Liturgical Colour : White or Red (Martyrs)
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 or Red (Martyrs)
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 : Red
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Matthias, one of the Twelve Apostles of the Lord, and the one who did not belong to the original Twelve that the Lord had chosen, but was added later on to replace Judas Iscariot the traitor, who had abandoned his position as one of the Twelve when he betrayed the Lord. St. Matthias was selected from among the Lord’s closest disciples, and he was called to serve the Lord as an Apostle, that is to be one of the important pillars of the Church, to spearhead the Church’s efforts at evangelisation and other missionary works and ministries, and therefore becoming for all of us a great role model and example in his faith, actions and works, for us to carry out in our own lives as Christians.
Let us all first begin by looking at our Scripture passages today, beginning with our first reading taken from the Acts of the Apostles, in which we heard of the actions of the Apostles led by St. Peter who told the assembly of the faithful that there was a need to elect someone to take over the place of the traitor Judas Iscariot as mentioned. Judas Iscariot had abandoned his calling and position as one of the Twelve by his betrayal of the Lord and by his refusal to repent and trust in God’s mercy, and instead having committed suicide out of sheer guilt. Therefore, in order to complete what the Lord had established with the Twelve Apostles, the number twelve being highly significant as representing the completeness of the twelve tribes of Israel, the twelve sons of Jacob.
And thus we heard how the Apostles and the other disciples of the Lord gathered together and prayed for the wisdom and inspiration of the Holy Spirit that one of them could be chosen to become the one to replace Judas Iscariot. That was how St. Matthias was elected by the will of God. St. Matthias bore the choice with faith and commitment, dedicating himself and his life to serve the Lord henceforth as an Apostle. According to Apostolic traditions, St. Matthias ministered firstly in Judea, to the people of Israelite descent, the Jewish people and others, and then he went on missionary journeys to different places, including Cappadocia in Asia Minor, in what is today part of Turkey, then the region around the Caspian Sea, and also Ethiopia in distant Africa.
In the different traditions, what St. Matthias encountered during his ministries were probably somewhat different, but what remains consistent was his dedication to the Lord and all the efforts which he had shown in proclaiming the Christian faith, the Good News of God and His salvation to many people throughout the many places that he had visited and ministered in. In some of those traditions, St. Matthias was martyred in the land of Ethiopia, or that he was stoned to death in Judea and Jerusalem by a mob against him, and yet another, more commonly accepted tradition was that St. Matthias was martyred in the region that is now part of the country of Georgia in the Caucasus Mountains. But regardless of the exact details and circumstances, what is truly very clear is that St. Matthias, like those other Apostles, devoted himself, his life, his works and efforts to the Lord so thoroughly.
Then, from our Gospel passage today, taken from the Gospel according to St. John the Apostle and Evangelist, we heard of the Lord highlighting to His disciples the important commandments that all of the people of God ought to follow and obey, and in those two main commandments lie the entire crux of the whole Law of God, the Law which God has given to all of us His people to guide us in our path and actions in life, in leading all of us back to Himself, by teaching us all about love, how we ought to love God first and foremost above all else, and then equally importantly, show that same love towards our fellow brothers and sisters, and to everyone around us, to all those whom we encounter in life. We cannot be true and genuine disciples and followers of the Lord unless we show this love in our lives, in each and every moments.
First of all, it is right and just that we should love the Lord our God first and foremost before all else, for without God we are nothing and we cannot exist without God’s grace. And not only that, but the Lord has also loved us all Himself with such great love and compassion that He showed us His generous love even to us sinners, who are truly undeserving of His love. We have disobeyed Him and rebelled against Him, and by doing this we have not been embracing the love that God has for us, and yet, God still loves us all anyway. He could have destroyed us from the beginning for our wickedness, disobedience and insolence, and yet, He chose to extend towards us His love and His merciful compassionate love. He loved us all even when we were still sinners, and desires for us to be truly reconciled and reunited with Him.
