Tuesday

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Tuesday, 4 July 2023 : 13th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Elizabeth of Portugal (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Saints)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today we heard the message of the Scriptures telling us all that we have to trust in the Lord for all things and be faithful to Him even we may be facing a lot of hardships and difficulties in our lives. The Lord has always been with His faithful ones, and He will not abandon any of us to the darkness, and He will always stand by us even through the darkest of times. We have to remember this as we continue to carry out our missions in life and embark on this journey through our lives in this world, that we are not easily swayed by the many temptations all around us and by the pressures and coercions from those who seek to dissuade us from being faithful to God and from obeying His will and carrying out His commandments and Law. We have to hold firm to our faith in God knowing that in Him alone there is true hope and salvation.

In our first reading today, we heard from the Book of Genesis in which the story of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah was told to us, in which God destroyed the two cities with brimstone and fire from Heaven for all the wickedness that the people in those two cities had committed before Him. At the same time, we also heard the great story of God’s love and kindness in caring for His faithful ones, as He sent His Angels to help and protect Lot, the nephew of Abraham, who had lived in the area of Sodom and Gomorrah, and who had to endure the wickedness of those who lived in that area with his family. Lot also proved himself righteous after he protected the two Angels sent to help guide Lot out of the city. Hence, as we heard, the Angels guided Lot and his family, bringing them to safety beyond the land of Sodom and Gomorrah before their destruction.

However, Lot’s wife, who was probably swayed by the temptations of worldliness that she had enjoyed and experienced when she stayed in Sodom and Gomorrah, she wavered and she turned to face the city, against the warnings of the two Angels who had warned Lot and his family not to look at the pandemonium that was happening as the two cities were destroyed by the power of God. She was therefore turned into a pillar of salt, as a sign of her disobedience and as a reminder for all of us that we should not doubt God’s providence and help. Of course the truth and reality is that this is easier said than done, as we may frequently be tempted and coerced to abandon the path of God for the corruptions and wickedness of the world.

In our Gospel passage today, we heard from the Gospel of St. Matthew the account of the moment when the Lord and His disciples were battered in the middle of the Lake of Galilee, with a great storm and huge waves that were striking at the boat where they were in. The disciples panicked and feared for their lives, and were desperately begging the Lord, Who was sleeping, to save them from their predicament. The Lord rebuked them and scolded them for their lack of faith and trust in Him, and proceeded to calm the wind, the waves and the storm, by the mere will of His words. Everyone present were astonished at the great authority and power that God has shown them, which was just yet another proof and example of God’s enduring love and providence for us all, just as He had done for Lot and his family in the old days.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, it is a reminder for us all that we should not easily allow ourselves to be swayed and turned away from the Lord simply because we may be encountering hardships and challenges in the path that we are walking now. We should always remind ourselves that we are never alone in this journey of faith through life, and as He has repeatedly shown and reassured us, He is always there with us and for us, journeying with us, and enduring the worst together with us. After all, had He not endured the worst of sufferings and hardships, trials and persecutions for us, as He bore His Cross patiently and walked down the path of His Passion to Calvary? That is why we should keep this in mind, and keep ourselves in the path of the Lord, at all times.

Today, the Church also celebrates the feast of St. Elizabeth of Portugal, whose life and devotion to God, whose trust in the Lord and commitment to Him should serve as great examples and sources of inspiration for all of us to follow. All of us should look upon St. Elizabeth of Portugal, who was the Queen Consort of Portugal, remembered for her great faith in God, her care for her people and her many charitable actions and works, leading a life that was truly worthy of God, devoting much of her time and efforts to look after the poor and the sick throughout the kingdom and even beyond. She was also instrumental in the efforts she had done to convert her husband from a life of debauchery and sin, and succeeded in bringing him back to the true and genuine faith in God.

