Posted in Christmas, Holy Family, Housekeeping, Octave, Sunday, Weekday
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For your easy reference, the following is a list of weeks and years with their corresponding date:
27 Dec 2015 – Holy Family
28 Dec 2015 – The Holy Innocents, Martyrs – Feast
29 Dec 2015 – 5th day within the octave of Christmas
30 Dec 2015 – 6th day within the octave of Christmas
31 Dec 2015 – 7th day within the octave of Christmas
1 Jan 2016 – Mary, Mother of God – Solemnity
Posted in Advent, Christmas Day, Christmas Eve, Housekeeping, Sunday, Weekday
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For your easy reference, the following is a list of weeks and years with their corresponding date:
20 Dec 2015 – 4th Sunday of Advent Year C
21 Dec 2015 – 21 December – Season of Advent
22 Dec 2015 – 22 December – Season of Advent
23 Dec 2015 – 23 December – Season of Advent
24 Dec 2015 – Christmas Eve – Midnight Mass
25 Dec 2015 – Christmas Day – Mass During the Day
As humans, I believe most of us long or desire for peace, peace not only in our families, society and the world, but also peace in ourselves. But the reality is that we live in a world where conflicts and misunderstandings are becoming part and parcel of life. As time goes by, we seem to see more and more violence, hatred and wars, as well as problems occurring not only in society but also in our own families. Some of us may start to think that peace is only a dream or an illusion, and that peace can never be attained.
But let us ask ourselves sincerely: Do we really understand what peace means? Peace is not merely an absence of violence and conflict. Peace is possible even in the midst of conflict, since peace is not only what we experience externally but something that must take root in our hearts. If there is no peace in our hearts, we can never experience peace outside of ourselves. We experience conflict in our hearts, simply because we constantly want to have things according to our ways, in other words, we want to be in control. The problem with wanting things according to our ways is that sometimes we are never in control of the situation. When we don’t get things our way, we become unhappy and won’t have peace in our hearts. The only way in which we can find peace is to allow God to take control of our lives. In the second reading, we are reminded of Christ, who came to obey the will of God the Father. When we come to realise that God’s ways are not our ways, and we are willing to surrender our lives to God, then we will have peace in our hearts.
So how do we start having or initiating peace? One way could be found in today’s Gospel: by offering and accepting hospitality. When we offer hospitality to one another just like Mary and Elizabeth offered hospitality and friendship to one another, peace takes place. It is when we refuse to offer hospitality to another person or when we refuse the hospitality given by another person that causes the lack of peace. We don’t need to accomplish great things or wait for great events that cause peace to take place. Peace can be a possibility today, when we are willing give or receive a simple word of encouragement, a kind act, a loving offer of help. Peace begins when each and every one of us believe we can make a difference, beginning with ourselves, and we are humble and willing to let the Lord be our help and guide, since as the first reading reminds us: “He himself will be peace.”
Some of us may feel overwhelmed, thinking that we are only one person. What can one person do, some may ask. What is important to note here is that we should not worry or fret. We can make a difference, especially when we allow God to take control of our lives, when we are willing to surrender our lives to Him. When we do this, we will find peace, peace even in the midst of problems and difficulties. As we prepare to welcome Jesus, our Prince of Peace, this coming Christmas, may we continue to depend on God’s care and providence, and experience true peace only He can give.
For your easy reference, the following is a list of weeks and years with their corresponding date:
13 Dec 2015 – 3rd Sunday of Advent Year C
14 Dec 2015 – Monday of the 3rd Week of Advent
15 Dec 2015 – Tuesday of the 3rd Week of Advent
16 Dec 2015 – Wednesday of the 3rd Week of Advent
17 Dec 2015 – 17 December – Season of Advent
18 Dec 2015 – 18 December – Season of Advent
Christmas is soon to come and many of us may be increasingly joyful, hopefully not because of the gifts we may soon receive, nor because of the delicious food and drink we may soon savour and enjoy, but because the Lord is very near and our salvation is near. This is emphasised by St. Paul in the second reading, where he tells us: “I want you to be happy, always happy in the Lord; I repeat, what I want is your happiness. Let your tolerance be evident to everyone: the Lord is very near.” Waiting for the coming of Lord does not mean we should sit around being idle or lazy, but we need to take action and experience a conversion. The different groups of people in today’s Gospel had asked John the Baptist what they must do, and he told them and us too, that we must share with those who are needy; be just and fair in our dealings; refrain from intimidation and extortion to acquire what we want; and be satisfied with what we have. This means that, while we await the coming of Christ, we should not be aloof, selfish or greedy and think only of ourselves or our own needs and wants. Instead, we as Christians are called to put others first before ourselves.
But sometimes, some of us find it difficult to be generous or to share. We are reluctant to share, possibly because we are worried that there may be not enough for us. This is where St. Paul once again reminds us “that there is no need for worry; but if there is anything you need, pray for it, asking God for it with prayer and thanksgiving, and that peace of God, which is so much greater than we can understand, will guard your hearts and your thoughts, in Christ Jesus.” This means that God will take care of us and be our providence, and we will always have enough, since God can fulfil our every heart’s desire, fill the emptiness in our hearts, and satisfy our deepest longings. Only God can be our source of eternal joy.
Let us therefore allow God to fill our lives with His love, joy and peace. In the first reading, the prophet Zephaniah reminds us that our God is “a victorious warrior. He will exult with joy over you, he will renew you by his love; he will dance with shouts of joy for you as on a day of festival.” When we let God be the center of our lives, nothing can take away the joy of being his son and daughter. Let us also bring this joy to all that we meet, so that all may know true joy and give praise to God.
