Daily Catholic Reflection: November 1, 2020, Solemnity of All Saints, Year A

Reading 1: RV 7:2-4, 9-14

Responsorial Psalm: PS 24:1BC-2, 3-4AB, 5-6

Reading 2: 1 JN 3:1-3

Gospel: MT 5:1-12A                                  Full Readings

Solemnity of All Saints

 Living the Beatitudes

Today we celebrate all Saints Day, the people who are living in heaven ever praising God and giving him glory in the company of the Angels. These are the people, as we see in the first reading from the book of Revelation, who went under every and different kinds of persecution in this world and washed their robes and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb. For that matter they are enjoying eternal life in heaven with God.

Daily Catholic Reflection: October 31, 2020, Saturday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time, Year A

Philippians1:18b-26,

Psalm 42:2.3.5,

Luke 14:1.7-11 Full Readings

Saint Wolfgang of Regensburg

 Let Others Exalt You 

Brethren, Shame is an emotion which only those who are well-off can afford; the destitute cannot afford it! Today’s gospel text teaches us about simple etiquette. Jesus tells us that no one takes honour upon himself, but other people, seeing how worthy and humble you are, give you the honour you deserve. It also speaks to us about how we understand positions of authority. You do not assume positions of authority because you feel your status should earn you such positions, we should wait a little and reflect, anyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and anyone who humbles himself will be exalted.

Daily Catholic Reflection: October 30, 2020, Friday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time, Year A.

Philippians 1:1 - 11,

Psalm 111: lb-2.3-4.5-6,

Luke 14: 1-6 Full Readings

Saint Alphonsus Rodriguez

 Love Over the Law

The beginning of the Letter of St Paul to the Philippians is so instructive. It reflects the concern and love every Bishop and priest of the Church ought to have for God’s people. This responsibility of love and concern does not end with Priests, it comes down to the parents and children in the family, teachers and leaders, and in fact, everyone who has the responsibility of caring for others. The question Jesus asked the lawyer and the Pharisees in today’s gospel about healing on the Sabbath and his subsequent healing miracle is one of care and concern he has for a suffering person. He also puts the same question before all of us today. What act of love and concern can you do today? Jesus invites us to join him in healing our world of hatred, pain, neglect, indifference, slander and disunity.

Daily Catholic Reflection: October 29, 2020: Thursday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time, Year A.

 

Ephesians 6: 10-20,

Psalm 144: 1.2.9-10,

Luke 13:3l-35 Full Readings

Saint Narcissus of Jerusalem

 The Spiritual Battle

Brethren, St Paul in the first reading tells us, we should not and we ought not to struggle and fight against human enemies, we are wasting our time by doing that, the battle we should fight is the spiritual battle, a battle against the sovereignties, principalities and the powers who originate darkness in the world, that is, the spiritual army of evil, Satan being the army commander. If we fight and win this battle, we have victory over everything, even enmity for it is the evil that brings this enmity.

Daily Catholic Reflection: October 28, 2020, Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles, Year A

Ephesians 2:19-22,

Psalm 19:1-2.3-4,

Luke 6:12-19 Full Readings

Saints Simon and Jude

 Saints Simon and Jude Pray for Us

The scripture tells us little about Simon the Zealot and Jude who was also called Thaddaeus. Jude is the patron saint of lost and desperate causes. Put together we can understand the zeal with which they followed Christ in his earthly ministry. And beyond that, think of the persecution they faced after the Ascension. Our Christian Journey is decorated with trials, temptation and persecution but we must take courage from those who have gone before us in faith, to understand that there is a crown of unfading glory awaiting us. Jesus Christ our Lord and master have gone through the worst case scenario. So we know that not only do we participate in Christ’s suffering, we share in his glory. As we celebrate the feast of Saints Simon and Jude we pray for strength and courage to live a holy life. May these saints continue to intercede for us.

Daily Catholic Reflection: October 27, 2020, Tuesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time, Year A

Ephesians5:21-33,

Psalm 128:1-2.3.4.5,

Luke 13: 15-21 Full Readings

Blessed Bartholomew of Vicenza

 The Reality of the Kingdom of God. 

