Fourth Week of Easter

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Wednesday, 6 May 2020 : 4th Week of Easter (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : White

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, on this day let us all spend some time to reflect on what we have just heard from the passages of the Sacred Scriptures, in which we are called to have that genuine and strong faith in God, to be passionate and dedicated in how we live our lives so that we may truly be examples and inspiration for each other in our way of living our faith. We are called to devote our time and attention to the Lord in our daily living as best as we can.

In our first reading today, taken from the Acts of the Apostles, we heard about the work of the Apostles especially that of St. Paul and St. Barnabas in going to various places in the Eastern Mediterranean region, as they went to the various Jewish and Gentile communities to spread the Good News of God to all of them. The Lord gave them the strength, courage and wisdom to carry out His will and the mission entrusted to them, and the Apostles and other disciples prayed over all the missionaries before they embarked on their journey.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, what we have heard in our Scripture passages today highlight how all those very dedicated and committed servants of God laboured for the sake of the Lord and His Church during the early days of the Church. Unlike today, at that time, most places that the Apostles and the disciples of the Lord visited were truly places where the Lord, the faith and His truth were still completely ignorant of the truth of God, full of pagan practices and in some cases even immorality.

It was indeed very difficult for the Apostles and all the missionaries to carry out their missions, as they had to contend with various obstacles and challenges throughout their journey. They had to risk a lot during their mission and their journey, just as the other Christians also often had to hide and persevere through many persecutions against them. Yet, all of them seemed to be passionate and committed regardless, and there does not seem to be any logical reasons for those many martyrs of the faith who chose to remain faithful even to the point of facing death.

And that is because they know that they belong to the Lord, and the Lord will always be by their side and will be faithful to the Covenant which He has made with all of them. God is always loving and committed to us, and we can indeed trust Him and put our lives in His hands. That was what those early Christians had in their minds and in their hearts whenever they were going through tribulations and difficult challenges. They trusted the Lord and followed Him wherever He guided them to.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, even till this very day, all these still hold true, as we are God’s people and He is our Lord and Shepherd. And the fact is that the works of the Apostles and the missionaries of the Lord are far from over. In fact, in our world today there remain an even greater need for the Lord’s truth to be brought to all the peoples of all the nations. Many people are still living in ignorance of God’s truth, and this apply even, sadly, to those within the Church and many of those who call themselves as Christians.

Yes, brothers and sisters in Christ, at present, there are plenty of lukewarm attitude in how many among us Christians are living our lives and our faith. We treat the faith as nothing more important than a side activity, or even as a chore and formality, something that should not have been the case. But this is the sad reality and truth, knowing how so many among us treat the Lord and our Christian faith with such lukewarmness, apathy, ignorance and even disdain. It is sad that quite a few treat their faith as nothing more than a formality.

This is why, in these days we are living now, we have this same challenge facing the Church and all of us, to continue the works of the Apostles in being the bearers of the Good News and the Lord’s truth in our world today, even among our own Christian communities. We are all called to be the good and faithful witnesses of our faith to our fellow brothers and sisters, by living our lives with genuine commitment to our Christian faith and following what the Lord has commanded and taught us to do.

We have to be faithful ourselves if we want to convince others to be faithful. That is why we are called today to reflect on the faith of our many predecessors, all those Christians who had endured such difficult persecutions and challenges, and all those missionaries and bringers of the truth of the Gospel who had laboured hard for the sake of God and His Church in this world. Are we able to follow in their footsteps, brothers and sisters in Christ? Are we willing to commit ourselves and our lives for the Lord?

Let us all discern carefully then on what we all can do from now on to spread the Good News of God, His truth and His salvation to all the peoples. May the Lord be with us in our journey of faith and may He help us with our efforts, guide us in our path and help direct our efforts, that in everything we do, we will always bring glory to the Lord and bring ever more souls to salvation in God, through His Church. Amen.

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Wednesday, 6 May 2020 : 4th Week of Easter (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

John 12 : 44-50

At that time, yet Jesus had said, and even cried out, “Whoever believes in Me, believes not in Me, but in Him Who sent Me. And whoever sees Me, sees Him Who sent Me. I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in Me may not remain in darkness.”

