preaching the faith

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Monday, 28 August 2023 : 21st Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : White

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we listened to the words of the Scriptures, we are all reminded of the need for all of us to be truly and genuinely faithful to the Lord, in all things so that we may indeed be exemplary and be good role models in faith to one another so that in whatever we say and do, we will always be the great inspiration and the examples for everyone else to follow, and so that God’s truth and Good News may be revealed and shown to more and more people through us and our works. Each and every one of us must be truly dedicated and obedient to the Lord, and understand His Law and commandments, or else, we may end up being no better than hypocrites and unbelievers.

In our first reading today, we have heard from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Church and the faithful in the city of Thessalonica, in which the Apostle greeted the faithful there and praised all of them for the examples of the faith, the good actions and dedication which they had all done for the sake of the Lord, in how they had lived their lives and did their best despite the challenges and various hardships that they might have to encounter and endure along the way. St. Paul reminded all of them of the gifts of God and the Holy Spirit that they have all received from the hands of the Apostles and the other missionaries of the Lord, and then encouraged them all to continue living their lives with faith, and to keep on doing their best to proclaim the Good News and truth of God by their lives.

As St. Paul pointed out to us all in that same passage, the faith, lives and exemplary actions of the Thessalonian faithful were very well-known and widespread, that all of those who have heard and witnessed their lives were truly inspired and touched by their examples and actions. St. Paul praised them for their dedication in turning away from the path of wickedness and evil, and from the worship of false idols and pagan gods, into the worship of the one and only True God. Through their upright lives and in the positive attitude which they had shown in welcoming the Apostles and the other missionaries, and in embracing the path and the truth that they had been shown and guided towards, the faithful people of God in Thessalonica had become the shining beacons of God’s path to others.

This can then be contrasted with the attitude shown by the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law which the Lord Jesus highlighted and criticised in our Gospel passage today. In that occasion, the Lord told His disciples and the people of the hypocrisy and the lack of faith which those who had been entrusted with the guardianship over the Law and the well-being of the people of God had shown. The Pharisees and the teachers of the Law have often paraded around their piety and dedication to God, and how they have strictly observed the Law and the commandments of God, in their very rigid and overly strict interpretation of God’s Law. They prayed publicly, and wore their religious garments, for the show to the people.

While it was indeed right for one to do what the Law has commanded him or her to do, but the problem as highlighted here by the Lord, was the fact that they themselves did not truly follow or obey the commandments of the Lord as they should, interpreting those Law and commandments, bending the rules and regulations all for their own benefits and prestige, as well as for their own purposes and advantages. This was also coupled with their elitist and exclusivist attitudes, in which they often condemned and ostracised those who they disagreed with, all those whom they deemed to be less worthy than they were. They should have helped the people of God to come closer to their Lord and Master, but they instead made it difficult for those who need God’s salvation the most.

This is why, brothers and sisters in Christ, all of us are reminded by these Scripture passages that we should not allow worldly glory, ambitions, fame and other attachments, which had caused the lukewarmness of the faith among the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law, and their constant refusal to believe in God. They were misled and blinded by their attachments to worldly glory, temptations, and all the things which kept them from the path of God’s truth. If only that they learn to humble themselves and to open their hearts and minds to welcome the Lord into them, they would be like the faithful in Thessalonica, who had lived their lives faithfully and in accordance with God’s ways, and became the source of faith and hope for many others.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, today the Church celebrates the feast of St. Augustine of Hippo, a great saint and servant of God who is one of the original Doctor of the Church, a great Church father and role model for all of us, God’s faithful people. St. Augustine of Hippo was indeed very well-known and looked up to as a great man of God, however, he was not always a faithful person from the very beginning. At the start, St. Augustine was born into a Roman pagan noble family, to a patrician named Patricius and his mother, St. Monica, a Christian believer. St. Augustine was raised up as a pagan and brought up well in the ways of the world, and had a great interest in intellectual pursuits, being highly intelligent and curious by nature.

However, St. Augustine lived his early youth life in hedonistic pursuits and lifestyle, being swayed by the various temptations of worldly glory and the pleasures of the flesh, even leading to him fathering a child with a woman out of wedlock. All those things brought about a great misery and heart pain for his loving mother, St. Monica, who devoted herself to her son very much, and who prayed daily for the conversion of both her husband and her son. Eventually, St. Monica’s efforts, prayers and actions led to the conversion, first of her husband before his passing, and finally, that of St. Augustine himself, who was called by God, abandoning his earlier wicked lifestyle and worldly pursuits, embracing God wholeheartedly ever since afterwards.

St. Augustine thereafter led a truly faithful and exemplary way of life, as one of the most influential Church rfathers of all time, whose faith and devotion became truly shining beacons of God’s light and truth. He wrote extensively on many aspects of the faith, and his many works influenced many other saints, theologians and others in the Church long after his passing into the glory of Heaven. His works, including that of De Trinitate, a treatise on the Trinitarian nature of God, and others like the famous City of God remained as great literary and theological works, which made him honoured as one of the original Doctors of the Church, having brought so many people to the path of God and his salvation, be it directly or indirectly.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, having heard of all these things, from the Scriptures and from the examples shown by St. Augustine of Hippo, our great and holy predecessor, our brilliant role model, can we all be inspired to live our lives with true faith and dedication to the Lord as well? Can we be truly devout and faithful in our way of life as well, so that by our every words, actions and deeds, our every moments in life, we may help to lead others to God and to inspire them all in their path, that more and more people may come to know the Lord, his love and truth. Let us all therefore do our part so that we may indeed be worthy of the Lord, and be worthy of the eternal glory and true joy that He has promised to all those who are faithful to Him. May God bless all of us in our every good efforts and endeavours. Amen.

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Sunday, 27 August 2023 : Twenty-First Sunday of Ordinary Time (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, this Sunday as all of us are reminded of the Lord Who called all those whom He deemed to be worthy and just, and empowered them to be His servants and stewards, to be caretakers and guides, leaders and shepherds for His people. God called on us all to follow Him and He raised those who are humble and faithful to Him, and empowered them in their lives and actions that they might do His great and wonderful deeds, while all those who took great pride and power in their own achievements and glory, all those faltered and fell astray in their path. Their pride and ego became their downfall, as they trusted more in their own might and power rather than to have faith and trust in God. As our Scripture passages today highlighted, that all those who trusted the Lord and had faith in Him, would truly be blessed and made great by God.

In our first reading today, we heard from the Book of the prophet Isaiah in which the prophet spoke of God’s words to His people, relating about one particular man named Eliakim, son of Hilkiah, who according to the Scriptures and historical evidences served as the steward, caretaker and some sort of chief or prime minister in the court and government of the Kingdom of Judah, then ruled by King Hezekiah, one of the good and faithful kings. This Eliakim was appointed into his position to replace one particular Shebna, who was the steward or prime minister immediately before Eliakim. According to Scriptural and historical evidences, Shebna was cast out because of his pride and ego, his dependance on his own power and machinations of state rather than in trusting in God’s power and providence, trusting in his own intrigues, diplomatic and political power play rather than to follow the Lord and His path.

As such, what we have heard today in our first reading today is a reminder for all of us that pride and ambition will likely lead to our downfall. According to additional archaeological and Scriptural evidence, the same Shebna was an ambitious man who carved a tomb for himself, which was only allowed for the kings. He was also corrupt and power hungry, and through his political machinations, he attempted to steer his country Judah into dangerous alliances and paths. Thus, another man was appointed into his position, which was Eliakim as mentioned because this person was likely to be truly dedicated to his people and kingdom, and to the Lord, rather than serving his own purposes and seeking for his own ambitions. The prophet Isaiah therefore spoke highly of Eliakim, who in this case also prefigured the coming of Christ and His role in establishing His Church, and how He entrusted it to those whom He had chosen.

