Sunday Mass homily

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Sunday, 10 December 2023 : Second Sunday of Advent (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, this Sunday we mark the occasion of the Second Sunday of Advent, which reminds us all that we are all ever closer to the coming of the Christmas season, and hence we should also be reminded of the need for each and every one of us to be ever more focused on the Lord our God, Jesus Christ our Saviour, in Whom we should be celebrating and commemorating this upcoming Christmas for, and for Whom we have committed our Advent preparations for. If we have not done what we should in preparing ourselves well and properly for the coming of the Lord, then we have not done our Advent observances and actions in the right way. This is why we are constantly being reminded of these things so that we may truly focus ourselves more on the Lord and everything that He has done for us, through His coming into this world that we are going to celebrate this Christmas.

In our first reading today, taken from the Book of the prophet Isaiah, and echoed by the other parts of the Scriptures we have heard this Sunday, we are all reminded of the salvation of God which He has promised to all of us, and our attention in particular are directed to the one whom the Lord had sent into this world as His messenger, Herald and as our guide so that all of us may truly find our way to Him, His salvation and grace. This Herald which He has sent into our midst was none other than St. John the Baptist, the one who prepared the way for the coming of the Lord just before His coming. St. John the Baptist was called by the Lord and prepared by Him from before he was even born, just in the manner how the prophet Isaiah had prophesied it all to be. He is the one whom Isaiah spoke as the voice that cried out in the wilderness, calling on everyone to make straight the way for the Lord.

These messages and prophecies of the prophet Isaiah came to the people of God just at the right time for them. Contextually, the people of God in Judah where Isaiah ministered at, had been beset by many hardships and difficulties, humiliations and challenges throughout many years, all of which were actually due to their lack of faith and trust in the Lord, as they chose to abandon Him, refuse to obey His path and ways, and failed to observe His Law and commandments. They persecuted God’s prophets and messengers, and yet, God in His ever enduring and wonderful love, continued to care for all of His wayward people, and sent them more reminders and help, and through Isaiah, He gave the most obvious and clearest prediction and prophecy, assurance and guarantees, of the coming of the time of grace and salvation through His Saviour.

In our Gospel passage today, we heard of the same message from the Gospel of St. Mark, in which we heard of the account of how St. John the Baptist, the one whom Isaiah prophesied about, began his ministry in proclaiming the coming of the Lord to all of God’s people, and how he performed his works in the wilderness, calling upon all of them to return to the Lord’s Presence, seeking Him with humility and desire to repent from their sins and wickedness. Through St. John the Baptist, the Lord has shown all of us, His beloved people, that He has always kept us first and foremost in His thoughts, and He has always wanted us to be reconciled and reunited to Him. Through St. John the Baptist, many people came to be touched by the Lord, and they came to Him, all seeking for forgiveness and mercy, through the baptism which St. John the Baptist had done at the River Jordan.

St. John the Baptist told all the people that the Lord was about to come very soon, and He would descend upon all of His loved ones, and hence, that was why those who listened to him, all of them ought to prepare themselves thoroughly and wholly so that they might be truly worthy and ready to welcome the Lord when He comes. St. John the Baptist kept on reminding the people of God’s grace and compassion, and how He would fulfil everything that He had promised to all of them. God would send His salvation to all of us through Jesus Christ, His one and only begotten Son, the Son of God Most High, incarnate in the flesh, that all of us may truly see the fullness of God’s love and grace, His compassion and mercy, becoming tangible and approachable to us.

Then, in our second reading today, we are also reminded by the Apostle St. Peter, whom in his Epistle spoke to the faithful regarding the matter of the coming of the Lord, and how each and every one of us as Christians should respond to it. St. Peter spoke of the fulfilment of God’s promises, in how He will come again just as He has told all of His disciples, and He will fulfil and accomplish all of that in due time, at a time of His own choosing. No one but the Lord Himself knows when this exact moment is, and this is why all of us as Christians, we are all always reminded to keep ourselves and our lives truly holy and worthy so that in all the things that we say and do, in our every interactions and in our way of life, we will always be truly righteous and just, good and dedicated as true and genuine Christians.

And this also brings our attention yet again to the nature of our Advent commemorations, and what the significance of the current Advent time and season is to us. In Advent, we prepare ourselves spiritually and wholly to welcome the Lord our God, commemorating with great joy His coming into this world which He had done and accomplished over two thousand years ago. However, in Advent, we are not merely just remembering what had historically happened two millennia ago in Bethlehem, when our Lord was born, but it also serves to remind and prepare us all for the Second Coming of Christ, which St. Peter had mentioned and touched upon in his Epistle today.

The word Advent itself came from the word ‘Adventus’ which means the onset, the coming and the appearance of something great, that is also in Greek as ‘Parousia’. Now both Adventus and Parousia also have that additional meaning and interpretation of the Second Coming of Christ, marking our expectation of the coming Kingdom of Our Lord. Therefore, this season of Advent, all of us need to keep well in mind and remember that we are also preparing ourselves not just to celebrate the joyful event of the past and history, but even more importantly, by reminding ourselves of what the Lord had done through His Son in saving us from destruction and damnation, thus, all of us should prepare for the time of His Second Coming, when He will come again to judge the whole world.

If our attitude and behaviour had been like those people of God in the past, the Israelites and the people of Judah who had not listened to the Lord, disobeyed Him and abandoned His Law and commandments, focusing more on the worldly temptations, pleasures and coercions, then unfortunately, we may be caught unprepared and unaware of when the Lord comes again in a sudden surprise, and we will have to account for our failures to obey Him, for our wrongdoings and wickedness in life. That is why, brothers and sisters in Christ, we should not take this time and season of Advent for granted, and we should make good use of this time and opportunities that had given to us such that we may truly prepare ourselves to be worthy of God, His love and compassionate kindness.

This Sunday, the Second Sunday of Advent we focus on the theme of ‘Peace’ after the theme of ‘Hope’ from the First Sunday of Advent last week. Today we are all reminded that Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Saviour, has brought God’s peace into our midst, bringing unto us all the peace that He has promised all of us, also His hope, joy and love. Many of us have not experienced true peace in life because we have often distanced ourselves from God and sought satisfaction and fulfilment from various worldly means and attachments we have, which cannot bring us true and lasting peace, or satisfaction and joy. It is in the Lord alone that we may find this true and lasting peace, and hence, this is why, on this Sunday, let us all reflect on our lives and how we have lived them, and also how we have journeyed through this season of Advent so far.

If our Christmas preparations have been mostly about ourselves and all the celebrations and festivities, then perhaps, we would want to refocus our attention once again on Christ, the very reason why we even celebrate Christmas itself in the first place. Without Christ, there can be no Christmas, and without Him and all that He has done for us, none of us can afford to rejoice, be happy or be at peace at all. If we follow the way how the secular world often celebrate Christmas, with all the excessive marketing and pursuits of pleasures and happiness, very soon we will realise that after all the celebrations had ended, then we will feel empty and cold inside us, and all of our celebrations done without proper focus and understanding may bring us more problems and worries rather than peace and joy.

That is why, each and every one of us should make good use of this time and period of Advent so that we may truly centre ourselves and our lives once again on the Lord, our God and Saviour. Let our every actions, words and deeds be filled with true faith and dedication to Him, and let all of us proclaim Him and His Good News through all of the ways we do in journeying and living through this blessed time and season of Advent properly, by witnessing to His love and grace, proclaiming His peace, hope, joy and love to all and everyone around us, to our families and even strangers and acquaintances we encounter in life. And let us all also pray to the Lord, that amidst our world darkened with many conflicts and wars, in various parts of the world, that He, the Prince of Peace, may bring about lasting peace and harmony in our world today. Amen.