“If anyone hears My words and does not keep them, I am not the One to condemn him; for I have come, not to condemn the world, but to save the world. The one who rejects Me, and does not receive My word, already has a judge : the very word I have spoken will condemn him on the last day.”

“For I have not spoken on My own authority; the Father, Who sent Me, has instructed Me in what to say and how to speak. I know that His commandment is eternal life, and that is why the message I give, I give as the Father instructed Me.”

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Wednesday, 6 May 2020 : 4th Week of Easter (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : White

Psalm 66 : 2-3, 5, 6 and 8

May God be gracious and bless us, may He let His face shine upon us, that Your way be known on earth and Your salvation among the nations.

May the countries be glad and sing for joy, for You rule the peoples with justice and guide the nations of the world.

May the people praise You, o God, may all the peoples praise You! May God bless us and be revered, to the very ends of the earth.

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Wednesday, 6 May 2020 : 4th Week of Easter (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

Acts 12 : 24 – Acts 13 : 5a

Meanwhile the word of God was increasing and spreading. Barnabas and Saul carried out their mission and then came back to Jerusalem, taking with them John also called Mark.

There were at Antioch – in the Church which was there – prophets and teachers : Barnabas, Symeon known as Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod, and Saul.

On one occasion while they were celebrating the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said to them, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul to do the work for which I have called them.” So, after fasting and praying, they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

These then, sent by the Holy Spirit, went down the port of Seleucia and from there sailed to Cyprus. Upon their arrival in Salamis they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogue.

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Tuesday, 5 May 2020 : 4th Week of Easter (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : White

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, on this day we are reminded that even at the worst and most difficult moments of our lives, we must never lose hope and faith in the Lord for our hope and life lie in His hands alone. We must put our complete trust and faith in Him and follow Him. In our Scripture passages today we heard how the Lord was with His Church, and how He, as our Good Shepherd is always by our side and caring for us.

We heard in our first reading today from the Acts of Apostles how persecutions and oppressions happened to the Church and the faithful beginning with the persecution and martyrdom of St. Stephen, the first of the many martyrs of the Church, and many more then would suffer because of the actions taken by the Sanhedrin or the Jewish High Council, as well as through the actions of some of the zealous enemies of the Christian faith, especially that of Saul, the young, misguided Pharisee, who would later on be known as St. Paul the Apostle after his conversion.

But at that time, Saul was still a vigorous and even violent enemy of the early Christians, arresting many of the followers of Christ across Judea and Jerusalem, making many of them suffer persecution and prison, for his misguided agenda in trying to eradicate the Christian faith and stop the teachings and truth of Christ from spreading further. Many of them had to flee to the surrounding regions and countries to avoid the persecutions, but even during these difficult and challenging moments, the Apostles and various missionaries still ventured forth to bring the Good News to many people.

From the same passage in the Acts of the Apostles, we heard how the Apostles and servants of God enthusiastically went around many cities and towns throughout the Mediterranean region preaching the Good News and gaining more converts in those places. There were of course plenty of rejection and also plenty of sufferings and troubles during their missionary journey, but as with their troubles and challenges in Judea and Jerusalem, these did not stop them or discourage them from doing the mission entrusted to them.

Instead, as the Lord was with them and guided them along their journey, they became even more enthusiastic and willing to commit themselves to the works of the Lord. They believe in the Lord, their Master and their Good Shepherd, Who has promised as He Himself mentioned in our Gospel passage today, that He will lead them all, all those who believe in Him, into eternal life and glory with Him in heaven. And those who put their trust and faith in Him will not be lost, and will have sure anchor in the Lord.

That is why despite the challenges that the disciples and the early Christians had to face, it is even more encouraging for them that the Lord was by their side and with them even through their most difficult moments, having received the assurance that their Good Shepherd and Lord was with them, suffering with them and walking with them as they courageously went from place to place proclaiming God’s truth and salvation to all the peoples of all nations.

