Weekday Homily

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Monday, 26 June 2023 : 12th 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 Scriptures, we are reminded that as Christians, each and every one of us should be truly faithful and committed to the Lord in all things, and we should not be like the hypocrites who did not truly believe in God, and who only paid lip service and did not have true love and commitment to the Lord. We are reminded through the examples highlighted in our Scripture passages today, of what each and every one of us as Christians need to do in our lives so that we may truly be committed as how genuine followers and disciples of the Lord should have done, in answering God’s call and in entrusting ourselves to Him, in our obedience to His will, His Law and commandments.

In our first reading today, taken from the Book of Genesis, all of us heard of the story of the calling of Abram, who would later on be known as Abraham, our father in faith and the ancestor of the Israelites and many other nations, whom God had called from the land of Ur of the Chaldeans, in what is now Mesopotamia and part of Iraq, into the region of Canaan in Israel today. God called Abraham, who answered God’s call and embraced His path, leaving his ancestral homeland behind and embarking on the long journey towards the Land that God had promised him and his descendants. Back then, Abram himself, though married, had not yet had any child to succeed him, and both him and his wife were already very old, and Sarai, later Sarah, his wife, was already beyond child-bearing age. And yet, Abraham chose to trust in the Lord and followed Him.

Abraham left everything that he was familiar with, his relatives and family, his ancestral place and more, and embarked on the lifelong journey of following God and committing himself and his family to His cause. Despite not knowing and not aware of what the Lord had in mind or planned for him, Abraham chose to trust the Lord anyway, knowing that God would always provide and He would always be faithful to what He had said and promised to him. That was how Abraham continued to walk in the presence of God, and entrusted himself wholly to the Lord, even when God tested his faith later on by asking him to sacrifice the son whom God eventually gave to him, Isaac, at Mount Moriah. Abraham entrusted himself and his son to the Lord, and chose to obey even when that decision must have been very difficult for him to make, and his continued faith was truly rewarded by God in the end.

In our Gospel passage today, we heard that the Lord spoke to His disciples that they must truly be faithful to the Lord and not be like the hypocrites who like to judge others and compare themselves to those whom they deem to be less worthy or inferior than they are. The Lord criticised all those who have been so petty in picking out the faults and mistakes, the flaws in others, when they themselves were filled with wickedness and flaws, in a criticism that was also obviously directed against the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law. At that time, many among the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law often prided themselves on their achievements and supposed superiority and looked down on others around them who did not follow the Law and the commandments of God in the way and manner that they had done. Yet, they had forgotten that their faith and way of living their obligation to God were actually rather empty and meaningless.

Their emphasis and preoccupation with how they were to live their lives in accordance to their overly strict interpretation of the Law of God, and their rather fanatical and rigid upholding of their tenets and beliefs led to them forgetting in the first place why they even followed the Law and the commandments of God. They placed their rites, actions and their customs ahead of the true faith and obligation to follow the Lord, forgetting that the Law of God is truly all about leading and guiding all of God’s people to Him, by teaching and showing them all His love and kindness. The Law of God is not about how one ought to live their lives filled with endless rituals, prohibitions and other forms of practices advocated by the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law. And certainly, it does not include the way how they treated their fellow men, with disdain and contempt.

That is why, all of us as we listened to these readings from the Sacred Scriptures today, we are all reminded to be truly and genuinely faithful to God, as our father in faith, Abraham had been, and not like those hypocrites who outwardly showed great expressions and actions of faith and piety, and yet, inside them, the Lord had barely a space for Himself because those people chose to place their own ego, desire and ambitions, their pride and greed as the centre and focus of their lives. They liked to be praised and enjoyed the fame and position, the privileges and the great things that they had enjoyed with their status, while Abraham, our father in faith, was willing to leave everything behind in following the Lord, entrusting himself wholeheartedly to God, obeying Him and placing Him at the centre of his very existence, as the centre and focus of his life.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all therefore return towards the Lord, reemphasising our lives with renewed dedication and commitment to Him. Let us all face the Lord once again and make Him as the focus and heart of our whole lives, in the manner of how our father in faith, Abraham, and many of our holy predecessors, holy men and women of God had done in their lives. Let our lives, our every actions and interactions, in all things continue to be ever more faithful and committed to the Lord. Let us all be a most faithful and committed beacons of our Christian faith and truth, and be the dedicated missionaries of the Good News of God, in all the things we say and do, and in how we interact with our fellow brothers and sisters around us, both within and outside of the Church. This is what we have been called to do, and just as our father Abraham, let us all answer the Lord with great faith and commitment.

May the Lord continue to guide us all and bless us, and may He empower each and every one of us, that we may always ever be courageous and dedicated in our faith, in all things. May He bless our every good efforts and endeavours, now and always, for His greater glory. Amen.

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Sunday, 25 June 2023 : Twelfth Sunday of Ordinary Time (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, this Sunday as we gathered together and listened to the Sacred Scriptures, all of us are reminded that we have to remain firmly rooted in our faith in God, so that each one of us will not easily fall to the temptations present all around us, which can lead us astray in our path, and bring us down the path of ruin and sin. All of us as Christians are God’s beloved sons and daughters, His own beloved ones, whom He truly cares about, and we should have no need to be afraid or to fear that we will have nothing as the Lord will always guide us and He will always be by our side, helping us and empowering us. The Lord wants us all to always be faithful to Him, and be vigilant lest we may be tempted and swayed to the path of sin and evil.

In our first reading today, we heard from the Book of the prophet Jeremiah, in which the prophet Jeremiah spoke of the predicaments and struggles that he was facing in the midst of his ministry, in all the opposition and the hardships that he had to endure. Jeremiah had been sent to the people of God, the people of the southern kingdom of Judah, at a time of great turmoil and misfortune, during the last days of Judah, when they were facing a lot of struggles and attacks from their enemies. All these came about ultimately because of their own sins and wickedness, in how they had refused to obey the Lord and His Law, in their waywardness and unfaithful way of life. They had spurnt the Lord and His commandments, persecuted and even killed His prophets and messengers.

The prophet Jeremiah endured many of the same hardships, persecuted and oppressed for speaking the truth, as he revealed the Lord’s intentions to His people, telling them all of the upcoming disasters and destruction that would happen because of their continued and stubborn refusal to believe in God and in obeying His ways. He was persecuted by the powerful members of the aristocracy and the influential ones, who colluded with the false prophets that spoke lies and falsehoods, in saying that God would bless and reward the king and the people of Judah, not speaking what the Lord truly has delivered to them through Jeremiah. Jeremiah dared to go against the majority and all those false prophets and all the powerful nobles, and almost lost his life in the process. Yet, he remained firm in his faith and commitment, and did not let all those things to dissuade him from his mission.