For your easy reference, the following is a list of weeks and years with their corresponding date:
6 Dec 2015 – 2nd Sunday of Advent Year C
7 Dec 2015 – Monday of the 2nd Week of Advent
8 Dec 2015 – The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Solemnity
9 Dec 2015 – Wednesday of the 2nd Week of Advent
10 Dec 2015 – Thursday of the 2nd Week of Advent
11 Dec 2015 – Friday of the 2nd Week of Advent
There are some among us who have used the words “happiness” and “joy” so often, that the meaning may have become lost in translation. There is actually a huge difference between joy and happiness. You can experience joy without feeling happy, but you can’t experience happiness without being joyful. Happiness is a feeling that changes with the emotions we have in a day, but joy is a constant state of being that we choose. Happiness is an outward expression of a feeling we have inside, while joy is an inward peace and contentment that expresses itself through our responses and reactions. So, though we may be experiencing trials and sufferings in our faith life, we can still experience true or perfect joy, which we also call as Christian joy, since as the second reading tells us, God “who began this good work in you will see that it is finished when the Day of Christ Jesus comes.” It is a joy based on what God can do instead of what we can achieve.
Christian joy is a choice, a decision based on faith and hope, knowing that God will not abandon us, no matter what happens. God did not promise us an easy life, but that He will be with us at all times, and God is faithful to what He has promised. In today’s Gospel, we read the fulfillment of one such promise, where “All mankind shall see the salvation of God.” Jesus is the salvation of God, promised from of old and He is the source of our joy and our hope. If we believe that Jesus is our salvation, then we should remain joyful, and not live lives as if we are defeated or victims of tragedy. Though we may have undergone failure, experienced pain, disappointment, challenges and encountered all sorts of other difficulties or problems, our joy lies in knowing that God has won the victory for us. We may not see the signs of God’s victory at the moment, but it is there. This is God’s promise and He is always faithful.
So we cannot just sit down and sulk or do nothing. We must do our part. We must prepare a way for the Lord, by having a conversion in our lives. St. Paul in the second reading prays that “your love for each other may increase more and more and never stop improving your knowledge and deepening your perception so that you can always recognise what is best. This will help you to become pure and blameless, and prepare you for the Day of Christ, when you will reach the perfect goodness which Jesus Christ produces in us for the glory and praise of God.” This too should be our prayer. May we grow and become ever more joyful in the Lord, and share this joy with all we meet.
For your easy reference, the following is a list of weeks and years with their corresponding date:
29 Nov 2015 – 1st Sunday of Advent Year C
30 Nov 2015 – Saint Andrew, Apostle – Feast
1 Dec 2015 – Tuesday of the 1st Week of Advent
2 Dec 2015 – Wednesday of the 1st Week of Advent
3 Dec 2015 – Saint Francis Xavier, Priest – Patron of Missions – Feast
4 Dec 2015 – Friday of the 1st Week of Advent
Every year, many of us would celebrate the new year to remember and give thanks to God for all the blessings of the past year and also take the opportunity to pray for a good year ahead. But today’s readings and Gospel seems to give us a different way of how Christians should celebrate the new year. What is this different way all about? This different way is that we celebrate the new year not by looking to the past or to the following year but to focus on the end of time or on the end of the world. It seems strange for us to focus on the end of time, so why should we do so, since some may find the end of time a not-so-pleasant topic?
Today’s Gospel appears to give us a frightening picture of the end of the world: “There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars; on earth nations in agony, bewildered by the clamour of the ocean and its waves; men dying of fear as they await what menaces the world, for the powers of heaven will be shaken.” For some, such natural disasters may seem scary or frightening, but science has shown us that such natural disasters mean that the earth is growing and evolving, which are signs of life instead of death. Planets that no longer have such natural disasters like earthquakes, storms, or volcanoes have no life, in other words, they are dead. Jesus gives us examples of such natural disasters to describe the end of the world and tell us that something new is about to take place. This means that, from this point of view, we should see the end of the world as a celebration of hope instead of fear.
Some of us may be wondering: when and how will all these take place? When and how is not important, but what we should do in preparation for such an event should be our focus. To begin with, even if there is confusion in our lives, even if things don’t go according to plan, nobody should lose heart, as Jesus reminds us: “When these things begin to take place, stand erect, hold your heads high, because your liberation is near at hand.” Also, we may be tempted to run away or look for excuses or other solutions when faced with problems and challenges in the world, but we should instead watch ourselves and stay alert and ready, as Jesus reminds us: “Watch yourselves, or your hearts will be coarsened with debauchery and drunkenness and the cares of life, and that day will be sprung on you suddenly, like a trap.” Moreover, we must “stay awake and pray.” This means that we must take our spiritual growth seriously, as St. Paul in the second reading urges each and every one of us to continue growing in our faith life.
So what does this mean to us? It means that we cannot rest on our laurels and think that we have plenty of time to grow closer to God. Instead, we should be consistent and persistent in our efforts to grow in our spiritual life and in our relationship with God and with others, as St. Paul advises us in the second reading: “We urge you and appeal to you in the Lord Jesus to make more and more progress in the kind of life that you are meant to live: the life that God wants, as you learnt from us, and as you are already living it.” May we do our best and stay alert and prepared, with hope and confidence that God will be our providence and guide.
For your easy reference, the following is a list of weeks and years with their corresponding date:
22 Nov 2015 – Christ the King Year B
23 Nov 2015 – Monday of Week 34 Year 1
24 Nov 2015 – Tuesday of Week 34 Year 1
25 Nov 2015 – Wednesday of Week 34 Year 1
26 Nov 2015 – Thursday of Week 34 Year 1
27 Nov 2015 – Friday of Week 34 Year 1