Liturgical Colour : White
Zechariah 2 : 14-17
Sing and rejoice, o daughter of Zion, for I am about to come, I shall dwell among you,” says YHVH. “On that day, many nations will join YHVH and be My people, but My dwelling is among you.”
The people of Judah will be for YHVH as His portion in His holy land. He will choose Jerusalem again. Keep still in YHVH’s presence, for He comes, having risen from His holy dwelling.
Liturgical Colour : Green
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we listened to the words of the Scriptures, we are all reminded of the nature of our human existence in this world, as those whose mortal bodies will eventually be subjected to death, while our souls are eternal and everlasting. God created each and every one of us out of His overflowing and ever enduring love, which He has most generously shared with us, in love that He has always shown us from the very beginning of time. We are all reminded that ultimately we all belong to the Lord, and we have to do whatever we can, such that we continue to live our lives worthily of God, by living righteously and virtuously, according to His Law and commandments, as much as we are able to.
In our first reading today, we heard from the Book of Wisdom, of the exhortation regarding the nature of our creation, and how we are all also reminded that we were actually never intended to suffer in this world or to experience any kind of suffering or death. Instead, God had created us out of His pure love for us, and He has always intended for each and every one of us to to live our lives filled with His grace and love, ever always in His loving Presence, to be holy just as He is Holy, and to be righteous, virtuous and just, in all of our ways, in all of our dealings, actions and works throughout our lives. This is what God has always intended for us all, His beloved people, whom He has called from the whole world, to come once again to His loving Presence.
Unfortunately, because we disobeyed God and did not listen to His words and commandments, hence, we end up falling into the path of sin. Since the time of our earliest forefathers, many of us chose to follow the temptations of evil, the allures of worldly pleasures and all the desires which had led many of us astray, down the wrong path away from the Lord. And this was why we have to endure and suffer the consequences of our disobedience, which is death. In truth, we were always meant to live our lives in the presence of God, harmoniously and joyfully enjoying the fullness of His love and grace. Unfortunately, disobedience led to sin, and sin brought us to suffering and death, because sin corrupted our bodies and mind, our hearts and souls, separating us from God.
Yet, God did not intend to destroy us, or to cast us out from His Presence forever, because His love for each and every one of us is far greater than how much He despises our sins and wickedness. Thus, He gave us many opportunities, again and again, to find our way back to Him, through His numerous reminders and help, all those messengers and helpers He had provided to us, through the help of the Angels and the saints, all those who lives have been good, worthy and exemplary, and hence became great role models, inspirations and encouragement for all of us coming after them. And to those of us who have embraced God once again with love and faith, while our bodies may succumb to the temporary effects of death and destruction, but our eternal soul persists and will be reunited with God in due time.
This is also where the Church’s teachings and beliefs in the afterlife is yet again highlighted on this month of November, as we remember in particular the holy souls in Purgatory. After we die, there are three states that may happen to us, at the moment called the Particular Judgment, which separated the righteous from the wicked. Those who had rejected God and continued to persist in sin had condemned themselves to an eternity of suffering and despair, cast out forever in Hell. Meanwhile, some of the very righteous and worthy ones had lived their lives most virtuously, and hence, merited immediately the entry into the eternal bliss and true joy of Heaven. These are the saints, those who have been officially recognised by the Church for their virtues, as well as the many others whose lives and deeds may not yet been recognised, and yet, whose virtues are known to God, and merit Heaven.
Meanwhile, for many others, they were fairly righteous and good, but because of their residual sins and unrepented faults, they cannot enter into Heaven yet, because no sin can be present before God, unforgiven and unrepented. Hence, they are the ones known as the holy souls in Purgatory, as a state between this world and Heaven, where the ones who still have to endure some sufferings and wait, in the moments when they were being purified and brought free from the remnants of their sins, lay in wait, until the moment when they are finally ready to move on into the Holy Presence of God in Heaven as they are intended for. The passage from the Book of Wisdom today spoke of this, of the souls being tested by fire, which is not exactly a kind of fire that we are familiar with, but spiritual fire that cleanses the corruptions of sin in the souls of the faithful.