Jeremiah said that it was because God was with him, a mighty Warrior, standing by his side. It means that no matter what hardships that he would have to go through and endure, the Lord would always support him and be with him, even in the darkest and most difficult moments. Jeremiah reminded us all therefore that we are never alone in our sufferings, and we will always have God by our side, journeying with us and fighting with us, and He will lead us all to the ultimate triumph with Him while those who rejected Him and refused to obey Him, will eventually meet their defeat and downfall. Those who hold strongly to their faith in God will be raised and glorified, like Jeremiah and many other prophets who had suffered and been persecuted for their faith, and now glorified as great servants of God.

In our second reading today, taken from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans, we heard St. Paul the Apostle speaking to the Church and the faithful in Rome regarding the matter how the Lord has brought mankind, all of His beloved people out of the darkness of sin and death, by the sending of His own most beloved Son, by His grace, made through Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Saviour, through Whom, the salvation of God has entered into this world. Through Christ, all of us have been shown the path out of the darkness and into the light of God. All of us have been led out of the darkness due to our own disobedience and wickedness, in our refusal to obey God’s will, His Law and commandments, by the perfect obedience shown by Jesus Christ Himself, which just like Jeremiah and the other prophets and servants of God of old, dedicated Himself thoroughly to the mission that God, His heavenly Father had entrusted to Him.

And this mission is for Him to bear all the burdens and sufferings, all the punishments and the hardships due to us because of our sins and wickedness. He bore His Cross, full of the punishments and consequences due for our sins because He truly loves each and every one of us, and He made Himself into the most worthy offering, because He truly cared for us, and wanted us all to be reconciled with Him, forgiven and cleansed from our many sins, so that through Him, all of us will not perish and be damned into the eternity in hell, but instead, be affirmed and assured of the path of salvation and eternal life. Christ has done all of these because He did not want to be separated from us, and each one of us are truly precious and important to Him.

In our Gospel passage today, that is what the Lord Jesus Himself reiterated to His disciples and therefore to all of us, stating clearly that each one of us are truly precious and beloved by God, and God knows everything in our hearts, our minds and our whole lives. If we worry about following God and do things that are against His path simply because we want to preserve ourselves and avoid hardships and difficulties in life, then we have to know that the consequences for us will not be a nice one. Many of our predecessors themselves were faced with these difficult choices, on whether they ought to remain faithful to God, or to continue to practice their faith with sincerity and commitment, or whether they ought to give in to the many pressures, temptations, coercions and other things that forced, encouraged and coerced them to abandon their faith in God in exchange for worldly satisfaction and acceptance.

What about us then, brothers and sisters in Christ? Are we going to surrender our faith in God simply because we do not want to be inconvenienced and to suffer hardships because of our faith in Him? Are we going to abandon the Lord simply because what we believe in supposedly are no longer in tandem with what the world today prefers to believe, or because our faith in the Lord is no longer fashionable and cool for us to keep faithfully in our lives? Are we also going to continue to be lukewarm in our faith and to be ignorant of our calling in life to be faithful and committed Christians, to be filled with true and genuine faith at all times, and not merely just paying lip service or fulfil external obligations of our faith, but inside we do not have true love for the Lord and faith in Him?

Let us ask ourselves these questions and discern carefully if we have truly devoted ourselves to the Lord in the manner that we should do as Christians, or whether we have chosen to conform to the ways of the world. Let us discern our path forward in life and ask ourselves if we have placed the Lord at the centre and as the focus of our lives and existences. If we have lacked faith and trust in the Lord, then this is the time for us to remember the guidance, help and strength that God had lent and given to all of His servants and faithful ones, and in everything He had done for us, in not sparing for us even His own most beloved Son, not just to dwell among us, but even to suffer for us on our behalf, bearing the burdens and punishments due for our sins and wickedness, and offering Himself as the perfect and most worthy sacrifice, so that through Him all of us may be saved and have eternal life.

Let us then turn over a new leaf in our lives, and abandon our past lives of sin and evil, and return to the Lord with contrite and broken hearts, asking Him to heal us from our many sins, from our brokenness, our disobedience and rebellions. Let us all be exemplary in our lives from now on, no longer being bound by sin and evil in our path, and walking once again in the path that God has shown and taught us to go through, so that we will get ever closer to Him and find our way to His salvation and eternal life. May the Lord continue to guide each one of us and empower us in our lives so that we may be ever more worthy of Him, in all the things we say and do, in our every interactions and actions throughout our lives, becoming great role models and inspirations for one another, now and always, forevermore. Amen.

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Saturday, 24 June 2023 : Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : White

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, this Saturday all of us come together to celebrate the occasion of the great Solemnity in honour of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, the one whom the Lord had sent to be His own Herald, in proclaiming His coming into this world, and to prepare the path and everything for His entry and appearance in our midst. On this day, we truly give thanks to God for His gift of St. John the Baptist, the holy servant whom He had sent to be in our midst, to call us from our slumber in the darkness so that by his efforts and works, many would be stirred and come to seek the Lord and His forgiveness, that more and more might be saved, and be prepared to welcome the Lord Himself, coming into our midst.

St. John the Baptist was born not long before the Lord Himself, as there was a short period of time when both him and our Lord and Saviour were both in their mothers’ wombs. At the time when Mary, the Mother of God visited Elizabeth, the mother of St. John the Baptist, not long before the latter’s birth, both of them were still in the womb, and it was then that St. John the Baptist recognised the coming of his Lord and Master, Who was in the womb of Mary, Elizabeth’s own relative and cousin. And like that of our Lord Himself, the pregnancy that gave rise to the birth and coming of St. John the Baptist was also miraculous, in that his mother Elizabeth was already very old and way past child-bearing age.

Yet, the Lord chose Elizabeth to bear the child who would become the Herald of the Messiah, revealing the news to Zechariah, his father, at the Temple through His Archangel, which according to the Church and Apostolic traditions, was the Archangel Gabriel, the same one who would then go on to visit Mary to tell her of the even greater Good News of the coming of the Saviour of the world. Through these two good news delivered by the Archangel to both Elizabeth and Mary therefore, the world has finally come to see the Light of God’s salvation, which He has long promised to us all, to His beloved ones, who have long been suffering under the dominion and the tyranny of sin.

