Tempus Ordinaria

by

Thursday, 27 November 2025 : 34th Week of Ordinary Time (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we all listened to the words of the Sacred Scriptures, we continue to be reminded yet again of the challenges, trials and difficulties which we may have to face as those who have been faithful to the Lord and His commandments. Each and every one of us as Christians are reminded of the important obligations and responsibilities which we have been entrusted with, and for which we should always be ready to do our best to proclaim the Lord, His truth and His Good News in our communities and societies today, among our family members and circles of friends both. We are all called in our own unique ways to give our best for the greater glory of God, in everything that we say and do.

In our first reading passage today, taken from the continuation of the Book of the prophet Daniel, we heard of the story of the moment when Daniel, the wise man and servant in the household of the King of Media and Persia, Darius, the one who had overcome and conquered the Babylonians, faced a new trouble in the form of the opposition from the other courtiers and members of the king’s household, those who were jealous of Daniel and his greatness and wisdom. They plotted against Daniel and pressured the king to act against Daniel, by alleging that he was disrespecting the customs and practices of the Persians and the Medians by his faith in God and the differences of his actions and way of life compared to theirs.

That was how eventually Daniel was sent to the lion’s den, where his enemies hope that he would be destroyed and that they would lose their great obstacle and enemy. But Daniel trusted in the Lord wholeheartedly and he did not allow fear and despair to overcome him, and he prayed to God to deliver him from his troubles and his enemies, and indeed, his prayers were heard, and everyone from the king and all of his enemies witnessed how God kept Daniel safe amidst the hungry lions and kept him from being harmed. Meanwhile, his enemies were immediately devoured and destroyed when the king threw them into that same den after he had rescued and brought Daniel out of the den. This is indeed the proof of God’s providence and help for all those who have always trusted in Him and have faith in Him.

Then, from our Gospel passage today, taken from the Gospel according to St. Luke the Evangelist, we continue to hear as we approach the end of our current liturgical year the eschatological nature of our readings and words of God, reminding us of the coming of tribulations, trials and challenges that will accompany us and our faith in the Lord. Those who continue to be faithful to the Lord will be facing those persecutions and obstacles, and we are reminded henceforth that we should not easily give up the struggle simply because we face those challenges, trials and difficulties, and we should not give in to the temptations of the world, and all the pressures for us to conform to the worldly ways and manners.

The Lord also foretold of everything that would come to happen in the ruin and destruction of Jerusalem, to show that indeed everything that He said would come true, and while the parousia or His Second Coming will still be distant in the future, as it has not even happened today yet, but just as He had predicted the destruction and ruin of Jerusalem and its Temple, therefore, everything will be fulfilled in God’s good time, and He will fulfil all that He has promised to all of us. Each and every one of us are reminded that we should continue to have faith and trust in the Lord despite all the struggles, hardships, all the darkness and trials that we may have to face in our path. God has never abandoned us and He will always provide us for all that we need.

As once Daniel was rescued from the lion’s den and from the hands of his enemies, vindicated and liberated, and as how our many holy and courageous predecessors had been guided by God, even through their great sufferings, that they became great examples and inspiration for everyone around them, and even long after their passing. Many martyrs and holy servants of God have become great role models in inspiring many who came after them, and their examples and courage still echo even to this very day. Can we be those same examples and inspirations to everyone around us, to our family members, friends and all those whom we encounter in each and every moments in our lives? That is what we are being called to do as Christians, brothers and sisters.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all therefore continue to trust in the Lord and in His Providence, never giving up on Him just as He Himself has always been patient in guiding us and strengthening us all throughout our way despite us having been very stubborn at times and despite us having frequently disobeyed and abandoned Him especially when things are good for us, whenever we forget about Him and focusing rather on our worldly desires and ambitions. That is why we have been reminded today through these readings from the Sacred Scriptures such that we may indeed realise just how fortunate we are to have been loved so wonderfully by God and how we should never take this for granted. Instead, we should continue to be faithful to Him and do our best in our lives to glorify Him at all times.

May the Lord continue to strengthen us in our faith and in our resolve to live our lives faithfully according to His ways and teachings. May He continue to guide us all in our journey so that each and every one of us may be ever stronger in our commitment to bring glory to His Name, that in our every actions, efforts, good works and endeavours, we will continue to be good and worthy role models in all things, in all that we say and do. May God bless our every good works and inspire us all with His Wisdom and strength that we may always be faithful to Him, and put our trust in Him, now and always. Amen.

by

Thursday, 27 November 2025 : 34th Week of Ordinary Time (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Luke 21 : 20-28

At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that the time has come when it will be reduced to a wasteland. If you are in Judea, flee to the mountains! If you are in Jerusalem, leave! If you are outside the city, do not enter it!”

