holy priests

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Tuesday, 9 September 2025 : 23rd Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Peter Claver, Priest (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Priests)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we listened to the words of the Sacred Scriptures, we are all reminded of the need for all of us as Christians to believe wholeheartedly in the Lord and to live our lives in the manner that is truly worthy and obedient to God and His will. Each and every one of us are reminded that we have been called by the Lord to follow Him and His ways, just as how He has called His Twelve disciples and the other disciples, to live our lives in the manner that is truly worthy of Him, to be good role models and examples for one another in how we act and carry ourselves in our various communities in this world today, in our various respective responsibilities in life, in doing what we must in each and every moments, even in the smallest things that we do.

In our first reading, today we heard from the Epistle of St. Paul the Apostle to the Church and the faithful in Colossae in Asia Minor regarding the need for the faithful to follow faithfully the true teachings of Christ in all of their actions, activities and all their interactions with one another. And because all of them have become the members of the One Church of God, with Christ as the Head of the Church, naturally all of them should follow and obey the commandments and the Law which the Lord had presented to them, doing what the Lord had told them to do through the Church and the Apostles, renewed and strengthened, and exhorted to keep from themselves all sorts of corruptions, evils and sins.

This reminder to the faithful in the city and region of Colossae was an important one because during that time, living amidst a world full of worldliness and wickedness, in the manner of how the pagans and all the other non-Christians were living in, it would have been easy for them to be tempted, swayed and coerced to go against the teachings and truths of the Lord, to return to their past, pagan way of life. It is more difficult for one to follow the path of the Lord rather than the path of worldliness, and this applies for all of us living in our world today too, as we are also faced with many distractions and temptations present all around us each day. And unless we ourselves put our efforts to live to the best of our abilities in being good role models and examples to everyone around us, and to stand up faithfully to our Christian mission and calling, then we cannot truly commit ourselves to the Lord.

Then, from our Gospel passage today, taken from the Gospel according St. Luke the Evangelist, we heard of the moment when the Lord Jesus chose His Twelve disciples, the ones whom He had chosen to be His closest collaborators and as the ones whom He would entrust His missions and His Church to, as the pillars of support for His Kingdom in this world. He called all of them from various sources and origins, from different backgrounds and having different characters, some educated and some uneducated, some rich and some poor, but all were called to the same purpose and misison to serve the Kingdom of God and the ministry to which Christ has called all the Apostles and the disciples to do, to commit themselves to what He gave to them.

Through His works and efforts, the Lord and His disciples continued to proclaim the Good News that God Himself had promised to His people, showing the signs, miracles and wonders, the healing by which He had delivered to many people who had come to Him, the casting out of evil spirits and other good works which He also delegated to His disciples through the authority that He had granted to them. Such works required a lot of efforts and commitmens, and to those whom the Lord had called and chosen, He had given them the authority as well as the responsibilities to fulfil and accomplish amidst the challenges and trials that they might have to face in their works and respective ministries.

To each and every one of us therefore, in our own various responsibilities and areas in life, God has entrusted to us many things and opportunities for us to make good use of as His missionaries and disciples, in how we live our lives faithfully according to the way that He has shown us. Each and every one of us, be it the members of the clergy or the laity, all of us are called to be active in the fulfilment of the missions entrusted to us, in our respective areas, to be good role models and examples for each other in faith, and to do our best to encourage one another in how we live our lives and in how we carry out our actions, so that by our efforts and good works, we will continue to strengthen everyone around us in faith and helping each other to find our way towards the Lord.

Today, the Church also celebrates the Feast of a faithful servant of God, namely St. Peter Claver, who was a renowned Jesuit priest and missionary from Spain, working in his ministry amongst the slaves and African Americans in the New World, as well as among the natives in that region, where his extensive works and contributions across many decades apparently reached out no less than three hundred thousand people whom be personally baptised over all those years. He travelled to many places, personally ministering to the people he was working with, especially among the slaves and the African Americans as mentioned, often on foot, and he patiently worked and championed their cause amidst the rampant abuse and maltreatment of these people, who were often at the lowest strata of the society.