St. John the Baptist was born into his family and into this world as an occasion of great joy, both for his family who had not been able to have any children at all, and then for the world because through St. John the Baptist, the Lord would finally reveal the last parts of His long prepared plan of salvation for each and every one of us. St. John the Baptist, as we all should know, would go on to do great deeds among God’s people, becoming known as the Baptist or the Baptiser because he called a great throng of countless thousands or more, to come to the Lord and to commit themselves once again to His cause, with the baptism at the River Jordan as the symbolic and tangible commitment of the people’s desire to return to God with repentance.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, what is the significance of this Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist is to us? This Solemnity is a reminder for all of us of everything that God had done for us, and in how He has always fulfilled everything that he has promised us, in showing us His ever tender mercy, love and compassion. That He sent us all His servants, repeatedly from time to time, and gave us guidance through His messengers and through His Church, and by giving us all His own beloved Son, Jesus Christ, the Divine Word Incarnate and Son of God, to be our Saviour, by suffering and dying for our sake, God wants us all to know that He truly loves us all, and He wants us to embrace the salvation that He has so freely offered to us.

In our first reading this day, we heard from the Book of the prophet Isaiah in which God revealed to His people, to all of us through Isaiah, of everything that He had done for us, in sending us His servants, whom He had called and chosen, like Isaiah himself, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Elijah, Elisha, and earlier on still, Moses, and other leaders and elders of the people, and like St. John the Baptist himself, all of whom had been entrusted with the particular missions and vocations, with purpose and commitments for them to help lead the people of God, us mankind, back to the Lord, our most loving God and Saviour. The Lord had prepared St. John the Baptist to be His servant, from before he was even born, telling that to his parents, revealing to them just how important his role would be. That is what we have also heard in our Gospel passage today, as God foretold the great deeds that St. John the Baptist would do.

As Christians, all of us should be inspired by the great examples set by St. John the Baptist, whose contributions are not limited only just by what he had done in baptising the countless thousands and more at the River Jordan. It was his faithfulness and his dedication to the Lord which should inspire us all to follow his good examples and faith as well. Not only that, but St. John the Baptist also showed us great courage and steadfastness in faith, in courageously opposing even the powerful ones at his time, the teachers of the Law and the chief priests, whom he scolded and criticised as the band of vipers for their lack of faith, hypocrisy and mismanagement of the people, and also King Herod, whom St. John the Baptist criticised for his immoral and adulterous behaviour with his brother’s wife, Herodias.

St. John the Baptist, who did not fear persecution and oppression, and who gave his whole life and efforts to the service of God, is a paragon of virtue and Christian discipleship, and all of us as Christians should be inspired to walk in the same path that St. John the Baptist had traversed, and be inspired by his great courage and commitment to God. He is a great role model for us all, in how each and every one of us should be living our lives as well, with great virtue and commitment to God, and in doing whatever it is that we have been entrusted by God to do with our lives, in our respective areas of responsibilities, and in our various vocations in the Church and in this world, in doing our best to glorify God by our lives.

In addition, there is also one more great virtue that St. John the Baptist had, which all of us should very well emulate as well in our own lives, and that is one of obedience and humility. In his commitment to God, St. John the Baptist was thoroughly committed to his mission and he did not do anything for himself or for his own selfish purposes and desires. Like what St. Paul said in the second reading today in his Epistle, in which the Apostle directly quoted St. John the Baptist himself saying that he himself was not the Messiah, and he was not even worthy to untie the straps of His sandals. This was the response that St. John the Baptist gave to all those who asked him and wondered if he was the Messiah long awaited by the people of God. Given how popular St. John the Baptist had been, he could have claimed that he was the Messiah that the people awaited for, but he did not do that, and he was even also glad when he heard that the Lord was gaining more and more followers, saying that it was just right that while He increased, that he decreased. Such was the virtue and the humility that St. John the Baptist has shown, and which we all should emulate in our own lives.

May St. John the Baptist, Holy Herald of the Lord and His faithful servant, continue to pray and intercede for us all, that God may continue to guide and strengthen each and every one of us in our lives and in our works, so that we may truly be worthy of Him, and be committed in living our lives most worthily and faithfully in all things, in our every words, actions and deeds, at all times. May God bless us all, in our every efforts and endeavours, now and always, forevermore. Amen.

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Friday, 23 June 2023 : Vigil Mass of the Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : White

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, this evening all of us come together to celebrate the Vigil of the great Solemnity in honour of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, the one whom the Lord had sent to be His own Herald, in proclaiming His coming into this world, and to prepare the path and everything for His entry and appearance in our midst. On this evening, we truly give thanks to God for His gift of St. John the Baptist, the holy servant whom He had sent to be in our midst, to call us from our slumber in the darkness so that by his efforts and works, many would be stirred and come to seek the Lord and His forgiveness, that more and more might be saved, and be prepared to welcome the Lord Himself, coming into our midst.

St. John the Baptist was born not long before the Lord Himself, as there was a short period of time when both him and our Lord and Saviour were both in their mothers’ wombs. At the time when Mary, the Mother of God visited Elizabeth, the mother of St. John the Baptist, not long before the latter’s birth, both of them were still in the womb, and it was then that St. John the Baptist recognised the coming of his Lord and Master, Who was in the womb of Mary, Elizabeth’s own relative and cousin. And like that of our Lord Himself, the pregnancy that gave rise to the birth and coming of St. John the Baptist was also miraculous, in that his mother Elizabeth was already very old and way past child-bearing age.

Yet, the Lord chose Elizabeth to bear the child who would become the Herald of the Messiah, revealing the news to Zechariah, his father, at the Temple through His Archangel, which according to the Church and Apostolic traditions, was the Archangel Gabriel, the same one who would then go on to visit Mary to tell her of the even greater Good News of the coming of the Saviour of the world. Through these two good news delivered by the Archangel to both Elizabeth and Mary therefore, the world has finally come to see the Light of God’s salvation, which He has long promised to us all, to His beloved ones, who have long been suffering under the dominion and the tyranny of sin.

St. John the Baptist was born into his family and into this world as an occasion of great joy, both for his family who had not been able to have any children at all, and then for the world because through St. John the Baptist, the Lord would finally reveal the last parts of His long prepared plan of salvation for each and every one of us. St. John the Baptist, as we all should know, would go on to do great deeds among God’s people, becoming known as the Baptist or the Baptiser because he called a great throng of countless thousands or more, to come to the Lord and to commit themselves once again to His cause, with the baptism at the River Jordan as the symbolic and tangible commitment of the people’s desire to return to God with repentance.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, what is the significance of this Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist is to us? This Solemnity is a reminder for all of us of everything that God had done for us, and in how He has always fulfilled everything that he has promised us, in showing us His ever tender mercy, love and compassion. That He sent us all His servants, repeatedly from time to time, and gave us guidance through His messengers and through His Church, and by giving us all His own beloved Son, Jesus Christ, the Divine Word Incarnate and Son of God, to be our Saviour, by suffering and dying for our sake, God wants us all to know that He truly loves us all, and He wants us to embrace the salvation that He has so freely offered to us.