In our Gospel passage today, we heard from the Gospel of St. Matthew of the interactions between the Lord and His closest disciples, the members of the Twelve. He asked them earnestly and openly, Who they were thinking or considering that He was. And we heard in that well-known exchanges what the Lord was commonly thought to be at that time, such as one of the Prophets, or the prophet Elijah and other holy man of God. However, St. Peter, the one of the most vocal and faithful among the disciples spoke frankly that they all believe that He is the Messiah, the Holy One of God that has been promised by God to His people, and the Son of God. And for speaking the truth, through the inspiration of faith and the Spirit of God, the Lord blessed St. Peter and granted him the important role of steward and guide, shepherd and leader of all the faithful.

In what is clearly seen as a parallel of our first reading passage today, prefigured by the figure of Eliakim the steward in the Book of the prophet Isaiah, we saw how the Lord entrusted His Church that He has established to St. Peter and the other Apostles, with St. Peter, whose name means ‘Rock’, as the foundation of the Church and together with the other Apostles serve as the strong foundation, pillars of strength and support through whom the Church was established and was strengthened, and through whose works, the many great achievements and works of the Lord through His Church were initiated and made. St. Peter himself was known as Simon, the son of Jonah, hence what the Lord called him today before He told them of his mission, as Simon bar Jonah, or Simon the son of Jonah or John. When the Lord told Simon that ‘You are Peter’, essentially, the Lord entrusted to him a new command and mission.

Compare this to how in the other parts of the Scriptures, some other important figures had also gone through the same process, with Abram and Sarai, the ones through whom the whole people of Israel and many other nations originated from, were known by their new names of Abraham and Sarah after God had established His Covenant with them, as well as Jacob himself, the forefather of all the Israelites, who was named as Israel after God encountered him upon his return to the land promised to him, his forefathers and descendants, and through which all the Israelites got their name from. There were others like King Solomon who had a new name ‘Jedediah’ or ‘beloved of the Lord’ bestowed upon him by God through the prophet Nathan, and of course among the Apostles, we have Levi the tax collector whose name was changed into Matthew after he followed the Lord, and Simon himself, who henceforth became known as Peter. There was also a change for Saul, who changed the name by which he was known to Paul, after his conversion.

All of them went through a period of change and transformation, with that name change signifying the call of the Lord to His people to follow Him and to embrace the missions and all that He would entrust to them, to each one of us, in everything that all of us can do for His cause. For St. Peter in particular, this small and insignificant, brash and uneducated man from Galilee, a mere fisherman and a nobody was appointed by God to be His chief steward, as the leader, shepherd and guide to all of His faithful ones. God did not call the mighty and the powerful, the proud or the haughty, those who were ambitious and served their own glory to be His servants and disciples, but rather those who had the humility, desire and willingness to love and serve Him wholeheartedly, not for their own glory and benefits, but for the glory of God and for the good of all of God’s people.

St. Peter himself was not perfect and he had his flaws, just like all of us. He was brash and violent at times, as we all know how he cut off the ears of the servant of the High Priest, Malchus, at the time when the High Priest and his fellow priests sent guards to arrest the Lord at the Gardens of Gethsemane. He was also well-known for his thrice denial of the Lord at the moment just immediately after that, despite having declared that he would lay down his life for the Lord. All these showed us that St. Peter was a sinner and a weak man just like all of us, but what made him to stand out from others and how God chose and empowered him, was because of his great love and true dedication to God despite of all these imperfections and flaws. Like Eliakim mentioned in the first reading today, he must not have been a perfect person either, but unlike the Shebna mentioned earlier, he was humble and had the right disposition in following the Lord and His commandments, and in carrying out his duties and all that had been entrusted to him.

This is where all of us need to realise that the Church is the assembly of the Body of all the faithful people of God, all called and gathered by the Lord to follow His path, led by His Apostles and disciples. All of us are sinners called to follow the Lord and to embrace His path of redemption, to be converted and transformed from a people of darkness and sin into the blessed people of God’s Light and truth. That is why the Church is also known as a ‘hospital for sinners’ and not a ‘pedestal for the ambitious and those who are self-righteous’. All the saints and great holy men and women of old, all of them were also themselves sinners, and they all embraced God and His path, allowing Him to empower and transform them to be great role models and inspirations for all of us. They were glorified, honoured and great not because of their own power but because of what God had done through them.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, that is why each and every one of us are reminded today that we are all also called to the same mission and God has entrusted to us various vocations, missions and areas of responsibilities where we can contribute our efforts and works, our expertise and actions for the greater glory of God and for the good of our fellow brothers and sisters. All of us have been called to follow the Lord and to emulate the examples of our holy predecessors, whom God had called and chosen before us. And we have to realise the significance of what we heard today for ourselves, as mentioned earlier in how some of those servants of God had changed their names in symbolic transformation of their lives, as a moment when they embrace their new mission and calling in life, in following God wholeheartedly from then on.

It signified a moment of change and transformation, when one has been called to a particular mission and vocation, to do what God entrusted to them. God empowered them and gave them the strength and grace to do what they needed to do. Then, for each one of us? We have experienced the same in our own baptism, when we were initiated in our Christian faith, and also when we received the Sacrament of Confirmation. We adopted the name of saints as our baptismal names, and maybe another saint’s as our confirmation names. This signified our own commitment to do God’s will and to carry out whatever God has entrusted uniquely to each one of us, in our own areas of expertise and responsibilities. We are all God’s stewards, in whatever areas God entrusted us to do His will.

God empowers us, strengthens us and we are all reminded that, all that we do, in our various Church ministries, groups and organisations, should be done for the greater glory of God and for the good of those entrusted to us in our ministries and groups, and not for our own personal glory, ambition or ego. We may feel unworthy or not inclined to help and contribute, or feel that we are nobody or has nothing that we can contribute or give, comparing ourselves to those who we think are better than us, but let us not forget that, even the greatest of the saints were once sinners too. They chose to let God guide them and to do great things through them. And even they made mistakes after they had embraced the Lord and His path, as was only natural for them, for being imperfect just like any one of us, but they allowed God to help them to improve and to do better, and to rectify those mistakes to the best of their abilities.

Remember that it is God Who made them great, and not themselves. All of us, in the small little things we do to each other, in our various areas of expertise, responsibilities and in whatever vocations and commitment that we have been given, and what we have committed ourselves to the Lord, let us all do our very best, and allowing God to help and guide us in our path and journey. Let us all be the great sources of inspiration to one another and be the shining beacons of God’s light and truth in our world today. May God be glorified to us and may He empower us all in our every good efforts and endeavours, now and always. Amen.

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Saturday, 26 August 2023 : 20th Week of Ordinary Time (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

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

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we listened to the words of the Scriptures, all of us are reminded that each and every one of us are called to be truly faithful to God and to do whatever we can in order to follow and obey God and His Law and commandments faithfully and with sincere desire to love God and to follow His path in our lives. We have to put the Lord at the centre and as the main focus of our lives, so that in all the things we say and do, we will always do what is right and just, worthy and truly faithful to God. It is easier said than done actually, just as our predecessors had shown us, in how they lived their own lives. To be faithful to God may often mean for us to have the need to resist the many temptations and pressures all around us, so that we do not end up falling into the wrong path in our lives, on the path towards worldliness and our downfall instead on the path towards righteousness and glory in God.

In our first reading today, we heard from the account from the Book of Ruth, in which we listened to the continuation of the story of Ruth, a Moabite woman, that is a foreigner at that time, when the Judges were ruling over Israel before the days of the kings of the kingdom of Israel. As a foreigner, and a woman no less, back then, it was really unlikely for someone like Ruth to be viewed positively and with esteem by the people of Israel, who were rather exclusive and different from their neighbours, and who back then were often embroiled in conflict and struggles against those who lived with and around them. That was because most of those foreigners and neighbours worshipped pagan idols and gods in a polytheistic nature, while the Israelites were those who kept the Law and commandments of God, and worshipped the Lord, their God alone, in a monotheistic worship.