St. Elizabeth of Portugal was also an active part in the Portuguese politics and statesmanship, involved in brokering peace between the kingdoms at that time, which were often involved in wars and conflicts. She spent a lot of time in caring for the physical and spiritual needs of the many people all around her, and her great examples of faith and dedication to God, her charity and love for the less fortunate truly inspired many, like her own husband amongst many others, to turn back towards the Lord and to follow Him more wholeheartedly. And after her husband passed away, St. Elizabeth retired to the monastery of Poor Clare nuns, continuing to show love and care for the poor and the sick, donating generously for those who were suffering during famines and troubles. She supported many hospitals and religious institutions, and her examples were truly inspirational right even up to this day.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, we can see how St. Elizabeth of Portugal, our holy predecessor, dedicated herself so wholly and completely to God, that despite of her position and prestige as Queen Consort, she did not let all the worldly glory and ambition, temptations and corruptions to get to her. Instead, she remained humble and committed to God, and made great use of whatever that she had been blessed with, all her blessings and excesses, to care for those who were less fortunate and suffering. All of us as Christians should be encouraged to do the same as well with our lives, entrusting ourselves to the Lord and following Him with all of our hearts and with all of our might. Let us all therefore do what we can so that we may continue to walk ever more faithfully in God’s path from now on.

May the Lord continue to bless us all and guide us, and inspire us all with the wisdom and strength to continue walking down the path of His grace and salvation, inspired by the holy saints, holy men and women of God, particularly that of St. Elizabeth of Portugal, so that our own lives and examples may become good inspiration and role models for all others around us. May God be with us always and may He remain with us, as we continue journeying together in faith, now and forevermore. Amen.

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Tuesday, 4 July 2023 : 13th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Elizabeth of Portugal (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Saints)

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, 4 July 2023 : 13th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Elizabeth of Portugal (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Saints)

Psalm 25 : 2-3, 9-10, 11-12

Prove me, o YHVH, put me to the test; examine my soul and my heart. For Your love is ever before my eyes, and I live in truth and faithfulness.

Let me not share the fate of sinners, nor lose my life with the violent; their hands are guilty of crimes, their right hands are weighed down with bribes.

But I will walk in integrity, redeem me, o God, be gracious to me. My foot stands firm in the straight path, I will praise You, o YHVH, in Your assemblies.

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Tuesday, 4 July 2023 : 13th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Elizabeth of Portugal (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Saints)

Genesis 19 : 15-29

At daybreak the Angels urged Lot, saying, “Hurry! Take your wife and two daughters who are here, lest they perish because of the sin of the town.” As he hesitated, the men took him by the hand and his wife and two daughters with him, because YHVH had mercy on him. And they led him outside the town.

When they were outside, the visitors said to him, “Flee for your life and do not look back and do not stop anywhere in the plain. Flee to the mountain lest you perish.” But Lot replied, “My lords, your servant has found favour with you, and you have shown me great kindness in saving my life. But I cannot flee to the mountains for fear the disaster will overtake me and I die.”

“See, there is a town near enough for me to flee to and it is a small one. Let me flee there : it is very small (that is why the town is called Zoar). So I will be safe.” And the Angel answered, “I grant you this favour as well by not destroying the town you speak of. But flee fast for I can do nothing until you arrive there.”

The sun had risen on the earth when Lot reached Zoar. Then YHVH rained on Sodom and Gomorrah burning sulfur out of the heavens from YHVH, and He completely destroyed those towns and all the valley and all the inhabitants of the towns and everything that grew there. Lot’s wife looked back and she became a pillar of salt.

Early next morning Abraham returned to the place where he had stood before YHVH. He looked towards Sodom and Gomorrah and towards all the land of the valley and he saw smoke rising from the earth like the smoke from a furnace. So when God destroyed the towns of the plain He remembered Abraham and made Lot escape from the catastrophe while He destroyed the cities where Lot had lived.

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Tuesday, 27 June 2023 : 12th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Cyril of Alexandria, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Bishops)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we listened to the words of the Scriptures, all of us are called and reminded to follow the Lord wholeheartedly and not to allow ourselves to be tempted by worldly vices, desires and ambitions. All of us as Christians are God’s beloved people, and naturally all of us should also reflect His love and truth in our lives. That is why all of us have been reminded today of our obligations and callings as Christians, to walk ever more faithfully in God’s presence and to follow Him at all times, so that by our every actions and deeds, we may truly be the great role models and inspirations as Christians to everyone, at all times and occurrences, in every opportunities and places. All of us are the bearers of God’s light and truth, and we should do well to do as God has told and taught us to do.

