Liturgical Colour : White
Psalm 121 : 1-2, 3-4a, 4b-5
I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord!” And now we have set foot within your gates, o Jerusalem!
Jerusalem, just like a city, where everything falls into place! There the tribes go up.
The tribes of the Lord, the assembly of Israel, to give thanks to the Lord’s Name. There stand the courts of justice, the offices of the house of David.
Liturgical Colour : White
Acts 15 : 1-6
Some persons who had come from Judea to Antioch were teaching the brothers in this way, “Unless you are circumcised according to the law of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
Because of this there was trouble, and Paul and Barnabas had fierce arguments with them. For Paul told the people to remain as they were when they became believers. Finally those who had come from Jerusalem suggested that Paul and Barnabas and some others go up to Jerusalem to discuss the matter with the Apostles and elders.
They were sent on their way by the Church. As they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria they reported how the non-Jews had turned to God, and there was great joy among all the brothers and sisters. On their arrival in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the Church, the Apostles and the elders, to whom they told all that God had done through them.
Some believers, however, who belonged to the party of the Pharisees, stood up and said that non-Jewish men must be circumcised and instructed to keep the law of Moses. So the Apostles and elders met together to consider the matter.
Liturgical Colour : White
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, all of us are reminded on this day through what we have received and read from the Scriptures that God has given us all His commandments and His will, and all of us as His people, His disciples and His servants, all of us ought to do our very best to obey Him and to do whatever we can in our own lives to be as best as disciples and followers as we can in our own respective lives.
In the first reading today, we heard of the sending off of the two Apostles, St. Paul and St. Barnabas, whom God had chosen and let known to the other disciples through the Holy Spirit, that God has called them and has willed them to go forth to the peoples of the Gentiles, meaning those who belong to the non-Jewish communities, the Greeks, Romans and many others, as the two Apostles embarked on an extensive and long missionary journey to the many cities and places throughout the Eastern Mediterranean region.
The two Apostles were empowered to do what the Lord has called them to do, to be the bearers of His truth among those people to whom God had sent them to. They went forth with the guidance, strength and power of the Holy Spirit, to perform all the wondrous miracles and to be able to speak so courageously and fearlessly even amidst persecutions, ridicule and rejection from their enemies and from all those who refused to believe.
They showed all of us the examples of what it truly means for us to be a true disciple and follower of the Lord, who does not just believe in God with words or proclamations only, but even through real action and through the sacrifice of time and generous giving of oneself and effort, ready to lay down everything to God, even their own lives, suffering persecution after persecution, one after another.
Although many of the Apostles and the disciples of the Lord suffered terribly and endured much pain for the sake of their faith, but they persevered on nonetheless because of the strong and living faith which they have in the Lord, their God. They did not let those sufferings to hinder and prevent them from being able to dedicate themselves. In fact those persecutions only served to strengthen their resolve and commitment to do what they have been called to do.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, are we able to emulate our holy predecessors in their numerous good examples? Are we able to do what they have begun, and which all of us now inherit? Yes, we are all the successors of the Apostles, those whom the Lord had called to continue the many works they have sowed with their blood and tears. There are still many works waiting to be done, and each and every one of us have to do our best and give our very best effort.
Let us spend this day thinking of how each and every one of us can contribute in our own way, dedicating ourselves in whatever way we can to follow God’s will and work for His greater glory. We do not have to suffer and die like the Apostles and the disciples of the early Church endured, but rather, we give our very best from our heart, dedicating ourselves thoroughly to serve God at all times.
May the Lord guide us and bless us, and may He strengthen each and every one of us in our journey. May all of us draw strength from God, that we will be ever more faithful and be ever more committed to our faith in all the things we do. Amen.
Liturgical Colour : White
John 12 : 44-50
At that time, yet Jesus had said, and even cried out, “Whoever believes in Me, believes not in Me, but in Him Who sent Me. And whoever sees Me, sees Him Who sent Me. I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in Me may not remain in darkness.”
“If anyone hears My words and does not keep them, I am not the One to condemn him; for I have come, not to condemn the world, but to save the world. The one who rejects Me, and does not receive My word, already has a judge : the very word I have spoken will condemn him on the last day.”
“For I have not spoken on My own authority; the Father, Who sent Me, has instructed Me in what to say and how to speak. I know that His commandment is eternal life, and that is why the message I give, I give as the Father instructed Me.”
Liturgical Colour : White
Psalm 66 : 2-3, 5, 6 and 8
May God be gracious and bless us, may He let His face shine upon us, that Your way be known on earth and Your salvation among the nations.
May the countries be glad and sing for joy, for You rule the peoples with justice and guide the nations of the world.
May the people praise You, o God, may all the peoples praise You! May God bless us and be revered, to the very ends of the earth.
Liturgical Colour : White
Acts 12 : 24 – Acts 13 : 5a
Meanwhile the word of God was increasing and spreading. Barnabas and Saul carried out their mission and then came back to Jerusalem, taking with them John also called Mark.
There were at Antioch – in the Church which was there – prophets and teachers : Barnabas, Symeon known as Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod, and Saul.
On one occasion while they were celebrating the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said to them, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul to do the work for which I have called them.” So, after fasting and praying, they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
These then, sent by the Holy Spirit, went down the port of Seleucia and from there sailed to Cyprus. Upon their arrival in Salamis they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogue.
