Wednesday

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Wednesday, 17 April 2019 : Wednesday of Holy Week (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, on this day, the Wednesday of the blessed Holy Week, we focus on the betrayal of our Lord Jesus by one of His own disciples, the infamous Judas Iscariot. As such, traditionally today is also known as ‘Spy Wednesday’ for it was told that Judas Iscariot went to the chief priests and the elders to sell out his own Lord and Master on this day, which was done in utter secrecy that none of the other disciples knew about his betrayal until the very end.

We heard of how Judas Iscariot went to the chief priests and the elders asking them for an offer of money in exchange for the betrayal that he himself put on the discussion table. And they agreed on a sum of thirty pieces of silver. This may seem to be a lot, but in fact, as compared to the value of other things, this is a merely very small amount, and in fact, historical research and records showed that the price was the rough average price of a slave in the market.

And this is a very significant and meaningful thing to think about, that the Lord, God and King, Master of the entire Universe, was betrayed and sold to His enemies at the price of a mere slave, a most worthless and indeed, a mere commodity to be traded at the time, when slaves were not even treated as a human being should have been treated. And that was exactly what the Lord willingly accepted, the role of a faithful Servant and a suffering slave to all of us mankind.

As written in the first reading today, taken from the Book of the prophet Isaiah, God sent His Saviour into this world, a Servant Who would obediently fulfilled the mission which has been entrusted to Him, even though it would require Him to go through enormous suffering, persecution, rejection, ridicule and humiliation, to endure all that the worst of the world could raise up against Him. And that was exactly what the Lord Jesus had to suffer from.

He was willing to endure all of that sufferings, because of nothing less than His pure, selfless and enduring desire to love each and every one of us sinners, all those whom He loved from the beginning of time, but because of our sins, we have been sundered and separated from His love. Without the love of God, there would have been no hope for us all. And that is precisely because of the love that He has for us, that He was willing to forgive us our sins and be reconciled with us.

God could have destroyed us outright with His will alone. Our sins are despicable to Him, and our refusal to obey Him and our continued sinful actions are truly hurtful to Him. And yet, He was ever patient and forgiving, knowing that there are still good in us, as He created us all good and perfect before sin came and corrupted us. He wants to be reconciled with us, and that desire and compassion in Him allowed Him to do what He has willingly undertook for our sake.

And that is to humble Himself and empty Himself, humbling Himself before God and man alike, to obey the will of the Father so perfectly and be filled with so much love for Him and for His fellow men, that He bore that cross upon His shoulders, as the perfect Man, the New Adam, by which God made a new Covenant with the whole race of man. The first Adam had sinned because he chose to side with the devil and believe in the devil’s lies, and submitted to his greed and pride, and Christ as the New Adam showed us all how each and every one of us ought to be like in our own lives.

Judas fell into sin because he was selfish, and so did the chief priests and all those who plotted with Judas against the Lord. The former cared about his own desire for money, which he had done earlier as he helped himself corruptly to the group’s own treasure money, a wicked act to serve his own greed, while the latter wanted to preserve their own status, prestige and standing in the society, and could not bear to have the opposition from the Lord Jesus, His authority and His teachings.

Now, brothers and sisters in Christ, how should we choose to proceed with our lives from now on? Do we follow the example of Judas Iscariot, the chief priests and the elders in their prideful and haughty attitudes, in their greed and desires for power, glory and worldly satisfactions? Or should we instead follow the example of Our Lord Jesus Christ, His humility before all, and His love for His heavenly Father and for us all, as the perfect example for all of us to follow?

Let us all reflect on all these things as we prepare ourselves to enter the most sacred Paschal Triduum beginning tomorrow on Holy Thursday, that we may truly reflect and ponder on our own lives, our every words and actions, so that in everything we say and do, we will grow ever more devoted to the Lord, and shunning behind all of our past wicked ways, that we do not follow the path of sin any longer, and be true disciples of the Lord from now on.

Let us all have a wonderful time celebrating together the sacred Paschal Triduum, and allow the Lord to enter into our lives, that He may transform each and every one of us to be true children of light and to be worthy recipients of God’s everlasting inheritance and wonders. Amen.

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Wednesday, 17 April 2019 : Wednesday of Holy Week (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Matthew 26 : 14-25

Then one of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “How much will you give me if I hand Him over to you?” They promised to give him thirty pieces of silver, and from then on, he kept looking for the best way to hand Jesus over to them.

