Acts 8.5-8, 14-17・ Ps. 66.1+2+4,5+9,16+17・ 1 Peter 3.15-14・ John 14.15-21 Today, we may be sharing about an overlapping themes for the Solemnity of the Ascension and that of the Pentecost Sunday celebration. The three-fold dimension of our faith, which will be further emphasized three (3) weeks after as we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, is the closest conclusion we can have to these overlapping themes. The theme is about Jesus returning to the Father

Acts 6.1-7・ Ps. 6. 1-7・1 Peter 2.4-9・ John 14.1-12 Today we continue to reflect on how the Apostles and the first disciples of Jesus worked together in proclaiming the Word of God. The proclamation of the Word of God that was spread wide was brought about by their faith in the Risen Christ intensified by their enthusiasm and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Their belief in Jesus who is fully identified to the Father freed them from worry and doubt, a freedom that eventually l

Acts 2.14a, 36-41・Ps 23. 2+3, 4, 5, 6・１Peter 2. 20b-25・Jn 10.1-10 For long years in our church`s life, we have considered “serving the community” as each one's calling through baptism. By becoming members of Christian Community, we are being called to take specific roles for our respective communities. Some others are called to serve other communities too, going beyond race and culture. To be able to serve through leadership for example is indeed a gift, for not all

Acts 2. 14, 22-33・ Ps 16. 8, 10, 11・1 Peter 1. 17-21・Luke 24. 13-35 The Acts of the Apostles generally talks about Jesus' disciples proclaiming the Resurrection of Jesus. Our first reading talks about the Resurrection of Jesus as a sign of God's love. The love of God frees Jesus from the eternal death condition. We rely on the story of His disciples who we consider as the first witnesses of Jesus ministry, passion, death and resurrection. Our generation responds by living

Acts 2.42-47・Ps 118. 1＋2, 16+17, 22+23・1 Peter 1. 3-9・Jn 20. 19-31 We Catholics worldwide celebrate the Feast of the Divine Mercy for more than 20 years now. With thankful heart, ours is always a celebration of the Divine forgiveness and Divine mercy. These divine forgiveness and divine mercy bind us to Him (Christ) and so we too become forgiving and merciful. First Reading : The first apostles of Christ continued to spread the teachings of Jesus. The believers and followers

Acts 10.34, 37-43・Ps 118.1-2, 16-17, 22-23・Col 3.1-4・Jn 20.1-9 Happy Easter to all. The abundance of God`s grace has brought us this far in depicting the image of the Cross as an entry into glory for those who believe in Him (Jesus, the Christ) like us. We all find real meaning of our faith through the entry of Jesus to glory (the Resurrection). Indeed our faith is deeply rooted in the Resurrection of Jesus. Just as His disciples, who were once silent and paralyzed because o

Matthew 21.1-11・ Isaiah 50.4-7・Psalm 22.8+9,17+18, 19+20, 2+24・Philippians 2.6-11・Matthew 27.11-54 We have prayed together during our previous Sunday Masses for those who will be baptized on Easter Vigil mass. We all tried to understand our previous readings in the context of our Baptism. For the catechumenate, it is more in the context of their prayerful anticipation of what will they receive. We learnt from the teachings of Jesus to really listen to His words, repent and li

Ezekiel 37.12-14・Ps.130.1+2, 5+6, 7a+8・Romans 8.8-11・John 11.3-7, 17, 20-27, 33b-45 Today is Fifth Sunday of Lent. We have in our Mass today the last of the three special prayer intention for Adult Christian Initiation. As we come closer to our Holy Week liturgy, we continue to pray together for and with the candidates for Baptism, and together find encouragements amidst realities in human living. At this point of our Lenten reflection on the Passion & Death of Jesus, we ta

1 Samuel 16.1b,6-7,10-13a・Ps 23.2+3, 5, 6・Eph. 5.8-14・Jn 9.1-41 Today is the fourth Sunday of Lent. In today`s Mass, we offer the second of the three special prayer rites for Adult Christian Initiation. We continue to pray that they may find both the best time and conducive atmosphere to deepen their relationship with God as they start to embrace Christian living. Fourth Sunday of Lent is also called “Laetare Sunday” (Sunday of Rejoice – 喜びの主日). We rejoice because the abundan

Ex 17.3-7・Ps 95. 1+2, 5+6, 7+8・Rom 5.1-2, 5-8・John 4.5-12 Today is the Third Sunday of Lent. We come to Church today and these coming weeks before Easter with our prayer intentions for those who will be receiving the Sacrament of Baptism on Easter Vigil Mass. A short reading from the book of Exodus today talks about the instruction of the Lord to Moses as a response both (1) to the complaint of the people to him (to Moses) regarding insufficient water to drink for themselves,