Ruth was distinct and important because if we remember what we heard in our first reading passage yesterday, she made a very firm profession of faith and commitment to God, before her own mother-in-law Naomi, declaring that the latter’s God would be her God as well. She had no obligation or need to do so, and she could have just returned to the land of Moab just as her sister-in-law, Orpah, had done. Yet, Ruth followed Naomi back to the land of Israel, and we saw here how she ended up in the favour and love of one called Boaz, a relative of Naomi and her late husband, Elimelech. Boaz was from the tribe of Judah and was one of the ancestors of David, the great King of Israel. When Ruth gained the love and favour of Boaz, because of her righteousness, virtues and dedication to God, as highlighted in our first reading passage today, this made her to be one of the ancestors of David as well, and from him, therefore, as one of the ancestors of the Lord Jesus, our Lord and Saviour, Who was born into the House of David.

The examples, dedication and commitment of Ruth the Moabite foreigner, all of these come in contrast against what we have heard in our Gospel passage today, in which the Lord Jesus spoke to His disciples and to the people regarding the attitudes of the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law, which the Lord criticised for their approach and adoption of a very rigid interpretation, application and enforcement of the Law of God and His commandments, rules and precepts as revealed to Israel through Moses. Historically, the Law and commandments of God had been passed down by oral traditions from generations to generations, and over time, the context, meaning and significance of the Law and its details did tend to get lost and twisted, as various people made adjustments and additions to them, which resulted in the Law and the rules being excessively restrictive and rigid by the time of the Lord’s ministry.

And in the manner of how those Pharisees and the teachers of the Law observed and enforced them, the Lord criticised those people, who have been entrusted with the guardianship and the care of the Law, and also the well-being and the guidance of the rest of the people of God, because the former had done things that have kept God’s people away from the Lord and His salvation and grace instead of bringing them closer to Him as they should have done. They have paraded their piety and devotion before everyone else, and prided their revered and highly respected status in the community, and as a result, many of them became indulgent in that reverence and vanity, and ended up losing focus and sight on what truly matters, that is their obligation to lead a life that is truly attuned to God, and to be good role models, that are willing to lead others to the right path in life towards God.

Instead, they closed the gates of salvation to many people, by being prejudiced and even hostile against those whom they perceived to be less than worthy of God and His salvation, such as the tax collectors, prostitutes, those suffering from various diseases and demonic possessions. All of those were the members of the people of God as well, and those whom the Lord Jesus often went to visit and minister for, in the effort to bring God’s love, His truth and Good News to them, so that they might find the path to salvation, to sin no more and to follow wholeheartedly the path of God and His truth. The Pharisees and the teachers of the Law, contrary to the examples shown by Ruth in our first reading today, focused more of their attention on themselves and their perceived greatness and worthiness before God, making it difficult for many others to find their way to God through their excessively rigid application of God’s Law and commandments.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, what the Scripture readings today presented to us is a reminder that we must not allow ourselves to be swayed by worldly temptations and the vices of human greed and ambitions, our ego and pride. As long as we allow those things to lead us down the wrong path, it may be difficult for us to remain truly faithful to God. And at the same time, we are also reminded not to be biased or judgmental simply because of our perceptions and preferences, such as the perfect example shown by Ruth against that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law. While the former, who as a foreigner and a woman was often considered as unworthy and wicked, was actually very devout, committed and faithful to God, the latter group, those considered as the religious elites and guardians of the Law, were actually the ones who did not truly obey the Law wholeheartedly.

This is why, brothers and sisters in Christ, all of us are reminded to have true and genuine faith in God, a faith that is truly living and vibrant, one like that which Ruth possessed back then. We must allow the Lord to transform and guide us, by focusing our lives and attention on Him, and not on the many worldly matters and attachments that we all may have, all around us. We must learn to focus our attention on the Lord and to distance ourselves from the many distractions and wickedness all around us, the allure of worldly glory and human desires, among other things, which can lead us down the wrong path, like what happened to the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law who were swayed by their pride, ego and vanity, and like what had happened to many of us and our predecessors throughout history.

Let us all therefore strive to renew our faith and our conviction to live our lives ever more worthily of the Lord from now on. Let us all turn towards God with all of our heart, our soul and our might, so that in all the things we do, we will always do them out of love for God, and with the intention of bringing glory to God and for the well-being of our fellow brothers and sisters, just as the Lord had commanded us to do. Let our lives be inspirations and good examples for others to follow, as how Ruth has inspired many who came after her. May God bless us all in our every efforts and endeavours, now and always, forevermore. Amen.

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Friday, 25 August 2023 : 20th 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, all of us are reminded today through the readings of the Sacred Scriptures of the need for all of us to be truly dedicated and committed to God, in doing His will and in following His Law and commandments. Each one of us must always heed the words of God and obey Him wholeheartedly, understand His Law and teachings, and do what we can so that we may always do what is righteous and virtuous in His Presence. All of us have to strive to do this, for if we truly consider and call ourselves as Christians, as God’s faithful and dedicated people, then we cannot be complacent, ignorant and even contradictory in our actions and way of life. Otherwise, if our words and actions do not match with what we believe in, then we are no better than hypocrites and unbelievers, because all those who hear and witness our actions, will not even believe that we are Christians.

In our first reading today, we heard from the Book of Ruth, of the story of Ruth, a Moabite woman who was married to one of the two sons of Elimelech and his wife, Naomi. When everyone in that family have passed on, and left Ruth alone with Naomi and the other son of Naomi’s wife, as we heard, Ruth refused to leave Naomi and return to her own homeland, and she made a very firm profession of faith before Naomi, that her mother-in-law would be like her own mother, and her God would also be her own God. Through this act and dedication, Ruth has taken the Lord to be her own Lord and Master, and committed herself wholly to Him and to His people, and henceforth, was counted among the chosen people of God. Ruth was included among the many other women in the Scriptures, Israelite or otherwise and even has her own Book written about her because she was the mother of Obed, who was to be King David’s grandfather.

If we understand the context and common practice of that time, this was highly unusual as during that time period, there were great divisions and distrust between the Israelites and their neighbours such as the Moabites. There was also a great divide between the Israelites who worshipped the Lord God and God alone, while their neighbours like that of the Moabites, Edomites, Ammonites, Phoenicians and Hittites among others worshipped many gods and idols. Therefore, for Ruth to have put her trust so completely in the Lord and in her mother-in-law when she definitely had no obligation to do so, was a truly very significant expression and declaration of the faith. That is why Ruth has been made as a great role model of faith for all of the Israelites, God’s people, and also to all of us. Ruth is the role model and inspiration to everyone in how they all should commit themselves wholeheartedly to the Lord.

In our Gospel passage today, we heard of something related as the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law questioned and tested the Lord by asking Him what the most important commandment of the Law is, and the Lord told them that, in all the vast arrays of rules, regulations and all the customs which the Law of God had inspired by that time, all of them are ultimately originating from two main commandments, that is first of all for us to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our mind, the most important commandment of all, and then immediately afterwards, is for us to love our neighbour as ourselves, which the Lord mentioned as the foundation of the whole entire Law and everything that the prophets had taught and delivered to the people of God. The Lord has reminded us all these today, together with the examples of Ruth, that all of us need to put our focus and attention on the Lord our God, in all things.

That is why, each one of us as Christians living today in our world of the present day, we have to do our part in obeying God’s Law and commandments, and not only with our words and actions, or by external show or sign of faith, but we must also genuinely be filled with love and commitment to the Lord, so that in all things, we may truly show our Christian faith and character, at all times and opportunities. We must not allow ourselves to be swayed by the many temptations of the world, and by the allures of worldly glory, fame and riches, all the things that may end up distracting and pulling us away from the path towards God’s grace, and distancing ourselves from truly attaining righteousness and being worthy of Him. This is what we have to remind one another as always, and we should not disregard this, as it is indeed easy for us to lose track and focus of our lives, and falling into temptations, should we allow those things to enter into us and influence our lives.