As Christians, all of us should be inspired by the great examples set by St. John the Baptist, whose contributions are not limited only just by what he had done in baptising the countless thousands and more at the River Jordan. It was his faithfulness and his dedication to the Lord which should inspire us all to follow his good examples and faith as well. Not only that, but St. John the Baptist also showed us great courage and steadfastness in faith, in courageously opposing even the powerful ones at his time, the teachers of the Law and the chief priests, whom he scolded and criticised as the band of vipers for their lack of faith, hypocrisy and mismanagement of the people, and also King Herod, whom St. John the Baptist criticised for his immoral and adulterous behaviour with his brother’s wife, Herodias.

St. John the Baptist, who did not fear persecution and oppression, and who gave his whole life and efforts to the service of God, is a paragon of virtue and Christian discipleship, and all of us as Christians should be inspired to walk in the same path that St. John the Baptist had traversed, and be inspired by his great courage and commitment to God. He is a great role model for us all, in how each and every one of us should be living our lives as well, with great virtue and commitment to God, and in doing whatever it is that we have been entrusted by God to do with our lives, in our respective areas of responsibilities, and in our various vocations in the Church and in this world, in doing our best to glorify God by our lives.

May St. John the Baptist, Holy Herald of the Lord and His faithful servant, continue to pray and intercede for us all, that God may continue to guide and strengthen each and every one of us in our lives and in our works, so that we may truly be worthy of Him, and be committed in living our lives most worthily and faithfully in all things, in our every words, actions and deeds, at all times. May God bless us all, in our every efforts and endeavours, now and always, forevermore. Amen.

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Friday, 23 June 2023 : 11th 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 Scriptures, all of us are reminded today to seek the Lord and to put all of our trust in Him. Each and every one of us as Christians, as God’s disciples and followers ought to do our part in following the Lord and committing ourselves to His cause, and not worrying whether we will be rewarded or whether we will enjoy a good and fortunate life in this world. That is because, our goal as Christians is truly not to seek joy and pleasures in this world, but rather more of the true satisfaction and joy that the Lord alone can provide us. That is why through what we are reminded in our Scripture passages today, all of us should heed the words of the Lord telling us to keep our focus on the Lord and not on other things.

In our first reading today, taken from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Church and the faithful in the city of Corinth, we heard the Apostle St. Paul speaking to the people there regarding all the experiences he had encountered and all the hardships that he had to endure and face in the midst of all of his ministry as one of the Lord’s Apostles and missionaries, in his many journeys and travels throughout the regions, while proclaiming the Good News and the truth of God’s salvation. He was telling them that he could have boasted in his worldly achievements and regarding his status, as he was indeed a person of high bearing and standing, as a member of the Pharisees once in his youth, as an elite, and as we all knew, that St. Paul was also a Roman citizen, a rare feat for a Jew at that time.

It means that St. Paul could indeed have chosen to cling on to all of that, all the glory, the status and other things that he could have entitled himself to and enjoyed, not having to go through the many hardships and miseries that he had to bear in the process of proclaiming the Gospels, the Good News of the Lord. He could have remained as an influential Pharisee, becoming a member of the Sanhedrin, the elite of the Jewish community, gaining much respect, wealth and prosperity, if he had chosen to gather for himself the treasures of this world, just as the Lord Jesus also highlighted in our Gospel passage today. Yet, St. Paul chose to gather for himself the true treasures, the treasures of faith and righteousness that can be found in God alone.

St. Paul highlighted all that he had to go through in his missions, all the rejections and hardships, persecutions and trials that he had to face. He had to bear through many difficult things, oppressions and obstacles, and yet, he continued to carry on in his ministry. And if we all wonder why, that is because St. Paul sought not worldly acclamation or acceptance, but truly, he sought for righteousness and worth in Christ, our Lord and Saviour. The Lord Himself has also said once, that no one who had given up things for Him, be it their time, their works, their families or loved ones, and dedicated themselves to God would be left wanting, for God knows everything that we have done for Him, and will reward us in the time of His choosing. In the end, His faithful ones will be triumphant and will enjoy the eternal reward with Him.

At the same time, St. Paul also highlighted that even all of us are still susceptible to the temptations to sin, the temptations of evil and darkness, the temptations to do what are against God and His commandments, the temptations to disobey Him and to walk down our own path in rebellion against His will. That was why he was using his own examples in sharing to the faithful people in Corinth, that he was just like any one of them, in being tempted and tested, and he always faced the struggle to remain faithful to God. Hence, he shared his experiences so that the others who witnessed his works and listened to his experiences might be strengthened and would not so easily give up their faith and struggle for the Lord.

In our Gospel passage today, as mentioned earlier, the Lord Jesus Himself also told His disciples about all these things, reminding them and hence, all of us, to focus on the Lord and the true treasures that we can gain in Him alone. We should not be easily tempted and swayed by the many temptations found around us, and we should always be vigilant in resisting the temptations of the evil one, so that we do not end up having unhealthy attachments to the many worldly conveniences and pleasures in our midst. We have to be ever vigilant because while we have faith in the Lord, and while, in the Lord’s words itself, the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Many of us often fell again and again into sin and temptation because we are unable to free ourselves from the snares of sin.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all therefore recommit ourselves and focus ourselves once again to return to the Lord, and to place Him once again as the centre and the focus of our lives and existences. Let us all dedicate ourselves and our every actions and works from now on, so that we may strive to do only what is befitting the Lord and is worthy of our status as Christians, as those whom God had called and chosen, and had responded with the commitment to be always walking in His Presence, in the path that He has shown us, and in doing whatever that He has taught us to do. Let us all no longer be idle, and no longer be ignorant of what we all need to do as Christians, as God’s beloved people.

May the Lord continue to guide us in our journey of faith through life, and may He strengthen us ever in our resolve and commitment, so that we may continue to persevere through the challenges and trials in life, just as St. Paul and many of our holy predecessors, our fellow brothers and sisters had endured earlier on. May God bless our every good works, endeavours and efforts to live our lives worthily in His Presence, now and always. Amen.

