way of the Lord

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Monday, 13 April 2015 : 2nd Week of Easter, Memorial of Pope St. Martin I, Pope and Martyr (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : White or Red (Martyrs)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today we heard about how Nicodemus, one of the upright and righteous Pharisee, who believed in Jesus, came to Him and asked Him about the truth which Christ had brought into the world, which truly intrigued him and made him to reevaluate all of his ways in the world. And in that occasion as well, Jesus made it clear what we need to do in order to be able to attain the fullness of salvation.

In the phrase often used in this Easter season, which is part of the Preface itself, before the most solemn moment when the bread and wine are transformed into the Real Body and Blood of our Lord, that is, “By dying He destroyed our death, and by rising from the dead, He restored our life.” In this we can see how Christ our Lord, the Saviour of the world had freely given up Himself, so that by sharing our humanity, in His triumphant victory against death, He also may bring us all from the snares of death.

And by His resurrection, He has proved to us that death has lost its sting, and that is life and hope beyond the darkness of death. If we put our trust on the Lord, then we have no need to fear or worry, for our Lord Himself had even conquered death and sin, and broke free forever the bonds that once shackled us and doomed us. What indeed is there to fear if we trust in the Lord?

The problem lies in the inability of many of us mankind to resist the poison of fear and doubt in our hearts. Fear made us to do things irrationally and without due concern for others. It makes us selfish and act in self-preservation, that is to put our own interests and needs above that of others. While this is sometimes necessary, but it often becomes a source of suffering for others, as we often may not hesitate to take up actions that bring about discomfort and disadvantage for others around us.

The elders, the Pharisees, the chief priests and all who opposed Jesus and His good works did so because of the same fear, and the same worldly concerns. They feared that they would lose their prestigious position in the society, the fame and praise they received because of their esteemed position. It is just like how we act when we feel jealous of someone, because that person is seemingly better than us. We try our best to bring about the other’s downfall.

Today we celebrate the feast of Pope St. Martin I, the Vicar of Christ and Martyr of the Faith, who was embroiled in a bitter struggle with the Emperor of the Roman Empire, who albeit being a Christian, but he espoused and supported the cause of heretics. These heretics championed ideas contrary to the faith, and these came about because of their inability to resist worldly temptations.

Pope St. Martin I adamantly refused to give in to the heretics and to the Emperor as well. He refused to allow any nonsense and any influences of the devil to harm the souls of the faithful, the Church entrusted by God to his care and leadership. As a result, he was persecuted, and later abducted, tortured and eventually martyred for the cause of the Faith. He died a full life, having defended the faith which was so precious to him and saved countless souls from damnation.

All these came about because they did not put their trust in God, and they rather placed their trust only in themselves. This brought them to their doom, and it will be the same for us, unless we wake up to the reality of how dangerous our souls are close to condemnation if we continue to walk in the same path. That is what God wants us to realise, that unless we truly change our ways totally and commit ourselves to a new life in God, we are always still in danger of hell.

By our baptism, we have shared in the death and resurrection of our Lord, and by receiving His Body and Blood in the Eucharist, we also share in our Lord together as one people, sharing the inheritance and the grace which He had promised all those who believe in Him. But without genuine sincerity and commitment in our faith, we cannot go far. Our faith is not one that is passive or dead, but instead, it is one of action and real devotion.

Thus, we have to be reborn again, not in physical terms, but in terms of our spirituality, our heart and our soul, that while we once lived according to the manners of the world, we now change ourselves, so that while we were once selfish, we now care more for others around us and devote ourselves sincerely in faith, loving both our Lord and our fellow men. God be with us all, and may He guide us always on our path. Amen.

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Sunday, 12 April 2015 : Second Sunday of Easter, Divine Mercy Sunday (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : White

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today we celebrate the Second Sunday of Easter, which is also known since just over a decade ago as the Divine Mercy Sunday, the day and special occasion when we celebrate the Lord’s merciful love and forgiveness for us all. It is at the heart of our Easter celebrations to understand and appreciate the fullness of God’s mercy which He had shown to us all.