“For these will be the days of its punishment, and all that was announced in the Scriptures will be fulfilled. How hard will it be for pregnant women, and for mothers with babies at the breast! For a great calamity will come upon the land, and wrath upon this people. They will be put to death by the sword, or taken as slaves to other nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled upon by the pagans, until the time of the pagans is fulfilled.”

“Then there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth anguish of nations, perplexed when they hear the roaring of the sea and its waves. People will faint with fear at the mere thought of what is to come upon the world, for the forces of the universe will be shaken. Then, at that time, they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.”

“So, when you see things begin to happen, stand erect and lift up your heads, for your deliverance is drawing near.”

by

Thursday, 27 November 2025 : 34th Week of Ordinary Time (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Daniel 3 : 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74

Dew and frost, praise and exalt Him forever.

Ice and cold, praise and exalt Him forever.

Frost and snow, praise and exalt Him forever.

Days and nights, praise and exalt Him forever.

Light and darkness, praise and exalt Him forever.

Lightning and clouds, praise and exalt Him forever.

Earth, praise and exalt Him forever.

by

Thursday, 27 November 2025 : 34th Week of Ordinary Time (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Daniel 6 : 12-28

So the administrators and satraps went to the king and reminded him about the prohibition, “O king, did you not publish a decree that anyone who prays or makes petition to any god or man except to you would be thrown into the lions’ den?”

The king answered, “Yes, and the decree stands, in accordance with Medo-Persian laws which cannot be altered or annulled.” Then they said, “But the Jewish exile Daniel pays no attention to you and to your decree. Three times a day he still prays to some God other than you.”

Greatly aggrieved at what he heard, the king decided to help Daniel. He made every effort till sundown to save him. But the men kept coming to him and insisting, “Remember, o king, that under the Medo-Persian laws every decree or prohibition issued by the king is irrevocable.” The king, therefore, could not help giving the order that Daniel be brought and thrown into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, Whom you serve faithfully, save you.”

A stone was placed at the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with that of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might remain unchanged. Then the king returned to his palace and spent a sleepless night, refusing food and entertainment. Very early next morning, he rose and hurried to the lions’ den. As he came near, he called in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the Living God, did your God, Whom you serve faithfully, save you from the lions?”

Daniel answered, “Live forever, o king! My God sent His Angel, who closed the lions’ mouths, so that they did not hurt me. God did that because I am innocent in His sight. Neither have I wronged you, o king.”

The king felt very glad and ordered Daniel released from the lions’ den. No wound was found on him, for he had trusted in his God. At the king’s order, the men who had accused Daniel were thrown into the lions’ den, together with their wives and children. No sooner had they reached the floor of the den than the lions lunged at them and tore them to pieces.

King Darius wrote to the nations, to peoples of every language, “Peace to you all! I decree that throughout my kingdom people should reverence and fear the God of Daniel. For He is the Living God, and forever He endures; His Kingdom will not be crushed, His dominion will never cease. He rescues and He delivers; He performs signs and wonders both in heaven and on earth. And He came to Daniel’s rescue saving him from the lions’ tooth and claw.”

Daniel greatly prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

by

Wednesday, 26 November 2025 : 34th Week of Ordinary Time (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we all listened to the words of the Sacred Scriptures, we are reminded that it is important for us to take note of what we have heard in the reminders we received of how we need to trust in the Lord and in His Wisdom and guidance. We do not need to worry or fear even when we may be facing lots of tribulations, challenges and trials because we must not forget that the Lord is always by our side, providing for us and strengthening us in our respective journeys in life. God will never abandon us even in the darkest and most difficult moments in our lives, and in fact, when we are encountering troubles and challenges, God is always there by our side, journeying with us, supporting us and ensuring that we are able to persist with faith and dedication, at all times.

In our first reading today, we heard from the Book of the prophet Daniel in which king Belshazzar of Babylon celebrated a great feast and banquet in his capital in the presence of his nobles and the important people of his kingdom. Contextually, he was the last king to rule over the Neo-Babylonian Empire before it was toppled and conquered by the Persians under Cyrus the Great. And what we heard in today’s passage detailed the last moments of its existence, when the proud Belshazzar used the holy vessels from the Temple of God in Jerusalem that his predecessor had ransacked and carried to Babylon as vessels for drinking and merrymaking by himself and his nobles. For this act of great blasphemy and blatant arrogance, God’s retribution was swift, which He revealed through miraculous sign of the hands that wrote the three letters ‘Mene, Tekel and Pharsin’.

