DO NOT GET WEARY IN PRAYER

We have completed two major seasons in our Church’s Liturgical Calendar this year – the seasons of Lent and Easter - which ended with the Solemnity of Pentecost Sunday on 23 May 2021. We now continue with weeks in Ordinary Time (8th Week) once again, starting with two brand new celebrations in the Church’s liturgy - the Memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church (Monday after Pentecost Day) and the feast of Our Lord Jesus, the Eternal High Priest (Thursday after Pentecost). This season of Ordinary Time will stretch till the 34th Week in Ordinary Time (27 November) before we start the seasons of Advent and Christmastide. The Lectionary for the Holy Eucharistic celebration will continue with Weekday Lectionary 2021 for the Cycle Year One and Sunday Lectionary readings for the Cycle Year B.

Over the next few weeks, we will celebrate several great feasts and solemnities - The Most Holy Trinity (Sunday, 30 May), the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Monday, 31 May) with the closing of the month of the Rosary, the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ or Corpus Christi (Sunday, 6 June), the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (Friday, 11 June) and the Solemnity of the Nativity of St John the Baptist (Thursday, 24 June).

 

Throughout the month of May, we have been faithfully praying the Rosary. Pope Francis invited Catholics throughout the world to dedicate this Rosary month praying for an end to the pandemic. Many of our Parishioners have joined various online platforms praying the Rosary virtually. We have been facing this COVID-19 pandemic for more than a year now, and we should continue to pray for the frontliners, for patients who are affected with the virus, as well as for our own protection against this deadly virus. We should not get weary in prayer, and do not forget to pray for them and as well as for ourselves (cf. Col 4: 2-3).

 

We will be entering into the month of June in a few days. The Holy Father’s intention is to focus on the Beauty of Marriage - inviting us to pray for all young couples who are preparing for their Sacrament of Marriage. Since the pandemic started, the Catholic Marriage Preparation Course (CMPC) has been conducted online. Many of our CMPC presenters and participants find it difficult to fully engage during online lessons, however these virtual classes will have to continue for an indefinite period of time.

 

Presently, we hear of, and see more and more young married couples getting divorced or going separate ways when problems crop up in their marriage. They give up easily instead, rather than to fight for or work on their marriage. Every marriage has its ups and downs, and couples must remember to decide every day to love one another, and include God in everything they do. During the month of June, let’s keep on praying for the Holy Father’s intention, especially for our young married couples - to live a decidedly happy married life, and “grow in love, generosity, faithfulness and patience.”

 

In this time of trial, let us continue to strive in prayer life and constantly set our eyes on nothing except Jesus Our Lord, the Eternal High Priest. May the Holy Spirit continue to strengthen and deepen our faith. “Therefore, take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm,” (Eph 6:31).