Gen 1-4a・ Psalm 33.4+5, 12+13, 20+21・ 2 Timothy 1.8b-10・Matthew17.1-9 A very important moment in the relationship between Jesus and His disciples is the moment when His disciples are able to recognize that Jesus aside from simply being their Teacher, is the Christ, the Savior, and expected Messiah of Israel. Another important moment in their relationship is the moment (faith at stake) when Jesus started informing them that their Teacher (He Himself), the Messiah they have ful

Genesis 2.7-9,3.1-7・ Psalm 51.3+4, 5+6cd,12+13・Romans 5.12-19・Matthew 4.1-11 Praying, fasting, and almsgiving are central acts for the devout Jews. These acts are proper for us Christians too especially during the season of Lent. Following our liturgical calendar for this year, Ash Wednesday falls on February 18, while Passion Sunday falls on March 29. Paschal Triduum follows on the next Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. During the season of Lent, there is emphasis on the i

Sirach 15.16-20・Psalm 119.1+2a+3b,17+18・ 1 Corinthians 2.6-10・Matthew 5.17-37 Given that freedom is truly a big deal in the whole world, each nation and every one seeks for freedom. And when one finds it, it is like a treasure that we are ready to fight for, and really promise never again to many and different forms of oppression. World history, including the recent past of many nations and recent experiences of many individuals too, can speak so widely of both freedom and su

Isaiah 58.7-10・Psalm 112.4, 6・1 Corinthians 2.1-5・Matthew 5.13-16 Today`s readings help us understand better what it means to be Jesus` followers. With a gospel reading that immediately follows from the gospel reading last week (the Sermon in the Mount re.Beatitudes), we ought to realize that “the Beatitudes well lived” means “seen and felt blessedness” by others. We are therefore reminded that the blessedness of Jesus` authentic follower is not just for one self. Jesus, in

Zephaniah 2.3, 3.12-13・ Psalm 146.1+2+10a,6c+7,8ac+9bc・1 Corinthians 1.26-31・ Matthew 5.1-12a Indeed, each one`s outlook in life , or the way one sees, understand and judges things differs and definitely depends on how we go through life in this world . It (one`s outlook in life) may either be so well influenced by what this world offers , by whatever we have around , by whatever we want to have (motive・purpose) and to be . In today`s readings however, each and every one o

Isaiah 8.23b – 9.3・Psalm 27.1,4,13+14・1 Cor. 1.10-13,17・Matthew 4.12-23 From several years ago we have been observing the 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time as The Word of God Sunday. This yearly observance of The Word of God Sunday aims at encouraging each one of us to read the Bible, helping each one to focus more on listening to the readings of the sacred scriptures during mass. The liturgy of the Word has been an important part of Mass. Today we ought to emphasize about “God

Isaiah 49.3,5-6・Psalm 40.2+4ab,6,10・ 1 Corinthians 1.1-3・John 1.29-34 On this 2 nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, we are being led to reflect on our individual vocation. It will be another beautiful thing if we will also be able to include pondering upon the vocation of every small and big families, and church/parish communities. We are at the same time being reminded that our individual and communal vocation must of course be well-founded in God`s salvific mission. We have to

Isaiah 42.1-4, 6-7・Psalm29.1+2, 3+4, 9c+10+11 ・Acts 10.34-38・ Matthew 3.13-17 It is a week long period right after the feast of the Epiphany in our Year A Church Calendar that we commemorate the Baptism of our Lord. Jesus gets baptized by John in the river of Jordan. As Jesus comes out of the water, the Holy Spirit comes down like a dove while God the Father speaks from heaven and calls Jesus His beloved Son (Matthew 3.16). Our reflection today centers therefore on who Jes

Isaiah 60. 1-6・Psalm 72..2+4, 7+8, 10+11, 12+13・Ephesians 3. 2、3b、5-6・ Matthew 2. 1-12 We celebrate today Jesus being made known to the world so we consider today's celebration as a feast of the Epiphany of our Lord. We remember today the visit of the Magi (the three wise men) who travelled from far away to find the new born Jesus. There was a mention of a star that they followed to find where Jesus was. The visit of the Magi symbolizes some things we can reflect upon. The

Sirach 3.2-6,12-14・Psalm 128.2+3ab3cd+5+6a ・ Colossians 3.12-21・ Matthew 2.13-15,19-23 After Christmas Day, we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family. Taking the Holy Family (Jesus Mary & Joseph) as a model family, we are all resolved that family life is a beautiful thing and is a vocation. Each family is called to Holiness in many and different ways. The parents take the responsibility to take care of and protect the children. Our readings today talk about honoring/respect