Ut omnes unum sint

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Sunday, 22 March 2015 : Fifth Sunday of Lent (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

John 12 : 20-33

At that time, there were some Greeks who had come up to Jerusalem to worship during the feast. They approached Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went to Andrew, and the two of them told Jesus.

Then Jesus said, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, I say to you, unless the grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. Those who love their life destroy it, and those who despise their life in this world keep it for everlasting life.”

“Whoever wants to serve Me, let him follow Me; and wherever I am there shall My servant be also. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honour him. Now My soul is in distress. Shall I say, ‘Father, save Me from this hour?’ But I have come to this hour to face all this. Father, glorify Your Name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified It, I will glorify It again.”

People standing there heard something and said it was thunder; but others said, “An angel was speaking to Him.” Then Jesus declared, “This voice did not come for My sake but for yours. Now sentence is being passed on this world, now the prince of this world is to be cast down. And when I am lifted up from the earth, I shall draw all to Myself.”

With these words Jesus referred to the kind of death He was to die.


Alternative reading (Readings from Year A)

John 11 : 1-45

At that time, there was a sick man named Lazarus who was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. This is the same Mary, who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped His feet with her hair. Her brother Lazarus was sick.

So the sisters sent this message to Jesus, “Lord, the one You love is sick.” On hearing this, Jesus said, “This illness will not end in death; rather it is for God’s glory, and the Son of God will be glorified through it.”

It is a fact that Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus; yet, after He heard of the illness of Lazarus, He stayed two days longer in the place where He was. Only then did He say to His disciples, “Let us go into Judea again.” They replied, “Master, recently the Jews wanted to stone You. Are You going there again?”

Jesus said to them, “Are not twelve working hours needed to complete a day? Those who walk in the daytime shall not stumble, for they see the light of this world. But those who walk at night stumble, for there is no light in them.”

After that Jesus said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going to wake him.” The disciples replied, “Lord, a sick person who sleeps will recover.” But Jesus had referred to Lazarus’ death, while they thought that He had meant the repose of sleep.

So Jesus said plainly, “Lazarus is dead; and for your sake I am glad I was not there, for now you may believe. But let us go there, where he is.” Then Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.”

When Jesus came, He found that Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days. As Bethany is near Jerusalem, about two miles away, many Jews had come to Martha and Mary, after the death of their brother, to comfort them.

When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet Him, while Mary remained sitting in the house. And she said to Jesus, “If You had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that whatever You ask from God, God will give You.” Jesus said, “Your brother will rise again.”

Martha replied, “I know that he will rise in the resurrection, at the last day.” But Jesus said to her, “I am the Resurrection. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, shall live. Whoever lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” Martha then answered, “Yes, Lord, I have come to believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, He who is coming into the world.”

After that Martha went and called her sister Mary secretly, saying, “The Master is here and is calling for you.” As soon as Mary heard this, she rose and went to Him. Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met Him.

The Jews, who were with her in the house consoling her, also came. When they saw her get up and go out, they followed her, thinking that she was going to the tomb to weep. As for Mary, when she came to the place where Jesus was and saw Him, she fell at His feet and said, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”

When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping, who had come with her, He was moved in the depths of His Spirit and troubled. Then He asked, “Where have you laid him?” They answered, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. The Jews said, “See how He loved him!” But some of them said, “If He could open the eyes of the blind man, could He not have kept this man from dying?”

Jesus was deeply moved again, and drew near to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across it. Jesus said, “Take the stone away.” Martha said to Him, “Lord, by now he will smell, for this is the fourth day.” Jesus replied, “Have I not told you that, if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” So they removed the stone.

Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You for You have heard Me. I knew that You hear Me always; but My prayer was for the sake of these people, that they may believe that You sent Me.” When Jesus had said this, He cried out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”

The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Untie him, and let him go.” Many of the Jews who had come with Mary believed in Jesus when they saw what He did.


Alternative reading (Shorter version of Year A Reading)

John 11 : 3-7, 17, 20-27, 33b-45

So the sisters sent this message to Jesus, “Lord, the one You love is sick.” On hearing this, Jesus said, “This illness will not end in death; rather it is for God’s glory, and the Son of God will be glorified through it.”

It is a fact that Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus; yet, after He heard of the illness of Lazarus, He stayed two days longer in the place where He was. Only then did He say to His disciples, “Let us go into Judea again.”