Now, brothers and sisters in Christ, all of us are therefore today reminded that we are all also part of this one and same Church, with the same mission that has been revealed and entrusted to the Apostles and the disciples, that Great Commission, when the Lord Jesus commanded all of us to go forth to all the nations and gather all the people from every nations and make them all His disciples, and baptise them in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Through us, our Lord and Good Shepherd is gathering all of His scattered flock into one flock once again.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, we need to realise that we all have a part to play and to contribute as members and parts of God’s one Church, and we have to follow the good examples set by our Good Shepherd, and subsequently, what His Apostles and disciples had done, as they themselves walked in the path set before them as shepherds entrusted with the care and guardianship of the people and flock of God. We are all also part of this journey of faith together, and we must take part in it wholeheartedly.

Are we able to dedicate ourselves and commit ourselves to the Lord as how our many holy predecessors had done? Let us do our best in whatever it is that God has called us to do, and contribute our efforts as best as we can from now on. May all of us by our actions and by our exemplary life and dedication to the Lord, our Good Shepherd be inspiration and guide to our fellow brethren that more and more souls may come to the Lord and be reconciled with Him.

May God bless us always, and may He strengthen each and every one of us to live faithfully and to give ourselves in the service of God. May the Lord guide us all, as He has promised us, to the land of eternal joy and true glory with Him, our loving Good Shepherd, Master and Creator. Amen.

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Tuesday, 5 May 2020 : 4th Week of Easter (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

John 10 : 22-30

At that time, the time came for the Feast of the Dedication. It was winter, and Jesus walked back and forth in the portico of Solomon. The Jews then gathered around Him and said to Him, “How long will You keep us in doubt? If You are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”

Jesus answered, “I have already told you, but you do not believe. The works I do in My Father’s Name proclaim Who I am, but you do not believe because, as I said, you are not My sheep. My sheep hear My voice and I know them; they follow Me and I give them eternal life.”

“They shall never perish, and no one will ever steal them from Me. What the Father has given Me is above everything else, and no one can snatch it from out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are One.”

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Tuesday, 5 May 2020 : 4th Week of Easter (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : White

Psalm 86 : 1-3, 4-5, 6-7

He Himself has built it in His holy mountain; the Lord prefers the gates of Zion to all of Jacob’s towns. Great things have been foretold of you, o city of God.

Between friends we speak of Egypt and Babylon; and also Philistia, Tyre, Ethiopia : “Here so-and-so was born.” But of Zion it shall be said, “More and more are being born in her.” For the Most High Himself has founded her.

And the Lord notes in the people’s register : “All these were also born in Zion.” And all will dance and sing joyfully for You.

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Tuesday, 5 May 2020 : 4th Week of Easter (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

Acts 11 : 19-26

Those who had been scattered because of the persecution over Stephen travelled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message, but only to the Jews. But there were some natives of Cyprus and Cyrene among them who, on coming into Antioch, spoke also to the Greeks, giving them the Good News of the Lord Jesus. The hand of the Lord was with them so that a great number believed and turned to the Lord.

News of this reached the ears of the Church in Jerusalem, so they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw the manifest signs of God’s favour, he rejoiced and urged them all to remain firmly faithful to the Lord; for he himself was a good man filled with Holy Spirit and faith. Thus large crowds came to know the Lord.

Then Barnabas went off to Tarsus to look for Saul and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they had meetings with the Church and instructed many people. It was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians.

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Monday, 4 May 2020 : 4th Week of Easter (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : White

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, on this day all of us heard of how the Lord has called all of the peoples from various nations and places to follow Him, to walk in His path and to listen to Him, for He is the One true Shepherd and Lord of all, the Good Shepherd of all the flock and people of God. We who have been created by God are His people and we are all part of this same flock He has been gathering from the nations, called to be His people.

And we are all equal before God, equally loved and cherished by Him, for that is why He created each and every one of us, with equal opportunities to enjoy His wonderful love and grace, and with equal attention from His loving and tender care. This is precisely the message that He had told His Apostle St. Peter, the chief shepherd that He had appointed to be His Vicar and the leader of the whole of His universal flock, the Church, that everyone may come to know of the love of God and come to His loving embrace.

