World Day of the Poor

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Sunday, 15 November 2026 : Thirty-Third Sunday of Ordinary Time, World Day of the Poor (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, this Sunday all of us are reminded on this second last Sunday before the end of the current liturgical year, of the need for all of us as Christians to be truly faithful to God and to do what the Lord has taught, shown and commanded us all to do in our lives. All of us as Christians are encouraged and reminded of everything that we should carry out in our current livelihood, in reaching out to our fellow men, brothers and sisters, in caring and loving them, so that by our lives, actions and everything we say and do, we may truly proclaim the Lord in all of His love, truth and wonders to all the whole world. This is what we are all expected to do, brothers and sisters, in living our lives at the moment, in whatever opportunities that we have been given, to be ever more faithful and worthy of God in all things.

In our first reading today, taken from the Book of Proverbs, we heard from the author of this Book, the description of a righteous, virtuous and good woman, who is truly good and just in all of her works, actions and deeds. This description of a virtuous and righteous woman, who is respected and honoured by everyone is actually not just limited to that of a woman, but is a way for the Lord to tell all of us that the same attitude and behaviours are also expected of every one of us, regardless of gender, age or by whatever other parameters we tended to categorise ourselves into. Each and every one of us as Christians are expected to do what is right, virtuous, good and just in the eyes of the Lord, in doing His will and obeying every one of His Law and commandments, which He has revealed, taught and passed down to us.

This is especially important in our world today, where these virtues for either men and women had become diluted and even lost, amidst the many competing ideologies and distractions, from the secular and godless world, where many of us are accustomed to so many kinds of wickedness, evils, temptations and other attitudes that put emphasis on our own selfish wants and desires, and in all the exposure to the various paths and behaviours that directly contradict the Lord and His teachings and truth. We all live in a world where we are accustomed to these kind of thinking, behaviours and attitudes from early on in our lives. That is why we must always remind ourselves that we should not allow these corruptions and wrong ideas to distract and mislead us from the right path that God has shown and taught us.

In our second reading today, we heard from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Thessalonians in which the Apostle spoke about how the Lord’s second coming or parousia will happen at the time when we least expect it, and hence, we have to be always prepared and ready to welcome the Lord when He comes again, with a worthy attitude and life. We must not be complacent or ignorant of what is expected of us as Christians, in how we all should live our lives. That is because every one of us will be held accountable for whatever we have said, done and acted in our lives, and also for whatever it is that we have not done and acted, when we have been given the opportunities and the abilities to do so, in caring for our fellow brothers and sisters all around us, and in living our lives worthily as Christians.

In our Gospel passage today, the same theme appears again as we heard of the parable which the Lord told to His disciples and followers, on the parable of the silver talents. In that parable, we heard of the actions of the three servants to whom their master bestowed each of them with five, two and one silver talents respectively. In that parable, we heard how the ones who were entrusted with five and two silver talents made good use of their silver talents when the master was away, invested them properly and did good with them such that when the master returned, their silver talents had doubled in amount. Meanwhile, the one who had been entrusted with one silver talent hid his silver talent until his master returned, and returned the silver talent to his master as it was.

We heard how the two servants who have done well in investing their silver talents were greatly rewarded by the master, while the servant who was lazy and did nothing to the silver talent was punished. This parable is a classic reminder for all of us that we cannot be idle in living our Christian lives, in doing what we can to follow God and His will, in obeying His Law and commandments to the best of our abilities. Those silver talents, regardless of the amounts, represent the talents, blessings, abilities, opportunities and other things that we have received from God, and which we are therefore expected to make good use of, in each and every one of our actions and deeds, in all of our interactions and dealings with one another. We should always do our part to glorify God by our lives, and to show His love and kindness to everyone, through our own lives and actions.

Therefore, brothers and sisters in Christ, as we have heard from our Scripture passages today, we are all reminded that as Christians, we have to be always prepared for all things, and we must always strive to be exemplary and virtuous in all of our words, actions and deeds, so that we truly become responsible, good and faithful stewards of God’s Creation, and over whatever it is that God has entrusted to us, be it opportunities and talents, abilities and other things in life. We must always strive to do God’s will in all things and at all times because in the end, we shall be asked to account for our lives and how we have lived them. If we have neglected our responsibilities and all that we have been entrusted to do, then we may end up like the lazy servant, who failed to utilise his entrusted silver talent for good use, and we may have to answer for that with condemnation for eternity.

