Sundays after Epiphany

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Friday, 27 October 2023 : 29th Week of Ordinary Time (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Romans 7 : 18-25a

I know, that what is right, does not abide in me, I mean, in my flesh. I can want to do what is right, but I am unable to do it. In fact, I do not do the good I want, but the evil I hate. Therefore, if I do what I do not want to do, I am not the one striving toward evil, but sin, which is in me.

I discover, then, this reality : though I wish to do what is right, the evil within me asserts itself first. My inmost self, agrees and rejoices with the Law of God, but I notice in my body, another law, challenging the Law of the Spirit, and delivering me, as a slave to the law of sin, written in my members.

Alas, for me! Who will free me from this being, which is only death? Let us give thanks to God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord!

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Thursday, 26 October 2023 : 29th Week of Ordinary Time (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, through the Scripture readings we have heard today, we are all reminded that each and every one of us have been called to follow the Lord in our everyday living and at every moments. All of us as Christians must always be filled with the desire and passion to serve the Lord our God in all circumstances and we must always have the strong commitment to follow the Lord in all things, and live our lives ever more faithfully and courageously in accordance with what God Himself has shown and taught us all. We must not be complacent or be ignorant of our calling to be truly righteous, good, just and worthy of the Lord in all of our actions, words, deeds and way of life at all times. That is because we will likely often face situations and moments when we will have to stand up for our faith, make a firm commitment and choice for the Lord or against the Lord.

In our first reading today, we heard the continuation from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans in which the Apostle highlighted of the contrast and differences between the path of sin, evil and wickedness, with the path of righteousness, justice and virtue, in which the first one is the path that is against God, in rebellion against Him, and therefore leads to death and destruction, eternal damnation and suffering. On the other hand, the other path is the path of obedience to God, of following whatever He has led us into, and in doing all that He has commanded us to do. This latter path leads us into the assurance of eternal life, true joy and glory, which God promised to all of His faithful and beloved people. We have once been subjected to the power of sin and evil, and we have been dominated by them in the past, but through Christ, all of us have been shown and delivered to freedom from the dominion of sin.

Yes, brothers and sisters in Christ, as St. Paul himself had elaborated to the faithful people of God in Rome, all of us who have been called and brought out of the darkness of sin, through the power of Christ, our Lord and Saviour, each and every one of us should no longer do things that are contrary to God’s will, Law and commandments. As Christians, God’s chosen and beloved people, all of us should always strive to do what is right and worthy of God, keeping ourselves pure and blameless, resisting the temptations and the pressures for us to conform to the corrupted ways of sin and disobedience against God, the worldliness and all the attachments to worldly pleasures, glory, achievements and ambitions that can lead us astray from the path that we have been shown towards the Lord, our God. The path of the Lord is different and distinct from the path of sin.

Then, in our Gospel passage today, we heard the Lord pointing out to His disciples and followers, how His coming into this world would not usher an era of peace, harmony and glory for the people, but instead, it would lead to division and disagreements, disunity and resistance, as there would be those who refused to believe in God and His truth, and those would likely oppose the ones who have embraced the Lord and His truth as revealed through Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. At that time, the Jewish people, the people of God had been awaiting for the coming of the Messiah, the One Whom God had promised to His people, that He would come to them, bringing about God’s salvation and liberation from their troubles. However, many of the people thought that the Messiah would come and liberate them all from their Roman and other foreign oppressors, restored an era of peace and glory for Israel, and reestablished David and Solomon’s glorious kingdom.

This was where the Lord Jesus revealed to all of His disciples that the truth about His mission and coming into this world was not that which the people had expected or assumed to be. Instead of bringing about immediately an era of glory and peace to the people of God, the reality is that, such fulfilment of what God promised to His people, to all of us, will come in the future, at the time of His own determination. And His first coming into this world was meant to proclaim God’s truth, Good News and salvation to everyone. Essentially, He was gathering all of His beloved people, His flock back towards Himself. Yet, not all of them would listen to Him, as some of those to whom the Lord had revealed Himself rejected Him and chose to trust in their own path and beliefs, refusing to believe in Him, even though He has shown them all His wisdom and power, His assurance and truths. Why is that so? That is because they allowed themselves to be swayed by worldly temptations and sins, and hence, fell into the wrong paths.

