holy martyrs

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Thursday, 19 October 2023 : 28th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. John Brebeuf and St. Isaac Jogues, Priests and Martyrs, and Companions, Martyrs, and St. Paul of the Cross, Priest (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green or Red (Martyrs) or White (Priests)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we listened to the words of the Scriptures, we are reminded of the need for all of us to embrace God’s ever generous love and mercy, His compassion and kindness to all of us, His beloved people. The Lord has always patiently reached out to us, with His ever patient and enduring love, that He has extended upon us ever since the very beginning, helping and leading us down the journey towards Him, calling upon each and every one of us to embrace His path and His love once again, even though we have often ignored, abandoned and rejected Him. God did not want us to be lost from Him, but unfortunately many of us tend to be filled with pride and ego, ambition, desires and attachments to worldly desires that we continue in our rebellion and disobedience against Him.

In our Gospel reading today, this is what the Lord had pointed out as He rebuked and criticised all those Pharisees and the teachers of the Law who had always hardened their hearts against Him and His truth, in rejecting all that He has revealed and delivered to them through Jesus Christ, the One Who had been sent into this world to save us all. Those Pharisees and teachers of the Law had acted like their predecessors and ancestors, who had proudly rebelled and disobeyed against God because they deemed that their ways and paths were better than what God had shown them all. Their ancestors, the Israelites persecuted the prophets and messengers sent to them to remind and help them in their way back towards the Lord. The Pharisees and the teachers of the Law themselves also persecuted the Lord and His disciples in the similar way.

Why was that so, brothers and sisters in Christ? That was because of the dangers of man’s pride, ego, ambition, jealousy, desire and many other things which can mislead us down the path of our downfall. Those people thought that they knew it better than everyone else, in how they ought to live their lives and in the path that they were walking. They hardened their hearts and minds with pride, and as a result, God’s truth, His words and reminders cannot enter into them, and they ended up doing things that led them into sin and evil, as they persecuted, murdered and opposed those faithful and holy servants that God has sent into their midst. Yet, the Lord has always been very patient with His people, and He continued to send unto His people, more and more reminders, help and assistance. He had always shown them His patience and love, and even sent His Beloved Son to save them all.

St. Paul in our first reading passage today in his Epistle to the Romans highlighted how God had saved us all through His love and ever present kindness, compassion and care towards us, His beloved ones. St. Paul made a comparison of how the Law of God as revealed through His Son, Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, has shown us the perfection of God’s grace and love, and how it has surpassed the other aspects of the Law, which was in fact a reference to the way the Law and the commandments were practiced and done by the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law during the time of the Lord and His Apostles. St. Paul wanted to remind each and every one of us that we must first and foremost be faithful to God, and to put our whole and complete trust in God, in all things, and at all opportunities. We should not allow our own prejudices, pride and ambition, our attachments to worldly matters to distract us from the true path of God’s righteousness, just as the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law had done. Instead, as Christians, we must always put the Lord at the centre and as the very focus of our lives and existence.

Today, the Church celebrates the feast of several great and holy people, whose faith, commitment and devotion to God can serve as inspiration and as great role models for us all to follow so that we may also know how we should live out our lives in commitment to God. St. Isaac Jogues and St. John Brebeuf were French Jesuit missionaries who ministered and worked in the region of what is today part of the province of Quebec in Canada, as they went to the indigenous peoples living in those regions, bringing unto them the Good News of God, the salvation of God to them. Together with several other missionaries, they laboured hard tor the sake of the Gospel. Then, we also honour St. Paul of the Cross, a priest and mystic who was also the founder of the Passionists.

First of all, St. John Brebeuf, St. Isaac Jogues and their fellow missionaries were all very hardworking and committed in their missions to spread the Good News of God in the very harsh conditions of the subarctic parts of North America, in what is now known as Quebec, that was then known as New France. The missionaries had to persevere through a lot of hardships and difficult environmental conditions, in often subzero conditions and afflicted by diseases, while being in the wilderness and facing opposition and resistance from some among the indigenous natives that viewed the missionaries with suspicion or even outright hostility and rejection, and this was what eventually led to their martyrdom in the end, when they were attacked and massacred by those who refused to believe.