In Easter we rejoice because of the love that God had shown us through Jesus, which was so great such that He was willing to give Himself as the sacrificial offering and victim for the purification of our sins. Our sins and faults are the burdens which He bore, and the wounds which He received, were the iniquities and wickedness which we had committed in life.

Like the parable and story on the prodigal son, the story which Jesus told the people and which we all mostly know, we are the prodigal sons in the story. We are the prodigal sons and daughters of our Lord, by our disobedience against His will, and by the various acts of hatred, injustice, selfishness and other negativities which cast us apart from God and His love.

The father is our Lord and Father, God who is always concerned about us day and night, at all times, waiting for us to return from our waywardness, and for us to make that effort to turn back to Him, who is always waiting for our return, for our repentance from our sins. He is always available, and His arms are always open and ready to welcome us back, and this is His mercy.

But mercy alone is not complete and is not enough. God offers His mercy freely, but will we take that mercy and follow Him? Are we able to persuade ourselves enough and put enough effort to stop whatever wickedness we have committed and fully embrace God’s mercy and thus be genuinely and completely reconciled to Him? These are the questions which we really should ask ourselves as we reflect on the Most Divine Mercy of our Lord on this day.

God loves all of us and He wants us to be thoroughly converted, not just making empty promises and empty profession of faith. If we seek God’s mercy, then we must also change our ways and put in a great effort in order to do that. God loves us all, but He hates thoroughly the sins and wickedness which we performed in this world, in His sight and presence. If we do not change our ways, then what we are seeking is false mercy.

And it is this false mercy that some elements in our Church had been trying to force and administer to all those who have sinned and still live in that sin which had separated them from God. If we offer false mercy to others, not only that it would create the false impression that God does not mind that we continue to live in sin, but thus also make us to be lazy and complacent, in continuing to walk down our sinful path.

We must beware lest the temptations of the world and the lures of the devil get to us. It is the seeds of evil and rebellion, of disobedience and haughtiness, of pride and selfishness that he placed inside each one of us because of our sins. Do not let our minds and hearts be deceived because of what we think is the easier path in life. God wants His peace and mercy to be upon us, but this does not come about easily and without difficulty.

Temptations are abundant, and life will not be easy for us to resist all of them. The pull of money, of power, of fame and human praise, as well as many other worldliness separating us from the righteousness in God are challenges that we have to face. Indeed, this may seem to be difficult, but certainly not impossible for us. What we need is courage and the willpower to make a difference to ourselves.

Hence, brothers and sisters in Christ, what we need to do, is to change ourselves first. We have to commit ourselves to the new way of life, that is to walk upright in the presence of God. And we can begin that by learning to forgive one another, letting go of our anger and hatred to one another. We mankind are often bound by our emotions and our inability to let go of our grudge.

Let us ask ourselves this question then, are we able to be forgiven by God if we have not forgiven others around us first? If we hold grudge against others and refuse to forgive them, then what right do we have to demand or deserve mercy from the Lord? Forgive and you shall be forgiven too, and in the Lord’s Prayer, we also ask God to forgive our sins just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us.

On this Divine Mercy Sunday let us all remind each other, that we have much to do. We have to begin with ourselves, practicing mercy and forgiveness in our own lives, but we also have to still be concerned about our sins. We cannot just forgive and let everything go on as if nothing had happened. When we forgive others, we too should remind them to change their ways and embrace repentance sincerely, and this too we should do, if we had harmed others in any way.

Let us all be proactive in our faith and grow in our devotion to Him. Let us look to His merciful heart and seek that mercy, all the while devoting ourselves to the path of righteousness in accordance with the way that our Lord had taught us to do. God’s mercy be upon us, and with our sincere repentance and turning away from sins, may all mankind receive His grace, love and salvation. God bless us all. Amen.