This is why we should love the Lord, our most loving God. For when others may fail us in love, but God never fails in loving us, and we can always trust and have faith in His love. But at the same time, while we love the Lord wholeheartedly we must also not forget the Lord’s second commandment that we ought to love our fellow brothers and sisters around us. As it is indeed possible for someone to love the Lord so much but ends up neglecting to love those who are around them, especially those who have been entrusted to them to love, and this is contrary to what the Lord has commanded to us to do. For us to be true and genuine Christians, we must always be filled with love, for God and for our fellow brothers and sisters alike.
Therefore, as we reflect upon the life, work and ministry of St. Matthias the Apostle, the courage and faith he has shown in ministering to the people of God and the determination he had in proclaiming the Good News of God to more and more people, let us all be inspired by his examples as our role model in faith and life, so that we may also carry out our lives in the manner that is truly worthy of being Christians. We are all called to continue the good works of the Apostles, which they had begun for the benefit and salvation of so many souls in this world, and which is still far from over. We have been given various missions and responsibilities, the various vocations that we have been called into in our world today. Let us all embrace them faithfully and courageously and do our best so that we may bear rich fruits of our faith and actions in this world, for the greater glory of God.
May the Lord be with us always and may He strengthen each and every one of us in our resolve so that we may continue to grow ever stronger in faith and commitment to God, and in doing whatever is right and just according to God’s will. May God bless our every good works and endeavours, now and always. Amen.
Liturgical Colour : Red
John 15 : 9-17
At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, “As the Father has loved Me, so I have loved you. Remain in My love! You will remain in My love if you keep My commandments, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love.”
“I have told you all this, that My own joy may be in you, and your joy may be complete. This is My commandment : Love one another as I have loved you! There is no greater love than this, to give one’s life for one’s friends; and you are My friends, if you do what I command you.”
“I shall not call you servants any more, because servants do not know what their master is about. Instead, I have called you friends, since I have made known to you everything I learnt from My Father. You did not choose Me; it was I Who chose you and sent you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last. And everything you ask the Father in My Name, He will give you.”
“This is My command, that you love one another.”
Liturgical Colour : Red
Psalm 112 : 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8
Alleluia! Praise, o servants of YHVH, praise the Name of YHVH! Blessed be the Name of YHVH now and forever!
From eastern lands to the western islands, may the Name of YHVH be praised! YHVH is exalted over the nations; His glory above the heavens.
Who is like YHVH our God, Who sits enthroned on high, but also bends down to see on earth as in heaven?
He lifts up the poor from the dust and the needy from the ash heap. He makes them sit with princes, with rulers of His people.
Liturgical Colour : Red
Acts 1 : 15-17, 20-26
It was during this time that Peter stood up in the midst of the community – about one hundred and twenty in all – and he said, “Brothers, it was necessary that the Scriptures referring to Judas be fulfilled. The Holy Spirit had spoken through David about the one who would lead the crowd coming to arrest Jesus. He was one of our number and had been called to share our common ministry.”
“In the Book of Psalms it is written : ‘Let his house become deserted and may no one live in it.’ But it is also written : ‘May another take his office.’ Therefore, we must choose someone from among those who were with us during all the time that the Lord Jesus moved about with us, beginning with John’s baptism until the day when Jesus was taken away from us. One of these has to become, with us, a witness to His resurrection.”
Then they proposed two : Joseph, called Barsabbas, also known as Justus, and Matthias. They prayed : “You know, Lord, what is in the hearts of all. Show us, therefore, which of the two You have chosen to replace Judas in this Apostolic ministry which he deserted to go to the place he deserved.”
Then they drew lots between the two and the choice fell on Matthias who was added to the eleven Apostles.
Liturgical Colour : White
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, all of us are reminded today through the readings of the Sacred Scriptures of the reality of being the followers and disciples of the Lord, to be Christians, in living our lives faithfully each day and in our dedication towards God. To be a Christian is not for us to expect that our lives will be fully happy and uneventful. Instead, the reality is such that as Christians, more likely than not we will be facing difficulties and hardships in our path. This is because the ways of the Lord and His truth are not compatible with those of the world and the forces of evil present all around us in this world. Therefore, if we choose to be faithful to God and follow Him wholeheartedly, there will likely be hardships, trials, tears and sorrow that we will have to endure in our path.
