Lord of Lords

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Friday, 22 August 2014 : 20th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

Isaiah 9 : 1-6

The people who walk in darkness have seen a great light. A light has dawned on those who live in the land of the shadow of death.

You have enlarged the nation; you have increased their joy. They rejoice before You, as people rejoice at harvest time and as they rejoice in dividing the spoil. For the yoke of their burden, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressors, You have broken it as on the day of Midian.

Every warrior’s boot that tramped in war, every cloak rolled in blood, will be thrown out for burning, will serve as fuel for the fire. For a Child is born to us, a Son is given us; the royal ornament is laid upon His shoulder, and His Name is proclaimed : “Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

To the increase of His powerful rule in peace, there will be no end. Vast will be His dominion, He will reign on David’s throne and over all His kingdom, to establish and uphold it with justice and righteousness from this time onward and forever. The zealous love of YHVH Sabaoth will do this.

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(Usus Antiquior) Tenth Sunday after Pentecost (II Classis) – Sunday, 17 August 2014 : Introit and Collect

Introit

Psalm 54 : 17, 18, 20, 23, 2

Dum clamarem ad Dominum, exaudivit vocem meam, ab his, qui appropinquant mihi : et humiliavit eos, qui est ante saecula et manet in aeternum : jacta cogitatum tuum in Domino, et ipse te enutriet.

Exaudi, Deus, orationem meam, et ne despexeris deprecationem meam : intende mihi et exaudi me.

Response : Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto, sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper : et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.

English translation

When I cried to the Lord, He heard my voice, from those that draw near to me, and He humbled them, He who is before all ages, and remains forever. Cast your care upon the Lord, and He shall sustain you.

Hear, o God, my prayer, and do not despise my supplication, and be attentive to me and hear me.

Response : Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Collect

Deus, qui omnipotentiam Tuam parcendo maxime et miserando manifestas : multiplica super nos misericordiam Tuam; ut, ad Tua promissa currentes, caelestium bonorum facias esse consortes. Per Dominum…

English translation

O God, who had chiefly manifested Your power in forbearance and mercy, multiply upon us Your pity, that, hastening on to Your promises, we may be made as partakers of the blessings of heaven. Through our Lord…

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(Usus Antiquior) Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (I Classis) – Friday, 15 August 2014 : Gradual and Alleluia

Psalm 44 : 11-12, 14 and Sacred Tradition

Audi, filia, et vide, et inclina aurem tuam, et concupiscit Rex decorem tuum.

Response : Omnis gloria ejus filiae Regis ab intus, in fimbriis aureis circumamicta varietatibus.

Alleluja, alleluja.

Response : Assumpta est Maria in caelum : gaudet exercitus Angelorum. Alleluja.

English translation

Listen, o daughter and see, incline your ear, and the King shall greatly desire your beauty.

Response : The daughter of the King comes in, all beautiful. Her robes are of golden cloth.

Alleluia, alleluia.

Response : Mary has been taken up into heaven, the choirs of angels rejoice. Alleluia.

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Tuesday, 12 August 2014 : 19th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Jane Frances de Chantal, Religious (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Religious)

Matthew 18 : 1-5, 10, 12-14

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.”

“See that you do not despise any of these little ones, for I tell you : their angels in heaven continually see the face of My heavenly Father.”

“What do you think of this? If someone has a hundred sheep and one of them strays, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hillside, and go to look for the stray one? And I tell you : when he finally finds it, he is more pleased about it than about the ninety-nine, that did not get lost.”

“It is the same with your Father in heaven : your Father in heaven does not want even one of these little ones to be lost.”

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Monday, 11 August 2014 : 19th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Clare, Virgin (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : White

Psalm 148 : 1-2, 11-12ab, 12c-14a, 14bcd

Alleluia! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise Him in the heavenly heights. Praise Him, all His angels; praise Him, all His heavenly hosts.

Kings of the earth and nations, princes and all rulers of the world, young men and maidens.

Old and young together, let them praise the Name of the Lord. For His Name alone is exalted; His majesty is above earth and heaven. He has given His people glory.

He has given a praise to His faithful, to Israel, the people close to Him. Alleluia.

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Friday, 25 July 2014 : Feast of St. James, Apostle (Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Red (Apostles and Martyrs)

Brothers and sisters in Christ, today we celebrate the feast of a great saint of the Church, one of the Apostles of Christ Himself, namely St. James the Apostle, also known as St. James the Greater or St. James, son of Zebedee, who together with his brother, St. John the Evangelist are among the Holy Apostles of Christ our Lord.