Through those words, which the Lord used to reveal His intent to Belshazzar and his wicked courtiers, having displeased the Lord by their wickedness, we are shown that those who mocked the Lord, those who persecuted His faithful ones and oppressed the righteous, and those whom God has loved and cared for will not escape unpunished. And as it happened, the forces of the Persians under King Cyrus the Great came suddenly and as attested by historical evidence and records, they overthrew the rule of the Babylonians and conquered their Empire, uniting the whole land under the rule of the Persian Empire. And more significantly, as attested in other parts of the Scripture, this same King Cyrus also emancipated the Israelites and their descendants who had been suffering in exile in Babylon and elsewhere away from their homeland.

Then, from our Gospel passage today, taken from the Gospel according to St. Luke the Evangelist, we heard of the moment when the Lord Jesus told His disciples the harsh and difficult reality of what it truly means to become His disciples and followers, and if they are to faithfully obey Him and His commandments, and carry out the missions which He would entrust to each and every one of them. They would likely face challenges, trials and difficulties amidst them carrying out their missions and works. But if they remained firmly faithful and committed to what the Lord has entrusted to them, then, certainly the Lord will strengthen and bless them all, and He will not abandon them when things are challenging and tough. God is always present in our midst, and He will help us carry out this burden that we have been carrying with us.

The Lord Himself will give us all that we need to persevere and to be strong in facing all those challenges and trials. We must also have faith and trust in the Lord, believing that through His Wisdom and guidance, through the Holy Spirit that He has sent our way to strengthen, empower and encourage all of us, we will be inspired and strengthened, so that even we face the worst and toughest of obstacles, we will be able to endure all those things that come our way, and we can also even inspire all those around us who have seen and witnessed our faith, commitment and dedication in serving the Lord and in living our lives to the best of our abilities. We must not forget that each and every one of us as God’s disciples and followers are the ones to bear witness to His truth and Good News in our world today, even amidst all the darkness and persecution which we may have to face.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, after we have heard from the readings from the Scriptures, discussed and discerned about it, we can clearly see how God is always there for us, providing for us in our own respective journeys, missions and callings in life. He will not give us something that we cannot endure, persevere and overcome. With Him, everything is indeed possible, and no obstacle or hardship will be great enough to make us stumble and fall, or make us give up if we truly have faith in the Lord and trust in Him wholeheartedly. As many of our own holy predecessors, the innumerable saints and martyrs of the Church from the very beginning of the Church history until now can testify to us, we are reminded of their good examples and lives that if we truly trust in the Lord and put our faith in Him, then we too shall share in their joy and glory in the end.

Let us all therefore seek to glorify the Lord by our own lives and examples, which we should carry out faithfully and courageously despite the challenges, trials and difficulties that we may face and encounter, and despite all the temptations and pressures from all around us to give up the fight and struggle for our faith and for the journey towards the Lord and His salvation. Let us all support one another even through the difficult moments and times, and strive our best to be present in supporting everyone around us who need our help and support, in whatever way and manner it may be. We should continue to be the shining beacons of God’s light, be the source of His hope and encouragement to everyone around us, so that more may continue to persevere despite the hardships and struggles they face.

May the Lord continue to bless and guide us all in our every efforts and endeavours, and may He continue to guide us through His Wisdom and the Holy Spirit so that we may continue to bring glory to Him by each and every one of our works, our endeavours and good contributions, all done for His honour and glory. May God bless us all and empower us all to be His shining examples and role models, now and always. Amen.

by

Wednesday, 26 November 2025 : 34th Week of Ordinary Time (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Luke 21 : 12-19

At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, “Before all these things happen, people will lay their hands on you and persecute you; you will be delivered to the synagogues and put in prison, and for My sake you will be brought before kings and governors. This will be your opportunity to bear witness.”

“So keep this in mind : do not worry in advance about what to say, for I will give you words and wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends, and some of you will be put to death. But even though, because of My Name, you will be hated by everyone, not a hair of your head will perish. By your patient endurance you will save your souls.”

by

Wednesday, 26 November 2025 : 34th Week of Ordinary Time (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Daniel 3 : 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67

Sun and moon, praise and exalt Him forever.

Stars of heaven, praise and exalt Him forever.

Rain and dew, praise and exalt Him forever.

All winds, praise and exalt Him forever.

Fire and heat, praise and exalt Him forever.

Cold and heat, praise and exalt Him forever.

by

Wednesday, 26 November 2025 : 34th Week of Ordinary Time (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Daniel 5 : 1-6, 13-14, 16-17, 23-28

King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for his nobles; a thousand of them attended; and he drank wine with them. Under the influence of wine, he ordered that the gold and silver vessels his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the Temple in Jerusalem be brought in, so that he and his nobles, his wives and concubines might drink from them.