In our first reading today, taken from the Acts of the Apostles, we heard of the account of what happened in the immediate aftermath of the martyrdom of St. Stephen, one of the seven holy Deacons appointed and chosen by the Holy Spirit to be the ministers of the Church. St. Stephen was martyred after he courageously stood up for his faith in God before the whole assembly of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish High Council and all those plotting his downfall and destruction because they despised what he was teaching and preaching before the people of God. Thus, St. Stephen was stoned to death by the angry mob and all those who were opposed to him. Yet, despite all the sufferings, he followed the Lord’s example and forgave those who have persecuted him, asking the Lord not to hold their sins against them.
Then we heard how the persecutions continued throughout Judea and Jerusalem, led especially by one particular Saul, a very zealous young Pharisee, whom we also know as Paul later in his life after his conversion to be a committed and faithful Christian. At that time Saul was very ardent in his misguided zeal to destroy and eradicate all those who followed Jesus and His teachings, and he went around the whole area and using violent methods, arresting and striking against all those early Christian believers, many of whom had to go into hiding and be scattered throughout the land. Yet, as we have also heard how the Apostles and disciples of the Lord still continued with their works and ministries, spreading the words of the Lord and His Good News of salvation to everyone whom they encountered.
This is a reminder for all of us that while we may indeed have to face a lot of challenges and hardships in our path as Christians, but we should not give up our struggle and efforts to carry out the missions and works which the Lord Himself has entrusted to us, and as He Himself has promised and reassured us, He would always be with His Church, with His faithful ones, and He would not let us all to fail in our missions and works, as in the end, despite the many challenges and struggles, hardships and trails that we all have to face in our path and ministries, but with God and His guidance and providence, all of us will be strengthened and helped in our works and efforts, and we will be protected and guarded against the efforts of the evil ones seeking our downfall and destruction. But we must really have faith in the Lord, have trust and faith that He will provide for us.
In our Gospel passage today, taken from the Gospel according to St. John the Apostle and Evangelist, we continue to hear the discourse on the Bread of Life that we have started hearing from yesterday. In that passage, we heard how the Lord Jesus continued to refer to Himself as the Bread of Life, the Heavenly Bread that has come from the Father in Heaven. We heard how He reassured all those who believe in Him that they will all be blessed and be given the promise of eternal life. Such is indeed what the faithful people of God, all of us as Christians have received from the Lord this wonderful gift, the gift of the Living Bread, the Bread that will satisfy us forever and give us true happiness, joy and eternal life with Him.
And this promise of everlasting life is something which many of us as Christians have held up strongly in our own lives, in our own conviction to follow Him and dedicate ourselves to His cause. Like so many of our predecessors before us, they have all trusted in the Lord’s promise and been strengthened by the reassurances that they have received from God Himself, that their earthly existence, their many sufferings and hardships will eventually be vindicated, and through the guidance and providence of God, all of us as His people would be led to the eternity of true happiness and joy with Him. That is why we must not allow ourselves to be overcome by fear and doubt, uncertainty or insecurity because we think that we suffer all these things alone. God is always by our side, guiding and providing for us.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all therefore put our trust in God and renew our faith in Him, trusting in whatever it is that He has planned for us. God has always been by our side, journeying with us and giving us the strength and courage to carry on this journey. Through His Presence in our midst, in His Real Presence in the Eucharist, in His Most Precious Body and Blood, the Lord has shown His ever-constant and present love, His ever enduring and persistent faithfulness to the Covenant which He had made with all of us. He has shown us that His promises and reassurances are not mere empty words, but are truly genuine and sincere commitment which He has made to us all, to His beloved children and people, whom He wants to love wholeheartedly, and which therefore we should reciprocate with our own love and devotion.
May the Risen Lord, our most loving God and Saviour continue to guide us all in our path and journey in faith and life. May He, the Bread of Life, the Living Bread from Heaven, continue to provide for us all whatever we need in this journey, which may be heavy and difficult. The challenges and hardships that we may encounter in our path should not make us to doubt the Lord’s Providence and Presence in our midst. Instead, we should continue to be reminded of His love and grace, of everything that He has given us all, of all the kindness and compassionate love which He has granted to us. May He bless us all in our every good efforts and works, our every endeavours, now and always. 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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