Weeks of Advent

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Sunday, 1 December 2024 : First Sunday of Advent (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Luke 21 : 25-28, 34-36

At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, “Then there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth anguish of nations, perplexed when they hear the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will faint with fear at the mere thought of what is to come upon the world, for the forces of the universe will be shaken. Then, at that time, they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.”

“So, when you see things begin to happen, stand erect and lift up your heads, for your deliverance is drawing near. Be on your guard : do not immerse yourselves in a life of pleasure, drunkenness and worldly cares, lest that day catch you unaware, like a trap! For, like a snare, will that day come upon all the inhabitants of the earth. But watch at all times and pray, that you may be able to escape all that is going to happen, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

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Sunday, 1 December 2024 : First Sunday of Advent (Second Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

1 Thessalonians 3 : 12 – 1 Thessalonians 4 : 2

May the Lord increase, more and more, your love for each other and for all people, as He increases our love for you. May He strengthen you, internally, to be holy and blameless before God, Our Father, on the day that Jesus, Our Lord, will come with all His saints.

For the rest, brothers, we ask you, in the Name of Jesus, the Lord, and we urge you, to live in a way that pleases God, just as you have learnt from us. This you do, but try to do still more. You know the instructions we gave you on behalf of the Lord Jesus.

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Sunday, 1 December 2024 : First Sunday of Advent (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Psalm 24 : 4-5ab, 8-9, 10 and 14

Teach me Your ways, o Lord; make known to me Your paths. Guide me in Your truth and instruct me, for You are my God, my Saviour.

Good and upright, the Lord teaches sinners His way. He teaches the humble of heart and guides them in what is right.

The ways of the Lord are love and faithfulness for those who keep His covenant and precepts. The Lord gives advice to those who revere Him and makes His covenant known to them.

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Sunday, 1 December 2024 : First Sunday of Advent (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Jeremiah 33 : 14-16

The days are coming when I shall fulfil the promise that I made in favour of Israel and Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause to sprout the Shoot of righteousness from David’s line; He will practice justice and righteousness in the land.

In those days Judah will experience salvation and Jerusalem will live in safety. He will be called YHVH-Our-Righteousness.

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Sunday, 24 December 2023 : Fourth Sunday of Advent (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, this Sunday is the fourth and last Sunday in the season of Advent, and this year, due to the nature of the liturgical year cycles, Advent is at its shortest, hence, this Fourth Sunday of Advent is immediately followed by Christmas, which begins just this evening with the Christmas Vigil Mass. Yet, this does not diminish the importance of this last Sunday of Advent, as it acts for us as a very crucial reminder of what Christmas is all about, and that is about Love, the Love which God has shown to each and every one of us, and which has been manifested to us in the person of none other than Jesus Christ Himself, the Holy Child born unto us and which we celebrate about in Christmas.

This is why, after having reflected on the Aspects of Hope, Peace and Joy in the previous three Sundays of Advent, today we all focus on the Aspect of Love, reminding us that everything that we are about to celebrate in Christmas beginning with tonight is all possible now because of the Love of God that has always endured all these while for us. For without God’s Love, there would have been no hope for any one of us, and we would have ended up in damnation and destruction because of our sins caused by our disobedience against God. It was God’s ever patient and enduring love which brought us all from the depth of this darkness and despair, into the light of His salvation and grace, again through His Son, Our Lord and Saviour, the reason for our Christmas joy.

In our first reading this Sunday, we heard of how the Lord told His servant, King David of Israel who ruled over the whole people of God, through the prophet Nathan that He would make his reign secure and He would provide for him and his house, that the reign of David and his successors would be everlasting, and the House of David would indeed rule forever over the whole people of God. God also reassured David that He would take care and look after His people Israel, guiding and shepherding them down the right path. This came about when King David told Nathan how he wanted to build a House of God for the Lord because he felt that it was inappropriate that he lived in a house and palace of cedar and fine wood and yet the Lord was housed in a tent, referring to the Ark of the Covenant.

The Lord instead pointed out to David that while it may seem that He was present through the Ark of the Covenant among the people, His Holy Presence resting on the Ark itself as the proof of His existence and love for His beloved people, but it does not mean that He could be contained within the Ark or the Holy Tent of Meeting, or any House that King David or anyone else would want to build and establish for Him. God reminded David that He has been with His people and with David himself, at all times and at every occasions and places, and His Presence amongst them transcended time and space, and He would always be with them all, caring for them and being with them forever.

Now, as the Lord also told David that it would not be him who would be the one to build the House of God, but his son, this was a reference to King Solomon, who succeeded David as King of Israel, and was known for his efforts and works in building the first great Temple dedicated to the Lord, that is Solomon’s Temple. However, there is actually also a deeper and hidden symbolism amidst what the Lord had told King David, in that the ‘Son of David’ mentioned by the prophet Nathan was also a premonition and hidden prophecy about the coming of God’s salvation through Christ, Who is indeed David’s Heir, and also considered and known as the Son of David, the One sitting on David’s Throne as the rightful Ruler over all of God’s people.

