Purple

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Monday, 2 October 2023 : 26th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

Matthew 18 : 1-5, 10

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

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

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

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Monday, 2 October 2023 : 26th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : White

Psalm 90 : 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 10-11

You, who dwell in the shelter of the Most High, who rest in the shadow of the Almighty, say to YHVH, “My Stronghold, my Refuge, my God in Whom I trust!”

He will rescue you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His pinions and give you refuge under His wings.

You shall not fear the terror of the night nor the arrows that fly by day, nor the pestilence that stalks by night, and the plague that destroys at noonday.

No harm will come upon you; no disaster will draw near your home. For He will command His Angels to guard you in all your ways.

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Monday, 2 October 2023 : 26th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

Exodus 23 : 20-23

See, I am sending an Angel before you to keep you safe on the way and bring you to the place I have made ready. Be on your guard in his presence and listen to him; do not resist him for he will not pardon your wrongdoing, for My Name is in him.

If you listen to him and do what I say, I will be the enemy to your enemies and the opponent of your opponents. My Angel will go before you and bring you to the land of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hivites and the Jebusites; all these I will destroy.

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Sunday, 1 October 2023 : Twenty-Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, this Sunday we heard from the Scriptures very clear sets of readings in which we are reminded of a very important thing that all of us as Christians have to do in our lives, and that is for us to be obedient, to the will of the Lord, our God and Master, in all things and in everything we say and do in our lives. Each and every one of us as Christians should always be truly dedicated and committed to the path which God has shown and revealed to us, in carrying out His Law and commandments at every moments of our lives and to the best of our abilities in doing what is righteous, just and full of Christian virtues as much as possible. We have to be truly dedicated to God in all things, and not just in name or formality only.

In our first reading today, taken from the Book of the prophet Ezekiel, we heard of the words of the Lord delivered to His people, calling upon all of them to repent from their sins and wicked ways, highlighting how everyone will be judged by each and every one of their deeds and actions, their words and all that they have not done, and also by what they have not done in their lives, their every interactions with one another. The righteous ones will be judged for the sins that they have made, and if they are found wanting and lacking, then they will suffer for what shortcomings and mistakes they had made. Meanwhile, on the other hand, even the wicked will be justified and made worthy for the good and faithful deeds that they have done. This is a reminder for us not to think that we are more deserving of God’s grace or more worthy than others, and then neglect our need to do God’s will.

In our second reading today, taken from the famous part of the Epistle of St. Paul to the Philippians, we heard the Apostle highlighting the obedience of Jesus Christ, Son of God and Son of Man, Our Lord and Saviour, in fulfilling what His Heavenly Father had commanded Him to do, entrusting in His hands, the salvation and deliverance of all of the people of God, the whole mankind, through His suffering and death on the Cross. He has done everything that God the Father has told Him to do, perfectly obeying everything even unto death. Unlike the first Adam, the first man and our first ancestor, and his wife, Eve, the first woman, who both disobeyed the Lord and His commands, by choosing to listen to the lies and falsehoods of the devil instead of trusting in God, Christ as the New Adam has obeyed the Lord perfectly, showing us that it is indeed possible for us to be truly faithful, obedient and committed to God.

In our Gospel passage today, we heard from the Gospel of St. Matthew about the parable of the Lord, as He told His disciples about two sons, who were different in how they responded to their father’s call upon them to do his commands. One of the child told his father that he would do what he had been asked to do, but in the end, did not do the works, while the other child said that he did not want to do what he had been asked to do, and yet, still did the work in the end, nonetheless. we heard how the Lord then asked the disciples on who actually did obey the father in the end, and it was rather unanimous that everyone agreed how the one who actually did the works, despite having refused the father’s commands earlier on, and having verbally said that he did not want to do as he was asked to. Of course, ideally, it is even better that we listen, obey in both words and actions, but as we heard and discussed, we must indeed act on what we have been called to do, and not be idle on it.

From what we have heard in that Gospel passage, we are all reminded that what God wants from us is not just mere words and proclamations only, and not just mere promises that can be empty and meaningless. He wants from us true commitment and actions, which we all should show in our every moments in life. Otherwise, if we do not do and act in the manner that we have professed our faith or beliefs in, then we are just like those hypocrites who say and profess belief in something and yet, act in a different manner from what they had said. This is not something that each one of us should be doing in our lives. The Lord Jesus in particular has often rebuked and criticised the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law for the hypocrisy of their faith and actions, and therefore, He also reminded us all, that we must be people of action, of doing God’s will in all things.

