Daily Catholic Reflection: Sunday, July 31, 2022, Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

Ecc 1:2; 2:21-23

Ps 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14 and 17

Col 3:1-5, 9-11

Lk 12:13-21                             Full Readings

Saint Ignatius of Loyola

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: Saturday, July 30, 2022, Saturday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time, Year C

Jeremiah 26:11-16.24,

Psalm 69: 15- 16.30-31.33-34,

Matthew 14:1-12 Full Readings

Blessed Solanus Casey

 Courageous Witness to the Truth

Today's readings present to us challenges involved in witnessing to the truth and carrying out the mission of God. These challenges include even being put to death as we see John Baptist being beheaded in the Gospel due to the hatred of Herodias. This was because John had refused Herod to take Herodias as his wife because she was the wife of his brother. John Baptist's head was cut off because of standing for the truth.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Wednesday, July 27, 2022, Wednesday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time, Year C

Jer 15:10, 16-21

Ps 59:2-3, 4, 10-11, 17, 18

Mt 13:44-46                       Full Readings

Saint Titus Brandsma

The Hidden Treasure and The Pearl of Great Price

Jesus, the great teacher, uses these two images today to explain and make us understand the Kingdom of God in simple and easy language. He says: "The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it."

Daily Catholic Reflection: Monday, July 25, 2022, Feast of Saint James, Apostle, Year C

2 Corinthians 4:7-15; 

Ps126:1-2ab.2cd-3.4-5.6; 

Matthew 20:20-28.         Full Readings    

Saint James       

The Road to Heavenly Glory

Today we celebrate the feast day of Saint James, the Apostle, the son of Zebedee and the brother of John the apostle and evangelist. He was present, with Peter and John, at the special miracles worked by the Lord, at his transfiguration and in the garden of Gethsemane. He was the first of the apostles to be put to death (see Acts 12:1-3) around the year 42.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Sunday, July 24, 2022, Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

Gn 18:20-32

Ps 138:1-2, 2-3, 6-7, 7-8

Col 2:12-14

Lk 11:1-13                   Full Readings

Saint Francis Solano

Ask, Seek, Knock

When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray as it was a tradition for all Rabbis to teach their disciples how to pray, Jesus taught them the most common, universal and known prayer among Christians: "Our Father." Jesus by starting this prayer by Our Father in heaven teaches the disciples and we too that every prayer must be addressed to the Father in heaven. Always we may pray through our saints, our Mother Mary and many other devotions but those are just a passage of our prayers, which must be addressed to God the Father. At conclusion of every prayer, we address it to the Father through his Son Jesus Christ with the aid of the Holy Spirit for the Holy Spirit intercedes for us always and corrects our prayer if we happen to have prayed wrongly (Romans 8:26-27). God also answers sometimes in the same way, may through Mary or our patron saints or through other devotions and all these are done in the name of Christ our Lord. Whom do you address your prayers to?

Daily Catholic Reflection: Saturday, July 23, 2022, Saturday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time, Year C

Jer 7:1-11

Ps 84:3, 4, 5-6a and 8a, 11

Mt 13:24-30                       Full Readings

Saint Bridget of Sweden

The Wheat and the Weeds

Brethren, the image Jesus uses in today's Gospel is a common everyday example of planting, harvesting, and sorting the good fruit from the bad. Weeds can spoil and even kill a good harvest if they are not separated and destroyed at the proper time. Uprooting them too early, though, can destroy the good plants in the process. And so Jesus says that the sower will leave the wheat and the weeds to grow and at the time of harvest, he will separate the wheat from the wheat and the weeds, and the wheat will be burnt. Jesus used this image to teach us what will happen on the last day, the day of our last reckoning, for God will sit at his judgement seat and separate the good from the evil and the evil will burn in hell forever while the good enjoy eternal life with him. In all we are doing, we keep in mind our last reckoning?

Daily Catholic Reflection: Friday, July 22, 2022, Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene, Year C

