1. General Evaluation about the joys and challenges of the year 2020,
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Family
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Health = Corona Pandemic and others
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Economy
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Education
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Formation
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Friendship
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Social life
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The world in general
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Etc
There have been a lot of challenges and joys which have
in these areas
2. Self-Evaluation in the past year:
Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8;
GAL 4:4-7;
LK 2:16-21 Full Readings
New Year Blessings
Brethren, Happy New Year 2021: May the LORD bless us and keep us! May the LORD shine his face upon us, and be gracious to us! May the LORD look upon us kindly and give us peace! Especially in this New Year. These are the words of the first readings and let us claim these blessings to enable us start this new year in the hands of the Lord as we surrender everything. Today Brethren, with the grace of the new born baby among us, and the intercession of the blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God whose feast we celebrate today, let us examine ourselves and examine how the year has been, what was good, what did we achieve, what promises did we fulfil? What went wrong, what bad did we do, what did i fail to do, what good did i do wrongly, where did i lose trust in God? What are the best and worst experiences? Where is God in all these experiences, what is he teaching me in all these and what is he asking me to do in this new year? What are your resolutions and promises to God this year and in which way are you planning to achieve them. Reflect on these and others and you will find all the reasons to give thanks to God.
Psalm 96: 1-2.11-12.13 (R. 11a);
John 1: 1 -18 Full Readings
Saint Sylvester I, PopeLeave All to God
Brethren, today is the last day of the Year 2020 and on this day let us look back and see how the year has been, how God has been with us in different situations and you may also see that many antichrists have appeared as we see in first Reading (1 John 2:18); those who tried to take you away from the light that new born king brings to the world to the darkness which Satan and his Angels always seduce all to follow. We may also see that many of us suffered directly or indirectly with the current coronavirus pandemic in addition to many life problems. It may have been a very difficult Year for many of us. However, whichever way the year has been, tough or not, doesn't mean that we stop thanking God for enabling us to reach this day. In fact if it was not God, we would not have reached this far. This gives us more reasons to thank God and also thank the new born king who came to be with us on Christmas day.
Psalm 96:7-8a,
Luke 2:36-40 Full Readings
Saint EgwinOur Redemption is Here
Brethren, after Simeon revealing the mission of Jesus yesterday, today we see the continuation of the same instance of the presentation of Jesus, as Anna comes up and mentions Jesus as the Redeemer, because he fulfilled the hopes of those who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. Anna also, like Simeon, reveals the mission of Jesus. The new born king is therefore, the saviour and redeemer of all the people who accept him and believe in him.
Psalm 96:1-2a.2b-3.5,
Luke 2:22-35 Full Readings
Saint Thomas BecketMission of Jesus Revealed
Brethren, after the birth of Jesus, he had to be presented to the Lord as the law demanded and as Mary and Joseph took him to the temple, Simeon held him in his hands and prophesied and revealed his mission. The new born baby is to be the light of the nations, the salvation for all, he is destined for the fall and rising of many (those who will accept him will be raised up and those who reject him will surely fall). Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your saviour and Lord? If yes, then love according to his commandments and his teaching and we will surely be saved. St John in the first reading that any one who says I know and love God and does not keep his commandments is a liar, but whoever obeys God's commandments, God's love comes into perfection in him or her. Therefore, if you say you have welcomed Jesus, the newborn king in your life and that you love God, then follow his commandments and show that love to the neighbours.
Protect the Innocents
Brethren, today we celebrate the feast day of the Holy innocents who were killed by Herod as he sought to kill Jesus whom he saw as a great threat to his kingship. From the Gospel we can see some parallelism which Mathew brings out.
The story of the flight into Egypt is not the first time in the Bible where God shows us what he is able to accomplish when human weakness and even sin come into the picture. Remember Joseph and the colored tunic story in the Old Testament. There are a few parallels between the two stories. Both stories ended in Egypt and both Josephs were led there by dreams. Both times their stay in Egypt was brought about by others’ sin. Joseph in the Old Testament was sold as a slave because his brothers were jealous. St. Joseph, in the New Testament story, led the Holy Family to Egypt because of Herod’s jealousy. As we think about how hard it must have been for the Holy Family to flee to an unknown land, we can remember that evil doesn’t have the last word in God’s plan. Divine Providence, in both cases, integrated mysterious human ways into the great story of salvation.
