Wednesday

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Wednesday, 10 April 2024 : 2nd Week of Easter (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

Acts 5 : 17-26

The High Priest and all his supporters, that is the party of the Sadducees, became very jealous of the Apostles; so they arrested them and had them thrown into the public jail. But an Angel of the Lord opened the door of the prison during the night, brought them out, and said to them, “Go and stand in the Temple court and tell the people the whole of this living message.” Accordingly they entered the Temple at dawn and resumed their teaching.

When the High Priest and his supporters arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin, that is the full Council of the elders of Israel. They sent word to the jail to have the prisoners brought in. But when the Temple guards arrived at the jail, they did not find them inside, so they returned with the news, “We found the prison securely locked and the prison guards at their post outside the gate, but when we opened the gate, we found no one inside.”

Upon hearing these words, the captain of the Temple guard and the high priests were baffled, wondering where all of this would end. Just then someone arrived with the report, “Look, those men whom you put in prison are standing in the Temple, teaching the people.” Then the captain went off with the guards and brought them back, but without any show of force, for fear of being stoned by the people.

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Wednesday, 3 April 2024 : Wednesday within Easter Octave (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : White

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today we listened to the words of the Scriptures which we are again reminded of the great joy that we are celebrating during this time of Easter when we rejoice most wonderfully because of Our Lord having Risen from the dead, triumphed over sin, evil and death. And as He has shown us therefore the path to eternal life and salvation, all of us are reminded again this day of what it truly means for us to be Christians, that is to be filled with joy of the Resurrection, to be free from the dominion and attachments to sin and darkness present all around us so that we are truly an Easter people, a people full of God’s Light, Love and Hope, armed and strengthened with the knowledge that God has triumphed, and we too shall be triumphant with Him if we remain true and faithful to Him, despite the many challenges and trials that we may have to face.

In our first reading today, we heard from the Acts of the Apostles of the moment when the two Apostles, St. Peter and St. John, came to the Temple of God in Jerusalem and encountered a man who was crippled from birth, and who asked them for some money, begging for his livelihood. We heard how St. Peter and St. John instead miraculously cured the man from his ailments, in the power and Name of the Risen Lord, showing the grace and love of God, which He has shown to those who have faith in Him and in His Providence. The Lord healed the crippled man through His Apostles, and with that, many of the people saw firsthand the power of God’s healing through His Risen Son, proving everything that the Apostles had been proclaiming about in those days regarding the Resurrection of the Lord.

The Apostles had testified before the people of God about everything that they themselves had heard, witnessed and seen from the Risen Lord, having experienced the glory of the Resurrected Christ and beheld Him with their very own eyes. The Lord had also commanded them all to proclaim His truth, Good News and His Resurrection to all the whole world, calling on them to go forth and to reveal Him to the people of all the nations, which the Apostles and disciples took up faithfully, courageously going forth to the various places where they spoke fearlessly about the Lord and everything that He has taught them. Thus, we heard the testimony of faith of St. Peter and St. John, who proclaimed God’s healing and salvation by the healing of the crippled man, among other works.

In our Gospel passage today, we heard from the Gospel of St. Luke the account of what happened on the day of the Lord’s Resurrection, when the disciples first heard about the Lord Jesus having risen from the dead, and then how two disciples of the Lord who were on their way towards the village of Emmaus just outside of Jerusalem were debating and discussing about what they had heard about the Lord’s resurrection. Those two disciples could not agree and were still in disbelief at everything that had happened during those momentous few days since the Lord’s crucifixion, and then later on with His glorious Resurrection from the dead. The Risen Lord then appeared to them, albeit in the form that the two disciples could not yet recognise at first, and He journeyed with them down that road to Emmaus.