The gold and silver vessels taken from God’s Temple were brought in; and the king and his nobles, his wives and concubines drank from them. While they drank wine, they praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze and iron, of wood and stone. Suddenly a man’s fingers appeared opposite the lamp stand and wrote on the plastered wall of the king’s palace.

Watching the hand as it wrote, the king turned pale. So terrified was he that his knees knocked and his legs gave way. Daniel was brought in and questioned by the king, “Are you Daniel, one of the exiles my father brought from Judah? I have heard that you have the spirit of the gods, that you have insight and extraordinary wisdom. I have heard that you can interpret dreams and solve problems. If you can read this writing and tell me what it means, you will be clothed in purple, wear a gold chain around your neck, and be appointed third in rank in my kingdom.”

Daniel replied, “You may keep your gifts or give them to someone else. Just the same, I will read and interpret the writing for you. You have defied the Lord of heaven. You had the vessels from His Temple brought to you, and, together with your nobles, your wives and concubines, you drank wine from them. You praised the idols made of silver and gold, of bronze, iron and stones, which neither see, nor hear, nor understand; but you never glorified God Who has power over your life and all your fortunes.”

“So He sent the hand that wrote the inscription which read MENE, TEKEL, PHARSIN. And these words mean : MENE, God has numbered the days of your reign and put an end to it; TEKEL, you have been weighed on the scales and found wanting; PHARSIN, your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and the Persians.”

by

Tuesday, 25 November 2025 : 34th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Catherine of Alexandria, Virgin and Martyr (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green or Red (Martyrs)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we all gather together and listen to the words of the Lord contained within the Sacred Scriptures, we are reminded that we should trust in the Lord and put our faith in His power and providence. We should not seek to put more and more emphasis and focus on worldly matters, ambitions and desires, as what many people all around us may be seeking and craving for. As Christians, in fact, we have to continue to do what is right and just in accordance to the ways of the Lord, aligned with His teachings and ways. We have to do our best to be good inspiration, strength and hope for all those whom we encounter in each and every moments of our lives, that we may lead one another towards the Lord, His salvation and righteousness.

In our first reading today, taken from the Book of the prophet Daniel, in which we are told about the moment when the king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar experienced a particular vision in his dreams, and he became restless after seeing that vision of a great statue made of different composite parts and materials, which was then crushed by a great rock that smashed the whole statue to pieces. This was the moment that Daniel came to prominence within the Babylonian king’s court as no one but him was able to tell the king exactly what he has dreamt about. The king asked of all the wise people in his court, all of his servants to tell him both of what he had dreamt and its meaning, and none but Daniel could do so. Only Daniel was given the Wisdom from God to reveal the king’s dream and vision to everyone and to unveil what that vision truly meant.

Through the great Wisdom of God and His guidance, Daniel revealed to king Nebuchadnezzar the meaning of his dreams, showing him that his kingdom itself, no matter how grand and glorious at that time, having ruled over many lands in Mesopotamia and the Levant, and having conquered many countries, fabulous and rich beyond measure, was ultimately going to be replaced by other powers and kingdoms, foretelling what would happen in the future, in the next few centuries as shown by the vision of the statue with its many parts. That statue and its parts actually represent the future kingdoms and powers that would rise up from the time of Babylon onwards, the Empires of Media and Persia, followed by the Greek Empire of Alexander the Great which was fragmented and divided among his successors, and finally the Roman Empire that became the regional superpower at that time.

Then, that huge Rock which came to crush and destroy the statue actually represents the Lord Himself Whose coming into this world in the Person of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Saviour marked the departure from the dominion of the world to the true dominion of God, Who has finally come at last to restore all things to Himself and through His own actions and works, in fulfilling everything that He has promised to His beloved people from the very beginning of time. Therefore, although no one likely realised it at that time, what Daniel had done was in fact prophesying and foretelling of the coming of the Messiah or the Saviour that God has promised, foretelling His arrival after those great Empires has risen and fallen, and unlike those earthly realms and powers that did not last, the dominion of God is everlasting.

We are reminded that if we put our trust in earthly things we are likely going to be disappointed and dismayed because no matter what, none of those will last forever and none of them will endure. Those who put their faith and trust in the Lord will be firmly reassured because in God alone there is constant and steady reassurance. Those who truly have faith and hope in the Lord will know that with God we can all be strong even in the midst of the greatest challenges and trials in life. We must learn to trust in the Lord and His guidance, in all the providence that He is showing us, in all that He has given and blessed us with, the opportunities and wisdom which He has granted to us. We should never take all these for granted, and we should learn to trust in God guiding all of us in our journey and path in life, knowing that with His guidance everything will be all well and good. 

