Tuesday

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Tuesday, 7 July 2026 : 14th 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 Lord as contained in the Scriptures, we are presented with the sins that we have often committed in life, as shown in what the people of Israel had done in the past, and how God is freeing us all from the bondage to those attachments to evil, wickedness and sin. Through Christ, His beloved Son, Our Lord and Saviour, God had brought His salvation and grace upon us, and He has shown us the path towards eternal life and joy through Him. Now, the question is for us Christians, is how do we respond then to His call for us? Are we going to embrace God’s call with faith or will we instead turn away from Him and seek what is evil in the world around us?

In our first reading today, we heard from the Book of the prophet Hosea on all the wickedness that the Israelites in the northern kingdom centred at Samaria had done, in their rebellion against God. The kings and the people chose to worship pagan idols, the golden calf of king Jeroboam, the first to mislead the Israelites into sin, and then Baal and Asherah and many other Canaanite gods, on top of persecuting the many prophets and messengers that God had patiently sent into their midst to help them to rediscover the right path in life. They stubbornly refused the Lord and His messengers, and shut the doors of their hearts and minds against Him, persecuting and oppressing those prophets and messengers for correcting and reminding them.

Thus, through what we heard in our reading passage today, we are all reminded that while God’s mercy, compassion and love are truly vast and boundless, and while God is ever patient, but He also wants us to know that sin has no place before Him, and we cannot ignore those sins, or else they will threaten to drag us off the path towards God’s salvation. Sin is a terrible force that corrupts us and makes us defiled and unworthy of God, and God alone can heal us from this affliction through His forgiveness and grace. Yet, it also depends on us accepting and embracing His love and mercy. Without that active participation from us in embracing the great and generous mercy of God, then His mercy will not avail us and we will not have embraced the full extent of that mercy, love and kindness.

In our Gospel passage today, we heard the Lord speaking to the Pharisees and to His disciples at the time when He was accused by the Pharisees of colluding with the prince of demons in His miraculous healing and exorcism of the man who was possessed by evil spirits. Those Pharisees and the teachers of the Law were among the most educated and influential members of the community, but they were also those who were the most vocal in their opposition against God, against His works and efforts. Despite everything that the prophets had proclaimed and spoken regarding Him, many of the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law failed to see the truth as they were too preoccupied with their own prejudices and ideals that they refused to listen to the truth that God has brought unto them through His own Son.

And they also refused to open their hearts and minds to believe in God, much as how the people of Israel at the time of the prophet Hosea and before that had been unfaithful, stubborn and wicked in their actions. Much of this can be attributed to pride, ego and greed, all of which had often led mankind to their fall, all throughout history. Nonetheless, the Lord continued to persevere through His mission, reaching out to the people, who were described in our Gospel today, as likened to a flock of sheep without a shepherd. The Lord took pity of them, loving them and showed them His truth, teaching them and guiding them to the right path, sending them all His own beloved Son in the end to show us all the path towards the everlasting life in Him.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, through what we have heard in our Scripture passages today, therefore we are all reminded that all of us must be ever vigilant against sin, and we have to always be wary that we do not fall into the temptations to turn away from God and His path. We should not allow the pressures and the coercions of this world and the allures of sin to force us to embrace the ways of the world. There will be plenty of avenues through which Satan and his followers will try to strike at us, trying to turn us towards the path of sin and evil. We have to resist them and entrust ourselves in the Lord, and follow Him with commitment and faith, in doing what is right and just in His Presence at all times.

As Christians, as those whom God had called and chosen, and those who have responded with faith to His call, let us all therefore seek to humble ourselves more, turn away from the path of pride and from the vices of the world, resisting and rejecting the various temptations and pressures which had brought down many among our ancestors and predecessors. We should always remember everything that the Lord had done for our sake, in how He has reached out to us with love and mercy, and keep in mind that none of us are perfect, and none of us are truly better than the others around us, and therefore, instead of having a selfish and self-serving attitude, thinking that we are better than others, let us all begin from ourselves, by realising our sinfulness and strive to seek and embrace wholeheartedly God’s mercy and forgiveness, and love Him and our fellow mankind with the same kind of love that God has shown us all first.

May the Lord, our most loving, compassionate and merciful God continue to guide and strengthen us all in our paths in life so that we may continue to walk ever more faithfully in His path and in His loving Presence, becoming great source of inspiration and hope for everyone around us. May He bless our every good deeds, efforts and endeavours, in everything that we do for His greater glory, now and always. Amen.

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Tuesday, 7 July 2026 : 14th Week of Ordinary Time (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Matthew 9 : 32-38

At that time, as the two blind men were going away, some people brought to Jesus a man who was dumb, because he was possessed by a demon. When the demon was driven out, the dumb man began to speak. The crowds were astonished and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”

But the Pharisees said, “He drives away demons with the help of the prince of demons.”

