holy women

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Thursday, 1 October 2015 : 26th Week of Ordinary Time, Feast of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church, Patroness of Missions (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : White

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, on this day we celebrate the feast of one of the greatest saints of the Church, a holy and devoted woman whose name still inspires many of the faithful even unto this very day. She is St. Therese of the Child Jesus, also known as St. Therese Lisieux, a great religious and a great saint, Doctor of the Church for her many writings and contributions to the Faith, and she was made the Patroness of Christian missions throughout the world.

Who was St. Therese Lisieux? She was born from a family of devout Catholics, and Blessed Louis Martin and Blessed Marie-Azelie Guerin were her parents, who themselves are now on the path to sainthood due to their own personal piety and great examples of faith. It was in such a pious environment that St. Therese Lisieux was raised up in faith, and she became a good daughter of the Lord, and naturally, she felt the call to serve God early in her life.

St. Therese Lisieux inherited the great piety and faith of her parents, both of whom wanted to serve the people of God and the Church in a greater way, by joining congregations and reaching out to the less fortunate, but they were barred and prevented from doing so by the numerous challenges and circumstances of that time. Instead, it was through St. Therese Lisieux that their wishes were fulfilled.

She was often sickly in her youth, and she had lost her mother at a young age because of cancer. But this did not dim her desire to serve the Lord in greater capacities, and after one of her older sisters decided to join religious life, she too wanted to do the same, but was prevented from doing so due to her very young age. Nevertheless, she continued to devote herself strongly to the Lord.

And she overcame her problems and challenges at one time in her life, when she became resolved to serve the Lord and join the religious life as one of the Carmelites. Eventually she managed to get her request to join the Carmelites early, and from then on, she devoted everything to the Lord and to His people. And throughout her life from then on, she became a great source of inspiration to many people, through her works and writings, through her prayers and devotions.

She discovered the ‘little way’ which would be famously attributed to her, as the way to reach out to the Lord. In this way, she focused on the frailty and how small human beings are as compared to the greatness of God, and therefore, rather than trying to reach up high and to stumble because we are unable to perform great things that we are unable to do, then she advocated us all to follow the way of simplicity and humility, of complete surrender to the will of God.

St. Therese Lisieux in her many contributions to the Church and to the faithful people of God had brought about much goodness and brought salvation closer to many countless people and souls. This example that she has showed all of us, we should take heed of, and then we should try our best to emulate her as best as we can, so that we too can take part in the effort to bring all people and all souls closer to God’s salvation.

And this is aptly recalled in the Gospel today, where the Lord Jesus spoke to His disciples, who argued about who should be considered as the greater or the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven. Jesus made it very clear that the path of the Lord is not that of pride and of hubris and boasting, but instead, those who lowered himself and kept his humility before the Lord would receive greatness in the presence of God.

This is exactly just as what St. Therese Lisieux proposed in her ‘little way’, that is, if we want to be greater servant of our Lord and receive greater blessing and grace from the Lord, then we should lower and humble ourselves, and not to become attached to worldly things and desires. The greater is our humility, the more we are able to realise what God wants to do with our lives, and the more we can recognise what we can contribute and do for the sake of the salvation of souls.

Therefore, brothers and sisters in Christ, by heeding the examples of St. Therese Lisieux, the Little Flower of Carmel, let us all devote ourselves ever more to the Lord our God, and let us all dedicate ourselves ever more to help all those around us who need our help, especially those who have lost their way and do not know the way to go to reach out to God and His salvation.

May Almighty God be with us always, and help us to be more like St. Therese Lisieux, in piety, devotion and deeds, so that in all the things we say and do, we may bring greater glory to God, and help mankind and more souls to attain the salvation of God. God bless us all. Amen.

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Thursday, 1 October 2015 : 26th Week of Ordinary Time, Feast of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church, Patroness of Missions (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

Matthew 18 : 1-5

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked Him, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

Then Jesus called a little child, set the child in the midst of the disciples, and said, “I assure you that, unless you change and become like little children, you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes lowly like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, and whoever receives such a child in My Name receives Me.”

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Thursday, 1 October 2015 : 26th Week of Ordinary Time, Feast of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church, Patroness of Missions (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : White

Psalm 131 : 1-3

Remember David, o Lord, and all his readiness, how he swore an oath to the Lord, to the Mighty One of Jacob.

I will not enter my house nor get into my bed.