Today, the Church celebrates the feast of two great saints, holy men of God whose lives and faith in God should be sources of strength and inspiration for all of us to follow, so that we may all know how we should also dedicate ourselves, our time and effort to serve the Lord wholeheartedly if we have not yet done so. One of them is St. Louis of France, also known better as King Louis IX of France, a great and renowned King of France and holy servant of God. Meanwhile, the other one is St. Joseph Calasanz, a renowned Spanish Catholic priest remembered for his dedication to the less fortunate, especially to those who did not have access to education and proper upbringing in life, by establishing schools and institutions to help them. Both of them were remembered for their great commitment and dedication to God, their piety and love for both God and their fellow brothers and sisters alike, and for all the efforts that they had done for the greater glory of God and for the good of the people of God.

St. Louis, as the King of France, Louis IX, was a great king remembered for his many efforts to improve the livelihood of his people, working hard to ensure the well-being and prosperity of his people and kingdom, in his efforts to spread the Good News and the works of the Church by his support of various Church institutions and efforts. He was also well-known for his efforts in eradicating heresies and false teachings as was rampant at that time with the Albigensian heresy, which led to the efforts known as the Albigensian Crusades, where many priests and other missionaries went to convert the people back to the truth of God, having been deluded and misled by the falsehoods of the Cathars that led to the Albigensian heresy. St. Louis dedicated himself to the greater glory of God, and did everything he could for the glory of God, and had done so much for the prosperity and future of those entrusted under his care.

St. Joseph Calasanz was born into a family of minor Spanish nobleman, and he was brought up with good education and upbringing which likely gave a good impression on him on the importance of education on the youth and children. It also brought up in him the desire to become a priest, in serving the Lord in greater ways. This was initially opposed by his parents, but after a great sickness that almost led him to his death, eventually his father relented and allowed St. Joseph Calasanz to be a priest. As a priest, he dedicated himself to many great works and missions, and paid particular focus as mentioned to the youths and children who had not been able to access education. He helped to establish and open the first free public school in all of Europe, and establishing even more public schools and institutions meant to help and assist many people who have been disadvantaged. He continued to commit himself to this mission and encourage many more efforts to be done for the sick, the disadvantaged and the uneducated, to the end of his life.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, as we have heard from the life stories and the works of St. Louis and St. Joseph Calasanz, all of us should be reminded, together with the examples of Ruth and her faith mentioned earlier, that all of us should follow the Lord with greater zeal and commitment, and develop that strong faith and love which we ought to have for Him. Each and every one of us should do our part, as members of the Church and as God’s own beloved people, to carry out His will and to do whatever we can so that we may indeed proclaim Him and His Good News through our own exemplary lives and actions. We should do what we can so that more and more people may be inspired to follow the Lord by our examples, just as we have been inspired by His holy servants, the holy saints and martyrs. May He continue to guide and strengthen us all in our faith, and may His saints continue to intercede for us and inspire us in our way of life, now and always. Amen.

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Thursday, 24 August 2023 : Feast of St. Bartholomew, Apostle (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Red

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today we celebrate the Feast of St. Bartholomew the Apostle, one of the Twelve Apostles of the Lord, and therefore one of the great pillars of the Church. St. Bartholomew was also likely known as Nathanael as according to today’s Gospel passage, one of the Lord’s Twelve Apostles was one named Nathanael, whom the Lord called in an amazing way, and known for his great intellect and wisdom. There was no one else among the known Twelve Apostles who can fit the description of Nathanael except for St. Bartholomew the Apostle. There was scant reference to him otherwise in the Scriptures, but Church and Apostolic traditions and histories had extensive details about the efforts and works of St. Bartholomew, including that of his ministry and his martyrdom, how he died in the face of opposition and persecution against Christians.

St. Bartholomew was likely named as such because he was the son of a man named Talmai or Ptolemy, with the ‘bar’ in Hebrew meaning ‘son of’. As Ptolemy or Ptolemeus at that time was a Greek name, it was likely that he was a Hellenised Jew, with the given name of Nathanael. He was a wise and learned man, who knew the Law and the Prophets well, just as we heard in our Gospel passage today. In what he said upon knowing that the Lord Jesus had come from the region of Nazareth in Galilee, with the words, ‘Can anything good come from Nazareth?’, it indicated to us his familiarity with the prophets and their prophecies about the coming of the Messiah or the Saviour of Israel. But the Lord convinced Nathanael and showed Him His power, wisdom and truth, as He told him that He saw him below the fig tree, revealing His ability to know the thoughts and the location of Nathanael, showing that He was truly the Messiah of God promised to the people that He loved. Thus, Nathanael or St. Bartholomew recognised the Lord Jesus as the Son of God and King of Israel, the Holy One of God.

Later on, after everything that happened with the Lord and His Passion, His suffering and death on the Cross, and the events surrounding His Resurrection and Ascension into Heaven, as well as the coming of the Holy Spirit, it was told according to the Apostolic traditions that St. Bartholomew went on missions to spread the Good News and truth of God to many distant places including India and Armenia among other places. In India, it was told that St. Bartholomew went to the ancient city of Kalyan and other places, spreading the word of God and His truth, complementing the works of St. Thomas who also went to that land. He also went to Armenia as mentioned, together with another Apostle, St. Jude Thaddeus, in proclaiming the Good News and in calling more and more people to come to know their Lord and Saviour. In his travels and works throughout that region, St. Bartholomew managed to gain converts to the true Faith, while facing opposition and hardships in the midst of his missions.

In Armenia, it was told that St. Bartholomew managed to convert the ruler or king of Armenia named Polymius, who embraced the Christian faith because of the preaching and the works of St. Bartholomew. This brought about a resistance from the pagans and the powerful nobles, led by the king’s brother, Astyages, who therefore ordered the arrest and then torture of St. Bartholomew. In what would become truly renowned about St. Bartholomew, the Apostle was flayed or skinned alive and then beheaded. Thus, that is why many of the portrayals of St. Bartholomew showed the Apostle holding onto his own flayed skin. Another tradition stated that St. Bartholomew was crucified upside-down in the manner just like another Apostle, St. Peter. In the end, regardless in what way St. Bartholomew was martyred, what matters is that he died defending his faith, and suffered just as the Lord Himself had suffered, for the glory of God and for the good of His people.

Now, brothers and sisters in Christ, as we celebrate this Feast of the Holy Apostle, St. Bartholomew, on this day, let us all therefore reflect upon the actions and dedication which St. Bartholomew had shown the Lord and all of us, in everything he had done, in all the works and missions he had gone to, in proclaiming the Good News of God courageously and fearlessly, and in living his life with great virtues and examples, that many were convinced by his words and actions, in accepting and embracing the Lord Jesus Christ as their own Lord and Master, and as their Saviour and King. For all that he had done, in doing God’s will to the very end, St. Bartholomew has been glorified and raised to the bliss and joy of Heaven, as the Lord had promised to all those who have been faithful to Him. As we heard in our first reading today, from the Revelation or Apocalypse of St. John, we heard how St. John saw the vision of the New Jerusalem, with the names of the Apostles inscribed upon its gates.

Thus, that is how the Lord will also treat all those who have been faithful and true to Him, all those who have given their lives to His cause, like all the Apostles and the holy saints and martyrs, and the innumerable other holy men and women, who have gone before us, and whose lives shone forth with great virtue and faith. Their works and examples should serve inspiration to all of us as Christians, God’s beloved people and disciples, on how each and every one of us should be living our own lives with faith. We should be inspired and strengthened by their examples, particularly that of St. Bartholomew, in how we should act and do our best to love one another, and to proclaim God’s truth and Good News by our faithful lives. This is our calling as Christians, and what each and every one of us should do, as those whom God had called and chosen to be His own.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, therefore all of us are reminded today that we cannot be idle in the living of our faith in life. Each one of us have been blessed and given the grace of God’s love and kindness, His gifts, talents, abilities and the various opportunities that have been presented to us. If the Apostles and the other holy saints and martyrs had not done what they did for the sake of the Lord, in doing what the Lord had called and told them to do, in making the effort and in sacrificing time and their comfort for the spread of the Good News and the Light of God’s truth, in sharing His love and compassionate mercy, many souls including ours would have been doomed to damnation, and we might not have received His love and kindness, His truth and Good News, His salvation and grace. We are all called and inspired to do our best that our lives may truly reflect our Christian faith and all that the Lord had taught us to do, just as St. Bartholomew had done with his life.