In our Gospel passage today, we then heard of the Lord speaking to His disciples and followers, regarding the nature of a servant and the relationship that servant has to his or her master. The master has a very clear supremacy and dominion over the servants, who have to obey everything that the master commanded the servant to do. This was meant to represent the relationship between God and us mankind, because we are truly God’s servants, and the Lord did not have anything that He owes to us, because He is our Lord and Master, and we naturally ought to follow Him and obey His every will and whim. Yet, at the same time, the Lord also wants us to know that, unlike the traditional master-servant relationship highlighted in His exhortation, the Lord is a loving Master, Who truly cares for us all, even though we are undeserving of Him, His love and attention.
Why is this so? That is because we must ask ourselves, which Lord and Master chose to come down upon us, humble Himself and live among us, walking in our midst, communicating and contacting us, dwelling among us and having meal with us, even with the ones whom some deemed to be sinful and unworthy, like the tax collectors. And yet, the Lord Jesus came into our midst, bringing forth towards us the love of God manifested fully in the flesh, making God to be perceptible, tangible and reachable for all of us, that He is no longer distant or intangible for us. He reached out to us with love, reminding all of us that His nature, truly first and foremost is one of love, and this love has always been directed towards all of us, without exception.
Therefore, having been reminded of God’s love and generous kindness, let us all as Christians embrace the Lord once again with sincerity and commitment at all times, reminding ourselves ever always that God has always wanted each one of us to be fully reconciled with Him. Let us all no longer be separated from God’s love and grace, and do our best in each and every moments of our lives, that we will always be exemplary and worthy in everything that we say and do, in our every interactions and efforts, our collaborations and works. Let us also pray for one another, and also for the holy souls in Purgatory, our beloved brothers and sisters. May the Lord be with us always, His love and kindness, and may He strengthen each and every one of us that all of us may always be strong and resilient, dedicated and faithful in each and every moments of our lives. Amen.
Liturgical Colour : Green
Luke 17 : 7-10
At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, “Who among you would say to your servant, coming in from the fields after plowing or tending sheep, ‘Go ahead and have your dinner’? No, you tell him, ‘Prepare my dinner. Put on your apron, and wait on me while I eat and drink. You can eat and drink afterward.'”
“Do you thank this servant for doing what you told him to do? I do not think so. And therefore, when you have done all that you have been told to do, you should say, ‘We are no more than servants; we have only done our duty.'”
Liturgical Colour : Green
Psalm 33 : 2-3, 16-17, 18-19
I will praise YHVH all my days; His praise will be ever on my lips. My soul makes its boast in YHVH; let the lowly hear and rejoice.
The eyes of YHVH are fixed on the righteous; His ears are inclined to their cries. But His face is set against the wicked, to destroy their memory from the earth.
YHVH hears the cry of the righteous and rescues them from all their troubles. YHVH is close to the brokenhearted and saves the distraught.
Liturgical Colour : Green
Wisdom 2 : 23 – Wisdom 3 : 9
Indeed God created man to be immortal in the likeness of His own nature, but the envy of the devil brought death to the world, and those who take his side shall experience death.
The souls of the just are in the hands of God and no torment shall touch them. In the eyes of the unwise they appear to be dead. Their going is held as a disaster; it seems that they lose everything by departing from us, but they are in peace.
Though seemingly they have been punished, immortality was the soul of their hope. After slight affliction will come great blessings, for God has tried them and found them worthy to be with Him; after testing them as gold in the furnace, He has accepted them as a holocaust.
At the time of His coming they will shine like sparks that run in the stubble. They will govern nations and rule over peoples, and the Lord will be their King forever. Those who trust in Him will penetrate the truth, those who are faithful will live with Him in love, for His grace and mercy are for His chosen ones.