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Sunday, 3 December 2023 : First Sunday of Advent (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, this Sunday we mark the beginning of the Advent season and the new liturgical year cycle, and therefore we are all called to prepare ourselves in heart, body, mind and soul, in our whole being to welcome the Lord as we enter into this solemn time of reflection and preparation for the upcoming glorious season and time of Christmas. In this time of Advent, all of us are called to be vigilant and prepared in our lives, to be truly good and worthy in all things so that we may indeed be worthy and ready to celebrate the true joy of Christmas, and to make full use of the opportunities which God has given to us, in providing us the time and chances for us to make good use of the talents, abilities and other things and blessings He has bestowed on us.

In the first reading today, taken from the Book of the prophet Isaiah, we heard of the words of remorse said by the prophet Isaiah representing the people of Israel and Judah, showing regret and awareness of their wickedness and sinful ways which had caused them to be separated and torn away from the fullness of God’s love and grace. The prophet Isaiah used this opportunity to remind the people of how wayward they had been, in failing to follow God’s path and in disobeying His Law and commandments, which have led them into the path of sin and evil. Contextually, by the time of the ministry of the prophet Isaiah, the people of God had committed a lot of sins and wickedness that they had fallen into dire straits, humiliated by their neighbours and enemies. All of those were signs and reminders for them, what they would have to endure and suffer from, if they chose to disobey God.

But as we all heard from the prophet Isaiah, the Lord did not give up on His people, and He continued to love them all despite all the rebelliousness and difficult attitudes that they had presented to Him. The Lord kept on showing His Fatherly love to all of them, chastising them for their sins and wickedness, disciplining them and reminding them of their obligations, teaching and guiding them in the right paths, through the leaders, guides and messengers that He had sent to them, including the prophet Isaiah himself. He reached out to them with ever patient and enduring love, and promised unto us our deliverance, leading and guiding us all while chastising and scolding us for our sins, so that hopefully, through all of the trials and tribulations, we may be stirred and reminded to walk faithfully once again in His path.

In our second reading passage today, taken from the Epistle of St. Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians, the Apostle reminded and encouraged the faithful people of God in Corinth to hold fast to their faith in the Lord, encouraging them to continue to live their lives worthily of the Lord because of everything that they have received, the assurance, strength and providence in our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, through Whom the fullness of God’s grace and love, His compassionate mercy and kindness have been revealed in all of its fullness, becoming tangible and approachable by all of us. Through Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the One Whom we are expecting in this season of Advent, and the One Whom we are going to celebrate later on in the glorious and most joyful Christmas season, we have seen and witnessed that everything that God had said and promised to us are real, and not mere illusions or mere promises.

In our Gospel passage today, we are then reminded of the nature of our Advent preparation and commemoration, as we heard from the Lord Jesus Himself, Who reminded His disciples and followers, that they all should not be ignorant of the sign of the times, as the coming of the time of reckoning and judgment will come at a time least expected by everyone, and no one knows exactly except the Lord Himself, when this moment will come. Thus, He reminded all of His disciples and followers that all of them ought to be ever vigilant, ready and prepared all the time, by living their lives with commitment and dedication to God, in being righteous, virtuous and just at all times. This is also therefore a reminder to each and every one of us that we should always strive to be good and worthy in each and every one of our words, actions and deeds throughout our lives, so that by our lives we may be good role models and inspirations for one another.

This Advent, we are preparing not only for the coming celebration of Christmas, and in commemorating the events that had happened more than two thousand years ago, when the Lord, our Saviour and King, came down upon us and descended to us in the flesh, born of His Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and revealed the love of God fully manifested to us. Advent is also a time of preparation for the Second Coming of Christ, or also known as Parousia. Like that of the people at the time of the prophet Isaiah, who was promised the coming of the Messiah, therefore all of us are also expecting the moment when the Lord will come again, and this time, He will bring us all into the eternal kingdom and true bliss that He has promised everyone who believes in Him. This is why, all of us have to be truly prepared at all times, because certainly we do not want to be caught unprepared when the Lord, at the time of His choice, comes again to judge the world.

This Sunday as we begin this Season of Advent, we are all brought into the spiritual journey and preparation of our lives, so that we can better live through the true joy and meaning of our upcoming Christmas celebrations. There are four Sundays in the season of Advent, and each one of them are focused on a particular theme, namely in order, Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. This Sunday, being the First Sunday of Advent, we focus on the theme of ‘Hope’, which is exactly what we have heard in our Scripture passages today, and which is what we are looking forward to in celebrating Christmas. In our world, filled with the darkness of sin and evil, the Light of Christ, His salvation and grace, and the promise of everlasting life and happiness with God, all these are truly Hope for each and every one of us. For without Hope, and without the assurance of God’s love, is there truly any reason for us to exist at all?

That is why, on this First Sunday of Advent, each and every one of us are reminded of the fundamental nature of our observances this Advent, as we focus ourselves and our lives once again on the Lord, our God. It is too often that in our lives, we are so busy and preoccupied with the many concerns, attachments and distractions present all around us, that we end up forgetting and disregarding the Lord, His Presence in our midst, and what we are all called to do as Christians in our daily living. Too many of us are distracted with all sorts of worldly desires, ambitions, attachments and all the things which mislead us down the path of greed and ego, wickedness and sin. That is why, this time of Advent is a time of reflection and reorientation of our lives, that we may truly find our true focus in life, that is in the Lord, in His love, truth and hope.

As we are all surely well aware of, during this time and period, the secular world is abuzz and filled with all sorts of Christmas celebrations, rejoicing and revelry. However, we need to ask ourselves, if the celebrations and festivities are truly rightly and properly focused? Most of the time, all the celebrations are about merrymaking and pleasantries, and for some, it is even about comparing who can do better celebrations, parties and rejoicing, and who can splurge more on the feasts, gifts and all the other usual Christmas glitzes and paraphernalia. Yet, amidst all of these celebrations and festivities, it is often that one very important and major thing is missing. What is that, brothers and sisters in Christ? It is none other than the very reason why we celebrate Christmas itself in the first place, and which at the beginning of this season of Advent, we really ought to remind ourselves and one another of this truth and fact.

Can we imagine having a birthday party and celebration, only for the birthday person to be ignored and left out completely from his or her own party and celebration? Yet, that is exactly what most of our secular Christmas celebrations, festivities and merrymaking are all about. We are so busy with preparing all the celebrations, gifts, all the shopping and chasing after the best promotions and discounts, that we end up forgetting about the One we are all celebrating in Christmas, that is Christ Himself. There can be no Christmas without Christ, Our Lord and Saviour. It is because of His coming into this world, in the flesh, that He has shown us all a new Hope amidst all the darkness and sin surrounding us, and because of His Love for us all, bringing unto us Peace and Joy that endures, all of us can celebrate and be hopeful, happy and truly joyful. This is what Christmas is all about, and something that many of us need to be reminded of.

That is why, brothers and sisters in Christ, as we embark on this Advent journey for the next few weeks, let us all make sure that our preparations for the celebration of Christmas are all truly Christ-centric. Besides decking our houses, halls and places with all sorts of decorations and festive atmosphere, what is even more important is that we should truly prepare our hearts and minds, our souls and our whole beings as well. This Advent is a perfect time and occasion for us to reorientate ourselves and our lives once again towards the Lord, turning ourselves once again to the path towards God. This is why, we should spend more time in reflecting upon our lives, and reconnecting ourselves spiritually with God, by spending more time in quiet and contemplative time in prayer, rather than being busy and preoccupied with all the festivities, forgetting what Christmas is truly all about.