The conflict and disagreements, divisions and hardships that came about because of the disagreements and incompatibilities between those who sided with the Lord and those who refused to believe in Him inevitably happened. That was also exactly why throughout the history of the Church and our Christian faith, many of our predecessors have faced multiple challenges, trials and difficulties because they remained firmly faithful to the Lord, and chose to follow the Lord and trust in Him rather than to obey and conform to the worldly norms and paths. Some chose to abandon God’s path and conform to the path of worldliness and sin to save themselves, but many remained true to their faith in God, and faced persecution, oppression and opposition from even within their own families and friends. Not few among the saints experienced these trials and challenges.

Now, brothers and sisters in Christ, for all of us, what truly matters is that we need to be prepared to stand up for our faith, and to be true to our calling and mission as Christians. Each and every one of us should always remind ourselves and one another that we are all as members of God’s Church, as parts of His one united Body, we must always stand together, and be filled with the fullness of God’s grace, love and truth. We should always strive to be exemplary and inspirational in how we live our lives, in our every words, actions and deeds, so that even in the smallest of things, in the seemingly least significant of our works, actions and all that we do, and our every interactions with each other, we may always strive to glorify God, and be genuine and faithful Christians.

May the Lord our God continue to strengthen and empower us all, so that in our every day moments, and in our every efforts, good works and commitments, we may always be strong and courageous in living our lives according to the path that God has shown us. Let us all help and support one another so that despite the many trials and challenges that we may have to face amidst our commitment and obedience to God, we will always remain firm and strong in our faith and trust in the Lord. May the Lord bless our efforts and works, and may He continue to journey with each one of us, in our journey of faith, that we may be truly worthy shining beacons of His Good News and truth, leading countless more towards Him. Amen.

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Thursday, 26 October 2023 : 29th Week of Ordinary Time (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Luke 12 : 49-53

At that time, Jesus said to the people, “I have come to bring fire upon the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and what anguish I feel until it is finished! Do you think that I have come to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. From now on, in one house five will be divided : three against two, and two against three.”

“They will be divided, father against son and son against father; mother against daughter and daughter against mother; mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”

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Thursday, 26 October 2023 : 29th Week of Ordinary Time (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Psalm 1 : 1-2, 3, 4 and 6

Blessed is the man who does not go where the wicked gather, or stand in the way of sinners, or sit where the scoffers sit! Instead, he finds delight in the Law of YHVH and meditates day and night on His commandments.

He is like a tree beside a brook producing its fruit in due season, its leaves never withering. Everything he does is a success.

But it is different with the wicked. They are like chaff driven away by the wind. For YHVH knows the way of the righteous but cuts off the way of the wicked.

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Thursday, 26 October 2023 : 29th Week of Ordinary Time (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Romans 6 : 19-23

You see, that I speak in a very human way, taking into account that you are not fully mature. There was a time, when you let your members be slaves of impurity and disorder, walking in the way of sin; convert them, now, into servants of righteousness, to the point of becoming holy.

When you were slaves of sin, you did not feel under obligation to righteousness, but what were the fruits of those actions, of which you are now ashamed? Such things bring death. Now, however, you have been freed from sin and serve God. You are bearing fruit, and growing in holiness, and the result will be life everlasting.

So, on one side is sin : its reward, death; on the other side, is God : He gives us, by grace, life everlasting, in Christ Jesus, our Lord.

