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Wednesday, 1 November 2023 : Solemnity of All Saints (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : White

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today the Church celebrates the great Solemnity of All Saints, commemorating and honouring all the glorious saints, holy men and women of God, whom the Church had declared to be truly worthy of God, and by whose lives and examples, they have indeed been worthy and merited the immediate reward of heavenly glory and bliss. Those whom the Church had declared to be saints are deemed to be worthy of universal veneration and honour, because of their great and exemplary works and lives, which have shown true faith and obedience to God. There are many virtuous, faithful and dedicated men and women throughout the history of the Church that have been honoured with such designation, that they may indeed become great role models and sources of inspiration for us all to follow, so that we may also follow in their footsteps.

Today, the Church celebrates the saints, the innumerable holy men and women that have gone before us to the bliss and glory of Heaven, and whose lives we should also emulate in our own, and who we should also follow and be inspired to be like them and to follow them in their footsteps. The saints are the ones who have answered the Lord’s call with faith and conviction, and chose to dedicate themselves in following the path that the Lord had called them to walk in, and showed us all their virtues and good deeds, through the lives of the saints whom we have known, learnt about and celebrated throughout the whole liturgical calendar every year. They are the ones mentioned in our first reading today from the Book of the Revelations or the Apocalypse of St. John the Apostle, as the righteous ones whom the Lord have called and chosen, and who had also lived their lives worthily.

In our first reading passage, we heard of the a hundred and forty-four thousand righteous ones gathered in the presence of God at His Throne, the victorious and triumphant Lamb of God. Those represent symbolically the saints of God, all those holy men and women that had triumphed together with God, and been freed from the bondage of sin and death, saved and redeemed by the Lord, and justified through their faith and actions throughout their lives. This does not mean that the saints numbers are limited by the absolute limit of a hundred and forty-four thousand as mentioned. Rather, that number was used to highlight a rather large number, to show that many people will end up being triumphant and victorious in the end with God, and there are already some who are already enjoying the bliss of Heaven even before the Final and Last Judgment.

They are all clothed in white in the vision of St. John, and according to one of the Elders who guided St. John in the vision, those saints had already washed their garments clean in the Blood of the Lamb, which also symbolically represent our baptism, in us accepting the grace of God brought to us through Christ, Who has shed His Most Precious Blood and died for us on His Cross. This same Precious Blood has washed away from us the taint of our original sin, and as a perfect and most worthy offering, the Lord Himself has delivered us all from the tyranny and dominion of sin. Then, at the same time, some of those saints were also martyrs who have shed their own blood for the sake of the Lord, while others have led a life of virtue and holiness, all of which actions and commitments allow them to enter into the great glory of Heaven.

This does not mean that the saints had always been perfect and immaculate in their lives. Rather, they were sinners just like us, and they have also committed sins, be it simple, venial, or even serious and mortal sins. Yet, what is important is the fact that, they all turned away from those paths of sin and disobedience against God, chose to embrace God’s mercy and love, and either by the virtues of their lives, and/or their courageous defence of their faith, even to the point of shedding their blood and dying for their faith in God, they have been deemed worthy by God and by His Church, to enjoy immediately at the point of death, to enter right away into the glory of Heaven. Some of the saints that we are all familiar with were great sinners earlier on in their lives, and many others were flawed in their character and actions, but they then chose the better path with God.

Now, brothers and sisters in Christ, this means that the same applies to all of us as well, each one of us who are still living in this world. And how do we make sure that one day we can also enjoy the glory of Heaven like that of the saints? It is by heeding what the Lord Himself had taught His disciples and all of us through the Eight Beatitudes, the series of blessings that the Lord pronounced in our Gospel passage today. He praised and blessed all those who are poor in spirit, meaning those who are humble and always seeking God, being aware of their sins and imperfections, as well as those who mourn and suffer because of their faith and commitment to God, and all those who are gentle and loving towards each other, in showing love and compassion to their fellow men and women, and those who show justice and righteousness in their lives, those who show mercy, work for peace and have been persecuted and insulted because of their faith in God.

Essentially all of these are the qualities and signs of what sainthood is all about. These are the parameters, actions and characteristics that defined those who have been officially recognised and canonised to be saints, as great role models and inspirations for their fellow brothers and sisters. And each and every one of us can also be like them as well. As Christians, it is imperative and important for all of us to be ever more committed to God in all of our actions, works and way of life, to be like what the Eight Beatitudes have shown us, that we should be people who are with God’s love, with all the Christian virtues and righteousness, in obeying the Law and commandments of God, in doing God’s will and in showing forth His truth and Good News, revealing His love and kindness to more and more people throughout the world, in all of our every interactions and efforts.

Now, on this day, as we rejoice upon the glory and honour of the glorious saints of God, let us all remember that they are also part of the same Church like us all as well. While we are all still living in this world as the visible aspects and parts of the Church, as the Church Militant, called as such because we are still struggling daily and putting the effort to resist against the temptations and the threats of sin and evil all around us, the saints of God are part of the Church Triumphant, those who have triumphed in their faith, and have now gone to enjoy the beatific vision of Heaven, to rejoice in the joy and gladness, the comfort, peace and happiness that God has prepared for all those who have been faithful and committed to Him. We too can be part of the Church Triumphant one day, if we choose to do so, and do what the saints had themselves done when they were still living in this world just like us.

And more than just being examples and role models for us, the saints also constantly pray for each and every one of us in this world. They are our intercessors and they always pray for our sake, being closer to God, and hence, have the Lord’s listening ears on our behalf. This is where it is important that as Christians, all of us know well what our beliefs are about regarding the saints, as there are misconceptions and misunderstandings on what saints are and how they play a part in our faith and journey in life, both from within and outside the Church. Some misunderstood that the saints were like deities or gods that we pray to in order for them to do things for us, or for them to give us their blessings, but this is not what saints are. Saints pray and intercede for us, and since they are closer to God, their prayers are truly more effective for us, as they are already in a perfect state of grace.

We can definitely pray for ourselves as well, but there is definitely nothing wrong to ask someone else to pray for us as well. And if we can ask our fellow brothers and sisters around us to pray for us, then why don’t we also ask those who have gone before us, and whom we know that they are already in Heaven, to pray for us all as well? This is why we ask the saints to pray for us, on our behalf, and among all of them, the one who is the best to do it for us, is none other than Mary, the Mother of God herself, who is truly the greatest among all the saints. That is why many Catholics also have deep devotion to Mary, as she is always constantly praying for us, as our loving mother, entrusted to us by the Lord Himself, who made us all to be her children as well. Not only that, but just like that of the other saints, Mary is also a great role model and example for us all to follow in our lives, so that our own lives may be holy just like they are holy, and like how our Lord and God is holy.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, lastly, as we honour and glorify the saints today, let us also pray for one another, and ask the saints to pray for all those around us who need help. Let us all strive to live a holy and worthy life at all times, and be exemplary in our way of life, that one day, we too may be found and deemed worthy, to share in the glory of the saints. Let us also pray for the holy souls in Purgatory, all those who are also part of the Church, as the Church Suffering, as those who have already lived a life of faith, and yet, because of their residual venial sins, they have not yet been able to enjoy the bliss of Heaven, unlike the saints. Let us all pray for them, that God may show them His mercy and love, compassion and kindness, especially that we will remember them tomorrow on All Souls Day. May the glorious saints always pray for us all, and for our fellow brothers and sisters in Purgatory, and may the Lord bless us all and our lives, that we may continue to emulate His saints, and lead lives that are truly holy and worthy of Him. Amen.