And in our Christmas joy and festivities, let us also not forget to bring the Hope of Christ to others as well. Lest we are not aware of it, there are others around us who may not be so fortunate like us, to be able to celebrate and to be merry and joyful. Amidst the challenges and trials we encounter in life, there are people who have difficulties making ends meet each day, and there are people out there who simply do not have the means, time and opportunities to rejoice and to celebrate. Let us all share whatever joy and blessings we have received this Advent and the upcoming Christmas season. Let us be ever more generous in loving and caring for one another, and do whatever we can so that the Hope of Christ may be shown and known by more and more all around the world, and we can begin it through our own lives, truly attuned and aligned with Christ, the Hope and the true reason for our Christmas joy.

May the Lord our God, the One Whom we are celebrating and keep our Hope in, continue to bless and guide us all in everything we do in our respective lives. May He bless our every good efforts and endeavours, and may He give us the strength, courage and faith, so that we may draw ever closer to Him, and will grow to love and know Him more and more. May our Advent journey be truly blessed and fruitful, brothers and sisters in Christ! Amen.

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Sunday, 26 November 2023 : Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, Thirty-Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : White

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, this Sunday is the last Sunday in our current liturgical year, which therefore marks the occasion of the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. On this day, we celebrate the Kingship of Jesus Christ, Who is the Son of God and Our Lord, and hence, is also our King. He is the Lord and Master of all Creation, of the whole Universe and everything that we can see and perceive, and even things that are supernatural and beyond our comprehension. He is the Lord of Lords and King of Kings, and no one is greater than Him. On this day, we celebrate and rejoice in the Lord Jesus, our Lord and King, and we honour Him greatly today, as we remind ourselves of what our Lord and King has done for us, and how we should therefore live our lives to be truly worthy of Him, for all the love and kindness that He has always shown us.

In our first reading passage today, we heard from the Book of the prophet Ezekiel in which the Lord told all of His people, the Israelites and their descendants that He is their Lord and Shepherd, and He would guide and lead them all through to the right path, gathering all of them, scattered throughout the world, finding out and reaching to the lost ones, so that every one of them would once again be gathered in His loving presence. These words came to the people of God at the time when many of them were indeed scattered, away from the lands promised to them and their ancestors. At that time, many of the people of the former northern kingdom of Israel had been uprooted from their homeland and exiled to the far regions of Assyria and Mesopotamia, when the Assyrians destroyed that kingdom and their cities.

Similarly for the people of the former southern kingdom of Judah, which was destroyed just around the time of the ministry of Ezekiel, many of them had been exiled to Babylon and other places too. Some of them fled to Egypt, while others went to other areas, beginning the period of the extensive diaspora of the Jewish people and their relatives. All of these words that the Lord sent to them through His prophet, Ezekiel, were reminders to all of them that ultimately, He is their Lord and King, the One true Master that they all had, and not the lords and kings that had once ruled over them and misled them into the path of corruption and downfall, destruction and humiliation. He is a just and loving God and Master to all of His beloved people, not a tyrant or autocrat who oppressed and extorted the weak and the feeble for His own benefits.

That is why, He presented Himself as a loving Shepherd to all of them, which is why, the famous Psalm of David, Psalm 22 that is used today, is a reminder for us of the Lord our God, Who is our Good Shepherd. He is always loving towards each and every one of us, caring for us and providing for us all of our needs, just like that of a shepherd who loves all of his sheep. He will not spare any efforts to try to find any of the sheep that has been lost to Him, and that was exactly what the Lord had done for our sake. God has always been insistent in sending His guidance, help and providence to us, and in patiently leading and guiding us down the right path. He has sent numerous prophets, messengers, servants and guides in order to help His beloved people, His flock, to come back to Him.

Now, then as we heard from our Gospel passage today, we heard about the Lord Jesus explained and detailing to His disciples about the Last Judgment, the moment when the Lord, as the King of Kings and the Lord and Master of all will judge all the living and the dead, and everyone shall be judged based on their actions and deeds, with those who are righteous and good rewarded and blessed, as those who are considered worthy to be enjoying forever the fullness of God’s grace and love. We also heard of how the wicked and those who have committed evil deeds, or failed to do what the Lord had told them to do, will be condemned and punished for their wickedness and failures. It is a reminder therefore for all of us that just as the Lord is loving and kind towards us, but He is also a God Who is just and expecting.

What does this mean, brothers and sisters in Christ? It means that while our Lord and King loves each and every one of us and while He has done everything that He could in order to reach out to us and to be reconciled with us, there are also many obligations and requirements that we have to fulfil as the subjects and parts of this Kingdom ruled by our Lord and King. Just as how the states and kingdoms of this world work, we cannot be good and worthy citizens unless we obey the laws and the rules of the realm, and do what we are supposed to do in obeying those rules and following the demands and expectations that are required of us to be good and law-abiding citizens of our respective states and countries. Thus, the same logic applies to how we live our lives in following our Lord and King, Jesus Christ, as well.

To be true and genuine Christians, and to be good, worthy and beloved flock of our Lord, our Good Shepherd and our King, each and every one of us must always remind ourselves to do what the Lord has commanded us to do, in fulfilling our Christian obligations and in living our lives in the manner that truly shows our true and genuine faith in God. We cannot be true and genuine Christians unless we follow the Law of God and obey the rules and the ways which His Church has set before us. But even more importantly, we also cannot just merely be blind followers of the Law and commandments of God, as it is indeed possible for us to do what is required of us by the Church and the Law of God, but we do not truly and genuinely do them because of the faith and love we have for God.

That is why, brothers and sisters in Christ, as we approach the end of this current liturgical year with this glorious and most joyful celebration of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and King, King of the whole Universe, let us all remind ourselves of what we can and should do in our lives, in each and every moments to glorify Him by our good, worthy and exemplary lives. Then we must also truly enthrone the Lord as the King over our lives, over our families and our whole existence. This means that He should be at the centre and as the focus of our lives, and not our many preoccupations in life, our career, ambitions, desire for worldly glory and fame, worldly pleasures and possessions, and other things that we often put as our focus instead of the Lord, our God and King.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, are we therefore able to commit ourselves anew to the Lord Jesus Christ, our Saviour, our Good Shepherd and our King? Are we able to do our best in doing what is right and just in our lives, in accordance with what He Himself had told us in our Gospel passage today? That in His own words He told us to feed those who are hungry, serve those who are thirsty and seeking for a drink, in welcoming strangers and those who need our help, love and attention into our care, for those who are sick and ostracised by the society, and those who have been neglected and oppressed, among others. Are we able to do what the Lord had told and taught us to do, and in following His own examples, and the examples of the many other holy men and women that had gone before us? Let us be loving, compassionate and merciful, just as the Lord Himself has shown us such great love, compassion and mercy, all these while.

Let us all therefore do our best, in every way we can, to do what the Lord has told and commanded us to do, so that we may truly be faithful and worthy followers and disciples of His, in all circumstances and opportunities that He has provided us with. Let us all renew our commitment to do our best in being exemplary and faithful Christians, in everything that we say and do, and strive to be the inspirations and role models for our fellow Christians, and even also to any others, strangers and acquaintances, all those whom we encounter and interact with, at each and every moments of our lives. May the Lord continue to bless us all in our every good efforts and deeds, and may He, Our Lord and King, the King of all Creation and Universe, be with us always throughout this journey of life, so that in the end, when our lives in this world are over, we may come to Him worthily, to enjoy forever the fullness of His love and grace. Amen.