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Wednesday, 25 October 2023 : 29th Week of Ordinary Time (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we listened to the words of the Scriptures, each and every one of us are reminded that we are all the ones to whom God has entrusted His creations and all of this world, for us all to govern and take care of them. This also includes our responsibilities and our areas of involvement in various parts of this world, as we carry out our actions, works and interactions with one another, with our fellow brothers and sisters, our loved ones, family members, relatives and friends, and even with acquaintances and strangers in our midst. All of us are expected as Christians to be ever worthy of God, by doing what we have been shown and taught to do, by our Lord Himself, and through the Law and commandments, and all the guidance which He has imparted upon us through His Church.

In our first reading today, from the continuation of the passages from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans which we have heard for much of these past two weeks, we heard of the important reminders from the Apostle St. Paul to all of us the faithful people of God that we should not allow ourselves to be easily tempted and swayed by sin and all of its dangerous allures, all of which may end up leading us down into the wrong path, into our downfall and destruction. God has brought us out of our slavery and subjugation to sin, freed and delivered us from sin’s dangerous threats and control. But this does not mean that we are not going to face any trouble from sin anymore, as there are always those who wait all around us, seeking our destruction and downfall at all times.

Yes, brothers and sisters in Christ, the devil and all of his fellow wicked forces of evil, all of them are always ready at any moment to strike at us and to bring upon us the temptations and allures so that we may end up disobeying God and falling into those temptations, hence committing sin once again, and be corrupted by the sins and the evils we have done. We must not allow sin and evil to have any control over us, and therefore, it is imperative that we attune ourselves well to the Lord, to know Him better and to find out what He truly wants from each and every one of us, that we may always live our lives in the manner that is truly worthy of God, in obeying His Law and commandments, just as the Lord Jesus Himself has shown us, through the perfect obedience that He has shown to us in fulfilling the mission that His heavenly Father has entrusted to Him.

The Lord has come into our midst, bearing His truth and Good News, and brought upon us deliverance and freedom from the tyranny and domination by sin, which have plagued and affected us for so long all these time. He obeyed His Father and showed us all the grace of God, His love and compassionate mercy, all manifested through the ultimate expression of love that Christ has shown us, by His willing endurance and suffering for our sake, by putting our sins and the punishments and consequences due for those sins upon His own shoulders, so that by His wounds and pains, all of us may be healed from our hurts and sins, and be reconciled completely and fully to God, being forgiven and absolved from all of our past wrongdoings, mistakes, evils and failures. Through the Lord, His love and kindness, and the kind of faith that He has shown us and expected us to have, we are all reminded that we should always strive to live lives that are truly holy and worthy of God.

Then, in our Gospel passage today, we heard the Lord speaking to His disciples and followers, and all those who have been there to listen to Him, using the parable of the diligent and lazy stewards to highlight to them why it is really very important for all of them, and hence, all of us as well, to be ever vigilant and to do what we have been expected to do as God’s disciples, followers, as His beloved people. Each and every one of us are truly the stewards that God has entrusted with various aspects of His creations, this world and all that are in them, and we are all entrusted with various talents, abilities and opportunities, that are distinct and unique to each one of us so that hopefully we may indeed make good use of them for the good purposes and for the benefits of all those whom we encounter in our daily lives and at every moments.

The lazy steward is truly representing all those who have been idle and ignorant of their calling and mission in life, to do what God has entrusted each and every one of them to do, in making use of their gifts, talents and abilities for everyone’s benefits. Instead, they wasted their potential, their time and effort on seeking for their own personal ambitions, worldly pleasures and all those things which brought them further and further away from the path of God. Meanwhile, the diligent steward represents those among us who have responded positively to the Lord’s call and commit themselves wholeheartedly to the mission and works which God has entrusted to each and every one of us. In the end, as we heard, when the master came back, the diligent steward was rewarded greatly while the lazy steward received his just punishment.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, this is why each and every one of us must always be reminded that we should never allow the allures of worldly pleasures, attachments, the glory of worldly fame and other forms of worldliness, its vices and evils to tempt and lead us astray from the right path. We must not allow sin and evil to enter into our hearts and minds, corrupting them and perverting them away from the path of righteousness and justice. Instead, as Christians, we must always be filled with genuine faith and commitment to God, and we must always strive to do His will, at all times, throughout our whole lives. The Lord has given us many opportunities, means and the various ways for us to contribute our parts and to do what we can in order to glorify Him by our lives, and we should do so, at all times.