May the Lord continue to guide and strengthen all of us, in our every works and actions, in every moments of our lives. May He inspire and empower all of us so that we may serve Him ever more faithfully and with greater courage, in the manner that St. Bartholomew, and the other Holy Apostles, saints and martyrs had done. All of us are part of the Lord’s Church and each one of us are integral part of the missions which God has entrusted to us. Let us all strive to commit our every time and effort to glorify God and to seek the betterment of all mankind. May God bless us all and bless our every works, and may He remain with us always, and strengthen us in all of our endeavours. St. Bartholomew, Holy Apostle of the Lord, pray for us all sinners. Amen.

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Wednesday, 23 August 2023 : 20th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Rose of Lima, Virgin (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Holy Virgins)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today all of us are reminded by the passages from the Sacred Scriptures that we must not allow ourselves to be swayed by worldly temptations and desires, and we must remind ourselves that each and every one of us, we are all God’s people, His beloved children and disciples, all called to His Presence and to follow Him wholeheartedly. There should be no place in us and our hearts and minds for ego, ambition, pride, jealousy, greed and all those things which often led us to be divided against each other, and to hate and despise one another instead of loving them as God has told us all to do in our lives. As Christians, all of us should make good use of the lives and the opportunities presented to us so that we may indeed live our lives worthily as those whom God has been calling into His path.

In our first reading today, we heard from the Book of Judges in which the story of the power struggle involving the sons and descendants of the Judge Gideon was highlighted to us. Back then, Gideon had many children from his wife and concubines, at a time when this was still a common practice among the people of Israel. As the judge and ruler of the Israelites, Gideon had gained great prestige and power for his family members, which led to the conflict after Gideon’s death. In this case, Abimelech, one of the sons of Gideon, desired power and glory, and persuaded his relatives in the town of Shechem to support him in his vile plan in seizing power for himself, by gathering and slaughtering all of his own brothers and relatives from his father Gideon, all the other seventy of his brothers, with only one, named Jotham, managed to escape the slaughter.

It was this same Jotham which spoke up in Shechem against their decision to support and raise Abimelech over themselves as their king, highlighting how they had made a terrible decision in doing so, in their choice of a wicked man as their ruler, by using the comparison to a story, in which he highlighted four distinct trees, namely the olive tree, the fig tree, the grape vines and lastly the bramble bush, which the other trees were looking to make into a king over themselves. All the first three trees, which were all very good and useful, in producing olive oil, fig fruits, grape juice and wine, declined to do so, preferring to continue in their own humble role in providing for the needs of others and their fruitfulness. Instead, it is the useless and harmful bramble bushes that agreed to be king over all those trees, in which we must understand that the brambles tend to choke the life out of the other plants, and lived well upon the destruction of other plants.

This serves to highlight just how by choosing and raising Abimelech to be their own king, the people of Shechem had allowed that man’s ambition, greed and ego to become even worse, as later shown by his actions in carrying out wars and conflicts, in attacking his neighbours and others, with the most likely aim of enlarging his dominion and increasing his power and wealth. Such wicked man should not have been allowed to gain such power and position, especially after Abimelech had carried out such wicked deeds as the killing of his brothers had shown us, and Jotham’s words reminded all of us as well that worldly glory, fame and all the temptations of this world can indeed be really dangerous and evil, and if we are not careful, we may end up falling into the trap of those worldly desires and ambitions, and are therefore kept away from God and His grace.

In our Gospel passage today, we heard of the Lord speaking to His disciples using the parable of the vineyard workers, in which those whom the owner of the vineyard called and gathered to work in his vineyard, all were rewarded equally and fairly, and that owner kept on going to find out more and more people to work in his vineyard right up to the last hour. Through this parable, the Lord wanted to show us how He Himself, represented by that vineyard owner, seeks for us all to follow Him and to be His disciples and servants, in walking down His path and in following His examples. All of us are those whom the master of the vineyard had called and gathered to work in his vineyard, while the reward that he has promised and fulfilled, is the gift of eternal life and glory that He has assured us all through His Son.

That is why, when those workers who have been called earlier grumbled and complained to the vineyard owner on why they were paid the same as those who have started their work on the last hour, the vineyard owner told them that all those who work for him would gain the same reward as agreed. This is a reminder for us that we must not have the thinking and attitude that we are better than others simply because we are perhaps more religious, pious, committed or dedicated to God, and not because we have somehow received His truth, Good News and grace sooner. All of us are equally beloved by God and we are all equally important in the eyes of the Lord. If we follow the Lord because we seek glory and greatness for ourselves, then I am afraid that we have lost the essence and meaning of what it truly means for us to be Christians, that is as disciples and followers of the Lord.

Today, the Church celebrates the feast of St. Rose of Lima, well-known for being the very first saint to be canonised from the Americas, from the New World. Her great piety, dedication to God and emphasis on her purity and worthy life to God should inspire all of us in living our own lives more worthily and in doing God’s will at all times. Each and every one of us should heed the examples shown by St. Rose of Lima that we may live worthily of the Lord in our own ways, in labouring for the field of the Lord just as heard in our Gospel passage today. St. Rose of Lima was born as Isabel Flores de Oliva in the city of Lima, during the time of the Spanish rule there, in what is now the capital of Peru. She was born of mixed heritage between her Spanish descent father and her mother’s mixed Spanish and indigenous descent.

At that time, St. Rose of Lima grew up to be a very beautiful woman, who therefore had a lot of suitors and a lot of those who sought to get married to her. But St. Rose of Lima, who had grown strong in her dedication to the Lord and in her determination to dedicate herself as a holy virgin, she continued to resist all those advances, even against the opposition of her own family and friends. She led a very dedicated and holy life, and spent her time in prayer and in caring for those who were less fortunate around her. She resisted her suitors by cutting off her own hair and rubbing pepper on her beautiful face. And she was also renowned for wearing a heavy silver crown crafted in the form of the Crown of Thorns that Christ had worn during His Passion and crucifixion. She suffered physically because those thorns, but she used them to remind herself to get rid of physical distractions and temptations in life, and in keeping the holy path that she had devoted herself to.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, the examples of St. Rose of Lima, her piety and dedication to God, her humility and efforts in resisting the temptations of the world, coupled with what we all have heard in our Scripture passages today should serve as inspiration and motivation for all of us to lead a truly holy and dedicated life free from the corruption of sin in our own lives in this world. Are we able to resist the temptations of sin and evil, and do what God has commanded and taught us to do, brothers and sisters? Or are we going to follow the path that all those who have given in to their human desires and temptations, like that of Abimelech, whose misdeeds and wickedness, pride and ambition eventually led to his ultimate downfall and infamy? Abimelech died in humiliation, killed by a rock thrown down by a woman during one of his wars, forever remembered as a usurper and kinslayer. On the other hand, St. Rose of Lima was remembered well for her great love for God and for her exemplary life and virtues.

Can we be the inspiration for others instead, in how we faithfully live our lives from now on, so that others may come to believe in God through us and be more motivated to follow Him, just as St. Rose of Lima had done to us? May God be with us always and may He empower each and every one of us with the strength and courage to walk ever more faithfully in His Presence, now and always, forevermore. Amen.

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Tuesday, 22 August 2023 : 20th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : White

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today the Church celebrates the Feast of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary, as we honour Mary, the Mother of God through her motherhood of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, Who is truly the Son of God Most High, as acclaimed by the Archangel Gabriel in our Gospel passage today. And since the Lord Jesus is truly the King and Master of all the whole entire Universe, our great and sovereign King, therefore His Mother Mary is indeed a Queen, and hence today we rejoice in the glory and honour of Mary as Queen, in her various titles and honours as Queen of Heaven, as Queen of All Saints, Queen of Angels, Queen of Peace and others. We rejoice greatly in Mary’s Queenship because we see in her the perfect and most wonderful example of a faithful disciple and follower of our Lord.