PS 128:1-2, 3, 4-5 or Ps 105:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9;
COL 3:12-21 or Col 3:12-17; Heb 11:8, 11-12, 17-19;
The Holy Family
The Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity, the Incarnate Son of God, came to dwell in a small town in Nazareth with Mary and Joseph. No one can imagine a more special family, yet, in many ways they were ordinary. There was nothing extravagant about their lives. Joseph was a carpenter, Mary a handmaid like many others. When Jesus came to Earth, he could have chosen any place in the world of noble origin or wealthy background. Yet, he chose a poor, simple family to be born in. They had no need to follow the earthly traditions of consecrating Jesus to the Lord, but they did. Jesus followed the customary laws, studied the scriptures as he was taught by his parents, played, slept, and did his chores. He experienced everything about being the son of a human family. He took on our nature to consecrate it to the Father; and Mary and Joseph, in their ordinariness, were part of this extraordinary mission.
Ps 31:3bc-4.6
Matthew 10:17-22 Full Readings
Saint StephenDemands of the Newborn King
Brethren, Stephen whose feast we celebrate today, a deacon of the early Church, was ready to bear witness to his faith in the Lord. Filled with the Holy Spirit, he proclaimed the resurrection of Christ and called his people to conversion and faith. The forgiveness that he offered to those who killed him reflects the forgiveness offered by Jesus himself to those who crucified him. The feast of Saint Stephen, known as the proto-martyr, the first witness/martyr, reminds us of the high price we pay as we place our faith in the newborn King.
Unto Us a Child is Born
Happy and Merry Christmas Brethren. Today is the day that the Lord has made, let us be glad and rejoice in it, for our Saviour Jesus Christ is born; the Lord has remembered his people and has raised a king amidst us who will rule in righteousness and justice and the light of the world. Let us Rejoice and celebrate.
Psalm 89:2-3.4-5.27
Luke 1:67-79 Full Readings
Christmas at GreccioBlessed be God
Brethren, today we come to a conclusion of the story of annunciation, birth, naming of John the Baptist and defining his mission. This story has a divine intervention in the history of salvation as John the Baptist was to prepare the way for the saviour who is being born tomorrow on Christmas day. However, the story also consists of Zechariah being made mute as a result of doubting the message of Angel Gabriel. However yesterday, we saw him speaking again after naming the child, John, as the Angel had commanded at the annunciation. In the gospel today we see him filled with the Holy Spirit and praises God in the well known Benedictus which is said every morning in the liturgy of hours.
Psalm25:4-5ab.8-9.10,
Luke 1:57-66 Full Readings
Saint John of KantyJohn Baptist, the New Elijah
Brethren, the Old Testament prophets foretold the return of the prophet Elijah (Malachi 3:1, and 4:5) who would announce the coming of the Messiah - the Savior and Ruler of the earth. John the Baptist fulfills the role of Elijah as Jesus confirmed also (Matthew 11:13-14). His miraculous birth shows the mercy and favor of God in preparing his people for the coming of its Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
PSALM 1 Samuel 2: 1.4-5.6-7
Luke 11:46-56 Full Readings
Blessed Jacopone da TodiThe Lord has Done Great things for Me
Brethren, Do you think that God has done any great thing for you? Have you thought of giving something to him in appreciation? Learn something from Hannah and Mary today, and see for yourself how you cannot outdo God in generosity! Hannah gave Samuel her only son back to God and became a mother of more children. For her part, Mary gave God her time in service to the needy and all generations call her blessed. What have you given back to God for your life? It is not late yet to begin – and could start now. Do not look for him in faraway places. He is right beside you in the faces of the poor and the less privileged. As you do that, may you also have the cause to sing out in praise like Hannah and Mary.
Psalm 33:2-3.11-12.20-21:
Luke 1:39-45 Full Readings
Saint Peter CanisiusBringing Christ to Others
Brethren, in the Book of the song of songs, God is theologically interpreted as the lover and we the beloved. Today, he advances to meet the beloved and calls out to the beloved to come out and meet him in love along the way. He is near, and is coming into our lives; he wants us to come out of ourselves to meet him with faith and love. One way to do that is to reach out to others, share in their joys and console the sorrowful. Mary went to rejoice with Elizabeth and to assist her. In Mary, God visited the household of Zechariah and brought them so much joy that even a child in the womb felt it. We too can be agents of divine visitation to others, bringing them joy, love and peace.
Psalm 89:2-3.4-5.27,
Romans 16:25-27,
Luke 1:26-38 Full Readings
Saint Dominic of SilosThe Yes that Wrought Our Salvation
Brethren, Mary's Yes to God in order to fulfil his plan wrought our Salvation and through her the true Messiah came to us. There have been, and still are, many people who profess to be “messiahs” and “saviours” of humanity. The readings today tell us that there is only one true Messiah: Jesus, the son of Mary. In the first reading we have seen in the prophecy of Nathan that the descendants of David will inherit an eternal kingdom. In the gospel Jesus is presented as the Messiah, the king who will sit on the throne of his father David for ever as promised in the first reading. The second reading is a song of praise to God for his wonderful works especially for sending us the Messiah.