Let us all be exemplary in our every words, actions and deeds, and let us do our very best so that we may always be worthy of the Lord in all things. May the Lord continue to help and strengthen us in our journey of faith and life, in each and every moments of our lives, so that we may draw ever closer to God and so that we may continue to serve Him ever more wholeheartedly, and be filled with God’s grace and love, His strength, wisdom and courage. May God bless our efforts, good works and endeavours for His greater glory, now and always. Amen.

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Wednesday, 25 October 2023 : 29th Week of Ordinary Time (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Luke 12 : 39-48

At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, “Pay attention to this : If the master of the house had known at what time the thief would come, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect.”

Peter said, “Lord, did You tell this parable only for us, or for everyone?” And the Lord replied, “Imagine, then, the wise and faithful steward, whom the master sets over his other servants, to give them wheat at the proper time. Fortunate is this servant if his master, on coming home, finds him doing his work. Truly, I say to you, the master will put him in charge of all his property.”

“But it may be that the steward thinks, ‘My lord delays in coming,’ and he begins to abuse the male servants and the servant girls, eating and drinking and getting drunk. Then the master will come on a day he does not expect, and at an hour he does not know. He will cut him off, and send him to the same fate as the unfaithful.”

“The servant who knew his master’s will, but did not prepare and do what his master wanted, will be soundly beaten; but the one who does unconsciously what deserves punishment, shall receive fewer blows. Much will be required of the one who has been given much, and more will be asked of the one who has been entrusted with more.”

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Wednesday, 25 October 2023 : 29th Week of Ordinary Time (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Psalm 123 : 1-3, 4-6, 7-8

Had not YHVH been on our side – let Israel say – had not YHVH been on our side, when people rose up against us, then, they would have swallowed us alive; such was their anger against us.

A bit more, and the flood would have engulfed us; the torrent would have swept over us; the raging waters would have swept us away. Blessed be YHVH, Who did not let us be devoured.

Like a bird, our soul escaped from the snare of the fowler; the snare was broken and we were freed. Our help is in the Name of YHVH, Who made heaven and earth.

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Wednesday, 25 October 2023 : 29th Week of Ordinary Time (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Romans 6 : 12-18

Do not allow sin any control over your mortal bodies; do not submit yourselves to its evil inclinations, and do not give your members over to sin, as instruments to do evil. On the contrary, offer yourselves, as persons returned from death to life, and let the members of your body be as holy instruments, at the service of God. Sin will not lord it over you again, for you are not under the Law, but under grace.

I ask again : are we to sin because we are not under the Law, but under grace? Certainly not. If you have given yourselves up to someone as his slave, you are to obey the one who commands you, are you not? Now, with sin, you go to death, and by accepting faith, you go the right way.

Let us give thanks to God, for, after having sin as your master, you have been given to another, that is, to the doctrine of faith, to which you listen willingly. And being free from sin, you began to serve true righteousness.

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Tuesday, 24 October 2023 : 29th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Anthony Mary Claret, Bishop (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Bishops)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today we listened to the words of the Scriptures in which we are reminded of the need for all of us as Christians to continue to be vigilant and be prepared throughout our lives so that we may indeed be filled with faith, grace and righteousness in our every actions, words and deeds, throughout every moments in our lives. We must always be ready to follow God’s path, and do our every works and actions in proclaiming His truth and Good News, by showing them through our sincere commitment to His cause, at every moments. We should not be ignorant of our need and obligations to do God’s will in all things, and to be good role models, examples and inspirations for one another, so that we may strengthen one another in faith.

