daily Catholic Reflection: March 1, 2021, Monday of the Second Week in Lent, Year B

Daniel 9:4b-10;

Ps79:8.9.11.13;

Luke 6:36-38 Full Readings

Saint David of Wales

 Don't Judge and You Will Not Be Judged

Brethren, the Old Testament we see the example of Daniel, a man of great faith in God's mercy and just ways, who prayed daily, not only for himself, but for his own people, and for his persecutors as well. Daniel was 'shamefaced' before God because he recognized that his own people who had been called and chosen by God as the people of Israel, were now suffering in exile due to their sins and unfaithfulness to the covenant God had made with them (see Daniel 9:4-10). Daniel did not sit in judgment over the failings and sins of his own people, instead he pleaded with God for compassion, pardon, and restoration. Our shame will turn to joy and hope if we confess our sins and ask for God's healing love and mercy.

Daily Catholic Reflection: February 28, 2021, Second Sunday of Lent, Year B

Genesis 22: 1-2.9a.10-13.15-18;

Ps 116: 10 and 15.16-17.18-19;

Romans 8: 31b-34;

Mark 9:2-10 Full Readings

Blessed Daniel Brottier

 Faith that Leads to God's Glory

It is easy to see why faith is the main theme of the first reading, though it is more difficult to discover this theme in the gospel. Abraham needed faith to follow the road God showed him, and so too does the Christian; to follow Christ. It is this faith that will lead us to God's Glory, to experience the beatific vision. We reach transfiguration by first passing through the way of the cross and by placing ourselves in God’s hands. The second reading speaks of the foundation of our faith: God’s faithful and unconditional love for us.

Daily Catholic Reflection: February 27, 2021, Saturday of the First Week of Lent, Year B

Deuteronomy 26:16-19;

Psalm 119:1-2.4-5.7-8;

Matthew 5:43-48 Full Readings

Saint Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows

 Love Your Enemies

Brethren, God is love and where there is love there is God. In the first readings God regards us as his people, but we shall remain his people when we love him and follow his commandments. All his commandments are summarised into one, which is love. This implies that we shall remain God's people if we love. In the Gospel, Jesus defines what this love is. It is the sacrificial love given to everyone even your enemies. He invites us to love and pray for our enemies for this us what makes us unique as Christians different from other beliefs. People will know that we are Christians only by our love, and therefore, Christian life must be a life of love.

Daily Catholic Reflection: February 26, 2021, Friday of the First Week of Lent, Year B

Ez 18:21-28;

Psalm 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-7a, 7bc-8;

Mt 5:20-26 Full Readings

Saint Maria Bertilla Boscardin

Personal Responsibility

Brethren, on this second Friday of Lent, we are all encouraged and invited to abstain from meat and if possible deny ourselves some food by fasting, for the sake of those who don't have. This will help us to move out to give alms to the anawim of the Lord.

Daily Catholic Reflection: February 25, 2021, Thursday of the First Week of Lent, Year B

Esther 14:1.3-4.11.13-14;

Psalm 138:1-2a.2bcd-3.7d-8;

Matthew 7: 7- 12 Full Readings

Blessed Sebastian of Aparicio

Ask and you will Receive.

Brethren, in today’s first reading, Esther is on her knees asking the Lord to intervene in her situation so that she can convince her husband, the king of Persia, not to terminate the Jews in the far-flung Persian Empire, and indeed the Lord God heard her, and her prayer was answered and the lives of many were saved. In Gospel Jesus also encourages us to ask and receive, knock and the door shall be open, seek and we shall find. This means everything we want is there waiting for us, God Waits for our initiative to ask what we receive, for He is always ready to give.

Daily Catholic Reflection: February 24, 2021, Wednesday of the First Week of Lent, Year B

Jonah 3:1-10, 

Psalm 51:3-4.12-13.18-19,

Luke 11:29-32 Full Readings

Blessed Luke Belludi

 No More Sign than Jesus

Brethren, the sign of Jonah is mostly understood by Matthew to mean the resurrection of Jesus after three days in the tomb, just as Jonah emerged from the belly of the sea beast after three days. But the story of Jonah has lovely value also for itself. The nub of the whole Book of Jonah comes in today’s reading. It is a satire, written of course by a Jew, but mocking the Jews for their complacency and their conviction that the Chosen Race were the only ones to be saved. The message is obvious: the gentiles are more responsive to the word of God than is the Jew. Let us be careful as Christians who have the gospel truth, otherwise, other people who even have not heard the Gospel will inherit the kingdom of God first.