In our first reading today, taken from the Book of Genesis, we heard of the story of Abraham and Lot, Abraham’s nephew, who came along with Abraham and his family from their ancestral lands in distant Ur of the Chaldeans to the Promised Land of Canaan. As mentioned, both Abraham and Lot were very wealthy and had a lot of possessions, including large number of flocks. Hence, there were disputes between the servants of Abraham and the servants of Lot, which then led to Abraham and Lot to agree to part ways and to separate themselves, staying at different parts of the land of Canaan so that they and their workers would not continue to bicker over the land and their territories. Abraham entrusted himself in the Lord and did as the Lord has told and commanded him to do.

That was why the Lord repeated again His promises to Abraham, that He would establish His Covenant with him, and all of his descendants after him. Abraham followed the Lord and committed himself thoroughly to His cause, following His path and abandoning even the gods and idols of his ancestors and family, leaving everything to seek the Lord, Whom he has embraced as his own Lord and Master. God made His Covenant with the one whom He was pleased with, and the one whose heart and mind had been set and focused in God. Abraham had a lot of money, material wealth and possessions, but he did not let all those things to distract him from following the Lord, and committing himself to His cause completely, and truly, he is our exemplary and great role model.

In our Gospel passage today, we then heard from the Lord Himself telling His disciples that they should not give what is holy to the dogs and the treasures to the pigs, lest they be trampled and crushed, which symbolised the comparison between choosing the treasures and the riches of the world, against choosing to follow the Lord and His truth. This was then added on with the Lord saying that the path towards salvation is through a narrow gate, reminding His disciples and all of us that following Him is not something that is very easily done, requiring commitment and effort, and often along the way many might end up faltering and failing, not being able to reach the Lord and His salvation, because they are not able to resist the pull of worldly temptations and vices, all the things that had often kept us separated from God.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, today through these readings from the Scriptures therefore, we are all reminded that each and every one of us have to our part as Christians, in obeying the Law and commandments of God, and in doing God’s will. The Lord has taught us and shown us what it means for us to live our lives in accordance to His ways, and it is now up to us to do what He has revealed to us. We also have the examples of our holy predecessors like that of Abraham, our father in faith, as well as many others who had lived their lives most nobly and excellently in accordance to God’s ways. They are all the great role models, inspirations and wonderful examples that we should follow in our own lives, so that we may walk the right path and not end up falling into the path of evil and darkness, the path of disobedience and sin against God.

Today, the Church also celebrates the Feast of St. Cyril of Alexandria, a great and holy bishop, and a renowned Church father, honoured as one of the venerable Doctors of the Church for his great contributions to the Church and the Christian faithful. St. Cyril of Alexandria has dedicated himself to the service of the Church and his flock, and was remembered for his staunch defence of the faith and truth of God, amidst the many challenges he had to face, and the great heresy propagated by the heretic Nestorius and his followers. St. Cyril did not let the power and influence of the heretical party to dissuade him from his works and efforts, and he did not allow himself to be swayed by the persuasions and the struggles which he had to endure. Instead, he committed himself all the more to do God’s will and to help his flock to remain firmly faithful to God.

