Daily Catholic Reflection: April 26, 2022, Tuesday of the Second Week of Easter, Year C

Acts 4:32-37,

Psalm 2:1-3. 4-6.7-9,

John 3 :1-8 Full Readings                   

Saint Pedro de San José Betancur

 Being Born Again

Brethren, as soon as the first week of rejoicing at the Resurrection of Jesus is over the Church begins to put before us the great discourses of Jesus (the teachings rather than the happenings) in the Gospel of John. These readings from John will continue right through Paschaltide. Today Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night, praising Jesus as being a great teacher and being with God. Jesus tells him that unless one is born again (in water and Sprit), he or she cannot enter the kingdom of God. It is surely not an accident that the series begins with the response to Jesus from the faithful in the great sacraments of initiation, Baptism (and confirmation) in John 3 and Eucharist which we will read in John 6. Or, to be more exact, the offer of Jesus in these two great sacraments to which the faithful respond.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Sunday, April 24, 2022, Second Sunday of Easter; Sunday of Divine Mercy, Year C

Acts 5:12-16;

Ps 118: 2-4, 13-15, 22-24;

Rev 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19;

Jn 20: 19-31.                  Full Readings

Saint Fidelis of Sigmaringen

Sent to be instruments of Mercy

Brethren, today, the eighth day of Easter, marks the end of Octave Easter but in a special way the mother church celebrates the Divine Mercy Sunday. When Jesus appeared to St Faustina Kowalska, he gave her ways in which devotion to his Mercy in life should be lived. One of the ways was through the celebration of Divine Mercy on this eighth day after Easter. On this day the door gates of Mercy are opened and “every soul which feels sorry, go for confession and receive Holy Communion will receive complete forgiveness of sins and no punishment.” Therefore this is a very important Sunday in the life of the church which needs God's mercy always because the church is Holy but with sinful human beings.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Saturday, April, 23, 2022, Saturday in the Octave of Easter, Year C

Acts 4:13-21,

Ps 118:1 and 14- I5ab.15c-18.19-21,

Mark 16:9- 15                                          Full Readings

Saint George

Bold Proclamation of the Risen Lord

Brethren, the final readings of Easter week sets from the apostolic witness which is to come, aided by the gift of the Holy Spirit, and the belief in the resurrection of Jesus. So, having been been with Jesus, learning from him, and having come to the full belief in the resurrection of Jesus, then Apostles are now set to go to the whole to proclaim the good news to all creation as Jesus commissions them in the gospel today. Saint Augustine of Hippo, teaches us that:

Daily Catholic Reflection: Friday, April 22, 2022, Friday in the Octave of Easter, Year C

Acts 4:1-12,

Ps 118:1-2 and 4.22-24.25-27ab,

John 21: 1-14)                                  Full Readings

Adalbert of Prague

Casting into the deep

Brethren, today Jesus appears to the Apostles again, at Lake Tiberias, which is called the Sea of Galilee. We remember the significance of this sea in  Jesus' mission. It is where he called his first disciples and did many miracles around there and it was where his ministry started from.  The disciples had gone back for fishing and could not get anything the whole night. Jesus then orders them to cast into the deep for a big catch. What an amazing catch! This Gospel has a fundamental message which Jesus gives to his disciples and to all of us.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Thursday, April 21, 2022, Thursday in the Octave of Easter, Year C

Acts 3 : 11-26,

Psalm  8:2ab and 5.6-7a.7b-9 ,

Luke 24:35-48)                            Full Readings

Saint Anselm

Peace be With You

Brethren, Jesus after appearing to various groups of people, we see him today appearing to his disciples in the room they were hiding and greeted them "Peace be with You." They were all astonished and thought they were seeing a ghost but Jesus proved by showing himself, the wounds, the flesh and by eating with them so that they may come to believe. Why did Jesus really had to appear to different groups of people and did every thing to prove that he is alive with his body and soul?