In our first reading today, we heard of the words from the Book of the prophet Isaiah, which is the same reading used on the Christmas Midnight Mass, telling us about the coming of the salvation of God, revealed to us through Mary, by her motherhood of the Saviour of the whole world, Jesus Christ, Who as the Son of God is the fulfilment of all the prophecies of the Messiah or Saviour that God had made through His prophets, and in particular what we have heard from the prophet Isaiah. The prophet Isaiah spoke of God’s Light and salvation that would come to the people who have lived in the darkness, promising to them the coming of the salvation in God, through the Holy Child that would be born, through a Virgin, a Woman, to the House of David, fulfilling everything that God had promised to His people, which were indeed fulfilled with the birth of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Saviour.

The words of the prophet Isaiah prefigured and revealed the nature of the Messiah or Saviour that God would send to His people, that this Saviour would be no less than God Himself manifested in the flesh, and dwelling among us, from His Name given to Isaiah, as Emmanuel, which means ‘God is with us’, and His many titles that are highlighted in today’s passage. After all, which man, no matter how great and powerful, and which Son, born of a Woman, would be titled as ‘Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace’? All these titles point out to the Saviour to be born of the Virgin woman, that He is to be God Himself, coming down to us in the appearance and nature of our human flesh, as both Son of God and Son of Man, which therefore made Mary, the Woman prophesied by Isaiah and the other prophets, to be the Mother of God.

And with reference to David, whose Heir and Son our Lord and Saviour is considered to be, Mary is truly a Queen because the mother of a King is considered a Queen, both during the time of King David of Israel, as well as other time and moments of history throughout the world, in the various kingdoms and dominions present in the past and present. The mother of the king is honoured as a queen mother, and is often accorded a position of great importance in the royal court, and is usually a highly honoured and respected advisor to the reigning monarch. For example, David’s son, King Solomon of Israel, had his mother, Bathsheba seated by his throne’s side as the Queen Mother of the kingdom, and he often asked her for advice and help in the ruling of his kingdom, and highly respected and honoured his mother in his rule.

Therefore, by comparing that example with that of the fact that Mary is the Mother of our Lord and Saviour, and our King, Jesus Christ, therefore, she is indeed a Queen, like that of other Queen Mothers of this world, past and present, honoured and respected by their relationship with the monarch, who is their sons or daughters. If we honour any earthly and worldly kings and rulers, it is not right for us to despise or disregard their mothers, and thus, similarly, it is not right for us to disregard and disrespect Mary, who is the Mother of God, if we truly love and honour the Lord, our God. We cannot claim to be Christ’s disciple, follower or His faithful ones if we treat Mary with disdain or contempt, or ignore her as if she is just like another ordinary human beings. Yes, there is no doubt that Mary is a human being just like us, but she has been prepared, by God’s singular grace, to be special, being full of grace and free from the taint of original sin, as the Church from its earliest days had believed.

That was why in our Gospel passage today, the Archangel Gabriel in the account of the Lord’s Annunciation greeted Mary with ‘Full of Grace’, which highlighted her special status as a hallowed being, spared by God from any taint of original sin, and through her total obedience to the will of God, her love for Him and her commitment, she has become the worthy vessel through whom the Saviour of this world, the Son of God Himself, became incarnate in the flesh, and entered into our world. Mary is the New Ark of the New Covenant, and the great Tabernacle of the Lord’s Holy Presence, through whom God is revealed to us all. And as last week we celebrate together, the Lord raised her up and assumed her into Heaven, body and soul, to be with Him and to rule together in Heaven, showing us all that Mary is truly a Queen worthy of our honour and respect.

With Mary, our Mother and Queen being by the side of her Son in Heaven, at the side of the Throne of God, all of us have a truly great ally in the daily struggles of life, and in all the challenges that this world present to us. Through Mary, all of us are shown the light of God’s salvation and grace, and we have the most sure and direct path to her Son, our Lord, Saviour and King. Mary has also been given to us as our Mother, as a loving mother to care for us and all of us as her beloved children. Mary has shown us the perfect example of faith and commitment, dedication and obedience to God and His will. She is also our greatest intercessor, ever praying and interceding on our behalf, and ever asking her Son to show us all His mercy, kindness and love, for us all sinners, her wayward sons and daughters.

Let us all seek to emulate Mary’s examples, and let us all strive to live our lives worthily of the Lord from now on. Let us all no longer be easily swayed and tempted by the allure of worldly glory, evils and wickedness, and by the temptations of our desires, greed, ambition and pride, all of which may end up leading us to our downfall. Let us all ask Mary, our Queen and Mother, to pray for us all and to help inspire us and guide us in our journey of faith and life, so that in all the things that we say and do, we will always strive to do our best to do God’s will, and to do what we can, in order to live lives that are truly exemplary and genuine as Christians, that is as God’s beloved and holy people. May the Lord continue to be with us and bless all of us in His Church, empowering us to be the shining beacons of His light and truth, now and always. Amen.

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Monday, 21 August 2023 : 20th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of Pope St. Pius X, Pope (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : White

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we listened to the words of the Scriptures, we are all reminded of the commandments, the Law and the path which the Lord our God have presented to us, taught and shown to us. All of us as God’s beloved people, His followers and disciples, each one of us are expected to follow Him and His path, and to dedicate ourselves in what He has shown us, and what He has always patiently led us all through, that our lives may truly be aligned and attuned to Him in all things, in all of our actions, words and deeds. We have to be truly committed and dedicated to God, and we should not be just showing merely outwardly signs and external piety, but we must also have deep understanding, knowledge and appreciation of the Lord’s truth and our faith in order to do so. We have to make sure that our whole entire lives are truly attuned to the Lord and His path.

In our first reading today, we heard of the story from the Book of Judges summarising to us what happened in the years between the moment when the Israelites had arrived and established themselves in the Promised Land of Canaan and the time of the establishment of the kingdom of Israel. During those years, the Lord sent many of His servants, calling those whom He called to be the leaders and guides for all of His people, namely the ‘Judges of Israel’. These Judges, whose lives and works, struggles and efforts were highlighted and detailed throughout the Book of Judges, were sent by God to help correct and guide His people, who frequently rebelled against Him and disobeyed His Law and commandments, as they grew ever more lax in their obedience to God and in falling into the worship of the pagan and false idols of the false gods of Canaan.

Those people had not been truly faithful to the Lord, and they did not truly understand and appreciate everything that God had granted to them and whatever that God had provided for them with love. That was why every time the Lord’s Judges helped them all out of their struggles and problems, and helped to correct their paths and ways, they tended to fall again and again into sinful ways, turning back into their rebellious ways and disobedience, by keeping their worship of the false gods and idols and by refusing to stay faithful to the Lord, and to worship Him alone. This is the result of a superficial kind of faith, in which one may just show an outward expression of the faith, but whose hearts and minds might not have been truly attuned and harmonised with God and His will, and whose ways were not inclined to follow God’s path.

That was also highlighted again in our Gospel passage today, as the Lord Jesus talked to a young rich man, who asked Him what else that he had to do after he had done everything that the Law and the commandments of God had asked him to do. When the Lord told the man that he should sell everything that he had and give them all to the poor, his sorrow and dejection at such a suggestion indicated that ultimately, his greatest love and attachment was still his wealth and material possession, and not that of the Lord. The Lord wanted to use this as an example for all of us that it is possible for us to do so much and to obey so many of God’s commandments and Law and all that the Church had instructed to do, and yet, we do not truly and genuinely have faith in God as we should have. This is why, we are reminded today that we should have a faith that is truly living and genuine in us, that we know the Lord well and truly love Him with all of our heart and might.

