Liturgical Colour : Green
Psalm 97 : 2-3ab, 3cd-4, 5-6
YHVH has shown His salvation, revealing His justice to the nations. He has not forgotten His love, nor His faithfulness to Israel.
The farthest ends of the earth all have seen God’s saving power. All you, lands, make a joyful noise to YHVH, break into song and sing praise.
With melody of the lyre and with music of the harp. With trumpet blast and sound of the horn, rejoice before the King, YHVH!
Liturgical Colour : Green
Colossians 1 : 9-14
Because of this, from the day we received news of you, we have not ceased praying to God for you, that you may attain the full knowledge of His will, through all the gifts of wisdom and spiritual understanding.
May your lifestyle be worthy of the Lord and completely pleasing to Him. May you bear fruit in every good work and grow in the knowledge of God. May you become strong, in everything, by a sharing of the glory of God, so that you may have great endurance and perseverance in joy.
Constantly give thanks to the Father, Who has empowered us to receive our share in the inheritance of the saints, in His kingdom of light. He rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son. In Him, we are redeemed and forgiven.
Liturgical Colour : Green
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, on this day we heard of the works of Jesus among His people, curing the sick, casting demons and evil spirits out from those who were possessed. We heard how the people sought for Jesus, hoping that He would touch them and heal then from their sicknesses. And Jesus, having pity on them, healed them and made them whole again.
But at the same time, when Jesus was begged to stay at that place where He had performed the miracles, Jesus said to His disciples that He must go on to other places, and not to stay in that place for too long, for there were also many other people who needed His help and providence, and He was sent into this world so that all the people might hear the word of God’s truth and be saved through Him.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, what then is the significance of what we have heard in the Scripture passages today? First of all, the Lord is calling us to serve Him and to do His good works among the people, by caring in the same manner as how the Lord had cared for His people. The Lord has entrusted us all Christians to care for one another, and the authority has been given to us, through the Church, for those whom God had appointed, to cast out demons and to bring healing to the people afflicted.
Yet at the same time as we have heard in the Gospel, we see how it is easy for us to be tempted to remain in our comfort zone and to be slack in our faith. Why so? Just as Jesus was begged by the people to stay at where He had performed His healing miracles and exorcisms, all of us will also be tempted to remain within our comfort zone, within the boundaries of what we are familiar and comfortable with, that we end up refusing to do what we should have been able to do as Christians.
In this, therefore, all of us are challenged to do what we can do, and contribute in whatever way we can, to show love, care and concern for others, especially to all those who are less fortunate than us, those who are without love and affection, to those who have been rejected by others and by the community. All of us should be loving in all of our actions and deeds, and we should reach out to those who are needy, and share with them the blessings we have received from God.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, have all of us been devoted to God in this manner? And have we done what the Lord had challenged us to do in our lives? Have we as Christians committed our time and effort in order to touch the lives of others around us? Or have we rather ignored the plea and the cries of the needy and the hungry, those who were suffering and in pain?
Let us all from now on dedicate ourselves anew, walking faithfully in God’s ways, and do whatever we can, beginning from ourselves and from all those whom we encounter in life. We may think that as a mere human being and as a mere person, we may not be able to do a lot or in a significant manner for all those who need our help. Yet, everything needs a beginning, or else it will never begin. If we do not start to take action now, when will it be then?
Let us all renew our effort and double down on what we can do, to care for those who need our help. Let our actions and works be the extensions of the good work of God. May the Lord also bless us all and help us on our path, that we may always be ready to do the work of God, and following the footsteps of our Lord, Who is ever ready to extend His merciful grace to those who are sick, physically and spiritually. May He be with us always and with our endeavours. Amen.
Liturgical Colour : Green
Luke 4 : 38-44
At that time, leaving the synagogue, Jesus went to the house of Simon. His mother-in-law was suffering from high fever, and they asked Him to do something for her. Bending over her, He rebuked the fever, and it left her. Immediately, she got up and waited on them.
At sunset, people suffering from many kinds of sickness were brought to Jesus. Laying His hands on each one, He healed them. Demons were driven out, howling as they departed from their victims, “You are the Son of God!” He rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, for they knew He was the Messiah.
Jesus left at daybreak and looked for a solitary place. People went out in search of Him, and finding Him, they tried to dissuade Him from leaving. But He said, “I have to go to other towns, to announce the good news of the kingdom of God. That is what I was sent to do.” And Jesus continued to preach in the synagogues of Galilee.
Liturgical Colour : Green
Psalm 51 : 10, 11
But I am as a green olive tree that thrives in the house of God : I trust in God’s unfailing love forever and ever.
I will praise You forever, for all You have done; and proclaim Your good Name before the faithful ones.
Liturgical Colour : Green
Colossians 1 : 1-8
Paul, Apostle of Christ Jesus, by the will of God, and Timothy, our brother, to the saints in Colossae, our faithful brothers and sisters in Christ : Receive grace and peace from God, our Father, and Christ Jesus, our Lord. Thanks be to God, the Father of Christ Jesus, our Lord!
We constantly pray for you, for we have known of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of your love for all the saints. Indeed, you await in hope the inheritance reserved for you in heaven, of which, you have heard through the word of truth. This Gospel, already present among you, is bearing fruit, and growing throughout the world, as it did among you, from the day you accepted it, and understood the gift of God, in all its truth.