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Tuesday, 31 October 2023 : 30th Week of Ordinary Time (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we listened to the Scripture passages, all of us are reminded that while we may suffer in this world, but in the end, all of those sufferings and hardships are not permanent, and in the end, we shall be reunited with the Lord, our most loving God and Father, Who wants us all to be reconciled and reunited with Him. The Lord has given us the assurance of salvation and eternal life through His own beloved Son, Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Saviour, and called all of us to enter into His eternal kingdom, the kingdom of God, into which all of us have been assembled, gathered and led, so that every one of us may truly be saved, liberated and freed from the tyranny and dominion of sin and evil, which had afflicted us for so long.

In our first reading today, we heard from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans, in which we heard about how the whole world and all of creation longed for the birth, in glory, of the children of God. What this means and symbolises is that, the whole creation is expecting the restoration of everything to how it is originally intended to be, when everything was still without any taints of sin and corruption, and when everything was still perfect and good just as the Lord originally created it, and sin has not yet crept up and corrupted us all due to our disobedience. The birth of the children of God refers to us all having been made to be the adopted children of God, through the grace of baptism, by which we have been rescued and delivered from the tyranny and dominion of sin, and through which sanctifying grace have been restored and given to us.

This is also an expectation of what is to come in the future, as we have not yet attained the state of perfection and fullness of grace yet in this world, and all of us are eagerly looking forward to and expecting the coming of the kingdom of God that is to come, when we shall be fully and completely reunited with God, as St. Paul has mentioned it in the same passage, although that moment will not yet come till the time of the Lord’s choosing. This is because even those who have died and passed on from this world, and even the saints in Heaven, have not yet experienced the fullness of heavenly glory in body and soul, except for that of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, who have been assumed and taken up to Heaven, body and soul. The saints experienced the joy of Heaven, the beatific vision and the happiness due to their virtues, but their bodies remained in this world.

Thus, all of us are reminded today of this world that is to come, when we all, in the state of perfection and grace, will be once again with God, which is truly apt and perfect reminder today, being the day before the All Saints Day and the beginning of the Allhallowtide. Today as the All Hallows’ Eve, the Church reminds us all through these Scripture readings and messages, so that each and every one of us remember of the life that we are going to have in this world that is to come, the bliss and the perfection of joy with God, which we will enjoy forevermore, if we are to remain faithful to Him, and obey Him in His Law, commandments and do whatever which He has asked, told and commanded us to do in our lives. Each and every one of us as Christians are expected to do whatever we can to glorify God by our lives, and to follow in the examples and the footsteps of the glorious saints.

In our Gospel passage today, we heard of the Lord speaking to His disciples and all the people who were listening to Him regarding the matter of the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God has already been revealed to us with the coming of Christ, and He has established it just as He has established His Church, with the Church being the tangible and real manifestation of the kingdom of God in this world. However, we must also realise that the kingdom of God, that is the Church of God does not just involve all those who are now living in this world, but also in fact, all those who have departed from this world, just as we are going to celebrate it in the next two days, with the All Saints Day, honouring and glorifying the saints, the holy men and women who have already enjoyed the bliss of Heaven, and the All Souls Day, when we remember all the holy souls who are still awaiting patiently the glory of Heaven in their current state of Purgatory.

The Lord used the parable to highlight the fact that the kingdom of God is something that is truly wonderful, as God gathered all of His beloved ones to be part of one Body, the Body of Christ. However, it is something that is to be nurtured and requires a lot of efforts and works from all of its members and parts, that is all of us. The parable mentioned the measures of flour and yeast, which when placed together, will become dough that rises and eventually become a good bread. He also used the example of mustard seed that is sowed and then germinated, and eventually grew into a large tree, that takes everything under its branches. Both of these, the dough and the mustard plant, require good conditions and investment of time and effort, in order for them to flourish and develop as expected. Thus, this is a reminder that each one of us as Christians have to do our part to follow the Lord, to do what is right and just in our every moments.

We are all reminded that each and every one of us as God’s beloved children and people, all of us must always embody our Christian faith and beliefs in our every actions, in our every words and deeds, and in everything that we interact with, with all those whom we encounter and work with. Each one of us must always be exemplary and inspirational in our lives, and be truly obedient to God, doing His will and walking in His path, being filled with love and virtue, so that all those who witness our works and interact with us, all of us may indeed be great missionaries and evangelisers of our faith, and spread ever more the Good News of God in the midst of our communities and all those whom we encounter in life. As Christians, we must be truly faithful not just in mere words only, but also in real action and commitment to God, at all times.

As we enter today into this solemn time and occasion of the Allhallowtide, beginning with this day’s All Hallows’ Eve, let us all enter into deeper realisation of our lives and reflect on whether we have truly obeyed the Lord and walked in His ways as we should have, and let us all remember that in the end, our goal and focus should be to look forward to the perfection and fullness of grace that will come one day, when the Lord will come to gather all of His faithful and worthy ones back to Him, and bring us all into His eternal kingdom, in the fullness of grace, of perfection of bliss and love. And when the world celebrates the secular celebrations of Halloween, which was inspired and actually originated from this celebration of the All Hallows’ Eve, let us all celebrate the true spirit of Halloween, that is modelling ourselves upon the examples of the virtuous and worthy saints of God, so that we too may one day be worthy of Heaven as they are.

May the Lord help us all in our journey and struggle towards Him, and empower us with the courage and strength, so that we may always be strong in our commitment and dedication to serve the Lord at all times. May God bless us all and be with us always, now and forevermore. Amen.

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Monday, 30 October 2023 : 30th Week of Ordinary Time (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we listened to the words of the Scriptures, each and every one of us are reminded that all of us have been made to be God’s own beloved and adopted children, to be His own sons and daughters. That is why, the Lord has brought us all His light, truth and love, gathering all of us and showing us how we should live our lives that we may be truly worthy of Him, righteous and just in all of our actions, works and deeds. We should not allow ourselves to be easily swayed by worldly temptations and other distractions which may end up leading us down the wrong paths, away from the Lord, His salvation and grace. There are many things which can turn us away from this path of righteousness and grace, including pride, arrogance, greed, desires and worldly attachments, among other things that had led so many to their downfall.