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Sunday, 12 April 2015 : Second Sunday of Easter, Divine Mercy Sunday (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

John 20 : 19-31

On the evening of that day, the first day after the Sabbath, the doors were locked where the disciples were, because of their fear of the Jews. But Jesus came, and stood among them, and said to them, “Peace be with you!” Then He showed them His hands and His side. The disciples kept looking at the Lord and were full of joy.

Again Jesus said to them, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent Me, so I send you.” After saying this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit! Those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven; those whose sins you retain, they are retained.”

Thomas, the Twin, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he replied, “Until I have seen in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in His side, I will not believe.”

Eight days later, the disciples were inside again and Thomas was with them. Despite the locked doors Jesus came and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you!” Then He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see My hands; stretch out your hand, and put it into My side. Do not be an unbeliever! Believe!”

Thomas then said, “You are my Lord and my God.” Jesus replied, “You believe because you see Me, do you not? Happy are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”

There were many other signs that Jesus gave in the presence of His disciples, but they are not recorded in this book. These are recorded, so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Believe, and you will have life through His Name!

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Sunday, 12 April 2015 : Second Sunday of Easter, Divine Mercy Sunday (Second Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

1 John 5 : 1-6

All those who believe that Jesus is the Anointed, are born of God; whoever loves the Father, loves the Son. How may we know that we love the children of God? If we love God and fulfill His commands, for God’s love requires us to keep His commands. In fact, His commandments are not a burden.

Because all those born of God overcome the world. And the victory which overcomes the world is our faith. Who has overcome the world? The one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus Christ was acknowledged through water, but also through blood. Not only water but water and blood. And the Spirit, too, witness to Him for the Spirit is truth.

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Saturday, 11 April 2015 : Saturday within Easter Octave, Memorial of St. Stanislaus, Bishop and Martyr (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : White

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today we listen yet again to the news of our Lord’s resurrection and triumphant glory, the triumph against death and all the forces of evil. He is risen, and that is why we can be happy and truly be joyful, and revel in His glory, for He has conquered death, and we know that we have hope because of that.

And that is the message that He also wants us all to propagate to all of the world, so that all who hear of them may be turned in their hearts and be turned into righteousness and be saved as well. This is the mission and commandment which He had given us all, that we as one Church put all of our effort into this and work together in order to achieve that goal of salvation.

But as we heard in today’s readings as well, that there were those who were adamantly opposed to Christ and His teachings, and they commanded the Apostles to keep their mouth shut and not speak about the Lord and His truth. All these is because they feared that if the truth is to be known, then that would spell the end of their privileged status in the society, and the end of their worldly ambitions and power.

But as we heard, no amount of coercion, threats or challenges would deter the Apostles from speaking up about their faith and about the Risen Lord. Had they succumbed and obeyed the chief priests at that time, then none of us would have known about the Lord, and thus, none of us, and also countless others, millions upon billions and more would have been saved.

Our Church is not a Church of passive people, who remain inactive and just wait patiently for the day of the Lord’s salvation. Instead, it is a living Church, a Church filled with saints, martyrs, and also sinners. We all are part of that Church, and it is living and thriving amidst the difficulties of the world, precisely because its members dared to stand up for their faith and speak up as witnesses in this world.

Today we celebrate the feast of St. Stanislaus, yet another of this brave man of God, whose life and even in death is an inspiration to all of us, on how we should live up to our faith in God. St. Stanislaus or St. Stanislaw is a very well known and famous Polish saint and martyr, who lived during the Middle Ages, at a time of turmoil and difficulty.

St. Stanislaus was the Bishop of the venerable city of Krakow, then capital of Poland, who was a vocal critic of the king, who lived in sin and wickedness, and whose actions did not bring about the glory of God, but sought for only his own glory. St. Stanislaus did not fear to speak up, because it was for the good of his flock, that they might not be misguided into sin and evil.

The king was very unpleased with this holy man and dedicated servant of God, and he plotted to kill St. Stanislaus and get rid of him. Thus, St. Stanislaus was martyred when he was celebrating the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, killed by the king’s own hand himself. In defending the faith and the souls of God’s faithful, the holy man of God was raised to the Altar in glory, while his murderer was forced to go into exile and died in great ignominy and shame.