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Sunday, 19 November 2023 : Thirty-Third Sunday of Ordinary Time, World Day of the Poor (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, this Sunday all of us are reminded on this second last Sunday before the end of the current liturgical year, of the need for all of us as Christians to be truly faithful to God and to do what the Lord has taught, shown and commanded us all to do in our lives. All of us as Christians are encouraged and reminded of everything that we should carry out in our current livelihood, in reaching out to our fellow men, brothers and sisters, in caring and loving them, so that by our lives, actions and everything we say and do, we may truly proclaim the Lord in all of His love, truth and wonders to all the whole world. This is what we are all expected to do, brothers and sisters, in living our lives at the moment, in whatever opportunities that we have been given, to be ever more faithful and worthy of God in all things.

In our first reading today, taken from the Book of Proverbs, we heard from the author of this Book, the description of a righteous, virtuous and good woman, who is truly good and just in all of her works, actions and deeds. This description of a virtuous and righteous woman, who is respected and honoured by everyone is actually not just limited to that of a woman, but is a way for the Lord to tell all of us that the same attitude and behaviours are also expected of every one of us, regardless of gender, age or by whatever other parameters we tended to categorise ourselves into. Each and every one of us as Christians are expected to do what is right, virtuous, good and just in the eyes of the Lord, in doing His will and obeying every one of His Law and commandments, which He has revealed, taught and passed down to us.

This is especially important in our world today, where these virtues for either men and women had become diluted and even lost, amidst the many competing ideologies and distractions, from the secular and godless world, where many of us are accustomed to so many kinds of wickedness, evils, temptations and other attitudes that put emphasis on our own selfish wants and desires, and in all the exposure to the various paths and behaviours that directly contradict the Lord and His teachings and truth. We all live in a world where we are accustomed to these kind of thinking, behaviours and attitudes from early on in our lives. That is why we must always remind ourselves that we should not allow these corruptions and wrong ideas to distract and mislead us from the right path that God has shown and taught us.

In our second reading today, we heard from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Thessalonians in which the Apostle spoke about how the Lord’s second coming or parousia will happen at the time when we least expect it, and hence, we have to be always prepared and ready to welcome the Lord when He comes again, with a worthy attitude and life. We must not be complacent or ignorant of what is expected of us as Christians, in how we all should live our lives. That is because every one of us will be held accountable for whatever we have said, done and acted in our lives, and also for whatever it is that we have not done and acted, when we have been given the opportunities and the abilities to do so, in caring for our fellow brothers and sisters all around us, and in living our lives worthily as Christians.

In our Gospel passage today, the same theme appears again as we heard of the parable which the Lord told to His disciples and followers, on the parable of the silver talents. In that parable, we heard of the actions of the three servants to whom their master bestowed each of them with five, two and one silver talents respectively. In that parable, we heard how the ones who were entrusted with five and two silver talents made good use of their silver talents when the master was away, invested them properly and did good with them such that when the master returned, their silver talents had doubled in amount. Meanwhile, the one who had been entrusted with one silver talent hid his silver talent until his master returned, and returned the silver talent to his master as it was.

We heard how the two servants who have done well in investing their silver talents were greatly rewarded by the master, while the servant who was lazy and did nothing to the silver talent was punished. This parable is a classic reminder for all of us that we cannot be idle in living our Christian lives, in doing what we can to follow God and His will, in obeying His Law and commandments to the best of our abilities. Those silver talents, regardless of the amounts, represent the talents, blessings, abilities, opportunities and other things that we have received from God, and which we are therefore expected to make good use of, in each and every one of our actions and deeds, in all of our interactions and dealings with one another. We should always do our part to glorify God by our lives, and to show His love and kindness to everyone, through our own lives and actions.

Therefore, brothers and sisters in Christ, as we have heard from our Scripture passages today, we are all reminded that as Christians, we have to be always prepared for all things, and we must always strive to be exemplary and virtuous in all of our words, actions and deeds, so that we truly become responsible, good and faithful stewards of God’s Creation, and over whatever it is that God has entrusted to us, be it opportunities and talents, abilities and other things in life. We must always strive to do God’s will in all things and at all times because in the end, we shall be asked to account for our lives and how we have lived them. If we have neglected our responsibilities and all that we have been entrusted to do, then we may end up like the lazy servant, who failed to utilise his entrusted silver talent for good use, and we may have to answer for that with condemnation for eternity.

Today, the Church also commemorates the occasion of the World Day of the Poor, instituted by our current reigning Pope, Pope Francis, in reminding us that all of us have responsibilities and obligations to care for one another, especially for the less fortunate among us. We have been given different blessings, opportunities and talents, and for those who have been given more, as the Lord highlighted in that same parable, more would have been expected. Those of us who have been blessed with more good things in life, let us all spare some of these with love, with those who have little or none, those who struggle to make ends meet, and those who have been ostracised, rejected and shunned by the community. The poor are parts of the Church as well, and they are our brothers and sisters, all the same.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all therefore strive to live our lives ever more faithfully as Christians, in doing what God has commanded us all to do. Let us all turn towards God with our whole heart and mind, in devoting ourselves as God’s beloved people, His faithful followers and disciples, now and always. Let our lives be truly filled with God’s grace and love, and let us all follow Him from now on with ever greater commitment, dedication and love, in being generous with our love and attention especially for the less fortunate ones around us. May God bless us all and may He empower each and every one of us to live our lives in His path, now and always. Amen.

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Sunday, 12 November 2023 : Thirty-Second Sunday of Ordinary Time (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, this Sunday all of us are reminded of God’s Wisdom that has been given and shared with all of us, God’s beloved people, which He has imparted upon all of us, who live in this world. Through His beloved Son, Our Lord and Savior Jeus Christ, the Wisdom of God has come upon all of us, dwelling in us, through the words of His revelation, the Word of God Himself in the flesh, and then also through the sending and the imparting of the Holy Spirit, coming down upon us from the Father Himself, through the Son, and thus, the Wisdom of God and the Holy Spirit came upon us all. And why we all focus our attention on the matter of Wisdom and knowledge of God? That is because as we approach towards the end of this current liturgical year, we are all reminded that while the cycle of time continues unabated, the time will come indeed when everything comes to an end in a reckoning, when we shall come to account for our lives and actions before God.

In our first reading today, we heard from the Book of Wisdom, the explanation and revelation of Divine Wisdom, of what is the nature of the Wisdom of God and how the Wisdom of God comes upon this world, seeking those who are worthy and willing to embrace it. There are those who seek for the Wisdom of God, but at the same time, there are also many of those who have desired and sought for other forms of alternative ‘wisdom’ instead. They sought for the wisdom of the world, the ways and the customs of this world familiar to us. However, this ‘wisdom’ of the world, all of the corrupt ways of worldliness, all these do not lead to true satisfaction and fulfilment, and yet, we are all still easily tempted and persuaded by their allures and distractions, which ended up causing us to falter and fall away from the path of righteousness and truth. The Wisdom of God has been given to us, and yet, in our folly, we allow ourselves to be swayed by the temptations to sin instead.

