St. John the Baptist

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Thursday, 10 December 2015 : 2nd Week of Advent (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Matthew 11 : 11-15

At that time, Jesus said to His disciples and to the people, “I tell you this : no one greater than John the Baptist has come forward from among the sons of women, and yet the least in the kingdom of Heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of Heaven is something to be conquered, and violent men seize it.”

“Up to the time of John, there was only prophesy : all the prophets and the Law. And if you believe Me, John is that Elijah, whose coming was predicted. Let anyone with ears listen!”

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Wednesday, 16 September 2015 : 24th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of Pope St. Cornelius, Pope and Martyr, and St. Cyprian, Bishop and Martyr (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Red

Luke 7 : 31-35

At that time, Jesus said to the people and to His disciples, “What comparison can I use for this people? What are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace, about whom their companions complain, ‘We piped you a tune and you would not dance; we sang funeral songs and you would not cry.'”

“Remember John : he did not eat bread or drink wine, and you said, ‘He has an evil spirit.’ Next came the Son of Man, eating and drinking and you say, ‘Look, a glutton for food and wine, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But the children of Wisdom always recognise her work.”

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Saturday, 29 August 2015 : 21st Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of the Passion of St. John the Baptist (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Red

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, on this day we commemorate the feast day of the Passion of St. John the Baptist, herald of the Messiah, the messenger sent by the Lord to announce the coming of His salvation into the world. On this day we commemorate the courage which this great saint had shown, in defending the truth as he had revealed to the world, to prepare the way for the coming of his Lord and God.

The Scriptures today spoke of a servant which God had chosen and had called, whom He would make His mouthpiece and judge against the nations and all the ways of the world. And this was clearly alluding to St. John the Baptist, who was the servant mentioned, who spoke up against the wickedness and the vile things of the world, including even the sins which king Herod had committed in his adulterous behaviour.

The significance of today’s celebration and remembrance of what had happened that time during when St. John the Baptist went through suffering and injustice, and eventually leading to his martyrdom, when he was beheaded in prison. He had stood up for what is true, and he did not budge even in the face of opposition. And while he rose in glory, Herod and all those who have not heeded St. John’s call were condemned to hell.

The Passion of St. John the Baptist reminds us all of just how many and how large is the opposition that will be arrayed against us, if we are all remaining faithful to the Lord our God, and if we keep our faith and our devotion, following Him in all of His ways, we shall be facing the wrath of the devil, who does not wish to see us saved and liberated from the sins which have kept us chained under his tyranny all these while.

But we truly have no need to fear or be afraid, since we who have kept our faith in God shall be protected and blessed by the Lord, and we do not need to fear those who have no power over our eternal souls. The devil may be able to harm our bodies and our physical selves, but he can do nothing to harm us in a lasting manner. For we have to remember that this worldly existence is temporary and will soon be replaced by our fate after the end of our worldly life.

St. John the Baptist led the way for us, for he did not fear opposition or oppression, fame or popularity, when he went forth to proclaim the message with which he had come into this world. He brought with him the message of truth, which although it is the truth, but for many it may seem to be something that they would refuse to admit, and something that they would rather not have.

Mankind had grown comfortable with their way of life, settling into a life of worldliness, filled with many things and actions which are often contrary to the way of the Lord, and which are even at times abominable and horrendous in the sight of both God and men. Yes, people who disregarded the sanctity of marriage, by doing what king Herod had done, living in sin with those who were not righteously and justly regarded as one’s spouse.

And there are also those who were powerful and mighty, those with influence and affluence, those who oppress the weak and those who have nothing with them. There are also those who have given themselves to the materialistic lifestyles of this world, surrendering themselves to the desires of their flesh, and desiring ever more of the good things in this world, for the pleasures of the stomach, for the sexual pleasures and other forms of lustful pleasures and many others.

On this day, we are reminded that as the disciples and followers of our Lord Jesus Christ, we have a duty and an obligation to stand up for the truth and for our faith as St. John the Baptist had once done before us. We have to commit ourselves to help bring one another to the righteous path towards the Lord. Therefore, we must have the courage in us to remind one another when we fall into sin and are distracted on our way towards salvation.

Let us all be reminded as well that being a disciple of the Lord is not going to be easy, but is truly rewarding, for God is forever faithful and He will always bless and strengthen all those who keep their faith in Him. May Almighty God bless us and awaken in us the spirit to love one another and to help one another to remain truly faithful to the Lord, as St. John the Baptist had once done, and abandoning all forms of worldliness and sin. God be with us all. Amen.

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Saturday, 29 August 2015 : 21st Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of the Passion of St. John the Baptist (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Red

Mark 6 : 17-29

For this is what had happened : Herod had ordered John to be arrested, and had had him bound and put in prison because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. Herod had married her, and John had told him, “It is not right for you to live with your brother’s wife.”

So Herodias held a grudge against John; and wanted to kill him, but she could not, because Herod respected John. He knew John to be an upright and holy man, and kept him safe. And he liked listening to him, although he became very disturbed, whenever he heard him.

Herodias had her chance on Herod’s birthday, when he gave a dinner for all the senior government officials, military chiefs, and the leaders of Galilee. On that occasion the daughter of Herodias came in and danced; and she delighted Herod and his guests.