In our Gospel passage today, we heard of the moment when the Archangel Gabriel revealed to Mary, the Annunciation of the Lord, that is when the Good News of God’s salvation was finally revealed to us through Mary, who was to become the Mother and bearer of the Saviour of the world. In fact, Mary became the New Ark of the New Covenant and the Temple and House of God because in her, the Lord Himself, the Divine Word and Son of God had been incarnate in the flesh, and dwelling within her blessed womb, free from any taint of sin, hallowed and sanctified by God, to be worthy to hold the Divine and perfect essence of the Almighty Himself in her. The love of God for us all had made it possible, because God endeavoured and did all things to ensure that we can be reconciled and reunited to Him.

That was why He willingly chose to embrace our humanity, becoming incarnate and one with our human flesh and existence, and thus, becoming tangible and real to us, making the love of God manifested in this world, no longer far and apart from us. He wants to lead us all by hand, and as our Shepherd and King, He wants to bring us all close to Himself, gathering us all from all the ends of earth. And this is echoing what the Lord had spoken to King David through His prophet Nathan in our first reading today. God has come into our midst to lead us and guide us all to Himself, and He did all these because He has truly loved each and every one of us, for even though we are sinners, but we are still precious and beloved by the Lord.

We must understand and keep reminding ourselves that what the Lord despises is not us, but instead our many sins and disobedient actions and attitudes which had caused us to be separated from Him in the first place. He always cares about us and through His Son, He has shown us that perfect love manifested completely and in a tangible manner before us, that we may have hope and rejoice once again because of Him and His love. That is why, brothers and sisters in Christ, shall we renew our commitment to the Lord from now on, and do our best that we may always love the Lord and remember the most perfect and wonderful love that He has shown us, that He did not hesitate to suffer a most painful and humiliating death for our sake and our salvation?

Let us all prepare ourselves well for the beginning of the joyous Christmas season that begins tonight, with a renewed faith and zeal, with greater love and devotion to God, and the willingness to do whatever we need so that we may always embody the love of God in our every moments in life. If God has loved us so much that He was willing to come into our midst and even adopting our humble human existence, and even to suffer and die for us, then should we not love Him in the same manner too? May the Lord be with us all and may He bestow His love and kindness to us, so that our Christmas celebrations and festivities will always be full of His love, in us loving Him more and more devotedly, and in our love for one another, now and always. Amen.

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Sunday, 24 December 2023 : Fourth Sunday of Advent (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Luke 1 : 26-38

In the sixth month, the Angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth. He was sent to a young virgin, who was betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the family of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.

The Angel came to her and said, “Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord is with you.” Mary was troubled at these words, wondering what this greeting could mean. But the Angel said, “Do not fear, Mary, for God has looked kindly on you. You shall conceive and bear a Son, and you shall call Him Jesus. He will be great, and shall rightly be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the kingdom of David, His ancestor; He will rule over the people of Jacob forever, and His reign shall have no end.”

Then Mary said to the Angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” And the Angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore, the Holy Child to be born of you shall be called Son of God. Even your relative Elizabeth is expecting a son in her old age, although she was unable to have a child; and she is now in her sixth month. With God nothing is impossible.”

Then Mary said, “I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me as you have said.” And the Angel left her.

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Sunday, 24 December 2023 : Fourth Sunday of Advent (Second Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Romans 16 : 25-27

Glory be to God! He is able to give you strength, according to the Good News I proclaim, announcing Christ Jesus. Now is revealed the mysterious plan, kept hidden for long ages in the past.

By the will of the eternal God it is brought to light, through the prophetic books, and all nations shall believe the faith proclaimed to them. Glory to God, Who alone is wise, through Christ Jesus, forever! Amen.

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Sunday, 24 December 2023 : Fourth Sunday of Advent (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Psalm 88 : 2-3, 4-5, 27 and 29

I will sing forever, o YHVH, of Your love, and proclaim Your faithfulness from age to age. I will declare how steadfast is Your love, how firm Your faithfulness.

You said, “I have made a Covenant with David, My chosen one; I have made a pledge to My servant. I establish his descendants forever; I build his throne for all generations.”

He will call on Me, “You are my Father, my God, my Rock, my Saviour.” I will keep My Covenant firm forever, and my love for Him will endure.

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Sunday, 24 December 2023 : Fourth Sunday of Advent (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

2 Samuel 7 : 1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16

When the king had settled in his palace and YHVH had rid him of all his surrounding enemies, he said to Nathan the prophet, “Look, I live in a house of cedar but the Ark of God is housed in a tent.” Nathan replied, “Do as it seems fit to you for YHVH is with you.”

But that very night, YHVH’s word came to Nathan, “Go and tell My servant David, this is what YHVH says : Are you able to build a house for Me to live in? I took you from the pasture, from tending the sheep, to make you commander of My people Israel. I have been with you wherever you went, cutting down all your enemies before you. Now I will make your name great, as the name of the great ones on earth.”