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Thursday, 22 June 2023 : 11th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Paulinus of Nola, Bishop, St. John Fisher, Bishop and Martyr, and St. Thomas More, Martyr (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Bishops) or Red (Martyrs)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we listened to the words of the Scriptures, all of us are reminded to follow the Lord wholeheartedly and keep away from wicked thoughts and deeds. All of us should uphold the truth of God fully and do not allow ourselves be easily swayed by the falsehoods and the evils of this world, which can lead us down the wrong path, as what many among our predecessors had done, and unfortunately, all these had also led to great harm to the Church of God. In the past, throughout the history of the Church, we have had cases when the faithful had been misled and misguided, and the unity of the Church had been harmed and destroyed by the selfish ambitions and desires of certain individuals who placed their own ambitions above that of obedience to God and true faith.

In our first reading today, we heard from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Church and the faithful in Corinth about the matter of how sin and wickedness could have corrupted and twisted the faithful people of God from the right path, leading them down the path of sin and evil, further and further away from God. This was a time when there were preachers and teachers of the faith who preached and taught different versions and interpretations of the Gospels and the teachings than that of St. Paul and the other Apostles, either due to misinterpretations or because of the corruption from those who tried to syncretise and change the teachings of the Church to suit their own pursuits and desires. This led to the divisions within the Church, friction among the faithful and troubles which would continue to trouble the Church later on throughout its history.

In the Gospel today we then heard of the Lord Jesus speaking to His disciples regarding the matter of praying to God, in which He told them that prayers are not about saying many words or making a long litany of things, but rather, glorifying God and thanking Him, recognising one’s need for God and His love, and showing the desire to love one another and to forgive each others’ sins just as the Lord Himself had taught us, in what would eventually be known as the Lord’s Prayer. The Lord’s Prayer, also known as Pater Noster, is the embodiment of what true and genuine prayer should be like, one in which we open our hearts and minds to listen to the Lord speaking to us, thanking Him and allowing Him to lead and guide us, instead of selfishly and stubbornly putting ourselves and our own greedy desires as the focus of our lives.

We have to realise that our desires can bring about our downfall if we are not careful about it, as we may easily end up being distracted and swayed to walk away from the path of God, and into the path of worldliness and evil. If we allow worldly desires and greed to lead us, it will likely not end well for us, and we may end up getting drawn ever further away from the Lord and His salvation. Worse still, it can also affect others around us, causing harm to the unity of the Church and the faithful people of God, by our stubbornness and attachments to the many worldly glories and fame, temptations and other things that may distract us from God and His truth. That is why all of us should strive to turn away from all these wickedness and evils, and look upon our good and dedicated predecessors as inspirations and guides to help us discern our path forward.

Today, the Church celebrates the feast of not just one but three great saints, holy men of God who had dedicated their lives and actions to the Lord, giving themselves thoroughly to Him and committing themselves to His cause. All the three of them are truly exemplary in their actions and works, leading a life truly worthy of the Lord, and when they were faced with hardships and tribulations, persecutions and trials, all those things did not dissuade them or prevent them from continuing to live their lives with the same kind of faith and commitment. On the contrary, they kept on going and dedicated themselves even more to the Lord and His cause, and did not mind the sufferings and persecutions that they had to face, with two of these three saints suffering martyrdom for the sake of the Lord and His Church, standing firm in their faith to the end.

This day we celebrate the feast of St. Paulinus of Nola, St. Thomas More and St. John Fisher, with the first one being a Roman era saint and bishop, renowned for his faith in God and generosity, commitment and dedication to his flock and to all those who have encountered him, while the other two, St. Thomas More and St. John Fisher were the most prominent among the many martyrs of the so-called English reformation, in their staunch opposition of the English King’s efforts to break free from the authority of the Pope and the Universal Church, defying even their own liege and king in doing so, in order to stand by their faith and to uphold what they truly and sincerely believed, against the wrong ideas and ways that the king wanted to impose on the faithful people of God, in breaking the unity of the Church.

First of all, St. Paulinus of Nola was born into a prominent Roman family in what is today part of southern France, and became a Roman aristocrat and statesman, becoming ultimately the governor of Campania, prior to his conversion to the Christian faith. Eventually, he embraced the Lord and the Christian faith, and abandoning his worldly posts, he became the Bishop of Nola, for which he was greatly remembered, in his renunciation of the world and all of its excesses, and in his embracing a holy and ascetic way of life, dedicating himself wholly to God. St. Paulinus of Nola was also remembered for his many correspondences with the other early Church fathers, as well as in his many efforts to build and strengthen the Church in his diocese of Nola and beyond. Through his piety, humility and dedication to God, St. Paulinus of Nola is truly a great example for all of us.

Meanwhile, St. Thomas More was a prominent statesman and also the Lord High Chancellor of England under King Henry VIII. St. John Fisher was the Bishop of Rochester and one influential Church leaders during the reign of the same king. King Henry VIII was infamous in his efforts to beget a male heir to the throne, in his six marriages to six women, and eventually in his futile attempts in doing so, with the male heir that he begotten, passed away in early youth not long after that boy ascended the throne. However, very unfortunately, in his desperate measures, King Henry VIII chose to disobey the Lord and His Church, by divorcing his own wife, who had begotten for him a daughter, and chose to marry another woman, in contravention of the divine and the Church law, hence, triggering the breakaway of the Church in England, resulting in the English reformation.

Amidst such a state, as King Henry VIII demanded that all the people converted to his new establishment and church leadership, while many did so out of opportunism and fear of the king, St. Thomas More and St. John Fisher were notable as the highly ranked members of the king’s influential advisors who refused to obey the king’s commands, and in the case of St. Thomas More, he chose to oppose the king’s decision in breaking away from the Universal Church and the decision to divorce his wife, and preferred to remain faithful to the Lord despite the persuasions and coercions for him to follow the king’s orders. St. Thomas More faced suffering and persecution, and eventually together with St. John Fisher, who was a courageous Church leader made a Cardinal for his dedication by the Pope, were martyred for their great and committed faith in God. They both showed us that we have to remain truly faithful to the Lord and not to give in to wickedness and worldly desires as the fallen King had done.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all therefore follow the examples of these holy and faithful predecessors of ours, be inspired by their examples and great works, and walk in the path of the Lord ever more faithfully from now on. Let us all be good examples and role models of our faith, in our every works and endeavours, in our every words, actions and deeds. May the Lord be with us always, and may He continue to guide and strengthen us all to be His faithful disciples, ever focused on Him and His teachings and truth, now and always. Amen.