When Jesus came, He found that Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet Him, while Mary remained sitting in the house. And she said to Jesus, “If You had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that whatever You ask from God, God will give You.” Jesus said, “Your brother will rise again.”

Martha replied, “I know that he will rise in the resurrection, at the last day.” But Jesus said to her, “I am the Resurrection. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, shall live. Whoever lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” Martha then answered, “Yes, Lord, I have come to believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, He who is coming into the world.”

Jesus was moved in the depths of His Spirit and troubled. Then He asked, “Where have you laid him?” They answered, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. The Jews said, “See how He loved him!” But some of them said, “If He could open the eyes of the blind man, could He not have kept this man from dying?”

Jesus was deeply moved again, and drew near to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across it. Jesus said, “Take the stone away.” Martha said to Him, “Lord, by now he will smell, for this is the fourth day.” Jesus replied, “Have I not told you that, if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” So they removed the stone.

Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You for You have heard Me. I knew that You hear Me always; but My prayer was for the sake of these people, that they may believe that You sent Me.” When Jesus had said this, He cried out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”

The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Untie him, and let him go.” Many of the Jews who had come with Mary believed in Jesus when they saw what He did.

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Sunday, 22 March 2015 : Fifth Sunday of Lent (Second Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Hebrews 5 : 7-9

Christ, in the days of His mortal life, offered His sacrifice with tears and cries. He prayed to Him who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His humble submission.

Although He was Son, He learnt through suffering what obedience was, and once made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation for those who obey Him.


Alternative reading (Readings from Year A)

Romans 8 : 8-11

So, those walking according to the flesh cannot please God. Yet your existence is not in the flesh, but in the spirit, because the Spirit of God is within you. If you did not have the Spirit of Christ, you would not belong to Him.

But Christ is within you; though the body is branded by death as a consequence of sin, the spirit is life and holiness. And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is within you, He who raised Jesus Christ from among the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies. Yes, He will do it through His Spirit who dwells within you.

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Sunday, 22 March 2015 : Fifth Sunday of Lent (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Psalm 50 : 3-4, 12-13, 14-15

Have mercy on me, o God, in Your love. In Your great compassion blot out my sin. Wash me thoroughly of my guilt; cleanse me of evil.

Create in me, o God, a pure heart; give me a new and steadfast spirit. Do not cast me out of Your presence nor take Your Holy Spirit from me.

Give me again the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit. Then I will show wrongdoers Your ways and sinners will return to You.


Alternative reading (Readings from Year A)

Psalm 129 : 1-2, 3-4, 5-7a, 7bc-8

Out of the depths I cry to You, o Lord. O Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears pay attention to the voice of my supplication.

If You should mark our evil, o Lord, who could stand? But with You is forgiveness, and for that You are revered.

I waited for the Lord, my soul waits, and I put my hope in His word. My soul expects the Lord more than watchmen the dawn. O Israel, hope in the Lord.

For with Him is unfailing love and with Him full deliverance. He will deliver Israel from all its sins.

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Sunday, 22 March 2015 : Fifth Sunday of Lent (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Jeremiah 31 : 31-34

The time is coming – it is YHVH who speaks – when I will forge a new covenant with the people of Israel and the people of Judah. It will not be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and led them out of Egypt. For they broke My covenant although I was their Lord.

This is the covenant I shall make with Israel after that time : I will put My Law within them and write it on their hearts; I will be their God and they will be My people. And they will not have to teach each other, neighbour or brother, saying : ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know Me, from the greatest to the lowliest, for I will forgive their wrongdoing and no longer remember their sin.”


Alternative reading (Readings from Year A)

Ezekiel 37 : 12-14

YHVH said to Ezekiel, “So prophesy! Say to them : This is what YHVH says : I am going to open your tombs, I shall bring you out of your tombs, My people, and lead you back to the land of Israel. You will know that I am YHVH, o My people!, when I open your graves and bring you out of your graves.”

“When I put My Spirit in you and you live, I shall settle you in your land and you will know that I, YHVH, have done what I said I would do.”

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Saturday, 21 March 2015 : 4th Week of Lent (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today we listened to the words of the Holy Scripture, and we heard about how the Pharisees and the teachers and elders of the people refused to listen to the Lord’s call when He came, and they even refused to acknowledge Him as their Lord and Saviour, even when all the things He had said and done have all spoken volumes about who He really is.

