Sunday

by

Sunday, 22 August 2021 : Twenty-First Sunday of Ordinary Time (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Psalm 33 : 2-3, 16-17, 18-19, 20-21, 22-23

I will praise YHVH all my days; His praise will be ever on my lips. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the lowly hear and rejoice.

The eyes of YHVH are fixed on the righteous; His ears are inclined to their cries. But His face is set against the wicked, to destroy their memory from the earth.

YHVH hears the cry of the righteous and rescues them from all their troubles. YHVH is close to the brokenhearted and saves the distraught.

Many are the troubles of the just, but YHVH delivers them from all. He keeps all their bones intact, and none of them will be broken.

Evil will slay the wicked; the enemies of the just will be doomed. But YHVH will redeem the life of His servants; none of those who trust in Him will be doomed.

by

Sunday, 22 August 2021 : Twenty-First Sunday of Ordinary Time (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Joshua 24 : 1-2a, 15-17, 18b

Joshua summoned all the tribes of Israel in Shechem, and assembled the elders, judges and secretaries. And together they presented themselves before God.

Addressing the people, Joshua said to them : “If you do not want to serve YHVH, make known this very day whom you shall serve – whether they be the gods your ancestors served in Mesopotamia or the gods of the Amorites who formerly occupied the land in which you now live. As for me, I and my household will serve YHVH.”

The people answered : “May God not permit that we ever abandon YHVH to serve other gods! For it was He Who brought us and our ancestors out of Egypt, the house of slavery. It was He Who did those great wonders that we have seen; He protected us on the way and through all the land where we passed. So we shall also serve YHVH : He is our God!”

by

Sunday, 15 August 2021 : Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : White

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, this Sunday is truly a special occasion for all of us, as not only that we celebrate the Sunday of the Lord, but by coincidence on this fifteenth day of August, as is every year, we also celebrate the great Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which marks the moment when Mary, the Holy Mother of God was ‘assumed’ into the glory of Heaven, body and soul, and therefore, in some way, did not suffer fully the embrace of death, by the unique singular grace of God, her Son, Our Lord and Saviour.

This Dogma of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is one of the four important Dogmas or core tenets of the faith with regards to Mary, together with the Dogma of the Theotokos or the Divine Motherhood of Mary, the Dogma of the Perpetual Virginity of Mary and finally the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Dogma of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is an affirmation of the long-held belief of the Church since the earliest times, declared official by Pope Pius XII in the year of Our Lord 1950, in his. ‘Ex Cathedra’ proclamation and the Papal Bull Munificentissimus Deus.

First of all, the Assumption is not equivalent to the Ascension of the Lord, as how some had misunderstood, thinking that we believe in Mary’s ‘Ascension’ into heaven. The Ascension of the Lord refers to how the Lord Jesus ascended by His own power and might, to sit on His Throne in Heaven, returning from where He had come from, and to prepare the place for us all, the faithful people of God. Meanwhile, the Assumption refers to the moment when Mary, by the grace and the power of God, was taken up into Heaven, not on her own accord.

There lies the difference between Our Lord’s Ascension and His mother’s Assumption, a difference that seems to be minute and yet, very important, lest we misunderstand them and like for some, causing them to have the wrong impression and idea about the true Christian faith, especially among some of our separated brethren, who held wrong ideas and false perception of what the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

In the same manner, all of us also must know what the Assumption is all about and how significant it is to our faith. Many among us Christians are still having misconceptions about our own faith, having misunderstandings and doing the wrong practices, and showing the wrong identity of the faith, with regards to our devotion to Mary and the other saints. That is why we have to understand clearly what the Assumption is all about, that we may indeed become genuine witnesses of our faith to many others.

Mary has been chosen by God to be the special Vessel and to be the New Ark, of the New Covenant between God and all of us. As such, she has been given the special grace of being conceived without the taint of original sin, which we celebrate as the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception, as the pure and immaculate Vessel, conceived and then born without sin or any subjugation to it, free from its influences unlike that of any other human beings, save that of her own Son, Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Saviour.

Therefore, having been so prepared to be the New Ark of the New Covenant, far better than the old Ark, which was sacrosanct and holy, therefore, Mary, who bore in her womb, the Lord and Saviour Himself, ought not to have been subjected to the punishment and suffering of death. Why is that so? That is because death is the punishment and consequence of sin, and if Mary had not been tainted or corrupted by sin, then death has no hold over her at all.