Nevertheless, the inspirational examples and faith of the missionaries made quite a number of converts among the natives, some of whom were also martyred together with them. In particular, for the example of St. Isaac Jogues himself, martyred during one of his missions among the Iroquois natives, his faith and determination inspired his own killer such that when this killer was arrested and awaiting his execution, he chose to be baptised as a Christian, and took upon St. Isaac Jogues’ name as his own baptismal name, and thus, the curious case of St. Isaac Jogues’ ‘double martyrdom’ happened. As we can see, the examples and efforts of the missionaries like St. Isaac Jogues, St. John Brebeuf and their fellow missionaries and martyrs touched the lives and the hearts of so many, who were called to follow Christ henceforth.

Meanwhile, St. Paul of the Cross was the founder of the Passionists as mentioned. He was a young man that felt the stirrings of God’s call early on, and which continued to vex him throughout his growing years, as he encountered various people and experiences that directed him towards the path of God. Eventually, this inspired him to establish a community of like-minded men who were willing to follow the Lord and to live their lives in commitment to God, in promoting the love of God for each and every one of us, particularly through His Passion, that is His suffering, His endurance of a most humiliating and painful death on the Cross, and His perfect love manifested to all of us through those actions. This was how the congregation that St. Paul of the Cross established came to be known as the Passionists, as they fervently championed the propagation of God’s love and the revelation of that love by calling on all the people of God to remember His Passion and suffering for our sake.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, the examples of those holy men and holy servants of God should inspire each and every one of us in how we ourselves should be living our own lives so that in whatever it is that we are doing in life, in our work, in our various efforts and commitments, so that we may truly inspire everyone around us and all those whom we encounter in our daily lives, interacting and working with us. Let us all strive to be always truly faithful and committed to God. Let us all get rid from ourselves, our hearts and minds, the corruption of pride, ego, greed, desire, and all the attachments to the worldly things all around us which can distract and mislead us down the path of disobedience and sin. Instead, let us remind ourselves always of the Lord’s great love and the Holy Passion that He has endured and suffered for our sake, and thus, commit ourselves thoroughly to His cause from now on. May God bless us all in our every efforts and endeavours, in all the things we say and do, so that we may draw ever closer to Him and His love, His grace and kindness. Amen.

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Thursday, 19 October 2023 : 28th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. John Brebeuf and St. Isaac Jogues, Priests and Martyrs, and Companions, Martyrs, and St. Paul of the Cross, Priest (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green or Red (Martyrs) or White (Priests)

Luke 11 : 47-54

At that time, Jesus said to the teachers of the Law, “A curse is on you, for you build monuments to the prophets your ancestors killed. So you approve and agree with what your ancestors did. Is it not so? They got rid of the prophets, and you build monuments to them!”

“For that reason the wisdom of God also said : I will send prophets and Apostles and these people will kill and persecute some of them. But the present generation will have to answer for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the foundation of the world, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was murdered between the altar and the Sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, the people of this time will have to answer for them all.”

“A curse is on you, teachers of the Law, for you have taken the key of knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you prevented others from entering.”

As Jesus left that place, the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees began to harass Him, asking Him endless questions, setting traps to catch Him in something He might say.

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Thursday, 19 October 2023 : 28th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. John Brebeuf and St. Isaac Jogues, Priests and Martyrs, and Companions, Martyrs, and St. Paul of the Cross, Priest (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Green or Red (Martyrs) or White (Priests)

Psalm 129 : 1-2, 3-4, 5-7a

Out of the depths I cry to You, o YHVH, o YHVH, hear my voice! Let Your ears pay attention to the voice of my supplication.

If You should mark our evil, o YHVH, who could stand? But with You, is forgiveness, and for that You are revered.

I waited for YHVH, my soul waits; and I put my hope in His word. My soul expects YHVH more than watchmen, the dawn. O Israel, hope in YHVH.

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Thursday, 19 October 2023 : 28th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. John Brebeuf and St. Isaac Jogues, Priests and Martyrs, and Companions, Martyrs, and St. Paul of the Cross, Priest (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green or Red (Martyrs) or White (Priests)

Romans 3 : 21-30a

But, now it has been revealed, altogether apart from the Law, as it was already foretold in the Law and the prophets : God makes us righteous by means of faith in Jesus Christ, and this is applied to all who believe, without distinction of persons.

Because all have sinned and all fall short of the glory of God; and all are graciously forgiven and made righteous, through the redemption effected in Christ Jesus. For God has given Him to be the Victim, Whose Blood obtains us forgiveness, through faith.

So God shows us, how He makes us righteous. Past sins are forgiven, which God overlooked till now. For, now, He wants to reveal His way of righteousness : how He is just, and how He makes us righteous, through faith in Jesus. Then, what becomes of our pride? It is excluded. How? Not through the Law and its observances, but through another Law, which is faith. For we hold, that people are in God’s grace, by faith, and not because of all the things ordered by the Law.