St Paul exhorts the people to observe love and fidelity in marriage as very important to the understanding of the union between Christ and the Church. He points out the marriage couple which lives in the kingdom of God. A husband and wife imitate Christ in his love and fidelity for the church. They leave their own respective families to form a new unit where they give each other in unconditional love and fidelity. They are no longer two, but one flesh just as Christ is one with the Church and loves her unconditionally. In such a family of love there is mutual respect, spirit of sacrifice and stronger faith in God. St Paul’s exhortations are relevant for our times more than ever.

Daily Catholic Reflection: October 26, 2020, Monday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time, Year A

Ephesians 4: 32-5 :8,

Psalm l :1-2.3.4,

Luke 13:10-17 Full Readings

Saint Peter of Alcantara

 God's Mercy has no Rest

In today's readings, we learn that jealousy can really blind us both spiritually and physically. This is the case of the synagogue official who saw the glory of God at work but refused to acknowledge it and glorify God because he was full of himself, perhaps because of his mastery of the law. Jesus shows us, through his actions and words, why we should do good at all times, reach out in love, compassion and kindness to the needy, to follow the spirit of the law, and not to be blind to the needs of our neighbour. We shall never treat with disdain the effects of the work of God in others, but rather, glorify God in his might and glory.

Daily Catholic Reflection: October 25, 2020, Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time , Year A

 

Exodus 22:21-27,

Psalm 18:2-3a.3bc-4.47,

1 Thessalonians 1:5c-10,

Matthew 22:34-40 Full Readings

Saint Antônio de Sant’Anna Galvão

 Every Law Hangs on Love

In today's Gospel, Jesus presents to us the greatest commandment on which all other laws hang. Jesus teaches us today that among all the commandments, love of God and love of neighbours is the greatest commandment, and on this love do all laws hang. How would it be if all the laws right away from our individual decisions, family laws up to national and international level were centred in love? Of course, there would be no all the wicked things and actions we see in today's world.

Daily Catholic Reflection: October 24, 2020: Saturday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time, Year A.

Ephesians 4:7-16,

Psalm 122:1-2.3-4ab.4cd-5,

Luke 13: 1-9 Full Readings 

Saint Anthony Mary Claret

 The Second Chance. 

In today's Gospel Jesus gives a parable of a man who had a fig tree and had come for fruits for three years but he couldn't get any fruit. At this moment he had come to cut it but his servant told him to leave it for another year while he gives it fertiliser and tills it and if it doesn't give fruit, it will be cut. The man gives the tree a second chance.

Daily Catholic Reflection: October 23, 2020: Friday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time, year A.

Ephesians 4:1-6,

Psalm 24: 1-2.3-4ab.5-6,

Luke l2:54-59 Full Readings

Saint John of Capistrano

 Interpreting Our World Today.

 Brethren, Our ability to interpret the climatic changes and changes in the sky should also make us able to interpret what is going on in the world today, in social, Spiritual, emotional, moral, sexual, intellectual and other arenas. This is the challenge that Jesus gives us today in the Gospel reading. To interpret our world today we need to remain standing firm for the truth and withhold all the Christian teachings which are centred on Christ teachings. In other words, we should be guided by the Christian values.

Daily Catholic Reflection, October 22, 2020, Thursday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time, Year A

Ephesians 3 :14-21,

Psalm 33 : I-2.4—5.11- 12.18-19,

Luke 12:49-53 Full Readings

Saint John Paul II

 The Effect of the Gospel 

Today's Gospel is quite shocking. How can Jesus who is the prince of peace, a spear header of unity among the people, say that he didn't come to bring peace on earth but fire and division among families.  And without apology! He doesn't even say ‘I am afraid there may sometimes be disagreements in the family’. Rather, ‘I have come to bring disagreements in the family’. To make things worse, in Judaism the family is the basic unit which sticks together through thick and thin.

Daily Catholic Reflection: October 21, 2020, Wednesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time, Year A.

Ephesians 3:2- 12,

PSALM  Isaiah 12:2-3.4bcde.5-6,

Luke 12:39-48 Full Readings

Saint Hilarion

 Uncertainty of the Last Day 

Dear brethren, The last Judgement on the Last day is real, it will come as a thief comes at night. Be alert! The eschatological discourse of Luke continues to build, telling us about the need for our preparedness for the coming of God’s kingdom. We have here the stylistic Lukan analogy of master and servant relationship and punishment to paint a picture of judgement, heaven and hell. When the master will come is judgement day, and the banquet with the master is heaven, and condemnation is hell. If we know when judgement will befall us, we shall be prepared in waiting, but unfortunately this knowledge is far from us. There will be total condemnation for those who heard the urgency of this coming, yet are unprepared. Those who have the will but no action to implement the master’s command will be punished, and those who are ignorant, will be given a lighter punishment. What category do you belong to? Of course we belong to the ones who know about the coming to this day, we know what is expected of us and how we should be prepared for that day. We have been given much and much is expected of us.