Yet, with regards to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, also known in the Eastern Church traditions as the Dormition of the Theotokos, there are two main schools of thoughts regarding what actually happened at the moment of the Assumption. One stated that since Mary as the one who had been free from the taint of sin and as the Mother of the Saviour of all, then she must have completely been free from death, and therefore, was raised up into heavenly glory, in body and soul, that she entered Heaven and is no longer in the world.

Then, another school of thought stated that Mary did go through death, just like any others, because she shared in her Son’s Passion and death, and she died just as her Son also died, but not because of a punishment for her own sins. Therefore, that death was merely symbolic and in the end, whether she died or went into the sleep of death as per the Eastern tradition of the Dormition of the Theotokos, Mary went body and soul up into Heaven. Hence, regardless whether she actually died, went through death or any experience of death, Mary is now in Heaven, and that is what truly matters.

Then, brothers and sisters in Christ, how is this crucial for us? How is it important for us to appreciate this celebration of the Assumption of Mary, the Blessed ever-Virgin Mother of God? Mary’s Assumption into Heaven first of all is an assurance for us that we have someone who is always ever constantly praying for us, and who intercedes for us directly beside the Throne of her Son. For Mary is indeed the greatest of all the saints, and the one closest to Our Lord Himself, as is she not His mother? Just like the occasion of the miracle of the wedding at Cana, even the Lord would still listen to the words of His loving mother.

And that is not all, brothers and sisters in Christ, for in the Assumption of Mary, we also see the promise of new life and existence that we ourselves are going to experience in the time to come, as we will also be raised to Heaven, body and soul, at the end of time, when the final judgment comes, and our souls shall be reunited fully with our bodies, glorified, purified and blessed, that we may enjoy forever, with Mary, and with all the saints, the glory and true joy of Heaven with God forevermore.

Through the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God, all of us are called to examine our own lives, and how we have lived them thus far. Have we been truly faithful to God in all things? Or have we instead allowed the temptations and the allures of worldly pleasures to distract us and mislead us down the wrong path? These are just some of things and questions that we should consider carefully, as we celebrate this great Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, being reminded that if we sin, and do not repent from those sins, then death is the consequence, and there can be nothing worse than to be judged to eternal death and suffering.

Let us all therefore aspire to reject the path of sinfulness and evil, rejecting wickedness and disobedient attitudes in life. Instead, let us all look upon Mary, our loving mother and inspiration, that we may be more like her in faith, dedication and love for God, and be righteous in all of our dealings and actions. We are all called to be role models ourselves, and to be faithful and good witnesses of our Christian beliefs and faith in the midst of our respective communities.

Are we willing and able to do that, brothers and sisters in Christ? It is something that each and every one of us are certainly capable of doing, but more often than not we did not do so because we spent more time on worldly pursuits and in satisfying our personal desires, that we could not even spare a thought or effort to commit ourselves sincerely and with conviction. Hence, this Sunday, as we celebrate this great occasion of the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, let us all remind ourselves to be ever more committed to the Lord, and to do our very best to follow the Lord and to serve Him, and to live faithfully in accordance to His will from now on.

May the Lord bless us all and remain with us throughout this journey of life, and may His blessed mother, Mary, who has been assumed, body and soul, into the glory of Heaven, continue to intercede for us sinners, and be our constant source of strength and inspiration in how we live our lives as Christians from now on. Holy Mary, Mother of God, assumed into Heaven, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.

by

Sunday, 15 August 2021 : Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

Luke 1 : 39-56

Mary then set out for a town in the hill country of Judah. She entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leapt in her womb.

Elizabeth was filled with Holy Spirit, and giving a loud cry, said, “You are most blessed among women, and blessed is the Fruit of your womb! How is it that the mother of my Lord comes to me? The moment your greeting sounded in my ears, the baby within me suddenly leapt for joy. Blessed are you who believed that the Lord’s word would come true!”

And Mary said, “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit exults in God my Saviour! He has looked upon His servant in her lowliness, and people forever will call me blessed.”

“The Mighty One has done great things for me, Holy is His Name! From age to age His mercy extends to those who live in His presence. He has acted with power and done wonders, and scattered the proud with their plans. He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and lifted up those who are downtrodden. He has filled the hungry with good things, but has sent the rich away empty.”

“He held out His hand to Israel, His servant, for He remembered His mercy, even as He promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants forever.”