We heard how the Lord discussed the matter with the two disciples throughout the journey, and how He quoted the Scriptures and the words of the prophets, to highlight to them that everything had happened exactly as how the Lord Himself had wanted it to be, and just as how the prophets had proclaimed earlier on. He strengthened their faith and gave them courage through His words and what He had gone through with them, and finally, at the end, revealed Himself to them, that He was indeed the Lord, having risen from the dead, and was no longer in the tomb. This was one of the many incidences and moments when the Risen Lord appeared to His disciples, showing them that He has indeed risen as the others had said, and many became witnesses of His Resurrection, His triumph against sin, evil and death.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, through what we have heard in today’s Scripture readings, all of us are reminded of the Resurrection of the Lord, which is one of the core beliefs and tenets of our Christian faith. At every moments and times when we profess our faith in the Creed, we always mention our faith in the Lord Who has risen from the dead after His crucifixion and death. But do we truly believe in this truth, brothers and sisters? Do we really embody this faith we have in the Risen Lord, believing that through Him we can be free from the tyranny and dominion of sin, and receive the assurance of everlasting life and true joy with Him. Do we truly trust in Him and allow Him to lead us in our lives so that by walking in the path that He has shown us, we may enter into the more holy and worthy existence in God’s Presence?

Let us all be strengthened and encouraged by what we have heard from the Scripture passages today, being reminded as always that what we believe in is truly the truth. The Apostles and disciples of the Lord had themselves witnessed all these in person, and many of them willingly endured sufferings and hardships, trials, imprisonments and martyrdom, all because they truly believed in the truth of God, His love and everything that He had done for our salvation, which culminated in His glorious Resurrection. Had there been no Resurrection of the Lord, then their movement and efforts would have floundered and fizzled off just as what had happened to the many False Messiahs that were aplenty at that time. The fact that the message of God’s truth and His Resurrection remains strong till this very day is a reminder for all of us of this immutable truth and the mission which we all have, that is to proclaim His Resurrection and Good News to the whole world.

May the Risen Lord continue to help and strengthen us in our respective missions and vocations in our lives, that we may always strive to be truly worthy and good in all of our every actions, words and deeds, so that we may be good role models and inspirations to everyone all around us. May all those who witness us, our words and works may continue to be inspired and called to follow the Lord ever more worthily, so that through our lives we may be the shining beacons of God’s Light and salvation, and more and more people may come closer to Him, to be touched by His light and grace, and come out from the darkness and sin that is all around us in this world. Amen.

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Wednesday, 3 April 2024 : Wednesday within Easter Octave (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

Luke 24 : 13-35

At that time, on the same day Jesus rose from the dead, two followers of Jesus were going to Emmaus, a village seven miles from Jerusalem, and they talked about what had happened. While they were talking and arguing about what had happened, Jesus came up and walked with them. But their eyes were not able to recognise Him.

He asked, “What is it you are talking about?” The two stood still, looking sad. Then the one named Cleophas answered, “Why, it seems You are the only traveller to Jerusalem who does not know what haw happened there these past few days.” And He asked, “What is it?”

They replied, “It is about Jesus of Nazareth. He was a Prophet, You know, mighty in word and deed before God and the people. But the chief priests and our rulers sentenced Him to death. They handed Him over to be crucified. We had hoped that He would redeem Israel. It is now the third day since all this took place.”

“It is also true that some women of our group have disturbed us. When they went to the tomb at dawn, they did not find His Body; and they came and told us that they had had a vision of Angels, who said that Jesus was alive. Some of our people went to the tomb and found everything just as the women had said, but they did not find a Body in the tomb.”

He said to them, “How dull you are, how slow of understanding! Is the message of the prophets too difficult for you to understand? Is it not written that the Christ should suffer all this, and then enter His glory?” Then starting with Moses, and going through the prophets, He explained to them everything in the Scriptures concerning Himself.

As they drew near the village they were heading for, Jesus made as if to go farther. But they prevailed upon Him, “Stay with us, for night comes quickly. The day is now almost over.” So He went in to stay with them. When they were at table, He took the bread, said a blessing, broke it, and gave each a piece.

Then their eyes were opened, and they recognised Him; but He vanished out of their sight. And they said to one another, “Were not our hearts filled with ardent yearning when He was talking to us on the road and explaining the Scriptures?” They immediately set out and returned to Jerusalem.