Daily Catholic Reflection: February 23, 2021, Tuesday of the First Week of Lent, Year B

Isaiah 55:10-11;

Ps 34:4-5.6-7.16-17.18-19;

Matthew 6:7-15 Full Readings

Saint Polycarp

 How to Pray

Brethren, today Jesus warns us about the way we pray. We should not use many words, beat around the bush but we should be direct to the point and Jesus provides us the model of all prayer: "The Lord's Prayer." The Lord's prayer is the most common said and known prayer and a prayer which Jesus Himself gave us. However most of us just pray it for sake without paying attention to what it contains and what it means. Today I would like us to reflect on this prayer.

Daily Catholic Reflection: February 22, 2021, Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter, Apostle

1 Peter 5:1-4;

Psalm 23:1 -3a.3b-4.5.b;

Matthew 16:13-19 Full Readings

Chair of Saint Peter

 Who is Jesus to You?

Today we celebrate the ‘Chair of Saint Peter’. The Chair of Saint Peter represents the authority Jesus gave to Peter among the twelve apostles as their leader. Today’s Gospel brings into focus the election of Peter and his successors. When Jesus asked his disciples their perception and the peoples’ perception of him, he received several answers. It was only Simon who answered “you are the Son of the living God.” Instantly, Jesus reminded Simon that his answer was a revelation from God. Nonetheless, he changed his name from Simon to Peter, and placed authority and responsibility of the new people of God, the church, on him. It is incontrovertible to argue, as some often do, that Peter is not the first Pope. Jesus himself gave him this privilege, because it was revealed by the Father. We should always try to conform to the teachings of the church, for when the Church speaks through her leaders, it is Jesus that speaks. Listen.

Daily Catholic Reflection: February 21, 2021, First Sunday of Lent, Year B

Genesis 9:8-15,

Ps 25:4-5ab.6,

1 Peter 3:18-22,

Mark 1:12-15 Full Readings

Saint Peter Damian

 Facing Temptations

On every first Sunday of Lent, we are presented with the Gospel of Jesus being led to the desert to be tempted by Satan as a preparation for his ministry. Today we read the Markan Version of this story. My dear friends, Is temptation good?  Certainly it’s not a sin to be tempted.  Otherwise our Lord could never have been tempted Himself.  But He was. And so are we. As we enter into the first full week of Lent, we are given the opportunity to ponder the story of Jesus’ temptation in the desert.

Daily Catholic Reflection: February 20, 2021, Saturday after Ash Wednesday

Isaiah 58:9c-14;

Psalm 86 :1-2.3-4.5-6;

Luke 5:27-32 Full Readings

Saints Jacinta and Francisco Marto

It is the Sick who need a Doctor

Living in denial is a terrible misfortune. No Christian should be there. The scribes and Pharisees in their holier than thou attitude categorized the tax collectors and others as sinners undeserving of the company of Jesus. Jesus however retorts that it is not those who are well who need the doctor, but the sick. The church is both a gallery of saints and a hospital for sinners. Let us ask ourselves today: Am I so wrapped up in my virtue, like the Pharisees, that I feel I do not need Jesus? Do I feel I do not need to go to confession? Am I resolved to be less judgmental of others who sin differently? Am I resolved to respond more promptly, like Levi, to the invitation of Jesus to follow him?

Daily Catholic Reflection: February 19, 2021, Friday after Ash Wednesday

Isaiah 58:1-9a;

Psalm51:3-4.5-6ab.18-19; R.19bc;

Matthew 9:14-15 Full Readings

Saint Conrad of Piacenza

 A day of Fasting and Abstinence.

Fridays in Lent…are you ready for them? Every Friday in Lent is a day of abstinence from meat. So be sure to embrace this little sacrifice today in union with our entire Church. What a blessing it is to offer sacrifice as an entire Church!