Daily Catholic Reflection: Wednesday, April 20, 2022, Wednesday in the Octave of Easter, Year C

Acts 3 : 1-10,

Psalm 105:1-2.3-4.6-7.8-9,

Luke 24 :13-35                                Full Readings

Saint Conrad of Parzham

 Recognising Jesus in the Eucharist

Brethren, we continue to celebrate Easter and Jesus is appearing to different groups of people while on the other hand the Apostles are using the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the light of the Risen Lord to perform miracles and show that really the Lord who was crucified died and was buried is indeed alive. Do we ourselves believe in this Resurrection, if Yes, let us take that light of resurrection to others.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Thursday, April 14, 2022, Holy Thursday Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper, Year C

Exodus 12:1-8. 11-14,
Psalm 116: 12- 13,
1 Corinthians 11:23-26,
John 13: 1-15               Full Readings        See also Chrism Mass Reflection
Blessed Peter Gonzalez

Extra Ordinary Humility and Service

Brethren, today we start the Easter Triduum, meaning the three days of intense prayer and  commemorating the crucifixion, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Triduum is the three great celebrations of our Catholic Faith; the heart of our faith and are the culmination of all of our worship.  It begins on Holy Thursday evening (today) with the Lord'ss greatest teaching of loving one another and service and more importantly with the celebration of the Lord’s gift of the Most Holy Eucharist given through the priesthood He instituted.  On Good Friday, we enter into the mystery of the Lord's Crucifixion. On Holy Saturday, after sundown, we enter into the glory of His Resurrection and it culminates with Easter Sunday, the celebration of the resurrections of our Lord Jesus. Let us take these days serious, and benefit from the gifts they offer to us.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Thursday, April 14, 2022, Holy Thursday Chrism Mass, Year C

Isaiah 61: 1-3a, 6a, 8b-9

Psalm 89:21-22, 25, 27

Revelation 1:5-8

Luke 4: 16-21                  Full Readings   See also Evening Mass Reflection

Blessed Peter Gonzalez

                   Special Service to God by Priests

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, on this day we celebrate the Chrism Mass which is the time when all the holy oils are blessed and made ready for the use in the diocese. On this day also all priests ordained to serve the Lord in sacred ordination renew their commitment to God and are called to remember the sacred vow and promise they have made before God and their bishops, to obey the laws of the Church and to be dedicated in their works and ministry of the Sacraments to the people of God.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Wednesday, April 13, 2022, Wednesday of Holy Week, Year C

Isaiah 50:4-9a,

Ps 69:8-10.21-22.31,

Matthew 26: 14-25            Full Readings

Saint Martin I

What will you give me if I hand him over to you?

Today we reflect on the third servant song of Isaiah presented in the first reading. It has a darker yet more confident tone than the others. Although the song gives a first-person description of how the servant was beaten and abused, here the servant is described both as a teacher and learner who follows the path God places him on without pulling back. Echoing the first song's "a bruised reed he will not break," he sustains the weary with a word. His vindication is left in God's hands. Isaiah 50:4–7 is seen by New Testament commentators to be a Messianic prophecy of Jesus Christ. Isaiah 50:6 is quoted in Handel's "Messiah" of Jesus. There is an allusion in Luke 9:51 to Isaiah 50:7 ("Therefore I have set my face like a flint"), as Jesus "set His face steadfastly" to go to Jerusalem. all these point to Jesus as the servant of God to whom all these prophesies were pointing.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Tuesday April 12, 2022, Tuesday of Holy Week, Year B

Isaiah 49: 1-6,

Psalm 71:1-2.3-4a.5-6ab.15ab,

John 13:21-33.36-38                        Full Reading

Saint Teresa of Los Andes

Perfection is Less Important than Repentance

Brethren, from Palm Sunday, we have been reflecting on the four servant songs in the book of Isaiah. Today we reflect on the second song, which is an account of the servant's prenatal calling by God to lead both Israel and the nations. The servant is now portrayed as the prophet of the Lord equipped and called to restore the nation to God. His success will come not by political or military action, but by becoming a light to the gentiles. Ultimately his victory is in God's hands (Isaiah 49:1-6). Isaiah 49:6 is quoted by Simeon in Luke 2:32 concerning the infant Jesus Christ, as the light to the Gentiles, during the time of His mother Mary's purification, meaning that the Servant Isaiah was talking about is Jesus Christ himself, and indeed he restored nation of Israel (all people to God), the mysteries we are celebrating in this Holy Week.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Monday, April 11, 2022, Monday of Holy Week, Year C