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Thursday, 1 October 2015 : 26th Week of Ordinary Time, Feast of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church, Patroness of Missions (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

Isaiah 66 : 10-14

Rejoice for Jerusalem and be glad for her, all you who love her. Be glad with her, rejoice with her, all you who were in grief over her, that you may suck of the milk from her comforting breasts, that you may drink deeply from the abundance of her glory.

For this is what YHVH says : I will send her peace, overflowing like a river; and the nations’ wealth, rushing like a torrent towards her. And you will be nursed and carried in her arms and fondled upon her lap. As a son comforted by his mother, so will I comfort you.

At the sight of this, your heart will rejoice; like grass, your bones will flourish. For it shall be known that YHVH’s hand is with His servant, but His fury is upon His enemy.

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Wednesday, 9 September 2015 : 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, on this day we heard of St. Paul speaking to the faithful in the city of Colossae about the way of life that they should follow, the things that they ought to do, and how they should obey and walk in the way of the Lord at all times. St. Paul urged them to let go of all their worldliness and sinful past, following no longer the wicked ways of the flesh, but giving themselves completely to the new ways of Christ.

And this call of righteousness is repeated again one more time in the Gospel today, albeit in a somewhat different way. Jesus spoke of the blessings and the curses for the people of God, depending on their ways and actions, in what we know as the Beatitudes, or the Sermon on the Mount. This is another exhortation and guide on how we ought to live as people and servants of our Lord.

In this series of blessings and curses, Jesus praised and favoured all those who have been righteous in their ways and actions, those who have sought peace, love and harmony, and those who walk in the way of the Lord, obeying God’s commandments, loving Him and their fellow men. On the other hand, those who do not walk in the path of the Lord and who ignored the pleas of the needy and the downtrodden were cast out of God’s presence and favour.

What the Lord wanted to remind us is that, if we are faithful to Him, the way ahead of us will not always be easy, and that there will be challenges and difficulties lying ahead of us as many of us will face rejection, persecution, ridicule and even death for the faith which we have in the Lord our God. This is because the way of this world is not in accordance to what the Lord had taught us. The world is following the ways of worldliness, of selfishness and path without real and genuine love.

The ways of this world seem to be easier because they offer us many worldly goodness and temptations that strike at the very heart of our vulnerabilities, at the desires that filled our hearts. There are so many tempting opportunities that keep us away from the love and grace of God, such as wealth, privilege, fame, human praise, status, position, and many others, which in their own ways, they become obstacles on our journey towards the Lord.

For example, the pursuit of wealth makes us to tend to ignore the suffering of others around us, and it makes us to be proud, haughty and boastful of our own human achievements and the great things about ourselves. How many of us bring suffering and injustice upon others because of our actions, and how often was it that we did not bring glory to God and praise Him because of our inability to get out of our pride?

Indeed, it is easier to follow the ways and customs of this world, to succumb to our desires and wants, to listen to the words of the devil rather than the words of the Lord, but in the end, this will lead to eternal and unending suffering, for we will be found unworthy of the Lord and be cast out into hell. Therefore, let us all pay attention to the examples of one saint, whose feast day we celebrate today and whose life is truly exemplary and should be an inspiration to all of us.

St. Peter Claver was a Jesuit priest and missionary who lived and worked during the height of the Age of Exploration, who went to the Americas, the New World as it was known then, and as he became involved with the local peoples and the African slaves sent there to work in plantations, he became their staunch defender and protector, and he ministered to many of them for the rest of his life.

He disapproved of the way how the slaves were treated as less than human beings with equal rights to anyone else, and he worked hard to make their lives better and to reduce greatly their suffering and difficulties. Of course, in the course of this, he encountered many opposition to his works, but he did not give up or became disheartened, and instead he became even more committed to his cause.

The examples of St. Peter Claver is truly something for us all to take note of. Through his works, countless slaves had a better life and they faced less suffering in their lives. He dared to oppose the ways of the world, because in it he saw injustice and wickedness in action, and he did not hesitate to do what is right, even in the face of the disapproval of the world.

Therefore, let us all follow in the footsteps of St. Peter Claver, and let us all seek to follow the way of the Lord and resist the temptations of the world and the devil, which seek to destroy us and bring us away from the grace and salvation of the Lord. May Almighty God help us and guide us in this endeavour. God bless us all. Amen.

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Wednesday, 9 September 2015 : 23rd Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Peter Claver, Priest (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Priests)

Luke 6 : 20-26

At that time, looking at His disciples, Jesus said, “Fortunate are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours. Fortunate are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. Fortunate are you who weep now, for you will laugh.”