St. Peter Claver tirelessly worked hard amongst the poorest, the least, those ostracised, forgotten and often manipulated by the community. He championed their rights as fellow Christians, highlighting the equality of all mankind before God, even when at that time the community at the place where St. Peter Claver ministered in was very much stratified and were full of racist and prejudiced attitudes, especially against those whom St. Peter Claver had dedicated his life in serving. But St. Peter Claver kept on doing his best and championed the rights of the less privileged and the less fortunate, much as Christ Himself had done and taught His disciples, showing all of us how we ourselves should live our lives as the true followers and disciples of the Lord, by caring for the less fortunate in our midst and by truly embodying our faith in all of our actions.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all therefore be inspired by the good examples which we have heard and discussed regarding St. Peter Claver, so that we may live our own lives faithfully and courageously as active and devoted Christians, as good and faithful servants of God in all things, in how we interact with one another and in each and every things that we do, even in the smallest things that we do in life. We must not underestimate the impact of our actions, as good and faithful actions can bring so many others towards the Lord, and vice versa, that our scandalous and unfaithful actions can distance and prevent so many from reaching the Lord and His salvation, and on the Day of Judgment, we will have to account for all these before Him.

May the Lord, our most loving and compassionate God continue to strengthen us all in faith and help us to continue to walk ever more faithfully in His Presence at all times, being the worthy bearers of His Good News and truth in our community and societies today. May He bless our every efforts, good works and endeavours, so that we may always be encouraged in our journey of faith and life, in inspiring one another in faith, now and always. Amen.

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Tuesday, 9 September 2025 : 23rd Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Peter Claver, Priest (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Priests)

Luke 6 : 12-19

At that time, Jesus went out into the hills to pray, spending the whole night in prayer with God. When day came, He called His disciples to Him, and chose Twelve of them, whom He called ‘Apostles’ : Simon, whom He named Peter, and his brother Andrew; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew; Matthew and Thomas; James son of Alpheus and Simon called the Zealot; Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who would be the traitor.

Coming down the hill with them, Jesus stood in an open plain. Many of His disciples were there, and a large crowd of people, who had come from all parts of Judea and Jerusalem, and from the coastal cities of Tyre and Sidon. They gathered to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases. And the people troubled by unclean spirits were cured.

The entire crowd tried to touch Him, because of the power that went out from Him and healed them all.

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Tuesday, 9 September 2025 : 23rd Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Peter Claver, Priest (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Priests)

Psalm 144 : 1-2, 8-9, 10-11

I will extol You, my God and King; I will praise Your Name forever. I will praise You, day after day; and exalt Your Name forever.

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 YHVH, will praise You. They will tell of the glory of Your kingdom; and speak of Your power.

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Tuesday, 9 September 2025 : 23rd Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Peter Claver, Priest (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Priests)

Colossians 2 : 6-15

If you have accepted Christ Jesus as Lord, let Him be your doctrine. Be rooted and built up in Him; let faith be your principle, as you were taught, and your thanksgiving, overflowing.

See that no one deceives you with philosophy or any hollow discourse; these are merely human doctrines, not inspired by Christ, but by the wisdom of this world. For in Him, dwells the fullness of God, in bodily form. He is the Head of all cosmic power and authority, and, in Him, you have everything.

In Christ Jesus, you were given a circumcision, but not by human hands, which removed completely from you the carnal body : I refer to baptism. On receiving it, you were buried with Christ; and you also rose with Him, for having believed in the power of God, Who raised Him from the dead.

You were dead. You were in sin and uncircumcised at the same time. But God gave you life with Christ. He forgave all our sins. He cancelled the record of our debts, those regulations which accused us. He did away with all that, and nailed it to the cross. Victorious through the cross, He stripped the rulers and authorities of their power, humbled them before the eyes of the whole world, and dragged them behind Him, as prisoners.

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Monday, 25 August 2025 : 21st Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Louis, and St. Joseph Calasanz, Priest (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Saints or Priests)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we all listened to the words of the Sacred Scriptures, we are reminded that we should be truly and genuinely faithful to God in all things and not merely just paying lip service or having just superficial and shallow faith that is not founded upon firm and strong love and commitment towards God. If we do not live our lives in the manner such that we are truly and sincerely faithful to God, how can we then claim to be true disciples and followers of the Lord, that is as good and faithful Christians? If we are truly committed to be the followers and disciples of the Lord, then we ought to be truly genuine in loving Him and in following all that He has taught and shown us to do, and to glorify Him by our every actions in life, in our every words and interactions with each other.

In our first reading today, taken from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Church and the faithful people of God in the city and region of Thessalonica, we heard of the words of St. Paul greeting the faithful there together on behalf of Silvanus and Timothy, who were companions of St. Paul in his journeys. St. Paul commended those who have kept their faith in the Lord and devoted themselves faithfully and courageously, living their lives in the manner that the Apostles and the other Christian missionaries had shown and taught them. St. Paul praised the faithful in Thessalonica for their exemplary faith and commitment to God, how they turned away from the pagan idols and from their sins, welcoming the missionaries warmly and willingly.