Today, the Church also commemorates the occasion of the World Day of the Poor, instituted by our previous Pope, Pope Francis, in reminding us that all of us have responsibilities and obligations to care for one another, especially for the less fortunate among us. We have been given different blessings, opportunities and talents, and for those who have been given more, as the Lord highlighted in that same parable, more would have been expected. Those of us who have been blessed with more good things in life, let us all spare some of these with love, with those who have little or none, those who struggle to make ends meet, and those who have been ostracised, rejected and shunned by the community. The poor are parts of the Church as well, and they are our brothers and sisters, all the same.

It is indeed part of our Christian calling and mission to reach out to the poor, to show them genuine care and attention, and as I have just mentioned, this should not be limited just to those who are suffering financially or in monetary terms, but also for all those who are suffering from the ‘poverty of love’. After all, is it not what the Lord Himself mentioned, that everything that we do for the sake of the least ones, we are all doing them for the Lord Himself? Why should we then distinguish poverty by merely financial or physical means only? We should do our very best to do good works for the sake of all those who are in need of our presence and help, including our care, love and attention, just as we have been called to do by the Lord Himself, Who made Himself always available to those who are the last, the lost and the least.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all therefore strive to live our lives ever more faithfully as Christians, in doing what God has commanded us all to do. Let us all turn towards God with our whole heart and mind, in devoting ourselves as God’s beloved people, His faithful followers and disciples, now and always. Let our lives be truly filled with God’s grace and love, and let us all follow Him from now on with ever greater commitment, dedication and love. May God bless us all and may He empower each and every one of us to live our lives in His path, now and always. Amen.

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Sunday, 15 November 2026 : Thirty-Third Sunday of Ordinary Time, World Day of the Poor (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Matthew 25 : 14-30

At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, “Imagine someone who, before going abroad, summoned his servants to entrust his property to them. He gave five talents of silver to one servant, two talents to another servant, and one talent to a third, to each, according to his ability; and he went away.”

“He who received five talents went at once to do business with the talents, and gained another five. The one who received two talents did the same, and gained another two. But the one who received one talent dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money.”

“After a long time, the master of those servants returned and asked for a reckoning. The one who had received five talents came with another five talents, saying, ‘Lord, you entrusted me with five talents, but see, I have gained five more.’ The master answered, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant, since you have been faithful in a few things, I will entrust you in charge of many things. Come and share the joy of your master.'”

“Then the one who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you entrusted me with two talents; with them I have gained two more.’ The master said, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant, since you have been faithful in little things, I will entrust you in charge of many things. Come and share the joy of your master.'”

“Finally, the one who had received one talent came and said, ‘Master, I know that you are a hard man. You reap what you have not sown, and gather what you have not scattered. I was afraid, so I hid your money in the ground. Here, take what is yours!’ But his master replied, ‘Wicked and worthless servant, you know that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered. You should have deposited my money in the bank, and given it back to me with interest on my return.'”

“Therefore, take the talent from him, and give it to the one who has ten. For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who are unproductive, even what they have will be taken from them. As for that useless servant, thrown him out into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Alternative reading (shorter version)

Matthew 25 : 14-15, 19-21

At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, “Imagine someone who, before going abroad, summoned his servants to entrust his property to them. He gave five talents of silver to one servant, two talents to another servant, and one talent to a third, to each, according to his ability; and he went away.”

“After a long time, the master of those servants returned and asked for a reckoning. The one who had received five talents came with another five talents, saying, ‘Lord, you entrusted me with five talents, but see, I have gained five more.’ The master answered, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant, since you have been faithful in a few things, I will entrust you in charge of many things. Come and share the joy of your master.'”

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Sunday, 15 November 2026 : Thirty-Third Sunday of Ordinary Time, World Day of the Poor (Second Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

1 Thessalonians 5 : 1-6

You do not need anyone to write to you about the delay, and the appointed time for these events. You know, that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When people feel secure, and at peace, the disaster will suddenly come upon them, as the birth pangs of a woman in labour, and they will not escape.

But you, beloved, are not in darkness; so that day will not surprise you like a thief. All of you are citizens of the light and the day; we do not belong to night and darkness. Let us not, therefore, sleep as others do, but remain alert and sober.