“I will provide a place for My people Israel and plant them that they may live there in peace. They shall no longer be harassed, nor shall wicked men oppress them as before. From the time when I appointed judges over My people Israel it is only to you that I have given rest from all your enemies. YHVH also tells you that He will build you a house.”

“When the time comes for you to rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your son after you, the one born of you; and I will make his reign secure. I will be a Father to him and he shall be My son. Your house and your reign shall last forever before Me, and your throne shall be forever firm.”

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Saturday, 23 December 2023 : 3rd Week of Advent, Memorial of St. John of Kanty, Priest (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, as we come very close to the time and beginning of the Christmas season which is just in two days time or so, all of us are ever reminded of why we all celebrate Christmas in the Scripture readings that we have heard. We heard in this day in particular of the messenger that the Lord had sent to us in order to proclaim the coming and appearance of His Saviour, that is none other than St. John the Baptist, the Herald of the Messiah, who prepared and made straight the way and path for the Lord. Later on, we will discuss why this is truly very important for us to reflect upon what this holy servant of God had done and its significance to our lives.

In our first reading today, we heard from the Book of the prophet Malachi, who was one of the final prophets to appear to the people of God before the time of the New Testament, approximately four centuries or so before the birth of Christ our Lord. The prophet Malachi spoke about the coming of the Messiah, and also the messenger whom the Lord would send ahead of His Saviour to prepare the way for Him. This messenger and herald that the Lord would send to His people was St. John the Baptist, whom the Lord sent to call of His people to come to Him and repent from their sins and wickedness. There was that long wait and expectation of the coming of the Messiah among the people of God, who had been promised the coming of God’s salvation from prophets to prophets.

The Lord spoke of this servant of God through Malachi as the one who would help to lead the people of God through a process of purification, so that they may all indeed be ready and prepared to welcome Him when He comes again, as the world was still full of sins and evil. Hence, through St. John the Baptist, the one who was prophesied to come as the Lord’s messenger, God would work His wonders among His people, calling all of them to repentance and to turn themselves away from the path of sin and evil. St. John the Baptist came into this world so that when the Lord came, He would have a people that had been touched by the call to repentance, and had been reminded of their sins and the need for them to be forgiven from those sins.

In our Gospel passage today, we then heard of the moment when St. John the Baptist himself was born, which was miraculous as the child himself was born of a barren mother who had been way past childbearing time, and then the occurrences around his birth was no less wonderful and amazing, as his father, Zechariah whose doubt had caused him to become dumb and mute, was able to speak again the moment he wrote down the name of the child, which the Angel of God had told him in the moment when he was told of the good news of the coming of the Lord’s Herald. Thus, through that moment, we can see how the Lord truly began the time of His saving grace, beginning from St. John the Baptist who proclaimed to the people of God, after a long period of silence from the days of Malachi, that the Lord was finally about to come.

That is why today, as we all gather together to prepare ourselves further for the time of Christmas which is coming really soon, all of us are reminded of the need for the realignment and reorientation of our lives, our whole focus and emphasis especially in Christmas and all of the things that we celebrate so that in all of them, we may once again put the Lord, our God and Saviour at the centre, instead of ourselves and our own selfish desires, ambitions and all the other things that may prevent us from realising the true meaning and joy of Christmas, that is in Christ, Our Lord. Too often we have allowed the many temptations, sins and evils of this world to mislead us down the wrong path.

We have often allowed for the comforts and pleasures of this world to lead us astray. This is also reflected in our way of celebrating Christmas, which often has lost its meaning and focus. Instead of celebrating the joy which we have at the salvation and reassurances that God had brought unto us through His Son, Our Lord and Saviour, we have ended up focusing so much on the festivities and the celebrations that we often forgot why we even celebrate Christmas in the first place. As we continue to approach Christmas, let us all hence do our best to rediscover this true meaning and joy that we ought to have in Christ, Our Lord and God, the One in Whom we are all called to focus our attention on, in thanking Him for all that He had done for us.

Today, the Church also celebrates the feast of St. John of Kanty, also known as St. John Cantius, a Polish priest who was remembered as a great and holy man of God, a dedicated priest and servant of God, as well as as a great and wonderful teacher of the faith and sciences. He was also well remembered for his great generosity particularly towards the needy and the poor, and also among the students who studied at the university where he was teaching at the time. St. John helped those who needed his help and showed his great dedication and love both for God as well as for his fellow brothers and sisters, an example we can well emulate and follow in our own lives in this world, as someone who place God and his fellow men and women ahead of himself.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all therefore be ever more committed to God and His path, and that as Christians, may our lives be truly worthy of Him, in loving and caring for one another, and in modelling ourselves upon Christ’s own examples so that we may always be full of love and compassion for our fellow brothers and sisters all around us. May our Christmas joy and celebration be truly about Christ and not about our own selfish desires and greed, unlike how we often celebrated it all these while. May the Lord continue to guide us especially as we come towards the joyous celebration of Christmas which begins after tomorrow, and may He bless our every good efforts and endeavours in all things. Amen.