Daily Catholic Reflection: October 20, 2020, Tuesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time, Year A

Ephesians 2 : 12-22,

Ps 85 :9ab and  10.11-12.13-14,

Luke 12:35-38 Full Readings

Saint Paul of the Cross, Blesseds Daudi Okelo and Jildo Irwa

 Are you ready to open for Jesus?

Beloved brethren, St Paul tells us in the first reading that through the Holy Spirit, we have been made citizens and vessels of God’s dwelling. It is however imperative for us to have our lamps lit and be as alert as citizens so that when the owner of the vessel comes he will find us awake and worthy. This eschatological tone of the gospel tells us of the urgency of God’s kingdom. Our lighted lamps simply represent a state of righteousness and awareness of the urgency of the coming of the master (God). He may come at any time and, when he does come, will he find us righteous enough to sit at table with him in the heavenly banquet?

If the Lord Jesus knocked on your door today would you be ready and eager to receive him? He wants us to be prepared for his coming - today, tomorrow, at the hour of our departure from this life (our death), and when he comes again at the end of this present world to reward those who have believed in him - the only begotten Son of the Father in heaven who was sent to deliver us from sin and death. The Lord Jesus calls to us each and every day. He says, *"Listen! I am standing and knocking at your door. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and we will eat together"* (Revelation 3:20).

Be watchful and ready to serve the Lord when he calls. Jesus told his followers a parable from everyday life that illustrated the necessity of being prepared to open the door at once when the Master of the house knocks and calls for his servants to let him in. Doors in the ancient world were often bolted from the inside, especially at night, to keep out thieves and troublemakers. Servants who knew their master's voice were expected to be vigilant and prepared to unbolt the door and let him in without a moment's delay. This required a listening ear and attentive spirit that could block out other noises and distractions. If the servants refused to answer the door or delayed too long, they could expect a rebuke or punishment from the master.

The Lord and Master serves us. But Jesus' story adds an unexpected reward for those who open at once - even in the middle of the night when everyone is fast asleep. The master who returns from a wedding feast to his home late at night does the unthinkable when his servants greet him at the door. He puts on a servant's uniform and apron and seats his servants at his own table. And then - to their astonishment no doubt - the master himself waits on his servants at table by serving them his choice food and drink. Jesus' parable turns the world's way of thinking upside-down. The master rewards his faithful servants by serving them himself with the best provision, care, and service he can offer.

The Lord loves faithfulness. Jesus' parable also has an important lesson for each one of us as well. Just as Jesus was faithful and ready to obey his Father in everything - even to the point of laying down his life for us on the cross, we, too are called to be faithful and ready to do whatever our heavenly Father commands us. How can we serve as Jesus served and be faithful to the end of our days? Only love - the love which God has poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us (Romans 5:5) - can transform us and fill us with joy and courage in offering our lives in humble service to God and one another. The Lord Jesus sets us free from fear and pride so we can love and serve one another as he has loved and served each one of us (Ephesians 5:2). Ask the Lord to give you a servant heart and a willing spirit that is ready to listen and eager to obey.

Let us Pray

"Lord Jesus, you loved me first and you gave your life for me. Fill me with a joyful heart and a generous spirit that is ready to serve and to do whatever you command." 

Stay blessed

Daily Catholic Reflection: October 19, 2020, Memorial of Saints John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues, Priests, and Companions, Martyrs, Year A

Ephesians 2:1-10,

Psalm 99(100),

Like 12:13-22 Full Readings

Saints Isaac Jogues, Jean de Brébeuf, and Companions

 The Greatest Treasure to Store

As human beings, planning for the future is part of us and in fact one who does not think about the future is half human. In this way, many people invest in many things and store many treasures for themselves to use them in the future or to be used by their children and the following generations. It's tempting to say that most of these investments and preparations for the future are mostly in material things.   Jesus in the gospel challenges this, not only to store material things but above all to store ourselves treasure in heaven.