Psalm 71:3-4a.5-6ab,
Luke 1:5-25 Full Readings
Blessed Pope Urban VJohn the Baptist, Preparer of Jesus Coming
With this reading from Luke we begin a continuous series of Lukan readings which will carry us right up to Christmas Eve, enabling us to share in the experiences which prepared for the birth of Jesus.
Psalm 72:1-2.12-13.18-19,
Matthew 1:18-24 Full Readings
Blessed Anthony GrassiHe is from the House of David
Brethren, for today's reflection I use the same title as the one of yesterday as an emphasis on the descendence of Jesus from the House of David. In the first reading Jeremiah tells us that the Lord will raise a virtuous branch for David who will be a king forever and his dynasty will last forever, he will rule as a true king and be wise and all people will be saved because of his saving justice. This prophecy is fulfilled in the person of Jesus.
Psalm 72: 1-2.3-4ab.7-8.17,
Matthew 1 : 1-17 Full Readings
Saint Hildegard of BingenHe is from the House of David
Brethren, Christmas is drawing near, in eight days. An invitation for the final spiritual preparation for the coming of our Lord, the Messiah. This final week leading up to Christmas can oftentimes become filled with busyness and other forms of preparation, such as shopping, cooking, traveling, decorating, etc. Though all of these other preparations have a place, don’t neglect the most important preparation—the spiritual preparation of your soul. Jesus will surely come to dwell in our hearts if they are prepared, not just in the physical preparation which most of the people do even at the expense of Spiritual preparations.
Psalm 85:9ab and 10.11-12.13-14,
Luke 7:19-23 Full Readings
Blessed Honoratus KozminskiWho is to Come?
Brethren, from the first reading, we see Isaiah reminding the Israelites of One God after the exile in Babylon. Fresh from the land of exile and slavery, where they experienced polytheism (the idea of many gods) and religious prostitution, the people of Israel needed to be reminded that they have only one God, who is able to do all things well for them, and under whom they shall experience victory and glory. That reminder is equally important for us today in the face of great confusion arising from different life challenges. No matter what, fix your gaze firmly on Jesus who gives sight to the blind, makes the lame walk, cleanses the leper, raises the dead and preaches the good news to the poor. As you place your trust and fix your gaze on him, may the good news of salvation and a breakthrough be preached in the ugly and challenging situations of your life.
Ps 34:2-3.6-7.17-15.19,
Matthew 21:28-32 Full Readings
Blessed Mary Frances SchervierNot One Who Says, But One Who Does
In the parable of the gospel we see two kinds of attitudes among Christians today. Those who say and those who do. To do the will of the Father does not mean performing religious rituals, but following the commandment of love. Where do you and I belong? We are invited in this advent to be like the first son who was rebellious at first but later changed his heart and went to work in the vineyard of his Father. Let us not be like the second son who despite saying yes, he didn't go to work, here we become Christians with empty promises.
Psalm 25:4-5ab.6 and 7cd.8—9,
Matthew 21:23-27 Full Readings
Saint John of the CrossThe Authority of Christ
Brethren, today we see Pharisees asking about the origin of the authority of Jesus. Jesus asks them where the authority of John the Baptist came from and they couldn't answer and neither did Jesus. Let us reflect on three important aspects from this Gospel.
PSALM Luke 1:46-48.49-50.53-54,
1Thessalonians 5:16-24,
John 1:6-8.19-28 Full Readings
Saint LucyRejoice, The Messiah is Coming
Brethren, today we celebrate Gaudete Sunday, which is every third Sunday of Advent. The Gaudete is a Latin word which denotes Joy. Therefore today is a Sunday of Joy, a Sunday of rejoicing, an anticipation of the joy we shall have by the birth of Jesus on Christmas day. We put on rose or Violet vestments and light the third candle of the wreath which is rose or purple which means joy. This Sunday is parallel to the third Sunday of Lent which we call Laetare Sunday and denotes the rejoicing that comes with the resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday. Therefore, today we are invited to start putting ourselves in the mood of that joy which we are waiting for on Christmas day. This is only done by preparing our hearts to welcome that joy, the joy of the world.