Then, in our second reading today, we heard from the Epistle of St. Paul the Apostle to the Thessalonians, in which the Apostle exhorted the faithful people of God and the Church in Thessalonica regarding the matter of what woul happen at the end of time, when God will come and make everything right and perfect once again. St. Paul was comforting the faithful there of the assurance of the life that is to come, the eternal life which the Lord Jesus Himself has promised to all of us through His coming and revelation. This is one of the core tenets and teachings of the Christian faith, which the Lord and His disciples, the Christian missionaries have proclaimed, as the Good News to all. This is the promise of the life and existence after death, and that death is not the end of everything, or of our existence, because our time and existence in this world is one that is just temporary, and eventually, all of us should remember that we are destined and bound for Heaven, to be once again with God.

And through that assurance which St. Paul mentioned to the faithful in Thessalonica, we are all reminded that our labours and efforts in this world will not go to waste. For all those who are faithful to God and have been keeping true to His Covenant and providence, God will not abandon them and will always be with them. And while they might suffer and endure trials and tribulations in this world, and face death, but death will have no hold and power over us, because the Lord Himself has come into our midst, bearing upon Himself the punishment for our sins and purchased by the power of His own Most Precious Blood, the price for our redemption and liberation from the dominion and tyranny of sin. Hence, that is why when we die, while our physical bodies go to sleep, our souls will not perish but will go either to the Lord’s Presence, or to the preparation in Purgatory, except for all those who have rejected God, the ones who have been condemned by their sins.

In our Gospel passage today, we then heard of the parable which the Lord Jesus told to His disciples and followers, the parable of the five wise women and the five foolish women. In that parable, the five wise women or bridemaids were fully prepared for the event that they attended, as they were supposed to welcome the bridegroom to the wedding banquet, which happened at night time and they were the ones to bear the lanterns to brighten the place and the festive occasion. They brought extra oil with them so that if the bridegroom were to be delayed, they still had enough oil for their lamps. Meanwhile, the five foolish women, as we heard, did not bring any extra oil with them, and they ran out of oil soon after the bridegroom was delayed. Thus, as the parable mentioned, the five foolish women failed to obtain the oil in time, and they only arrived back after the festivities have started, and thus, were excluded from the banquet.

The meaning of this parable is indeed very clear, and tied with whatever we have discussed earlier regarding the Wisdom of God and the matter of the afterlife, we are all reminded that we have to be ever vigilant and ready, and to entrust ourselves unto the Wisdom of God, in following His path and having faith in His providence. We should always keep in mind that everything which we say and do, and even whatever it is that we have not done and failed to do, when it has been within our power and calling as Christians to do so, all these will be asked of us, and they shall weigh either for us or against us on the day of the Last Judgement. Now, the question is, if we are going to trust in the Wisdom of God, entrusting ourselves in what the Lord has taught and shown us, or whether we are going to trust in worldly wisdom and paths instead.

Each one of us living in this world today have been given the great opportunity to make best use of our lives, and to do what the Lord has told and taught us to do. The choice is really ours to make, as God has given us all the freedom to choose what our next step in life will be. The path of the world may seem to be easier and more logical or more comfortable for us, since after all this is what we normally are accustomed to having in our lives, but in the end, we must have that discerning mind and the wisdom to see that the path of the Lord is the only one that will lead us all to true and everlasting happiness, joy and fulfilment. All the other paths and ways are merely distractions and temptations, which may lead us the path to our downfall if we are not careful and wise in our decisions, like those of the five foolish women. We should make good use of the time and opportunities presented to us, that we may strive to be ever always prepared in our lives, to be accountable for them to God.

May the Lord continue to help and guide us all in our journey of faith throughout our lives, and may He continue to impart His Wisdom upon each and every one of us that through His Wisdom, all of us may be better able to discern carefully our choice of path in life, and be more careful and vigilant in our choice of actions, words and deeds so that we do not end up falling into the wrong path, into the temptations to sin by disobedience against God. Let us all turn towards the Lord and focus once again upon His Wisdom, truth and love. May the Lord, in His infinite Wisdom and ever enduring love for each one of us, continue to bless us and strengthen us at all times, that we may grow ever stronger in faith and be ever more devoted and closer to Him. Amen.

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Sunday, 5 November 2023 : Thirty-First Sunday of Ordinary Time (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, this Sunday all of us are all called to be truly faithful to the Lord, and to be wholly committed to Him in all the things we do in our lives. We must not allow ourselves to be swayed by the many temptations all around the world, which may lead us down the wrong path towards sin and our downfall. We must always be firm in our commitment and dedication to God, and we must always remember that everything we say and do, and all of our works, all of them should be done for the glory of God, with the focus and centre on the Lord, rather than for our own glory and achievements, ambitions and desires. These are what we are reminded as Christians, that we know how to live our lives worthily of the Lord.

In our first reading today, we heard from the Book of the prophet Malachi, the words of the Lord warning His people, and in particular His priests, those from the tribe of Levi who had been appointed to be the priests over the people of God. The prophet Malachi was one of the last prophets of the Lord to come before the advent of the Messiah, and he gave this warning in relation to the sinful and wicked actions that the people of God had done in the previous moments, in their numerous rebellions and disobedience against Him, in all the wickedness that they had committed throughout their lives. God has always been patient in helping and guiding them all so that they might find their way back to Him, and once again be filled with His grace and love.

The priests mentioned by the Lord in that passage today, had been responsible for the spiritual well-being of the people and becoming the intermediary between the Lord and His beloved ones. The priests, who were chosen and appointed from among the tribe of the Levites, were supposed to be the ones to offer on behalf of the people, the offerings and sacrifices meant for the absolution and forgiveness of their sins. However, as it had frequently happened before, such as if we read in the other parts of the Old Testament, like in the Book of the prophet Samuel, the sons of Eli the High Priest, named Hophni and Phinehas, who belonged to the Levites, were corrupt in their practices, wicked and abused their positions for their own benefits.

They did not obey the Lord and they took from the fattest and best portion of the meat and the offerings presented to them, even though the Law stated that those had to be offered to God and reserved for Him. But those two sons of Eli instead appropriated those for themselves, and in other instances of wickedness and sinful deeds, they did whatever the corrupt priests had done throughout time, while theirs were the ones most well-documented in the Scriptures. And in this case, the Lord’s warning and action against those wicked priests came true, as those who were wicked faced their just fate, like the sons of Eli who were slain in battle against the Philistines, and the Ark of the Covenant that they brought to the battle with them were seized by the Philistines.

Similar fates faced those other people of God, their kings and nobles, and also the priests and the common folks, who had not obeyed the Lord and His commandments and Law, and instead preferring to follow the wicked ways of the world, and all the corruptions of sin. Many among the people and their wicked kings have chosen to abandon God and worship the pagan gods and false idols instead, and lived in the state of sin, which caused many to fall further and deeper into the wrong paths. They also persecuted the prophets and messengers that God had sent to them in order to help and remind them to return to the path of righteousness. In the end, they faced the just consequences of their wickedness and sins, as they were crushed, defeated and had their country and cities destroyed, by the Assyrians and the Babylonians.

In our Gospel passage today, we heard something that is rather similar, as the Lord Jesus criticised the actions of the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law in their refusal to obey the Lord and His Law in the right way. They chose to follow their own interpretation and understanding of the Law, which was flawed, and they focused so much on external appearances and pious expressions, that they forgot what it truly meant to be obedient to God, to His Law and commandments. They spent their time and effort to make themselves look good and pious before the others, and they became enamoured by their own vanity and pride, which resulted in them doing things and works not for the greater glory of God, but rather for their own fame and glory.

