Tuesday

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Tuesday, 9 September 2025 : 23rd Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Peter Claver, Priest (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Priests)

Colossians 2 : 6-15

If you have accepted Christ Jesus as Lord, let Him be your doctrine. Be rooted and built up in Him; let faith be your principle, as you were taught, and your thanksgiving, overflowing.

See that no one deceives you with philosophy or any hollow discourse; these are merely human doctrines, not inspired by Christ, but by the wisdom of this world. For in Him, dwells the fullness of God, in bodily form. He is the Head of all cosmic power and authority, and, in Him, you have everything.

In Christ Jesus, you were given a circumcision, but not by human hands, which removed completely from you the carnal body : I refer to baptism. On receiving it, you were buried with Christ; and you also rose with Him, for having believed in the power of God, Who raised Him from the dead.

You were dead. You were in sin and uncircumcised at the same time. But God gave you life with Christ. He forgave all our sins. He cancelled the record of our debts, those regulations which accused us. He did away with all that, and nailed it to the cross. Victorious through the cross, He stripped the rulers and authorities of their power, humbled them before the eyes of the whole world, and dragged them behind Him, as prisoners.

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Tuesday, 2 September 2025 : 22nd 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 Sacred Scriptures, we are reminded that in God we have our Hope and the Light that will dispel and drive out the darkness and evils surrounding us. We must not and should not be afraid of the forces of evil arrayed against us, and we have to do our best to live our lives in the manner that is truly worthy of God so that by our every actions, words and deeds, we will always proclaim the wonders, the love and the glory of God at all times. We should always seek to trust in the Lord and His Providence, doing our best to follow His path and teachings, becoming good role models and examples for everyone around us in doing so.

In our first reading today, we heard from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Thessalonians, those who belong to the Church of God in the city and region of Thessalonica in northern Greece today. In that passage we heard how St. Paul encouraged the faithful there who have been good and worthy in their way of live as Christians, in caring and showing love for one another, as well as in their warm welcome for the Apostle and his fellow missionaries. St. Paul encouraged the faithful in Thessalonica with the message of hope, reminding all of them that the Lord will eventually come and vindicate them in their good efforts and faithful life, even amidst the challenges and sufferings which they might have to face in their journey and life.

St. Paul mentioned clearly that what the Lord Himself desired is not our destruction and damnation, but for all of us to be saved and brought out from our fated destruction, and He willingly did all of these through His own Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Saviour, Who has shown us all the love of God manifested most wonderfully through everything that He has delivered upon us and all the generous love which He has shown us, not just through words alone but also through genuine actions, in Him embracing the least and the worst among us, those who have been abandoned and ostracised even by their own fellow brothers, and ultimately, in what Christ Himself had done in taking up the Cross for our salvation.

Yes, brothers and sisters in Christ, it is important indeed that we should realise just how beloved we have been by the Lord that He has reached out to us with such great love that He has shown us through His Son, that He has  given us this most wonderful hope manifested in us by His most perfect and selfless love, His ultimate sacrifice on the Cross. For it was by that sacrifice that each and every one of us have been brought to a new Hope and assurance of eternal life, for all of us who are still in this world, and for all those who have departed from this world, everyone since the beginning to the very end of time. God will gather all of us to Himself and bring us into the eternal joy and happiness that He has promised and prepared for us.

Therefore, just as we have been reminded to have faith and trust in Him, we are reminded again of what we have ourselves heard from the Gospel passage today taken from the Gospel passage according to St. Luke the Evangelist, in which the story of the Lord’s ministry in the town of Capernaum in Galilee was highlighted to us. In that occasion, we heard how the Lord Jesus cast out the evil spirits and demons that had possessed a man there, and the evil spirits within him recognised the Lord and proclaimed publicly that Jesus is indeed the Holy One of God, the One Whom the Lord had sent into this world to bring about its salvation.

