Wednesday

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Wednesday, 25 September 2024 : 25th Week of Ordinary Time (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Luke 9 : 1-6

At that time, Jesus called His Twelve disciples and gave them power and authority to drive out all evil spirits and to heal diseases. And He sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He instructed them, “Do not take anything for the journey, neither staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not even take a spare tunic.”

“Whatever house you enter, remain there until you leave that place. And wherever they do not welcome you, leave the town and shake the dust from your feet : it will be as a testimony against them.”

So they set out, and went through the villages, proclaiming the Good News and healing people everywhere.

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Wednesday, 25 September 2024 : 25th Week of Ordinary Time (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Psalm 118 : 29, 72, 89, 101, 104, 163

Keep me away from deceitful paths; be gracious and teach me Your Law.

Your Law is more precious to me than heaps of silver and gold.

O YHVH, Your word stands forever, firmly fixed in the heavens.

I turn my feet from evil paths, that I may keep step with Your word.

Your precepts have given me knowledge, and I hate all that is false.

I hate and abhor falsehood, but I love Your Law.

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Wednesday, 25 September 2024 : 25th Week of Ordinary Time (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Proverbs 30 : 5-9

Every word of God is true, He is a shield in Whom man can find refuge. Add nothing to His words lest He rebuke you and take you for a liar. O God, two things I beg of You, do not deny me them before I die. Keep lying and falsehood far away from me, give me neither poverty nor riches.

Give me just as much food as I need lest, satisfied, I deny You and say, “Who is YHVH?” Or else, out of necessity, I steal and profane the Name of my God.

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Wednesday, 18 September 2024 : 24th Week of Ordinary Time (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we all listened to the words of the Sacred Scriptures, each and every one of us are reminded that we are all called to be faithful and committed disciples and followers of the Lord in all things, to do His will and to obey His calling and commandments so that by each and every one of our actions, words and interactions with one another, we will always strive to do what is right and just in accordance with what the Lord has taught us to do, to be full of His love, kindness and mercy, and not to follow instead the path and corruptions of this world, or the distractions and temptations of worldliness around us which can keep us away from the path of God’s salvation and grace.

In our first reading today, we heard from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Church and the faithful people of God in Corinth in which the Apostle reminded all the faithful people of God that unless each and every one of them have love in them then all their gifts, blessings, abilities, specialties, talents and all sorts of other things they possess, all would come to nothing as these would not bring them to true righteousness and virtue in God, as God seeks the hearts and minds of those who love and showcase this same love in all opportunities, those who truly love Him and love one another in the same manner as how God Himself has loved each and every one of us, His beloved children and people. God wants each and every one of us to model ourselves based on His love, kindness and compassion, and to follow His path at all times.

St. Paul the Apostle reminded the faithful in Corinth and elsewhere that their Christian faith must not be based on boasting of one’s own proud ambitions and power, and all the glory and fame of the world. Instead, the greater each of us are, the more loving and the more humble we should become, and the more we should show the generous love that God Himself, our Lord and Master has shown to each one of us. A lot of sufferings in this world came to be because of our failure to do so, and our inability to resist the temptations of worldly glory and pleasures, all of which led us down the ruinous path towards our doom and downfall. If we allow our pride, ego and ambition to lead us this path to ruin then there will be nothing for us but regret in the end, of having chosen the wrong path of rebellion and disobedience against God.

Then, in our Gospel passage today, we heard of the words of the Lord to His disciples in which He spoke of the inconsistencies of the people of His time, those who criticised and attacked Him and His efforts because they disagreed with Him and refused to listen to reason despite everything that He had done to them and showed them. The Lord told them all of how those people were swayed by their worldly desires and perceptions, and hence refusing to accept the truth and Wisdom of God guiding them in their path in life. Instead, they preferred to trust in and follow their own worldly prejudices and preferences, their arbitrary sense of judgment and understanding of things rather than to trust in the Lord and to follow Him in each and every moments of their lives.

Linking to what we have heard earlier in our first reading today, this is a reminder for us that if we allow our ego, ambition, pride and all those things to distract us from God and His path, and if we do not put His love at the centre and as the focus of our lives and existence, then it will be easy for us to end up falling ever deeper into the trap of sin and worldliness. Those Pharisees, Sadducees and teachers of the Law who often opposed the Lord in His ministry and works were all swayed by their pride and ego, their sense of self-righteousness and superiority which led them to think that they were better and more worthy than all others, and hence, looked down upon anyone else who did not obey the Lord or lived their lives in the manner that He had taught and shown them to do.