Daily Catholic Reflection: Thursday after Ash Wednesday

Deuteronomy 30:15-20;

Psalm 1:1-2.3.4and6;

Luke 9:22-25 Full Readings

Blessed John of Fiesole

Choose Life or Death

Brethren, today's readings present to us the fundamental choices we have to make as Christians: to choose Life or Death as we see in the first reading, and to choose the world, or to save our souls, as presented in the Gospel. With the former, choosing life means following God's commandments and choosing death means disobedience to God who is the source of life. With the former, choosing the world and its pleasures means you are going to lose your soul but choosing to save your soul means to carry your cross daily and follow Jesus. Reflect today on what you want to choose. The Gospel also presents to us the first passion prediction, as a way of setting us into the  mood of Lent.

PRAYER FOR A FRUITFUL LENT

               

Daily Catholic Reflection: February 17, 2021, Ash Wednesday

Reading 1: Joel 2:12-18

Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6AB, 12-13, 14,17

Reading II: 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2

Gospel: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18               Full Readings

Seven Founders of the Servite Order 

Ash Wednesday and Lenten Message

Dear brethren, today is Ash Wednesday which marks the beginning of Lent, 40 days of prayer, fasting, and alms giving. We mark ourselves with ashes to remind us that we are nothing but dust and therefore, there is no need of doing what displeases us and our neighbours, but only to repent, believe in the gospel, do good and shun evil.

Daily Catholic Reflection: February 16, 2021, Tuesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time, Year B

Genesis 6:5-8; 7:1-5, 10;

Ps 29:1a and 2.3ac-4.3b and 9c- 10;

Mark 8:14-21 Full Readings

Saint Gilbert of Sempringham

Pharisaic Leaven

Yeast is a powdery substance that is used as a raising-agent in the baking of bread. Just a little quantity can have a tremendous effect on the dough. Jesus warns against the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod. That is, the narrow-mindedness of the Pharisees and the immoral pleasure seeking attitude of the Herodian’s. But the disciples were not listening to their master; they were preoccupied with their lack of bread. Jesus scolds them for their lack of perception and forgetfulness. We are sometimes like the disciples, we get distracted when conversion sermons are preached. We get so worried and preoccupied with material needs and forget that we have been there before; that the same Jesus, can do it again. Am I still without perception? Is my mind closed?

Daily Catholic Reflection: February 15, 2021, Monday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time, Year B

Genesis 4: 1-15,25;

Psalm 49: 1,8, 16-17,20-21;

Mark: 11-13 Full Readings

Saint Claude de la Colombière

 Am I my Brother's Keeper?

Yes, you and I are my brother's and sister's  keeper; it is one of the fundamental calling of human beings. Everyday and every hour we are invited to be each other's keeper and all the scripture teaches this. Instances like the parable of good Samaritan, rich man and Lazarus, and all miracles of Jesus teach us in one way or the other to be mindful of our brothers and sisters. Since we are social beings and interrelated with one another as well as depending on one another, the well being of the other is our well-being too. This automatically invites us to be each other's keeper.

Daily Catholic Reflection: February 14, 2021, Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

Leviticus 13: 1-2.44-46,

Psalm 32: 1-2.5. 11, 

1 Corinthians 10:31-11: 1;

Mark 1:40-45 Full Readings

Saints Cyril and Methodius

Which Leprosy is Eating You?

Brethren, in the first reading we see all the restrictions on the people who had leprosy in the Jewish community, which are characterised by being cut off from the community. This reading from the Law sets the scene for Jesus’ healing in the gospel-reading. Leprosy in its modern medical sense is a devastating disease, leading to the loss of fingers, and then even whole hands and feet. These biblical regulations were, with good reason, designed to prevent contagion. In biblical times lack of precise diagnosis led to other skin diseases, such as psoriasis and even acne, being lumped together with it. So the worst thing about many of the lesser forms of ‘leprosy’ would have been the isolation, for ‘lepers’ were cut off from all human society, not relating with anybody, touching nobody and going around shouting unclean, unclean. The priests were involved not so much as sacred ministers but as reliable persons to judge the symptoms, though of course the sacrifice of thanks for disappearance of the disease was a genuine religious thanksgiving for God having healed a leper.

Daily Catholic Reflection: February 13, 2021: Saturday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time, Year B

Genesis 3:9-24;

Psalm 90:2.3-4.5—6.12-13;

Mark 8: 1-10 Full Readings

Saint Giles Mary of Saint Joseph

 Jesus Feeds Us With Heavenly Bread

Brethren, Genesis 1-12, is often regarded as a myth, trying to pass out fundamental answers to the fundamental questions of humanity. Today's first reading explains how suffering, pain and hard work came into the world. It was after Eve and Adam had sinned against God by eating the forbidden fruit, that God accursed them and sent them  out of Eden to work for food in case of man, and woman to have pain in child bearing.