“Fortunate are you when people hate you, when they reject you and insult you and number you among criminals, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for a great reward is kept for you in heaven. Remember, that is how the ancestors of this people treated the prophets.”

“But alas for you who have wealth, for you have been comforted now. Alas for you who are full, for you will go hungry. Alas for you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. Alas for you when people speak well of you, for that is how the ancestors of these people treated the false prophets.”

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Wednesday, 9 September 2015 : 23rd Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Peter Claver, Priest (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Priests)

Psalm 144 : 2-3, 10-11, 12-13ab

I will praise You day after day and exalt Your Name forever. Great is the Lord, most worthy of praise; and His deeds are beyond measure.

All Your works will give You thanks; all Your saints, o Lord, will praise You. They will tell of the glory of Your kingdom and speak of Your power.

That all may know of Your mighty deeds, Your reign and its glorious splendour. Your reign is from age to age; Your dominion endures from generation to generation.

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Wednesday, 9 September 2015 : 23rd Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Peter Claver, Priest (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Priests)

Colossians 3 : 1-11

So then, if you are risen with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things that are above, not on earthly things. For you have died and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your Life, reveals Himself, you also will be revealed with Him in Glory.

Therefore, put to death what is earthly in your life, that is immorality, impurity, inordinate passions, wicked desires and greed which is a way of worshipping idols. These are the things that arouse the wrath of God. For a time you followed this way and lived in such disorders. Well then, reject all that : anger, evil intentions, malice; and let no abusive words be heard from your lips.

Do not lie to one another. You have been stripped of the old self and its way of thinking to put on the new, which is being renewed and is to reach perfect knowledge and the likeness of its Creator. There is no room for distinction between Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, foreigner, slave or free, but Christ is all and in all.

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Tuesday, 8 September 2015 : Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : White

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, on this day we celebrate a special feast and occasion, celebrating the birth of the mother of our Lord Jesus, the Blessed Virgin Mary. Today’s feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a reminder to all of us, of the way how God had brought us all mankind to salvation, that through her, God brought the Saviour of the world into the world itself, in Jesus Christ, His Son.

We heard today about Bethlehem, a city seemingly without much significance throughout the history of Israel, and even more seemed to be a small village without importance, both as part of Judah and as part of the land of Israel. But it has been prophesied that one day, the Saviour would come from that city, and through that seemingly unimportant and unassuming place, God would deliver His people out of darkness and into the light.

It was likely the place where David, the famous and one of the greatest kings of Israel came from, a humble shepherd who was beloved of the Lord and who rose to be a king over all Israel. And God had renewed the promise He had made to His people, beginning from Adam and Eve, and then Abraham, and then David as well as the people as a whole, to whom God devoted Himself to them with a promise.

For God promised Adam and Eve deliverance from sin and death, and from all the harm that Satan the deceiver has brought upon them, and although for generations Satan and his allies would harm the children of mankind, but God promised that the Woman would bring about the destruction of Satan, and the Son born of the woman would be that salvation, the One to bring mankind out of their fated destruction.

And to Abraham, God renewed that promise, showing His favour to him because of his great faith. God promised that Abraham would become the father of great nations, and his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky, and as the grains of sand on the beach. God blessed him and his descendants, one of whom, David, to whom He renewed yet again the promise and the covenant He had established with men.

God told David that his descendant will rule forever and his kingdom and throne will last forever, and will never end. And all the promises God had made was fulfilled in its perfection and completeness through Jesus, God’s own Son, the Divine Word made flesh, who was born through the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary, His earthly mother. By assuming the flesh of man and born of Mary and Joseph, God had fulfilled the promises He had made.

Firstly, that through Jesus Christ, the Son and Heir of David, God fulfilled His promises to David, as through His everlasting kingdom, God secured the throne and kingdom for the family of David forever. And by the means of faith in Jesus Christ, as all those who follow the Lord became the children of Abraham, God fulfilled also the promise made to Abraham, that he would become the father of many nations.

But the most important of all is the promise He had made to all mankind at the beginning of time, which as mentioned that when Satan brought about mankind’s fall into sin, God promised us that deliverance would come, and through Mary, our Lord made salvation a reality, by being born into this world to deliver all men from destruction of death.

The role of Mary is very important in the history of our salvation, since she alone among all mankind were prevented from suffering the same taint and corruption of sin, which we believe in the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, where she was conceived and born without the taint of the original sin of men. She had been prepared from the beginning to be the New Ark of the new Covenant of God, which is Jesus Christ, the Messiah.