There they found the Eleven and their companions gathered together. They were greeted by these words : “Yes, it is true, the Lord is risen! He has appeared to Simon!” Then the two told what had happened on the road to Emmaus, and how Jesus had made Himself known, when He broke bread with them.

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Wednesday, 3 April 2024 : Wednesday within Easter Octave (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : White

Psalm 104 : 1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8-9

Give thanks to YHVH, call on His Name; make known His works among the nations. Sing to Him, sing His praise, proclaim all His wondrous deeds.

Glory in His holy Name; let those who seek YHVH rejoice. Look to YHVH and be strong; seek His face always.

You descendants of His servant Abraham, you sons of Jacob, His chosen ones! He is YHVH our God; His judgments reach the whole world.

He remembers His Covenant forever, His promise to a thousand generations, the Covenant He made with Abraham, the promise He swore to Isaac.

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Wednesday, 3 April 2024 : Wednesday within Easter Octave (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

Acts 3 : 1-10

Once when Peter and John were going up to the Temple at three in the afternoon, the hour for prayer, a man crippled from birth was being carried in. Every day they would bring him and put him at the Temple gate called “Beautiful”; there he begged from those who entered the Temple.

When he saw Peter and John on their way into the Temple, he asked for alms. Then Peter with John at his side looked straight at him and said, “Look at us.” So he looked at them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I have neither silver nor gold, but what I have I give you : In the Name of Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah, walk!”

Then he took the beggar by his right hand and helped him up. At once his feet and ankles became firm, and jumping up he stood on his feet and began to walk. And he went with them into the Temple walking and leaping and praising God. All the people saw him walking and praising God; they recognised him as the one who used to sit begging at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple, and they were all astonished and amazed at what had happened to him.

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Wednesday, 27 March 2024 : Wednesday of Holy Week (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we listened to the words of the Scriptures, each and every one of us are reminded of the need for all of us to resist the temptations of sin and to reexamine our lives and actions, to see if we have not done what the Lord has called us to do in our lives, and if we have allowed the evil one to lead us astray, betraying and abandoning Him for worldly matters, glory and achievements, for the pursuit of worldly attachments, fame and for many other things that have often kept us away from God and His love for us. This is what we are all reminded today especially through the reading of the account of Judas Iscariot’s betrayal of the Lord Jesus on this Wednesday of the Holy Week, just as we are about to enter into the most solemn commemoration of the Paschal Triduum.

In our first reading today, we first heard of everything that the Lord Himself would have to suffer as prophesied by the prophet Isaiah, who have been entrusted by the Lord with the prophecy of the Suffering Messiah and Suffering Servant of God, foretelling everything that this Saviour that God would send to His people, would do for the sake of all of God’s beloved ones, and how He would have to endure the worst punishments and sufferings all because of our disobedience, wickedness and stubbornness in continuing to sin against God, in all that we have done which caused and brought about hurt and betrayal towards our most loving and faithful God. And yet, this Servant, Our Lord and Saviour Himself, obeyed perfectly and completely, enduring all those sufferings and challenges, for our sake.

Yes, brothers and sisters in Christ, Our Lord Himself had come to us in the flesh, to extend to us the most loving reach of His forgiveness, love and compassion, and He did so in order to gather us all back once again, from being scattered in this world in darkness, evil and sin, being our loving Good Shepherd Who sought us all, His beloved but lost sheep. Despite our stubbornness and our refusal to obey Him, He still reached out to us patiently anyway, calling on all of us to love Him and to seek Him out, as He poured out upon all of us most generous mercy and compassion, all the love and kindness that He has always had for us since the very beginning. He had created us all out of His overflowing love, and He wants us all to share in that love, which He made tangible and approachable to us through His Son.