In our first reading today, we heard from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans in which the Apostle highlighted to the faithful people of God in Rome how they have all been liberated from the tyranny and dominion of sin, by the power and grace of God. Hence, since the people of God had been adopted by Him to be His own beloved sons and daughters, they are no longer subjected to sin and its power and dominion, and consequently, they all should live their lives henceforth according to the path which the Lord Himself has shown to them, in obeying His Law and commandments, and in doing what is right, virtuous and just in the sight of God and mankind alike. All of us, as God’s beloved people, should have true and genuine faith in Him, and show proper understanding and appreciation of what God’s Law and commandments are, and how we should live our lives faithfully according to them.

As highlighted in our Gospel passage today, there was another confrontation between the Lord and some of the members of the Pharisees as He was carrying out His mission among the people. Those Pharisees were unhappy that the Lord performed His miracles and signs on the Sabbath day in the synagogue, as He healed a woman who had been afflicted and crippled by the possession of evil spirit for eighteen years. The Lord had pity on her and showed her His kindness, love and mercy, casting out the evil spirit from her and liberating her from the dominion of Satan and his fellow demonic forces. Yet, what those Pharisees, synagogue officials and those who opposed the Lord focused on instead, was the fact that the Lord performed His miracle and wonders on the day of the Sabbath, that was a taboo and abhorrent thing for them.

Contextually, we must understand that the Pharisees were one of the few groups of influential Jewish community leaders and powerful figures who were particularly concerned with the way how the Law of God, the rules and commandments, the rituals and practices of the people of God were to be carried out as meticulously and detailed as possible. They took a rather rigid and strict interpretation of the Law, focusing and emphasising a lot on the letter and details of the Law, which ended up distracting them and preventing them from truly appreciating and understanding the spirit of the Law, that is the reason, meaning and purpose behind the Law which God had granted to us all, His beloved people. They basically ended up obeying the Law blindly without truly understanding why they did so.

In this case, many of the actions of the Pharisees were truly hypocritical as the Lord Himself pointed it out to them. They criticised the Lord and uttered such foul words when they saw Him healing the woman who had suffered for a whole period of eighteen years, and they could not even let that one Sabbath day go. They took offense because the Lord performed His miracle on that day, as they thought of and considered the Sabbath day as being a sacrosanct day in which no action or activity can be done at all. However, this is actually a misunderstanding and confusion about the purpose and meaning of the Law of the Sabbath as the Lord originally intended it. The Lord never intended the Sabbath Law to restrict and restrain His people from doing what is necessary and good, and He certainly did not want anyone to criticise a good action being done on that day.

The Pharisees were also being hypocritical as when their own flock, sheep and goats and other things need to be settled on that day, this would be done. Hence, how could the suffering of this woman who had suffered for so long be overlooked or for her to be made to wait even for one day longer? This was why the Lord was angered and frustrated at the stubbornness that the Pharisees had shown at that time, at their refusal to listen to Him and for their stubborn opposition to God and His works. The Lord has shown them what His Law and commandments are truly about, and that is to teach, show and guide us in the path of His love, compassion and mercy. The Law should not be misused for one’s personal ambitions and desires, and they should not be misunderstood as merely sets of laws, customs, practices, rituals and all other things that are merely done out of blind obedience without proper understanding and appreciation.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all hence remind ourselves of the obligation and the calling which we have received as Christians, as God’s beloved people, to do God’s will with the right intention and understanding of God’s will and intentions for us. Let us all be truly faithful and devoted to Him, by showing the love that He Himself had taught and shown us, in the love and kindness He has shown to the suffering woman, in healing and helping her to come out from her predicament. Let us all remember that great and most generous love that God has always shown us, and hence, strive to love the Lord ever more wholeheartedly and commit ourselves ever more to His cause. And as the Law and commandments of God have shown us, we should also show the same kind of love to our fellow brothers and sisters around us as well, in every opportunities and places that we are in.

May the Lord, our most loving God and Father continue to guide us all and help us to pass through the journey of faith and life, where we may have to face and endure difficulties and challenges that may appear in our path. We must not lose hope and faith in God just because of those challenges, trials and hardships. We have to keep our trust in God and follow Him ever more courageously and with greater love, knowing that God Himself has loved us all so much, and hence, passing on and showing that same love in our world today, where there are plenty of hatred and ignorance of God’s Law, commandments and ways. May all of us be the great examples of our Christian faith and beliefs, and show them through our genuine and real actions, at all times, and may God bless us all in our every good efforts and endeavours to glorify Him. Amen.

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Sunday, 29 October 2023 : Thirtieth Sunday of Ordinary Time (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, this Sunday as we listened to the words of the Scriptures, each and every one of us are reminded of our first and most important obligation as Christians, as God’s people, that all of us must always be filled with love, both for our Lord and God, as well as for our fellow brothers and sisters, our fellow mankind. Love is always at the centrepiece of our Christian faith and devotion to God, and it is the central theme upon which our whole faith and existence revolve around. Without love, our faith in God is empty and meaningless, and not only that, but without love we would not have existed in the first place, as it was first of all by God’s love that each and every one of us were created and saved. Love is and has always been the cornerstone of our faith in God, and is the most fundamental and core tenet of our Christian beliefs.

In our first reading passage this Sunday, taken from the Book of Exodus, we heard about the words of the Lord to His people through Moses, in which He presented to them everything that He expected of all of them to do in their lives, so that, in all of their ways, actions and in everything they say and do, they would always be exemplary, faithful and committed to God, in obeying His Law and commandments just as He has shown and commanded each and every one of us to do. The Lord wants each and every one of His disciples, followers and people to be truly filled with love, first of all the love for Him, and then at the same time, He also wants each one of them to love one another, for us all to be loving towards our fellow brothers and sisters all around us. Unless we are filled with this love for God and for our fellow brethren, we cannot truly live our lives wholeheartedly and properly as Christians.

That is why He showed us all His love through His Law and commandments, by revealing to His people, to all of us, this path of true love as He has passed down first of all through Moses to the people of Israel, and which He would later on explain and expand upon through His prophets and messengers, and most important of all, through His own beloved Son, Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Who have brought the full revelation of God’s love in the flesh, manifested and made tangible for us, and also taught and explained to us the full meaning and purpose of the Law which God has given us. God showed us all His love first of all, so that we too may also love Him with all of our heart, dedication and might, and then we may also practice and experience the same love in our interactions with our fellow brothers and sisters all around us.

Then, in our Gospel passage today, we heard of the confrontation between the Lord Jesus and the Pharisees, who tried to test and trap the Lord with their questions. The Pharisees in particular were a group of the Jewish people who were very particular and concerned regarding the Law of God, which had been passed down through Moses and many generations of the people of God, from time to time and from mouth to mouth, in oral and written traditions down the many centuries since the time of the Exodus. This Law of God had gone through many changes, additions and transformations, as the teachers and preservers of the Law and commandments, traditions and customs of the people of God had made amendments and modifications to them according to the prevailing conditions and situations of the time. This resulted in the Law of God and its many stipulations and tenets, as listed in the Torah or the original Scriptures, listed in the Books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy to be twisted and changed out of context from their original purpose.