Liturgical Colour : Green
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we listened to the words of the Scriptures, all of us are called as Christians to be always ever full of love and compassion towards others, and most importantly, all of us need to be fully attuned to God, and be focused on Him in all opportunities and moments. This means that our whole lives and existence should always be centred on God, and we should always strive to do what God has taught and shown us to do, or otherwise how can we call or consider ourselves as Christians? It is important that we are all truly Christians not just in name or formality only, but that we are all truly Christians in hearts and minds, in all of our whole beings, as God’s beloved children and people, those whom He had called and chosen.
In our first reading today, we heard of the continuation of the Epistle of St. Paul the Apostle to the Romans, in which the Apostle reminded the faithful people in Rome that they are all recipients of God’s various gifts and blessings, and of all the opportunities which He has presented to us. God has blessed us with many wonderful things and we should be appreciative of whatever it is that He has granted to us. We must always strive to be faithful to Him and to do what we can do so that we can use those gifts, blessings and opportunities which God has freely given to us. This is because ultimately, we will be judged and held accountable based on what we have been given and what we can do for our fellow brethren and for our communities.
This means that we must not be idle in living our faith and life, and we have to do what we can so that we may impact the lives of other persons around us in a good and faithful way. We should always act in ways that are in accordance to God and His path, and obey His Law and commandments in all things, not just only the letter but also appreciating, understanding and implementing the spirit of the Law. However, this is easier said than done, as many of us tend to do things that are against the Law, or merely doing things of our faith without appreciating their importance and significance for us. Our faith is one that requires us to be truly immersed in the Lord’s teachings and ways, and to follow Him wholeheartedly, and not just paying Him lip service.
In our Gospel passage today, we heard from the story of Lord Jesus Who was teaching His disciples and followers using a parable, in order to tell them how everyone has been called to the banquet of the Lord, to enjoy everything that the Lord has prepared for them, the joy and happiness meant for them from the beginning. However, as we heard in that parable, those who had been invited to the banquet of the master refused to come to the banquet and made excuses as of why they could not come, and refused to do what the master had told them to do. Hence, that was why those people had no place at all in the banquet which had actually been prepared for them. Instead, their places were given to all those gathered from the streets and other places.
This parable represented and symbolised how God had called everyone to His kingdom, welcoming all of them into His presence. God did not exclude anyone, but welcomes all to come to Him. Those who had already had place in the banquet were representing the Israelites, the ones whom God had first called among the nations, to be His disciples and followers. But some among those people refused to obey Him and disregarded His Law and commandments, and the Lord wanted to make a point that everyone, and not just the Jewish people, all of them have the chance to enter into the kingdom of God, provided that they all are willing to embrace the Lord and His path. God has always been kind and loving towards all of us, and He wants all of us to be reunited with Him. But in the end, it is our choice whether we want to embrace His love or not.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all reflect carefully on what we have heard in today’s Scripture passages. Let us all consider carefully what we have been presented with, and let us do what we can so that in our every actions and efforts, we will always put the Lord as the focus and emphasis of our lives, and do our very best at every moments so that we may truly serve Him by following what He has shown and taught us, in our every efforts and good deeds, all the time. As Christians, we should be worthy examples of our faith and beliefs in God, and we should help to lead others towards the Lord, by our own good inspirations and actions that may encourage others to come closer to God and His righteousness.
Let us all therefore first of all give thanks to God for having called and brought us all close to Him. Let us thank Him for having shown us His love and mercy even when we have not deserved them. Let us all be reminded of everything that He has done for us, what He has taught and shown us to do, so that we will draw ever closer to His path, and follow Him ever more courageously, fervently and sincerely in each and every moments of our daily lives. We are all called to be good examples, in all of our words and actions, in our every interactions with one another so that our lives may truly be life-giving and full of love, both for God and for our fellow brethren, all around us. Are we able to do this, brothers and sisters? To do what God has asked and commanded us to do? And not only obeying Him externally and for show only?