Yet, it may seem that in today’s Gospel, our Lord Himself admonished the two brothers, the sons of Zebedee, when their mother asked for their favoured positions at the kingdom of heaven beside Jesus. Such attitude were prevalent, and in fact not only just then, but over all ages past, present, and as it will also be in the future. Mankind are predisposed to pride and greed for position and privileges.

What Jesus wanted to teach His disciples and all of us mankind, in tandem with the Scriptures that we heard today, is that mankind should be humble and unassuming, following the will of God in all things, putting obedience and service in humility ahead of our personal ambition and glory. Jesus taught us that the way to God is not one wrought by power or ambition, but through full obedience to the will of God and through a heart devoted to the service of both God and men.

And that exactly what He had called His Apostles for, and who He expected them to be, just as the same had been expected, and performed by their successors, who are none other than the bishops and the priests, including those who are present with us today, and guiding us in these uncertain days in this world. The Apostles were not called for a life of glory and plenty, but instead for a life of difficulty and challenges, of rejection and hatred by the world, and many other obstacles.

And for St. James the Apostle, that did not come too soon, for he was one among the first of the Apostles to be martyred for his faith and devotion to Jesus Christ, our Lord. St. James the Apostle was killed by King Herod in prison, in order to please the religious leaders of his subordinates, the Pharisees and the elders of Israel. He was truly one of the first to die for the faith in Christ.

The tasks entrusted to the Apostles were truly daunting and challenging to any who look and know those tasks and what they truly mean. They went about the entire known world, walking in the path of God, and spreading the Good News to all mankind. Through their hard work and commitment, many people came to hear their testimony about God, who came into this world through Jesus Christ.

Yet, it is through their great service filled with humility, that the Apostles gained eventually the eternal glory promised by Christ, who assured them of the final victory and glory over those who are up against God and His people. It is not through glory that God had given glory to mankind, but through love and through service. And the words of Christ certainly ring very clearly in our minds, that those who are called to be greater should indeed be lower and greater in their humility.

True leadership and greatness comes when mankind realise that power, arrogance, greed and ambition does not lead to true greatness in life. All these lead only into an endless cycle of greed and hatred, as well as desire for more and more. This is precisely the reason for tyranny and dictatorial rule, when men care only about themselves and not about the others around them, particularly those who are under their authority, those entrusted to their care and leadership.

Christ wanted to teach us that the way to greatness is through the Lord, and through obedience to the will of God. To lead is to serve, just as the great Leader of all, Lord Jesus Christ, Lord of Lords and King of Kings Himself had done. Although He was so great and Almighty, Lord over all creations, but He was not boastful nor prideful, and instead, He lowered Himself to the lowest possible position, made concrete in His own actions, as we all know it.

Yes, brothers and sisters in Christ, God did not hesitate at all to come down from His great throne to be one of us, and to dwell among us. To this extent, and such greatness is His love, that He was willing to empty Himself completely and became a servant, and not just a servant, but a servant of all servants, and the lowest and most shameful of all creations.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, Jesus had also taught His disciples to follow His examples and serve one another, especially when at the Last Supper as He washed the feet of the disciples. He taught them to pass on the knowledge and the practice, and so they did, down to us today. That is what we ought to do as well, brothers and sisters. The Apostles and the saints all gained great glory, that is everlasting glory that survives even the ending of the world, by their loving service of both God and mankind.

Therefore, brothers and sisters in Christ, shall we too walk in the same path as St. James the Apostle and the other Holy Apostles and saints of God? Let us no longer be disobedient and rebellious against the Lord. Let us no longer dwell in our pride, arrogance, greed and desire. Rather, let us learn to let go of our unquenchable desire, and so gain for ourselves a greater glory than what the world can give us.

It is no doubt that things will not be easy for us. Challenges will be on our way, and the devil and his forces will be arrayed against us. But if we trust in God, we should have nothing to fear, for He will surely guide us and protect us on our way. Let us be like St. James in his faith, and let us devote ourselves to God ever more in our lives. May God be with us always and lead us to live always in His light. Amen.

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Tuesday, 21 January 2014 : 2nd Week of Ordinary Time, Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Memorial of St. Agnes, Virgin and Martyr (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Red (Martyrs)

Psalm 88 : 20, 21-22, 27-28

In the past You spoke in a vision; You said of Your faithful servant : “I have set the crown upon a mighty one; on one chosen from the people.”

“I have found David My servant, and with My holy oil I have anointed him. My hand will be ever with him and My arm will sustain him.”

“He will call on Me, ‘You are my Father, my God, my Rock, my Saviour.’ I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.”

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Saturday, 18 January 2014 : 1st Week of Ordinary Time (Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Saturday Mass of our Lady)

Today brethren, we heard about how God had chosen Saul, from the tribe of Benjamin, to be the king over His people Israel, and how He instructed Samuel, His prophet and servant, to deliver His will to Saul and later on, to let it be known to the people.