As we have discussed to a great length in yesterday’s discourse, the sins and pride of mankind had prevented them from seeing the truth in the Lord, as those things made them to close in unto themselves, and it caused them to refuse to repent and change their ways even when it was so obvious that they were at wrong. It is our human nature for us to think that we are right first, and we like to assume that others are the ones mistaken while we are right.

They were confused about who Christ was, because they did not recognise Him. To some of them, some of His actions might have made sense, but to others, or other actions might have baffled them. That is because they did not practice the Faith which they had preached. They had their faith in words only, but mostly it was superficial.

Their faith did not go deeper into their hearts, and this is reflected by the way which they had acted in life. They persecuted those whom they deemed not as worthy as they were. They thought highly of themselves and sought human praise for all of their actions. As such, they could not understand when the Lord Jesus showed them what the faith is truly about.

St. Paul in his letter to the Church and the faithful in Philippi spoke about Christ who did not regard His divinity, greatness and majesty as something to be marvelled at. He emptied Himself and cast aside His majesty, assuming the humble form of a Man, that is to be equal with God’s most beloved creation, all except in terms of sin. He humbled Himself and as a result, He was raised to the highest glory, and all worshipped Him and gave Him praise because of what He had done in perfect obedience to the will of the Father.

And so we come to the central message of today’s Scriptures, and indeed the message which all of us should take heed of every single days of our life. We have to realise that what God wants from us is not a superficial declaration of faith or an empty faith without action. If our faith is empty and dead, because we do not act as what we believed, like the Pharisees had done, then our faith is as good as useless.

What God wants from us is love, and not just any kind of love, but total devotion and commitment, which all of us should give. He needs no special offering or sacrifices, for if these are made without our commitment to the Lord, then they are as good as nothing. Even if we have nothing to offer the Lord, we can offer ourselves, our hearts and the entirety of the love which we have in us. This is what the Lord wants from us, and when He sees that love in us, He shall be glad, and His grace will be upon us.

This Lent, let it be a time for us all to seek true conversion for ourselves. Yes, first we have to change our own ways first and be changed for the better, before we can change others. Indeed, the next will be the conversion of the whole world, that everyone should be saved from the sinfulness which had separated them from God. It is time for us to announce the time of God’s mercy and love. Let us all be turned to the Lord and sincerely seek our redemption and salvation in God.

May Almighty God be with us always and empower us, so that in all the things we do, we may bring about true conversion to all of us, that we may have our hearts opened, and we may see and recognise the Lord doing His good works all around us and within us. May God bless us all in all of our endeavours. Amen.

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Saturday, 21 March 2015 : 4th Week of Lent (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

John 7 : 40-53

At that time, many who had been listening to these words began to say, “This is the Prophet.” Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some wondered, “Would the Christ come from Galilee? Does the Scripture not say that the Christ is a descendant of David and from Bethlehem, the city of David?” The crowd was divided over Him. Some wanted to arrest Him, but no one laid hands on Him.

The officers of the Temple went back to the chief priests, who asked them, “Why did you not bring Him?” The officers answered, “No one ever spoke like this Man.” The Pharisees then said, “So you, too, have been led astray! Have any of the rulers or any of the Pharisees believed in Him? Only these cursed people, who have no knowledge of the Law!”

Yet one of them, Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier, spoke out, “Does our Law condemn people without first hearing them and knowing the facts?” They replied, “Do you, too, come from Galilee? Look it up and see for yourself that no prophet is to come from Galilee.” And they all went home.

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Saturday, 21 March 2015 : 4th Week of Lent (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Psalm 7 : 2-3, 9bc-10, 11-12

O Lord, my God, in You I take shelter; deliver me and save me from all my pursuers, lest lions tear me to pieces with no one to rescue me.

O Lord, my righteousness; You see that I am blameless. Bring to an end the power of the wicked, but affirm the just, o righteous God, searcher of mind and heart.

You cover me as a shield, o God, for You protect the upright. A righteous judge is God, His anger ever awaiting those who refuse to repent.

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Saturday, 21 March 2015 : 4th Week of Lent (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Jeremiah 11 : 18-20

YHVH made it known to me and so I know! And You let me see their scheming : “Take care, even your kinsfolk and your own family are false with you and behind your back they freely criticise you. Do not trust them when they approach you in a friendly way.”