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Wednesday, 21 June 2023 : 11th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, Religious (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : White

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we listened to the words of the Lord in the Scriptures, all of us are again reminded that each and every one of us have to be sincerely and genuinely faithful to God. In all of our actions and deeds, in our every words and interactions with one another, each one of us should always be filled with genuine commitment to God, in our way of life and in whatever we believe in. Otherwise, our faith is no better than that of the faith of the hypocrites, who only show their faith in order to impress others, or to advance their own desires and ambitions. Or as compared to the faith of those who are lukewarm and lacking in true dedication to God, where their faith is flickering and weak, and not supported by the strong desire to follow the Lord or to love Him.

In our first reading today, we listened to the words of the Scriptures from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Church and the faithful in the city of Corinth. In that passage, the Apostle St. Paul spoke to the faithful people of God in the city of Corinth that the Lord has blessed them wonderfully and generously, and hence, in the same way, the people of God are therefore called and expected to do the same as well, in showing their love and generosity towards each other, in caring for their fellow brothers and sisters. Each one of us as Christians are reminded that the riches and the blessings we have are gifts from the Lord, and we should be happy and willing to share these with each other, particularly with all those who are lacking and short in the things that they needed. It is an important aspect for us as Christians to be selfless and to be filled with love in all of our actions.

St. Paul told the faithful that all those who have sowed meagerly would reap meagerly while those who sowed generously would also reap generously, as a reminder that each one of us as Christians should not be calculating and transactional in how we conduct ourselves, that we only love those who can benefit us or return us what we have given them. That is not what we should be doing, brothers and sisters, as it is what the Lord Himself has taught us or shown us to do in our respective lives. As we heard the Lord Himself saying in our Gospel passage today, all of us should truly be sincere in doing all of our actions in faith, and not because we want to gain benefits, glory, fame and satisfaction for ourselves. Otherwise, it is easy for us to end up losing focus on what each and every one of us are called to do as Christians, as God’s holy people.

All of us are reminded that whenever we fast, and whenever we give alms, we should do them because we truly and sincerely desire to glorify God and to turn away from the path of sin and wickedness, and also because we are genuinely concerned about others whom we care about. We should not be centred and focused on ourselves, our own greed and ambition, and all the things we usually pursue in life. We should always remind ourselves that what we have in this world, are also not ours to begin with, but in fact they have been given to us by our Lord and loving Father, Who blesses us according to our needs and by His will and desire. That is why we should not seek to gain more worldly glory and achievements, or more of the other temptations and desires of this world, but instead, we should do our best to follow the Lord and His ways, walking down the path that God has led us into.

Each one of us have been reminded that we have to be truly genuine in faith, in our every actions and way of life, in how we pray and carry out our lives and our faith lives. Unless we commit ourselves thoroughly to the Lord, we will likely end up being swayed into the path of sin and evil, misled by the many temptations present all around us. That is why we have to listen to the Lord reminding us today so that we may return our focus and attention once again towards God, to His Law and commandments. Let us all also look upon the great examples set by our holy predecessors, many of whom had lived their lives worthily of the Lord and became great examples and sources of inspiration for many throughout the lives and the history of the Church, as we celebrate one of them on his feast day today.

Today, the Church celebrates the feast of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, a renowned saint who has shown in his rather short life, a true dedication and commitment to God, as well as great and generous love for his fellow brothers and sisters around him, in caring for them and ministering to them. St. Aloysius Gonzaga was born as the eldest son and heir of one of the cadet branches of an influential Italian family, the Gonzaga family. He was expected to succeed to his family’s fortunes and positions, and yet, he turned to the Lord instead, and sought Him rather than indulging in the life’s excesses as were common during that time in the late Renaissance era. He felt called to become a missionary and began to adopt an ascetic lifestyle. Ultimately, he remained resolute in his desire to be a missionary and joined the Society of Jesus, after giving up all of his rights and inheritance, to the dismay of his family, especially that of his father, who begrudgingly allowed his son to do as he wished.

St. Aloysius Gonzaga committed his life to his new ministry and calling, dedicating himself to the service of God and living a very devout and ascetic lifestyle. He kept on caring for the sick and those who suffered, especially at that time when a plague broke out in Rome and afflicted many people, even many among the Jesuit brothers. This however did not deter or dissuade St. Aloysius Gonzaga from continuing his work and efforts to care for those who were sick, despite having suffered from poor health and having contracted the plague himself. To the very end, St. Aloysius Gonzaga continued to commit himself for the good of others around him, and he never stopped caring for those whom he has shown compassion for, not even at the expense of his own health and life. In essence, St. Aloysius Gonzaga has shown us what true Christian charity and love is all about.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all therefore be inspired by the faith and examples showed by St. Aloysius Gonzaga, and also by our other holy predecessors, the innumerable saints and martyrs, and all other holy men and women who had dedicated their lives to God. Let us all therefore do our best in our lives to give ourselves in serving God and in loving our fellow brothers and sisters, in whatever way we can, so that by our actions and works, more and more people may come to know the Lord and His love, His ways and Good News. Let us all be genuine Christians in all things, in our every works and actions, so that through us more and more may come to believe in God and be saved, together with us. May God bless us all and our every good works, now and always. Amen.

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Tuesday, 20 June 2023 : 11th 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 Scriptures, all of us are reminded of the need for all of us as Christians to be always filled with love and concern, empathy and compassion for our fellow brethren all around us. We must always be exemplary in how we live our lives, as God’s followers and disciples, so that in everything we say and do, we will always be the worthy bearers of His truth and Good News, and in our every words, actions and deeds, in our every interactions with one another, we will always be truly faithful in all things, and not just merely paying lip service to the Lord. All of us have to be genuinely committed to the Lord and be wholeheartedly dedicated to Him, showing our faith at every moment, in every possible things.

In our first reading today, we heard from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Church and the faithful in the city of Corinth, the words of the Apostle St. Paul exhorting the people of God in Corinth to be inspired by the great examples set by their fellow brethren in the region of Macedonia, which St. Paul had also ministered in, in how the faithful there had persevered and endured even though they had faced quite a few obstacles and hardships, persecutions and trials. They helped and encouraged one another, and remained firmly faithful to the Lord despite the hardships that they had to endure all those while. Therefore, their obedience to God and perseverance, their commitment to God was shared by St. Paul, who hoped that other Christians elsewhere, be it in Corinth or in other places, may also share the same commitment and faith in God.