Otherwise, God would be the God of the Jews; but is He not God of pagan nations as well? Of course He is, for there is only one God.

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Tuesday, 17 October 2023 : 28th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Red

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we listened to the words of the Scriptures, each and every one of us are reminded that all of us are God’s faithful and holy people, and we have to be truly holy and worthy, in all of our actions and words, in how we live our lives and in how we interact with one another. Each and every one of us should always strive to follow God and His path, devoting ourselves wholeheartedly to His cause, and becoming good role models, examples and inspirations for everyone around us all in how we live our lives in this world, in our community and among one another. Unless we truly commit ourselves in our every words, actions and deeds, and have genuine faith and commitment in God, then we cannot truly call ourselves as Christians.

In our first reading today, we heard from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Church and the faithful in the city of Rome, in which the Apostle spoke of the need for every members of the faithful people of God, the Body of Christ, the Church, to be truly dedicated to the Lord, and to place Him at the very centre and as the focus of their whole lives and existence. We must not allow ourselves to be deluded and swayed by worldly temptations and coercions, falsehoods, as well as attachments and our pride and greed to lead us down the wrong path into our downfall. As St. Paul mentioned that the Good News of God had been revealed to all of God’s faithful people, through Christ, His Son, and through His servants, the Apostles and disciples who have laboured hard to proclaim His Good News and truth to more and more of the people all throughout the world. However, there were those who continue to be deluded and misled by their attachments to worldly things, to power, glory and worldly pleasures among other things.

St. Paul elaborated further on how those people had known God and they had knowledge of His path and truth, and yet, they deluded themselves by their intelligence, wisdom and desires, their pride and ego which all led to them disobeying God and exchanging their faith in God with the faith in false idols and gods, or in trusting upon other distractions and false emphasis in life, which ended up bringing them further and further away from the path of God’s salvation and grace. This is because mankind, all of us, are easily tempted and swayed by our pride and ego, by our desires and ambitions, pursuits for power and glory, and all those things ended up closing the path towards God’s salvation because we delude ourselves that we have no need for God, or that there are other things that are worth our attention more than that of God.

That was exactly what happened to the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law at the time of the Lord Jesus, which was highlighted to us in our Gospel passage today. The Lord rebuked and criticised the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law for the superficial and the wrong nature of their faith, their observance and enforcement of the Law and the commandments of God. Those people who were very highly educated by the standards of that time, and knowledgeable about the teachings and words of the Prophets and messengers of God, all of them failed to recognise the Lord Himself when He came into this world through the Lord Jesus, His Son, as the Saviour of the world, because they could not accept that their version of the Law and their observance of the Law were mistaken and flawed.

The Pharisees and the teachers of the Law allowed their pride, ego, ambitions and desires to delude them and to distract them from their true obedience and responsibilities to God, in shepherding and guiding the people of God, and in being good role models and examples for all of the people. Instead, they allowed their personal ambitions, desires and greed to mislead them down the wrong path, to turn them towards the path of arrogance and greed, the path of disobedience and prejudice, as they did not just fail to carry out their responsibilities in caring for the spiritual need and well-being of the people, but they also did not live their lives worthily of the Lord, as they became superficial in their faith, and becoming very much preoccupied in their rituals and practices, overly attentive on the details and forgetting about the purpose and intent of the Law and commandments of God.

Essentially, those Pharisees and teachers of the Law had made false idols and gods out of their own preoccupation and overemphasis, their overly focused attention on the rituals and practices, and they had pushed God out of their lives with this emphasis and focus on their rites and practices. Hence, that is why the Lord rebuked and criticised them for their lack of faith and obedience to God, and for having done what they done in persecuting the people whom they had deemed to be less worthy than they were. They all had misled the people down the wrong path, and lived in vain pursuit of worldly glory, greatness, fame and power, and hence they had disregarded the Lord’s commandments and missions entrusted to them from the very beginning.

Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Ignatius of Antioch, one of the earliest Church fathers and leaders of the Church, whose faith and dedication to the Lord was truly exemplary and great, and whose commitment and obedience, focus and emphasis on the Lord remains strong and firm despite his important position in the Church, as he led the flock entrusted to him with great zeal, courage and faith at all times. St. Ignatius of Antioch was one of the earliest Bishops of Antioch, as the successor of the Apostles, in being a disciple and follower of St. John the Apostle according to the Apostolic and Chruch traditions. He was also known as Theophorus, or God-Bearer, as according to some traditions, he was one of the children who had been brought to the Lord and blessed by Him.