He anointed Saul through His servant Samuel, that Saul be filled with His own Spirit bearing power and authority, that He be granted wisdom and power, which came from God, to lead the people of God through righteous life and obedience to the Lord, and make sure that the people of God faithfully keep the laws and commandments of God without turning from them or abandoning them.

But sadly, Saul, and many other kings of Israel did not remain faithful to God, and followed their own ways and desires, in ruling the people, misusing the power given to them and the authority entrusted to them. They became tyrants and abusers of power, serving their own needs and desires instead of serving the people of God.

The people of Israel were eventually lost and were scattered all over the world, after their kingdoms of Israel and Judah were destroyed by their enemies. They went into exile, and only a portion would eventually return to their Promised Land, and began anew, trying to once again obey the will of God and not walk the path of sinfulness as their ancestors had under the rule of the corrupt kings.

God resolved to show His infinite love for His people and for all mankind, the most beloved of all His creations, by sending to us His ultimate form of love, that is, Jesus Christ, His own Son, the Logos, the Word of God, who was made man, by the power of God, and born of the Virgin Mary. Jesus, as Lord, is the true King of all, for God is the true King over all creations, the Lord and King over all the universe. From God all authority and power comes.

But Jesus showed all of us, that true kingship is not one based on the abuse of power or tyranny. Even though He was Lord of all and King of all kings, and have all the power and authority He needed, He never showed them off or used them to push things to His advantage. The kingship of Jesus is one of true service for His people, to care and love them very, very much, so much that He even was willing to lay down His own life for them.

He also came to seek the lost and the ones without hope. He came to bring light to those who live in the darkness, especially those who were deeper and even deeper in darkness. That was why, when He came, He sought those who were sinful and considered the troubles of the society, the hated enemies of the people. Yes, people such as tax collectors, prostitutes, and those possessed by illnesses and the evil spirits.

Jesus came to bring them to the comfort of the light of God, and to show that they too deserve redemption, even more so because they were so deep in the risk of damnation. He also made the point that these people were truly capable of great deeds and great piety, even more than those who outwardly showed brilliant faith, but inside were not as brilliant as they seemed to be.

That was why, He as the King who has authority over us, and who is like a father to all of us, came to correct things as well as perceptions of the society, that we should not judge others based on their appearance or their deeds in the past. Yes, the likes of Saul, who was very tall and handsome, who seemed like the perfect choice for a regal king, and yet failed miserably, and the likes of the Pharisees, who outwardly showed faith in God but in their hearts there were no love for God, but only for themselves.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today we are called by our King, our Lord Jesus Christ, to be the beacons of light shining the way for those who have been lost in the darkness of this world. Let us imitate Jesus and seek out those who have been condemned and villified by the society, those ostracised and hated. Let us not hate or be prejudiced against them, but instead embracing them, that we show to them the love of God, that they too may believe and therefore be saved together with us.

May the Lord put in our hearts, the courage to embrace the least of our brothers and sisters, especially those who are looked down upon by the society, and those who are unloved and rejected. May God be with all of us, that together, we may help one another to find a way to seek the light, our King, the One and only True King, Jesus Christ our Lord and God! Amen.

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Thursday, 26 December 2013 : Feast of St. Stephen, Protomartyr (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Red

Psalm 30 : 3cd-4, 6 and 8ab, 16bc and 17

Be a rock of refuge for me, a fortress for my safety. For You are my Rock and my Stronghold, lead me for Your Name’s sake.

Into Your hands I commend my spirit; You have redeemed me, o Lord, faithful God. I will rejoice and be glad in Your love, for You have seen my affliction.

Deliver me from the hand of my enemies, from those after my skin. Make Your face shine upon Your servant; save me in Your love.

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Wednesday, 25 December 2013 : Mass of Christmas Day, Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Second Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

Hebrews 1 : 1-6

God has spoken in the past to our ancestors through the prophets, in many different ways, although never completely; but in our times He has spoken definitively to us through His Son.

He is the one God appointed Heir of all things, since through Him He unfolded the stages of the world. He is the radiance of God’s Glory and bears the stamp of God’s hidden Being, so that His powerful Word upholds the universe. And after taking away sin, He took His place at the right hand of the Divine Majesty in heaven.

So He is now far superior to angels just as the Name He received sets Him apart from them. To what angel did God say : ‘You are My Son, I have begotten You today?’ and to what angel did He promise : ‘I shall be a Father to Him and He will be a Son to Me?’

On sending His Firstborn to the world, God says : ‘Let all the angels adore Him.’