What St. Stanislaus showed us is that there are so many things that all of us as members of the Church can do in order to help out, by helping all those who have yet to be touched by the light of the Lord. This is what we should do, that by our actions and deeds, we show to the whole world, what our faith is about, and let us testify to the Risen Christ, our Lord, that His light may dispel all the darkness in the world. God bless us all. Amen.

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Friday, 10 April 2015 : Friday within Easter Octave (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : White

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today we continue to hear the testimonies and proofs of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, which the Holy Apostles and many other disciples of Jesus and even many other people at that time. The Lord Jesus had indeed risen from the dead, and what He did at the lake in the presence of the Apostles showed that it is really Him.

But there is an even greater significance to the readings today than what we would normally appreciate. Jesus came at the time when the disciples had gone out fishing for the whole night without being able to catch any fish at all. The disciples followed His instructions and immediately, a lot of large fishes, a hundred and fifty-three in all were captured in the net.

The large fishes, all of them are a symbol of the world itself, with all of the different people, different races and the different groups who come together and are ensnared in that net held from the boat steered by the Apostles, and this represent the Church itself. The boat is the Church, and the Apostles are its helmsmen, just as our priests and bishops today, their successors, are the helmsmen of the same Church.

The water represents the darkness of the world, and the nothingness beyond God and His light. Those fishes represents all of us mankind, whom God wants to empower and take out from that world of darkness, and bring into the light through the Church. Thus, what happened in the Gospel today is the story of salvation itself, and it is still occurring even unto this day.

And it also shows us all, what we, as the members of God’s Church should do and are indeed expected to do. For there are still so many people, so many souls out there are in the darkness and longing for the redemption which only the Lord can give. It is our part to give our best to help the cause of the Lord, by working together as the whole Church, to rescue the lost souls and all those who are still in darkness, so that they may see and witness the light of Christ and be saved.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, it is the mission and the command which our Lord had given to His disciples, and through them, to us all, that we go forth into the world to proclaim the Good News of His salvation, and that by His death and resurrection, He had conquered sin and death, and make the new hope of an everlasting life available to all of us.

This Easter is the time that we renew our commitment, not only to be faithful to our Lord, but also to continue the mission which He had entrusted to all of us. If we are not there to help our brethren escape the same danger and darkness from which we had escaped from, then who else would? Our Lord wants us all to be saved, yes, indeed, but He also wants us all to do so by our own free will and choice.

There is much homework for all of us to do. We should first look into our own lives first, and ask ourselves the question. Have we indeed been faithful to the Lord through words, deeds and actions? Have we been truly faithful in the heart and soul? Have we been genuinely faithful to Him by doing all of His will, and bringing His light and salvation to all those who have yet to hear of them all?

Let us all renew our efforts, to change our own lives, and live according to the ways of the Lord, that we ourselves will be worthy to be called the children of God, and by our actions, may countless others be inspired to do the same, and be saved together as one people, one race of humanity loved by our Lord and God, He who have given Himself as a willing sacrifice to save us all. God bless us all. Amen.

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Friday, 10 April 2015 : Friday within Easter Octave (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : White

Psalm 117 : 1-2 and 4, 22-24, 25-27a

Alleluia! Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, His loving kindness endures forever. Let Israel say, “His loving kindness endures forever.” Let those who fear the Lord say, “His loving kindness endures forever.”

The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing and we marvel at it. This is the day the Lord has made; so let us rejoice and be glad.

Save us, o Lord, deliver us, o Lord! Blessed is He who comes in the Lord’s Name! We bless You from the house of the Lord. The Lord is God, may His light shine upon us.

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Friday, 10 April 2015 : Friday within Easter Octave (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

Acts 4 : 1-12

While Peter and John were still speaking to the people, the priests, the captains of the Temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them. They were greatly disturbed because the Apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming that resurrection from the dead had been proved in the case of Jesus.