The Lord therefore showed His power and might, ordering the evil spirits to leave the possessed man behind, and those evil spirits obeyed, and the man was therefore healed from his condition. The people were astonished by the power and authority which the Lord Jesus had shown them, and how the evil spirits had to obey His words and leave the man. This no doubt brought about more people to come to believe in Him, and this had been recorded for us all so that we too may believe in the Lord, in His power and providence for us. God will not abandon us in our hour and time of need, and He will always be by our side, providing for us and strengthening us, being with all of us at all times.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, therefore, let us all continue to be faithful to the Lord at all times and in all circumstances. Let us all not be distracted in our efforts to follow Him ever more faithfully, and let us always strive to live lives that are truly worthy of Him. We should continue to do our part in every opportunities provided to us so that by our every actions we may always be attuned to the Lord our God, to His will and to the path which He Himself has shown and revealed to us, and we will continue to proclaim Him to all those whom we encounter in life, from our loved ones and friends, and even to those strangers and others whom we encounter daily in each and every moments.

May the Lord, our most loving and compassionate God continue to guide each and every one of us in His beloved and holy Church, all of us His beloved sons and daughters so that in each and all things that we say and do, in our every interactions with one another, we will continue to be ever more faithful and devoted to Him, and in our every day examples and actions, we will continue to do our very best to glorify Him by our lives. May God bless us all and our every efforts, works and endeavours, now and always. Amen.

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Tuesday, 2 September 2025 : 22nd Week of Ordinary Time (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

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.

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Tuesday, 2 September 2025 : 22nd Week of Ordinary Time (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Green

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!

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Tuesday, 2 September 2025 : 22nd Week of Ordinary Time (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

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.

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Tuesday, 26 August 2025 : 21st 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 of the challenges that those who are faithful to the Lord often faced in the midst of their lives and ministries. It is easy for us to lose sight and focus on our direction and destination in life, and for us to be swayed by the many distractions of worldly desires and pursuits, ambitions and glory, like how many among the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law during the time of the Lord Jesus had experienced, which He had criticised them for, for their lack of faith and sincere commitment to God, and for their worldliness and attachments to worldly glory, that distracted and kept them away from fulfilling what the Lord had wanted them to do.

In our first reading today, we heard of the continuation of the words of the Apostle St. Paul to the Church and the faithful people of God in the city and region of Thessalonica in what is today part of Greece. St. Paul detailed how him and the other Christian missionaries faced rejection and challenges during their missions in the nearby Philippi in Greece, where they encountered refusals and obstacles, unlike the kind of treatment which they met in Thessalonica and the willingness of the Thessalonians to listen to the words of the Lord. But such indeed was the trials and the challenges faced by the early Christian missionaries which God Himself had spoken and predicted beforehand, as what His disciples and followers would have to be prepared for.

Just as they would encounter great successes and many conversions for the Lord, there would also be equally many challenges and trials, refusals and rejections which they would face from those who hardened their hearts and minds against God. They had experienced all these earlier on as they journeyed with the Lord Himself, just as there were many of those who followed the Lord and were touched by His words and actions, there were also many of those who continued to resist Him and persecuted the Lord and His disciples. St. Paul himself was one of these opponents of the Lord, who was a young ardent enemy of the earliest Christians as Saul the Pharisee. But the Lord called Saul and turned him to be one of His greatest defenders and champions instead.

Therefore, St. Paul strengthened and encouraged the faith of the Thessalonians, that their faith had been noted, and they too should be strong in faith, supporting one another just as they had supported the efforts of the Apostles and the other missionaries. He also reminded them all of what the Christian missionaries had done, in serving the Lord fearlessly and courageously, generously and wholeheartedly. They did not serve their own desires and ambitions, or any kind of worldly pleasures and pursuits. They struggled and continued to strive nonetheless, even though they had to face a lot of disappointments and difficulties, ultimately because they believed in God’s Providence and in serving Him rather than seeking their own selfish desires.

Then, from our Gospel passage today, taken from the Gospel according to St. Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist, we heard of the continuation of the Lord’s criticism and rebuke against the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law, whose actions and behaviours as mentioned were not according to what the Lord had entrusted to them and what they were expected to do as the custodians and guardians of the Law of God. Many are members of each others’ groups and both of these groups were known as the intellectuals and the elites of the community of the people of God, those who were most knowledgeable about the Law and the teachings and prophecies of the prophets of God from the time of the Old Testament.

However, ironically, despite knowing so much about the Law and the Prophets, they refused to believe in the Lord, and they were hypocrites and inconsistent in their actions and way of living their faith. They spent a lot of time worrying about the many details and intricacies of the rituals and ways how the Law and commandments of God ought to be practiced, and they were focused more on exterior appearances and aesthetics rather than true and genuine understanding and appreciation of what the Law of God is truly all about. 