Jesus went around all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom; and He cured every sickness and disease. When He saw the crowds, He was moved with pity; for they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are only few. Ask the Master of the harvest to send workers to gather His harvest.”

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Tuesday, 7 July 2026 : 14th Week of Ordinary Time (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Psalm 113B : 3-4, 5-6, 7ab and 8, 9-10

There in heaven is our God; whatever He wishes, He does. Not so the hand-made idols, crafted in silver and gold.

They have mouths that cannot speak, eyes that cannot see, ears that cannot hear, noses that cannot smell.

They have hands but cannot feel, feet, but cannot walk. Their makers will be like them; so will all who trust in them.

O Israel, trust in YHVH; He is your Help and your Shield! You, family of Aaron, trust in YHVH; He is your Help and your Shield!

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Tuesday, 7 July 2026 : 14th Week of Ordinary Time (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Hosea 8 : 4-7, 11-13

Without My approval they set up kings and without My blessing appointed leaders. With their silver and gold they fashioned idols to their own ruin. To Me, Samaria, your calf is loathsome; and My anger blazes against you. How long will you remain defiled? The calf is yours, Israel, a craftsman has made it; it is not God and will be broken into pieces. As they sow the wind, they will reap the whirlwind. Stalk without flower, it will never yield flower, or if they do, foreigners will devour it.

Ephraim built many altars; but his altars made him more guilty. I wrote out for him the numerous precepts of My law; but they look on them as coming from foreigners. They offer sacrifices to Me because they are those who eat the meat; but YHVH does not accept their sacrifices, for He is mindful of their sin and remembers their wickedness. They will return to Egypt.

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Tuesday, 30 June 2026 : 13th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of the First Martyrs of the Holy Roman Church (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green or Red (Martyrs)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we all heard the words from the Sacred Scriptures, we are all reminded of the need for each and every one of us to put our trust and faith in the Lord our God, in Him Who is our anchor and the foundation of our lives. We should always have faith in God even during the hardest and most difficult moments, just as our predecessors whose stories we are going to discuss and elaborate in depth in a while, can show us. During difficult and challenging moments, instead of turning away from the Lord and chasing after worldly means, validation and sources of comfort, we truly should realise that none of the latter can truly bring us satisfaction, and it is in God alone is our eternal help and true joy.

In our first reading today, taken from the Book of the prophet Amos, we heard of the words of the Lord to His people in the northern kingdom of Israel through the prophet Amos, who came from the land of Judah and yet was sent by God to minister to His wayward ones in the northern kingdom. And as we heard from that passage today, we heard how moments of reckoning and judgment would come upon those people who had consistently hardened their hearts and minds against their Lord and God, and persecuted His many prophets, preferring to follow the wicked ways of their pagan neighbours, worshipping the false idols and gods instead of obeying and following their Lord and God.

Naturally, as we heard how punishments and harsh consequences were coming for the people of the northern kingdom, Amos himself did not have it easy and he himself faced ridicule and persecutions for his efforts and works. In one occasion, Amos was told by the King of Israel himself to go back to his own land, because he was a troublemaker and doom-bringer. Yet, Amos responded firmly with faith and testified that everything that he had been sent to do were upon the Divine commandment and will of God, Who had sent him to reveal His intentions to those wayward people, hoping that at least some of them would repent and change their way of life.

Then, from our Gospel passage today, we heard from the Gospel according to St. Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist in which we heard of the story of the time when the Lord and His disciples were travelling in the boat on the Lake of Galilee, and a great storm, strong waves and wind were battering on the boat, threatening to sink the boat, which terrified the disciples a lot. And the fact that at least four among those disciples were themselves fishermen used to the conditions of the storm and waves at the place where they used to work and fish gave evidence to just how powerful and fearsome that great storm must have been. And in that moment, the disciples sought the Lord and in panic pleaded with Him to help them all.

The Lord chided His disciples for their lack of faith and trust in Him, and told them that they ought to believe in Him and trust that He can provide them deliverance and help, and that they absolutely have no need to be afraid at all no matter what might happen, as the Lord was with them and never abandoned them in their time and hour of greatest need. And this is in fact also a representation of what the Church faces on daily basis and how God is always with His faithful and beloved ones, when they are all facing hardships and challenges. The Church is often represented as a boat, just our church buildings usually have the same shape and structure, a reminder to both God’s salvation in the Noah’s Ark and in this story of Jesus calming the storm.

