Saturday

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Saturday, 29 June 2024 : Vigil Mass of the Solemnity of St. Peter and St. Paul, Apostles (Second Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Red

Galatians 1 : 11-20

Let me remind you, brothers and sisters, that the Gospel we preached to you is not a human message, nor did I receive it from anyone, I was not taught of it; but it came to me, as a revelation from Christ Jesus. You have heard of my previous activity in the Jewish community; I furiously persecuted the Church of God and tried to destroy it. For I was more devoted to the Jewish religion than many fellow Jews of my age, and I defended the traditions of my ancestors more fanatically.

But one day, God called me, out of His great love, He, Who had chosen me from my mother’s womb; and he was pleased to reveal, in me, His Son, that I might make Him known among the pagan nations. Then, I did not seek human advice nor did I go up to Jerusalem, to those who were Apostles before me. I immediately went to Arabia, and from there, I returned, again, to Damascus.

Later, after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to meet Cephas, and I stayed with him for fifteen days. But I did not see any other Apostle except James, the Lord’s brother. On writing this to you, I affirm before God that I am not lying.

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Saturday, 29 June 2024 : Vigil Mass of the Solemnity of St. Peter and St. Paul, Apostles (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Red

Psalm 18 : 2-3, 4-5

The heavens declare the glory of God; the firmament proclaims the work of His hands. Day talks it over with day; night hands on the knowledge to night.

No speech, no words, no voice is heard – but the call goes on, throughout the universe, the message is felt to the ends of the earth.

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Saturday, 29 June 2024 : Vigil Mass of the Solemnity of St. Peter and St. Paul, Apostles (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Red

Acts 3 : 1-10

Once when Peter and John were going up to the Temple at three in the afternoon, the hour for prayer, a man crippled from birth was being carried in. Every day they would bring him and put him at the Temple gate called “Beautiful”; there he begged from those who entered the Temple.

When he saw Peter and John on their way into the Temple, he asked for alms. Then Peter with John at his side looked straight at him and said, “Look at us.” So he looked at them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I have neither silver nor gold, but what I have I give you : In the Name of Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah, walk!”

Then he took the beggar by his right hand and helped him up. At once his feet and ankles became firm, and jumping up he stood on his feet and began to walk. And he went with them into the Temple walking and leaping and praising God. All the people saw him walking and praising God; they recognised him as the one who used to sit begging at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple, and they were all astonished and amazed at what had happened to him.

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Saturday, 22 June 2024 : 11th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Paulinus of Nola, Bishop, and St. John Fisher, Bishop and Martyr, and St. Thomas More, Martyr (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Bishops) or Red (Martyrs)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we listened to the words of the Scriptures, we are all reminded clearly that as God’s holy and beloved people, each and every one of us must always be guided by God in all of our ways, in all of our words, actions and deeds, or else, we will find that it is easy for us to be persuaded, tempted and swayed into evil and wicked path in life, into actions that are contrary to the will and commandments of God. We will be dragged by all those temptations and wickedness into the ways that lead us into destruction and eternal damnation, rather than righteousness and salvation in God.

In our first reading today, we heard from the second Book of Chronicles of Israel and Judah in which the story of the development in the kingdom of Judah during the reign of King Joash of Judah was told to us. In the earlier passage yesterday before today’s passage, we have how this king by the grace of God had been saved from the massacre done by her grandmother, Queen Athaliah of Judah who usurped power from the House of David. We heard how God restored him and the House of David to power through the efforts and works of one faithful priest, Jehoiada, who helped and guided King Joash throughout the early years of his reign, ensuring that he and the people obeyed the Lord’s commandments and Law, and to live righteously and faithfully in God’s path.

However, as we heard in today’s first reading passage, the moment the faithful Jehoiada passed away, King Joash was persuaded by his courtiers, nobles and advisors to carry out actions and practices that were against God’s Law and commandments, and the people once again began worshipping pagan gods and idols once again as they had done before. The people slipped once again back to their old wicked ways because they allowed themselves to be tempted by the many temptations, pressures, coercions and the allures of worldly pleasures, fame and glory being present all around them. All these were the reasons why God then raised the son of Jehoiada, named Zechariah to speak up against the King.

But neither Zechariah nor the other prophets sent by the Lord to His people were able to persuade the King and all the others who had veered off from the path of righteousness and virtue. And not only that, but as we heard, the King and the others plotted against Zechariah and stoned the righteous man of God at the courtyard, committing murder against the Lord’s servant, a truly heinous and wicked act, and especially for the King, it was a total lack of appreciation and gratitude that he committed against the late Jehoiada, who had helped to shelter and protect the King himself in his youth, and raised him back to power, when this same King slaughtered Jehoiada’s son when the latter tried to advice and remind him to stay true to the Lord’s path as he should have done.