In our first reading today, in the continuation from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans, we heard of the reminders that all of us have been saved through the works and the perfect obedience shown by one Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Saviour, the One Whom God had sent into our midst to bring us all to salvation and redemption through Him. St. Paul also mentioned how one man, that is Adam, and his disobedience against God had led to the downfall and damnation of mankind, to all the sufferings and challenges that we face in this world, and how this is opposed and compared to the righteousness and obedience of the Lord Jesus, Who obeyed His heavenly Father so perfectly, that by His obedience He might show all of us how we should live our lives faithfully in each and every moments of our lives.

In our Gospel reading today, the Lord presented it plainly before His disciples and followers, that all of us must always be prepared and ready to follow Him, in all of our ways, and we must always be prepared, as at any moment, the Lord can indeed ask us to account for our actions and works, our activities and our failures to do what we are expected to do throughout our lives. The Lord has clearly reminded all of us to keep ourselves and our lives pure and worthy so that we do not end up being caught unprepared and unworthy of God, and therefore may be bound for eternal damnation and Hell. We should always be active in living up to our Christian faith, committing ourselves to proclaim the Lord, our God, through our every actions, words and deeds, our interactions and works, as our holy predecessors, the holy saints of God, had done.

Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Anthony Mary Claret, the founder of the religious order of the Claretians also known as the Congregation of Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, named after its founder. St. Anthony Mary Claret was an archbishop and renowned missionary, who lived approximately two centuries ago, laboured and worked as God’s servant in various places especially Spain and in the colonies of the Spanish Empire, such as in Canary Islands, and also in other areas. He was a great missionary with zeal and love for God, felt and embraced the call to the priestly life, and thereafter went on missions to evangelise and to spread the Good News of God to more and more people. He faced a lot of challenges along his mission and journey, but he always did his best to proclaim the Lord faithfully and courageously.

St. Anthony Mary Claret spent a lot of time in preaching among the people, which became very popular, and many people came to listen to his preachings. He also spent a lot of time in the confessionals, helping many people to come closer to the Lord, by reconciliation and healing, and by listening to their troubles and problems. Many were touched by the courageous and clear sermons from this holy man of God, and by his dedication as a shepherd of the Lord’s flock. He established the Claretians soon after he returned from his missionary works in the Canary Islands, and then later on was quickly appointed as Archbishop of Santiago de Cuba, in which he continued his mission as shepherd and missionary in the territory of Spanish Cuba, reforming the diocesan seminary, establishing schools and hospitals, and founding another religious order named Religious of Mary Immaculate.

St. Anthony Mary Claret continued to serve the people of God with amazing commitment and dedicating his great charism with most passion and commitment, and many came to be saved through his efforts. Miracles and wonders were attributed to him, as according to accounts and eyewitnesses, he levitated during prayers and celebrations of the Mass, and his prayers stopped even calamities like storms and earthquakes, and supernatural lights and phenomena would be seen as he celebrated Mass, facts which astounded many and attested to his great personal holiness and virtues, and he was also given gift of foresight and revelation, as the Lord revealed to him several challenges and trials that the world and the Church would be facing.

St. Anthony Mary Claret eventually became the personal confessor of the Queen of Spain, Isabella II. He continued to do his many works for the glory of God and for the good of his fellow men in his various capacities, continuing to commit himself wholeheartedly for the Lord’s mission and works. He continued to inspire many people in generations after his passing to this very day, and his religious orders continued to work and being inspired by their founder’s great examples. Therefore, each one of us should also be inspired to do God’s will and to follow Him wholeheartedly as St. Anthony Mary Claret and many other holy men and women of God had done. Each and every one of us as Christians should always strive to do what the Lord has taught and shown us all to do.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all hence commit ourselves anew and let us be exemplary in our every actions and works throughout our lives. May God be with us all and may He empower and strengthen each and every one of us, so that we may continue to live our lives most worthily and be the shining beacons of His light and truth, bearing His Good News and love to all whom we encounter daily in life, just as St. Anthony Mary Claret had done in his life and ministry. May God bless our every good endeavours and efforts, now and always. Amen.