Daily Catholic Reflection: October 18, 2020, Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A.

Isaiah 45:1.4-6,

Ps 96: 1 and 3.4-5.7-8.9- 10a (R. 7b),

1 Thessalonians 1:1-5b,

Matthew 22:15-21 Full Readings 

Saint Luke

 WHOM SHALL I SEND? 

Today we celebrate World Mission Sunday. It's the one Sunday in the year which occurs in October (missionary month) when the entire global Church comes together to support the mission. And every single donation from these worldwide Masses goes to support churches, hospitals, schools and vocations in countries where the Church is new, young or poor. “Every Catholic community, in every country, sends a powerful message of faith, hope and love on this special day.” This is our chance to show love and solidarity to our global Church family. Through our prayers, we support missionaries everywhere in spreading the Good News. And by donating we respond to Christ’s call to feed the hungry and clothe the naked.

Daily Catholic Reflection: October 17, 2020, Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr, Year A

Ephesians 1:15-23,

Psalm 8:2-3.4-5.6-7,

Luke 12:8-12 Full Readings

Saint Ignatius of Antioch

 Courageous Witness to Christ

Jesus says, "everyone who acknowledges me before others the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God. But whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God. Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven." This is an excerpt from today's Gospel.

Daily Catholic Reflection: October 16, 2020, Friday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time, Year A

Ephesians 1:11-14,

Psalm 33:1-2.4-5.12-13,

Luke 12:1-7 Full Readings

Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, and Saint Hedwig

 God takes everything about us Seriously

Brethren, today's Gospel reading presents to us the attentiveness of God to all our being. Jesus tells us not to fear those who kill the body and do nothing more but to fear the one who kills both the body and the soul and then casts us into hell. He assures us of God's divine protection and providence as he protects and provides for the sparrows for which we are greater than many sparrows. Jesus in a way is encouraging us to put all our trust in God and in his providence and fear nothing other than him.

Daily Catholic Reflection: October 15, 2020, Memorial of Saint Teresa of Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church, Year A

Ephesians 1: 1- 10,

Psalm 98: 1.2-3ab.3cd-4.5-6 (R. 2a),

Luke 11:47-54 Full Readings

Saint Teresa of Avila

 Consequences of Rejecting God's Love 

In today's Gospel, Jesus gives the Pharisees other two woes; those who build tombs for the prophets, meaning those who kill the prophets and another woe to those who have taken the key of knowledge and didn't enter themselves as well as stopping others from entering in. Jesus tells them that they have to answer for this.

Daily Catholic Reflection, October 14, 2020, Wednesday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time, Year A

Galatians 5:18-25,

Psalm 1 : 1-2.3.4 and 6,

Luke 11:42-46 Full Readings

Saint Callistus I

 Life in the Spirit

St Paul in the first reading encouraged us to live life in the spirit as compared to the flesh (not body). He gives the lists of virtues and vices which were common in the moralistic writings of the Hellenistic age, and the lists given here help significantly to explain what is meant by Paul’s frequent contrast between ‘flesh’ and ‘spirit’, or at least what is not meant. ‘Flesh’ is not necessarily the bodily element in the human personality, for this plays little part in idolatry, sorcery, quarrelling and other ‘works of the flesh’ listed here. Some have translated the word by ‘unspiritual nature’ (REB), others by ‘self-indulgence’ (NRSV), others by ‘natural inclinations’ (NJB). On the other hand, the virtues listed are all ‘spiritual’ in the sense of being the gift of the Spirit of God. It is tempting to understand ‘the flesh’ as being human nature unassisted by the Spirit of God, and possibly frail and disordered.

Daily Catholic Reflection: October 13, 2020, Tuesday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time, Year A.

Galatians 5:1-6,

Psalm  119:41.43.44.45.47.48,

Luke 11 :37-41 Full Readings

Blessed Marie-Rose Durocher

God desires a clean mind and heart.

Brethren, which is more important to God - clean hands or a clean mind and heart? In today's Gospel Jesus breaks the law of eating without washing his hands, another way of  challenging the Pharisees who observe the law externally while inside they are full of malice, resentment, envy and evil thoughts. He uses the analogy that they wash outside the cup but inside is dirty. Jesus teaches them as he does to us today that both outside and inside the cup should be clean, the interior should inform the  exterior and the exterior also informs the interior. The Pharisees were strict observers of the law but they finally ended up losing the point.