He who taught you, Epaphras, our dear companion in the service of Christ, faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, has reminded me of the love you have for me, in the Spirit.
Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Religious)
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, on this day we heard the Word of God through the Scriptures, speaking to us about the love and mercy of God, through which He desired to bring us all into reconciliation with Him, that we may be free from the sins and troubles that had kept us from God’s grace. That is what God wanted for each one of us, for us to be redeemed and saved.
And that is why, even though once we lived in the darkness, and were engulfed by the wickedness of the world, now we exist in the light, because God has revealed to us His salvation through His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, Whose coming into this world has brought unto us the fullness of the revelation of God’s grace and love. We see all that through the many good works and miracles which He had done among the people.
In the Gospel today, we also witness one of those miracles, when Jesus cast out evil spirits from within a man possessed by the devil. The man had been in the darkness, and was under the dominion of the devil, but God came to free him, casting out that evil spirit from him, and having been freed, therefore, the man came to reconciliation with God and was healed from his afflictions.
That is what the Lord wants for each and every one of us, without exception. He wants the salvation of us all, even to the greatest among the sinners. God gave us His assurance of salvation as long as we ourselves want to be saved, and has that desire to be reconciled with Him, through repentance and genuine regret for our sins and wickedness. And through His Son, Jesus, He has touched each one of us and healed us.
Yet, the good works of God has not yet been completed. As we should be aware of, there are still many people out there who are still lost in the darkness, trapped in ignorance and rejection of the truth of God. There are still many out there who are in need of God’s loving grace and protection, and it is by the works of our hands that God is exercising His power and work among us, we who are God’s Church.
That is why it is just appropriate that today we also celebrate the feast of St. Teresa of Calcutta, the person whom we also fondly remember as Mother Teresa of Calcutta, a recently proclaimed saint whose works among the poor, the sick and dying, and the least fortunate among the children of God in Calcutta has been renowned throughout the world. It was her approach and efforts to help the last, the least and the weakest of our fellow brothers and sisters that had inspired many others to do the same.
St. Teresa of Calcutta showed us all that if we are truly God’s followers and disciples, then we ought to be committed to work for the greater glory of God and for the good of His people, our fellow men and women. And St. Teresa of Calcutta exactly did just that, by her selfless giving and commitment, and by her hard work and zeal through which she showed her faith in God via her loving and tender care for her fellow brethren, those who are suffering in this world.
Now, let us all ask ourselves, brothers and sisters in Christ. Are we also able to do the same? Are we capable of giving our very best to our fellow men and women? Are we able to walk in the footsteps of St. Teresa of Calcutta and the many other holy saints of God, who had given themselves to the care and love, the service and commitment towards the hungry, the poor, the sick and the dying?
All of us have to realise that there are still so many things which we can do and contribute through our actions in life, in fulfilling what God had taught and commanded all of us to do, that is to love one another just as much as we have loved ourselves. Therefore, let us all, with renewed zeal and desire to commit, seek to bring one another to the salvation in God, by our good works and charity, through every action we do in our lives and through every effort we have made.
May the Lord bless all of us and all of our endeavours. May He empower us all to be ever more dedicated and committed to Him, so that in all the things we do, we will always proclaim His glory and bring ever more souls closer to righteousness and salvation in God. Amen.
Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Religious)
Luke 4 : 31-37
At that time, Jesus went down to Capernaum, a town of Galilee, and began teaching the people at the Sabbath meetings. They were astonished at the way He taught them, for His word was spoken with authority.
In the synagogue, there was a man possessed by an evil spirit, who shouted in a loud voice, “What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I recognise You : You are the Holy One of God.”
Then Jesus said to him sharply, “Be silent and leave this man!” The evil spirit then threw the man down in front of them, and came out of him without doing him harm. Amazement seized all these people, and they said to one another, “What does this mean? He commands the evil spirits with authority and power. He orders, and you see how they come out!”
And news about Jesus spread throughout the surrounding area.
Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Religious)
Psalm 26 : 1, 4, 13-14
YHVH is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? YHVH is the rampart of my life; I will not be afraid.
One thing I ask of YHVH, one thing I seek – that I may dwell in His house all the days of my life, to gaze at His jewel and to visit His Sanctuary.
I hope, I am sure, that I will see the goodness of YHVH in the land of the living. Trust in YHVH, be strong and courageous. Yes, put your hope in YHVH!
Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Religious)
1 Thessalonians 5 : 1-6, 9-11
You do not need anyone to write to you about the delay, and the appointed time for these events. You know, that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When people feel secure, and at peace, the disaster will suddenly come upon them, as the birth pangs of a woman in labour, and they will not escape.
But you, beloved, are not in darkness; so that day will not surprise you like a thief. All of you are citizens of the light and the day; we do not belong to night and darkness. Let us not, therefore, sleep as others do, but remain alert and sober.
For God has not willed us to be condemned, but to win salvation, through Christ Jesus, our Lord. He died for us, so that, we might enter into life, with Him, whether we are still awake or already asleep. Therefore, encourage one another and build up one another, as you are doing now.
petercanisiusmichaeldavidkang 