Daily Catholic Reflection: Wednesday, June 01, 2022, Memorial of Saint Justin, Martyr

Acts 20:28-38,

Psalm 68:33-35a.35b,

John 17: 11b-19 Full Readings

Saint Justin Martyr

Consecrate them in Truth

The Gospel today presents the middle part of the Jesus' high priestly prayer which centres on the separation of the followers of Jesus from the world. He prays that they may remain One as Father and Him are one. Jesus has given them his Word and prays that they may remain uncontaminated by the world and the Evil One. This part justifies the title ‘High Priestly Prayer’ because the priestly function involves sanctifying others. Here Jesus speaks of sanctifying himself, so that his followers may not only be protected from the Evil One, but also may be sanctified as he is sanctified. He prays that we should be sanctified/consecrated in truth. How? Simple. We allow the Word of the Father to consecrate us in truth. In other words, we allow God’s holy Word to engage us, challenge us, change us, call us from sin, point us to Heaven and transform every aspect of our lives. God’s Word is the Truth, and we will become holy if we are transformed by this Truth.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Tuesday, May 31, 2022:Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Year B

Zephaniah 3:14- 18a, or Rom 12:9-16

Psalm: Isaiah 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6

Luke 1:39-46 Full Readings

Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

 Bringing Christ to Others 

Today, we celebrate the feast of the visitation of the blessed Virgin Mary to his cousin Elizabeth. Luke tells us that Mary went in a haste to visit her cousin Elizabeth. Perhaps, she went to rejoice with Elizabeth and to assist her in her pregnancy. This showed the love that Mary had for her cousin the joy she had for her because of her pregnancy in the old age. However, there was something more that Elizabeth and her family benefited from Mary's visit. 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.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Monday, May 30, 2022, Monday of the Seventh Week of Easter, Year C

Acts 19:1-8,

Psalm  68:2-3.4-5ac 6-7ab,

John 16:29-33)                      Full Readings

Saint Joan of Arc

Have you come to believe in Jesus?

Today's Gospel reading brings to a conclusion the second version of the discourse after the Last Supper which began with John 15.1. It concludes with an inspiring re-assurance of the certainty of the teaching which has been given. All the teachings of Jesus to his Apostles and to us are meant to bring them peace both of mind and body all in Jesus Christ. This is why he says, "I have told you this so that you might have peace in me." The themes of the whole discourse are love and belief, which have been constant throughout the teaching of Jesus which we have read in the weeks of Eastertide. Now the disciples are to be scattered over the earth on their mission, and though the world will be full of trouble, they can still rest secure in Jesus because of his union with the Father and because of conquering the world. Now, we are ready, with the Apostles, for the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Wednesday, May 25, 2022, Wednesday of the Sixth Week of Easter, Year C

Acts 17: 15.22-18:1,

Psalm 148:1-2.11-12.13.14,

John 16:12-15                       Full Readings

Saint Bede the Venerable

He Will Lead You to All Truth

Today, Jesus continues with His farewell words to his Apostles as well as ensuring them of His promise of the Holy Spirit and today, He introduces this Spirit under the title, Spirit of Truth as he says: “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth.”  John 16:12–13

Daily Catholic Reflection: Tuesday, May 24, 2022, Tuesday of the Sixth Week of Easter, Year C

Acts 16:22-34,

Psalm 138: 1ac-2a.2bcd-3.7c-8,

John 16:5- 11                                Full Readings

Saint Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi

The Role of the Holy Spirit

Brethren, Jesus continues to prepare his Apostles for his departure to his Father in heaven and today tells his Apostles that His going (ascension) to His Father is for their own good and our own good too. This is because when He goes will send us an Advocate, who will be with us forever. If Jesus does not go to His Father, the Advocate will not come.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Monday, May 23, 2022, Monday of the Sixth Week of Easter, Year C

Acts 16:11-15,

Psalm 149: 1bc-2.3-4.5-6a and 9bc,

John 15:26-16:4a                                Full Readings

Saint Gregory VII

 The Spirit of Truth Will Be My Witness. 