And it is worth mentioning today that the Pharisees were those who were particularly concerned about the details, rituals and practices of the Law, as one of the most influential groups and leaders among the Jewish community. The Pharisees had a very strict and rigid interpretation of the Law of God, as they enforced upon the people a very detailed, ritualistic and particular way of observing the Law, from how they ought to live their lives in the community, the practice of ritual washing and purification, and the enforcement of the Law of the Sabbath and the ban on any works and actions on that day, among many other things. Unfortunately, this led to them opposing the Lord and His disciples, persecuting and oppressing them throughout His earthly ministry, dogging them and disturbing them throughout including the occasion highlighted today in the Gospel passage, when they tried to question and trap the Lord with the question regarding the Law.

What was their intention? They thought and claimed to know the Law better than anyone else, and that they and their interpretation of the Law alone was correct and acceptable, worthy and good for the Lord and His people. Hence, perhaps out of the desire to test the Lord, and to see if the Lord was truly One Who knows about the Law, they asked Him regarding the Law, of which one among the many hundreds of the commandments, laws, tenets and practices, which traditionally numbers six hundred and thirteen if not more, is the most important one among all of them. This exposed the flaw and mistakes in the way that the Pharisees had lived their lives and faith, as they focused so much and was so obsessed with the details and the minute things in the Law, that they ended up doing the practices, commandments and other tenets of the Law without truly understanding the purpose and intention of why the Law was given to us in the first place.

It means that they have lived their lives and faith, practicing very strictly the commandments of God, the Law and the rituals, emphasising on the details of the Law, and doing them to the letter, but not appreciating and understanding the spirit of the Law, the intention of why the Lord had given the Law to us, which is in fact is to teach us all about love, and how love is very crucial for us to be able to understand, appreciate and apply the Law fruitfully in our lives. First of all, the Law was meant to help all of God’s people, all of us to put the Lord at the centre and as the focus of our lives, as we are reminded to love the Lord with all of our heart, with all of our might and strength, just as the Lord Himself has loved us all so dedicatedly and wonderfully. Then, as the Lord Jesus Himself highlighted, the same kind of love ought to be shown to others all around us, our own fellow brothers and sisters, be it those whom we know and love, and those whom we encounter, acquaintances, strangers, and even those who despised and hated us.

This is why all of us as Christians, we are all called to be truly faithful to God in all things, and we have to be full of His love, kindness and compassion, in loving Him as well as our fellow brethren all around us, at all circumstances and opportunities. The Lord has taught and shown us by His own examples and experiences, which Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, had done in His ministry and works in our midst. We should not be like many among the Pharisees who merely were going through the motion and focusing so much on the details, rituals and particulars of the Law, that they forgot to love, to practice what the Lord Himself wanted them to do in their own lives. Instead, they had used the Law to lord over their fellow brethren, in being condenscending and superior-minded, in thinking that they were better than others simply because they obeyed the Law in the manner that they did.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all in our daily living, in our every words, actions and interactions be truly faithful and obedient to God, and be filled with love for Him, at all times. Let our lives as Christians be enriching in love and faith, and let us all be great examples, role models and inspirations for one another, so that our lives may truly bring the richness of God’s grace and love to all of mankind, all over the whole world, in whichever parts and places that we all encounter each other. Let us all bring God’s love, truth and Good News to more and more people throughout the world, and enlighten them in this world darkened by sin and evil, wickedness and disobedience, with our love and kindness, our compassion and exemplary attitudes, in following and doing what God Himself has shown and taught us through His Son and His Church. Let us truly embody our Christian faith and obey God’s Law and commandments in doing so, not just in the letter but also in the spirit. May God be with us all, and may He continue to empower and strengthen each one of us, so that we may remain always ever faithful to Him, now and always, forevermore. Amen.

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Saturday, 28 October 2023 : Feast of St. Simon and St. Jude, Apostles (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Red

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today the Universal Church celebrates the Feast of the Holy Apostles, St. Simon and St. Jude. Both of them are parts of the Twelve Apostles, the innermost circle among all of the Lord’s followers and disciples, as those whom the Lord had called, chosen and appointed to be the principal assistants and supporters to His divine mission and works in this world. Both of them were ordinary men called by God to greatness, as they embarked on a new journey, mission and calling for then to be the ones through whom the Lord would be proclaimed and glorified. The Apostles St. Simon and St. Jude had dedicated themselves to the service of the Lord, and has done many great and wonderful things according to the various Apostolic traditions and histories, and they are truly our great role models and inspirations.

St. Simon the Apostle was also known as Simon the Zealot, as a member of the Zealots, which was then one of the political parties and forces present within the Jewish community. He was also sometimes known as Simon the Canaanite or Canaanean. As a former member of the Zealots, it was likely that he was involved in the sometimes violent struggles of the Zealots in opposing the occupation of Judea and Galilee by the Romans, who were then the rulers and overlords of the whole entire region. Previous rebellions and uprisings by the Zealots and other Messiah claimants had happened several times as they tried to liberate themselves from the Roman rule, and they waited and looked forward to the coming of the Messiah, the Son of David, Who was prophesied to be the leader of the Israelites, and Who would restore the old glorious Kingdom of Israel.

St. Simon the Apostle likely followed the Lord Jesus initially because he hoped that Jesus would be the Messiah that the people, especially the Zealots were awaiting for, and hoping that He would lead them in triumph in battle and struggle for freedom from the Romans. However, after having followed the Lord and remained as one of His closest disciples, as members of the Twelve, St. Simon eventually entrusted himself wholly in the Lord’s path and providence, and he spent his life in glorifying the Lord, and in doing whatever it is that God had sent and commissioned him to do, together with the other Apostles who had been sent out to proclaim the Good News and carry out His will and commandments. St. Simon went to evangelise in many places, such as Egypt and others, and eventually went to join St. Jude in his efforts in Persia and Armenia, where they were martyred together, that is why we celebrate their feasts together on this day.

Meanwhile, St. Jude the Apostle, also known as St. Jude Thaddeus or St. Judas Thaddeus, with the distinction from the traitor Judas Iscariot, was another one of the Twelve Apostles, called and chosen by the Lord to be the part of His innermost circle of disciples. St. Jude Thaddeus according to various traditions may refer to one of the ‘brothers’ of th Lord, possibly sons of St. Joseph from another marriage or relatives from His close family, or with the writer of the Epistle of St. Jude. Regardless of the details of his origins and background, it is certain that St. Jude Thaddeus was one of the Apostles and he carried out his mission and works with great zeal and commitment to God. He took up his duties and missions with great dedication, energy and perseverance, enduring a lot of challenges and trials during all of the efforts he had made for the sake and glory of the Lord.