The king said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want and I will give it to you.” And he went so far as to say with many oaths, “I will give you anything you ask, even half my kingdom.” She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” The mother replied, “The head of John the Baptist.” The girl hurried to the king and made her request, “I want you to give me the head of John the Baptist, here and now, on a dish.”

The king was very displeased, but he would not refuse in front of his guests because of his oaths. So he sent one of his bodyguards with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded John in prison; then he brought the head on a dish and gave it to the girl. And the girl gave it to her mother.

When John’s disciples heard of this, they came and took his body and buried it.

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Saturday, 29 August 2015 : 21st Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of the Passion of St. John the Baptist (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Red

Psalm 70 : 1-2, 3-4a, 5-6ab, 15ab and 17

In You, o Lord, I seek refuge; let me not be disgraced. In Your justice help me and deliver me, turn Your ear to me and save me!

Be my Rock of refuge, a stronghold to give me safety, for You are my Rock and my Fortress. Rescue me, o my God, from the hand of the wicked.

For You, o Lord, have been my hope, my trust, o God, from my youth. I have relied on You from birth : from my mother’s womb You brought me forth.

My lips will proclaim Your intervention and tell of Your salvation all day. You have taught me from my youth and until now I proclaim Your marvels.

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Saturday, 29 August 2015 : 21st Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of the Passion of St. John the Baptist (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Red

Jeremiah 1 : 17-19

YHVH said to Jeremiah, “But you, get ready for action; stand up and say to them all that I command you. Be not scared of them or I will scare you in their presence! See, I will make you a fortified city, a pillar of iron with walls of bronze, against all the nations, against the kings and princes of Judah, against the priests and the people of the land.”

“They will fight against you but shall not overcome you, for I am with you to rescue you – it is YHVH who speaks.”

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Sunday, 25 January 2015 : Third Sunday of Ordinary Time, Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul the Apostle, Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Mark 1 : 14-20

At that time, after John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee and began preaching the Good News of God. He said, “The time has come; the kingdom of God is at hand. Change your ways and believe the Good News.”

As Jesus was walking along the shore of Lake Galilee, He saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net in the lake, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fish for people.”

At once, they abandoned their nets and followed Him. Jesus went a little farther on and saw James and John, the sons of Zebedee; they were in their boat mending their nets. Immediately Jesus called them and they followed Him, leaving their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men.

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Tuesday, 23 December 2014 : Fourth Week of Advent, Memorial of St. John of Kanty, Priest (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Purple or Violet

Luke 1 : 57-66

When the time came for Elizabeth, she gave birth to a son. Her neighbours and relatives heard that the merciful Lord had done a wonderful thing for her, and they rejoiced with her.

When, on the eighth day, they came to attend the circumcision of the child, they wanted to name him Zechariah after his father. But his mother said, “Not so; he shall be called John.” They said to her, “But no one in your family has that name!” And they asked the father, by means of signs, for the name he wanted to give him.

Zechariah asked for a writing tablet, and wrote on it, “His name is John,” and they were very surprised. Immediately Zechariah could speak again, and his first words were in praise of God.

A holy fear came on all in the neighbourhood, and throughout the hill country of Judea the people talked about these events. All who heard of it pondered in their minds, and wondered, “What will this child be?” For they understood that the hand of the Lord was with him.

 

Homily and Reflection :

https://petercanisiusmichaeldavidkang.com/2014/12/22/tuesday-23-december-2014-fourth-week-of-advent-memorial-of-st-john-of-kanty-priest-homily-and-scripture-reflections/

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Sunday, 7 December 2014 : Second Sunday of Advent, Memorial of St. Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Purple or Violet

Mark 1 : 1-8

This is the beginning of the Good News of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It is written in the book of Isaiah, the prophet, “I am sending My messenger ahead of You to prepare Your way. Let the people hear the voice calling in the desert : ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, level His paths.'”

So John began to baptise in the desert; he preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. All Judea and all the people from the city of Jerusalem went out to John to confess their sins, and to be baptised by him in the river Jordan.

John was clothed in camel’s hair and wore a leather garment around his waist. His food was locusts and honey. He preached to the people, saying, “After me comes One who is more powerful than I am; I have baptised you with water, but He will baptise you in the Holy Spirit.”

 

Homily and Reflection :

https://petercanisiusmichaeldavidkang.com/2014/12/05/sunday-7-december-2014-second-sunday-of-advent-memorial-of-st-ambrose-bishop-and-doctor-of-the-church-homily-and-scripture-reflections/

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Thursday, 9 October 2014 : 27th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Denis, Bishop and Martyr, and Companions, Martyrs, and St. John Leonardi, Priest (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Luke 1 : 69-70, 71-72, 73-75

In the house of David His servant, He has raised up for us a victorious Saviour; as He promised through His prophets of old.

Salvation from our enemies and from the hand of our foes. He has shown mercy to our fathers; and remembered His holy covenant.

The oath He swore to Abraham, our father, to deliver us from the enemy, that we might serve Him fearlessly, as a holy and righteous people, all the days of our lives.