Each and every one of us are reminded that unless we do our best to focus our lives on God and embody His love in our hearts and minds, we cannot truly be faithful and worthy, righteous and committed disciples and followers of the Lord. As Christians we must always centre our lives and existence on God’s love, and do our best so that in each and every one of our own actions, words, efforts and everything that we take up in this life, we will always be full of love and care for those who are less fortunate than us and all those who are in need of our love and kindness. God has blessed us greatly and loved each one of us and as a result we should follow Him and His examples, and not be tempted to satisfy selfishly our own ambitions and desires in this world.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all therefore do our best so that in everything that we say and do, we will continue to embody our love for God and for our fellow brothers and sisters around us. We should always be the shining beacons of God’s Light and grace, proclaiming His Good News and love at all times, by our exemplary living and actions, loving those who have none to love them and showing care to everyone, to those who are in our families, our relatives and friends, but even also those who have hurt and persecuted us. Certainly this is much easier said than done, but that is exactly the challenge that each and every one of us as Christians have received from the Lord, for to be Christians is to be truly like the Lord Himself, Who has loved everyone including even those who persecuted and oppressed Him.

May the Lord, our ever loving God and Father continue to strengthen us with His love and kindness, blessing us with His generous and ever abundant compassion and care, His patient and ever enduring generosity and passion in reaching out to us and in spending time and moments with us. May He continue to strengthen and empower us all with His love and teach us to continue to love in the same manner and to be always generous in giving from the depths of our hearts, to be fully attuned to God’s ways and love, to be ever worthy to be called His disciples, followers and children. Amen.

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Wednesday, 18 September 2024 : 24th Week of Ordinary Time (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Luke 7 : 31-35

At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, “What comparison can I use for the people? What are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace, about whom their companions complain, ‘We piped you a tune and you would not dance; we sang funeral songs and you would not cry.'”

“Remember John : he did not eat bread or drink wine, and you said, ‘He has an evil spirit.’ Next, came the Son of Man, eating and drinking; and you say, ‘Look, a glutton for food and wine, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But the children of Wisdom always recognise her work.”

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Wednesday, 18 September 2024 : 24th Week of Ordinary Time (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Psalm 32 : 2-3, 4-5, 12 and 22

Give thanks to YHVH on the harp and lyre, making melody and chanting praises. Amid loud shouts of joy, sing to Him a new song and play the ten-stringed harp.

For upright is YHVH’s word and worthy of trust is His work. YHVH loves justice and righteousness; the earth is full of His kindness.

Blessed is the nation whose God is YHVH – the people He has chosen for His inheritance. O YHVH, let Your love rest upon us, even as our hope rests in You.

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Wednesday, 18 September 2024 : 24th Week of Ordinary Time (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

1 Corinthians 12 : 31 – 1 Corinthians 13 : 13

Be that as it may, set your hearts on the most precious gifts, and I will show you a much better way.

If I could speak all the human and Angelic tongues, but had no love, I would only be sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, knowing secret things, with all kinds of knowledge, and had faith great enough to remove mountains, but had no love, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I had to the poor, and even give up my body to be burnt, if I am without love, it would be of no value to me.

Love is patient, kind, without envy. It is not boastful or arrogant. It is not ill-mannered, nor does it seek its own interest. Love overcomes anger and forgets offences. It does not take delight in wrong, but rejoices in truth. Love excuses everything, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love will never end. Prophecies may cease, tongues be silent and knowledge disappear. For knowledge grasps something of the truth and prophecy as well. And when what is perfect comes, everything imperfect will pass away. When I was a child, I thought and reasoned like a child, but when I grew up, I gave up childish ways.

Likewise, at present, we see dimly, as in a mirror, but, then, it shall be face to face. Now, we know, in part, but then I will know as I am known. Now, we have faith, hope and love, these three, but the greatest of these is love.

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Wednesday, 11 September 2024 : 23rd Week of Ordinary Time (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we listened to the words of the Sacred Scriptures, it is important that each and every one of us understand the context of what we have heard from them, and understand how we can apply them to our own respective lives so that each and every one of us may grow ever more committed in each and every moments of our lives in doing whatever it is that He has taught and commanded us all to do. All of us should heed what the Lord told and taught to us with regards to how we should live our daily living as Christians, that is as those whom He had called and chosen from this world, and how we can be better and more attuned to His will, living in a manner that is truly worthy and blessed by the Lord, our loving God. 

In our first reading today, we heard from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians in which the Apostle spoke to the people of God, the faithful and beloved people of God in that city and region about the matter of how each and every one of them ought to live their lives with commitment and dedication to God, and not to give themselves to immorality and wickedness, temptations and all the other corruptions of the world. He also exhorted them all to live virtuously and not to be swayed by worldly corruptions and desires, living as worthy and truly holy brothers and sisters in the same Christ, Our Lord and Saviour. St. Paul told the faithful people of God in Corinth not to embrace worldliness, and to reject all sorts of wicked things that may lead them astray from the path towards God and His salvation.