St. Cyril as the Patriarch of Alexandria was one of the most influential leaders of the Church of his time, and he was committed in caring for the need of his flock, their spiritual well-being and also in continuing to expand the Church’s influence and teachings among the people. He was particularly influential in convoking the Ecumenical Council of Ephesus in which the teachings of the heretic Nestorius and his supporters were deemed as heretical and unlawful, and where the Church fathers affirmed their support to the unity of the dual nature of Our Lord and Saviour, Who is both Man and Divine in nature, when the supporters of Nestorius argued that the Lord Jesus was separate in His Human and Divine nature, which the Council of Ephesus repudiated and opposed with the declaration of the Motherhood of God, Mary as the Theotokos, confirming that the One born of Mary was truly both Man and Divine, inseparable though distinct in His two natures. St. Cyril had to endure arrest and persecution for this, but he continued to labour in faith to the very end.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all be inspired by the faith and the commitment showed by St. Cyril of Alexandria, our holy predecessor, just as we are inspired by Abraham, and our many other holy men and women, all our fellow brothers and sisters who had lived their lives with so great a faith, that they become for us a source of inspiration, hope and encouragement. Let us all therefore also live our lives most faithfully and commit ourselves anew to the Lord, from now on, in all of our actions and works, and may all of us continue to live our lives worthily, in the way that the Lord had taught and shown us. May God be with us always, and may He strengthen us and empower us, to live our lives as great and most dedicated Christians, now and always. Amen.

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Tuesday, 27 June 2023 : 12th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Cyril of Alexandria, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Bishops)

Matthew 7 : 6, 12-14

At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, “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.”

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Tuesday, 27 June 2023 : 12th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Cyril of Alexandria, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Bishops)

Psalm 14 : 2-3ab, 3cd-4ab, 5

Those who walk blamelessly and do what is right, who speak truth from their heart and control their words, who do no harm to their neighbours.

Those who cast no discredit on their companions, who look down on evildoers but highly esteem God’s servants.

Those who do not lend money at interest and refuse a bribe against the innocent. Do this, and you will not be shaken.

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Tuesday, 27 June 2023 : 12th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Cyril of Alexandria, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Bishops)

Genesis 13 : 2, 5-18

Now Abram was very rich in flocks, silver and gold. Lot who went with Abram also had flocks, cattle and tents. The land was not sufficient to allow them to stay together, for their possessions were too great for them to live together.

A quarrel arose between the herdsmen of Abram’s flock and those of Lot. (The Canaanites and the Perizzites were living in the land at the time.) Abram said to Lot, “Do not let there be a dispute between you and me, nor between my herdsmen and yours, since we are brothers! Is not the whole land before you? Let us part company. If you go to the left, I will go to the right; if you go to the right, I will go to the left.”

Lot looked up and saw the whole valley of the Jordan : how well it was watered! Before YHVH destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, this was like one of YHVH’s gardens, like the country of Egypt, on coming to Zoar. Lot chose for himself all the Jordan valley and journeyed eastward. In this way they separated from each other.

Abram settled in the country of Canaan while Lot lived among the towns of the plain and moved his tent as far as Sodom. Now the people of Sodom were wicked, sinning greatly against YHVH. YHVH said to Abram after Lot had left him, “Raise your eyes and look from where you are, towards the north, the south, the east and the west; all the land you see I will give to you and your descendants forever.”

“I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; if the grains of the dust can be counted, then your descendants may be counted. Come, travel through the length and breadth of the land, for it is to you that I am giving it.” So Abram moved his tent and came to live by the oaks of Mamre at Hebron. There he built an altar to YHVH.

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Tuesday, 20 June 2023 : 11th 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, all of us are reminded of the need for all of us as Christians to be always filled with love and concern, empathy and compassion for our fellow brethren all around us. We must always be exemplary in how we live our lives, as God’s followers and disciples, so that in everything we say and do, we will always be the worthy bearers of His truth and Good News, and in our every words, actions and deeds, in our every interactions with one another, we will always be truly faithful in all things, and not just merely paying lip service to the Lord. All of us have to be genuinely committed to the Lord and be wholeheartedly dedicated to Him, showing our faith at every moment, in every possible things.

In our first reading today, we heard from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Church and the faithful in the city of Corinth, the words of the Apostle St. Paul exhorting the people of God in Corinth to be inspired by the great examples set by their fellow brethren in the region of Macedonia, which St. Paul had also ministered in, in how the faithful there had persevered and endured even though they had faced quite a few obstacles and hardships, persecutions and trials. They helped and encouraged one another, and remained firmly faithful to the Lord despite the hardships that they had to endure all those while. Therefore, their obedience to God and perseverance, their commitment to God was shared by St. Paul, who hoped that other Christians elsewhere, be it in Corinth or in other places, may also share the same commitment and faith in God.

