Liturgical Colour : Green or Red (Martyrs)
Psalm 54 : 7-8, 9-10a, 10b-11a, 23
I said, “If I had wings, like a dove, I would fly away and be at rest; I would seek a home in the desert.”
“I would hurry to find a cave, for shelter from the tempest.” O YHVH, shatter their plans.
In the city, I see strife and violence; day and night, they prowl about its walls.
Place your burden on YHVH, and He will sustain you; for He never allows the upright to fall.
Liturgical Colour : Green or Red (Martyrs)
James 4 : 1-10
What causes these fights and quarrels among you? Is it not your cravings, that make war within your own selves? When you long for something you cannot have, you kill for it, and when you do not get what you desire, you squabble and fight. The fact is, you do not have what you want, because you do not pray for it.
You pray for something, and you do not get it, because you pray with the wrong motive, of indulging your pleasures. You adulterers! Do you not know, that making friends with the world makes you enemies of God? Therefore, whoever chooses to be the world’s friend becomes God’s enemy.
Can you not see the point of the saying in the Scripture : “The longing of the Spirit, He sent to dwell in us, is a jealous longing?” But God has something better to give, and Scripture also says, “God opposes the proud but He gives His favour to the humble.” Give in, then, to God; resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Draw close to God and He will come close to you. Clean your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you doubters. Recognise your distress, be miserable and weep. Turn your laughter into tears and your joy into sadness. Humble yourselves before the Lord and He will raise you up.
Liturgical Colour : White or Red (Martyrs)
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today we gather together as one united and holy people of God at the eve of the end of the glorious and most joyful season of Easter which will come to its conclusion tomorrow with the Solemnity of Pentecost Sunday. Today, the readings from the Sacred Scriptures remind us all of the continuing works that each and every one of us as Christians have been entrusted with. All of us as the people whom God had called and chosen, we are all given the respective talents, gifts, blessings and all the things which can help us in our path, in leading lives that are truly worthy of God, in doing our best so that we may inspire others to follow in the path of righteousness and in God’s grace. We must always be the ones to bring forth the light and Good News of God’s salvation to our world today, which is still enshrouded in darkness of sin and evil.
In our first reading today, we heard of the last part of the ministry of the Apostle St. Paul who finally arrived in Rome after a long and arduous journey that we would know and remember if we have read the earlier parts of the Acts of the Apostles. This was the last of all of St. Paul’s missionary journeys, which he undertook to follow God’s guidance and will, to proclaim the Word of God and His salvation to the people of Rome, which was then the capital of the great and mighty Roman Empire. St. Paul therefore braved through the many dangers and challenges that he had to face as he embarked on this journey towards the Eternal City, as Rome has been commonly known by, to proclaim the Lord to everyone, and to establish the foundations of the Church there together with the other missionaries, like St. Peter, who was the first Bishop of Rome.
We heard how the Lord was with St. Paul and his mission and despite him having been technically under arrest of the earlier charges put against him, as he awaited his appeal to the Roman Emperor, he was actually given a lot of freedom to come and go as he pleased, as he continued his ministry and works among the people of Rome, to both the Jews and the Gentiles or non-Jewish people alike, many of whom became believers in Christ, embracing the love of God and His salvation which He has revealed through His Son and His Apostles. St. Paul continued to commit himself thoroughly to fulfil whatever the Lord had entrusted to him to do in proclaiming His Good News, all the way to the end of his life in martyrdom, as Apostolic traditions put St. Paul as being martyred in Rome during the great persecution of Christians by the Emperor Nero.
Then, in our Gospel passage today taken from the Gospel of St. John, we heard of the conversation between the Lord Jesus and His disciples, in which the Lord told His disciples at the Last Supper when they were all discussing about His words and what He had revealed to them, firstly about the one who would betray Him, referring to Judas Iscariot, whom at the time no one would have expected to betray the Lord. Then, they also spoke about the disciple whom the Lord loved, referring to St. John the Apostle himself, the writer of this Gospel. As was common and expected, there was a kind of rivalry and jealousy existing between the disciples, as they all definitely tried to get more favour in the eyes of the Lord, and St. John in particular was one who was a target of the other disciples.
That was because in another occasion in the Gospels, we heard how St. John and St. James, together with their mother came before the Lord, and the mother asked the Lord Jesus for special favours for her sons, to sit by His left and right sides, an act which was met by an immediate unhappiness and discord among the Lord’s disciples. At that time, some if not many among the Lord’s followers did follow Him hoping that He would be the Messiah to restore the Kingdom of Israel, and they likely hoped to gain benefits and honour, glory and power for themselves in the event that the Lord accomplished His works and missions. But they failed to understand that this was not what the Lord intended to do, and as the Lord Himself pointed out to everyone, that it was not their business to know or understand if the disciple beloved by the Lord, St. John the Apostle would not die before he was to see His coming.