And in our Gospel passage today, we heard of the moment when Judas Iscariot decided to betray the Lord to the chief priests at the Temple, guided by the devil who went into him and tempted him, having sowed the seeds of disbelief and lack of faith in Judas’s heart and mind. Earlier in this week, we heard how the same Judas Iscariot criticised the actions of Mary who tearfully and humbly anointed the feet of the Lord with perfume, and we heard his motivations for doing so, how he had been stealing for himself from the group’s common funds that had been entrusted to him under his care. Judas Iscariot was likely an intelligent person, as he was entrusted with a responsibility that usually only an educated person could have done, and yet, he allowed himself to be tempted by the evil one.

Why did Judas betray the Lord? It was not revealed for certain, but likely his love for money and worldly pursuits, and his frustrations at the Lord’s rebuke on him against his criticism of Mary led him to commit such a heinous act, in selling off his own Lord and Master for a price of thirty pieces of silver coins. This act was in fact prophesied by the prophets who spoke about how the Lord, the Saviour of all and Master of all Creation would be priced at the mere price of a slave, which at the time of the Lord Jesus was indeed about thirty pieces of silver coins. Judas betrayed his Lord and Master for his greed for money, and because he let the devil to tempt him with all those worldly desires and attachments that he lost sight of the truth of God.

Now, as I have said it earlier on this week, before we are then quick to judge or point finger at Judas for what he had done, let us all first look at ourselves and reflect on our own lives and actions. Have we truly been innocent and without sin ourselves, and have we really not done something similar to what Judas himself had done? Each and every one of us have sinned at some point in our own lives, and we have disobeyed God in different ways. Yet, the Lord finds it in His love and compassion to be patient with us and He has kept on calling on us to return once again to His loving embrace and to be in His grace once again. He does not want any one of us to be lost to Him, and that is why we are reminded today not to follow the path of Judas into sin and damnation.

Let us all make good use of all the opportunities and moments that we have been given in this time of Holy Week, during this particularly solemn and holy occasion that we may remember what it truly means for us to be Christians in the first place. Our lives and way of living them should indeed be filled with true dedication and commitment to God, and we must always remind ourselves how fortunate and blessed we have indeed been, to be loved in such a manner by the Lord our God, although we have frequently disappointed and rebelled against Him. Let us all be attuned ever more deeply to God’s will and realise how we should carry on living our lives, no longer overshadowed by sin and evil, but following in God’s light, truth and love henceforth.

May the Lord our most loving and compassionate God, Whose Passion we are remembering this most solemn Holy Week, continue to be with us all and bless us in our journey of faith and life. May He continue to strengthen our faith and empower each and every one of us so that we may persevere and remain committed to Him despite all the challenges, trials and obstacles that we may face in life. May God bless us all, now and always, and bless our remaining Holy Week observances and Paschal Triduum beginning tomorrow. Amen.

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Wednesday, 27 March 2024 : 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, 27 March 2024 : 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, 27 March 2024 : 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, 20 March 2024 : 5th Week of Lent (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we listened to the words of the Scriptures, we are all reminded that we have to be truly and genuinely faithful to God in all things, in our dedication and commitment to Him, so that by our every words, actions and deeds, we may truly be the source of inspiration, strength and hope for everyone all around us. All of us who have received God’s grace and love, we have been blessed with His guidance and strength, and He reminds us today through the readings from the Scriptures that He will always be by our side, providing for us and journeying with us even through the most difficult and challenging moments in life. God had never abandoned those who are faithful to Him, and He will always be by our side, even in our greatest sufferings.

In our first reading today, we heard from the Book of the prophet Daniel about the moment when the three friends of Daniel were punished by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon when they refused to worship the great golden statue built by the King in his own image in Babylon. At that time, Daniel and his friends, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, also known as Azariah, Hananiah and Mishael were among the many descendants of the Israelites who had been brought by force to the land of Babylon after the Babylonians had destroyed and conquered both Jerusalem and the kingdom of Judah. They were exiled in Babylon and had to endure humiliations and many challenges, which included how to remain faithful to the Lord in the land of those who did not believe in Him.

