to go wherever God had wanted them to go to, just as we heard how the Spirit guided St. Paul to go to a certain place, giving him dreams and leads to bring him and his companions to places where there are more need for evangelisation and outreach towards all those who have not yet known the Lord. Essentially what we have heard was the way how the Lord exercised His guidance and providence for His faithful servants, guiding and leading the works and ministries of His Church so that through everything that they did, they might spread ever further the message of the Gospel of Christ, the Good News of God.

In our Gospel passage today, we then heard of the words of the Lord Jesus Who reassured His disciples and reminded them all that if they were to suffer persecutions, oppressions and hardships in the future, then all those happened just because the world itself had also opposed and persecuted the Lord Himself, Who had to endure the most painful sufferings and the greatest of humiliations for the sake of our salvation, just as He took upon His Cross and faced the greatest of all of His trials, so that by His suffering and death, He might save all of us and bring us all into a new and eternal life with Him, reconciled and reunited with God. If the Lord Himself had suffered, then it is only natural that His disciples and followers would likely have to endure the same fate as well.

But the Lord reassured them all that they were not alone, and the Lord Himself would always be with them, promising them that the Advocate, the Helper, Who is the Holy Spirit, would come into their midst and be with them, helping and guiding them in their works and ministries, in everything that they say and do, for the greater glory of God. The Lord promised them all that their rewards would truly be great in Him and that He will be with them in all things and at all times, and would prepare for them the everlasting glory and honour reserved to those who have remained and kept their faith in Him, despite all the challenges, trials and sufferings that they had to face as the disciples, followers and missionaries of the Lord and Saviour of all.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we listened to these words from the Sacred Scriptures, we are therefore reminded of the Lord’s Presence in our midst and in all the things that we say and do, in all of our efforts, endeavours and good works that He has entrusted to us and which we have carried out and are doing for the greater glory of God and for the salvation of souls. We are all called to continue the great works which the Lord had begun through His Apostles and disciples, all those who have given their best efforts and their whole lives for the Lord. There are still a lot of works for us to do in this world today, in our various communities and places of responsibilities, in proclaiming God’s Good News and truth to all the people of all the nations.

Each and every one of us have been entrusted with the gifts, abilities and opportunities which the Lord had provided to us and blessed us with. With these comes the responsibilities and calling through which we should commit ourselves in even the smallest ways that we will always continue to show the Lord’s Good News and truth, His love and ways to everyone whom we encounter and interact with. We should always strive to be the bearers of God’s truth and be good and worthy role models for one another. Like that of the Apostles and the disciples of the Lord before us, who have inspired us with their exemplary lives and actions, we should ourselves therefore be good and worthy disciples and followers of the Lord as well, in living our own lives led and strengthened by the Holy Spirit.

May the Risen Lord continue to be with us and guide us in all of our journey and efforts throughout life. May He continue to strengthen our resolve to live our lives worthily of Him and to endure all sorts of trials, challenges and tribulations, so that despite whatever it is that we may need to face in our lives, we will always be strong and inspired to follow His path, and the examples of the holy men and women who had gone before us, so that by our lives and perseverance, our own faith and commitment, more and more may come to believe in the Lord as well and be saved through God’s light and salvation. Amen.