Those words indeed came to be true as Apostolic traditions again showed that St. John the Apostle was the only one among all the Apostles who did not suffer martyrdom, and St. John would also see the Lord’s salvation through visions at the Island of Patmos, which he then recorded in his Book of Apocalypse or Revelations. All the other Apostles including that of St. Paul eventually met their end through martyrdom, giving their lives after various kinds of sufferings and persecutions to glorify God. They did not give up on their faith in God, and they continued to labour hard for God and for the people they had been entrusted with. However, this did not mean that St. John did not suffer for his faith and commitment to God. Being the last among the Apostles to survive, he endured many decades of hardships and challenges, persecutions and exiles, including to the Island of Patmos mentioned earlier. In a sense, he was also a martyr, as he endured ‘white martyrdom’ not by shedding his blood but by enduring great sufferings for the Lord’s sake throughout his ministry.
Today, the Church also celebrates the feast of a great Church father and devoted man of God, whose faith and commitment to God can be a great inspiration and strength for all of us. Pope St. John I was one of the early leaders and Popes of the Church, who was known especially for his courage and dedication to God in standing up against even the powerful secular power and bureaucracy, eventually martyred for his faith in God and for his commitment to his mission, just as his many predecessors before him. He was elected as Pope during a rather turbulent time for the Church especially in Rome, due to the clashes between the secular rulers of Italy, then under the Ostrogothic Kingdom, led by its Arian heretic rulers and the Roman Emperors in Constantinople.
Pope St. John I was torn between protecting the orthodoxy of the Christian teachings and faith which the Arian Ostrogothic rulers did not adhere to, and protecting the well-being and the safety of the many people and clergy under his care in Rome and its associated territories. He went on a mission to the Imperial capital in Constantinople to try to mediate the situation and was well received by the Emperor who tried to help the Pope as best as he could do. However upon his return to Rome, Pope St. John I was arrested by the Ostrogothic King, Theodoric the Great who was suspicious at the Pope of having possibly colluded and plotted against him and his kingdom with the Roman Emperor. Thus, Pope St. John I was imprisoned and eventually died in prison from maltreatment and neglect, as a martyr of the faith.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, the Lord wants to remind us all today through all these passages of the Sacred Scriptures and from the life and examples of Pope St. John I, holy Pope and Martyr of the Church, that each and every one of us must be always ready and committed to follow whatever the Lord had called us to do, and to do His will, to proclaim Him, His truth, His Good News and love to everyone, despite the challenges, hardships and trials that we may have to encounter in our paths. We must always remember that God is always by our side and He will continue to provide for our efforts and works in our journey of faith, and while we may have to suffer, but we are suffering together with Him.
Let us all therefore continue to do God’s will and strive to be the most faithful disciples and followers, to be His shining beacons of light and truth in our communities and respective societies today. Even though the season of Easter is coming to an end, let us always remember this does not mean that our responsibilities and commitments as Christians, as an Easter people blessed by the Risen Lord come to an end. Instead, as we continue to carry on living our lives each day, we should continue to commit ourselves each day with ever greater zeal and love for God in all things, now and always. Amen.
Liturgical Colour : White or Red (Martyrs)
John 21 : 20-25
At that time, Peter looked back and saw that the disciple Jesus loved was following as well, the one who had reclined close to Jesus at the supper, and had asked Him, “Lord, who is to betray You?”
On seeing him, Peter asked Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain until I come, does that concern you? Follow Me!” Because of this the rumour spread in the community that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus had not said to Peter, “He will not die,” but, “Suppose I want him to remain until I come.”
It is this disciple who testifies about the things he has written here, and we know that his testimony is true. But Jesus did many other things; if all were written down, I think the world itself could not contain the books that should be written.
Liturgical Colour : White or Red (Martyrs)
Psalm 10 : 4, 5 and 7
The Lord is in His holy place – our God Whose throne is in heaven. He looks down to earth to observe the race of Adam.
The Lord searches both righteous and wicked. He hates those who delight in violence, for the Lord is righteous; He loves justice. The upright will see His face.
Liturgical Colour : White or Red (Martyrs)
Acts 28 : 16-20, 30-31
Upon our arrival in Rome, the captain turned the prisoners over to the military governor but permitted Paul to lodge in a private house with the soldier who guarded him. After three days, Paul called together the leaders of the Jews.
When they had gathered, he said to them : “Brothers, though I have not done anything against our people or against the traditions of our fathers, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. They examined me and wanted to set me free, for they saw nothing in my case that deserved death.”
“But the Jews objected, so I was forced to appeal to Caesar without the least intention of bringing any case against my own people. Therefore, I have asked to see you and speak with you, since it is because of the hope of Israel that I bear these chains.”
Paul stayed for two whole years in a house he himself rented, where he received without any hindrance all those who came to see him. He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught the truth about Jesus Christ, the Lord, quite openly and without any hindrance.