This was why the Lord criticised them much, as they misled the people of God into the wrong path by their lack of appreciation and understanding of the true nature of God’s Law and commandments. They paraded their piety and actions, proudly thinking that they were league ahead of others around them, in being better and more worthy, more righteous and religious than others. But they deluded themselves because this attitude made them haughty, ambitious and proud, and forgot that they themselves were sinners, imperfect and in need for God’s mercy and healing as well. They had not just acted unjustly towards others, but they had also neglected their responsibilities and duties in showing the path towards God to those who have been entrusted under their care. Not only that, but they had also closed off the path towards God’s grace and salvation by their attitude, in ostracising and being prejudiced against those whom they deemed to be less than worthy.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, this is why as Christians, all of us should always strive to be exemplary in our actions and way of life, and most importantly, place the Lord ever always at the centre of our lives and existence. We must not allow the temptations and allures of worldly glory and pleasures to distract us from our calling to serve the Lord in all things and to be full of our faith and obedience to God’s Law and precepts. As we have discussed and talked about earlier on, those priests, elders and the Pharisees who had not obeyed the Lord wholeheartedly, and allowed themselves instead to be misled and swayed by worldly temptations, ambitions and pleasures, which brought them deeper and deeper into the path of wickedness and sin, by which they will be judged against, and found wanting. This is why, all of us, in our own respective areas of life, we must always strive to overcome the temptations and the pressures of worldly desires that may tempt us to follow the path of sin and evil.

In our second reading today, St. Paul in his Epistle to the Church and the faithful in the city of Thessalonica, the Thessalonians, wrote about how the Apostles and the missionaries of the faith cared for them all and shown them the true nature of the Christian faith, that is full of love and compassion, care and attention to others. He spoke to them of the hard work and efforts that they had done for the sake of God’s people, and all of those in the end showed us that true nature of our Christian faith is one of dedication to God, as well as our commitment to love one another just as much as we have loved God and ourselves. We must not put our selfish desires and wants above that of our love for others, and we must not let our personal ambitions and selfish attitudes to prevent us from reaching out to the Lord, our God and Saviour.

Instead, as we continue to labour and walk through this life that we have been blessed and given opportunities in, all of us should continue to resist the corruptions of sin, and the temptations to do things for our own personal benefits at the cost of others around us, who may suffer because of our selfishness, greed and ambitions. Otherwise, as the Scriptures had already clearly shown us, and the Lord’s own words to add on to that, those who are wicked shall be held accountable for their actions, and the greater our position of responsibilities are, the more heavily this burden shall be on our shoulders, as the Lord will judge every single deeds we have done, and what we have also failed to do in our lives, even when we have been given the opportunities to do so. We should not forget that in our every moments in life, we should always be exemplary in faith, and we must always show our Christian faith in our actions at every step of our lives.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us hence strive to put God above all other things in our lives, and commit ourselves anew with faith to whatever that He has commanded and told us to do. Each and every one of us have been entrusted with the particular missions to contribute to the works of the Church, in various different parts and areas of the world. We do not have to do great things in life in order to do this. Rather, what matters is for us to do what we can in the small things we do each day and at every moments, in our various areas of responsibilities, so that we may indeed be good role models and inspirations for one another, in everything that we say and do, and we may be the shining examples of Christian virtues and love to all the people, that more and more may come to believe in God through us.

May the Lord be with us all and may He empower each one of us so that we may indeed be strengthened and inspired to live our lives ever more worthily as Christians, in each and every occasions throughout our lives, that we may come ever closer to righteousness and grace of God. May God bless us and our good efforts, now and always. 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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Sunday, 22 October 2023 : Twenty-Ninth Sunday of Ordinary Time (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, this Sunday all of us are reminded of our obligation as Christians, to obey the Lord our God, His will, His Law and commandments. Each and every one of us as the disciples and followers of the Lord ought to live our lives righteously and virtuously as He has always shown and taught us how to do, and be good and dedicated men and women, who also obey the rules and laws of whichever countries and states that we belong to, or wherever we dwell in. We should always strive to live a good, worthy and exemplary lives that everyone all around us can be inspired by, whenever they witness our works, actions and deeds, and in how we interact with each other.

In our first reading today, we heard from the Book of the prophet Isaiah, in which God spoke through Isaiah to His people, revealing His intent in the many years and even centuries to come, as we heard of one King Cyrus the Great, whom we know today as the first of the Great King of Persia, which was then also known as the Achaemenid Empire. This was in fact a prophecy and premonition of what would come to happen, as the prophet Isaiah and his ministry among the people of Judah happened about two centuries before the time of King Cyrus of Persia. With regards to the Israelites, King Cyrus has a special role and part in their history because this King would liberate the people of Israel and their descendants, who were exiled to Assyria, Babylon and far-off regions, when he came to power over the land.

This mention and praise of Cyrus the Great was notable as usually most of the people who did not belong to the Israelites and their group, were often wicked and evil in their ways of life and in their lack of faith in God. However, King Cyrus the Great was widely seen and regarded as a great example and role model, and was also a paragon of virtue and righteousness, as per the many historical and Scriptural records and evidences. He was often lauded not just as a great and mighty ruler, and conqueror of many nations, but also as a virtuous, just and pragmatic ruler, who respected the customs of the many people who lived in his entire vast dominion, and he also respected the worship of the Lord, God of Israel, allowing the people of Israel to return to their lands and to worship their God.

As such, through the great examples of King Cyrus the Great of Persia, all of us are reminded that as Christians, each and every one of us are also exhorted and expected to do what God had told and taught us to do in our lives. What God wants from us is our faith and commitment to Him, in doing His will and in living our lives in accordance with His ways, as alluded by St. Paul in his Epistle to the Thessalonians, that is part of our second reading passage today. St. Paul mentioned the work of the faith of the people of God, their labour of love and their endurance in remaining faithful despite the many challenges and obstacles that they had to endure throughout their journey of faith and life. This is again a reminder that as Christians, each and every one of us are expected to follow the path that the Lord has shown us, and dedicate ourselves to actions and works that are worthy of God.

This is then related to what we heard in our Gospel passage today, when the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law attempted to test the Lord and trap Him, when they asked of Him if they should be paying taxes to Caesar or not. This question seemed to be a rather ordinary question, but if we understand the implication behind this seemingly simple question, and also the context of the time, then we can better appreciate how dangerous and tricky it was for the Lord, for Him to answer this question. Why was that so? That is because should the Lord have answered that they all should be paying taxes to Caesar, then the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law could use that to discredit the Lord and rally the people’s opinion against Him, because back then, the Romans and their rule over the Jewish people and lands were generally disliked and even hated, especially due to the taxes imposed on them, and the way the Romans treated them as subordinates and subjects.

On the other hand, had the Lord responded by saying that they should not be paying taxes to Caesar, or the Roman Emperor, then the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law could also accuse the Lord of trying to incite the people to disobey the Romans and to start a rebellion, which was a very great treason and fault against the state, which was punishable by death. This was exactly the same accusation which eventually the chief priests, the elders and the Pharisees placed against the Lord when He was condemned to death and handed over to the Romans, under Pontius Pilate, to be crucified, because they accused Him of rebelling against the Emperor and by claiming to be the King of the Jews, which was grave treason. Refusing to pay taxes and the obligations to the Roman state is one of the signs of this treason, and those wicked fellow could have used the Lord’s refusal against Him.