As days draw near to His ascension, Jesus is preparing His disciples for the life when He will not be them physically. He is telling them what will really happen and prepares them in time so that they will not be surprised when the time comes. Today He tells His Apostles that they will be expelled from synagogues and even killed but no worry the Spirit of truth will be with them to strengthen them and give them what to say.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Sunday, May 22, 2022, Sixth Sunday of Easter, Year C

Acts 15:1-2, 22-29

Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8

Rev 21:10-14, 22-23

Jn 14:23-29                    Full Readings

Saint Rita of Cascia

The Gifts of Peace and the Paraclete

Brethren, as we see in the first reading, when the Gentiles were joined to the early Christian community, there rose a division between the circumcised Jews and the uncircumcised Gentiles. The Jews held that to be an authentic Christian, one must be circumcised according to the Mosaic practice. This division had to be solved with the help of the Holy Spirit by the Council of the Apostles who sat in Jerusalem around 50AD (Council of Jerusalem) and decreed that the Gentiles did not have to circumcise in order to become Christians. To them, the Gentiles were not to circumcise, but to avoid all food sacrificed to the idols, from blood because it was a source of life, from meat of strangled animals, and from fornication/adultery. In short, there only way of becoming authentic Christians was only through their way of life.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Saturday, May 21, 2022, Saturday of the Fifth Week of Easter, Year C

Acts 16: 1-10,

Psalm 100: 1-2.3.5,

John 15:18-21 Full Readings              

 Saint Cristóbal Magallanes and Companions

 The Reality of following Jesus 

Brethren, today's Gospel reading presents to us the reality of following Jesus. It's Jesus Himself who speaks to us 'If the world hates you, remember that they hated me first...if they persecuted me, they will persecute you too.'

Daily Catholic Reflection: Friday, May 20, 2022, Friday of the Fifth Week of Easter, Year C

Acts 15:22-31

Psalm 57:8-9, 10 and 12

Jn 15: 12-17                 Full Readings

Saint Bernardine of Siena

You are My Friends

Brethren, the words of Jesus in form of  a commandment to his Apostles also speak to us today deep within our hearts: "I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father." We are Jesus' friends and indeed his beloved brethren because he has loved us first, the love beyond and he also invites us to love one another as he have loved and that if we keep his commandments, we will remain in his love and remain his friends forever. Todays gospel presents three aspects upon which Jesus love which resulted into his friendship with us is modeled and which we as Christians take as our guide in our friendship with God and with one another. Let us see each of them.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Thursday, May 19, 2022, Thursday of the Fifth Week of Easter, Year C

Acts 15:7-21

Psalm 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 10

Jn 15: 9-11               Full Readings

Saint Theophilus of Corte

The Joy of Christ

Brethren, out of Jesus' unconditional and overflowing love to his disciple, he gave them and left with them only gifts which only God can give in full abundance. His love to his disciples was only his but for the whole the Trinity. So the love he showed his disciples was the love of the Father through the Holy Spirit. We receive and experience the Father’s love through Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus told his disciples for he himself says: “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him” (John 14:23). The indwelling that comes to live within us is the Holy Spirit. By receiving the love of God, we experience the life of the Holy Trinity within us. How amazing and empowering! Through the sacraments and our obedience to God’s commandments, we have the love of God within us, motivating us, allowing us to shower his love on everyone we encounter. Our relationship with the Holy Trinity is what enables us to keep his commandments and uphold the new and everlasting covenant that God the Father established through Christ his Son.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Wednesday, May 18, 2022; Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter, Year C

Acts 15:1-6,

Psalm  122: 1-2.3-4ab.4cd-5,

John 15 :1 -8 Full Readings

Saint John I

Remaining in Jesus

In today's Gospel Jesus says " I am the true vine, you are the branches...my Father is the vine dresser...whoever remains in me, I will remain in him and he will bear much fruits." These paraphrased words of Jesus speak to us in a deeper manner and encourage us to remain in Jesus, to abide in Him forever so that we can bear good fruits and have eternal life.