Daily Catholic Reflection: October 12, 2020, Monday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time, Year A

Galatians4:22-24.26-27.31-5:1,

Psalm 113: 1b-2.3-4.5a and 6-7,

Luke 11:29-32 Full Readings

Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos

 No more Sign than Jesus

Today's Gospel presents to us the Pharisees seeking  a sign from Jesus but Jesus tells them that there is no more sign from heaven apart from him, he is the perfect sign and a greatest sign, greater than all signs which have ever come from heaven. He compares the signs of preaching of Jonah which caused the repentance of Ninevites and the wisdom of Solomon that attracted the Queen of Sheeba, and says something greater than these signs is here (himself) but unfortunately people of this generation are not believing in Him.

Daily Catholic Reflection: October 11, 2020, Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

Isaiah 25:6-10a,

Psalm 23:1 -3a.3b-4.5.6,

Philippians 4:12-14.19-20,

Matthew 22: 1-14 Full Readings 

Saint John XXIII

 Getting Ready For the Wedding Feast.

Today's first reading and the Gospel are talking about wedding feasts. A wedding feast is the time of joy and happiness and so God promises through Isaiah a feast on his holy Mountain, where we shall eat, drink and get satisfied. The wedding feast is an image of the heavenly banquet which requires us to prepare for it when we are still here on earth.

Daily Catholic Reflection: October 10, 2020, Saturday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time, Year A

Galatians 3 :22-29,

Psalm 105:2-3.4-5.6-7,

Luke 11:27-28 Full Readings

Saint Francis Borgia

 Are you Blessed?

Brethren, in today's Gospel Jesus teaches us what it means to be blessed as he was responding to the woman who had praised the womb that bore Jesus and breasts that breast fed him. Jesus teaches that the more blessed is the one who hears the word of God and does or keeps it. In this way, Jesus gave us a simple trick to examine ourselves and see whether we are blessed or not. In a way Jesus says that it is not about the praises we give or the glory we give to God daily or even going to church that makes us blessed for even the psalm says that our praises add nothing to him, but it is doing the Word of God that makes us more blessed.

Daily Catholic Reflection: October 9, 2020, Friday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time, Year A

Galatians 3:7-14,

Psalm 111:1b-2.3-4.5-6,

Luke 11: 15-26 Full Readings

Saint Denis and Companions

 Overcoming Sin

Today's Gospel presents to us Jesus healing a mute man who was possessed by a demon. The Pharisees as usual could not believe in his  power and thought Jesus was using the power of Beelzebul the prince of demons to cast out demons. Jesus however shows them that he is using the finger of God. Do you believe in Jesus' power of exorcism and that it is now in his servants? Jesus also notes that the demons will not give up easily after being cast out, they will keep coming and so we have to keep strong in the Lord and remain holy so that they will not have a home in us again. This coming back of demons , I would like to compare it with habitual sin.

Daily Catholic Reflection: October 8, 2020, Thursday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time, Year A.

Galatians 3 :1-5,

PSALM: Luke 1 :69-70.71-72.73-75,

Luke 11:5-13 Full Readings

Saint John Leonardi

 Persistence and Firmness in Prayer

Luke in today's Gospel follows up the Lord’s Prayer with a little parable about _persistence in the prayer_ of asking, a parable typical of Luke in that he specialises in parables of individual virtues and vices (the Good Samaritan, the Crafty Steward). Again it features the virtue so important in that world-picture, _hospitality_ . One must picture a single-roomed Palestinian dwelling in which the whole family sleeps, the father being further from the door and out of the draughts! The word in the final sentence translated ‘persistence’ literally means ‘shamelessness’. Whose ‘shamelessness’? Is it the shameless persistence of the visitor or the wish of the householder not to be shamed at refusing hospitality? Therefore, today's Gospel teaches us two aspects, persistence in prayer and Hospital with God as the most hospitable.

Daily Catholic Reflection: October 7, 2020, Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary, Year A

Galatians 2: 1-2.7-14,

Psalm 117: 1.2,

Luke 11:1-4 Full Readings

Our Lady of the Rosary

 How to Pray 

Brethren, today Jesus teaches us his disciples how to pray after being asked to teach them. He teaches them what we now call the Lord's Prayer or Our Father. In this way he also taught us how to pray always. Today also, we celebrate the memorial of Our Lady of Rosary, the reason why October is called the month of Rosary and so we are encouraged also to pray through Mary our Mother as we reach our Father in heaven during prayer.