On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and said to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare the Passover meal for you?” Jesus answered, “Go into the city, to the house of a certain man, and tell him, ‘The Master says : My hour is near, and I will celebrate the Passover with My disciples in your house.'”

The disciples did as Jesus had ordered, and prepared the Passover meal. When it was evening, Jesus sat at table with the Twelve. While they were eating, Jesus said, “Truly I say to you : one of you will betray Me.” They were deeply distressed, and they asked Him, one after the other, “You do not mean me, do You, Lord?”

He answered, “The one who dips his bread with Me will betray Me. The Son of Man is going as the Scripture says He will. But alas for that one who betrays the Son of Man : better for him not to have been born.” Judas, who was betraying Him, also asked, “You do not mean me, Master, do You?” Jesus replied, “You have said it.”

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Wednesday, 17 April 2019 : Wednesday of Holy Week (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Psalm 68 : 8-10, 21-22, 31 and 33-34

Since I am held in contempt for Your sake, and shame has covered My face. I have become a stranger to My kindred, an alien to My mother’s sons. Zeal for Your house consumes Me as fire and those who insult You insult Me as well.

I looked for sympathy and there was none, for comforters and there was no one. They gave me poison for food and vinegar to drink.

I will praise the Name of God in song; I will glorify Him with thanksgiving. Let the lowly witness this and be glad. You who seek God, may your hearts be revived. For the Lord hears the needy and does not despise those in captivity.

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Wednesday, 17 April 2019 : Wednesday of Holy Week (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Isaiah 50 : 4-9a

The Lord YHVH has taught Me so I speak as His disciple and I know how to sustain the weary. Morning after morning He wakes Me up to hear, to listen like a disciple. The Lord YHVH has opened My ear. I have not rebelled, nor have I withdrawn.

I offered My back to those who strike Me, My cheeks to those who pulled My beard; neither did I shield My face from blows, spittle and disgrace. I have not despaired, for the Lord YHVH comes to My help. So, like a flint I set My face, knowing that I will not be disgraced.

He Who avenges Me is near. Who then will accuse Me? Let us confront each other. Who is now My accuser? Let him approach. If the Lord YHVH is my Help, who will condemn Me?

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Wednesday, 10 April 2019 : 5th Week of Lent (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, in today’s Scripture readings we heard about the story of the king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar and the three friends of the prophet Daniel, namely Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. In that story, we heard how the king of Babylon built a great golden statue of his own image, and commanded all of his people and all those under his dominion to worship the great golden statue as himself.

But the three men, the friends of Daniel refused to abandon their worship and faith in God, the Lord and one true God of all. While literally everyone else submitted to the king’s commands, even begrudgingly, at the pain of suffering and death, but three men refused to bow down and remained firm in their conviction to be faithful to God and not worshipping any other gods or idols. They made the king very angry and he ordered them to be thrown into the blazing furnace.

The three men believed wholeheartedly in God, and they trusted in Him, that He would not abandon His faithful ones to destruction. And even if the king did destroy their body and existence, but God would not allow their eternal soul to be destroyed, for God alone has authority over our eternal souls. That is why, even though the three of them, who were counted among exiles and slaves of the king, for they were conquered and defeated by the Babylonians, and slavery was a common fate at the time, but in truth they were truly free.

This ought to be contrasted with what we heard in our Gospel passage today, as the Lord Jesus confronted many of the people who doubted Him and refused to believe in the truth and in the good works that He has performed in their midst. They contended that they were the sons and daughters of Abraham, as those who have been born of the race of Israel, born into the community of the Israelites, descendants of Israel of old, and because of that, they were free.

This must be understood in the context of what the Lord said. The Lord said that because of sin, man has been enslaved and lived in bondage to sin, but the Israelites misunderstood and thought that He was referring to an actual, physical state of slavery as was understood at the time, or to the slavery of their ancestors in the land of Egypt. As compared to that time, the Israelites were relatively free, as even though they came under the domination of the Roman Empire, but they had ample autonomy and freedom.

But the Lord rebuked them for their misunderstanding and lack of faith in God. They did not realise that their stubbornness in their opposition to the good works of God done through Christ, and their constant prideful attitudes were only hurting themselves, and keeping themselves enslaved to the power of sin. Instead, the Lord was showing them the true path, the same one that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had taken, that is the path of faith.

The people who opposed Jesus indeed did not worship idols and statues like that of the people of Daniel’s time. However, they did not realise that they have made idols out of various other things in their lives, such as money, power, possessions, societal influence and fame, glory and human praise, and many others, that the Lord often criticised the people for. They might indeed appear outwardly pious, and yet, in their hearts, there was no love for God.