ROSARY IN RUNYANKOLE RUKIGA: EBIKORWA BY'OKUSHEMERERWA//JOYFUL MYSTERIES with Karugaba Wilson

Learn and Pray the Most Holy Rosary in Runyankole Rukiga with Br Karugaba Wilson

EBIKORWA BY'OKUSHEMERERWA (Monday and Saturday)

1. Malaika Gabriel naagambira Mariya ati; Oryazaara omwana Wa Ruhanga

Tushabe engyesho y'okwekyeehesa

2. Biikira Mariya naazindukira Elizabeeti omuhikirire mukuru we Tushabe engyesho y'okukundana 3. Yezu Kristo naazarirwa Betelehemu omu ka y'ente. Tushabe amaani g'okuteekoma aha by'ensi konka 4. Biikira Mariya naatwaara Yezu kristo omuri Nyaruju kumuhongera Ruhanga, nawe wenka kweshemeza. Tushabe engyesho y'okuhitsya ebi Ruhanga aturagiira 5 Biikira Mariya naazora Yezu kristo omuri Nyaruju naayegyesa abakuru b' ediini.

Tushabe omucwe gw' okwecurengera emitima ya bagyenzi baitu

ROSARY IN RUNYANKOLE RUKIGA: EBIKORWA BY'OBUSAASI//SORROWFUL MYSTERIES with Karugaba Wilson

Learn and Pray the Most Holy Rosary in Runyankole Rukiga with Br Karugaba Wilson EBIKORWA BY'OBUSAASI (Tuesdays and Fridays)

1. Yezu Kristo naasasibwa ebibi byaitu omuri Getesemaani,

Bikira Mariya otushabire Amaani g'okwanga ebibi byaitu

2. Yezu Kristo nibamuboha aha nyomyo, nibamuteera munonga.

Bikira Mariya atushabire okwehenera abibi byaitu.

3.Yezu Kristo nibamujweka aha mutwe ekirunga ky'amahwa.

Bikira Mariya atushabire okugumisiriza omu busaasi bwaitu.

4.Yezu Kristo nibamuheekyesa omusharaba gwe

Bikira Mariya atushabire okuteetomboita omu naku zaitu

5.Yezu Kristo nibamubamba aha musharaba, naafa

Bikira Mariya atushabire Amaani g'okuguma nitutwaza gye okuhitsya okufa

ROSARY IN RUNYANKOLE RUKIGA: EBIKORWA BY'EKITIINWA//GLORIOUS MYSTERIES, with Karugaba Wilson

Learn and Pray the Most Holy Rosary in Runyankole Rukiga with Br Karugaba Wilson

EBIKORWA BY'EKITIINWA (Sunday and Wednesday)

1. Yezu kristo nazooka omu bafu. Biikira Mariya atuhamye omu diini 2.Yezu kristo naatemba omu iguru Biikira Mariya atwongere okugira amatsiko g' okurokoka 3.Yezu Kristo naayohereza Mutima Orikwera omu ntumwa Biikira Mariya atushabire engabirano za mutima orikwera 4. Biikira Mariya naafa, naatwarwa omu iguru. Biikira Mariya atushabire omugisha gw'okufa gye 5. Biikira Mariya naaheebwa omu iguru obugabekazi.