Eventually, the retribution would come for the wicked, as the King and his forces, presumably all those who have committed the murder of Zechariah and led the people of God into sin, were crushed and routed by the forces of the Aramaeans, who wounded the King, and eventually, this same King Joash would be plotted against and killed by the other officers who disagreed with him, much in the same way that he had plotted the death of Zechariah, Jehoiada’s son. It was also mentioned in the Scriptures that he was not given burial in the place reserved to the kings of Israel and Judah, which was a clear sign that the king’s wickedness and vile actions were truly abominable and despised even after his death.

In our Gospel passage today, we then heard of the words of the Lord Jesus telling His disciples, followers and all the people clearly that one cannot be the servant of both God and Money. The Lord told all of His disciples and followers that they all should not be worried about anything in this world, stating how the birds of the air and others were well taken care of, and no amount of worrying or planning could change anything in our lives. The Lord wanted to let us all know, and remind us that all of these worries and desires, all the attachments and considerations we have for the many worldly and material things all around us can often prevent us from truly being able to love and commit ourselves to the Lord wholeheartedly.

The Lord also reminded each and every one of His disciples, and hence all of us, that we are truly beloved and precious to the Lord, our God, and all of us should not worry because God Himself will always provide for us, and even in the challenging times and moments, we are all never truly alone as the Lord will always be by our side, protecting and guiding us, helping and supporting us all along the way. And even if we have to face difficulties, trials and challenges in our path, we must always have faith in the Lord, because in the end, no matter what, we shall have part in the eternal glory and true happiness which we can only find in the Lord alone, and which the world cannot give or provide us. No amount of worldly glory, possessions, ambitions or things can truly satisfy us or last forever.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, today all of us should also heed the good examples of the holy saints, our predecessors, whose feasts we are celebrating today, so that we may be better able to live our lives in accordance to God’s will, to His Law and commandments. St. Paulinus of Nola was the Bishop of Nola in the region of Campania in today’s Italy, well known for his great virtue and holiness, while the two saints, St. Thomas More and St. John Fisher were two great martyrs of the period known as the English reformation, at the time when the Church in England was torn apart due to the actions of the then King who separated the Church there from the Universal, One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church due to the disagreements he had with the Pope and the Church.

St. Paulinus of Nola was born into influential and powerful senatorial Roman family at the time of the late Roman Empire, at the time when the Christian faith had been accepted and in fact became the most common faith and belief throughout the Roman Empire. He eventually became the governor of the region and province of Campania, and was remembered as a just and great administrator, who was also concerned about the well-being of the people under his care, building up shrines and hospices, and all these was before St. Paulinus was even baptised yet. Eventually, he chose to be baptised as a Christian, and became a priest, and finally as a bishop, where he continued to do many good and wonderful works for the people of God, caring for the physical and spiritual well-being of the people in his dominion, and becoming great role model and example for all of them.

Meanwhile, both St. Thomas More and St. John Fisher were martyred for their dedication and commitment to God, in refusing to obey the King’s order to abandon their faith in the Holy Mother Church, and instead follow the King’s rebellion in establishing the independent Anglican church. St. Thomas More was the powerful chancellor of the Kingdom, while St. John Fisher was the respected and powerful Bishop of Rochester, who was also an influential advisor to the King and his court. Back then, King Henry VIII sought to divorce his wife, Queen Catherine of England without success, as he was seeking for a son to be his heir. The marriage between the King and the Queen had produced a daughter, and by the then standards and even today’s standards, such a marriage should not and cannot have been dissolved. But the King insisted on, and eventually declared the independence of the Church in England from the Pope and the Universal Church.

This led to the divisions in the Church in England, with many were being forced to obey the King and to show their fealty to him and the new Anglican church. However, St. Thomas More and St. John Fisher were among those who refused to do so, and they were prominent especially because of their prominent positions and their firmness in refusing the King’s demands for them to recant their faith and obedience to the Holy Mother Church. St. Thomas More chose to resign his chancellorship and remain faithful to the true Church and teachings of Christ rather than to submit to the King’s demands. Both him and St. John Fisher faced a lot of trials, tribulations and sufferings, before they were martyred as the first ones among many others who would follow in their footsteps in the years and decades after in the persecutions against those who remained faithful to the Church.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, having witnessed and heard the great lives of these holy saints and martyrs, let us all therefore do our best so that in our own respective lives, we may continue to live our lives worthily as Christians, as God’s holy and beloved people, so that in all the things that we say and do, we will always do our best to put God first and foremost in all things. We are all reminded that we should not allow the temptations and wickedness of this world to distract and mislead us down the path of ruin and damnation, and we are reminded to remain ever strong and faithful in our journey towards the Lord. May God be with us all, now and always. Amen.