Daily Catholic Reflection: February 12, 2021, Friday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time, Year B

Genesis 3: 1-8,

Psalm 32:1-2.5.6.7, 

Mark 7:31-37 Full Readings

Saint Apollonia

Jesus Unbinds from Sin and Heals Us

Brethren, how did Sin enter into the World? Every culture worth the name has a story of human failure. A little reflection and a little self-knowledge leaves us in no doubt about ourselves. The biblical story in the first reading today tells us how sin entered into the world through the disobedience of Adam and Eve, as they ate the forbidden fruit. In a real sense, What is this sin? Obviously it is tampering with Conscience, but perhaps more specifically pride, the idea that I can make my own rules. The sin of Adam and Eve was the one of pride, trying to be like God, who created human beings and the whole universe in a particular way, each creature with its own God-given rhythms and inter-relationships.

Daily Catholic Reflection: February 11, 2020, Thursday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time, Year B

Genesis 2:18-25,

Psalm 128: 1-2.3.4-5,

Mark 7:24-30 Full Readings

Our Lady of Lourdes

 Persistence in Prayer

In the Gospel today,  Jesus leaves the borders of Israel and enters the regions of Tyre and Sidon. (Presently these two cities are in Lebanon.) There Jesus encountered a woman identified in the scriptures as the Syrophoenician. In other words, the woman is of Syrian and Phoenician ancestry. The bottom-line is that the woman was not a Jewish woman; she was a foreigner. She must have heard of Jesus for her to run to him for assistance. Despite Jesus’ negative remark on her request, she did not give up, rather she accepted her status but persevered in her request. This show of humility and faith amazed Jesus such that he instantly granted her request. She went home in faith to find her demoniac daughter sober and delivered. The encounter with the Syrophoenician woman tells us that Jesus has no boundaries. Introduces him to all and sundry irrespective of creed.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Wednesday February 10, 2021, Memorial of Saint Scholastica, Virgin

Genesis 2:4b-9. 15- 17,

Psalm  104:1 -2a.27-28.29bc-30,

Mark 7: 14-23 Full Readings

Saint Scholastica

 Examining Our Inner Self 

Brethren, in the first reading we see the second creation account. It tells us less about the early process of the generation of the world; we arrive to find everything ready – only no life, no water, so no growth. Then a stream appears, and the LORD God sets to work as a potter, molding the man from the dust.

Daily Catholic Reflection: February 9, 2021: Tuesday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time, Year B

Genesis 1:20-2:4a;

Psalm 8:4-5.6-7a.7b-9;

Mark 7:1-13 Full Readings

Saint Jerome Emiliani

Worshiping From the Heart

Brethren, Why did God create us? Simple and basic catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that he created us to know him, love him (then worship him) and be with him in heaven forever. In the first reading, we see the account of creation that we read in Genesis, human beings are created last, as a sign of our dignity.  We are created in God’s image and likeness with intelligence and free will.  Male and female He created us. Both genders are fashioned in the image of God, not one greater than the other.  We reveal God’s image in us when we show compassion, fidelity and care for others.

Daily Catholic Reflection: February 8, 2021, Monday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time, Year B

Genesis 1:1-19;

Psalm 103: 1_2,5-6,10,12,24,35;

Mark 6:53-56 Full Readings

Saint Josephine Bakhita

 Having Great Faith in Jesus

Brethren, in the first reading we see the first creation story, an explanation of how the universe came into being. The two slightly different accounts of the creation are not meant to be historical: they can’t be! One difficulty is that it is now firmly established scientifically that the universe existed for countless billions of years before human beings existed to record what was happening. Another, more obvious, difficulty is that the sun and the moon are said to have been created only on the fourth day: what could be meant by a ‘day’ without sunrise and sunset? Nevertheless, they are true, in that they teach us significant truths, not so much about what happened, but about ourselves today, our relationship to the Creator, whom we call ‘God’, to our environment and to one another. The creation stories answer many of our fundamental questions of humanity like, what is the origin of the universe, origin of man, origin of evil and suffering and many others and are necessary for our faith in God.