St. Paul highlighted how each and every members of the faithful in Macedonia had lived their lives well as those whom the Lord had called and chosen, in their support for each other and in their love for God as well as in their love for their fellow brothers and sisters. In essence, they were following the very examples set by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, their Lord and Saviour, Who had come into our midst, enduring persecution, rejection and ridicule, stubbornness and even betrayal by those who were closest to Him. The Lord had done so because of His obedience to His Father’s will, His love for all of us, His beloved ones. He had endured the worst of treatments, sufferings and humiliations so that by His endurance and commitment, He might save us all from our impending destruction.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, we then heard from our Gospel passage today, in which the Lord Jesus Christ highlighted again what He Himself had done and would do for the sake of His loved ones. He told His disciples, that to follow Him and His Father, all of us must be truly filled with Love, pure love that is unconditional and not seeking for returns, a pure love that is genuine and truly rich in compassion. The Lord used the example of how the Lord cared and showed His love on both the upright and the wicked alike, and He did not deny those who have even repeatedly disobeyed and sinned against Him, the grace of having forgiveness and mercy to be shown to them. For as long as they still have the time left, the Lord’s love, mercy and forgiveness will still be given to them should they seek for Him with sincere heart.

The Lord reminded all of us that as Christians, we have to love everyone, as best as we are able to, and we should not be transactional or discriminatory in how we love others around us. Yes, definitely there will be those whom we love more than others, but we should also strive to love all those who have not loved us back, and even treat well those who might have cause us hurt and harm. We should not be the ones who seek vengeance and harm to others as well, because, in doing so, we are only going to perpetuate the cycle of hatred and anger, the cycle of pain and sufferings. We should do our best to break that cycle, and instead, be the ones to live a life truly worthy of God, by loving one another as best as we can.

That was what the faithful people of God in Macedonia had been doing as well, in how they continued to show love and compassion, care for others and all, even when they had faced great hardships and challenges in their lives, being persecuted and oppressed by those who hated and despised them. They did not allow their hurt and pain to turn into hatred and anger, or violence and other forms of evils and wickedness. Instead, they showed all of us, that it is indeed possible for us to follow the Lord’s examples in His most generous and wonderful love for each and every one of us, which He has shown us through none other than the Lord Jesus Himself, Who has given His life for our sake, so that by His suffering and death, all of us may be saved.

The Lord has loved us and cared for us, even when we have not obeyed Him, and when we have constantly disobeyed and rebelled against Him. Yet, the Lord continued to show us His love and compassion most generously, caring for us in the best way that He could, offering us His mercy and salvation, if only we open our hearts and minds to welcome Him, allowing him to enter into our hearts and minds, that He may work His acts of healing and compassion in us, turning us all from the people and children of darkness and sin, into a people of the Light, filled once again with His love and grace. All of us have been called by the Lord to follow Him, and commit ourselves once again to the path that He has shown us.

May the Lord, our most loving God and Father, continue to guide and strengthen us at all times. May He empower each and every one of us so that we may always walk in His path most faithfully, and dedicate ourselves with renewed conviction and strength. Let us all be good role models and inspirations to one another, in living our lives most faithfully at all times, focusing our whole lives and existences to God, Who should be the very reason and the very focus of our lives. May God bless us always, in all of our good works and endeavours, now and always. Amen.

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Monday, 19 June 2023 : 11th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Philip Minh, Priest and Martyr, and Companions, Martyrs (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Red

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today we heard the message from the Scriptures reminding us of the things that we have to do as Christians, in all the actions we carry out in life, in everything that we say and speak of, and in our every interactions and works throughout our lives. Each and every one of us as Christians are expected to carry out the Law and the commandments of God, and walk in the path that the Lord has shown us all, and do whatever He has commanded us to do. All of us should be good role models and inspirations to one another, and we should do our part in showing our faith through our actions, works, words and deeds, and be genuine Christians in all things, and not just in name only.

In our first reading today, we heard from the Epistle that St. Paul wrote to the Church and the faithful in the city of Corinth, in which the Apostle exhorted all the faithful people of God there to do what is right in all of their actions and in following the examples of the ministers of God, all the Apostles, disciples and the many missionaries who have worked among them tirelessly in proclaiming the Good News of God, His ways and His teachings. St. Paul reminded all of them to remain committed to God and to do what is right and just in accordance with the Law and commandments of God, so that their lives might truly inspire many others to follow their examples, much as how the Apostles and the missionaries themselves have inspired them in their faith.

St. Paul also highlighted the difficulties and the many hardships that the faithful might have to endure in the midst of their lives as Christians, because inevitably, there would be those who refused to believe in God and in His truth, and therefore, chose to persecute, oppress and made the lives of the faithful Christians, the people of God to be difficult. As the Apostle St. Paul himself had experienced, as were those other missionaries, they could face tribulations and trials, even imprisonment and hardships, challenges to their lives and their works and ministry, but despite all of those things, the Lord would always be with them, guiding them and strengthening them, and through their exemplary lives and help for one another, they persevered in the faith. Hence, the others should also follow their examples as well.

In our Gospel passage today, we then heard of the Lord Jesus saying to His disciples what it truly means to be His disciples and followers. He told them the famous adages or sayings, that ‘eye for an eye’ and ‘tooth for a tooth’, which actually came from the old Jewish laws, practices and customs, which were meant to keep the people in check, after their many and frequent acts of disobedience against God and the Law. Those things meant that for whatever wrongdoings or faults that any one of the people had committed, an equivalent or similarly punitive consequence must be meted. However, this was not the true intention of the Lord and the Law that He has provided to His people, as it was actually meant to help them to discipline themselves and to discourage them from committing sins against Him.

Unfortunately, that has led to people being rather rigid and legalistic in how they viewed the Law and in how they fulfilled the conditions and the precepts of the Law. They viewed the Law and the commandments of God, or being a faithful follower of the Lord means that they ought to obey all those laws and precepts, but in many cases, they forgot the true importance and the purpose of the Law as the Lord has intended it. They ended up focusing on all the details and all the cumbersome additions of the rules and regulations, rituals and the practices, which often deviated and distracted the people from realising the true intention and purpose of the Law. This is where the Lord reminded all of us through His disciples and Church, that each and every one of us have been called and taught to live our lives worthily, by loving Him and one another wholeheartedly and sincerely.