Through what we have heard of this, we are reminded that all of us, God’s faithful and holy people are also called to do the same in our own lives, in each and every moments of our existence, to do what the Lord has commanded us to do so that we may truly be good examples and role models to inspire one another in faith. Each and every one of us are the bearers of the Good News and salvation of God to our brethren around us, to all those who may not have known God or recognised Him being present in their lives. That is why we are reminded to be ever faithful and committed in all things, to live in the manner that is truly worthy of God so that we may indeed glorify Him in each and every things that we do, even to the smallest among those.

Then, from our Gospel passage today, taken from the Gospel according to St. Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist, we heard of the woes and criticisms which the Lord Jesus made against many among the members of the Pharisees. He spoke up against their duplicities and inconsistencies in the manner that they practiced and lived their faith, all of which had scandalised the Lord’s Holy Name and the true Law and commandments of God. This was especially severe because the Pharisees were the ones who were often entrusted with the guardianship of the Law and the commandments of God together with the teachers of the Law, many of whom belonged to both groups at once. The Pharisees themselves were also known for their very rigid and unbending interpretation of the Law as well.

However, as we heard of what the Lord had said, those teachers of the Law and the Pharisees were inconsistent and they in fact bent the Law and the commandments of God to suit their own desires and wishes, and they became entangled and pulled by desires for worldly glory, power and wealth, and in their own way of life and in their actions, those teachers of the Law and the Pharisees had not been truly genuine in loving and trusting in God. They loved themselves and their ambitions, their desires and pursuits more than they loved God and their fellow brethren, when the latter was what they should have done, especially so as the elders and guides of the community of the people of God. This is why, we are also reminded then not to live our lives and faith in this manner either.

Today, the Church also celebrates the Feast of St. Louis, also better known as St. Louis IX, King of France, and also St. Joseph Calasanz. The former was one of the most renowned Kings of France during the Middle Ages, and one of the few kings honoured with sainthood, while the latter was the Spanish priest known for his dedication to the less fortunate especially to the education of the poor young boys in the society. First of all, let us start with the deeds of the renowned St. Louis IX, one of the most renowned of the Kings of France, who reigned a very long reign of forty-four years, and in that long period of his reign, he was remembered for his great commitment to his people and kingdom, his wise and just rule, as well as his dedication to the Lord, in his courageous efforts to unite his kingdom in the one faith and in his participation in the Crusades in the later years of his reign.

St. Louis IX succeeded to the throne of the kingdom of France at the young age of twelve, at the time when the kingdom was beset by divisions and problems, such as the Cathar heresy raging in what is southern parts of France today, and also the threats from the foreign powers and rulers such as the English and other nobles both within and outside his realm. But under the guidance of his regents and through his own great efforts, eventually St. Louis IX was able to overcome all those challenges, establishing a strong, powerful and prosperous kingdom while uniting the people under his rule and ending the divisions caused by heresies and religious disagreements. St. Louis IX was a truly great king devoted to his people and also to the Lord and His Church, embarking on many great works to support the Christian faith and also embarked on the Crusades as mentioned, which unfortunately ended poorly and the saintly king was struck down by disease during that occasion, faithful to the end of his life.

Meanwhile, St. Joseph Calasanz was born in the Kingdom of Aragon in what is today part of Spain, where he was the youngest in a large family of eight children. He was well educated and wanted to be a priest, although his parents did not approve of his wish. After the death of his mother and brother, which made St. Joseph Calasanz as the heir of the family, his father wanted him to marry to carry on the family legacy, but after an illness that brought him close to death, St. Joseph Calasanz was finally allowed to pursue his desire to be a priest. In his many years of ministry, St. Joseph Calasanz spent a lot of time managing administrative matters in different dioceses and also established education institutes for poor boys. He continued to work hard for the Lord’s people all throughout his life to the very end.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, as we have reflected upon the words of the Sacred Scriptures and as we have heard from the lives of St. Louis IX, King of France and St. Joseph Calasanz, let us all therefore do our best to follow their examples in devoting themselves to the Lord. Let us all continue to live our lives ever more faithfully from now on, doing our best to glorify God through our every words, actions and deeds, at all times, to be good role models and examples for one another as St. Louis IX of France and St. Joseph Calasanz had been for us. May God be with us always and may He bless each and every one of us, in everything that we say and do, now and forevermore. Amen.

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Monday, 25 August 2025 : 21st Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Louis, and St. Joseph Calasanz, Priest (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Saints or Priests)

Matthew 23 : 13-22

At that time, Jesus said to the people and to His disciples, “But woe to you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door to the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You, yourselves, do not enter it, nor do you allow others to do so.”

