First Week of Ordinary Time

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Friday, 16 January 2015 : 1st Week of Ordinary Time (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Mark 2 : 1-12

At that time, after some days Jesus returned to Capernaum. As the news spread that He was in the house, so many people gathered, that there was no longer room even outside the door. While Jesus was preaching the Word to them, some people brought a paralysed man to Him.

The four men who carried him could not get near Jesus because of the crowd, so they opened the roof above the room where Jesus was and, through the hole, lowered the man on his mat. When Jesus saw the faith of these people, He said to the paralytic, “My son, your sins are forgiven.”

Now some teachers of the Law, who were sitting there, wondered within themselves, “How can He speak like this, insulting God? Who can forgive sins except God?” At once Jesus knew in His Spirit what they were thinking, and asked, “Why do you wonder? Is it easier to say to this paralysed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your mat and walk?'”

“But now you shall know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” And He said to the paralytic, “Stand up, take up your mat and go home.” The man rose and, in the sight of all those people, he took up his mat and went out. All of them were astonished and praised God, saying, “Never have we seen anything like this!”

 

Homily and Reflection :

https://petercanisiusmichaeldavidkang.com/2015/01/15/friday-16-january-2015-1st-week-of-ordinary-time-homily-and-scripture-reflections/

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Friday, 16 January 2015 : 1st Week of Ordinary Time (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Psalm 77 : 3 and 4bc, 6c-7, 8

Old mysteries which we have heard and known, which our ancestors have told us. We will announce them to the coming generation : the glorious deeds of the Lord, His might and the wonders He has done.

So the next generation would learn and teach their own children. They would then put their trust in God, and not forget His deeds and His commands.

And not be like their ancestors, stubborn and rebellious people, a people of inconstant heart whose spirit was fickle.

 

Homily and Reflection :

https://petercanisiusmichaeldavidkang.com/2015/01/15/friday-16-january-2015-1st-week-of-ordinary-time-homily-and-scripture-reflections/

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Friday, 16 January 2015 : 1st Week of Ordinary Time (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Hebrews 4 : 1-5, 11

Therefore let us fear while we are invited to enter the rest of God, lest any of you be left behind. We received the Gospel exactly as they did, but hearing the message did them no good, because they did not share the faith of those who did listen.

We are now to enter this rest because we believed, as it was said : ‘I was angry and made a solemn vow : they will never enter My rest’ – that is the rest of God after He created the world. In another part it was said about the seventh day : ‘And God rested on the seventh day from all His works.’

But now it is said : ‘They will not enter My rest.’ Let us strive, then, to enter the rest and not to share the misfortune of those who disobeyed.

 

Homily and Reflection :

https://petercanisiusmichaeldavidkang.com/2015/01/15/friday-16-january-2015-1st-week-of-ordinary-time-homily-and-scripture-reflections/

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Thursday, 15 January 2015 : 1st Week of Ordinary Time (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today we heard how Jesus cleansed a leper and made him whole and clean once again. The Gospel today from the Gospel of St. Mark showed the manifestation of God’s love and mercy through Jesus, who healed many people from the troubles of their flesh as well as their spirit. What we heard today was the healing of the flesh, the freedom from the diseases of the body.

Brethren, what we witnessed on this day through the Gospel is to show us that our Lord and God, Jesus Christ, is superior to all other things, and all things have been subsumed under His power and authority. Christ alone has the authority to heal diseases and sickness, and in Him alone ultimately lies the authority to heal also the diseases and sickness of our soul and spirit, that is our sinfulness.

This day’s readings had a clear theme, that is sin and rebellion against the will of God. Both of them are related, as indeed sin is in fact what is happening when we disobey the will of God and the Laws which He had set upon this world when He created us all. Just as our first ancestors chose to listen to Satan and eat the forbidden fruit, and thus disobeyed God and sinned.

Sin is the sickness of our soul, of our very spirit, which permeates deep within us and affect every part of our being. And it is indeed harmful, for sin causes the separation between us and our Lord. We cannot survive without God, and without God we are nothing. And death would have been our eternal fate, had God not intervened and prevented us from suffering such a fate.

Those who have sinned and did not repent, including the people of Israel, at the place known as Massah and Meribah, go directly into hell for their disobedience and refusal to listen to the Lord and also for their rejection of God’s grace and abundant love. Despite what the Lord had done for them, liberating them from the forces of the Pharaoh and from their slavery in Egypt, and despite Him having given them the bread from heaven, the manna, and even large birds for them to eat and sweet, crystal-clear water from the rocks to drink.

They constantly complained and complained, bringing shame indeed to the Lord, for this ungrateful chosen people, whom He had brought out of their slavery and suffering. They contended that their lives back in Egypt was much better, and they protested against what they saw as a restraint on their desires. They did not want it difficult and wanted to have it easy. And they were so caught up in it, that they failed to recognise and to appreciate what God had done for them.