We already have the perfect example for this, which is none other than the Lord Jesus Himself, our Lord and Saviour, Whose perfect obedience we have just discussed and reflected upon. The Lord has shown us all His love and kindness, His mercy and compassion, not just with mere words and professions only, or only through promises and more promises. Instead, He has fulfilled them with real action, embodying that love through His Son, Who bore His Cross, filled with the innumerable burden of our sins and wickedness, suffering all the punishments and consequences that should have been ours, so that by His action and genuine love, all of us may be saved and delivered from damnation and certain destruction. He has shown us all the path to eternal life through His Cross, and revealed His love to us through every wounds that He endured for our sake.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, we have seen just how great God’s love is for us, and we have been so blessed that God has done everything for our sake, by suffering and dying on the Cross for us. He showed His love for us in real action and commitment, to the Covenant of love that He has established and affirmed with all of us. Therefore, each and every one of us should also have the same kind of love in us, love that is genuine and generous, first of all for the Lord, our God, Who has loved us and cared for us all these while, and Who has suffered and died for our sake. And we should also have the same kind of love for our fellow brothers and sisters, our fellow men and women, who live all around us, and whom we encounter in our various occasions and opportunities.

That is our calling and mission as Christians, to show God’s love and compassion, His kindness and mercy through our own actions, words and deeds. As Christians, we are all called to be filled with God’s love, to be virtuous and righteous as best as possible. Through our exemplary actions, works and deeds, that is how we can convince more and more people to come to know the Lord and to experience His love. Each and every one of us must remember that we are all part of this same ministry and mission entrusted to us by God, as members and parts of His Church, to be loving and compassionate, kind and generous to each other, and to show the light of Christ, His way and truth to everyone that we encounter in each and every moments of our lives.

Therefore, let us all remind ourselves each day and at every moment, so that we may always strive to do our best to be the good role models and examples for our fellow brothers and sisters, as good and loving Christians, filled with care and concern for our fellow men and women, and always striving to do what God has taught and shown us to do, in every opportunities presented to us. Let us all remind and inspire one another that our every works, actions and deeds may always truly glorify the Lord, our God and Master. May God bless us all in our every good efforts and endeavours, and help us in our journey and lives, in all things, and be with us always. Amen.

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Sunday, 1 October 2023 : Twenty-Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Matthew 21 : 28-32

At that time, Jesus went on to say, “What do you think of this? A man had two sins. He went to the first and said to him, ‘Son, go and work today in my vineyard.’ And the son answered, ‘I do not want to.’ But later he thought better of it and went. Then the father went to his other son and said the same thing to him. This son replied, ‘I will go, sir,’ but he did not go.”

“Which of the two did what the father wanted?” They answered, “The first.” And Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you : the publicans and the prostitutes are ahead of you on the way to the kingdom of heaven. For John came, to show you the way of goodness, and you did not believe him; but the publicans and the prostitutes did. You were witnesses of this, but you neither repented nor believed him.”

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Sunday, 1 October 2023 : Twenty-Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time (Second Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Philippians 2 : 1-11

If I may advise you, in the Name of Christ, and if you can hear it, as the voice of love; if we share the same Spirit, and are capable of mercy and compassion, then I beg of you, make me very happy : have one love, one spirit, one feeling, do nothing through rivalry or vain conceit.

On the contrary, let each of you gently consider the others, as more important than yourselves. Do not seek your own interest, but, rather, that of others. Your attitude should be the same as Jesus Christ had : Though He was in the form of God, He did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking on the nature of a servant, made in human likeness, and in His appearance found as a Man.

He humbled Himself by being obedient to death, death on the cross. That is why God exalted Him and gave Him the Name which outshines all names, so that at the Name of Jesus all knees should bend in heaven, on earth and among the dead, and all tongues proclaim that Christ Jesus is the Lord to the glory of God the Father.

Alternative reading (shorter version)

Philippians 2 : 1-5

If I may advise you, in the Name of Christ, and if you can hear it, as the voice of love; if we share the same Spirit, and are capable of mercy and compassion, then I beg of you, make me very happy : have one love, one spirit, one feeling, do nothing through rivalry or vain conceit.

On the contrary, let each of you gently consider the others, as more important than yourselves. Do not seek your own interest, but, rather, that of others. Your attitude should be the same as Jesus Christ had.

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Sunday, 1 October 2023 : Twenty-Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Psalm 24 : 4bc-5, 6-7, 8-9

O YHVH, make known to me Your paths. Guide me in Your truth and instruct me, for You are my God, my Saviour; I hope in You all day long.

Remember Your compassion, o YHVH, Your unfailing love from of old. Remember not the sins of my youth, but in Your love remember me.

Good and upright, YHVH teaches sinners His way. He teaches the humble of heart and guides them in what is right.

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Sunday, 1 October 2023 : Twenty-Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Ezekiel 18 : 25-28

But you say : YHVH’s way is not just! Why, Israel! Is My position wrong? Is it not rather that yours is wrong? If the righteous man turns from his righteous deeds, and sins, then he dies, because of his sins.

And if the wicked man does what is good and right, after turning from the sins he committed, he will save his life. He will live and not die, because he has opened his eyes; and turned from the sins he had committed.