Isaiah 42: 1-7,

Psalm 27: 1.2.3.13-14,

John 12.1-11                      Full Readings

Saint Stanislaus

 Doing Charity to Jesus 

Brethren, as we enter fully into the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ through our observance of this Holy Week and walking with him, let us stop and reflect: where has Jesus done great wonders in my life, and how have I really shown gratitude to him? Of course the biggest sacrifice is still to come, that's, to die for us on the cross, but there are also many things he has done in our lives by which he deserves our gratitude. This is an invitation not to be like Jews who were seeing what Jesus had done as a son of God, but could not be grateful and finally killed him; it's an invitation to be like Mary who anointed Jesus with the most expensive ointment one can ever think of in those days, as a sign of gratitude for what Jesus had done for him, even raising Lazarus, her brother from the dead. Today, let us Reflect on the actions of Mary, Jesus and Judas as presented in the Gospel.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Sunday, April 10, 2022, Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion, Year C

Procession Gospel: Lk 19:28-40

Reading I: Isaiah 50: 4-7

Psalm 22: 8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24

Reading II: Philippians 2: 6-11

Gospel: Lk 22:14—23:56               Full Reading

 Saint Catharine of Bologna

Jesus The Abandoned and crucified Man

The entrance Gospel above shows Jesus asking for a colt and entering into Jerusalem. What a solemn welcome, what a hail, it was so marvelous from the crowd. It was just four short days before He would be arrested, He was received with great joy.  As He entered, riding a donkey, the crowds spread their cloaks, strewed palm branches before Him and cried out, “Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest” (Mt. 21:9).  Jesus was the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and He was given a Kingly welcome.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Saturday, April 9, 2022, Saturday of the Fifth Week of Lent, Year C

Ezekiel 37:21-28,

PSALM: Jeremiah 31: 10.11-12abcd. 13,

John 11:45-57                                        Full Readings

Saint Casilda

Jesus died to make us one people: Christians

Brethren, for the last few weeks of lent, the readings, especially the gospels, have presented to us a list of accusations to why the Jews killed Jesus. These accusations are very important for growth in our Christian life because, as Christians (followers of Christ) have to follow his footsteps and what happened to him can also happen to us. Knowing this makes us strong and courageous to face all the challenges involved in following Christ, knowing that we shall conquer as Jesus himself did. As far as this point, Jesus was killed due to the following accusations: breaking the rule of Sabbath by performing miracles and winning many people to him, going against the customs of the Jews and challenging their different political and authoritative systems, claiming that his power of doing miracles is from God, claiming to be the Son of God, and also to be equal with God, and the fear of the Jews that Romans would destroy their nation because of following Jesus. We shall hear others in the passion narratives of holy Week like claiming to be the king of Jews, breaking down the temple and rebuilding in three days and others. All these made the hostility of the Jews grow wild until they gained to courage and crucified Jesus.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Friday, April 8, 2022, Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent, Year C

Jeremiah 20:10-13,

Psalm 18:1-3a. 2bc-3.4-5.6,

John 10:31-42                               Full Readings

Saint Julie Billiart

 God is with us till the end.