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Sunday, 15 November 2026 : Thirty-Third Sunday of Ordinary Time, World Day of the Poor (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Psalm 127 : 1-2, 3, 4-5

Blessed are you who fear YHVH and walk in His ways. You will eat the fruit of your toil; you will be blessed and favoured.

Your wife, like a vine, will bear fruits in your home; your children, like olive shoots, will stand around your table.

Such are the blessings bestowed upon the man who fears YHVH. May YHVH praise you from Zion. May you see Jerusalem prosperous all the days of your life.

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Sunday, 15 November 2026 : Thirty-Third Sunday of Ordinary Time, World Day of the Poor (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Proverbs 31 : 10-13, 19-20, 30-31

The woman of character, where is she to be found? She is more precious than any jewel. Her husband has complete confidence in her; she will be of great benefit to him. She brings him only good and not evil, all the days of her life. She has obtained wool and flax, and works them with skilful hands.

She puts her hand to the distaff and her fingers hold the spindle. She reaches out her hand to the helpless and gives to the poor. Charm is deceptive and beauty useless; the woman who is wise is the one to praise. May she enjoy the fruits of her labour and may all praise her for her works.

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Sunday, 16 November 2025 : Thirty-Third Sunday of Ordinary Time, World Day of the Poor (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, this Sunday we mark the occasion of the Thirty-Third and therefore the second last Sunday in our current Ordinary Time and also liturgical year. Within two weeks from now, we will enter into the season of Advent in preparation for Christmas and therefore also the beginning of the new liturgical year. Therefore, that is why the Scripture readings and the overall tone shift into one of preparing ourselves for the inevitable end of times, the time of the reckoning of our actions and lives, which we all ought to be well-prepared for, and which the Lord has amply and repeatedly reminded us of, in each and every opportunities that we have been given. 

In our first reading this Sunday, taken from the Book of the prophet Malachi, we heard of the words of the Lord as presented through Malachi, who was in fact the last in the long line of prophets that had been sent to the people of God in Israel and Judah. The prophet Malachi spoke briefly of the coming of the time of reckoning where those who were wicked and who committed evils will be destroyed and crushed, while those who are faithful and just will be strengthened and blessed by God. God knows each and every hearts and minds, and He will not stay silent against any kind of injustice. He will be with all of His people, whom He will always care for and protect, provide and strengthen amidst the challenging times.

God is a loving and just God Who does not overlook injustice and evil, and He is also a loving and caring God Who knows righteousness and justice in those who follow Him and His path. And this is why in our daily actions, in our manner of living our lives, in our every interactions and in our every moments spent journeying in every aspects in life, we are reminded that we should always continue to do what is truly right and just in accordance to what the Lord has taught and shown us all. We must not think that we can act in impunity, in causing hurt and harm to others especially in the pursuit of our own selfish needs, ambitions and desires. God knows all things, and we will have to account for everything, both good and bad, in the end.

Then, from our Gospel passage this Sunday, taken from the Gospel according to St. Luke the Evangelist, we heard about the moment when the Lord Jesus predicted the downfall and destruction of the Temple and House of God in Jerusalem before the disciples and others assembled to listen to Him. That Second Temple of Jerusalem, which was also known as Herod’s Temple due to the massive enlargement and expansion done by King Herod the Great was indeed a magnificent Temple and House of worship dedicated to God, but what the Lord Himself encountered was a lot of hypocrisy and corruption, in how many of the religious and intellectual elites, the chief priests and the Pharisees, had superficial faith in God and were not truly faithful in Him.

And worse still that they allowed corruptions and corrupt practices to creep into the Holy House of God’s Presence, by them allowing the merchants, money changers and others to turn the courtyard of the Lord’s House to places where injustices took place, where they manipulated and profited over those who had come to them to get the necessary goods for the worship of the Divine. That was why the Lord told them all that eventually none of the grand edifice would remain, a premonition of the disaster that would come true in a few decades afterwards, when the Romans destroyed the very Temple that Jesus spoke about as they quelled and crushed the Jewish rebellion that happened then.

