Thursday

by

Thursday, 10 March 2016 : 4th Week of Lent (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Exodus 32 : 7-14

Then YHVH said to Moses, “Go down at once, for your people, whom you brought up from the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. They have quickly turned from the way I commanded them and have made for themselves a molten calf; they have bowed down before it and sacrificed to it and said : ‘These are your gods, Israel, who brought you out of Egypt.'”

And YHVH said to Moses, “I see that these people are a stiff-necked people. Now just leave Me that My anger may blaze against them. I will destroy them, but of you I will make a great nation.”

But Moses calmed the anger of YHVH, his God, and said, “Why, o YHVH, should Your anger burst against Your people whom You brought out of the land of Egypt with such great power and with a mighty hand? Let not the Egyptians say : ‘YHVH brought them out with evil intent, for He wanted to kill them in the mountains and wipe them from the face of the earth.'”

“Turn away from the heat of Your anger and do not bring disaster on Your people. Remember Your servants, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and the promise You Yourself swore : I will multiply your descendants like the stars of heaven, and all this land I spoke about I will give to them as an everlasting inheritance.”

YHVH then changed His mind and would not yet harm His people.

by

Thursday, 3 March 2016 : 3rd Week of Lent (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, on this day we heard the word of God spoken through the Holy Scriptures, where we heard about how the people doubted what the Lord Jesus had done, and even accused Him of colluding with the devil and his forces in order to perform the miraculous things that He had done. It was indeed sad to witness such a turn of events, and surely many of us are asking, why is it so?

It is because their hearts had been hardened by prejudice, by selfishness, by stubbornness, and by worldly desires of men, who sought to satisfy themselves first at the expense of others. They hardened their hearts because Jesus spoke the truth to them, and the truth to these people was not something that is good or appealing. For it was revealed the extent of their sinfulness, and how wicked they had been.

And they had not changed in their ways of life. They resorted to wicked and unholy things, and they refused when someone came telling them to turn away from their paths. That is the nature of our human pride, our ego, that we are reluctant to admit that we are wrong and that the other person or people were right. Our ego and ambition prevented us from looking humbly at things and instead of rectifying the issues at hand, we ended up perpetuating the bad things we have done.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, on this day we are all called to reject all sorts of ego and human pride, and all the negative emotions and wickedness inside each one of us. And why is this very important, brethren? What Jesus our Lord had told us this day also ring true in its other meaning and reminder to us. When He spoke of a kingdom being divided against itself will fall, it also spoke about the same division that is currently inflicted in us.

What does this mean? Let us look at the state of the Church itself, brothers and sisters, that we have so many people who professed faith in the Lord, and yet equally as many professed the faith in their own ways, and many followed their own versions of the faith, refusing to obey the Lord and His Church, of which there is only one, the One and only Holy Mother Church, the Catholic Church.

God established His Church on earth through His Apostles and the other disciples, who continued His mission through many places and from cities to cities, as more and more people come to believe in the Lord. But it was human ego and pride that made them to start to be distracted and be swayed in their path towards God. And instead of listening to the Lord and obeying His commandment through His Church, they chose to forge their own path and broke apart the unity of the Church.

And thus the scandal of disunity was born, and many Christians everywhere were divided against each other, and many refused to listen to the call of God calling them to return to the Holy Mother Church. They accused one another and calling each other liars and sinners, while they themselves did not look at their own sins and wrongdoings. And these are what we should avoid doing in this season of Lent.

Rather, God is calling us to work hard and to labour for unity, for the complete reunification of His Church, the Body of our Lord consisting of all those who professed true faith in God and in full obedience to Him in the unity of His Church under the authority of St. Peter and his successors, the Popes as well as the bishops united to the authority of the Vicar of Christ.

And so, let us all, brethren in Christ, work together as one to overcome our human emotions and challenges that had become our obstacles in the path to true unity, and let us help to restore the unity of the faithful in God’s Church, by learning to be humble, and to preach humility, so that all those who have left the true faith by following their own paths may return in humility and together we may find our way to God and to His salvation. May God bless us all, His Church. Amen.

by

Thursday, 3 March 2016 : 3rd Week of Lent (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Luke 11 : 14-23

At that time, one day Jesus was driving out a demon, which was mute. When the demon had been driven out, the mute person could speak, and the people were amazed. Yet some of them said, “He drives out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the chief of the demons.” Others wanted to put Him to the test, by asking Him for a heavenly sign.