They were blessed beyond measure and they received such great graces from God as never seen before in this universe. And yet they were so ungrateful, cursing and complaining against God, profaning the Holy Name of God. As such, their portion was destruction and eternal damnation, and they were cast down into hell. Do we want to share their fate? If we continue to be ungrateful ourselves for His love and care, then we will share their fate too.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, today let us all abandon all forms of sins and commit ourselves to a life without sin and corruption. Instead, let us all embrace the love which God has for us, and let us all seek the Lord with renewed strength and commitment. Let us all recognise the love with which God had shown us through Christ, and accept the rich graces He had bestowed us with and thank Him for all of them. Be not proud nor be filled with desires, but instead put on humility in our hearts.

Therefore, shall we all truly practice our faith in our own respective lives? Let our faith be no longer empty and dead, and let it no longer be meaningless. Let our faith be true and genuine, filled with love and actions showing that we truly are faithful servants and children of our Lord and God. May Almighty God give us His blessings, protect us and strengthen us always in this life, so that we may be courageous in living the Faith we have, and bear witness to His goodness all the days of our life. Amen.

 

First Reading : 

https://petercanisiusmichaeldavidkang.com/2015/01/14/thursday-15-january-2015-1st-week-of-ordinary-time-first-reading/

 

Psalm : 

https://petercanisiusmichaeldavidkang.com/2015/01/14/thursday-15-january-2015-1st-week-of-ordinary-time-psalm/

 

Gospel Reading : 

https://petercanisiusmichaeldavidkang.com/2015/01/14/thursday-15-january-2015-1st-week-of-ordinary-time-gospel-reading/

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Thursday, 15 January 2015 : 1st Week of Ordinary Time (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Mark 1 : 40-45

At that time, a leper came to Jesus and begged Him, “If You want to, You can make me clean.” Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, “I do want to; be clean.” The leprosy left the man at once and he was made clean.

As Jesus sent the man away, He sternly warned him, “Do not tell anyone about this, but go and show yourself to the priest, and for the cleansing bring the offering ordered by Moses; in this way you will give to them your testimony.”

However, as soon as the man went out, he began spreading the news everywhere, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter any town. But even though He stayed in the rural areas, people came to Him from everywhere.

 

Homily and Reflection : 

https://petercanisiusmichaeldavidkang.com/2015/01/14/thursday-15-january-2015-1st-week-of-ordinary-time-homily-and-scripture-reflections/

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Thursday, 15 January 2015 : 1st Week of Ordinary Time (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Psalm 94 : 6-7, 8-9, 10-11

Come and worship; let us bow down, kneel before the Lord, our Maker. He is our God, and we His people; the flock He leads and pastures. Would that today you heard His voice!

Do not be stubborn, as at Meribah, in the desert, on that day at Massah, when your ancestors challenged Me, and they put Me to the test.

For forty years they wearied Me and I said, “They are a people of inconstant heart; they have not known My ways.” So I declared on oath in My anger, “Never shall they enter My rest.”

 

Homily and Reflection : 

https://petercanisiusmichaeldavidkang.com/2015/01/14/thursday-15-january-2015-1st-week-of-ordinary-time-homily-and-scripture-reflections/

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Thursday, 15 January 2015 : 1st Week of Ordinary Time (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Hebrews 3 : 7-14

Listen to what the Holy Spirit says : ‘If only you would hear God’s voice today! Do not be stubborn, as they were in the place called Rebellion, when your ancestors challenged Me in the desert, although they had seen My deeds for forty years. That is why I was angry with those people and said : Their hearts are always going astray and they do not understand My ways. I was angry and made a solemn vow : They will never enter My rest.’

So, brothers, be careful lest some of you come to have an evil and unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. Encourage one another, day by day, as long as it is called today. Let no one become hardened in the deceitful way of sin. We are associated with Christ provided we hold steadfastly to our initial hope until the end.

 

Homily and Reflection : 

https://petercanisiusmichaeldavidkang.com/2015/01/14/thursday-15-january-2015-1st-week-of-ordinary-time-homily-and-scripture-reflections/

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Wednesday, 14 January 2015 : 1st Week of Ordinary Time (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today we heard about the great act of God’s love again, the love which He had for us mankind, so much so that He took up our human form and by what He did, He sanctified the whole human race because He sanctified His very humanity and that essence of humanity by the mingling of His divinity with the Flesh and Blood that He offered for our salvation on the cross.

Yes, God had made us all sanctified and justified by Jesus, the Word of God made flesh and incarnate through Mary. As Christ is both God and Man at the same time, fully human and fully divine, He shares with us our human nature and our human body with all of its properties, and yet for He is without sin and pure, through His selfless offering of Himself as the sacrificial victim in place for our sins, thus He made all of us pure, just as the priests of Israel of old offered lambs and their blood for the purification of sins.