Through what the Lord has shared in our Gospel passage this Sunday, we are therefore reminded yet again that nothing in this world is permanent, even glorious edifices and worldly fame and power. In the end, what remains is our faith, trust and hope in the Lord, and we are all indeed expected to carry out our lives in good faith and obedience to God and His will. We should keep in mind of the Lord’s constant reminders, Who has always reminded us to live our lives worthily each day, in caring for those whom He has entrusted to us to love, our most beloved ones, family members and others, and also those whom He has sent to our way, so that our faith can truly shine and that we will be ready when He comes again and we have to account for our lives.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, how do we then live our lives faithfully just as the Lord Himself has taught us to do? How do we then be righteous and just in the eyes of the Lord and men alike so that we will be worthy of His everlasting inheritance? This is where what we also commemorate today this Sunday should help us in our path and journey as Christians and disciples of the Lord. Our late Pope Francis promulgated that the Sunday before the Solemnity of Christ the King, that is this Sunday, be known as the World Day of the Poor. We are reminded this Sunday therefore of the presence of those who are poor in our midst, and it is our Christian calling and obligation for all of us to reach out to the poor and show them love, care and attention.

But we must also realise that poverty is not just material poverty, but can even be spiritual and mental poverty. For there are a lot of people in our midst, although have nothing lacking in terms of material goods and possessions, but they are facing lots of struggles and difficulties in their spiritual journey and in their mental state and relationships, with God or with one another. There are many people out there today who are facing challenges and difficulties in their lives, facing struggles of loneliness, mental health issues and problems, as I am sure we have heard being quite common these days. Many are facing lots of struggles daily not just in earning their livelihood but also in enduring challenges not just physically but also mentally.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, therefore let us all continue to help one another especially those who are around us and those whom we encounter daily in life so that we may indeed be the ones who always show love and compassion to everyone, especially to the poor around us, and not just those who are poor materially but also poor spiritually and mentally, all those whom the Lord had put in our paths and journeys to care for. Let us all make good use of whatever blessings and opportunities that God had provided to each and every one of us, so that in all the things that we say and do, we will continue to glorify Him by our actions and deeds. Amen.

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Sunday, 16 November 2025 : Thirty-Third Sunday of Ordinary Time, World Day of the Poor (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Luke 21 : 5-19

At that time, while some people were talking about the Temple, remarking that it was adorned with fine stonework and rich gifts, Jesus said to them, “The days will come when there shall not be left one stone upon another of all that you now admire; all will be torn down.”

And they asked Him, “Master, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?” Jesus then said, “Take care not to be deceived, for many will come claiming My title and saying, ‘I am He, the Messiah; the time is at hand!’ Do not follow them. When you hear of wars and troubled times, do not be frightened; for all these things must happen first, even though the end is not so soon.”

And Jesus said, “Nations will fight each other and kingdom will oppose kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines and plagues; in many places strange and terrifying signs from heaven will be seen. Before all these things happen, people will lay their hands on you and persecute you; you will be delivered to the synagogues and put in prison, and for my sake you will be brought before kings and governors. This will be your opportunity to bear witness.”

“So keep this in mind : do not worry in advance about what to say, for I will give you words and wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends, and some of you will be put to death. But even though, because of My Name, you will be hated by everyone, not a hair of your head will perish. By your patient endurance you will save your souls.”

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Sunday, 16 November 2025 : Thirty-Third Sunday of Ordinary Time, World Day of the Poor (Second Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

2 Thessalonians 3 : 7-12

You know how you ought to follow our example : we worked while we were with you. Day and night we laboured and toiled so as not to be a burden to any of you. We had the right to act otherwise, but we wanted to give you an example.

Besides, while we were with you, we said clearly : If anyone is not willing to work, neither should that one eat. However we heard that some among you live in idleness – busybodies, doing no work. In the Name of Christ Jesus our Lord we command these people to work and earn their own living.

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Sunday, 16 November 2025 : Thirty-Third Sunday of Ordinary Time, World Day of the Poor (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Psalm 97 : 5-6, 7-8, 9

With melody of the lyre and with music of the harp. With trumpet blast and sound of the horn, rejoice before the King, the Lord!

Let the sea resound and everything in it, the world and all its peoples. Let rivers clap their hands, hills and mountains sing with joy.

Before the Lord, for He comes to rule the earth. He will judge the world with justice and the peoples with fairness.

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Sunday, 16 November 2025 : Thirty-Third Sunday of Ordinary Time, World Day of the Poor (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Malachi 3 : 19-20a

The day already comes, flaming as a furnace. On that day all the proud and evildoers will be burnt like straw in the fire. They will be left without branches or roots. On the other hand the sun of justice will shine upon you who respect My Name and bring health in its rays.