But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them, “Every nation divided by civil war is on the road to ruin, and will fall. If Satan also is divided, his empire is coming to an end. How can you say that I drive out demons by calling upon Beelzebul? If I drive them out by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons drive out demons? They will be your judges, then.”

“But if I drive out demons by the finger of God; would not this mean that the kingdom of God, has come upon you? As long as a man, strong and well armed, guards his house, his goods are safe. But when a stronger man attacks and overcomes him, the challenger takes away all the weapons he relied on, and disposes of his spoils.”

“Whoever is not with Me is against Me, and whoever does not gather with Me, scatters.”

by

Thursday, 3 March 2016 : 3rd Week of Lent (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Psalm 94 : 1-2, 6-7, 8-9

Come, let us sing to the Lord, let us make a joyful sound to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before Him giving thanks, with music and songs of praise.

Come and worship; let us bow down, kneel before the Lord, our Maker. He is our God, and we His people; the flock He leads and pastures. Would that today you heard His voice!

Do not be stubborn, as at Meribah, in the desert, on that day in Massah, when your ancestors challenged Me, and they put Me to the test.

by

Thursday, 3 March 2016 : 3rd Week of Lent (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Jeremiah 7 : 23-28

One thing I did command them : Listen to My voice and I will be your God and you will be My people. Walk in the way I command you and all will be well with you. But they did not listen and paid no attention; they followed the bad habits of their stubborn heart and turned away from Me.

From the time I brought their forebearers out of Egypt until this day I have continually sent them My servants, the prophets, but this stiff-necked people did not listen. They paid no attention and were worse than their forebearers.

You may say all these things to them but they will not listen; you will call them but they will not answer. This is a nation that did not obey YHVH and refused to be disciplined; truth has perished and is no longer heard from their lips.

by

Thursday, 25 February 2016 : 2nd Week of Lent (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, on this day we are all reminded of the fate that awaits all those who have not been faithful and to God, namely all those who have committed sin in His presence. The story of Lazarus and the rich man underlined the division that existed between the world and the Lord in their respective ways. And God reminded us that the fate awaiting those who have not been righteous, then they shall fall down into the depth of hell and the eternal fire.

Those who are faithful and committed to the Lord shall not be disappointed. Even though they may encounter difficulties and challenges throughout their earthly lives, but God Who knows it all and sees all, shall know all that His people had done on earth, and He will reward them in accordance to their virtues and deeds, as they have done it.

In the first reading from the book of the prophet Jeremiah, it was made clear to us, that those who have followed the path of righteousness shall be blessed and shall receive the fullness of God’s grace, and have the inheritance and the eternal promise of God given to them as their right. But those who have been wicked and refused to do as what the Lord had told them to do, these shall be destroyed and cast out into the utter darkness.

It is a reminder for all of us still living in this world, not to wait until it is too late for us, to change our ways and abandon all the sinful and wicked things that we have done and committed in this life. God has offered us many chances and opportunities, but it is up to us now whether we want to accept His mercy and be forgiven from our sins.

And we cannot merely just say that we will repent and change our ways, as words without actions are truly empty and meaningless. Instead, we must show with real action, dedication and commitment, that we want to be forgiven, and that we will abandon all of our past wickedness, and turn over a new leaf, and embrace righteousness and justice from now on. This is what we urgently need to do, brothers and sisters in Christ.

We cannot say or think that there is still ample amount of time for us. We may think that we are still young and we have many more years ahead of us to enjoy all the goodness and the pleasures in this world, but life is not for us to decide, when the Lord Himself Who is Lord and Master of all life, is the One to decide our fate, when He calls us back to Himself, and then from there, into judgment.

Thus, in this season of Lent, this very moment, this very day, minute and second, let us not hesitate any longer, and let us not be afraid any longer, or be unsure of what to do. Instead, let us all gather every ounce of our strength, and commit ourselves to righteousness and charity, and in all of our actions, let us no longer be self-serving and selfish, but instead, let us all love one another and care for each other as our own brethren in the Lord.

May our efforts be blessed by God, and may all of us find our way to the Lord, and through our actions and commitments, let us be justified by the actions that we have done to hold upright our faith in God. Let us practice self-limitation and inculcate in ourselves, a heart for service and charity during this period of Lent. And therefore, let us all hope that God will make us stronger as His people in faith. God bless us all. Amen.

by

Thursday, 25 February 2016 : 2nd Week of Lent (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Luke 16 : 19-31

At that time, Jesus said to the people and to His disciples, “Once there was a rich man who dressed in purple and fine linen and feasted every day. At his gate lay Lazarus, a poor man covered with sores, who longed to eat just the scraps falling from the rich man’s table. Even dogs used to come and lick his sores.”