Liturgical Colour : White or Red (Martyrs)
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today all of us are reminded through the words of the Sacred Scriptures of our calling as Christians, that is as all those who have accepted and embraced the Lord’s call, and have faith in Him, to be truly committed to the missions and the vocation which the Lord had entrusted to each and every one of us, in every unique ministries and contributions that each one of us can give to help in the mission of the Church. God has entrusted to all of us the fate of our fellow brothers and sisters, many of whom had not yet known Him, and many of whom were still under the sway and power of sin, living in the darkness of sin and evil, not being aware of the Light, Hope and truth that God alone can bring into our midst. That is why we have to be the good and faithful bearers of Christ’s Light in our world today.
In our first reading today, we heard from the Acts of the Apostles in which the works of the Apostles and the other disciples in spreading the faith in the Lord were narrated and told to us, and we continue to hear how the Church kept on growing and the faith kept on spreading despite the challenges and persecutions that they faced along the way. The efforts made by the Apostles especially by those of St. Paul and St. Barnabas were crucial in extending the reach of the Church and welcoming many more converts from among the non-Jewish community, or the Gentiles. Their efforts and works among the Greeks and others led to many embracing the Lord Jesus as their Lord and Master, leaving behind their old pagan idols and ways.
The Apostles entrusted the mission of the conversion and evangelisation of the Gentiles to those of St. Paul and St. Barnabas, as well as their companions, and this was the foundation of the many missionary journeys that St. Paul would undertake for the spreading of the Good News of the Gospel. St. Paul went to many places, guided by the Holy Spirit, to proclaim the Risen Lord and managed to gain many new believers, who were convinced of the truth of Christ and who were also inspired by the great examples shown by the Apostles and the other disciples of the Lord, the early Christians who lived in great harmony and love for one another, showing the love of God manifested in their actions, words and deeds, in all of their interactions.
In our Gospel passage today, we then heard of the Lord Jesus speaking to His disciples and all the other people who were following Him regarding what He had been telling them, and how He is truly the Son of God Incarnate, referring to God as His own Father, the Father Who is in Heaven. This was something that was taboo and forbidden among the Jewish people and tradition at that time, as God was seen as Almighty and incomparable, one and without equal, and for One like Jesus to claim to be the Son of God and calling God as His Father was akin to proclaiming blasphemy against God. However, this was because those who thought this way refused to accept the fact that there can be new revelation that was not found in the books of the Law or the Prophets. It was precisely what the Lord did, in revealing to everyone the fullness of God’s truth.
In truth, the Lord was telling everyone that God’s promises had indeed come into this world, and all had been perfectly fulfilled and manifested in Himself, in the Son and Word of God incarnate in the flesh as the Son of Man, through Whom God’s will had been made clear to us and by Whose Presence the love of God had been made tangible and approachable by us. Through His Son, the Lord has made His salvation and love manifested and real before us, and He showed it all to us through the Passion of our Lord and Saviour, as He suffered most grievously and endured a most painful death on the Cross, all for the sake of our salvation. Through Him, we have seen the Light and Hope of the Lord and we are all called to follow Him, embracing His salvation and love, as we are all expected to do as Christians, as God’s holy and beloved people.
Today, the Church also celebrates the Feast of St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen, a great servant of God and one whose life and examples can serve as good inspiration for each and every one of us to follow, so that in looking upon what this man of God had done, we can then be more inspired and strengthened in our own efforts to glorify the Lord. St. Fidelis was born in what is today part of Germany and grew up to be an academic, learning about law and philosophy, becoming a lawyer and teacher of philosophy at the institute of his study. Eventually, disillusioned by the wickedness of worldly living and the corrupt nature of his work as a lawyer and the immoral behaviours of the other lawyers of his time made St. Fidelis to join his brother as a Capuchin religious.
St. Fidelis therefore became a priest and began his ministry in the time when the Church and Christendom was greatly ravager and affected by the blight of the Protestant reformation, where many people have fallen sway into the path of heresy and falsehoods. Through his works, St. Fidelis was successful in converting quite a few of the Calvinists in the region and this led to hostile reaction from the other Calvinists who began to threaten St. Fidelis. However St. Fidelis was not deterred or became fearful over those threats, and he began to prepare himself for martyrdom should it come to pass for him. It happened therefore on one day when a group of Calvinist soldiers and agitators went up against St. Fidelis, and when they failed to force him to renounce his true Christian faith, he was martyred at that place. The courage and faith of St. Fidelis nevertheless remained strong and became inspiration for many others, and some of his persecutors were even converted to the true faith.
Through the inspiration of St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen, his courage and dedication to God, may the Lord continue to help and guide us all in our journey so that by everything that He has provided unto us, we may continue to persevere in our journey and trials of faith, throughout all these moments in life. Let us all commit ourselves ever more thoroughly and courageously to be the worthy disciples and followers of Our Lord and God. May the Lord continue to bless us in our good efforts and endeavours, all for His greater glory, now and always, forevermore. Amen.
Liturgical Colour : White or Red (Martyrs)
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.”
Liturgical Colour : White or Red (Martyrs)
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.
Liturgical Colour : White or Red (Martyrs)
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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