Daily Catholic Reflection: Saturday, April 5, 2025, Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent

LENT SERIES DAY 32: SATURDAY OF THE 4TH WEEK OF LENT (The Purpose of Receiving the Eucharist) (https://youtu.be/L52EpfJDWrE)

Jer 11:18-20

Ps 7:2-3, 9bc-10, 11-12

Jn 7:40-53                     Full Readings

Saint Vincent Ferrer

Nobody Has Ever Spoken Like Jesus

Brethren, today's readings continue with the theme of rejection, abandonment, and passing wrong judgement. Though the time for Jesus to be arrested has not come, these readings point to us the reality that Jesus will be rejected, abandoned, even betrayed by his own disciples and then judged and sentenced to death unjustly. They also show us that, as Christians who speak in the name of God, we can have such experiences, and therefore we must stand firm in faith until we reach our destiny.

Daily Catholic Reflection: April 4, 2025, Friday of the Fourth Week of Lent

 

LENT SERIES DAY 31: FRIDAY OF THE 4TH WEEK OF LENT (Obligation to Receive Eucharist During Easter) (youtube.com)

Wis 2:1a, 12-22

Ps 34:17-18, 19-20, 21, 23

Jn 7:1-2, 10, 25-30                     Full Readings

Saint Isidore of Seville

Familiarity Tempts

Sometimes, the more familiar we are with someone, the harder it is to actually see their goodness and the presence of God in their lives. Often, we are tempted to look at them and presume we “know all about them.” As a result, what we can often do is simply highlight their faults and weaknesses in our minds and see them only through the lens of these faults and weaknesses.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Friday, March 28, 2025, Friday of the Third Week of Lent

 

LENT SERIES DAY 24: FRIDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF LENT (Almsgiving) (https://youtu.be/lplASeORG1E) 

Hos 14:2-10

Ps 81:6c-8a, 8bc-9, 10-11ab, 14 and 17

Mk 12:28-34                         Full Readings

Saint Catherine of Bologna

Challenges to the Greatest Commandment

When Jesus was asked by the Scribe of which the greatest commandment is, Jesus replies with an impeccable Rabbinic answer, bringing together two texts from different books of the Bible. First is Deuteronomy 6.5, recited by every faithful Jew three times a day, ‘And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, mind and strength’, as straightforward a priority as you could wish. But the exciting thing about the answer is that Jesus couples that with another text from Leviticus 19.18, ‘And you shall love your neighbour as yourself’. The command is not new, but it is only staggering that Jesus puts it on a level with the love for God. By this he clearly states the greatest commandment: love for God with our whole being and love for neighbour as we love ourselves. But this greatest commandment faces some challenges today. 

Daily Catholic Reflection: Thursday, March 27, 2025, Thursday of the Third Week of Lent

LENT SERIES DAY 23: THURSDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF LENT (Fasting According to God's Instructions) (https://youtu.be/cP7nU1CjDvs) 

Jer 7:23-28

PS 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9

Lk 11:14-23                Full Readings

Saint Gregory of Narek

Listening to God's Voice

Dear brethren, listening is a virtue in itself, for it is only when we listen that we can learn and understand. Listening to the voice of God keeps us informed, wise, and safe. Rebellious people never listen because they are stubborn. The Lord rejects those who harden their hearts and rebuff His voice, but He blesses those who listen and adhere to His voice. Today, God calls us to believe in Him and to gather with Him. Let us therefore heed the voice of God and lead holy lives as a people. The Jews in the first reading did not heed the voice of God and what he was telling them, and finally their temple was destroyed, and many were taken to exile. “O that today you would listen to His voice, harden not your hearts!

Daily Catholic Reflection: Sunday, March 23, 2025, Third Sunday of Lent Year C

LENT SERIES DAY 19: THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT (When Should I Pray/When Should we Pray?) (https://youtu.be/XajuH2eT8Oc) 

Exodus 3:1-8a, 13-15

Psalm 103: 1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8, 11.

1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12

Luke 13:1-9                   Full Readings

Saint Turibius of Mogrojevo

God's Second Chances

 In the First Reading, we continue to review some of the most important moments in the history of salvation. Last week, we heard the story of how God elevated one of his promises to Abram to a covenant: Abram would become the father of a great nation. This week, we learn about God’s plan to save the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob from slavery in Egypt and lead them to the land promised to Abram. When Moses asks God what his name is, God responds: “I am who am” (Exodus 3:14). This name reveals something about God’s nature as well as his fidelity. He is without beginning or end. He is eternal and the creator of all that exists. He will be there for his children and accompany Moses on the mission to save his people. God is faithful to his covenant promises and wills that through Abraham’s descendant, all people can enjoy the merciful blessing of the forgiveness of their sins and become his sons and daughters.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Friday, March 21, 2025, Friday of the Second Week of Lent

 

LENT SERIES DAY 17: FRIDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF LENT (How can we pray better during this lent?) (https://youtu.be/-eKX2Hn3bmo) 

Gn 37:3-4, 12-13a, 17b-28a

Ps 105:16-17, 18-19, 20-21

Mt 21:33-43, 45-46                       Full Readings

Blessed John of Parma

Using Our Talents for the Kingdom

Brethren, the Patriarch Joseph, presented in the first reading, was a dreamer. He incurred the wrath of his brothers by telling them his dreams and because their father showed him greater love than he showed them. They retaliated by selling him into slavery. Jesus incurred the wrath of his fellow Jews because he was the Son of God and told them so. They retaliated by getting him crucified. Great good came out of the evil done to Joseph and Jesus. God used Joseph to save his people from famine. The same God used the death of Jesus for the salvation of the world. That is what always happens when we are made to suffer unjustly, and we refuse to respond with hatred or bitterness. God always writes straight on crooked lines.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Thursday, March 20, 2025, Thursday of the Second Week of Lent

LENT SERIES DAY 16: THURSDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF LENT (How can we pray better during this lent?) (youtube.com)

Jer 17:5-10

Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6

Lk 16:19-31                             Full Readings

Saint Salvator of Hortza

Desire Charity in Your Richness

Brethren, what would you prefer: to be rich only physically and miss heaven, or to be rich spiritually and attain eternal life? In the Gospel reading today, we are presented with the contrast of the rich man and Lazarus. The rich man enjoyed life here on earth with his riches without thinking of the others, while Lazarus suffered and even longed to eat from the leftovers of the rich man, which the rich man refused him. When they died, Lazarus attained eternal life and the rich man eternal fire. The only happiness the rich had was here on earth—the happiness that did not last. Let us endeavour to look for everlasting happiness by enriching our spiritual life.