St. Paul highlighted how each and every members of the faithful in Macedonia had lived their lives well as those whom the Lord had called and chosen, in their support for each other and in their love for God as well as in their love for their fellow brothers and sisters. In essence, they were following the very examples set by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, their Lord and Saviour, Who had come into our midst, enduring persecution, rejection and ridicule, stubbornness and even betrayal by those who were closest to Him. The Lord had done so because of His obedience to His Father’s will, His love for all of us, His beloved ones. He had endured the worst of treatments, sufferings and humiliations so that by His endurance and commitment, He might save us all from our impending destruction.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, we then heard from our Gospel passage today, in which the Lord Jesus Christ highlighted again what He Himself had done and would do for the sake of His loved ones. He told His disciples, that to follow Him and His Father, all of us must be truly filled with Love, pure love that is unconditional and not seeking for returns, a pure love that is genuine and truly rich in compassion. The Lord used the example of how the Lord cared and showed His love on both the upright and the wicked alike, and He did not deny those who have even repeatedly disobeyed and sinned against Him, the grace of having forgiveness and mercy to be shown to them. For as long as they still have the time left, the Lord’s love, mercy and forgiveness will still be given to them should they seek for Him with sincere heart.

The Lord reminded all of us that as Christians, we have to love everyone, as best as we are able to, and we should not be transactional or discriminatory in how we love others around us. Yes, definitely there will be those whom we love more than others, but we should also strive to love all those who have not loved us back, and even treat well those who might have cause us hurt and harm. We should not be the ones who seek vengeance and harm to others as well, because, in doing so, we are only going to perpetuate the cycle of hatred and anger, the cycle of pain and sufferings. We should do our best to break that cycle, and instead, be the ones to live a life truly worthy of God, by loving one another as best as we can.

That was what the faithful people of God in Macedonia had been doing as well, in how they continued to show love and compassion, care for others and all, even when they had faced great hardships and challenges in their lives, being persecuted and oppressed by those who hated and despised them. They did not allow their hurt and pain to turn into hatred and anger, or violence and other forms of evils and wickedness. Instead, they showed all of us, that it is indeed possible for us to follow the Lord’s examples in His most generous and wonderful love for each and every one of us, which He has shown us through none other than the Lord Jesus Himself, Who has given His life for our sake, so that by His suffering and death, all of us may be saved.

The Lord has loved us and cared for us, even when we have not obeyed Him, and when we have constantly disobeyed and rebelled against Him. Yet, the Lord continued to show us His love and compassion most generously, caring for us in the best way that He could, offering us His mercy and salvation, if only we open our hearts and minds to welcome Him, allowing him to enter into our hearts and minds, that He may work His acts of healing and compassion in us, turning us all from the people and children of darkness and sin, into a people of the Light, filled once again with His love and grace. All of us have been called by the Lord to follow Him, and commit ourselves once again to the path that He has shown us.

May the Lord, our most loving God and Father, continue to guide and strengthen us at all times. May He empower each and every one of us so that we may always walk in His path most faithfully, and dedicate ourselves with renewed conviction and strength. Let us all be good role models and inspirations to one another, in living our lives most faithfully at all times, focusing our whole lives and existences to God, Who should be the very reason and the very focus of our lives. May God bless us always, in all of our good works and endeavours, now and always. Amen.

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Tuesday, 20 June 2023 : 11th Week of Ordinary Time (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Matthew 5 : 43-48

At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, “You have heard, that it was said : Love your neighbour and do not do good to your enemy. But this I tell you : love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in Heaven. For He makes His sun rise on both the wicked and the good; and He gives rain to both the just and the unjust.”

“If you love those who love you, what is special about that? Do not even tax collectors do as much? And if you are friendly only to your friends, what is so exceptional about that? Do not even the pagans do as much? As for you, be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”