In today’s first reading, we heard about the testimony of St. Peter the Apostle to the other Apostles and disciples in Judea, in the light that some among the disciples wanted to impose strict Jewish laws and customs to all the faithful, while some even despised those who went to the Gentiles, spoke with them and ministered to them. And that included St. Peter himself who was attacked for his travel to Joppa, his works among the Gentiles and his visit to the house of Cornelius, a Roman and a Gentile in the eyes of the Jews.

At that time, the prevailing sentiment among the Jewish people especially in Judea, and even more so amongst the members of the Pharisees was that association and contacts with the Gentiles or the non-Jewish people were undesirable and to be avoided as far as possible. To them the Gentiles were pagans and unbelievers, filthy and corrupted by their sins, and because of this, they did not want to defile themselves by associating, meeting or going to the house of a Gentile.

And this was made even more complicated by the then recent history of the persecution of the Jewish faith and traditions by the Greeks under the Seleucid Greek kings, overcome only by years of stiff and stubborn resistance by the local Jewish rebels and fighters under the Maccabees. Then, later on the Romans came and took over power, and their taxation and persecution of the Jews made the sentiment against the Gentiles even worse as years passed by.

But the Lord showed St. Peter a vision, showing him all the food in the form of animals that had been considered as unclean under the old Jewish laws and customs. The Lord told St. Peter to eat of the food from the animals considered unclean, but St. Peter resisted and said that he should not eat of what the Law considered to be unclean, and the Lord chided him for not following and doing what the Lord had declared to be clean and good. As He repeated this divine vision three times, the Lord told St. Peter the truth and His intention, that He wants all of His people to be reconciled to Him, to find their way to Him and to be part of His Church.

This is in contrast to what those hardline Jews and the Pharisees among the earliest Christian converts upheld, in their view that only the Jewish customs, practices and ways of life can assure them of God’s salvation and grace. The Lord wanted the Apostles, His disciples and all of us to know that He, our Good Shepherd has called us all, His scattered flock and sheep all around the world, that we may be reunited with Him, and find our way to the salvation and new life through Him.

We are all truly blessed that our Lord, the Good Shepherd has revealed God’s most wonderful love to each and every one of us. We have been given a new lease of life by the Lord and we must appreciate whatever it is that we have been given. We are all reminded that indeed there is only one flock, and there is just one Shepherd. All the whole Church is this flock of the Lord, and all of us have been called by the Lord from all the nations that there will be no more divisions among us, Gentile or Jew, poor or rich, or by any other standards of life we often use to divide ourselves.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, all of us are called to be good examples to one another, imitating the Good Shepherd, our Lord Himself. If our Good Shepherd has been so loving and caring towards us, then we should also show the same love towards our fellow brothers and sisters, as after all we are all part of this same flock of our Lord, and we have all been loved equally by God. Let us all love one another just as the Lord, our Good Shepherd has loved us.

And let us all focus our lives once again on the Lord and put Him at the centre of all of our lives and existence. May the Lord be with us always, and may He strengthen each and every one of us that we may be ever filled with love and conviction to serve God with all of our strength, now and always. Amen.

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Monday, 4 May 2020 : 4th Week of Easter (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

John 10 : 11-18

Jesus said to His disciples, “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep. Not so the hired hand, or any other person who is not the shepherd, and to whom the sheep do not belong. They abandon the sheep as soon as they see the wolf coming; then the wolf snatches and scatters the sheep. This is because the hired hand works for pay and cares nothing for the sheep.”

“I am the Good Shepherd. I know My own and My own know Me, as the Father knows Me and I know the Father. Because of this, I give My life for My sheep. I have other sheep which are not of this fold. These I have to lead as well, and they shall listen to My voice. Then there will be one flock, since there is one Shepherd.”

“The Father loves Me, because I lay down My life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down freely. It is Mine to lay down and to take up again : this mission I received from My Father.”