“It happened that the poor man died, and Angels carried him to take his place with Abraham. The rich man also died, and was buried. From hell, where he was in torment, the rich man looked up and saw Abraham afar off, and with him Lazarus at rest. He called out, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me, and send Lazarus’ with the tip of his finger dipped in water, to cool my tongue, for I suffer so much in this fire.'”

“Abraham replied, ‘My son, remember that in your lifetime you were well-off, while the lot of Lazarus was misfortune. Now he is in comfort, and you are in agony. But that is not all. Between your place and ours a great chasm has been fixed, so that no one can cross over from here to you, or from your side to us.'”

“The rich man implored once more, ‘Then I beg you, Father Abraham, to send Lazarus to my father’s house, where my five brothers live. Let him warn them, so that they may not end up in this place of torment.’ Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.'”

“But the rich man said, ‘No, Father Abraham; but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ Abraham said, ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be convinced, even if someone rises from the dead.'”

by

Thursday, 25 February 2016 : 2nd Week of Lent (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

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

Blessed is the one 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 the Lord 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 the Lord knows the way of the righteous but cuts off the way of the wicked.

by

Thursday, 25 February 2016 : 2nd Week of Lent (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Jeremiah 17 : 5-10

This is what YHVH says, “Cursed is the man who trusts in human beings and depends on a mortal for his life, while his heart is drawn away from YHVH! He is like a bunch of thistles in dry land, in parched desert places, in a salt land where no one lives and who never finds happiness.”

“Blessed is the man who puts his trust in YHVH and whose confidence is in Him! He is like a tree planted by the water, sending out its roots towards the stream. He has no fear when the heat comes, his leaves are always green; the year of drought is no problem and he can always bear fruit.”

“Most deceitful is the heart. What is there within man, who can understand him? I, YHVH, search the heart and penetrate the mind. I reward each one according to his ways and the fruit of his deeds.”

by

Thursday, 18 February 2016 : 1st Week of Lent (Homily and Scripture Reflection)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, on this day we see the truth behind the love that God has for all of us. He is a Father to all of us, for He had created us all. And just as all fathers love their children, therefore, He too loves all of us, and even more than fathers do love their children. And He will not abandon His children in times of need, but He will succour us and protect us from everlasting harm.

And Jesus in the Gospel today made clear of this fact, that God will care for His children well, and He will not bring them to harm or bring them into trouble. If we only would ask when we are in trouble, and sincerely opening ourselves and our hearts to Him, then He will succour us and help us for sure. If we seek Him and try to find help in Him, then help will be given to us.

In the first reading today, we heard about the Queen Esther of Persia, a Jew who became the queen of the Persian Emperor, at the time when the enemies of the people of God were trying to bring about their destruction. The people of Israel were in very dire straits indeed, as the order of death and destruction had been placed on them, under the laws of the Persians and the Medians, which could not be revoked, and the enemies of the Lord and His people were then rejoicing for the coming destruction of Israel.

Therefore, at that time, Queen Esther sought the help of the Lord, praying and seeking His divine protection, beseeching the love which God has for His people and begging for Him to intercede for their sake, in tears and in in humble supplications, in mourning and in sorrow, and the Lord heard the prayers of Esther and the people of Israel, doomed to death and destruction, and yet God Who loved them would not let that fate to befall them.

How are these relevant to us, brothers and sisters in Christ? It is very relevant as all of us in our own respective lives on earth, and as we continue living on in this world, we all have our own troubles, difficulties, challenges and obstacles. And we all have no one better to turn to in case of difficulties, than our Lord Himself. He is the only One Who shall not abandon us in times of difficulties. Friends and even families may abandon us, but not God.

And yet there is one thing that all of us need to remember and take note of, and that is the need for us to reach out to the Lord, to be proactive, seeking Him, asking Him and finding Him, and we should not forget that while we must humble ourselves before Him, but we should not be afraid to approach Him, as He loves us all, and there is nothing worse than us being lost just because we are afraid to bring about God’s anger if we seek Him.

This season of Lent is the perfect time and moment for our conversion and for our renewal. Let us draw closer to God, and let us be courageous to speak to Him and to ask Him for His mercy and help, but at the same time, let us all also be committed fully to change ourselves for the better, abandoning our sinful ways and finding our way to the Lord. Let us all be saved and be freed from our sins, and find our way to the Lord, our loving God and Father. Amen.