Since it was already evening, they arrested them and put them in custody until the following day. But despite this, many of those who heard the Message believed and their number increased to about five thousand. The next day, the Jewish leaders, elders and teachers of the Law assembled in Jerusalem. Annas, the High Priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander and all who were of the high priestly class were there.

They brought Peter and John before them and began to question them, “How did you do this? Whose Name did you use?” Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, spoke up, “Leaders of the people! Elders! It is a fact that we are being examined today for a good deed done to a cripple. How was he healed? You and all the people of Israel must know that this man stands before you cured through the Name of Jesus Christ the Nazarean. You had Him crucified, but God raised Him from the dead.”

“Jesus is the stone rejected by you the builders which has become the cornerstone. There is no salvation in anyone else, for there is no other Name given to humankind all over the world by which we may be saved.”

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Thursday, 9 April 2015 : Thursday within Easter Octave (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : White

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today we all heard about how Jesus appeared to His disciples after His resurrection from the dead, and how He dispelled their uncertainties and doubts, by proving that He is indeed the Risen Lord, the suffering Messiah who had been lifted up to glory, in fulfillment of all that the prophets had spoken about.

He is the fulfillment of God’s promise for a long time, and indeed what St. Peter and St. John had testified in front of the Council of the elders and the High Priests was a reminder of that fact, and how God had loved His people so much, even when the people refused to acknowledge Him or to follow Him. God has given so much for us, even when we have given Him so little or nothing, or even contempt in return.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, on this Easter season, we are all reminded of the great mercy and forgiveness which our Lord had shown us, and which He will always show us and offer to us, for the sake of our salvation and redemption, destroying our sins and our iniquities which have barred our way to Him. And therefore, having been renewed in the Lord, we are worthy to receive the heavenly inheritance and great graces which have always been intended for us.

But this does not come about easily, brethren, for the salvation of the Lord does not require just passive waiting for God’s mercy or to think that no matter what we have done, God will surely forgive us. Forgiveness does not come about without repentance and sincere intention on our part so that we devote ourselves to sin no more and walk from then on always in the ways of God.

Just think about it, brethren, that if we profess to be faithful to the Lord our God, and in our actions we show otherwise, then would it not indeed be a great scandal, both in the eyes of God and men alike? Man cannot serve two masters, and indeed, we cannot both serve God and our desires. We cannot serve both God and Satan at the same time. We have to make a conscious and clear choice between the two.

Doubt, uncertainties, fears and all the things which the Apostles encountered, experienced and felt, are all human nature, and so was with the Pharisees, the elders, the chief priests and all who plotted against Jesus and condemned Him to be crucified. It was because of their inability to detach themselves from the desires and from the temptations of the world that they had committed such a great sin.

We have to remember, brothers and sisters, that all of us are sinners, and that there is no sin which has been counted beyond what God had borne upon Himself as He carried that cross to Calvary. Every single sin we committed, even the smallest ones had been taken up by Jesus, and through His death and His resurrection from the dead, He offered to us all the great opportunity and grace which God had promised to His people.

Therefore, as we continue to celebrate and rejoice through this blessed season of Easter, let us remember that we should try to keep ourselves as immaculate and pure as possible. Do not let evil desires and wickedness to affect us and corrupt us. It is very important that we should do as what is expected of us as the children of God. May Almighty God therefore bless us and guide us in all our ways. God be with us all forever. Amen.

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Thursday, 9 April 2015 : Thursday within Easter Octave (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : White

Psalm 8 : 2a and 5, 6-7, 8-9

O Lord, our Lord, how great is Your Name throughout the earth! What is man that You be mindful of him, the Son of Man, that You should care for Him?

Yet You made Him a little lower than the angels; You crowned Him with glory and honour and gave Him the works of Your hands; You have put all things under His feet.

Sheep and oxen without number and even the beasts of the field, the birds of the air,  the fish of the sea, and all that swim the paths of the ocean.