And it was those attachments to sin that prevented them from becoming truly free, the path that the Lord Jesus was showing to all of them. And the devil is indeed busy at work, trying to prevent us all from attaining this true freedom in Christ. For if everyone become free, then he, our slavemaster, will no longer have any slaves to dominate over. And that is why Satan makes the path of false freedom, that is the path of sin, much more appealing and attractive, as compared to the path of faith.

That was the same choice that the three friends of Daniel faced. They had to face a very difficult choice, of choosing between the obviously much easier path of accepting the king’s commands and bending the knee to worship the abomination, and receive from the king much favours, graces and good things, even pleasures and joys in life, or to choose the much more difficult and painful path of remaining true to their faith in God, and perish.

But they showed their courage and mettle, and they remained firm in their faith and in their choice, and this is what each and every one of us Christians are called to do in our lives as well. We are faced with choices all the time throughout our lives, to choose between following and doing what is convenient and good for us, and yet, disobeying God’s commandments and causing us to sin, or to choose to remain faithful, even despite challenges, disapproval from others and even those who are close to us.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, as we approach the coming of the Holy Week, let us remember that we should unite ourselves with Christ and with all of our holy predecessors, including Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, in our obedience to God’s will and in our willingness and conviction to live our lives in accordance with His ways from now on. Let us all turn to God and focus ourselves entirely towards Him, and let us all be faithful from now on, in all of our words, actions and deeds.

May the Lord give us the strength and courage to continue to persevere down this path of faith, and journey together with Him, as we carry up our crosses in life, together with Christ, Who chose the difficult path of suffering, and die for us on the cross, that by His death, and by us sharing in His death, He may restore to us all the gift of eternal life and glory. Amen.

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Wednesday, 10 April 2019 : 5th Week of Lent (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

John 8 : 31-42

At that time, Jesus went on to say to the Jews who believed in Him, “You will be My true disciples, if you keep My word. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered Him, “We are the descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves of anyone. What do you mean by saying : You will be free?”

Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave. But the slave does not stay in the house forever; the son stays forever. So, if the Son makes you free, you will be really free. I know that you are the descendants of Abraham; yet you want to kill Me because My word finds no place in you. For My part, I speak of what I have seen in My Father’s presence, but you do what you have learnt from your father.”

They answered Him, “Our father is Abraham.” Then Jesus said, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do as Abraham did. But now you want to kill Me, the One Who tells you the truth – the truth that I have learnt from God. That is not what Abraham did; what you are doing are the works of your father.”

The Jews said to Him, “We are not illegitimate children; we have one Father, God.” Jesus replied, “If God were your Father you would love Me, for I came forth from God, and I am here. And I did not come by My own decision, but it was He Himself Who sent Me.”

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Wednesday, 10 April 2019 : 5th Week of Lent (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Daniel 3 : 52, 53, 54, 55, 56

Blessed are You, Lord, God of our fathers, be praised and exalted forever. Blessed is Your holy and glorious Name, celebrated and exalted forever.

Blessed are You in the Temple of Your sacred glory, Your praises are sung forever.

Blessed are You on the throne of Your kingdom, honoured and glorified forever.

Blessed are You Who fathom the depths, who are enthroned on the Cherubim, praised and exalted forever.

Blessed are You in the firmament of heaven, praised and glorified forever.

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Wednesday, 10 April 2019 : 5th Week of Lent (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Daniel 3 : 14-20, 24-25, 28

King Nebuchadnezzar questioned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden statue I have set up? If you hear now the sound of horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and other instruments, will you fall down and worship the statue I made? If you will not, you know the punishment : you will immediately be thrown into a burning furnace. And then what god can deliver you out of my hands?”

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego answered, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we need not defend ourselves before you on this matter. If you order us to be thrown into the furnace, the God we serve will rescue us. But even if He will not, we would like you to know, o king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden statue you have set up.”

Nebuchadnezzar’s face reddened with fury as he looked at Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. He ordered the furnace to heated seven times hotter than usual and commanded some of his strongest soldiers to bind Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the burning furnace.

They walked in the midst of the flames, singing to God and praising the Lord. Azariah stood up in the midst of the fire and prayed aloud : “You have indeed given a just sentence in bringing evil upon us and upon Jerusalem, the Holy City of our fathers. You have acted in accordance with truth and justice, as punishment for our sins.”