Today, the Church celebrates the feast of a great saint and man of God, whose life hopefully can serve as a source of inspiration and strength for each and every one of us in how we ought to live our lives with faith and commitment to God. Pope St. Pius X, one of the more recent Popes, was a truly great and devoted servant of God, who had dedicated his life, ministry and work throughout his life for the greater glory of God and for the well-being of God’s people. He showed many of us what it means to have a strong commitment and love for God, and also a desire to bring God closer to each one of us, and as the shepherd and leader of the Church, Pope St. Pius X had done most wonderfully in fulfilling his calling and mission, in leading the Church in the journey towards greater connection and in being better attuned with God, His Law, commandments and will.

Pope St. Pius X was born as Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto in Riese, in what is now the northern part of Italy, as one of the many children of a poor Italian family, with his father working as a village postman while his mother was a housewife. His parents had great impact on the young Giuseppe Sarto’s life, as they valued education and proper upbringing for their children, despite themselves being poor and destitute. This would have great impact on the future Pope St. Pius X, that despite his rise in the Church hierarchy and society, remained humble and dedicated to the cause that he had devoted himself into, in faithfully serving and leading the people of God and the Church. He was raised in poverty, but remained dedicated to his studies and preparations, which saw him eventually finishing his academic studies with great distinction even though he was often ridiculed and teased for his poverty.

Giuseppe Sarto was eventually ordained as a priest and was especially renowned for his great holiness, which inspired many people by his life and examples. He devoted his life to his mission and works, in caring for the people and the sick, and in managing Church institutions and efforts through the various capacities that he had been entrusted with. He always showed care and concern for the sake of his flock, especially those who were underprivileged and poor, being reminded of having been raised in poverty himself, and he strived hard to ensure that many youths were able to access educations and other privileges that were often denied to them. He was eventually chosen and ordained as bishop, to lead the Diocese of Mantua, where he continued to devote himself vigorously to the many missions and works that he was very renowned for.

He remained dedicated to his aged mother as well, showing her respect and it was well known that even after he was made a Cardinal, and then as the Patriarch of Venice, the then Cardinal Giuseppe Sarto visited his mother, in what was to be their last meeting, and gave her a blessing. He later on celebrated his mother’s funeral and went on to become a great Patriarch and shepherd, and then elected as the Pope and successor of St. Peter the Apostle as the Vicar of Christ, taking the name Pius, and hence he was then on known as Pope Pius X, now saint. As Pope, Pope St. Pius X continued to devote himself vigorously to the causes and missions that he had led through previously, and he was well-known for his love for Church music, hence leading through a great effort of reform in ensuring that the Gregorian Chant has the prime and most important position in Church music.

Pope St. Pius X was also known for his great love of the Lord and for his efforts in bringing the Lord closer to His people, by encouraging earlier reception of the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, after having heard and investigated the wonderful and inspirational faith story of the 4 years old Ellen Organ, whom despite her very young age, showed great understanding and grasp of the faith, that convinced Pope St. Pius X through his decree Quam Singulari, allowed young children as young as seven, as long as they have shown adequate understanding and appreciation of the faith, to receive their first Holy Communion. Through this and many other efforts, Pope St. Pius X had brought so many people closer to God, and he was also well-known for his advocacy and efforts for peace, in his efforts to prevent the outbreak of the Great War, later known as the First World War, and he died heartbroken very shortly after the beginning of that devastating war.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, we can clearly see how Pope St. Pius X is truly a great example for all of us in his faith and life, and in his dedication to God. Are we all able to love the Lord our God, sincerely and genuinely, with all of our heart, with all of our might and strength, and with our whole being? Let us all follow in the footsteps of Pope St. Pius X, in all that he had done, and in the examples of the many other saints, holy men and women of God whose lives and experiences had inspired us all as well. May God be with us always, and may He empower each one of us so that we may draw ever closer to Him, and be ever more faithful to Him, with each and every passing moments. Pope St. Pius X, pray for us all! Amen.

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Sunday, 20 August 2023 : Twentieth Sunday of Ordinary Time (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, this Sunday all of us are reminded that God’s love for us is truly beautiful, enduring and universal, and all of us are equally beloved by God, regardless of our background or origin, our race or beliefs, our cultures or customs, and regardless of any other parameters by which we tend to divide and separate ourselves in this world. All of us are God’s precious ones, and He has always looked upon us with love and kindness, ever since He created us from nothingness. That is why all of us are reminded of His love and kindness today, so that we do not take them for granted, and we do not forget all the great things that He had done for us all these while, as often we do not realise and recognise what God has always blessed us with.

In our first reading today, taken from the Book of the prophet Isaiah, we heard of the Lord speaking to His people through His prophet Isaiah, in which He reminded all of them to stay true to the Covenant that He has established with them, and how He showed them that He would also call all the other people of all the nations to be His disciples and followers, to be His people. It revealed to all of us that while God did call the Israelites first among others, but it was never God’s intention to exclude all others who did not belong to the race of Israel from His salvation and grace. All of us are equally the same children of mankind, descendants of Adam and Eve, all those whom God had created equally with love, and therefore share in His love and kindness. Therefore, God’s love are also extended to every one of us, who belong to Him and are part of His one, united flock and people.

In fact, as shown by our Gospel passage today, even the so-called pagans are even more committed, faithful and dedicated than the ones who called themselves God’s chosen people. In that passage, we heard of the interactions between the Lord Jesus, His disciples and a Canaanite woman who pleaded with the Lord to heal her daughter that had been tormented by a demon. The same woman was also identified similarly as a Syro-Phoenician woman in the Gospel of St. Mark, with similar request and pleading for the Lord to help her troubled daughter. Despite the Lord clearly having pointed out that He was only sent to the lost sheep of the chosen people of God, the Israelites, but the woman persisted in her pleading and trust in the Lord, that despite the harsh words and replies which she had received, she still trusted in the Lord wholeheartedly and persisted in asking Him to heal her daughter.

Now, brothers and sisters in Christ, the Lord did not do this on the woman on purpose, as it was not His intention to humiliate or make things difficult for her. And He did not despise or hate the woman either, as on the contrary, in fact, what the Lord was doing, was to highlight the unfortunate and terrible prejudices, biases and other things which the descendants of the Israelites, the Jewish people, by the time of the Lord and His ministry, liked to have against those whom they deemed as pagans and inferior to them. At that time, those who did not belong or were not counted among the Jewish people were often looked down by those who took pride in their inheritance and status, as those descended directly from the chosen people of God, the Israelites, descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to the point that the pagans or the Gentiles as they were often called, were perhaps even deemed as being sinners and unworthy of God.

That was why the Lord purposefully brought out the ugly and uncharitable nature of such biases and prejudices which the Jewish people had against their neighbours, and He used that example to show all of His disciples and followers, that they cannot show this kind of attitude in life, and that they must not treat others with contempt or disdain simply because they deemed themselves as better or superior in any way. And as mentioned, the Lord also wanted to highlight that there is innate good and grace in all of us, and the capabilities to embrace God and His love. As the Canaanite woman showed, that her faith in the Lord remained firm and strong despite the apparent rejections and harsh words from the Lord Himself. The Canaanite woman did not even hesitate to humble herself and to assume the position of a slave, a penitent and as one who sought for God’s mercy, before everyone who were present.

Now, this kind of faith was great, especially when compared to the lukewarmness of the faith found among the Jewish people of that time, who doubted the Lord and refused to believe in Him, even after He has performed so many wonderful miracles and works before them throughout all those times. In particular, the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law, the ones who were the most knowledgeable and those who were supposedly the wisest among all the people of God, all these were entrusted with the knowledge of the Scriptures and the teachings and words of the prophets, which all pointed out to the Lord Jesus being the Messiah or Saviour that the people had long awaited for, and yet, they all failed to believe in Him, and on the contrary, they persecuted Him and His disciples instead.

If we are wondering as of why this was the case, then we do not have to look further beyond what I have just mentioned earlier regarding the problem of elitism and exclusivism amongst many of the Jewish people at that time, as they tend to see themselves as God’s chosen ones, and were therefore better, superior, more righteous and more worthy than all the others around them. Even among the Jews themselves, the Pharisees, the teachers of the Law and the religious elites tend to look down on those whom they deemed to be unworthy and sinners, like the tax collectors and the prostitutes, or those who were suffering from sickness and demonic possessions. All those people were often ostracised and blamed for their lack of faith, while the others mentioned earlier were lauded for their exemplary piety and faith.