Mary remained with Elizabeth about three months, and then returned home.

by

Sunday, 15 August 2021 : Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Second Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

1 Corinthians 15 : 20-27

But no, Christ has been raised from the dead, and He comes before all those who have fallen asleep. A human being brought death; a Human Being also brings resurrection of the dead. For, as in Adam all die, so, in Christ, all will be made alive. However, each one in his own time : first Christ, then Christ’s people, when He comes.

Then, the end will come, when Christ delivers the kingdom to God the Father, after having destroyed every rule, authority and power. For He must reign and put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy to be destroyed will be death. As Scripture says : God has subjected everything under His feet.

When we say that everything is put under His feet, we exclude, of course, the Father, Who subjects everything to Him. As Scripture says : God has subjected everything under His feet. When we say that everything is put under His feet, we exclude, of course, the Father, Who subjects everything to Him.

by

Sunday, 15 August 2021 : Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : White

Psalm 44 : 10bc, 11, 12ab, 16

At your right hand, in gold of Ophir, stands the queen.

Listen, o daughter, pay attention; forget your father’s house and your nation.

And your beauty will charm the King, for He is your Lord.

Amid cheers and general rejoicing, they enter the palace of the King.

by

Sunday, 8 August 2021 : Nineteenth 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 give thanks to God and to put our full trust in Him, as He has provided for everything that we needed, and gave us the strength and the support even when we might not have realised it and even when we have disobeyed Him and sinned against Him. He still cared for us and showed us all His love, and He still reached out to us, and for that we ought to give Him thanks.

In our first reading today, we heard how the prophet Elijah fled to the desert as he escaped the bitter wrath of Queen Jezebel of Israel, who together with king Ahab of Israel persecuted the prophets and the faithful people of God, promoting pagan and idol worship among the people. The prophet Elijah was a particularly courageous and dedicated opponent of the Queen and her efforts to corrupt the people of God in the northern kingdom of Israel.

At that time, Elijah had just recently won a great contest of the faith against the four hundred and fifty priests of Baal at Mount Carmel. The priests of Baal contended with Elijah to prove who was the true Lord and God, and they failed, as they could not prove that Baal is the true God, and no one responded to their prayers and calls. On the other hand, Elijah, although alone, as the only prophet of God left alive, prayed to the Lord and almost immediately a great fire came down from Heaven, burning the offerings many times over.

But although Elijah managed to prove before all the assembled who was indeed the true God, but he earned the ire and the hatred of Jezebel, who with the support of Ahab likely sought to kill him, and hence, Elijah fled to the desert with nothing left on him. As the prophet of God, Elijah had followed the Lord wholeheartedly, and left everything for His sake, going to wherever the Lord would lead him to. And thus, we heard today in our first reading today, the painful words of the prophet Elijah when he wanted to give up from all the struggles, all the sufferings, preferring to die than to suffer any further.

And that was exactly when God reaffirmed His support to Elijah, as He sent His Angels to provide for the prophet, bringing him food and water to sustain him, that he would not perish and survive, for God was always with him and would never abandon him especially in his moments of greatest challenges and trials. God proved His faithfulness and took care of Elijah, before calling him to embark a long journey to the mountain where Elijah would come to see Him in person, where God would reveal to Elijah His intentions and truths.

Then, in our Gospel passage today we heard the continuation of the discourse of the Bread of Life, where the Lord, after feeding the people miraculously with bread and fishes, revealed Himself that He would feed them and provide for them the true Bread of Heaven, that is His own Most Precious Body and Blood, His own flesh and His blood, as the Living Bread that came down from Heaven, to be partaken by all the people of God who believe in Him. The Lord revealed Himself as the Bread of Life through which all will come to have new life through Him, while many among them took this revelation with surprise and doubt.

Again in this story, we have heard how the Lord provided for His people in need, as God saw how those multitudes of people, five thousand men and many thousands more of women and children were all hungry and without food, as they had been following the Lord for days, likely to the wilderness where the Lord often worked in, and listened to His teachings. He miraculously turned a mere five loaves of bread and two fishes into a great feast that was shared by everyone and with twelve baskets’ worth of leftovers gathered in the end.

God’s love was manifest at that time, and there is no greater love than His gift for us in Christ, which far surpassed even the food by which He provided the Israelites during their forty years of Exodus, the sustenance He provided to the prophet Elijah, and the food He gave to feed all the five thousand men and thousands of other women and children. In Christ, His most Beloved Son, He gave us all the gift of life and the gift of hope, that through Him, we may receive hope and light to dispel the darkness of despair and by overcoming the tyranny of sin and death, leading us into the assurance of eternal life.