Therefore, all of us, represented by the Apostles and the other disciples of the Lord, the Church of God, is always led and guided by the Lord Himself, Who is the Head of the Church, leading us all through the storms and hardships of this life, all the challenges, trials and tribulations with the call for all of us as Christians to continue to trust in God’s guidance, providence and reassurance. We should never abandon the Lord and His Church, and instead choosing to persevere on together with Him. In the end, we will be triumphant together with the Lord, and all of our sufferings, trials and journeys will be all worth it, because God is always with us, by our side throughout the whole journey.

Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Holy First Martyrs of the Holy Roman Church, commemorating all those who have perished in the great persecutions of the Christians in Rome, at the heart of the Roman Empire, also the heart of Christendom, during the time of the reign of the Roman Emperor Nero. At that time the early Christians began to grow in number across the Roman Empire, even at the very heart of the Empire in Rome. During the reign of the Emperor Nero, it happened that a great fire broke out throughout the city of Rome, what would be known as the Great Fire of Rome, in which the Emperor laid the blame on the Christians in the city, which were therefore persecuted and arrested, and many were martyred during this intense persecution.

Yet, despite the challenges and trials, the sufferings and hardships which they had to face, those faithful Christians in Rome endured and remained firm in their faith, and most did not give up their faith, although many were thrown to the lions and to be tortured. They were blamed for crimes and faults that they themselves did not commit, and most people in fact assigned the blame to the Emperor Nero himself, who obviously sought a scapegoat for his actions. Those faithful Holy Martyrs in Rome remained firm in their conviction and dedication to God, and they became the inspiration and strength for many others who were also facing hardships and trials in life throughout the succeeding years and generations. All of us should also therefore be inspired and strengthened in the same way as well.

Let us all hence commit ourselves wholeheartedly to the service of God from now on, and let us all be reminded of God’s ever gracious love and compassion, and do our part to love the Lord as well, as part of the Covenant which He has established with us. Let us all therefore renew our commitment and faith in God, doing our very best to glorify Him by our every efforts and endeavours, our good and exemplary lives, now and always. Amen.

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Tuesday, 30 June 2026 : 13th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of the First Martyrs of the Holy Roman Church (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green or Red (Martyrs)

Matthew 8 : 23-27

At that time, Jesus got into the boat and His disciples followed Him. Without warning, a fierce storm burst upon the lake, with waves sweeping the boat. But Jesus was asleep.

The disciples woke Him up and cried, “Lord save us! We are lost!” But Jesus answered, “Why are you so afraid, you of little faith?” Then He stood up and rebuked the wind and sea; and it became completely calm.

The disciples were astonished. They said, “What kind of Man is He? Even the winds and the sea obey Him.”

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Tuesday, 30 June 2026 : 13th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of the First Martyrs of the Holy Roman Church (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Green or Red (Martyrs)

Psalm 5 : 5-6, 7, 8

You are not a God Who delights in wickedness; evil has no place in You. The arrogant cannot stand before You. You hate all who do evil.

You destroy all who speak falsehood, who thirst for blood and live on lies; all of them YHVH detests.

But I, by Your love and grace, may come into Your house. In reverence, I bow down and worship at Your holy Temple.

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Tuesday, 30 June 2026 : 13th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of the First Martyrs of the Holy Roman Church (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green or Red (Martyrs)

Amos 3 : 1-8 and Amos 4 : 11-12

Hear this word which YHVH speaks against you, people of Israel, against the whole family which He brought up from the land of Egypt. YHVH said, “Only you have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will call you to account for all your wrongdoings.”

“Do two walk together unless they have agreed? Does a lion roar in the forest when it has no prey? Does a young lion growl in its den unless it has seized something? Does a bird get caught in a snare if the snare has not been baited? Does a tiger spring up from the ground unless it has caught something?”

“If a trumpet sounds in a city, will the people not be frightened? If disaster strikes a city, has not YHVH caused it? Yet YHVH does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants, the prophets. If the lion roars, who will not be afraid? If YHVH speaks, Who will not prophesy?”

“I overthrew you, a divine punishment, as happened to Sodom and Gomorrah; you were like a brand snatched from the blaze, yet you never returned to Me,” says YHVH. “Therefore, I will deal with you in My own way, Israel, and since I will do this to you, prepare, Israel, to meet your God!”

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Tuesday, 23 June 2026 : 12th 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, we are all reminded to entrust ourselves to the Lord and not to be easily swayed by sin, which would lead us down the path towards annihilation and destruction, and we must not let pride and hubris from affecting and influencing us or our actions in life. Instead, we should try our best to humble ourselves before God and heed His calls, listening to His words and reminders for us to turn away from our sins. We are all called to be holy and righteous in all of our words, actions and deeds, and everything ought to begin from our daily living. Through us and our good examples, many more will come to believe in the Lord and in His truth, and it is our responsibility to make good of this mission we have in this life.