May the Lord be with us always, and may He empower each one of us to live ever more worthily in His Presence. May He encourage and strengthen each one of us so that by His guidance, wisdom and providence, all of us may always continue to walk down the path of righteousness and virtue, in obeying His Law and commandments, despite the trials and challenges that we may have to face amidst our journey in life. May God bless our every efforts and good works, and may He guide us all that we will always strive to follow Him and His loving examples, in being good and faithful Christians, as His disciples and followers, and as shining beacons of His light and truth to our darkened world. Amen.
Liturgical Colour : Green
Luke 14 : 15-24
At that time, upon hearing the words of Jesus, one of those at the table said to Him, “Happy are those who eat at the banquet in the kingdom of God!”
Jesus replied, “A man once gave a feast and invited many guests. When it was time for the feast, he sent his servant to tell those he had invited to come, for everything was ready. But all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘Please excuse me. I must go and see the piece of land I have just bought.'”
“Another said, ‘I am sorry, but I am on my way to try out the five yoke of oxen I have just bought.’ Still another said, ‘How can I come, when I have just got married?'”
“The servant returned alone, and reported this to his master. Upon hearing his account, the master of the house flew into a rage, and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly, into the streets and alleys of the town, and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.'”
“The servant reported after a while, ‘Sir, your orders have been carried out, but there is still room.’ The master said, ‘Go out to the highways and country lanes, and force people to come in, to ensure that my house is full. I tell you, none of those invited will have a morsel of my feast.'”
Liturgical Colour : Green
Psalm 130 : 1, 2, 3
O YHVH, my heart is not proud nor do I have arrogant eyes. I am not engrossed in ambitious matters, nor in things too great for me.
I have quieted and stilled my soul, like a weaned child, on its mother’s lap; like a contented child is my soul.
Hope in YHVH, o Israel, now and forever.
Liturgical Colour : Green
Romans 12 : 5-16a
The same with us; being many, we are one body in Christ, depending on one another. Let each one of us, therefore, serve, according to our different gifts. Are you a prophet? Then give the insights of faith. Let the minister fulfil his office; let the teacher teach, the one who encourages, convince.
You must, likewise, give, with an open hand, preside with dedication, and be cheerful in your works of charity. Let love be sincere. Hate what is evil and hold to whatever is good. Love one another and be considerate. Out do one another, in mutual respect. Be zealous in fulfilling your duties. Be fervent in the spirit, and serve God.
Have hope and be cheerful. Be patient in trials and pray constantly. Share with other Christians in need. With those passing by, be ready to receive them. Bless those who persecute you; bless, and do not wish evil on anyone. Rejoice with those who are joyful, and weep with those who weep. Live in peace with one another.
Liturgical Colour : Green
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we listened to the Scripture passages, all of us are reminded that while we may suffer in this world, but in the end, all of those sufferings and hardships are not permanent, and in the end, we shall be reunited with the Lord, our most loving God and Father, Who wants us all to be reconciled and reunited with Him. The Lord has given us the assurance of salvation and eternal life through His own beloved Son, Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Saviour, and called all of us to enter into His eternal kingdom, the kingdom of God, into which all of us have been assembled, gathered and led, so that every one of us may truly be saved, liberated and freed from the tyranny and dominion of sin and evil, which had afflicted us for so long.
In our first reading today, we heard from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans, in which we heard about how the whole world and all of creation longed for the birth, in glory, of the children of God. What this means and symbolises is that, the whole creation is expecting the restoration of everything to how it is originally intended to be, when everything was still without any taints of sin and corruption, and when everything was still perfect and good just as the Lord originally created it, and sin has not yet crept up and corrupted us all due to our disobedience. The birth of the children of God refers to us all having been made to be the adopted children of God, through the grace of baptism, by which we have been rescued and delivered from the tyranny and dominion of sin, and through which sanctifying grace have been restored and given to us.
This is also an expectation of what is to come in the future, as we have not yet attained the state of perfection and fullness of grace yet in this world, and all of us are eagerly looking forward to and expecting the coming of the kingdom of God that is to come, when we shall be fully and completely reunited with God, as St. Paul has mentioned it in the same passage, although that moment will not yet come till the time of the Lord’s choosing. This is because even those who have died and passed on from this world, and even the saints in Heaven, have not yet experienced the fullness of heavenly glory in body and soul, except for that of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, who have been assumed and taken up to Heaven, body and soul. The saints experienced the joy of Heaven, the beatific vision and the happiness due to their virtues, but their bodies remained in this world.