St. Ignatius of Antioch dedicated himself to the well-being of his people, in spreading the Good News of God and the truth, love and hope that the Lord has revealed to His Apostles and disciples. Antioch was then one of the early and major centres of the Christian faith, and many people each day converted to the faith thanks to the efforts of the Apostles and their successors, including that of St. Ignatius of Antioch himself. St. Ignatius of Antioch courageously carried out his duties with great humility, and with great commitment and devotion, to be the Good Shepherd in managing the people of God and leading them to the right path. He was martyred during one of the persecutions of Christians running rampant at that time, but until the very end, St. Ignatius of Antioch has always remained firm in his conviction and faith in God, in serving Him all the time, throughout his life.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, as we remember what we have discerned and discussed earlier regarding the readings from the Sacred Scriptures, and as we heed and remember the life and examples of St. Ignatius of Antioch, let us all hence do our best so that we may truly embody our Christian faith at all times, and be truly exemplary and faithful in all things. Let us all continue to do our best, to work and to do our part as servants and followers of the Lord, in all things, so that we may be the shining and bright beacons of God’s light and Good News, to bring forth His hope and light to all the nations. May God be with us always, and may He empower each and every one of us to be truly worthy and faithful, despite the many trials and challenges facing us throughout our lives and journey. Amen.

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Tuesday, 17 October 2023 : 28th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Red

Luke 11 : 37-41

At that time, as Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee asked Him to have a meal with him. So He went and sat at table. The Pharisee then wondered why Jesus did not wash His hands before the dinner.

But the Lord said to him, “So then, you Pharisees, you clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside yourselves you are full of greed and evil. Fools! He Who made the outside, also made the inside. But according to you, by the mere giving of alms everything is made clean.”

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Tuesday, 17 October 2023 : 28th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Red

Psalm 18 : 2-3, 4-5

The heavens declare the glory of God; the firmament proclaims the work of His hands. Day talks it over with day; night hands on the knowledge to night.

No speech, no words, no voice is heard – but the call goes on, throughout the universe, the message is felt to the ends of the earth.

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Tuesday, 17 October 2023 : 28th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Red

Romans 1 : 16-25

For I am not ashamed at all, of this Good News; it is God’s power, saving those who believe, first, the Jews, and then, the Greeks. This Good News shows us the saving justice of God; a justice that saves, exclusively by faith, as the Scripture says : The upright one shall live by faith.

For the wrath of God is being revealed from heaven, against all ungodliness, and injustice, of those who have silenced the truth by their wicked ways. For everything that could have been known about God, was clear to them : God Himself made it plain. Because His invisible attributes – His everlasting power and divinity – are made visible to reason, by means of His works, since the creation of the world.

So they have no excuse, for they knew God, and did not glorify Him, as was fitting; nor did they give thanks to Him. On the contrary, they lost themselves in their reasoning, and darkness filled their minds. Believing themselves wise, they became foolish : they exchanged the glory of the Immortal God, for the likes of mortal human beings, birds, animals and reptiles. Because of this, God gave them up to their inner cravings; they did shameful things and dishonoured their bodies.

They exchanged God’s truth for a lie; they honoured and worshipped created things, instead of the Creator, to Whom be praise forever. Amen!

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Saturday, 14 October 2023 : 27th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of Pope St. Callistus I, Pope and Martyr (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green or Red (Martyrs) or White (Saturday Mass of Our Lady)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we listened to the words of the Scriptures, we are all reminded that as God’s faithful people, His followers and disciples, each and every one of us are part of His flock and kingdom, His family and inheritance. Each and every one of us should always heed His words, listen to Him speaking in our hearts and minds, and allow Him to lead and guide us in our path and journey throughout life. We must trust in the Lord and we must do what He has commanded and taught us to do, so that in all of our actions, words and deeds, we will always be full of love for God, righteous and virtuous in our works and way of life, and we may indeed be the shining beacons of God’s light and truth, His Good News at all times, being good inspirations to one another.

In our first reading today, taken from the Book of the prophet Joel, we are reminded of God’s love and grace, His providence and kindness to His beloved people, that despite of their many sins and wickedness, which had brought them down and made them to suffer condemnation and humiliations, but God did not wish for them to remain in that despicable state caused by their own folly and disobedience. The Lord has always patiently reached out to them, gave them His help and assistance, and sent His prophets and messengers to lead and guide them down the right path. He has always pointed them all to the right path, and has called on all of them to follow this same path. Those who are willing to listen to His words and obey His commandments will be vindicated, found worthy and will receive the inheritance promised to them, to live with God in glory and true joy in the end.