Biikira Mariya atuhe okumwesiga ebiro byona

Daily Catholic Reflection: Tuesday, May 17, 2022, Tuesday of Fifth Week of Easter, Year C

Acts 14: 19-28,

Psalm  145:10-11. 12-13ab.21,

John 14:27-31a                                Full Readings

Saint Paschal Baylon

The Peace of Christ

Brethren, we continue our reflection on the farewell discourse of Jesus and today we see Christ’s parting gift to his disciples: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you." At a moment this looks to be the end of the farewell discourse because after giving them peace, we see Jesus telling his disciples that he has no more to say to them (Jn 14:29) and after this he tells his disciples, "Get up now, let us go" (Jn 14:31b). This suggest that the gift of peace was the end of the farewell discourse and that the rest of the discourse (chapter 15-17) is another edition of the discourse. So why does Jesus give the gift of peace to his disciples as a parting gift just before he died? We see him repeating this peace greeting after resurrection, Why?

Daily Catholic Reflection: Monday May 16, 2022, Monday of the Fifth Week of Easter, Year C

 

Acts 14:5 -18; 

Psalm 115:1-2.3-4. 15- 16; 

John 14:21-26                    Full Readings                      

Saint Margaret of Cortona

 The Indwelling of the Trinity 

Brethren, there are two important points we can take from today's readings as we continue to reflect on the farewell discourse of Jesus. Firstly, is what the love that Jesus talked about yesterday means and implies, and secondly, one of the four major roles of the Paraclete in the gospel of John: to teach. Let us look at each of them.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Sunday, May 15, 2022, Fifth Sunday of Easter, Year C

 

Acts 14:21-27; 

Psalm 145:8-13a; 

Rev. 21:1-5; 

John 13:31-33,34-35            Full Readings

Saint Isidore the Farmer

 Love One Another as I have Loved You

As we slowly approach the birthday of the church, that is Pentecost, we continue to listen and we need to listen to how Jesus how Jesus prepared and envisaged his community for the ministry and life without him. The great discourse “Farewell Discourse,” presented in today's gospel marks this reflection on how Jesus prepared his community for life without him physically. It is about the obligations, duties and dangers which will come upon his disciples after his own death and resurrection.

ROSARY IN RUNYANKOLE RUKIGA: EBIKORWA BY'OKUMURINKANA (LUMINOUS MYSTERIES)

Learn and Pray the Most Holy Rosary in Runyankole Rukiga with Br Karugaba Wilson

EBIKORWA BY'OKUMURINKANA (THURSDAYS)

1. Yezu okubatizibwa

Mariya maaweitwe, atushabire amaani g'okuhamira omu ndagano za batisimu, turinde etabaza zaitu zigume nizaaka nitwengyengyeta

2. Yezu okuhindura amaizi viino Mariya maaweitwe,otushabire okwongerwa ekiconco ky'okwikiriza 3. Yezu okutandika kurangiriira Amakuru Marungi Mariya Maaweitwe, otushabire amaani g'okwegarukamu, mutuma orikwera atusaasire ebibi baitu omu Isaakaramentu rya penetensia 4. Yezu okuhinduka okundi Mariya maaweitwe, otushabire engyesho y'obuhurizi, tushaashe na Kristo tubone kubagana aha kitiinwa kye 5.Yezu okugabura eky'okurya kya'akaragwa

Maria maaweitwe, otushabire okugirira enjara n'eriho Kristo, tumutungye kaingi omu isaakaramentu rya Ukarastiya tubone kumereera nawe

Daily Catholic Reflection: Wednesday May 11, 2022; Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Easter, Year C

Acts 12:24- 13: 5a,

Ps :2-3.5.6.8,

John 12:44-50             Full Readings

Saint Ignatius of Laconi 

Jesus the light of the World

Brethren, light and darkness, eternal life and death just to say are outstanding themes in John's Gospel. After we have seen Jesus as the way to eternal life, John presents another theme, Jesus as the light who came into the world so that whoever believes in him should never walk in darkness. In today's Gospel John equates light as belief in Jesus, that is, when we believe in Jesus, we are walking in the light and no longer in darkness. Believing in Jesus is also believing in the one who sent him, his father in heaven.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Friday May 6, 2022, Friday of the Third Week of Easter, Year C

