"STAY WITH US, LORD" (Luke 24:29)

1st Reading            2 Samuel 7: 1-5. 8b-12. 14a. 16 Psalm                       89:2. 2-3. 4-5. 27 and 29 (R. 2a) 2nd Reading          Romans 16: 25-27 Gospel                     Luke 1: 26-38 THINK ABOUT THE LORD AND HE WILL, ALL THE MORE, THINK ABOUT YOU We have come to the end of the season of Advent with the 4th Sunday of Advent. The next season, which Advent prepares us for, is Christmas. What it means is that our focus should start turning towards the events of Christmas. The 4th Sunday leads us through a fundamental transition from Advent to Christmas. The Word of God for the 4th Sunday of Advent, as we consider a transition into Christmas, zooms in on the HOUSE OF DAVID . This is clear in the First Reading and the Gospel. The House of David holds a significant place in the readings for this Sunday that we cannot simply...

1st Reading      61: 1-2a. 10-11 Psalm                 Lk. 1: 46-48. 49-50 (R. Is. 61: 10b) 2nd Reading   1 Thes. 5: 16-24 Gospel               Jn. 1: 6-8. 19-28 REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS Dear friends, we have arrived at a very significant part of our journey through the season of Advent. Having journeyed more than half of the road in Advent, we come to the 3rd Sunday of Advent, otherwise called GAUDETE SUNDAY . Gaudete in Domino Semper (Rejoice in the Lord always); these are the beginning words of the entrance antiphon taken from Philippians 4:4-5. We are called to rejoice because Christmas is approaching; what we are preparing for and anticipating is near. The Rose colour for this Sunday communicates the joy that ought to be seen in us. Rose is no colour than violet (or purple) with a little addition of white. This white points to the fullness of the joy of Christmas. On Gau...

"IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SCATTERED SHEEP" (Ezekiel 34:12) This Sunday is very significant in the Church's life because we are not only ending the liturgical year, but it comes with the celebration of the Solemnity of Christ the King. Thus, a two-fold celebration. This will affirm the fact that at the end of time, Christ will reign as King and his Kingdom will prevail forever.   One striking detail I would like to share with you is from Ezekiel 34: 12 . Of course, this text is dated around 600 BCE. What comes to mind is the Babylonian Exile in 597-586 BCE. The text attacks leadership. The three groups of leaders in Ancient Israel at the time were PRIESTS, PROPHETS and KINGS. Surprisingly, these people are chosen by God to work and oversee the daily life of the Israelites. Losing sight of their divine mandate to cater for the socio-economic and religious life of the people, they failed in their duties — they failed woefully. Agriculture was the main occupation in Ancient Israe...

First Reading           Isaiah 55:6-9 Psalm                        Ps. 145 (R. 18a) Second Reading      Philippians 1:20-24. 27a Gospel                       Matthew 20:1-16 SEEKING GOD, SOUGHT BY GOD Dear friends, today is the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) and the last Sunday of September. We should be grateful to God for seeing us through this month and we also pray Him to aid us to dispose ourselves to his grace so that Christ will be glorified in us (Phil.1:20) and that we may avoid anything in our everyday lives that would be unworthy of the Gospel of Christ (Phil. 1: 27). For this 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A), the Gospel from Matthew (20: 1-16a) is the parable of the Vineyard Labourers. Reading the passage, we would, naturally, be tempted to conclude that the landowner was unjust in his dealings with t...

First Reading               Wisdom 12:13,16-19 Psalm                              Ps. 86:5-6,9-10,15-16 Second Reading          Romans 8:26-27 Gospel                           Matthew 13:24-43 EMBRACING CONSISTENCY AND MESSIANIC PATIENCE Dear friends, today, the 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A), we continue Jesus' dialogue with the people in parables. The Gospel for this Sunday is the parable of Weeds among Wheat. This is another parable of agriculture.  In considering the parable of Weeds among Wheat, three things shall be delved into: The fact that the WEEDS AND WHEAT WERE SOWN ON THE SAME LAND or FIELD; Whether leaving the Weeds to grow until harvest is an act of CONDONING EVIL OR MESSIANIC PATIENCE; and WHY WAS THE WHEAT UNABLE TO OVERSHADOW THE WEEDS? The first is that b...

1st Reading     Zechariah 9:9-10 Psalm                Ps. 145: 1-2.8-9.10-11.13cd-14 (R. 1) 2nd Reading   Romans 8: 9.11-13 Gospel              Matthew 11: 25-30 FROM LABOUR TO YOKE; FROM HORSE TO COLT Today is the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) and the Second Sunday in July. We shall focus on the transition from labour to yoke, taking interest in what Jesus says in today's Gospel (Matthew 11:28-29a). Is a yoke not a burden? From what kind of labour and burden are we to be given rest? What kind of yoke is easy and gives rest? The readings for this Sunday then clearly inform us that suffering is inherent in the world, but our response to it matters. The first reading (Zechariah 9:9-10) gives the image of a warrior arriving in battle to establish his sovereignty and bring peace while expanding his territory. The context of this reading, considering the whole of Zechariah 9, is the Po...