But while the priests of old offered the sacrifices for the people and also for themselves, for they were also sinners, and therefore having to offer the gifts and sacrifices again and again for the people continued to sin and deny the Lord, meanwhile the sacrifice of Christ is the sacrifice of the pure and blameless condemned to death, but one that was done out of great and infinite love. That sincere and selfless offering was accepted by God and became the source of our salvation.

And this salvation that God offered through Jesus Christ was the proof of His love and care for us. He cannot even bear to witness us falling into damnation and annihilation, the consequences of our rebelliousness and sinfulness. He wants us to be rescued from our great predicament, and thus He went forth showing that love through His healing of the sick, as what He had done with the mother-in-law of St. Peter.

By those miracles and healings, He became the sign of hope for many who saw in Him the salvation of God, and it gave them the hope of the liberation from the shackles of sin. Many flocked and thronged to see Him, and they brought many of the sick people to Him, so that He might heal them and make them whole once again. And many others also sought Him to hear Him and listen to His teachings, which dispelled the confusion and mystery of the Law of God, and revealed the Law in all of its full truth and reality.

And how is this relevant to us all, brothers and sisters in Christ? It is because we often forget the fact that we are sinners and we have been afflicted with that sickness of our soul. Sin taints our beings, and it separates us from the Lord, as long as we live in that sin and embrace the ways of sin as the way of life we adopt. We have to realise how we need to seek the Lord and ask Him to heal us and liberate us from our sins.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, just as the disciples told Jesus that everyone was looking for Him, and He responded by going forth to those people who sought Him, thus we too should seek out our Lord, who loves us very much, and who had given us the sanctification and purification by His death on the cross. He had given us so much, so what we should do is indeed to appreciate that love and has respect for our Lord’s sacrifice.

Therefore, as children of God, we should behave like what is expected from us, that is to live faithfully and keep love in our hearts always. If our actions, deeds and words reflect who we are supposed to be, then we have lived our faith quite well and in the end, not only we will be saved, but also others who see our faith, and through that they are saved as well together with us.

May Almighty God bless us all, grant us strength and perseverance to continue living this life we have with zeal and love, with the same love that God had given us, so that we may love one another and inspire each other in faith that all may be saved. God bless us all. Amen.

 

First Reading :

https://petercanisiusmichaeldavidkang.com/2015/01/13/wednesday-14-january-2015-1st-week-of-ordinary-time-first-reading/

 

Psalm :

https://petercanisiusmichaeldavidkang.com/2015/01/13/wednesday-14-january-2015-1st-week-of-ordinary-time-psalm/

 

Gospel Reading :

https://petercanisiusmichaeldavidkang.com/2015/01/13/wednesday-14-january-2015-1st-week-of-ordinary-time-gospel-reading/

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Wednesday, 14 January 2015 : 1st Week of Ordinary Time (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Mark 1 : 29-39

At that time, on leaving the synagogue, Jesus went to the home of Simon and Andrew with James and John. As Simon’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with fever, they immediately told Him about her. Jesus went to her and, taking her by the hand, raised her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.

That evening at sundown, people brought to Jesus all the sick and those who had evil spirits : the whole town was pressing around the door. Jesus healed many who had various diseases, and drove out many demons; but He did not let them speak, for they knew who He was.

Very early in the morning, before daylight, Jesus went off to a lonely place where He prayed. Simon and the others went out also, searching for Him; and when they found Him, they said, “Everyone is looking for You.” Then Jesus answered, “Let us go to the nearby villages so that I may preach there too; for that is why I came.”

So Jesus set out to preach in all the synagogues throughout Galilee; He also cast out demons.

 

Homily and Reflection :

https://petercanisiusmichaeldavidkang.com/2015/01/13/wednesday-14-january-2015-1st-week-of-ordinary-time-homily-and-scripture-reflections/

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Wednesday, 14 January 2015 : 1st Week of Ordinary Time (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Psalm 104 : 1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8-9

Give thanks to the Lord, call on His Name; make known His works among the nations. Sing to Him, sing His praise, proclaim all His wondrous deeds.

Glory in His holy Name; let those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and be strong; seek His face always.

You descendants of His servant Abraham, you sons of Jacob, His chosen ones! He is the Lord our God; His judgments reach the whole world.

He remembers His covenant forever, His promise to a thousand generations, the covenant He made with Abraham, the promise He swore to Isaac.

 

Homily and Reflection :

https://petercanisiusmichaeldavidkang.com/2015/01/13/wednesday-14-january-2015-1st-week-of-ordinary-time-homily-and-scripture-reflections/