Daily Catholic Reflection: October 6, 2020, Tuesday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time, Year A

Galatians 1:13-24,

Psalm 139:1-3.13- 14.15,

Luke 10:38-42 Full Readings

Saint Bruno

 Choosing the Better Part

Dear brethren, Today, Paul continues with his emphasis on truth. He recounts the true story of how he was enlisted by God to do is work. The story of Paul’s conversion and initial life in Judaism affords us an opportunity to examine our lives. Our story might not be exactly the same as that of Paul, but the bottom line is the invitation to a new life of grace that God gives all of us. Sometimes it is good we examine the passion and energy we put into planning and executing certain evil deeds. We can consciously put this same energy and passion in use for good purposes.

Daily Catholic Reflection: October 5, 2020, Monday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time, Year A

Galatians 1:6-12,

Psalm 111:1b-2.7-8.9,

Luke 10:25-37 Full Readings

Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

 Who is my Neighbor

The Gospel of the good Samaritan is perhaps one of the most known passages in the bible which provides a strongest teaching about the love of neighbor. Jesus' teaching about love emphasised not only love for God but love for the neighbor, the two go together. Love God with everything you have but also love your neighbor as I have loved you, says Jesus.  Brethren, sometimes, like the teacher of law in the gospel today, we may be tempted also to ask who my neighbor is.

Psalm 80: The Vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel: 27th Sunday In Ordinary Time, Year A

Daily Catholic Reflection: October 4, 2020, Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A.

 

Isaiah 5:1-7,

Ps 80:8 and 11.12-13.14-15 and 17b.18-19

Philippians4:6-9,

Matthew 21:33-43 Full Readings

Saint Francis of Assisi

We are in the Lord's Vineyard

Brethren, today's first reading and the gospel use the image of a vineyard. Israel, says Isaiah, is the vineyard of the Lord, the vineyard that the Lord loved, and this is also attested by the Responsorial Psalm. But unfortunately, it yielded only the sour grapes after the Lord had taken care of it and gave it whatever it needed for bearing good fruit. Jesus takes up that same image  of the vineyard in the Gospel but with a difference: Isaiah says that the vineyard will be destroyed; Jesus states that the tenants will be replaced and the vineyard will be kept as well as being given to those who will take care of it well and produced good fruit (Jesus came to reveal the Father's mercy). The second reading, taken together, complements each other. The short passage from the letter to the Philippians can be connected to the theme of this Sunday. Paul insists on the concrete aspect of Christian life. The mark of authenticity of faith are the works of love; fruits that all appreciate.

Daily Catholic Reflection: October 3, 2020, Saturday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time, Year A

 

Job 42: 1-3.5-6.12-17,

Psalm 119:66.71.75.91.125.130,

Luke 10:17-24 Full Readings

Saint Theodora Guérin

 Acting in the Name of Christ.

Brethren, the beautiful story of Job poses several questions to us as we live in times where religious beliefs are not taken seriously and believers only seek a life devoid of suffering – a crossless Christianity, to put it simply. Job tells us that steadfast belief in God is a sure way of spiritual comfort in times of sorrow despite earthly suffering. Furthermore, we must learn that the spirit may flow anywhere it wishes; to some it’s a time for replenishment like Job, to some it is an avenue for signs and wonders like the disciples. The cases of Job and that of the disciples speak to us about having a fervent relationship with God that guarantees our place with our heavenly Father. Outward representation may be short-lived, but the inner satisfaction is so rewarding that it cannot be compared to the outward show. It invites us to always trust and act in the name of Jesus Christ and all will be well in our lives. Today's readings, especially the Gospel, present to us the following aspects.

Daily Catholic Reflection: October, 2020, Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels, Year A

Exodus 23:20-23,

Psalm 91:1-2. 3-4. 5-6. 10-11, 

Matthew 18:1-5.10 Full Readings

Feast of the Guardian Angels

 Our Guardian Angel

A few days ago, we celebrated the feast day of the Archangels, Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. Today we celebrate  the feast of our Guardian Angels. Who are these and what do they do?