But I was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter. I did not know it was against me that they were plotting, “Let us feed him with trials and remove him from the land of the living and let his name never be mentioned again.”

YHVH, God of hosts, You who judge with justice and know everyone’s heart and intentions, let me see Your vengeance on them, for to You I have entrusted my cause.

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Friday, 20 March 2015 : 4th Week of Lent (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today’s readings all speak of the same theme, that is of rejection by the world on Jesus and all of His teachings, just as they have rejected the prophets and messengers sent to remind the world and the people of the sins they have committed and the faults which they have done. The world dislikes what Jesus had done, because it does not belong to God, but it is the dominion of the evil one, Satan, who ruled the world and all of its worldliness.

It is a clear reminder to all of us that as long as we profess our faith in the Lord, the world, that is Satan and all of his fellow fallen angels, will always oppose and harass us as to the best of their abilities. The first reading from the Book of the prophet Jeremiah shows us that just as the wicked people refused to listen to Jeremiah, his words and warning to them, therefore they have done the same to Jesus, refusing to listen to Him and being adamant in their sinfulness. The same too will happen to us who remain faithful in He who had come into the world.

All of those rejection and wickedness, the stubbornness of heart are all because of one thing, that is our pride and arrogance, and our refusal to let go of that pride and ego. We are by our nature prideful and filled with desires. Just like the people of Israel when they continued to complain and rebel against the Lord and His will during their journey through the desert to the Promised Land.

How many times we always think about ourselves first? And whenever we do something wrong, how many times do we find excuse to save ourselves first? How many times we use the word, ‘I’ whenever we talk with others? All these are signs of our own insecurities, and our inability to deal with our pride and desires, all of which threaten to bring us all to damnation.

All of us are called in this holy season of Lent, in order to think through our actions and whatever we have done in this life. We are called to conversion and to change our way of life, so that if we were once sinners and like the attitudes of the people in the past, the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law who rejected Jesus and plotted against Him, then from now on, we should open our hearts and allow the Lord to enter into it and speak to us from deep within us.

It may not be easy for us to begin to change, as we all have our temptations and insecurities, and the pull of inertia, in refusing to change is truly great. But if we never begin, then it is most likely that we will never do it at all. We have to learn to resist the temptations of sin and all the other allures of Satan and the world. It is the purpose of why we fast and do all the penance works during this season.

In this season of Lent, let us all learn to shut out more of our desires, our pride and all the evil temptations and corruptions that Satan had placed inside each one of us. We have to learn to listen more to the Lord, who speaks in our heart, deep in the silence of our soul. If we are too busy and too preoccupied with ourselves, then most likely we will not be able to listen to God speaking in our hearts, and we will be prone to fall into sin.

Let us all find a time to retreat from all the busy schedules we have in the world, and be in deep conversation with our Lord and God. We have to intensify our prayer life, that is contemplation and focusing ourselves on the Lord and what He wants from us. It is important that we do so now and do not delay any longer. We never know when the Lord will come and judge us for whatever we have done or for whatever we have failed to do.

May this time in Lent be a beneficial one for us all, that we may all be called to genuine conversion to the cause of the Lord. May Almighty God shows His grace upon us and bless us with His abundant blessings. God bless us all. Amen.

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Friday, 20 March 2015 : 4th Week of Lent (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

John 7 : 1-2, 10, 25-30

At that time, after Jesus told the people that He is the bread of life, Jesus went around Galilee; He would not go about in Judea, because the Jews wanted to kill Him. Now the Jewish feast of the Tents was at hand.

But after His brothers had gone to the festival, He also went up, not publicly but in secret. Some of the people of Jerusalem said, “Is this not the Man they want to kill? And here He is speaking freely, and they do not say a word to Him? Can it be that the rulers know that this is really the Christ? Yet we know where this Man comes from; but when the Christ appears, no one will know where He comes from.”

So Jesus announced in a loud voice in the Temple court where He was teaching, “You say that you know Me and know where I come from! I have not come of Myself; I was sent by the One who is true, and you do not know Him. I know Him for I come from Him and He sent Me.”

They would have arrested Him, but no one laid hands on Him because His time had not yet come.