Brothers and sisters in Christ, as we listened to the words of the Sacred Scriptures and as we reflected on them, we are reminded that as Christians, as God’s holy and beloved people, we should always be truly faithful in Him and we should resist the temptations of worldly desires, ambitions and grandeur. We must not allow ourselves to be swayed and tempted by those things, which may result in us having unhealthy attachments to them, and therefore end up losing focus on our relationship and commitment to God. Like those Pharisees and the teachers of the Law, they were more concerned and focused on their worldly matters and ambitions, their prestige and status in the community of the Jewish people rather than truly serving God.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all therefore remind ourselves and one another that we should not be easily distracted and deluded by false treasures and happiness in this life, in all the temptations that we may be facing all around us in this world. Let us instead seek to live our lives firstly with love and devotion towards God, and then with the same love towards all those who are around us, our neighbours and all, and especially to all those whom we love. Let us all be the good inspirations and role models for each other that we may help one another in our journey together towards God and His salvation. Amen.

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Tuesday, 26 August 2025 : 21st Week of Ordinary Time (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Matthew 23 : 23-26

At that time, Jesus said to the people, “Woe to you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You do not forget the mint, anise and cumin seeds when you demand the tenth of everything; but then, you forget what is most fundamental in the Law : justice, mercy and faith! You should have done these things without neglecting the others. Blind guides! You strain out a mosquito, but swallow a camel.”

“Woe to you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You fill the plate and the cup, with theft and violence, and then pronounce a blessing over them. Blind Pharisee! Purify the inside first, then the outside, too, will be purified.”

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Tuesday, 26 August 2025 : 21st Week of Ordinary Time (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Psalm 138 : 1-3, 4-6

O YHVH, You know me : You have scrutinised me. You know when I sit and when I rise; beforehand, You discern my thoughts. You observe my activities and times of rest; You are familiar with all my ways.

Before a word is formed in my mouth, You know what it is all about, o YHVH. From front to back You hedge me round, shielding me with Your protecting hand. Your knowledge leaves me astounded, it is too high for me to reach.

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Tuesday, 26 August 2025 : 21st Week of Ordinary Time (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

1 Thessalonians 2 : 1-8

You well know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not in vain. We had been ill-treated and insulted in Philippi but, trusting in our God, we dared announce to you the message of God, and face fresh opposition. Our warnings did not conceal any error or impure motive, nor did we deceive anyone.

But, as God had entrusted His Gospel to us, as to faithful ministers, we were anxious to please God, Who sees the heart, rather than human beings. We know, nor did we try to earn money, as God knows. We did not try to make a name for ourselves among people, either with you, or anybody else, although we were messengers of Christ, and could have made our weight felt.

On the contrary, we were gentle with you, as a nursing mother, who feeds and cuddles her baby. And so great is our concern, that we are ready to give you, as well as the Gospel, even our very lives, for you have become very dear to us.

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Tuesday, 19 August 2025 : 20th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. John Eudes, Priest (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Priests)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we all listened to the words of the Sacred Scriptures, we are reminded that with God there is nothing that is impossible, and all things are possible for God, even whatever that is beyond our area and possibility of understanding. We should always trust in Him and put our faith in His Providence and care, knowing that He will do everything that needs to be done for our sake, so that we will be protected and guarded, and we will not suffer without any consolation and hope. In the end, we will share in God’s triumph and glory, and we shall enjoy forever the fullness of His loving grace and inheritance intended for us. God has indeed intended for many good things for us, and we will not be disappointed if we put our faith wholeheartedly in Him.

In our first reading today, we heard from the Book of Judges in which God spoke and revealed His plans to Gideon, the one that He had chosen to lead His people, the Israelites in the struggle against the Midianites, who have risen to oppress and persecute the Israelites. At that time, the repeated disobedience and refusals of the people of Israel to obey the Lord and to follow His ways led to them continuously being subjected to difficulties and challenges, attacks and subjugation by their neighbours, because God withdrew His protection and power, so that the Israelites, who had become proud and filled with hubris, thinking that they did not need God, would come to realise just how powerless they truly were without God and His Providence.