Unfortunately, such an attitude led to the stagnation in the faith and the loss of focus in many among those that I mentioned, as their pride and ego got the better of them, which likely made them to think that they could never go wrong or be mistaken in their thoughts and ways of living their lives. This is why many of them became egoistic and proud, and unbending, rigid and elitist in their behaviour, imposing on others their ideals and thoughts, without truly understanding the importance and significance of their faith and the related practices, and in the end, it distracted them so much that they lost sight on what truly matters, that is their need to believe in God and to listen to His words, obeying His will and commandments wholeheartedly.

Not only that, but they were all, as God’s own chosen people, expected to lead lives that inspired others to come to know and recognise the Lord more. Instead, they chose to revel in fame and worldly glory, and closed themselves off from the Lord and His love, while excluding and ignoring all those whom they could have helped and guided towards God. All these had prevented many of those whom God could have saved through those that He had entrusted the care over His people, and hence that was why the Lord was often critical at their actions. This is why we should not follow their examples, and instead remind ourselves that God treats everyone, all of His beloved people equally, regardless of their background or origin, and regardless of whatever they were like, as what truly matters is how all of us follow God, and obey His Law and commandments.

What the Lord truly wants from us is our love and dedication, and not merely just lip service and outward expressions of faith and piety. We should indeed be inspired by the examples of the Canaanite woman, whose faith and determination to believe in the Lord were unwavering and true, undeterred even by opposition and prejudices, differences or discomfort. Like that of the many other examples of our holy predecessors, the holy saints of God, whose lives have been truly exemplary and worthy, and whose faith had been true and genuine, let us all therefore be the great beacons of God’s light and truth to the nations, while constantly reminding ourselves of God’s most generous love and kindness to everyone, that no one is truly out of His love and kindness, mercy and compassion. Let us all be the inspiration and strength for countless others who may come to know the Lord through us and our actions.

May the Lord, our most loving God and Father, continue to be with us and bless our ways, our works and good efforts, in everything that we say and do, so that hopefully more and more may come to realise the most generous and impartial love of God, ever poured generously upon us, and therefore many more may come to be saved and share in the joy of everlasting life that we shall experience and enjoy in the end with God. Let us all be the reflections of God’s hope and light, truth and love in our darkened world today. Amen.

by

Saturday, 19 August 2023 : 19th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. John Eudes, Priest (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

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

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we listened to the readings from the Sacred Scriptures, each and every one of us are reminded again to remain true to our faith in God at all times, and each one of us are called to deepen our faith and knowledge of God and His ways, so that in all and every thing that we do, we will always do what He has taught and commanded us all to do in our daily lives. We should have faith that is strong and pure, unbridled by the many temptations of worldly glory and fame, and faith that is truly vibrant and alive, that can inspire many others to continue to be faithful and dedicated to God. This is what we have been called to do as Christians, and we are constantly being reminded so that we will always be exemplary in our every actions and deeds throughout life.

In our first reading today, we heard the continuation of the Book of Joshua in which Joshua, the leader of the Israelites that succeeded Moses, continued to remind the Israelites of what they had to do in obeying God’s Law and commandments, in doing God’s will and in living their lives truly worthily of His cause. Each and every one of us ought to heed these reminders as well, because we are all have been called and chosen by God as His people too. Joshua told all the people of Israel that they all should not forget about the Lord, their God, and they must not establish or erect any altars or worship any pagan idols or gods in their midst, aside from the Lord only. This is because the Lord alone is the one true God Who is worthy of worship, and the people of God must not be easily swayed by the allures of their neighbours or other worldly temptations all around them.

In our Gospel passage today, we then heard of the Lord telling off His disciples for keeping young children from coming to Him, when many of them came to be with Him and to greet Him with joy. The Lord’s disciples tried to keep those children away from Him and scolded those who brought the children to the Lord, and this immediately brought about a stern rebuke from the Lord for all those disciples, because the Lord truly wanted all those children to come to Him, and presented of how faithful those children truly were, with faith that were really living and vibrant, true and pure, unadulterated and uncorrupted by the temptations and other forms of worldly vices and allures, and which all of us as Christians, all of God’s disciples and followers, should truly aspire to have in our own respective lives and faith.

What is the faith of a child, brothers and sisters in Christ? It is a pure faith where the child seeks the Lord and focuses their attention on Him alone, just as we can notice how innocent children really are. If they believe in something, or were told about something, they will really believe in it without any skepticism or doubt, and this kind of pure faith is what the Lord truly seeks from all of us, His beloved people and children. However, the reality is such that many of us did not truly have this kind of pure, unadulterated and uncorrupted life, faith and commitment to God, as many of us have been swayed and corrupted by the temptations of worldly glory and desires, all the things which had kept us away from truly being able to serve and follow the Lord wholeheartedly in all of our lives, as we all should have done.

Take for example the people of Israel themselves, whom God had rescued and led out of the land of Egypt, and whom He had loved and taken care of throughout that journey and beyond. There were many times and instances throughout that journey when the Lord were repeatedly angered and saddened by their stubborn refusal to listen to Him or to obey His ways, because all of them sought worldly satisfaction and pleasures, rather than to obey Him and His Law and commandments. Whenever the Israelites rebelled against God and disobeyed Him, or established pagan idols and false gods over them, it was because they were swayed by those temptations, of wickedness and evil, pride, ambition, ego, greed, pleasures of the world, and more, and all those things led them down the slippery path towards their downfall.

The same will likely happen to us as well, brothers and sisters in Christ, unless we take due precaution to avoid suffering the same fate by being ever vigilant in our lives and in how we live them. Unless we watch ourselves and our actions in life, we may all easily end up falling into the trap of sin and evil, and as a result, we may end up losing sight and focus on the Lord and His saving grace, His light and path. When we allow the corruptions and the temptations of this world to sway us, it will likely lead us astray, away from the Lord and His truth, and in the end, we may regret when it is already too late, and when we have to suffer the consequences for our sins and faults. But the Lord is forever always gracious and kind, and He has always given us many opportunities to turn away from the wicked paths and to embrace the path of His light and righteousness.

That is why, all of us should seek inspiration from the good examples of our holy predecessors, like that of St. John Eudes whose feast we are celebrating today. St. John Eudes was a French priest and the founder of the religious congregation, the Congregation of Jesus and Mary. He had been devout and pious throughout his whole life, even from an early age, and developed an intense devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary throughout his formative and priestly years and vocation. He dedicated much of his time and efforts to help those who were suffering and sick, and spent the time to evangelise and to let the Lord and His truth known amongst more and more of God’s people. St. John Eudes also cared for some prostitutes and others who had been ostracised by the community for their sinful way of life, developing what came to be known as the Order of Our Lady of Charity of the Refuge.

There were numerous other good deeds and actions which St. John Eudes had done for the greater glory of God and for the benefits of his fellow brothers and sisters, particularly those who had been abandoned and ostracised, and had none to welcome or care for them. Through his efforts in preaching and ministry, and by his establishments of institutions to help the people of God and to gather those who desire to serve the Lord more faithfully, St. John Eudes had touched countless people, and brought so many souls, much closer to God and to His salvation. His strong devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary helped many others to come to love the Lord and to know Him more through His blessed Mother as well, and also by the inspiration set by St. John Eudes himself in all of his works.

Let us all therefore do the same in our lives, brothers and sisters in Christ, inspired and strengthened by the good examples and inspiration from St. John Eudes, so that we may also lead lives that are truly worthy of the Lord, free from sin and evil, and full of virtue and righteousness in God. Each and every one of us are expected and called to do God’s will, and to follow Him wholeheartedly, just as how Joshua had reminded the Israelites to be always ever faithful to God in all things. May all of us draw ever closer to God and His salvation, and do our best to remain truly faithful to Him, at all times. Amen.