It was in one such occasion therefore, the three friends of Daniel stood their ground and refused to worship the great golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had built. All the other people from the many nations conquered by the Babylonians obeyed the King’s orders, bowed down and worshipped the golden statue, but the three friends of Daniel refused to betray and abandon the Lord, and obey the King’s order in this matter. That was when we also heard the testimony of faith that the three men spoke before the King and all the others who were there with them, showing their trust and faith in God, that He would be with them and safeguard them from harm, and even if He did not do so, they would still not disobey God and they would remain firm in their faith in Him.

They did not fear the King’s anger and retribution, the threat of being burnt alive in the great fiery furnace, and even when the King ordered that the furnace be made much hotter than before, the three men trusted fully and completely in God. That was why the Lord sent them His Angel to safeguard them from harm, and the three men were completely unharmed by the flames and the heat, protected by God’s providence, love and grace, to the astonishment of everyone who were present. The three men were rescued from the fire and even earned great praise from the King who was amazed and astonished at the faith that they all had in their Lord and God, in facing up and refusing even his own direct orders in staying true and faithful to their God.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, this is a reminder for each and every one of us that as God’s holy people, His followers and disciples, we must always be ready to stand up for our faith, that there will be challenges and hardships in our path if we decide to follow Him faithfully and genuinely. The Lord has shown us that throughout history it has been proven how becoming followers and disciples of His would often mean that one may have to face the disapproval, rejection, and even persecution as well as trials in this world, from all those around us who disagree with our beliefs and ways. We must always keep in mind that just like those friends of Daniel, there are likely many times in our respective lives when we may have to make a choice between following and obeying God, and doing what the world is expecting us to do and what the world commonly accepts. The choice is really ours to make on which path we are to follow.

Then, in our Gospel passage today, we heard from the interactions between the Lord Jesus and the Jewish people to whom He had been sent to at first, bringing with Him the truth and the message of God’s salvation, to fulfil everything that God had promised to all of His people, His beloved ones. Yet, just as we had heard from that same passage, we heard how the people were stubborn and refused to believe in the truth of God which the Lord Jesus had spoken clearly and courageously among all of them. They had listened to the words of the Lord’s Wisdom through His Son, witnessed His power and miraculous deeds, in all the healing miracles and works that the Lord Himself had done, and yet, they all hardened their hearts against Him and refused to believe in Him. And from what they themselves had said, they had revealed why this was the case.

It was because they were all too proud and haughty, arrogant in thinking that just because they were descended from Abraham, that they were God’s chosen people, His favoured ones and therefore merited great honour, and were superior and better than everyone else. Yet, the reality could not be further than this, as they continued to persist in refusing to listen to God and His words, His revelations and truth spoken through His Son. This is why each and every one of us are reminded of this today, so that we may live our own lives worthily and full of faith in God. We must always be humble in realising that we are sinful, full of faults and mistakes, imperfections and all the things which have kept us away from attaining the fullness of God’s grace and love. We must not think that we know better than others, or that we are more worthy somehow, and that we are without fault.

For it was through pride that many among us and our predecessors have fallen into sin, just like the hubris of King Nebuchadnezzar who built that golden statue in his own image, and the hubris and ego of the Jewish people, especially the Pharisees among them who thought that their ways were right and that they had nothing to gain by listening to the words of the Lord. In this time and season of Lent, we are all reminded to turn away from this prideful and haughty ways, and return once again towards the Lord our God, with renewed hearts and minds, full of regret and sorrow for our many sins and wickedness. We are reminded that the Lord has always loved us generously, and He has always wanted to provide us with the opportunities to return to Him, to be forgiven from our sins and to be reconciled with Him. Let us all therefore commit ourselves to this path of repentance and renewal, and be inspired by the faith of our holy predecessors, like the three friends of Daniel who had stood up courageously and faithful for their faith in God.

May the Lord be with us always, and may He continue to bless and empower us so that we may continue to live ever more worthily from now on, in His Presence, be filled always ever with His grace and love, now and at all times. May God bless our every good works and endeavours, in all things, now and always. Amen.