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Wednesday, 3 April 2019 : 4th Week of Lent (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, on this day we listened to the words of the Scriptures speaking to us about the love that God, our loving Creator and Father has for each and every one of us, and by which love we are so fortunate, because despite of our sins and all the wicked deeds and actions that we have done, God still loves us and is willing to forgive us from those sins and wickedness, provided that we are able to follow and commit ourselves to the path that He has shown to us all.

In both our first reading passage from the book of the prophet Isaiah and the Gospel passage today, this truth is reiterated before us all firmly, reminding us of the great love that God, our loving Father has for each and every one of us. In the book of the prophet Isaiah we heard how the Lord reminded His people of the love that He has for each and every one of them, and how He would save them from their enemies and from their troubles.

He reminded all of them that they will no longer need to worry and ought to rejoice because God has come to save them all. And this is precisely echoed and revealed through what we have heard in our Gospel passage today, when the Lord Jesus also mentioned the very same things, the assurance of God’s love and faithfulness, when He, our loving Father, will bless us and gather us into the bliss and eternal joy He has promised all of those who are faithful to Him.

And therefore, today we are reminded of the fulfilment of God’s promises that He has made through Jesus Christ, His Son, through Whom God has revealed to all of us, His perfect love, that He was willing to send His Son to us as the perfect gift, and as the Hope of our salvation. Through Christ, God’s own Son, God has brought us all from the darkness of this world and into the eternal joy and bliss He has prepared for all of us.

Today’s readings repeat this important truth because each and every one of us ought to remember why we go through this period of Lent, this time and period of purification and self-rediscovery. And that is because we are looking forward to the coming of the true joy of our lives, that will come with the fullness of our reconciliation with God, through Jesus Christ, His sacrifice and death on the cross, by which He has redeemed us all from our sins.

As we draw ever closer to the end of the season of Lent, and as we head towards the holiest week of our entire liturgical year, the Holy Week itself, we ought to spend some time to reflect on our own lives, and how we have lived these lives of ours thus far. Have we placed our faith in God and have we loved Him just as He Himself has first loved us? Have we realised just how much God cared for us, and how He has blessed us all these while without us probably even knowing it?

Indeed, just as we heard in the Gospel passage today, that some among the people who heard Jesus’ teachings opposed Him and wanted to kill Him because they refused to believe in Him, thus, our lives will be far from being smooth and easygoing. There will be plenty of challenges and obstacles in our journey, as there will be many of those who disagree with us and our choice to follow the Lord. And the devil is always busy at work trying to snare more souls to follow his lead into damnation.

But, shall we follow the falsehoods and the empty promises of Satan? He is full of sweet lies and false pretenses, that we can end up falling for if we do not have a strong faith and trust in God. This is where we need to strengthen our dedication to God, that each and every one of us may grow stronger and firmer in our faith, and not easily give in to the temptations of evil. This season of Lent is truly a time for us to make a difference in our lives, by changing our way of life.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all turn towards the Lord from now on with all of our strength, and focus our attention and effort towards Him. Let us grow ever more in love for Him and put our complete trust in Him, for He is ever always faithful, and will not abandon us at the time of our need. May God be with us always, now and forevermore. Amen.

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Wednesday, 3 April 2019 : 4th Week of Lent (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

John 5 : 17-30

At that time, Jesus replied to the Jews, “My Father goes on working and so do I.” And the Jews tried all the harder to kill Him, for Jesus not only broke the Sabbath observance, but also made Himself equal with God, calling God His own Father.

Jesus said to them, “Truly, I assure you, the Son cannot do anything by Himself, but only what He sees the Father do. And whatever He does, the Son also does. The Father loves the Son and shows Him everything He does; and He will show Him even greater things than these, so that you will be amazed.”

“As the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so the Son gives life to whom He wills. In the same way the Father judges no one, for He has entrusted all judgment to the Son, and He wants all to honour the Son as they honour the Father. Whoever ignores the Son, ignores as well the Father Who sent Him.”

“Truly, I say to you, anyone who hears My word and believes Him Who sent Me, has eternal life; and there is no judgment for him, because he has passed from death to life. Truly, the hour is coming and has indeed come, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and, on hearing it, will live. For the Father has life in Himself, and He has given to the Son also to have life in Himself. And He has empowered Him as well to carry out Judgment, for He is Son of Man.”

“Do not be surprised at this : the hour is coming when all those lying in tombs will hear My voice and come out; those who have done good shall rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned. I can do nothing of Myself, and I need to hear Another One to judge; and My judgment is just, because I seek not My own will, but the will of Him Who sent Me.”