Then, from our Gospel passage today, taken from the Gospel according to St. Luke the Evangelist, we heard of the moment when the Lord Jesus was telling those who admired the grandeur and majesty of the great Temple of God in Jerusalem, the one vastly enlarged by King Herod the Great, that the magnificent edifice would not last long and soon the time would come that it would be torn down and destroyed. Everything did indeed come true a few decades later when the Romans came to besiege Jerusalem during the first Jewish-Roman War about three decades after the Resurrection of the Lord. The conflicts and the violence that followed eventually led to the ransack and the destruction of the great Temple, of which nothing was left save that of the fragments of the walls of its once great compound, what is known today as the Western Wall or the Wailing Wall. It is again another reminder of how trusting in worldly power and grandeur is impermanent unlike trusting in God.

The Lord also told His disciples to be careful and not to be deceived by those who claimed to know of the exact time and the signs which accompanied those claims, all the wars, conflicts and other things that people often associated with the apocalyptic moments and end of times predictions. The Lord warned His disciples and followers, and hence all of us that we should not easily give in to the allure and temptations, pressures and coercions of the false prophets and leaders who could then mislead and bring many of us into the wrong paths in life, when we do not discern carefully our path forward, in what we have been truly called to do by God. This can even happen when those leaders manipulate us into thinking of our calling and mission in a certain way, but not allowing us to discern our paths properly, as is unfortunately common today, especially in our Catholic youth communities.

Today, the Church celebrates the feast of a great martyr and servant of God, a great woman whose faith and dedication to Him served as great inspirations and strength for many Christians during and even long after her time. According to Church tradition, St. Catherine of Alexandria was the daughter of the Roman governor of Alexandria, who lived during the reign of the Roman Emperor Diocletian and his successors. At that time, Christians were treated with disdain and contempt, and a particularly intense and bitter persecution was carried out against them. Many Christians had to suffer and die amidst that brutal persecution, and many of them had to choose between remaining faithful in God and suffer, or to betray and abandon the Lord and live.

St. Catherine of Alexandria courageously went to the Emperor himself, the Emperor Maxentius who ruled in Rome and Italy, during one of these episodes of brutal persecutions, rebuking him for his actions and evil deeds. St. Catherine won over the fifty over philosophers that the Emperor set up against her to debate her on her faith and other matters, so much so that some of them converted to the Christian faith and were martyred. St. Catherine also convinced many others to become Christians, including even the Emperor’s own wife, when they visited her during her time in prison. The Lord Himself visited her, and Angels tended her wounds during her incarceration and period of suffering. The Emperor, who grew increasingly desperate in trying to subdue St. Catherine, tried to woo her by proposing marriage to her, which was also rejected by the saint. In the end, she was martyred by beheading, after other methods had failed.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we remember the dedication and commitment which St. Catherine of Alexandria has shown in her life, in what she has committed to the Lord, and as we reflect upon what we have heard from the Sacred Scriptures, we are reminded that all of us should always put our focus and emphasis in life on God and not on all the various temptations, desires and pleasures of the world, all of which are ultimately fleeting and temporary in nature. We should not spend so much time and effort to seek and gather for ourselves all those worldly wealth, desires and ambitions to the point that we forget the main reason why we exist in this world, that is to glorify God and make our lives truly worthy of Him in all of our every actions, words and deeds, in our every interactions with one another.

May the Lord continue to strengthen us all in our efforts and endeavours to continue to be good role models and inspirations for one another in faith so that by each and every one of our actions, words and deeds, we may truly be the shining examples of our genuine faith in God. May all of us help one another to draw ever closer to the Lord our God, and encourage each other to remain firm and strong in our faith, now and always. Amen.

by

Tuesday, 25 November 2025 : 34th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Catherine of Alexandria, Virgin and Martyr (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green or Red (Martyrs)

Luke 21 : 5-11

At that time, while some people were talking about the Temple, remarking that it was adorned with fine stonework and rich gifts, Jesus said to them, “The days will come when there shall not be left one stone upon another of all that you now admire; all will be torn down.” And they asked Him, “Master, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?”

Jesus said, “Take care not to be deceived, for many will come in My Name, saying, ‘I am He; the time is near at hand!’ Do not follow them. When you hear of wars and troubled times, do not be frightened; for all these things must happen first, even though the end is not so soon.”

And Jesus said, “Nations will fight each other and kingdom will oppose kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines and plagues; in many places strange and terrifying signs from heaven will be seen.”