In our first reading today, we heard from the Book of Kings of Israel and Judah the account of the attack on Judah and the siege of Jerusalem by the Assyrians, which happened during the reign of the righteous king Hezekiah of Judah. King Sennacherib of Assyria brought his whole vast army to conquer Judah and Jerusalem, and the people of God and their king were thoroughly outnumbered and no one would have expected them to survive the attack by the Assyrians, least of all from Sennacherib himself, who proudly believed and announced that no god or deity had ever protected any other nations he had destroyed and conquered, and that the same fate would happen to Judah as well. He was so full of himself that he forgot that ultimately he was not in control of everything.

Unlike those others, Judah and Jerusalem had the Lord, the one and only True God, Who was by the side of His people, Who listened to every single blasphemous words uttered by king Sennacherib in his vain pride and arrogance. The Lord listened to Sennacherib’s prideful words as well as Hezekiah and the people of Judah’s prayers for deliverance, made through the prophet Isaiah, all of whom trusted in the Lord and His providence and help. The Lord therefore delivered His beloved people from harm, and as we heard in our first reading today, sent His Angels to crush the forces of the Assyrians, and caused massive deaths among them, which led to Sennacherib having to retreat back to his land in shame.

The Lord showed that all those who pride in themselves and refused to believe in Him, or persecute those who have faith in Him, will face defeat and destruction in the end. He has always been with those who entrusted themselves to Him, just as He proved to the people of Judah and their king, Hezekiah. Pride is indeed a very grievous and terrible sin, and is something that can easily distract and pull us away from the path towards salvation. We must not be prideful and haughty, arrogant and thinking that we are great and powerful, for as we have heard, the Lord brought low those who were proud and mighty, when they boasted of their power and glory before others. On the other hand, He exalts the humble and those who remain true to their faith in Him.

In our Gospel passage today, we heard of the Lord speaking to His disciples and followers, calling on all of them to holiness, stating to them how the path to salvation and eternal life is truly one that is narrow and difficult, and unless one makes the effort to enter the narrow gate, then many may end up not being able to enter into that desired path. And why is that so, brothers and sisters in Christ? That is exactly because of pride, hubris and arrogance I mentioned earlier, the downfall of many of our predecessors, as well as many other things such as greed, jealousy, hatred, lust among other things. If we allow ourselves to indulge on those things, then sooner or later we will realise that they usually end up leading us ever further astray from the Lord and His path.

That is why as Christians each and every one of us are called and challenged to remove from ourselves, our hearts and minds, all these obstacles of pride, greed, jealousy, hatred, gluttony, wrath, envy, sloth and all other things that often prevented us from finding our way towards God. We cannot allow those things to distract or tempt us to fall into the path of sin, again and again, as many of us had experienced throughout life. We are all called to be better Christians in actions, words and deeds, and we cannot be hypocrites who act in the way contrary to what our faith had shown and revealed to us. We are reminded that we should always be genuine in the manner on how we live our faith, in genuinely showing love for the Lord and for others around us.

Therefore, brothers and sisters in Christ, all of us should heed these reminders from the Lord and keep in mind that all of us should remain firmly united with Him and aligned with Him in all of our ways of life, in our every moments in life. All of us must not allow ourselves to be swayed by the worldly glories and all the things which can lead us down the slippery slope towards our downfall as King Sennacherib of Assyria and other proud people in the past had suffered from. We will realise it sooner or later that none of these hubris, pride and ego will benefit us, and in fact, we will only come to regret our folly in pursuing such wicked attitudes in life. Instead, the greater we are and the mightier we have become, the humbler we should be, and the more we must realise that all the glory we have, ultimately should be attributed to God.

May the Lord our God continue to guide us all so that we may continue to persevere through the most challenging moments in life, with true faith and dedication to Him, doing our very best at every circumstances so that we will be the great inspiration and role models for everyone around us in faith, in our virtuous path and in obedience to God. Let us all bear witness faithfully to what God has sent us all to do, to do what He has entrusted to each one of us, with ever greater zeal and commitment in each passing day, now and always. Amen.

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Tuesday, 23 June 2026 : 12th Week of Ordinary Time (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Matthew 7 : 6, 12-14

At that time, Jesus said to His disciples and to the people, “Do not give what is holy to the dogs, or throw your pearls before pigs. They might trample on them, and then turn on you and tear you to pieces.”

“So, do to others whatever you would that others do to you : there, you have the Law and the prophets. Enter through the narrow gate : for wide is the gate, and broad is the road, that leads to destruction, and many go that way. How narrow is the gate that leads to life; and how rough, the road; few there are, who find it.”