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Saturday, 22 June 2024 : 11th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Paulinus of Nola, Bishop, and St. John Fisher, Bishop and Martyr, and St. Thomas More, Martyr (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Bishops) or Red (Martyrs)

Matthew 6 : 24-34

At that time, Jesus said to the people, “No one can serve two masters, for he will either hate one and love the other; or he will be loyal to the first and look down on the second. You cannot, at the same time, serve God and money.”

Therefore, I tell you, not to be worried about food and drink for yourself, or about clothes for your body. Is not life more important than food; and is not the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow, they do not harvest, and do not store food in barns; and yet, your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not more worthy than they are?”

“Can any of you add a day to your life by worrying about it? Why are you so worried about your clothes? Look at how the flowers in the fields grow. They do not toil or spin. But I tell you, that not even Solomon, in all his glory, was clothed like one of these. If God so clothes the grass in the field, which blooms today and is to be burnt in an oven tomorrow, how much more will He clothe you? What little faith you have!”

“Do not worry, and say : What are we going to eat? What are we going to drink? or : What shall we wear? The pagans busy themselves with such things; but your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. Set your heart, first, on the kingdom and righteousness of God; and all these things will also be given to you. Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

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Saturday, 22 June 2024 : 11th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Paulinus of Nola, Bishop, and St. John Fisher, Bishop and Martyr, and St. Thomas More, Martyr (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Bishops) or Red (Martyrs)

Psalm 88 : 4-5, 29-30, 31-32, 33-34

I have made a Covenant with David, My chosen one; I have made a pledge to My servant. I establish his descendants forever; I build his throne for all generations.

I will keep My Covenant firm forever, and My love for him will endure. His dynasty will last forever; and his throne, as long as the heavens.

If his sons forsake My law and fail to follow My decrees, if they violate My statutes and do not keep My commandments.

I will punish their crime with the rod, and their offences, with the scourge; yet, I will not withdraw My love from him, nor will I withdraw My faithfulness.

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Saturday, 22 June 2024 : 11th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Paulinus of Nola, Bishop, and St. John Fisher, Bishop and Martyr, and St. Thomas More, Martyr (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Bishops) or Red (Martyrs)

2 Chronicles 24 : 17-25

After the death of Jehoiada, the officials of Judah came to pay court to the king, and the king now turned to them for advice. The Judaeans abandoned the house of YHVH, the God of their ancestors, and worshipped the Asherah poles and idols. Because of this sinful activity, God was angry with Judah and Jerusalem. He sent them prophets to bring them back to YHVH, but when the prophets spoke, they would not listen.

The Spirit of God took control of Zechariah, son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood up before the people and said, “God says this : Why are you disobeying the commandments of YHVH? You cannot prosper. You have abandoned YHVH and He will abandon you.”

They then plotted against him and, by order of the king, stoned him in the court of YHVH’s house. King Joash forgot the kindness of Jehoiada, the father of Zechariah, and killed Jehoiada’s son who cried out as he died, “Let YHVH see and do justice!” When a year had gone by, the Aramaean army made war on Joash. They reached Judah and Jerusalem, and killed all the officials among the people, sending back to the king of Damascus all that they had plundered from them.

Though the Aramaean army was small, YHVH delivered into its power an army of great size, for they had abandoned Him, the God of their ancestors. The Aramaeans wounded Joash and when they withdrew they left him a very sick man; and his officers, plotting against him to avenge the death of the son of Jehoiada the priest, murdered him in his bed. So he died, and they buried him in the city of David, though not in the tombs of the king.

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Saturday, 15 June 2024 : 10th Week of Ordinary Time (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

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

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we listened to the words of the Sacred Scriptures, we are all reminded through them to be truly faithful and obedient to the Lord in all things, and to be His committed disciples, giving our very best in all things so that by our every words, actions and deeds, we will continue to do what is necessary to be ever committed to God. We have all been called so that our whole lives may be pleasing to the Lord and to be exemplary to every one who witness our ways of living our lives and our interactions with one another. Unless we are truly faithful to the Lord and are obedient to Him, to His Law and commandments, how can we then call or consider ourselves as Christians, as His beloved disciples and followers?

In our first reading today, we heard from the Book of Kings of Israel and Judah in which the prophet Elijah went to find the man whom God had identified to be his successor in the mission and ministry to the Israelites, namely that of Elisha. Elisha was to be the one to continue the great works and the ministry which Elijah had pioneered among the Israelites, to continue to shepherd, guide and help the people of Israel in their journey to find salvation and righteousness in God. The Israelites back then were rather stubborn, refusing to listen to the Lord and His messengers, and even persecuting all those whom the Lord had sent to them to help and remind them, like that of Elijah himself. And Elijah had indeed gone through a lot and suffered.