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You devour widows’ property; and as a show, you pray long prayers! Therefore, you shall receive greater condemnation. Woe to you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel by sea and land to make a single convert; yet, once he is converted, you make him twice as fit for hell as yourselves!”

“Woe to you, blind guides! You say : To swear by the temple is not binding; but, to swear by the gold of the temple is binding. Foolish men! Blind men! Which is of more worth : the gold in the temple, or the temple which makes the gold a sacred treasure? You say : To swear by the altar is not binding, but to swear by the offering on the altar is binding. How blind you are! Which is of more value : the offering on the altar, or the altar which makes the offering sacred?”

“Whoever swears by the altar, is swearing by the altar and by everything on it. Whoever swears by the temple, is swearing by the temple, and by God, Who dwells in the temple. Whoever swears by heaven, is swearing by the throne of God, and by Him, Who is seated on it.”

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Monday, 25 August 2025 : 21st Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Louis, and St. Joseph Calasanz, Priest (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Saints or Priests)

Psalm 149 : 1-2, 3-4, 5-6a and 9b

Alleluia! Sing to YHVH a new song, sing His praise in the assembly of His saints. Let Israel rejoice in his Maker; let the people of Zion glory in their King!

Let them dance in praise of His Name; and make music for Him with harp and timbrel. For YHVH delights in His people; He crowns the lowly with victory.

The saints will exult in triumph; even at night, on their couches, let the praise of God be on their lips. This is the glory of all His saints. Alleluia!

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Monday, 25 August 2025 : 21st Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Louis, and St. Joseph Calasanz, Priest (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Saints or Priests)

1 Thessalonians 1 : 1-5, 8b-10

From Paul, Sylvanus and Timothy, to the church of Thessalonica, which is in God, the Father, and in Christ Jesus, the Lord. May the peace and grace of God be with you.

We give thanks to God, at all times for you, and remember you in our prayers. We constantly recall, before God, our Father, the work of your faith, the labours of your love, and your endurance, in waiting for Christ Jesus our Lord.

We remember, brothers and sisters, the circumstances of your being called. The Gospel we brought you was such, not only in words. Miracles, the Holy Spirit, and plenty of everything, were given to you. You, also, know how we dealt with you, for your sake.

The faith you have in God has become news in so many places, that we need say no more about it. Others tell, of how you welcomed us, and turned from idols, to the Lord. For you serve the living and true God, and you wait for His Son, from heaven, Whom He raised from the dead, Jesus, Who frees us from impending trial.

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Tuesday, 19 August 2025 : 20th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. John Eudes, Priest (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Priests)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we all listened to the words of the Sacred Scriptures, we are reminded that with God there is nothing that is impossible, and all things are possible for God, even whatever that is beyond our area and possibility of understanding. We should always trust in Him and put our faith in His Providence and care, knowing that He will do everything that needs to be done for our sake, so that we will be protected and guarded, and we will not suffer without any consolation and hope. In the end, we will share in God’s triumph and glory, and we shall enjoy forever the fullness of His loving grace and inheritance intended for us. God has indeed intended for many good things for us, and we will not be disappointed if we put our faith wholeheartedly in Him.

In our first reading today, we heard from the Book of Judges in which God spoke and revealed His plans to Gideon, the one that He had chosen to lead His people, the Israelites in the struggle against the Midianites, who have risen to oppress and persecute the Israelites. At that time, the repeated disobedience and refusals of the people of Israel to obey the Lord and to follow His ways led to them continuously being subjected to difficulties and challenges, attacks and subjugation by their neighbours, because God withdrew His protection and power, so that the Israelites, who had become proud and filled with hubris, thinking that they did not need God, would come to realise just how powerless they truly were without God and His Providence.

Gideon did begin with lamentations and sharing to the Angel of the Lord that came before Him with God’s words, how the Israelites had truly suffered and endured a lot of troubles, and they cried out to the Lord wondering where this same God that had protected their ancestors and brought them out from the land of Egypt, and through their journey in the desert with great power and wonders. And that was when the Lord through His Angel showed His reassurance, and when Gideon asked the Lord for a sign, God heard him and showed the sign that he asked for, and Gideon believed in God’s words and Providence, and He told the former how he would be the instrument by which God would act against the Midianites for the sake of His beloved people, to lead them to freedom and to return once again to His grace and protection.