St. Jude Thaddeus was also heavily involved in the works of evangelisation, spreading the Good News of the Gospels in the regions of Judea, Samaria and Idumea nearby Jerusalem, as well as further areas like Libya, Mesopotamia and others. Then, as mentioned, together with St. Simon the Apostle, St. Jude went to the regions of Persia and Armenia, continuing to proclaim the Good News of God to more and more people, attaining many great successes, believers and converts, but also plenty of opposition and challenges from those who refused to believe in God and His truth. In some tradition, he was martyred with St. Simon the Apostle in either the aforementioned Armenia or in what is today Beirut in Lebanon, with an axe that is often seen together with him. Regardless of the circumstances, both Apostles had shown their great faith and dedication to God, doing their best for His glory and sake, even to die for their faith.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we all gather together to glorify these two great saints of God, His own Apostles, let us all remind ourselves of all the courageous deeds and efforts of both St. Simon the Apostle and St. Jude the Apostle. Both of them had done what they could in fulfilling the many commands and missions entrusted to them, in doing what they could, ministering to the faithful people of God and delivering God’s Good News to all those who have not yet heard or known of Him. In doing so, they have become for all of us as Christians, perfect role models and examples for each and every one of us to follow in our own lives. As Christians, we must always emulate the examples of St. Simon and St. Jude, the other Apostles, and many other saints, martyrs, and holy men and women of God in our own lives.

Let us all as Christians be exemplary and good in our way of life and actions. We have to commit ourselves in each and every moments to glorify God by our lives, and we should always strive to be worthy of God, by doing what is right and just, worthy and good in the sight of God and men alike. Otherwise, our Christian faith is one that is merely superficial and dead, and has no bearing or purpose for any one of us. We are all called to a greater responsibility, dedication and mission, in how we lead a holy and worthy life, that are truly exemplary and inspirational to one another, and we should always be encouraged and strengthened to help more and more people on their journey and path towards the Lord. We should follow and walk in the footsteps of St. Simon and St. Jude in each and every moments of our lives, continuing the works that the Apostles had started. Let us all remember that we too have been entrusted with specific and unique missions by the Lord in our own respective lives.

May the Lord continue to bless us all and guide us in our journey, and may He continue to empower and strengthen us in our path, so that we may always be strong regardless of the trials, challenges, hardships that may end up in our path. May all of us continue to live our lives worthily of the Lord, and continue to do what He has called us all to do, reminding ourselves that the works of the Apostles are far from done, and we, as the members of the Church, as parts of the same Body of Christ, we should do our best to proclaim God and His Good News to more and more people, not only by words but also through real action and commitment. May God bless our good efforts and works, in all things, now and always, forevermore. Amen.

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Friday, 27 October 2023 : 29th Week of Ordinary Time (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we listened to the words of the Scriptures, we are all reminded by them to be ever vigilant and careful lest we may be swayed, tempted and misguided by the various temptations to sin and to disobey the Lord, because of the weaknesses and the vulnerabilities of our human physical selves and the weakness of our existence in the flesh, ever susceptible to corruption by sin and the wickedness of this world all around us. We must always remind ourselves that the wage and consequence of sin is death and destruction for us, while the reward for faith and obedience to God is eternal life and true joy with Him. The Lord has shown us all the path of righteousness and virtue worthy of Him, and laid before us what we all should do in obeying Him and His commandments. Ultimately, it is our choice to make, for us to choose either God’s path or the path of sin.

In our first reading today, we heard from the continuation of this past two weeks or so discourse from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans, in which the Apostle spoke to the faithful in Rome about how the nature of their human flesh and existence may bring about conflict and interference with their obligation in serving the Lord and following Him. St. Paul mentioned how he himself was also constantly tempted and persuaded by the desires of the flesh and the body, which was contradictory to the path of the Lord. He mentioned that while his inmost self and overall his whole being agreed with the Lord and obeyed Him, yet, there was indeed that part of him which kept on trying to drag him out of the path of righteousness and obedience to God, which is caused by the temptations and the weakness of our human flesh and existence.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, this is a reference to the fact of how we are still susceptible to sin and evil, even after the Lord Himself has come to us, in saving us through His ultimate sacrifice on the Cross. He has indeed redeemed and liberated us from the tyranny and dominion of sin, which had ruled and reigned over us ever since the beginning of time, when our ancestors first fell into temptations, disobeyed God and sinned against Him. The Lord had liberated us all from the tyranny and dominion of this original sin of ours, but our human nature and existence remained bound to the world and as long as there is still evil in this world, the temptations to sin and all, we will still be vulnerable and susceptible to sin, and all of its corrupting influences.

In our Gospel passage today, we then heard of the Lord Jesus speaking to His disciples and to the people regarding the matter of signs of nature and how He used that example and comparison to highlight how all of us must always be ever vigilant in keeping mind that at any time, any one of us can be called to be accountable for our lives, our every actions, works and deeds. When will this happen, brothers and sisters in Christ? It is at the end of our worldly existence, our earthly lives, which we absolutely have no idea of when this will exactly happen. This is something that we all must be mindful of, that there is nothing more certain than the certainty of death, that each and every one of us will certainly and definitely die one day, at the time of God’s own choosing. On the contrary, there is nothing more uncertain than the time of our passing from this world.

That is why we must always be prepared for any eventualities and we cannot assume that we still have the time and opportunities to fix whatever is wrong and improper in our lives. The Lord has given us ample time and opportunities to do what He has called, taught and shown us all to do, and we should always strive to do what is right and just in God’s eyes such that we can be truly exemplary in our faith and way of life, in inspiring our fellow brothers and sisters to do the same in their own lives as well. We should always do our best such that our every words, actions and deeds may always truly show our faith, our obedience and commitment to God. It means that we cannot be idle in living our lives as Christians, and we should not be ignorant in not realising what we are all supposed to do each day in our lives.

The Lord pointed out in our Gospel passage today, that we can discern things happening in our world or predict what will happen by observing our environment and all the signs that we can see and feel from the nature. Therefore, if we can do that, in the same way, we should have been capable in discerning how our lives are like as compared to what we are expected to do as Christians, that is as God’s followers and disciples. We all should have heeded God’s call and understood the urgency with which the Lord has always called and reminded us, that we may all live our lives with faith and virtues at all times. We should not allow ourselves to be easily swayed and misguided by sin and all of its allures, its falsehoods and wickedness.

We must also be ever vigilant lest we fall into the temptations and the coercions leading us into the path of sin. Often times, throughout our lives, there will likely be a lot of occasions when we will have to choose between obeying God and His Law, and to follow the path of worldly desires and ambitions, the path of conforming to the norms and habits of this world, which are often against the Lord and His truth. There will be a lot of times when our faith will likely be tested and we will be tempted to do what is against God and His path, but which is more convenient and comfortable for us. The choice is ours whether we want to conform to that easier path, or whether we want to stay faithful and committed to the Lord, although the latter path might be more difficult and challenging for us.