As St. Paul mentioned in his Epistle to the Ephesians in our second reading this Sunday, the Lord has shown us His love through Christ, and all of us are called to abandon our path of violence and hatred, of jealousy and anger, and distance ourselves from all evils, as we are also called to imitate His examples of love, in the selfless giving and offering of Himself, as He laid down His life and bore the Cross of our sins, that through His sufferings and many wounds, He would liberate and redeem us from our sins, and lead us into life eternal.

As our Eternal High Priest, the bridge between God and Man, Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life has offered Himself as the perfect and only worthy sacrifice for the forgiveness of all of our multitudes of sins. He raised Himself on the Altar of the Cross, both as the High Priest offering on our behalf, asking God for forgiveness for our sins, and as the Sacrificial Victim, the Paschal Lamb of God, Who was slain and broken on the Altar at Calvary, bloodied and shattered, offering His own Most Precious Body and Blood for the salvation of all of our souls.

And it is this same Most Precious Body and Blood which we have received in the Sacrament of the Most Holy Eucharist, the same bread and wine transformed into the very reality and essence of Our Lord’s Precious Body and Blood, the Real Presence in the Eucharist, which we partake and share. God gave Himself for us, that He may dwell with us and among us, and that He may share with us not only the death of our physical bodies and sin, but also the most glorious resurrection into new life, as we share in His Resurrection at Easter.

This is why every time and every moment we share the Lord in the Eucharist, in every celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, we are constantly reminded that God loves us, brothers and sisters in Christ, loving us unconditionally and has always been there for us, through our highs and lows, sharing with us our joys and sorrows. We must not forget this truth, as all too often we will be tempted to think that no one cares for us or loves us, especially when we are in despair and suffering, which is all too common these days, with all that everyone in the whole world are still suffering and enduring with the Covid-19 pandemic and its effects on us and our communities.

That is why we have to remind one another, brothers and sisters in Christ, to keep our faith in the Lord and to trust in Him as we continue our journey each and every day through life. And we should help remind one another that we have to trust in the Lord in the path that He has called us all to follow that we do not end up walking down the wrong path in life, for temptations are plenty in trying to mislead us down the wrong path, of sin, of darkness and of despair.

Let us encourage one another that we may remain strong and firm in our convictions and faith, and do not easily be broken by the pressures and the difficulties we face in life. And when we are able to help our brethren in need, wherever they are, let us do so enthusiastically and with genuine love, care and affection just as the Lord has done with us when He provided for us and cared for us, with all of His love and attention. Let us be the witnesses and the bearers of God’s hope and love within our own communities.

May the Lord, our most loving God, our Bread of Life and our Hope continue to be with us, guiding us and strengthening us through the challenges and trials we may face and encounter in life. May He give us the courage, strength and perseverance to remain faithful to Him and to keep our trust in Him no matter what. May the Lord be with us always, and remain with us, at all times. Amen.

by

Sunday, 8 August 2021 : Nineteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

John 6 : 41-51

At that time, the Jews murmured because Jesus had said, “I am the Bread Which comes from heaven.” And they said, “This Man is the Son of Joseph, is He not? We know His father and mother. How can He say that He has come from heaven?”

Jesus answered them, “Do not murmur among yourselves. No one can come to Me unless he is drawn by the Father Who sent Me; and I will raise him up on the last day. It has been written in the Prophets : They shall all be taught by God. So whoever listens and learns from the Father comes to Me. For no one has seen the Father except the One Who comes from God; He has seen the Father. Truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.”

“I am the Bread of Life. Though your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, they died. But here you have the Bread from heaven, so that you may eat of It, and not die. I am the living Bread from heaven; whoever eats of this Bread will live forever. The Bread I shall give is My Flesh, and I will give It for the life of the world.”

by

Sunday, 8 August 2021 : Nineteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time (Second Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Ephesians 4 : 30 – Ephesians 5 : 2

Do not sadden the Holy Spirit of God, Who you were marked with. He will be your distinctive mark on the day of salvation. Do away with all quarrelling, rage, anger, insults and every kind of malice : be good and understanding, mutually forgiving one another as God forgave you in Christ.

As most beloved children of God, strive to imitate Him. Follow the way of love, the example of Christ Who loved you. He gave Himself up for us and became the offering and sacrificial victim Whose fragrance rises to God.