Thus, all of us are reminded today of this world that is to come, when we all, in the state of perfection and grace, will be once again with God, which is truly apt and perfect reminder today, being the day before the All Saints Day and the beginning of the Allhallowtide. Today as the All Hallows’ Eve, the Church reminds us all through these Scripture readings and messages, so that each and every one of us remember of the life that we are going to have in this world that is to come, the bliss and the perfection of joy with God, which we will enjoy forevermore, if we are to remain faithful to Him, and obey Him in His Law, commandments and do whatever which He has asked, told and commanded us to do in our lives. Each and every one of us as Christians are expected to do whatever we can to glorify God by our lives, and to follow in the examples and the footsteps of the glorious saints.
In our Gospel passage today, we heard of the Lord speaking to His disciples and all the people who were listening to Him regarding the matter of the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God has already been revealed to us with the coming of Christ, and He has established it just as He has established His Church, with the Church being the tangible and real manifestation of the kingdom of God in this world. However, we must also realise that the kingdom of God, that is the Church of God does not just involve all those who are now living in this world, but also in fact, all those who have departed from this world, just as we are going to celebrate it in the next two days, with the All Saints Day, honouring and glorifying the saints, the holy men and women who have already enjoyed the bliss of Heaven, and the All Souls Day, when we remember all the holy souls who are still awaiting patiently the glory of Heaven in their current state of Purgatory.
The Lord used the parable to highlight the fact that the kingdom of God is something that is truly wonderful, as God gathered all of His beloved ones to be part of one Body, the Body of Christ. However, it is something that is to be nurtured and requires a lot of efforts and works from all of its members and parts, that is all of us. The parable mentioned the measures of flour and yeast, which when placed together, will become dough that rises and eventually become a good bread. He also used the example of mustard seed that is sowed and then germinated, and eventually grew into a large tree, that takes everything under its branches. Both of these, the dough and the mustard plant, require good conditions and investment of time and effort, in order for them to flourish and develop as expected. Thus, this is a reminder that each one of us as Christians have to do our part to follow the Lord, to do what is right and just in our every moments.
We are all reminded that each and every one of us as God’s beloved children and people, all of us must always embody our Christian faith and beliefs in our every actions, in our every words and deeds, and in everything that we interact with, with all those whom we encounter and work with. Each one of us must always be exemplary and inspirational in our lives, and be truly obedient to God, doing His will and walking in His path, being filled with love and virtue, so that all those who witness our works and interact with us, all of us may indeed be great missionaries and evangelisers of our faith, and spread ever more the Good News of God in the midst of our communities and all those whom we encounter in life. As Christians, we must be truly faithful not just in mere words only, but also in real action and commitment to God, at all times.
As we enter today into this solemn time and occasion of the Allhallowtide, beginning with this day’s All Hallows’ Eve, let us all enter into deeper realisation of our lives and reflect on whether we have truly obeyed the Lord and walked in His ways as we should have, and let us all remember that in the end, our goal and focus should be to look forward to the perfection and fullness of grace that will come one day, when the Lord will come to gather all of His faithful and worthy ones back to Him, and bring us all into His eternal kingdom, in the fullness of grace, of perfection of bliss and love. And when the world celebrates the secular celebrations of Halloween, which was inspired and actually originated from this celebration of the All Hallows’ Eve, let us all celebrate the true spirit of Halloween, that is modelling ourselves upon the examples of the virtuous and worthy saints of God, so that we too may one day be worthy of Heaven as they are.
May the Lord help us all in our journey and struggle towards Him, and empower us with the courage and strength, so that we may always be strong in our commitment and dedication to serve the Lord at all times. May God bless us all and be with us always, now and forevermore. Amen.