What is important is for each and every one of us to keep in mind and to remember at all times that the Lord has always given us the chance and the help, the guidance and encouragement that we may truly be courageous and strong in our journey of faith. Let us all now therefore be receptive and willing to embrace God and His truth, His love and guidance, so that in each and every moments of our lives, we may always strive to be righteous, just and worthy of Him, and resist all the temptations and the false paths of sin, evil and wickedness of this world, and instead continue to dedicate ourselves wholly to God at all times. May the Lord be with us always and may He empower each and every one of us, in our every moments in life, now and forevermore. Amen.

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Thursday, 26 October 2023 : 29th Week of Ordinary Time (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, through the Scripture readings we have heard today, we are all reminded that each and every one of us have been called to follow the Lord in our everyday living and at every moments. All of us as Christians must always be filled with the desire and passion to serve the Lord our God in all circumstances and we must always have the strong commitment to follow the Lord in all things, and live our lives ever more faithfully and courageously in accordance with what God Himself has shown and taught us all. We must not be complacent or be ignorant of our calling to be truly righteous, good, just and worthy of the Lord in all of our actions, words, deeds and way of life at all times. That is because we will likely often face situations and moments when we will have to stand up for our faith, make a firm commitment and choice for the Lord or against the Lord.

In our first reading today, we heard the continuation from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans in which the Apostle highlighted of the contrast and differences between the path of sin, evil and wickedness, with the path of righteousness, justice and virtue, in which the first one is the path that is against God, in rebellion against Him, and therefore leads to death and destruction, eternal damnation and suffering. On the other hand, the other path is the path of obedience to God, of following whatever He has led us into, and in doing all that He has commanded us to do. This latter path leads us into the assurance of eternal life, true joy and glory, which God promised to all of His faithful and beloved people. We have once been subjected to the power of sin and evil, and we have been dominated by them in the past, but through Christ, all of us have been shown and delivered to freedom from the dominion of sin.

Yes, brothers and sisters in Christ, as St. Paul himself had elaborated to the faithful people of God in Rome, all of us who have been called and brought out of the darkness of sin, through the power of Christ, our Lord and Saviour, each and every one of us should no longer do things that are contrary to God’s will, Law and commandments. As Christians, God’s chosen and beloved people, all of us should always strive to do what is right and worthy of God, keeping ourselves pure and blameless, resisting the temptations and the pressures for us to conform to the corrupted ways of sin and disobedience against God, the worldliness and all the attachments to worldly pleasures, glory, achievements and ambitions that can lead us astray from the path that we have been shown towards the Lord, our God. The path of the Lord is different and distinct from the path of sin.

Then, in our Gospel passage today, we heard the Lord pointing out to His disciples and followers, how His coming into this world would not usher an era of peace, harmony and glory for the people, but instead, it would lead to division and disagreements, disunity and resistance, as there would be those who refused to believe in God and His truth, and those would likely oppose the ones who have embraced the Lord and His truth as revealed through Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. At that time, the Jewish people, the people of God had been awaiting for the coming of the Messiah, the One Whom God had promised to His people, that He would come to them, bringing about God’s salvation and liberation from their troubles. However, many of the people thought that the Messiah would come and liberate them all from their Roman and other foreign oppressors, restored an era of peace and glory for Israel, and reestablished David and Solomon’s glorious kingdom.

This was where the Lord Jesus revealed to all of His disciples that the truth about His mission and coming into this world was not that which the people had expected or assumed to be. Instead of bringing about immediately an era of glory and peace to the people of God, the reality is that, such fulfilment of what God promised to His people, to all of us, will come in the future, at the time of His own determination. And His first coming into this world was meant to proclaim God’s truth, Good News and salvation to everyone. Essentially, He was gathering all of His beloved people, His flock back towards Himself. Yet, not all of them would listen to Him, as some of those to whom the Lord had revealed Himself rejected Him and chose to trust in their own path and beliefs, refusing to believe in Him, even though He has shown them all His wisdom and power, His assurance and truths. Why is that so? That is because they allowed themselves to be swayed by worldly temptations and sins, and hence, fell into the wrong paths.

The conflict and disagreements, divisions and hardships that came about because of the disagreements and incompatibilities between those who sided with the Lord and those who refused to believe in Him inevitably happened. That was also exactly why throughout the history of the Church and our Christian faith, many of our predecessors have faced multiple challenges, trials and difficulties because they remained firmly faithful to the Lord, and chose to follow the Lord and trust in Him rather than to obey and conform to the worldly norms and paths. Some chose to abandon God’s path and conform to the path of worldliness and sin to save themselves, but many remained true to their faith in God, and faced persecution, oppression and opposition from even within their own families and friends. Not few among the saints experienced these trials and challenges.

Now, brothers and sisters in Christ, for all of us, what truly matters is that we need to be prepared to stand up for our faith, and to be true to our calling and mission as Christians. Each and every one of us should always remind ourselves and one another that we are all as members of God’s Church, as parts of His one united Body, we must always stand together, and be filled with the fullness of God’s grace, love and truth. We should always strive to be exemplary and inspirational in how we live our lives, in our every words, actions and deeds, so that even in the smallest of things, in the seemingly least significant of our works, actions and all that we do, and our every interactions with each other, we may always strive to glorify God, and be genuine and faithful Christians.

May the Lord our God continue to strengthen and empower us all, so that in our every day moments, and in our every efforts, good works and commitments, we may always be strong and courageous in living our lives according to the path that God has shown us. Let us all help and support one another so that despite the many trials and challenges that we may have to face amidst our commitment and obedience to God, we will always remain firm and strong in our faith and trust in the Lord. May the Lord bless our efforts and works, and may He continue to journey with each one of us, in our journey of faith, that we may be truly worthy shining beacons of His Good News and truth, leading countless more towards Him. Amen.

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Wednesday, 25 October 2023 : 29th Week of Ordinary Time (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we listened to the words of the Scriptures, each and every one of us are reminded that we are all the ones to whom God has entrusted His creations and all of this world, for us all to govern and take care of them. This also includes our responsibilities and our areas of involvement in various parts of this world, as we carry out our actions, works and interactions with one another, with our fellow brothers and sisters, our loved ones, family members, relatives and friends, and even with acquaintances and strangers in our midst. All of us are expected as Christians to be ever worthy of God, by doing what we have been shown and taught to do, by our Lord Himself, and through the Law and commandments, and all the guidance which He has imparted upon us through His Church.

In our first reading today, from the continuation of the passages from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans which we have heard for much of these past two weeks, we heard of the important reminders from the Apostle St. Paul to all of us the faithful people of God that we should not allow ourselves to be easily tempted and swayed by sin and all of its dangerous allures, all of which may end up leading us down into the wrong path, into our downfall and destruction. God has brought us out of our slavery and subjugation to sin, freed and delivered us from sin’s dangerous threats and control. But this does not mean that we are not going to face any trouble from sin anymore, as there are always those who wait all around us, seeking our destruction and downfall at all times.