However, at the same time, we must also understand the context and situation in which St. Paul made this comment and exhortation upon the faithful in Corinth. We must not understand it literally or else we may misunderstand the intention of those words uttered by St. Paul to the Corinthians as at that time it was commonly understood and thought that the Lord’s Second Coming would be truly imminent, and everything would come to happen within probably one’s lifetime. Therefore that was why St. Paul exhorted that the faithful should refrain from worldly matters and saying that the married should behave as if they were not married to each other, that they might stay focused on the Lord and not on their families.

Putting this context aside, I hope all of us can see how the family is truly an important aspect of Christian life, that St. Paul and the other disciples of the Lord often placed a lot of emphasis and focus on the sanctity and purity of the families of those whom the Lord had called and chosen to be His own people, to be truly exemplary and worthy in each and every one of our works, actions and deeds so that we may continue to be holy and worthy to be truly called as disciples and followers of the Lord in all things. As Christians it is important that we must be the beacons of the light and truth of Christ, in each and every one of our words, actions, deeds and interactions with one another, and often it is our families that are the source of all these witnessing to the truth of Christ.

If our families are not firmly rooted in Christ, in His teachings and truth, then it may be easy for us to be swayed into the path of rebellion, disobedience and therefore fall into the temptations to sin. That is why we need to make sure that each and every one of us, especially in our families, be it as parents or children, or be it as husbands or wives, and even as relatives to one another, we must continue to strive to live our lives most worthily of the Lord so that we can continue to embody our Christian faith in each and every moments of our lives, and we may proclaim the Lord and glorify Him through even the smallest and seemingly least significant efforts and works that we carry out in each and every moments. Our families and each and every one of us should continue to be filled with the grace of God at all times.

In our Gospel passage today, we then heard the famous Sermon on the Mount, also known as the Eight Beatitudes in which the Lord Jesus presented to all of His disciples and followers what it truly means for each and every one of them to become His disciples. They should heed whatever that He had told to them and to all the people, in the series of blessings and graces He had proclaimed and presented to all those who have truly obeyed the Lord and lived their lives worthily of the Lord at all times. The Lord praised and blessed all those who have are poor in spirit, those who are hungry and in need, those who are sorrowful, those who have been hated and persecuted, those who acted righteously and sought to make peace, among other things.

Essentially, all of those things help to bring one ever closer to God, helping one to resist the temptations of the world, of all the worldly allures of pleasures and other forms of wicked things that may lead one astray and ever further from the path of God. We are all reminded that as Christians, our lives and our existence should always be focused on the Lord and we ought to have Him at the forefront of all and everything that we do in our everyday living. We must always adhere to the path of God’s grace, and do our very best in each and every moments to be inspirational and exemplary to everyone around us, helping one another to remain true to our faith and obedience to God, to do whatever it is that He has entrusted to us to do.

May the Lord continue to help us in our journey towards Him, giving us the strength and encouragement to continue living our lives faithfully, dedicating ourselves at each and every moments to proclaim His truth and love, His Good News and truth to all the people of all the nations. May the Lord continue to guide and empower each one of us so that we may be willing and able to resist the temptations of worldly pleasures and glory, remaining firmly faithful in our path towards the Lord and His salvation. Let us continue to walk in His Holy Presence, continuing to devote ourselves, our time and efforts to His cause, now and always. Amen.

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Wednesday, 11 September 2024 : 23rd Week of Ordinary Time (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Luke 6 : 20-26

At that time, looking at His disciples, Jesus said, “Fortunate are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours. Fortunate are you, who are hungry now, for you will be filled. Fortunate are you, who weep now, for you will laugh.”

“Fortunate are you, when people hate you, when they reject you and insult you and number you among criminals, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for a great reward is kept for you in heaven. Remember, that is how the ancestors of the people treated the prophets.”

“But alas for you, who have wealth, for you have been comforted now. Alas for you, who are full, for you will go hungry. Alas for you, who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. Alas for you, when people speak well of you, for that is how the ancestors of the people treated the false prophets.”

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Wednesday, 11 September 2024 : 23rd Week of Ordinary Time (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Psalm 44 : 11-12, 14-15, 16-17

Listen, o daughter, pay attention; forget your father’s house and your nation, and your beauty will charm the King, for He is your Lord.

All glorious as she enters is the princess in her gold-woven robes. She is led in royal attire to the King, following behind is her train of virgins.

Amid cheers and general rejoicing, they enter the palace of the King. Forget your fathers and think of your sons, you will make them princes throughout the land.