Instead, the Lord knew their intentions and purposes very well when they asked Him that sinister question, and He evaded the troubles altogether, and showed His Wisdom by saying that, since the silver coin or the denarius that they paid their taxes with has the face of the Roman Emperor or Caesar embossed on them, therefore, they should all give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and then at the same time, also give back to God what belongs to God. With this single sentence, the Lord silenced all of His critics and enemies, and made it clear that as His followers, disciples and people, we are not called to resist the worldly obligations or works that we are all called to do, such as obeying the laws and customs of states, in doing our civic duties and obligations, in living our lives ever more faithfully as children of God and as righteous men and women, examples for everyone around us to follow.

Then, all of us should also give back to God what belongs to God just as the Lord Jesus Himself had mentioned, and what is something that belongs to God? It is all of us, brothers and sisters in Christ. God has created each and every one of us, calling us all to do what He has taught and shown us to do. And since we belong to God and we are His people, His beloved children, therefore, it is only right that we should do what is pleasing to God, and to give Him what truly belongs to Him, that is our hearts, our love and devotion. Each and every one of us should always strive to put the Lord as the centre and focus of our whole lives and existence, and do what we can so that we may always glorify Him by our lives, our every actions, works and deeds.

Therefore, brothers and sisters in Christ, as we have heard throughout our Scripture passages today and discussed earlier, let us all do our best in each and every moments of our lives so that we may always be exemplary in our every actions and works throughout each and every opportunities that God has given to us all each day. Let us all be good and obedient citizens, who follow and observe the laws and rules of the state as long as they are for the common good and not a violation of the Divine Law of God. Let us all be exemplary citizens and people, whose lives are truly good examples and inspirations for all those whom we encounter daily in life, that it is not just that we obey the Lord faithfully in our actions and way of life, but we also become the shining beacons of virtue and faith to all others, like Cyrus the Great, the saints and other great examples of our past history had done.

May the Lord continue to guide and strengthen each and every one of us so that in our every commitment and efforts to serve Him, we will always continue to walk ever more devotedly in the path that He has shown us. May He empower us all to continue to carry out our works and actions in accordance with His will, in obedience to His Law and commandments, at all times. May God bless us all and may He remain with us all, in all times and opportunities. Amen.

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Sunday, 15 October 2023 : Twenty-Eighth Sunday of Ordinary Time (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, this Sunday through the Scripture readings which we have just heard, all of us are reminded that as God’s beloved and holy people, each and every one of us are partakers of His Covenant and members of His One Church, the one united Body of Christ. Therefore, as we are all parts of this same Church of God, all of us are reminded that all of us should always put our trust and faith in the Lord, and know that it is in Him alone that we can gain true joy and happiness in life, both in this one and the one that is to come. We must also be careful lest we are swayed and tempted to seek for other things and desires which are not in accordance to God’s path, and which may end up leading us into damnation instead of eternal life.

In our first reading today, we heard from the Book of the prophet Isaiah in which the Lord reassured His people through Isaiah, of the coming of the days of true joy and happiness with Him, reminding all of them of the love and all the kindness that He has shown to them and their ancestors in the days past, even as they themselves then were suffering and facing humiliation and indignation due to their own sins and wickedness. Contextually, we have to understand that the prophet Isaiah was delivering the words of the Lord to a people that had been beset by many troubles, difficulties and challenges, as they were faced with many enemies and all those who oppressed them, which also happened because they had abandoned their Lord and God, and chose to follow the worship of the pagan and false gods, over the worship of God.

That was why the Israelites had been divided, fell into hard times and challenges, and by the time of the prophet Isaiah’s ministry, the northern half of the kingdom and the people had been crushed and destroyed by the Assyrians, who have come and conquered the northern kingdom, destroyed and razed its capital of Samaria, and brought off many of the people of God living in that place far away into exile in the lands of Assyria and Mesopotamia, while putting foreigners and other people to dwell in the lands once occupied and dwelled by the Israelites. The southern kingdom of Judah itself had not been spared, and had also faced similar challenges, being subjected to the might of the Assyrians, who almost conquered and destroyed Jerusalem and Judah when King Sennacherib of Assyria came with a mighty army to conquer them. It was only by God’s timely intervention and humiliation of Sennacherib that the people of God were saved.

Thus, the people of God in Judah had received a preview and a foretaste of what God’s salvation will be like, as they are all reminded of just how faithful God has always ever been to His Covenant and promises. After all, the people of Israel are all God’s beloved people and children, and He has made His Covenant with them and their ancestors, renewing them again and again, despite of the people’s lack of faith and frequent rebellions and disobedience against their Lord and Master. God still loved all of them despite of their many transgressions and stubborn attitudes, giving them many opportunities, time and again so that they might find their way back towards Him, opening the way towards His salvation and grace. He has always ever been so generous with His love, mercy and kindness, as He has always done from the very beginning. He could have easily destroyed and wiped us out by the power of His will alone, but instead, He chose to care for us, to heal us from our sins and troubles. We are shown just how beloved we are all to God, from the beginning, now and forevermore.

In our Gospel passage today, we are all reminded that we have all been invited to a life full of joy and happiness, as the Lord Himself has prepared a celebration and banquet for us. He has generously done all these for us, so that by His grace all of us may indeed enjoy forever the fullness of His love and generosity. However, as we heard in that Gospel passage today, many of us often rejected and refused to embrace God’s ever generous offer of love and kindness, as we were often swayed and tempted, distracted and confused because of our many temptations, desires and coercions of this world. In that parable of the wedding banquet, the people and guests whom the king had invited to the banquet, all of them refused to come to the celebration, and they were all busy with their own businesses and preoccupations, and there were even those who killed the ones sent to remind them.

This is a reminder for us that we can be like those who have rejected God’s love and grace, like those wayward guests whom the king had invited to his banquet and yet they all allowed their many distractions and the temptations all around them to get their priorities all wrong. As we heard, they were all punished and destroyed, and they had no part in the king’s banquet and inheritance. Thus, if we also do the same with our own lives, in not heeding God’s words and His call, in rejecting His love and kindness, mercy and compassion, then we will also be rejected in the same manner as well. We are all called to embrace God’s call, His love and mercy, His reminders that we should no longer be ignorant of His love and mercy, and we should not reject His compassion and generous offer of forgiveness. We should answer God’s call with faith and commitment.

And then, we also heard in the end of the same parable in our Gospel today, about how the king invited others who were called to fill up the seats and places vacated by those who have refused to come to the banquet. We heard of how a man, one of the guests, turned up without a wedding garment or a garment suitable for the celebration. As was the custom of that time, and as is also common elsewhere in our world, one ought to turn up in one’s best possible garments, and even the poor people often had their best reserved for the important celebrations in their lives and communities. Therefore, the point that the Lord wanted to make in making that part of the parable is that, in order for us to follow the Lord and to come into His banquet, celebration and into His Holy Presence, all of us need to take up that new garment of faith, and cast off the old garment of wickedness of sin. This is the hidden symbolism that we may often miss out as we read through this parable.

That means all of us must turn away from the temptations of the world, all the things, desires, attachments, all of which had kept us from truly being able to follow the Lord. This had been implied in the earlier part of the same parable, when the earlier invited guests of the king refused to heed the king’s call and invitation because they were all busy and preoccupied with their works and with whatever it is that busied them in their respective lives, their various concerns and attachments. This is why, in the same manner, unless we learn to restrain ourselves, our desires and various attachments, and also unless we strive to resist the temptations to disobey God and sin, it will likely be very difficult for us to follow the Lord wholeheartedly and faithfully as we should have done. In our second reading today, St. Paul in his Epistle to the Philippians reminded the faithful there of the need for all of them, and hence, all of us to trust in the Lord fully, and to heed these words of St. Paul himself, ‘I can do all things in Him Who strengthens me.’