These were then the challenges and sufferings which anyone who were to succeed Elijah would have to bear with them, but Elisha obeyed the Lord’s commands, and put his trust completely in Him. He left behind everything he had, all of his works and things, following Elijah and becoming God’s prophet and messenger to the people of Israel. Elisha dedicated himself henceforth to the Lord’s missions, just as Elijah had done before him. He committed himself to the shepherding of the people of God despite the challenges and stubbornness that he had to endure amidst the missions, and the Lord indeed did many great things through Elisha just as He had done earlier on through the prophet Elijah.

In our Gospel passage today, we heard of the words of the Lord to His disciples as recorded by the Gospel of St. Matthew. In that occasion, the Lord told His disciples not to swear or make oaths, to make promises by any means or on anything that is sacred and holy, and He told them instead that they should always strive to be truthful, virtuous, good and worthy in all of their words, actions and deeds. Unless they do this, they were really nothing better than hypocrites and unbelievers. Those who truly believe in the Lord would do their best to obey His commands, trusting in Him and doing whatever He had entrusted and told to them to do, just as the prophets Elijah and Elisha, and many others of the holy men and women had done.

On the other hand, at the time of the Lord Jesus, He particularly warned of this to His disciples and followers because there were those at the time who made great and significant gestures, lots of words and promises, and yet, ultimately all those things were merely empty gestures and not truly filled with true love and commitment towards God. This was a reference to many among the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law, who professed to believe in God and were preservers of God’s Law and commandments, and yet, their lack of faith and behaviour all showed that they tend to love the world, all its fame, glory and attractions more than they loved the Lord, their God and Master.

This was why while they supposedly obeyed the Lord’s Law and commandments, the entirety of the massive six hundred and thirteen sets of laws and rules, but the Lord criticised them rightly as hypocrites because many of them did not do so for their love of God and for their commitment to Him. Instead, many of those Pharisees and the teachers of the Law praised themselves and were proud of their way of living and achievements, making a show of their piety and faith so that they could receive more praise and fame from the people of God. Essentially, their hearts and minds were not focused on the right intentions, and not on the Lord, but on their own ego, pride and greed, their attachments to worldly things and matters.

That is why the Lord reminded His disciples that they should be genuine and sincere in their faith in God, and not to make flashy or great shows of their commitment, when they were not truly able to do so. They should just carry out their whole lives and actions with the genuine desire to follow the Lord faithfully in each and every moments of their lives. Anything more than that truly can deceive and mislead us to the path of evil just as the Lord had said it. It is also a reminder for us that we should not overthink things, and when the Lord calls, we should discern things carefully but put our faith and trust in Him without being weighed or bogged down by too many considerations and preoccupations with our many attachments in life. Like the prophet Elisha, who left everything behind to follow the Lord and trusted in Him wholeheartedly, we all should also do the same.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all therefore renew our commitment and desire to love the Lord our God ever more wholeheartedly, and let us dedicate all of our time and efforts to follow the Lord in all of His will, His Law and commandments like that of the prophets Elijah and Elisha, and the many saints, holy men and women who had gone before us. May the Lord continue to strengthen and empower us all in our lives and endeavours, so that we may continue to walk ever more faithfully in our Christian living and in everything that we do, all for the greater glory of God. May God bless us in our every works and efforts, now and always. Amen.

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Saturday, 15 June 2024 : 10th Week of Ordinary Time (Gospel Reading)

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

Matthew 5 : 33-37

At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, “You have also heard that people were told in the past : Do not break your oath; an oath sworn to the Lord must be kept. But I tell you this : do not take oaths. Do not swear by the heavens, for they are God’s throne; nor by the earth, because it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King.”

“Do not even swear by your head, because you cannot make a single hair white of black. Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything else you say comes from the evil one.”

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Saturday, 15 June 2024 : 10th Week of Ordinary Time (Psalm)

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

Psalm 15 : 1-2a and 5, 7-8, 9-10

Keep me safe, o God, for in You I take refuge. I say to the Lord, “O Lord, my inheritance and my cup, my chosen portion – hold secure my lot.”

I bless the Lord Who counsels me; even at night my inmost self instructs me. I keep the Lord always before me; for with Him at my right hand, I will never be shaken.

My heart, therefore, exults, my soul rejoices; my body too will rest assured. For You will not abandon my soul to the grave, nor will You suffer Your Holy One to see decay in the land of the dead.