Acts 9:1-20

Psalm 117:1.2

John 6:52-59 Full Readings

Saints Marian and James

Jesus, The Bread of Life

Brethren, from the first reading, we see that God can use any one for his glory and for the proclamation of his Gospel, despite the sinful past and unfaithfulness to the covenant. Obviously, the saint has a past, and a sinner has the future. Saint Paul who was the chief persecutor of the church is now made an instrument of God to carry his name before Gentiles, kings, and children of Israel, and God even promised that he will show him what he will have to suffer for His (God) name. Us too can be like St Paul, let us always be open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit in us, who invites us daily to be witnesses to the Gospel through our life, words and deeds.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Thursday May 5, 2022, Thursday of the Third Week of Easter, Year C

Acts 8:26-40,

PSALM 65(66):8-9,16-17,20),

John 6 :41 -51                              Full Readings

Saint Hilary of Arles

Being Drawn to Jesus.

Brethren, today Jesus explicitly says that nobody can come to Him, unless he is drawn by the Father who sent Him. This statement tells us that our communion with Jesus, our love for him and our meeting him in prayer, in scripture and in the most Holy Eucharist is not by our own making. It's only God who grants us that chance, who draws us to Jesus to be in communion with Him and at last as he promises in the Gospel, to raise us up with him.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Wednesday, May 4, 2022, Wednesday of the Third Week of Easter, Year C

Acts 8: 1b-8,

Psalm 66:1-3a.4-5.6-7a,

John 6:35-40 Full Readings     

Blessed Michael Giedroyc              

 Believing in the Son is believing in the Father 

After all the attempts by prophets, Jesus himself and the apostles as well as disciples of Jesus, to convert the Jews to listen to the Gospel, failed, the mission was transferred to the Gentiles. In the first reading today, we see that because of persecution, all disciples and apostles ran to different places and there they proclaimed the gospel and many people believed. Do you allow the gospel to pass over you or you accept it and believe in Jesus? Do you take part in persecuting those Jesus has chosen for his mission, or you support them in any way possible. Persecution does not necessarily mean physical torture or killing but when we do not give warm welcome to the gospel herald, when we do not support them, when we reject them and claim that they should be transferred from our parishes, when we talk bad about them instead of praying for them, and others of a sort, we are persecuting them.

Daily Catholic Reflection: May 3, 2022, Feast of Saints Philip and James, Apostles, Year C

1 Corinthians 15:1-8,

Psalm 19: 19:2-3.4-5,

John 14:6-14 Full Readings

Saints Philip and James

  Jesus the Way, the Truth and the Life

Today my dear brothers and sisters in Christ, the Church celebrates the feast of the two apostles, Philip and James. Their relics are kept together in the Church of the Twelve Apostles in Rome and, from the day of its dedication in 565, these two apostles have been celebrated together. Not much is known about these two Apostles of Jesus. James, son of Alphaeus and cousin of the Lord, ruled the Church of Jerusalem, and probably authored the letter we find in the New Testament. He suffered martyrdom in the year 62.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Monday, May 2, 2022, Memorial of Saint Athanasius, Bishop and Doctor of the Church, Year B

Acts 6:8-15,

Psalm  119:23-24.26-27.29-30,

John 6:22-29 Full Readings

Saint Athanasius

 Working For Spiritual Food

Brethren, today’s first reading begins the process of the martyrdom of Stephen. This martyrdom concludes the first section of the Acts (exhortation to the Jews to repent and believe in the Risen Christ), for Luke sees it as the end of the second chance given to Jerusalem. Jesus attempted to convert them and they refused. Then came the second chance as the apostles attempted to convince them, and again they failed. Now Luke marks this failure with Stephen’s arrest and testimony. The Gospel now is to move on to other areas, even to the Gentiles and everyone who will believe in the one God sent not only to heal and provide for us physical healing and food but mostly spiritual food and spiritual healing.