1st Reading     2 Kings 4: 8-11. 14-16a Psalm               Ps. 89: 2-3.16-17.18-19 (R. cf. 2a) 2nd Reading   Romans 6: 3-4. 8-11 Gospel              Matthew 10: 37-42 A PROPHET'S REWARD Dear friends, today, the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A), happens to be the first Sunday in July. It is an opportune moment to see the Word of God as a guide in the new month traditionally dedicated to the PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST. This Sunday, we shall be dealing with the question of what actually is the prophet's reward. In the Gospel passage (Matthew 10: 37-42), which is a continuum of last Sunday's Gospel, Jesus gives a series of instructions, forming part of the larger set of instructions in Matthew 10. Particular interest shall be given to the instruction on the reception of a prophet (vv. 41-42) because it is in tandem with the clear message from the first reading (2 Kings 4: 8-11.14-16a). Our bas...

1st Reading         Acts 2:42-47 Psalm                    Ps. 118: 2-4,13-15,22-24 2nd Reading       1 Peter 1:3-9 Gospel                   John 20:19-31 "IN THE EVENING OF THAT SAME DAY..."  (Jn. 20: 19) "In the evening of that same day.. " (John 20:19). This is the beginning phrase of the Gospel passage for this Sunday, the Second Sunday of Easter (also called Divine Mercy Sunday).  In that phrase is the word ὀψίᾳ (opsia). The author uses that word to speak of the time of the day when the sun is setting and darkness is approaching. This is the moment the author called "Evening." The setting of the evening (of "opsia") sets the scene for a powerful moment of revelation, as Jesus appears to his disciples amid their fear and uncertainty.  It is the same word translated as APPEARANCE in John 7:24 when Jesus said, "Stop judging b...

GOSPEL BEFORE PROCESSION (MATTHEW 21:1-11) "THE ASS THE THE COLT" Dear friends, today we begin the Holy Week with the celebration of Palm Sunday of the passion of the Lord we commemorate the free and triumphal entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem. He, "the Lamb of God" [John 1: 29], enters freely as he is not bound under force to do so. His free entrance is not different from the case of unblemished lambs that, according to Jewish tradition, are brought to Jerusalem on this same day for inspection and selection toward the Passover feast. As unblemished lambs are sent to Jerusalem, Jesus, "the lamb of God", also makes a journey to Jerusalem. The journey to Jerusalem is necessary. First, as a male Jew, it is expected that Jesus participates in this celebration of the Passover [deuteronomy 16: 16]. Secondly, to effect his mission of salvation through his passion death and resurrection the journey to Jerusalem was necessary.  In the gospel passage, the author name...

1st Reading Isaiah 49:3,5-6 Psalm Ps. 40:2 and 4ab.7-8a.8b-9.10 (R.8a and 9a) 2nd Reading 1 Corinthians 1:1-3 Gospel John 1:29-34 UNITE AND GUIDE Dear friends, we find ourselves within a new liturgical season after the season of Christmas, which ended a few days ago with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. Today is the 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time. In Ordinary Time, our focus is the message of life that the Lord gives us. Our Lord leads us to do what he did, namely, to give our lives for others in a more generous way. To this end, we come to see Ordinary Time as a season more of action and discipleship and less of being expecting and spectating witnesses. We no longer watch, but we also act. The first reading from Isaiah 49:3, 5-6 drives in thoughts about an ideal (or perfect) servant of God. He is ideal because in him resides an ideal vocation. Thus, what God intends to effect in the life of Israel. He becomes ideal because our vocations are modelled after the mission of...

1st Reading       Isaiah 60: 1-6 Psalm                  Ps. 72: 1-2.7-8.10-11.12-13 (R. cf. 11) 2nd Reading     Ephesians 3:2-3a.5-6 Gospel                Matthew 2:1-12 BE SUSTAINED IN FAITH AND HOPE Dear friends, today is the second Sunday of January and the second Sunday of the year. Today, we celebrate the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord. This feast reminds us of the triumph of light over darkness. Epiphany means "shining upon something." Carried further, the feast helps us to know the manifestation of Christ to the world; manifestation as "the light that shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it" (Jn. 1: 5).  The first reading for this Sunday mentions the word 'light' two times (v. 1 and v. 3). The idea communicated is that there is darkness (Isaiah 60:2). Remember that we are reading from Isaiah 60, and it falls within the third division...