Yes, brothers and sisters in Christ, the devil and all of his fellow wicked forces of evil, all of them are always ready at any moment to strike at us and to bring upon us the temptations and allures so that we may end up disobeying God and falling into those temptations, hence committing sin once again, and be corrupted by the sins and the evils we have done. We must not allow sin and evil to have any control over us, and therefore, it is imperative that we attune ourselves well to the Lord, to know Him better and to find out what He truly wants from each and every one of us, that we may always live our lives in the manner that is truly worthy of God, in obeying His Law and commandments, just as the Lord Jesus Himself has shown us, through the perfect obedience that He has shown to us in fulfilling the mission that His heavenly Father has entrusted to Him.

The Lord has come into our midst, bearing His truth and Good News, and brought upon us deliverance and freedom from the tyranny and domination by sin, which have plagued and affected us for so long all these time. He obeyed His Father and showed us all the grace of God, His love and compassionate mercy, all manifested through the ultimate expression of love that Christ has shown us, by His willing endurance and suffering for our sake, by putting our sins and the punishments and consequences due for those sins upon His own shoulders, so that by His wounds and pains, all of us may be healed from our hurts and sins, and be reconciled completely and fully to God, being forgiven and absolved from all of our past wrongdoings, mistakes, evils and failures. Through the Lord, His love and kindness, and the kind of faith that He has shown us and expected us to have, we are all reminded that we should always strive to live lives that are truly holy and worthy of God.

Then, in our Gospel passage today, we heard the Lord speaking to His disciples and followers, and all those who have been there to listen to Him, using the parable of the diligent and lazy stewards to highlight to them why it is really very important for all of them, and hence, all of us as well, to be ever vigilant and to do what we have been expected to do as God’s disciples, followers, as His beloved people. Each and every one of us are truly the stewards that God has entrusted with various aspects of His creations, this world and all that are in them, and we are all entrusted with various talents, abilities and opportunities, that are distinct and unique to each one of us so that hopefully we may indeed make good use of them for the good purposes and for the benefits of all those whom we encounter in our daily lives and at every moments.

The lazy steward is truly representing all those who have been idle and ignorant of their calling and mission in life, to do what God has entrusted each and every one of them to do, in making use of their gifts, talents and abilities for everyone’s benefits. Instead, they wasted their potential, their time and effort on seeking for their own personal ambitions, worldly pleasures and all those things which brought them further and further away from the path of God. Meanwhile, the diligent steward represents those among us who have responded positively to the Lord’s call and commit themselves wholeheartedly to the mission and works which God has entrusted to each and every one of us. In the end, as we heard, when the master came back, the diligent steward was rewarded greatly while the lazy steward received his just punishment.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, this is why each and every one of us must always be reminded that we should never allow the allures of worldly pleasures, attachments, the glory of worldly fame and other forms of worldliness, its vices and evils to tempt and lead us astray from the right path. We must not allow sin and evil to enter into our hearts and minds, corrupting them and perverting them away from the path of righteousness and justice. Instead, as Christians, we must always be filled with genuine faith and commitment to God, and we must always strive to do His will, at all times, throughout our whole lives. The Lord has given us many opportunities, means and the various ways for us to contribute our parts and to do what we can in order to glorify Him by our lives, and we should do so, at all times.

Let us all be exemplary in our every words, actions and deeds, and let us do our very best so that we may always be worthy of the Lord in all things. May the Lord continue to help and strengthen us in our journey of faith and life, in each and every moments of our lives, so that we may draw ever closer to God and so that we may continue to serve Him ever more wholeheartedly, and be filled with God’s grace and love, His strength, wisdom and courage. May God bless our efforts, good works and endeavours for His greater glory, now and always. Amen.

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Tuesday, 24 October 2023 : 29th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Anthony Mary Claret, Bishop (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Bishops)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today we listened to the words of the Scriptures in which we are reminded of the need for all of us as Christians to continue to be vigilant and be prepared throughout our lives so that we may indeed be filled with faith, grace and righteousness in our every actions, words and deeds, throughout every moments in our lives. We must always be ready to follow God’s path, and do our every works and actions in proclaiming His truth and Good News, by showing them through our sincere commitment to His cause, at every moments. We should not be ignorant of our need and obligations to do God’s will in all things, and to be good role models, examples and inspirations for one another, so that we may strengthen one another in faith.

In our first reading today, in the continuation from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans, we heard of the reminders that all of us have been saved through the works and the perfect obedience shown by one Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Saviour, the One Whom God had sent into our midst to bring us all to salvation and redemption through Him. St. Paul also mentioned how one man, that is Adam, and his disobedience against God had led to the downfall and damnation of mankind, to all the sufferings and challenges that we face in this world, and how this is opposed and compared to the righteousness and obedience of the Lord Jesus, Who obeyed His heavenly Father so perfectly, that by His obedience He might show all of us how we should live our lives faithfully in each and every moments of our lives.

In our Gospel reading today, the Lord presented it plainly before His disciples and followers, that all of us must always be prepared and ready to follow Him, in all of our ways, and we must always be prepared, as at any moment, the Lord can indeed ask us to account for our actions and works, our activities and our failures to do what we are expected to do throughout our lives. The Lord has clearly reminded all of us to keep ourselves and our lives pure and worthy so that we do not end up being caught unprepared and unworthy of God, and therefore may be bound for eternal damnation and Hell. We should always be active in living up to our Christian faith, committing ourselves to proclaim the Lord, our God, through our every actions, words and deeds, our interactions and works, as our holy predecessors, the holy saints of God, had done.

Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Anthony Mary Claret, the founder of the religious order of the Claretians also known as the Congregation of Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, named after its founder. St. Anthony Mary Claret was an archbishop and renowned missionary, who lived approximately two centuries ago, laboured and worked as God’s servant in various places especially Spain and in the colonies of the Spanish Empire, such as in Canary Islands, and also in other areas. He was a great missionary with zeal and love for God, felt and embraced the call to the priestly life, and thereafter went on missions to evangelise and to spread the Good News of God to more and more people. He faced a lot of challenges along his mission and journey, but he always did his best to proclaim the Lord faithfully and courageously.

St. Anthony Mary Claret spent a lot of time in preaching among the people, which became very popular, and many people came to listen to his preachings. He also spent a lot of time in the confessionals, helping many people to come closer to the Lord, by reconciliation and healing, and by listening to their troubles and problems. Many were touched by the courageous and clear sermons from this holy man of God, and by his dedication as a shepherd of the Lord’s flock. He established the Claretians soon after he returned from his missionary works in the Canary Islands, and then later on was quickly appointed as Archbishop of Santiago de Cuba, in which he continued his mission as shepherd and missionary in the territory of Spanish Cuba, reforming the diocesan seminary, establishing schools and hospitals, and founding another religious order named Religious of Mary Immaculate.

St. Anthony Mary Claret continued to serve the people of God with amazing commitment and dedicating his great charism with most passion and commitment, and many came to be saved through his efforts. Miracles and wonders were attributed to him, as according to accounts and eyewitnesses, he levitated during prayers and celebrations of the Mass, and his prayers stopped even calamities like storms and earthquakes, and supernatural lights and phenomena would be seen as he celebrated Mass, facts which astounded many and attested to his great personal holiness and virtues, and he was also given gift of foresight and revelation, as the Lord revealed to him several challenges and trials that the world and the Church would be facing.