Those words remind us all that the Lord and His Presence in our lives will strengthen us and give us the necessary ability, courage and power to do our part in living a most worthy and virtuous life, in becoming good, faithful and committed Christians, as God’s beloved children and people at all times and in all opportunities. We must always keep in mind that we are all, and we should indeed be good role models and inspirations for our fellow brothers and sisters, all around us. We should embrace God’s path, His ways and teachings wholeheartedly, and do whatever we can so that we truly wear the worthy garments of our faith, as we come to the Lord, to be part of His heavenly banquet, to enter into the glorious kingdom that He has prepared for each and every one of us. May the Lord continue to bless and guide us all, and may He continue to lead us down the path of righteousness and virtue towards Him, free from wickedness, sin, desire and evil, now and always. Amen.

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Sunday, 8 October 2023 : Twenty-Seventh 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, we are all reminded of our duties and responsibilities, our calling and our missions as God’s beloved people, as those whom He has chosen and called, to be His disciples, followers and trusted stewards, in caring for everything that He has entrusted to us. Each and every one of us, in our various areas of responsibility and walk of life, we have been entrusted with various gifts, talents, abilities, opportunities and all other things that help us to reach out to others all around us, be exemplary and missionary in how we live our lives so that we may indeed spread and proclaim the Good News of God, His truth and love through our everyday actions and examples.

In our first reading today, taken from the Book of the prophet Isaiah, we heard of the words of the Lord, Who was speaking to His people through Isaiah, lamenting and showing His frustrations at them, because of their many sins, wickedness, disobedience and failure to obey His Law and commandments, and for their persistent and continued rebellion against Him and His love and kindness. Back then, by the time of the ministry of the prophet Isaiah, the people of Israel, in both the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah had spent a long time disobeying God and refusing to listen to His words, persecuting the prophets and messengers that He had sent to them to remind and help them to return to the right path.

This led to the destruction and downfall of the northern kingdom of Israel, and the exile of many of its people to distant lands by the Assyrians who destroyed their cities and brought an end to their existence and life in the land of northern Israel. The southern kingdom of Judah also faced a lot of hardships and trials, as they were beaten and oppressed by their own neighbours and the same Assyrians who had crushed their northern brethren. The Lord had done everything to keep His people being faithful and committed to Him, revealing His plans and prophecies sent to them through His prophets and messengers, but those who were stubborn and persistent in doing things in their own way rejected those who have been sent to help them, and persecuted the Lord’s servants and messengers.

The Lord spoke about this to His people through veiled words, using the comparison of His people with a vineyard that He, as the Master of the vineyard had tender and cared for. Despite everything which the Lord had done for the sake of His people, they still disobeyed Him and refused to listen to Him, as they chose to disregard His words and ways. This was likened to how the vineyard had yielded poor crops and results despite everything that the Lord had done to tend to His vineyard, that is His chosen and beloved people. And thus, the prophet Isaiah brought up a warning and premonition of what was to come, a warning of the destruction of the nation of Judah, its cities, Jerusalem and others, just as what have befallen the Israelites in the northern kingdom.

This is similar in spirit to what we have heard in our Gospel passage today, in which the Lord Jesus used the parable of the evil tenants in order to teach and reveal the truth to His disciples and followers, reminding them all of what each and every one of them had to do, and to be careful lest they ended up like those evil and wicked tenants who had disobeyed their master. In that parable, the Lord told the story of how several evil and wicked tenants abused their stewardship of their plots of land which had been entrusted to them and leased to them by the landowner. They refused to pay their dues to the landowner, despite repeated reminders from those that the landowner sent to those wicked tenants. Instead, they chose to persecute the messengers and servants that had been sent to them to remind them.

This was an allusion to how in the past, as mentioned earlier, the people of Israel were persecuting the prophets, God’s messengers and servants that had been sent to them to help and guide them down the right path. They had hardened their hearts and minds, refusing to listen to God or obey His Law and ways, and having chosen to indulge in their corrupt and wicked behaviours and attitudes, allowing themselves to be swayed by worldly riches, temptations and seduction. That was just how those evil tenants acted in the Lord’s parable, as they greedily wanted to get the lands they leased for their own selfish benefits, without paying their dues and fulfilling their obligations. They allowed themselves to be seduced and tempted by worldly glory and desires, that they ended up losing their way in the path of sin.

And we also heard how in that parable the master and landowner sent his son to parley and negotiate with those evil tenants, only for them to greedily and wickedly slaughter that landowner’s son, so that they could seize the lands for themselves. This was in fact the Lord showing a premonition, allusion and revelation of what He Himself would suffer and endure at the hands of those who refused to believe in Him and rejected Him. The Lord Jesus Himself as the Son of God was represented by the landowner’s son, sent into this world into our midst, with God representing the landowner, and all of us as the tenants tending the Lord’s vineyard and land, that is this world. And He was also persecuted and rejected, and put to death because of the wickedness and sins of mankind, our own sins.

That is why, brothers and sisters in Christ, having heard what the Scripture passages had told us this Sunday, all of us must realise that as God’s beloved people, the ones whom He had created out of pure love, to dwell in this world, all of us have been entrusted in various different ways to be the stewards of this world, of God’s wonderful creation. We must not misuse, neglect and abuse all that had been entrusted to us, in the natural world and the environment just as Pope Francis in his very recent Apostolic Exhortation ‘Laudate Deum’ had reminded all of us, in how we have driven our natural environment to destruction. And then, we must also be responsible as well in our treatment of one another and way of living our lives, in how we interact with our fellow brothers and sisters all around us, with our family members, parents and children, relatives and friends, and even with strangers and acquaintances whom we meet and encounter in each and every moments of our lives.

All of us should do what St. Paul told the Church of God and the faithful in the city of Philippi just as we heard in our second reading today, as he told them all to be truly obedient and faithful to God, in all of their way of life and actions, with the words like ‘Fill your minds with whatever is truthful, holy, just, pure, lovely and noble. Be mindful of whatever deserves praise and admiration.’ as reminders that we, like those evil and wicked tenants, and like the people of Israel in the ages past, could be easily swayed by the temptations of the world, the many things that the devil and those desiring our downfall have tried to seduce us with. Each and every one of us should always strive to keep ourselves obedient to the Lord and filled with His virtues and love at all times, as best as we can.

Now, as we continue to live our lives in each and every moments henceforth, can we all strive to follow the Lord ever more wholeheartedly in all things? Can we dedicate ourselves, our time and efforts, in all that we say and do, so that we may truly indeed be good and worthy stewards of the Lord’s creation, in our responsible behaviour and actions towards our natural environment, in how we act and interact towards each other, so that we may truly be exemplary and inspirational in our actions, words and deeds, as the shining beacons of God’s Light and truth, bringing hope and enlightenment upon this darkened world, corrupted and misled by sin and evil. Let us all, as Christians, be truly committed to God, and do what God has taught and shown us all to do.

May the Lord be with us always, and may He empower and strengthen each and every one of us, so that in all the things that we say and do, we will always be full of faith and dedication to God, and be always full of virtues and grace. May God bless us all in our every good efforts and endeavours, in all of our actions, words and deeds, now and always. Amen.