Responsorial Psalm: Judith 13:18BCDE, 19;
Luke 1:26-38 Full Readings
Our Lady of GuadalupeOur lady of Guadalupe: The Miraculous Lady
Brethren, today we celebrate the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe who appeared in the American continent in Mexico and let us take some time to reflect on her miraculous apparitions to Juan Diego. We celebrate five successive apparitions of our Blessed Mother to Juan Diego, who was an Indian convert to the faith. Early in the morning of December 9, 1531, Juan was traveling to the town of Tlatelolco where he intended to attend a catechism class and the holy Mass. However, on his way, as he passed by the Tepeyac Hill, he was gifted by the vision of a bright light and heavenly music. As he gazed upward with wonder and awe, he heard a beautiful voice calling him. As he moved toward the voice, he saw the glorious Mother of God standing in youthful appearance in heavenly splendor. She said to him, “I am your merciful Mother…” She further revealed to him that she wanted a church built on that spot and that Juan was to go and tell this to the Bishop of Mexico City.
Psalm 1:2-4, 6;
Matthew 11: 16-19 Full Readings
Saint Damasus IIndifference to the Word of God
Brethren, today's readings look rather discordant not only with the season of Advent we are in which is supposed to give us hope of the expecting the Messiah, but also with the trend of the readings we have been reading since the beginning of Advent. Nevertheless, they give us a very important message for us today, they encourage us not to be indifferent to the word of God, to the words which are told to us that the Messiah is coming such that we should prepare for him well. Some of us may not take the word of God seriously and end up ignoring it and what it teaches us.
Psalm 145:1, AND 9, 10-11, 12-13AB
Matthew 11:11-15 Full Readings
Blessed Adolph Kolping, Our Lady of LoretoInspired by John the Baptist
Brethren, in the first. Reading we see the unchanging nature and mercy of God on us. Think of the shame and trauma the Israelites had while they were being led to exile. They suffered humiliation and were helpless in the face of opposition. To worsen the case, they were helplessly turned to slaves in exile. So Isaiah needed to restore their confidence once more. This restoration would come from an understanding that God never changes. The same God who helped Israel of old to fight their battle is still very much there to help them. The same message is being extended to us. When the enemy suggests to you that there can be other ways of getting out of your problems outside of God, tell the enemy that you serve a living God who changes not and who is bigger than your problems. And it shall be well with you. Let us now reflect on these three aspects from the Gospel.
Psalm 103:1-2.3-4.8,
Matthew 11:28-30 Full Readings
Saint Juan DiegoResting in Jesus
Today's Gospel presents to us Jesus speaking with unique tenderness as He invites us to come to Him with all our burdens and carry His yoke for it's light and easy to carry.
Jesus has come to heal, set captives free, and lift up those who are ailing. He calls people with many needs who are weary of life and burdened with hardships and difficulties. Sometimes we hopelessly rely on our own means and are slow to put our trust in God. He invites us to follow him from where we are. To follow him along the journey of continual conversation as his disciple, we must first allow ourselves to experience his mercy. The Lord’s mercy is immense and inexhaustible! At Jesus’s invitation, we find a response for our aching hearts: a life’s purpose as his disciple and a promise of finding rest in this life and the next.
Psalm98:1.2-3ab.3cd-4,
Ephesians1:3-6.11-12,
Luke 1:26b-38 Full Readings
Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin MaryMary the Second Eve
Today we celebrate the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of God and the second Eve. We celebrate Mary as the virgin who is “full of grace,” as the archangel Gabriel said at the annunciation as seen in today's Gospel. From earliest times the Church expressed and developed the belief that Mary was conceived without original sin, but it was only in 1854 that Pope Pius IX proclaimed it a dogma. We give thanks to God for having chosen the Blessed Virgin Mary as the mother of the Lord, and our mother, and having preserved her from sin.
Psalm 85:9ab and 10. 11 -12.13-14,
Luke 5:17-26 Full Readings
Saint AmbroseOvercoming Obstacles to God's Work in Us
God wants you to begin this new working week with smiles and strong faith in him. So do not allow anything to rob you of that. Learn from the determination of the friends of this paralytic in Luke 5:18-26. The crowd proved to be an obstacle to them but they still found a way to reach Jesus through the roof. There can be a lot of crowds trying to prevent us from coming to Jesus. They can be in the form of doctor’s reports concerning an incurable disease or business that has refused to thrive despite efforts. Listen! St Paul says, even in the midst of all these, you are more than a conqueror (Rom 8:37)! Is there anything, whether Spiritual or physical, abstaining you from receiving the power of God in your Life? Let us endeavour to overcome it personally but also with the help of the church.