And thus, Mary is the Woman prophesied and promised by the Lord, to be the one through whom Satan would face his final and irreversible ultimate defeat. That is because through Mary, the Saviour would be born, and by the action of the Saviour, Jesus, mankind would be freed from sin and death, and all those who believe in Him shall forever be brought free from the hands of the devil, who will be cast down forever and will be brought down low.

We all have to realise that in Mary, we have a very powerful ally, friend and mother, who cares for all of us just as she loves and cares for her Son, Jesus. She is special because she is the mother of our Lord, had been prepared for such since the beginning, and her birth heralded a new hope for the world. But during her life, she was also very dedicated and committed to the mission entrusted to her by God, living her life faithfully and with impeccable and exemplary faith, which should be an example to all of us.

Today, as we celebrate the birthday of Mary, the mother of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the mother of us all, let us all dedicate ourselves to her more, and seek her help ever more, and following in her footsteps let us all live righteously in the sight and presence of God, so that by our faith and action, God’s salvation will be ours and the Covenant and promise He has made with us will be fulfilled to its completion.

Mary is a great example to all of us, and a great source of inspiration, as well as our greater intercessor before God. She is the closest to her Son in heaven, and all the time, she is always interceding for us, whom her Son had entrusted to her as He looked down from the cross that day at Calvary. And as her Son had triumphed over sin and evil, she would not want to see us all to fall back into our old way of sin.

Let us ask our Blessed Virgin, whose birth we celebrate this day, that we may be always preserved and protected by her Son, from all forms of malicious and evil influences that threaten to tear us away from the salvation that God had given us. Let us change our lives for the better, and commit ourselves to do what the Blessed Virgin Mary had done in her life, keeping faith and righteousness in everything we say and do.

May Almighty God be with us always, protect us and deliver us from all harm and from all evil, and may His blessed mother Mary always intercede for our sake, praying and beseeching for our redemption and deliverance, that God may remind us in our hearts to repent whenever we sin. God bless us all. Amen.

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Tuesday, 8 September 2015 : Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

Matthew 1 : 1–16, 18-23

This is the account of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, Son of David, Son of Abraham.

Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers. Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah (their mother was Tamar), Perez was the father of Hezron, and Hezron of Aram. Aram was the father of Aminadab, Aminadab of Nahshon, Nahshon of Salmon.

Salmon was the father of Boaz. His mother was Rahab. Boaz was the father of Obed. His mother was Ruth. Obed was the father of Jesse. Jesse was the father of David, the king. David was the father of Solomon. His mother had been Uriah’s wife. Solomon was the father of Rehoboam. Then came the kings : Abijah, Asaph, Jehoshaphat, Joram, Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, Manasseh, Amon, Josiah.

Josiah was the father of Jechoniah and his brothers at the time of the deportation to Babylon. After the deportation to Babylon, Jechoniah was the father of Salathiel and Salathiel of Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel was the father of Abiud, Abiud of Eliakim, and Eliakim of Azor. Azor was the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Akim, and Akim the father of Eliud. Eliud was the father of Eleazar, Eleazar of Matthan, and Matthan of Jacob.

Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and from her came Jesus who is called the Christ – the Messiah.

This is how Jesus Christ was born : Mary His mother had been given to Joseph in marriage, but before they lived together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph, her husband, made plans to divorce her in all secrecy. He was an upright man, and in no way did he want to discredit her.

While he was pondering over this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, descendant of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. She has conceived by the Holy Spirit, and now she will bear a Son. You shall call Him ‘Jesus’ for He will save His people from their sins.”

All this happened in order to fulfil what the Lord had said through the prophet : ‘The virgin will conceive and bear a Son, and He will be called Emmanuel, which means : God-with-us.'”

Alternative reading (shorter version)

Matthew 1 : 18-23

This is how Jesus Christ was born : Mary His mother had been given to Joseph in marriage, but before they lived together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph, her husband, made plans to divorce her in all secrecy. He was an upright man, and in no way did he want to discredit her.

While he was pondering over this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, descendant of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. She has conceived by the Holy Spirit, and now she will bear a Son. You shall call Him ‘Jesus’ for He will save His people from their sins.”

All this happened in order to fulfil what the Lord had said through the prophet : ‘The virgin will conceive and bear a Son, and He will be called Emmanuel, which means : God-with-us.'”