The Lord promised all of His people that they would no longer be despondent or afflicted, and that they would once again enjoy the favour of His love and compassion, as He has always intended them to be. God has always loved all of the ones that are precious to Him, and He does not want any of them to fall into their fallen state due to their unwillingness to obey His Law and commandments, and by their abandonment of His tenets and precepts, in favour of following and worshipping pagan idols and false gods, that had brought about ruin upon themselves, and which they had ben chastised for. God reminded all of His beloved ones that in the end, His love for them will triumph, and if they side with Him, then they all shall share in His most wonderful love.

Then, in our Gospel passage today, we heard of the very simple reminder from the Lord, as He responded to one of those who told Him that His mother and relatives are truly blessed, and especially so, His mother who has given birth and raised Him. To this statement, the Lord responded by saying that all those who listen to the Lord and follow Him, obeying His will and commandments, doing what they are all supposed to do in their lives, all are bound to be blessed, and will be the benefactors of everything which God has promised His faithful ones. He was not saying this out of disrespect of His mother, but in fact, the Lord was pointing at the perfect example of Mary herself, who as the most faithful and committed servant of God, together with the other saints of God, are great role models for us to follow.

Today, the Church celebrates the feast of one of the holy saints, whose faith and devotion to God, and whose commitment and actions should inspire us all in our own lives, in how we ourselves can become good and committed disciples of the Lord, in all of our actions and works. Pope St. Callistus I was the Pope and leader of the Universal Church, as the Bishop of Rome and Vicar of Christ, successor of St. Peter the Apostle, during a difficult time in the Church’s history, as at that time, persecutions were rampant against the Church and Christians throughout the Roman Empire. Oppression and sufferings were often part of life for many of the Lord’s faithful people, who had to endure those sufferings simply because of their faith in God.

Amidst all of these, Pope St. Callistus I, who was a deacon and assistant to the Pope St. Zephyrinus, in managing the catacombs of the city of Rome, serving the needs of the people of God in the Diocese of Rome, and then eventually becoming the successor of the same Pope St. Zephyrinus, he had involved himself with many of the works and the service for the sake of God’s people, caring for both of their physical and spiritual needs. The Lord has called Pope St. Callistus I to be His Vicar, and he carried out his duties most diligently, in embracing all of the people of God, including those who have lapsed from the faith and fallen into sin. At that time, this matter of welcoming and allowing lapsed Christians who have given in to the pressure to worship pagan gods and idols, either by choice or not, had caused great divisions and disagreements in the Church.

This division and disagreement had led to one of the first schisms in the Church, as St. Hippolytus, a popular priest and preacher who disagreed with the practice of readmitting lapsed Christians without proper penance and consequences, was elected as a rival Pope to Pope St. Callistus I, becoming the first antipope. Pope St. Callistus I was determined to bridge the differences and worked hard to lead the people of God amidst the turbulent times, beset from all directions, both from outside and within, in the many persecutions and challenges that the faithful people of God were facing daily, and in the disagreements that turned fellow Christians against each other. Pope St. Callistus I patiently led the Church throughout all of that, and remained firm in his faith and conviction in dedicating himself and the Church to God. In the end, he was martyred for his faith, during one of those persecutions, but his efforts helped the Church to remain strong throughout the challenging years.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all therefore follow in the good examples and in the inspiring actions of Pope St. Callistus I, and let us walk ever more faithfully in the path which God has set before us, in all that He has shown and taught us to do. Pope St. Callistus I has shown all of us what it truly means for us to be good and devout Christians, as God’s followers and disciples. We must always do whatever we can, in all the opportunities given to us so that our every words, actions and deeds truly show this commitment and faith in the Lord. May God continue to guide us all and strengthen each one of us in our courage and resolve to live our lives faithfully in Him, and to embrace once again the fullness of His love and mercy. Let us stay away from the path of sin and evil, and instead, strive to live our lives fully and worthily as good Christians from now on. Amen.

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Saturday, 14 October 2023 : 27th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of Pope St. Callistus I, Pope and Martyr (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green or Red (Martyrs) or White (Saturday Mass of Our Lady)

Luke 11 : 27-28

At that time, as Jesus was speaking, a woman spoke from the crowd and said to Him, “Blessed is the one who gave You birth and nursed You!”

Jesus replied, “Truly blessed are those who hear the word of God, and keep it as well.”