That is why, each and every one of us are reminded that our every words, actions and deeds have to be good and righteous, worthy of God and show our Christian faith and truth at all times. It means that in how we interact with each other, we should love one another tenderly and genuinely, caring for all those around us with compassion and care. We should also do what the Lord has taught and told us to do, so that in all of our actions, interactions and dealings, our every deeds will shine with the light and truth of God’s glory. The Lord has called us to be His disciples and also missionaries to spread His Good News to the nations, and it is by living our lives in the way that the Lord has commanded us, that we become good role models and inspirations to others around us so that they too may live their lives in accordance to God’s ways.

Today, the Church also marks the commemoration of the memories and the lives of those holy predecessors of ours, who have suffered greatly and perished during an episode of intense persecution of Christians in what is today Vietnam. Today is the Feast of St. Philip Minh and his companions, who have endured intense oppression for being Christians, in their dedication and commitment to God as Christians. The state and the governmental apparatus back then viewed all Christians and their faith, as well as the missionaries who came to Vietnam to preach the Good News of God with great suspicion and fear, considering them as agents of foreign powers and as threat to their existence and sovereignty. Therefore, in consideration of all these, that was why St. Philip Minh and others faced those bitter experiences and hardships. Yet, they all faced those sufferings and hardships with faith and courage, not giving in to those who seek to destroy them or force them to abandon their faith in God.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all be inspired by the examples of St. Philip Minh and his companions in martyrdom, the Holy Martyrs of Vietnam, that we may also aspire and strive to do what we can so that our lives and actions are true reflection of our Christian faith, so that we ourselves may inspire many others around us by our good examples and way of life. May the Lord, our most loving God and Master continue to help and guide us all in our journey throughout our lives, and may He empower all of us to continue living our lives with dedication and commitment, and doing our very best to be the true and shining beacons of His light and truth, His Good News and love, now and always, forevermore. May God bless us in our every good works and endeavours, in all things. Amen.

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Sunday, 18 June 2023 : Eleventh Sunday of Ordinary Time (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, this Sunday as we listened to the words of the Sacred Scriptures, all of us are called and reminded to be ever faithful to the Lord and to remember everything that He had done for us, in all the blessings and wonders that we have received. Each and every one of us have become partakers of the Covenant that God has established with us. God has loved and cared for us all most wonderfully and He has called on all of us to follow Him and to do His will. All of us are reminded to live our lives and to do our best to reflect the great love and the examples which our Lord Himself has shown us through His most beloved Son, Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. That is what we are being reminded of this Sunday as we all gather together as one community and one Church of God.

In our first reading this Sunday, we heard of the account of the time when the people of Israel, which God had just brought out from the land of Egypt, were led to the Mountain of God, Mount Sinai, where God would establish and renew the Covenant that He has made with their forefathers. The Lord told them and reminded them of everything He had done for their sake. He then told them of what they would all be expected to do as part of the Covenant which He would make with them, to be His holy people who live in accordance to His Law and commandments. The Lord would bless them and protect them, and would grant them His grace and love. God gave them all His Law and commandments so that all of then would know how they ought to live their lives, walking in His path and becoming good role models and sources of inspiration for all others around them.

In our second reading today, we then heard from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans in which we listened to the Apostle’s reminder to all the faithful in the Church of Rome, and also to all of us, just how fortunate each and every one of us are because God has loved us and provided for us, and even gave us all His most beloved Son, to be our Saviour. St. Paul reminded the faithful people of God that God has sent us His Son, to suffer and die for us, even though we were still rebellious and were great sinners, calling upon us to turn away from those sins and wickedness, having been reconciled through the love of God shown to us in Jesus Christ, the Son of God made Man. All of us are truly fortunate that God has come into our midst, ever always caring about us and kind towards us, and patient with us despite our frequent disobedience and stubbornness.

Lastly, then in our Gospel passage today we heard of the Lord telling His disciples that while the harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few in number, and He mentioned of asking the Master of the harvest to send labourers to gather the harvest. This, which is followed then by the mention of the Twelve Apostles, the closest confidants of the Lord, who were identified by name, and how it was mentioned that they were sent by the Lord with the power and authority to perform miracles and signs in His Name, all these clearly identified to us, that as those whom God had called and chosen, all of us as Christians ought to go forth and proclaim the truth of the Lord, His Good News and His path to all those around us, so that by our actions and good examples, we may inspire more and more people to come to the path towards the Lord and His salvation.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, having listened to those words of the Scriptures and reflected on them, this is where we should realise that as Christians, each and every one of us have important obligations in life to do what God has commanded and taught us to do. The Lord has taught and revealed to us His Law and commandments, and each one of us ought to know them well, doing what we can as God’s people, as His followers, to inspire others around us and to show the teachings and truths of the Lord to those who have not known Him yet. Yes, brothers and sisters in Christ, the works that the Lord has entrusted to His Church, to all of us are still far from complete, as there are still many out there who are still ignorant and lacking in proper understanding and knowledge of what the Lord has revealed and brought into this world.

Not only that, but even within the Church, there are many of those who are lukewarm in their faith, all those who have not lived their lives in accordance to God’s Law and commandments. The Lord wants us all to be the good role models, examples and inspirations for all these around us, even those within the Church so that more and more people may come to be truly faithful to the Lord. And we must realise that the best way for us to evangelise and to proclaim the Lord’s truth, is not by mere words alone. Instead, we have to live our lives genuinely as Christians, so that in everything we say and do, and in how we interact with one another, we truly proclaim the Lord to all those who see us, hear us, interact with us and encounter us. All of us should be great witnesses and missionaries of Christ, in living up to our Christian faith and expectations.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, lest we forget, let us remember everything that the Lord had done for us, in all the things He had done to His beloved people, in patiently caring for them and guiding them, rescuing them from trouble and hardships even when those same people had constantly betrayed and abandoned Him, stubbornly refusing to follow His ways and the path that He has shown them. The Lord has always loved us regardless of all those things, and He kept on reaching out to us, chastising us and punishing us whenever we erred and disobeyed Him, with the intention that we may change our way of life and turn away from all the wicked things which had led us away from the Lord and His salvation, His holiness and love. That is why, each and every one of us, ever reminded of God’s most generous love, should also love Him in the same way, and commit ourselves to Him and the missions which He has entrusted to us.

May the Lord, our most loving God and Master, our King, continue to love us and provide for us, in all the moments of our lives. And may all of us continue to commit ourselves wholeheartedly to Him, that in our every moments, our every actions and interactions, we will be ever worthy and be the faithful bearers of God’s Good News and truth. Let our actions be inspirational and help others to come closer to God, and not cause scandal or make people to distance themselves to the Lord and His Church instead. May God bless us all and our every good efforts and endeavours, in all things, now and always, forevermore. Amen.