Then, in our Gospel passage today, we heard from the Gospel according to St. Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist in which the Lord told His disciples and followers that if they all wanted to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven then it is important that they all must seek to be humble and to strive to reach that desired existence with God by resisting the many temptations, pressures, coercions and distractions that are present in this world which can lead us astray and prevent us from finding the path towards God. The Lord also said that it is ‘easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle’ than for the rich man to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. This is indeed puzzling and we may wonder what the Lord actually meant by these words, but we have to understand His intentions and thoughts carefully.

When a camel wants to go through a door or gateway, it is common for them to lower their heads to allow them to be able to enter through the gate, and to lower their bodies in doing so. This is a symbol of humility and simplicity against the excesses of the worldly riches and desires, all of which often lead us to hubris, ambition and stubbornness in refusing to follow God’s ways and commandments. That was what happened with many of those who were entangled and trapped by their own wealth and possessions, and most importantly by the unhealthy attachments and desires towards them. Those who suffer from this cannot attain the Kingdom of Heaven not because they are rich and wealthy, but rather because they put their wealth and ambitions above even God.

God is not in fact against us having possessions and wealth, or for us to be rich and wealthy. What He wants us to know in fact is that we should make good use of whatever blessings that we have received and whatever we have been fortunate to gain from God’s grace. But when we allow ourselves to be swayed by all the worldly temptations and be overcome by our greed and selfish desires, for example when we desire to gain more of what we already have aplenty, even to the point of causing sufferings and hardships to others around us, and in ignoring the plight of the needy, then it is in all these things that we shall be found wanting and lacking in worthiness by God, because we have not used our blessings for the good purposes set before us by God.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, as we listened to the words of the Sacred Scriptures, we are reminded that each and every one of us as God’s beloved and holy people should always trust in Him and have faith in His Providence. We should continue to make good use of what He has entrusted to us and blessed us with so that we may use them for the benefit and the good of others around us, for everyone whom we encounter in this life. This is not what we should be doing, to put our faith and trust in God for the direction in our lives, trusting that He will bless us in the manner that we need them, and He will provide for all of us, and our part is to make good use of what He has entrusted to us, even in the smallest things. Let us all not be overcome and be swayed by worldly corruptions and ways which can lead us away further from God.

Today, the Church also celebrates the Feast of St. John Eudes, who hailed from France and was a priest that was the founder of the Order of Our Lady of Charity and also the Congregation of Jesus and Mary, known as the Eudists after their founder. St. John Eudes was born in rural France in the early seventeenth century and made an early vow of chastity in his teenage years before eventually joining the priesthood after being guided and educated under the Jesuits and the Oratorians with the latter showing him strong emphasis on the relationship with Christ and the Holy Spirit. He then went on to minister in various parishes and did a lot of missions, and he was noted for his great and prodigious skills in evangelisation and in reaching the hearts and minds of the people that he ministered to.

He also played a role in the development and training of priests, helping to establish several seminaries after having been concerned with the upbringing and education of future priests in France. Then, in his concern and care for the poor and marginalised, especially with prostitutes and others who were often encountering a lot of hardships in life, as mentioned, St. John Eudes established the Order of Our Lady of Charity of the Refuge to care for the needs of those prostitutes who sought to turn away from their lives of sin. He then eventually left the Oratorians and founded the Eudists, the Congregation of Jesus and Mary with the focus and emphasis on education of priests and parish missions, works which he continued to carry out faithfully until the end of his life.

Let us all therefore be inspired by the examples and faith of St. John Eudes, in his determination to serve the Lord and His people, in all the things he had done in reaching out to the marginalised and those who have been less fortunate, those who have been lost to the Lord and facing difficulties in life. Let us all as Christians be always charitable and be kind in all things, doing whatever we can so that we may always be good examples and role models for everyone around us, and that we may show God’s love and kindness, His truth and salvation to everyone whom we encounter in life. May God be with us all and bless our every good endeavours and efforts, now and always. Amen.

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Tuesday, 19 August 2025 : 20th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. John Eudes, Priest (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Priests)

Matthew 19 : 23-30

At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you : it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Yes, believe Me : it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of the needle than for the one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.”

On hearing this, the disciples were astonished and said, “Who, then, can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and answered, “For human beings it is impossible, but for God all things are possible.” Then Peter spoke up and said, “You see, we have given up everything to follow You. What, then, will there be for us?”

Jesus answered, “You, who have followed Me, listen to My words : on the Day of Renewal, when the Son of Man sits on His throne in glory, you, also, will sit, on twelve thrones, to judge the twelve tribes of Israel. As for those who have left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, children or property for My Name’s sake, they will receive a hundredfold, and be given eternal life. Many who are now first, will be last, and many who are now last, will be first.”