Daily Catholic Reflection: February 7, 2021, Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

Job 7: 1-4.6-7;

Psalm 147: 1-2.3-4.5-6;

1 Corinthians 9:16-19.22-23;

Mark 1:29-39 Full Readings

Saint Colette

Jesus Redeems the Suffering Humanity

When we reflect on the terrible problems some people have, we ask ourselves why it should be like this. In the first reading Job describes in dramatic terms the situation of humanity on earth. The gospel reading is a reply to the problems by Job. Jesus sees the sad reality of suffering and disease. He takes it on and exhorts his disciples to engage in bringing about the new world that he has just begun. In the second reading we have the example of Paul, a man who did not spare himself in his dedication to his mission, giving up his rights so as not to be an obstacle to the growth of the Kingdom.

Daily Catholic Reflection: February 6, 2021, Memorial of Saint Paul Miki and Companions, Martyrs

Hebrews 13:15-17.20-21;

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

Mark 6:30-34 Full Readings

Saint Paul Miki and Companions

 Resting in and with Jesus.

Brethren, in the first reading, we are encouraged to obey our leaders and follow what they tell us if it leads us to communion to God. We see the good example of the disciples of Jesus who obeyed what he was telling them as their master and they became great. In today's Gospel he tells them to come and rest with him but it was not possible because the crowd was much and looked like sheep without a shepherd, and so Jesus and his disciples had to attend to them, teaching, and preaching to them the good news in spirit and truth.

Daily Catholic Reflection: February 5, 2021, Memorial of Saint Agatha, Virgin and Martyr

Hebrews 13: 1-8;

Psalm 27: 1.3.5.8c-9abc,;

Mark 6 : 14-29 Full Readings

Saint Agatha

 Stand for Truth and Justice

Brethren, in the letter to the Hebrews, our first reading today, encourages us to have extraordinary hospitality, to welcome even strangers for by doing so some welcomed Angels, like Abraham, to pray for those in prison as though we were in prison with them, to guide our marriages by love avoiding all adultery and fornication, and following the examples of our religious leaders who preached the Word of God for Christ is same yesterday, today and forever. How are you ready to do these things? John the Baptist and Jesus did them, are you ready too?

Daily Catholic Reflection: February 04, 2021, Thursday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time, Year B

Hebrews 12:18-19.21-24;

Psalm 48:2-3ab.3cd-4.9-10-11;

Mark 6:7- 13 Full Readings

Saint Joseph of Leonissa

 God Provides in Mission

Today's Gospel presents to us the sending of disciples two by two, to proclaim the Kingdom of God which is at hand and the instructions they are to follow. In today's Gospel Jesus is instructing His disciples on how they are to carry out their mission. First of all, they are to proclaim the Kingdom of God by performing miracles, casting away evil spirits. Secondly they are to carry nothing for their journey for the worker deserves  his or her pay, the people they are proclaiming too will take care of them.

Daily Catholic Reflection: February 03, 2021, Wednesday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time, Year B

Hebrews 12:4-7.11-15;

Psalm103:1-2.13-14.17-18a;

Mark 6:1-6 Full Readings

Saint Blaise

 Familiarity Breeds Contempt

Brethren, knowing people so well may hinder us from knowing them truly. We get so used to what we have known of people that we tend to be blind to what they have become or are becoming. For the people of Jesus’ hometown, ‘This is the Carpenter, surely…’ and they would not accept him.’ The wisdom in his teachings and the reports about his power, even those that were before their very eyes did not fit into their initial knowledge and impression of him, and thus were unacceptable to them. They did not know that the Carpenter was also the Messiah they awaited and hence, rejected him and he could work no miracle there. We must be careful not to let our familiarity blind us to the wonders of God’s ways. Being a Christian in this age and time requires great openness to God’s continual action in the church, in the world and in our very own brothers and sisters. We must be careful not to set a boundary as to the extent of God’s wonders and his ways.

Daily Catholic Reflection: February 02, 2021, Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, Year B

Malachi 3: 1-4;

Psalm 24:7.8.9.10;

Hebrews 2: 14-18;

Luke 2:22-40 Full Readings

Presentation of the Lord

Being Consecrated to Christ.

Brethren, today we celebrate the presentation of Jesus in the Temple, done after 40 days after his birth. On the same day we celebrate the day of consecrated religious and those of Apostolic life societies. It is an invitation to consecrate ourselves to Christ in serving him and loving his people.