Liturgical Colour : White
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, on this day we listened to the words of the Lord through the Scriptures reminding us all that as long as we put our trust in the Lord and remain faithful to Him, we shall not be disappointed, for the Lord is ever faithful and ever good to the promises which He had made upon us. Despite the problems and challenges we may encounter in life, God will always be faithful to the Covenant that He had established with us.
In today’s first reading, we heard of the account of the aftermath of the martyrdom of St. Stephen, the first recognised martyr of the Church, who was persecuted and stoned to death by an angry mob of the enemies of the Church who refused to believe in the truth of Christ. St. Stephen spoke courageously defending the truth that Christ has brought into this world, amidst the false witnesses and testimonies his enemies brought up against him.
Those who persecuted the faithful servant of God refused to listen to the words of truth he spoke before all of them. Instead, they hardened their hearts and minds, and stoned St. Stephen to death. Saul, who would later on become St. Paul the Apostle, then one of the most feared persecutor and enemy of the early Christians, was there supporting and approving of the martyrdom of the faithful servant of God.
Yet, despite all of these, and many other persecutions of the early Christians, the Apostles and all those who dedicated themselves to the Lord continued to serve God faithfully, as shown in the same passage from the Acts of the Apostles, how St. Philip went to the region of Samaria, proclaiming the Good News of the Lord there, performing miracles and calling many of the Samaritans to the faith. They continued to do the work of God despite the challenges and risks they had to face.
And the reason for such courage and faith which St. Stephen and the other Apostles had shown us, is exactly what the Lord Jesus told to the people in our Gospel passage this day. In that passage the Lord told the people again that He is the Bread of Life, the Saviour of the world, and all those who put their trust in Him will not be disappointed, for God has ordained and willed that all those whom He had gathered to Himself by His Son’s work, shall not be lost but receive the assurance of eternal life and glory.
This is the assurance and firm hope in which the Apostles and the holy saints and martyrs of the history of the Church held fast upon, and which they kept in mind at all times even in times of darkest and toughest persecutions and trials. They were able to endure sufferings, pains, rejections, ridicule and torment, challenges and all sorts of difficulties, because they had that strong and living faith in God.
They have received the Lord with faith, and committed themselves wholeheartedly to Him. Their faith was built upon their dedication and commitment, their giving of their own time, effort and attention to God, that even when faced with the oppression and pressure from the whole world, they were able to resist and persevere through those difficult times, because the Lord was truly with them and guided them through those turbulent times.
They placed the Lord and their desire to glorify Him, and to serve His will above and beyond their own desires to fulfil their own needs, wants and wishes, and the Lord was ever foremost in their mind and heart. They worked for the greater glory of God and all of their words and actions were directed to serve the greater purpose of God. And this is what each and every one of us should reflect on, brothers and sisters in Christ, as we continue to live our lives daily in this world today.
Today, there are many out there in various parts of the world who are still enduring persecution, challenges and difficulties, where our brethren in faith cannot openly celebrate and practice their faith, and some are even under threat daily, of suffering and even martyrdom, just because they continue to remain faithful to God, their Lord and Saviour. And if our lives have thus far been good and peaceful, and if we have been able to practice our faith openly and without need for fear, perhaps it is time for us to think, if any of us have taken our faith and our good life for granted.
Let us all therefore first of all keep in mind our suffering brethren, who have to endure suffering, persecution and challenges every day, and let us pray that God will continue to guide and protect them. And if we are able to do anything in order to help them, then let us all not be ignorant and refuse to help them in whatever way we can. And finally, let us also renew our faith and commitment to live our lives from now on with greater fidelity and devotion to God, glorifying Him with our every words, actions and deeds.
May the Lord, our Living Bread be the source of our strength always, that through our regular sharing in the Most Holy Eucharist He has given us, in our state of constant grace, we will be strengthened and encouraged to live our lives ever more faithfully, and that by our good examples, many more will also come to believe in Him, and be saved. May God bless us all. Amen.
Liturgical Colour : White
John 6 : 35-40
At that time, Jesus said to the people, “I am the Bread of Life; whoever comes to Me shall never be hungry, and whoever believes in Me shall never be thirsty. Nevertheless, as I said, you refuse to believe, even when you have seen. Yet all those whom the Father gives Me will come to Me, and whoever comes to Me, I shall not turn away. For I have come from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of the One Who sent Me.”
“And the will of Him Who sent Me is that I lose nothing of what He has given Me, but instead that I raise it up on the last day. This is the will of the Father, that whoever sees the Son and believes in Him shall live eternal life; and I will raise him up on the last day.”
Liturgical Colour : White
Psalm 65 : 1-3a, 4-5, 6-7a
Shout with joy to God, all you on earth; sing to the glory of His Name; proclaim His glorious praise. Say to God, “How great are Your deeds!”
All the earth bows down to You, making music, in praise of You, singing in honour of Your Name. Come, and see God’s wonders; His deeds, awesome for humans.
He has turned the sea into dry land, and the river was crossed on foot. Let us, therefore, rejoice in Him. He rules by His might forever.
Liturgical Colour : White
Acts 8 : 1b-8
This was the beginning of a great persecution against the Church in Jerusalem. All, except the Apostles, were scattered throughout the region of Judea and Samaria. Devout men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. Saul, meanwhile, was trying to destroy the Church. He entered house after house and dragged off men and women, and had them put in jail.
At the same time, those who were scattered went about, preaching the word. Philip went down to a town of Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there. All the people paid close attention to what Philip said as they listened to him, and saw the miraculous signs that he did. For, in cases of possession, the unclean spirits came out shrieking loudly. Many people who were paralysed or crippled, were healed. So there was great joy in the town.
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