St. Anthony Mary Claret eventually became the personal confessor of the Queen of Spain, Isabella II. He continued to do his many works for the glory of God and for the good of his fellow men in his various capacities, continuing to commit himself wholeheartedly for the Lord’s mission and works. He continued to inspire many people in generations after his passing to this very day, and his religious orders continued to work and being inspired by their founder’s great examples. Therefore, each one of us should also be inspired to do God’s will and to follow Him wholeheartedly as St. Anthony Mary Claret and many other holy men and women of God had done. Each and every one of us as Christians should always strive to do what the Lord has taught and shown us all to do.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all hence commit ourselves anew and let us be exemplary in our every actions and works throughout our lives. May God be with us all and may He empower and strengthen each and every one of us, so that we may continue to live our lives most worthily and be the shining beacons of His light and truth, bearing His Good News and love to all whom we encounter daily in life, just as St. Anthony Mary Claret had done in his life and ministry. May God bless our every good endeavours and efforts, now and always. Amen.

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Monday, 23 October 2023 : 29th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. John of Capestrano, Priest (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Priests)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we listened to the words of the Scriptures, we are all reminded to put our faith and trust in the Lord, that we should always put our focus in life and centre our attention and efforts on the Lord and in glorifying Him instead of trusting in the various worldly means and methods for us to seek happiness and achievements in our lives. We must not allow ourselves to be easily swayed by those temptations and coercions of the world, all the things that may end up leading us down the wrong path in life, because they may end up preventing us from recognising God’s presence in our lives and turning us into people who are more concerned about attaining wealth and all sorts of worldly pleasures and ambitions rather than to live our lives in a righteous and worthy manner.

In our first reading today, we heard from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans in which St. Paul the Apostle spoke about the faith that Abraham had in the Lord. Abraham, who is the father of many nations and the faithful servant of God, with whom the Lord has established His Covenant, was found righteous, worthy and just because he trusted the Lord wholeheartedly and obeyed Him, His will and commands, despite perhaps having doubts or uncertainties at times in his heart and mind. Abraham allowed the Lord to lead him in all of his path and actions throughout life, and dedicated himself and his every moments to do what God has told him to do. He left behind his past life, his homeland and ancestral family in Ur of the Chaldeans, in what is now parts of Iraq, following the Lord Who called him to embark on a journey to the land He promised to him and his descendants.

Then, Abraham also obeyed the Lord when he was told to bring his beloved son, Isaac, whom the Lord had promised to him, and whom he finally received, to be offered as a sacrifice at Mount Moriah. But despite the prospect of losing this precious son to be slaughtered and offered to God, Abraham trusted in God wholly, and according to St. Paul in another occasion in one of his Epistles, Abraham had faith in God that even if he were to lose Isaac, in some way or some form God would restore Isaac to him, or fulfil His promise to him in another different way. This complete and total obedience to God is something that is truly rare amongst us mankind, and it is what made Abraham to stand out and why he is revered as the paragon of virtue and faith.

In what we have heard from our Gospel passage today, there is something similar in what the Lord Jesus had told to His disciples and followers, as He answered one of them who asked Him to be a judge and to convince his brother to share the family inheritance with him, and as He used a parable to highlight to them the futility and folly of one’s pursuit of worldly matter and inheritance, possessions and material wealth, as all those things will not avail us and will not remain with us in the end. None of our worldly goods, wealth and all the riches we have will be ours to possess or bring as we move on to the world that is to come. All those things are ultimately temporary and fleeting in nature, and no matter how rich or how many things we possess in this world, those things will be taken away from us at the end of our brief earthly sojourn, and as we enter the afterlife.

In that Gospel passage today, as we heard in the Lord’s parable, of how futile the rich man’s efforts and plans were, when he planned everything he could, to store for himself more and more of the worldly riches, when he already had so much, in his many granaries and storehouses, but only to lose all of them, because the Lord, the Master of all life and death, could call him back to Him, that very night, and all of his worldly plans, desires, ambitions and all of his attachments and designs, all of them would come to nothing in the end. This is an important reminder that if we allow ourselves to be swayed by worldly temptations and desires, we will likely end up being disappointed, and we may even end up falling into the path towards eternal damnation, because those things will likely tempt and keep us away from truly being able to follow the Lord and trust in Him. Abraham, on the other hand, was willing to even part with his precious treasure, his own beloved son, Isaac.

This is why all of us as Christians must always keep ourselves free from the temptations of worldly desires, ambitions, glory and the pleasures of life. All of us must always stay away from the things that can distract and mislead us down the wrong paths in life, and we must always remind ourselves to stay focused in the Lord at all times. We should always be inspired by the examples of our holy predecessors, like Abraham and the many other saints, holy men and women of God who have dedicated themselves thoroughly to the Lord, in obeying His Law, His will and commandments. Each and every one of us must also follow their examples and inspirations, their lives and works, so that we ourselves may also ever be faithful to God in all things.

Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of St. John of Capestrano, whose life and examples should inspire us all in how we can be better disciples and followers of the Lord in all things. St. John of Capestrano was a famous Franciscan friar and priest, and a courageous and dedicated preacher and servant of God who committed himself wholeheartedly to the Lord, in obeying the commandments and the Law of God. He was a renowned theologian whose works and efforts, in spreading the Good News and the truth of the Gospel of Christ have borne a lot of good fruits, in proclaiming the salvation of God to more and more of those who have not known them. He preached to huge crowds that came to listen to him, which numbered even more than a hundred thousand people in one occasion, and he also attained great successes in other places as well.

St. John of Capestrano also dedicated himself to the Lord, putting Him above all else, even volunteering to raise and lead a large army together to fight against the forces of the Ottoman Turks that were threatening Christendom at that time, fighting in a Crusade launched by the Pope to resist the mighty forces of the enemy and unbelievers. He kept on inspiring all the soldiers who fought during that Crusade and conflicts, and while he eventually survived the battle, he fell ill from the bubonic plague and passed away shortly after. Nonetheless, the memories of his courage, commitment to God and efforts in proclaiming the Lord, in giving himself completely to the Lord and His cause are remembered by many long after his death, even to this very day.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all henceforth renew our commitment to the Lord, and strive to lead a life that is also truly holy and worthy of the Lord. Let us all commit ourselves to follow God in all things, and do whatever we can so that our lives may always be exemplary and inspirational to all others around us, and to all who interact and spend time with us. We should always be the source of inspiration and the bearers of God’s light and truth to others all around us, that we may help more and more people to come ever closer to the Lord and to His loving Presence. May God be with us always, and may He empower and strengthen each and every one of us, in our every day moments, and may He bless our every efforts and good works in glorifying His Name, now and always. Amen.