Gideon did begin with lamentations and sharing to the Angel of the Lord that came before Him with God’s words, how the Israelites had truly suffered and endured a lot of troubles, and they cried out to the Lord wondering where this same God that had protected their ancestors and brought them out from the land of Egypt, and through their journey in the desert with great power and wonders. And that was when the Lord through His Angel showed His reassurance, and when Gideon asked the Lord for a sign, God heard him and showed the sign that he asked for, and Gideon believed in God’s words and Providence, and He told the former how he would be the instrument by which God would act against the Midianites for the sake of His beloved people, to lead them to freedom and to return once again to His grace and protection.

Then, in our Gospel passage today, we heard from the Gospel according to St. Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist in which the Lord told His disciples and followers that if they all wanted to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven then it is important that they all must seek to be humble and to strive to reach that desired existence with God by resisting the many temptations, pressures, coercions and distractions that are present in this world which can lead us astray and prevent us from finding the path towards God. The Lord also said that it is ‘easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle’ than for the rich man to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. This is indeed puzzling and we may wonder what the Lord actually meant by these words, but we have to understand His intentions and thoughts carefully.

When a camel wants to go through a door or gateway, it is common for them to lower their heads to allow them to be able to enter through the gate, and to lower their bodies in doing so. This is a symbol of humility and simplicity against the excesses of the worldly riches and desires, all of which often lead us to hubris, ambition and stubbornness in refusing to follow God’s ways and commandments. That was what happened with many of those who were entangled and trapped by their own wealth and possessions, and most importantly by the unhealthy attachments and desires towards them. Those who suffer from this cannot attain the Kingdom of Heaven not because they are rich and wealthy, but rather because they put their wealth and ambitions above even God.

God is not in fact against us having possessions and wealth, or for us to be rich and wealthy. What He wants us to know in fact is that we should make good use of whatever blessings that we have received and whatever we have been fortunate to gain from God’s grace. But when we allow ourselves to be swayed by all the worldly temptations and be overcome by our greed and selfish desires, for example when we desire to gain more of what we already have aplenty, even to the point of causing sufferings and hardships to others around us, and in ignoring the plight of the needy, then it is in all these things that we shall be found wanting and lacking in worthiness by God, because we have not used our blessings for the good purposes set before us by God.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, as we listened to the words of the Sacred Scriptures, we are reminded that each and every one of us as God’s beloved and holy people should always trust in Him and have faith in His Providence. We should continue to make good use of what He has entrusted to us and blessed us with so that we may use them for the benefit and the good of others around us, for everyone whom we encounter in this life. This is not what we should be doing, to put our faith and trust in God for the direction in our lives, trusting that He will bless us in the manner that we need them, and He will provide for all of us, and our part is to make good use of what He has entrusted to us, even in the smallest things. Let us all not be overcome and be swayed by worldly corruptions and ways which can lead us away further from God.

Today, the Church also celebrates the Feast of St. John Eudes, who hailed from France and was a priest that was the founder of the Order of Our Lady of Charity and also the Congregation of Jesus and Mary, known as the Eudists after their founder. St. John Eudes was born in rural France in the early seventeenth century and made an early vow of chastity in his teenage years before eventually joining the priesthood after being guided and educated under the Jesuits and the Oratorians with the latter showing him strong emphasis on the relationship with Christ and the Holy Spirit. He then went on to minister in various parishes and did a lot of missions, and he was noted for his great and prodigious skills in evangelisation and in reaching the hearts and minds of the people that he ministered to.

He also played a role in the development and training of priests, helping to establish several seminaries after having been concerned with the upbringing and education of future priests in France. Then, in his concern and care for the poor and marginalised, especially with prostitutes and others who were often encountering a lot of hardships in life, as mentioned, St. John Eudes established the Order of Our Lady of Charity of the Refuge to care for the needs of those prostitutes who sought to turn away from their lives of sin. He then eventually left the Oratorians and founded the Eudists, the Congregation of Jesus and Mary with the focus and emphasis on education of priests and parish missions, works which he continued to carry out faithfully until the end of his life.

Let us all therefore be inspired by the examples and faith of St. John Eudes, in his determination to serve the Lord and His people, in all the things he had done in reaching out to the marginalised and those who have been less fortunate, those who have been lost to the Lord and facing difficulties in life. Let us all as Christians be always charitable and be kind in all things, doing whatever we can so that we may always be good examples and role models for everyone around us, and that we may show God’s love and kindness, His truth and salvation to everyone whom we encounter in life. May God be with us all and bless our every good endeavours and efforts, now and always. Amen.