As we draw closer to Holy Week, and exactly one week to Good Friday, we continue to see the growing hatred toward Jesus.  Just as we saw in yesterday’s reflection, this week's readings point out the most outstanding accusation which was laid upon Jesus, that is, calling himself Son of God, but this accusation, to Jesus, makes no sense, he continued his mission despite the fore knowledge of what would happen to him.  To hate Jesus and to desire to stone Him to death is an act of the greatest irrationality. But this is what happened.  Little by little, those who were against Jesus grew in boldness until that ultimate day came when He laid down His life for us and willingly embraced His death. He fell into their hands when appointed time had come but God was with him till the end.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Thursday, April 7, 2022, Thursday of the Fifth Week of Lent, Year C

Genesis 17:3-9

Psalm 105:4-5.6-7.8-9,

John 8:51-59 Full Readings

Saint John Baptist de La Salle

Whoever Keeps My Word Will Never See Death.

Brethren today's readings point us to the Graces involved in heeding to the word of God, to the word that Jesus brings to us. In the first Reading, Abraham was made the father of a multitude of nations because he heed to the word of God and followed whatever was instructed to him by God. However, he didn't not only heed to God's word but also had unwavering faith in God; that's why he is the father of faith. Thus, from Abraham, we see that whoever keeps the word of God and believes in him, will never taste death but will reign forever with God.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Wednesday, April 6, 2022, Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Lent, Year C

Dn 3:14-20, 91-92, 95

Psalm: Daniel 3:52, 53, 54, 55, 56

Jn 8:31-42                  Full Readings

Saint Crescentia Hoess

Everyone Who Commits Sin is a Slave

Brethren, in a world where freedom is the held with high esteem, and where a view of truth and freedom has been distorted as the ability to choose whatever we deem as good, or good for us, from among a limitless array of options, we can easily be tempted to act as the Jews in today's Gospel, who think that they are very free since they are no longer under exile. They forget that spiritually they indeed slaves Because of sin, because Jesus tells us today that whoever sins is a slave of sin. If we are stuck in our sins, we are not free but slaves of sin and the only way to be free is to accept the truth, What is this truth? It is Jesus Christ and the truth which will set us free. As Bishop Robert Barron says, freedom is “not so much liberty of choice, but rather the disciplining of desire so as to make the achievement of the good first possible and then effortless.”

Daily Catholic Reflection: Tuesday April 5, 2022, Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Lent, Year C

Nm 21:4-9

Psalm 102:2-3, 16-18, 19-21

Jn 8:21-30                     Full Readings

Saint Vincent Ferrer

Don't Die in Your Sins

"For if you do not believe that I AM, you will die in your sins.” said Jesus to the Pharisees who found it hard to believe in Jesus. Jesus warned his opponents that if they continued to disobey God's word and to reject him as Lord and Savior, they would shut themselves off from God and die in their sins. Jesus' words echoed the prophetic warning given to Ezekiel that people would die in their sins if they did not turn to God and ask for his mercy and pardon (see Ezekiel 3:18 and 18:18). In every age God warns his people to heed his word before the time is too late to seek his mercy and forgiveness. The same warning is given to us each and every day when we read the scriptures, when we go to Church, when we listen to sermons or reflections like this and in our conscience too. God gives us time to turn to him and to receive his mercy and pardon, but that time is right now. Christ taught the stubborn Pharisees that remaining “of this world,” refusing to believe in the Christ or the Father who sent him (that is choosing to remain in our sins) carries a death sentence. Do you and I want to die in our sins?

Daily catholic Reflection: April 04, 2022, Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent, Year C

Dn 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62 or 13:41c-62

Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6

Jn 8:12-20                                   Full Readings

Saint Isidore of Seville

God Will Fight For You

Brethren, when accusations are brought against you, how do you respond and where do you turn for help? The story in today's first reading about the lustful elders, Daniel and the innocent Susanna can help us answer this question. God in his own Wisdom, gives right judgments to each and everyone either by himself or through the ones he has chosen to minister to his people. This is the theme of today’s reflection: Don't fear, you who trust in the Lord, for God in his own Wisdom will fight for you. Wisdom is one of the most precious gifts God will ever give a human person, we Remember the great king of Israel, Solomon just asked for wisdom and all things came to him. God does not just have wisdom but instead, himself is Wisdom, therefore if God gives us Wisdom, he has given us himself. That's why the psalm states, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom. God's Wisdom does wonders and inspires everyone.