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Saturday, 30 September 2023 : 25th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : White

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we have listened to the words of the Scriptures, we are all reminded yet again of just how fortunate we are to have been beloved by God so much, that He has provided us with such great graces, in sending us His most wonderful guidance and help throughout all these time, and how He gave us the assurance of His salvation that He has fulfilled perfectly and completely through His Son, Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. The Lord has loved each and every one of us so much that He has given us the perfect gift, the manifestation of His wonderful love in His Son, that through Him, all of us have been shown and led to the path towards eternal life and true joy.

In our first reading today, taken from the Book of the prophet Zechariah, we heard of the vision which Zechariah received from God, a heavenly vision in which an Angel and a Man went around a heavenly Jerusalem, the Holy City, measuring its length and size, and how the Angel revealed to Zechariah that there would be no wall or protection required for the heavenly city of God, because the Lord Himself would be with His people, as He gathered all of His beloved people to Himself, calling all of them from wherever they had been scattered to, reuniting them all to Him, and reconciling them to Himself. They will be His people and He will be their God, and they all will enjoy forever the fruits of His love and kindness, blessings and graces.

We can understand this better if we know the context of the works and the ministry of the prophet Zechariah. The prophet Zechariah ministered to the people of God during the time after their exile and then return back to the land of their ancestors, and after they had started rebuilding their home back from the ashes and the destruction inflicted decades earlier by the Assyrians and the Babylonians. Back then, the city of Jerusalem was still in ruins, with not just its Temple, but the whole city and its walls had been torn down and destroyed. Therefore, God’s words to His people came at a most appropriate time, reminding all of them, that if they all trust in Him and walk ever more faithfully in His ways, then there is nothing that they should be afraid of. God Himself would protect them and defend them.

And as we heard from the Gospel passage today, we heard of how the Lord sent His Son into our midst as we have discussed just earlier on. And there, the Lord Jesus foretold of His upcoming sufferings, the moments of His Passion and struggles that would come upon Him, as He warned His disciples and followers so that they would be ready for those moments and remain strong in the faith, and not falling into temptation or despair, when the enemies of the Lord were to rise against Him. Linking to what we have heard in our first reading today, we should realise the significance of what the Lord had done for us. Just as He had come into our midst, and willingly took upon Himself our many sins and wickedness, He had put Himself between us and our accusers, Satan and all of his forces that sought our destruction.

Thus, that is how the Lord, our most loving God and Saviour, had suffered for all of us, as He looked lovingly upon us from His Cross. He chose to suffer so that we may all be saved and have eternal life and true happiness through Him. His love for us endures even through the various challenges and the many trials that He had to face, and through all the betrayals and stubbornness that He has suffered and faced from us. He reached out to us nonetheless, and tried His best to save us all, and to lead us all back to the right path, so that none of us may end up being lost from Him, and that we may enter into the glorious kingdom and inheritance prepared for us from the very beginning, just as He has always intended.

That is why, today, brothers and sisters, let us all discern carefully what we have heard and discussed earlier, and discern carefully our path forward in life. Are we going to continue to disobey the Lord and to harden our hearts and minds against Him? Or are we going to rectify our mistakes and errors, and listen to His words and advice being spoken in our hearts and minds? Let us all make best use of whatever time and opportunities that have been given to us so that we will always continue to live our lives most faithfully and worthily in all things, and that we ourselves may be good inspirations and role models for others all around us, in how we live our lives with faith in God. Let us all appreciate all the love we have received from God, and the compassion and mercy we have received from Him.

Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Jerome, a great priest and servant of God, who is one of the four original Doctors of the Church, who is a great disciple of the Lord, and whose life and holiness should inspire us all in how we can live our lives in a more committed way to the Lord. St. Jerome was well-known for his ascetic lifestyle and dedication to God, and he was also remembered for his many theological works and writings, as well as his efforts in compiling the Latin translation of the Greek Septuagint Bible, which would become the Latin Vulgate, the version of the Bible used by many others up to this very day. He was also active in his other contributions to the Church, including as an important and close advisor to the Pope, so much so that he was considered as one of the precursors of the Cardinals that assist the Pope in the governance of the Church today. He was a truly dedicated and holy servant of God, in all the things he has done.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, the faithful examples of St. Jerome, his works and commitment should inspire all of us to live our lives worthily of the Lord as well, with focus ever directed towards God and not upon our own personal ambitions and desires. We should also help one another in putting our faith and trust ever more in God, and in doing what we have been all called to do as Christians, as God’s people. Each and every one of us should always be filled with the desire to love the Lord our God and to have constant faith in Him, at all times. We should not easily be swayed or distracted by the many temptations and challenges present all around us. May God be with us always, and may He strengthen all of us in our devotion to Him. St. Jerome, holy man of God, and devout servant of God, pray for us all sinners. Amen.

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Saturday, 30 September 2023 : 25th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

Luke 9 : 43b-45

At that time, while all were amazed at everything Jesus did, He said to His disciples, “Listen, and remember what I tell you now : The Son of Man will be betrayed into the hands of men.” But the disciples did not understand this saying; something prevented them from grasping what He meant, and they were afraid to ask Him about it.