Jesus shows Himself to Mary Magdalene

Song of Solomon 3:1-4ab, or 2 Cor 5:14-17

Psalm 63:2.2-4.5-6.8,

John 20:1-2.11-18  Full Readings

Saint Mary Magdalene

 I Have Seen The Lord 

Today we celebrate the feast day Mary Magdalene, the Apostle of the Apostles, and a perfect example of clinging and having deep love for Jesus. Mary Magdalene was regarded as sinful and unworthy  by the Jews, but the love that Jesus showed Mary Magdalene made her to cling to Jesus even after his death. Jesus had delivered her from seven demons, and she was one of the women who accompanied Jesus and his disciples, providing for Jesus and the Twelve out of their resources (Luke 8:1-3). Pope Saint Gregory identified her as the one who was caught in adultery and was almost being stoned. She was one of the women with St. John and the Blessed Mother at the foot of the cross, accompanying Jesus in his agony (John 19:24-25). When Jesus died and was taken down from the cross, “Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses watched where he was laid” (Mark 15:47). The next morning, when the Sabbath ended (Mark 16:1), Mary went to the tomb so early that it was still dark. She couldn’t wait to care for her Lord’s body, to anoint it with spices (Mark 16:1). She sought him in the darkness, knowing that light was coming. The Lord had transformed Mary’s life, and she continued to seek and serve him even after his death. Mary’s love for Jesus was steadfast, persevering through the most difficult circumstances because her heart was full of gratitude.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Thursday, July 21, 2022, Thursday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time, Year C

Jeremiah 2:1-3, 7-8, 12-13,

Psalm 36:6—7ab.8-9.10-11,

Matthew 13: 10-17 Full Readings

Saint Lawrence of Brindisi

 Knowledge of the Mysteries of the Kingdom

After telling the parable of the sower the disciples of Jesus asked him why He uses parables in His teachings. The major reason is that the self righteous Jews (like Pharisees and Scribes) had eyes but they look without seeing, had ears but they hear without listening or understanding. This made them not to be exposed to the mysteries of the kingdom. This also sounds like another parable which we should try to understand why Jesus said this. Jesus then sent them back to the prophecy of Isaiah.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Tuesday, July 19, 2022, Tuesday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time, Year C

Micah 7: 14-15.18-20

Ps85:2-4.5-6.7-8,

Matthew 12:46-50 Full Readings

Saint Mary MacKillop

 Becoming Part of God's Family

Brethren, think about becoming a mother of the president? What about being a sister or a brother of Bill Gates? What about being a child of the Queen of England? I can imagine that feeling; you can feel that you are the top of the world. If you can feel like that with these earthly and mortal people, what about if you are the mother, or brother or sister of Jesus or a child of God?

Daily Catholic Reflection: July 18, 2022, Monday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time, Year C

Micah 6: 1-4.6-8

Ps 50:5-6.8-9.16bc-17.21,

Matthew 12:38-42 Full Readings

Saint Camillus de Lellis

 Acting Justly, Loving tenderly and Walking Humbly

This famous statement of prophet Micah is one of the most quoted verses in the Old Testament. The Lord asks us of this: Act justly, love tenderly and walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8). The context in which Micah said this statement is when the Israelites whom God had delivered from slavery in Egypt started reciting the commandments of God only by lips not from the heart nor putting them in practice. The Lord was no longer pleased with their external sacrifices and burnt offerings for they meant nothing to Him; God sees only the heart.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Sunday, July 17, 2022, Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

Gn 18:1-10a

Ps 15:2-3, 3-4, 5

Col 1:24-28

Lk 10:38-42         Full Readings

Saint Francis Solano

Being Hospitable

We are all familiar of these or similar statements: Giving is better than receiving, blessed is the hand that gives than the one that receives, to receive, you have to give and many others of a such. Today's readings teach us to be hospitable always not only in giving but also in welcoming everyone even strangers with a warm loving heart for indeed there are many blessing in giving and being hospitable. Abraham in the first reading and Mary and Martha in the gospel are perfect examples.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Friday, July 15, 2022, Memorial of Saint Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor of the Church, Year C

Isaiah 38 :1-6.21-22.7-8

Isaiah 38: 10.11.12abcd, 16 (Song of Hezekiah)

Matthew 12:1-8 Full Readings

Saint Bonaventure

 Law and Mercy

What is the true meaning of Sabbath and what is it intended for? After the Apostles picked the ears of corn and ate them on Sabbath, the Pharisees blamed them for working on Sabbath for it was prohibited to do anything in Sabbath, the day set apart by God for rest and worship. Jesus responds to the Pharisees that He desires mercy not sacrifice and that the Son of Man is the Lord of the Sabbath. One of the ways in which Jesus spread the kingdom and it's true meaning was through unveiling the characters of some Jewish groups of people like the Pharisees and scribes. These people took the law from God and made it a burden to others and themselves they would not follow them. Exposing their ignorance about the law and its meaning was one way to free the captives of law and show God's merciful love.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Thursday 14, 2022, Memorial of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, Virgin, Year C

Isaiah 26:7-9.12. 16-19

Ps 102: 13- l4ab and 15.16-18.19-21

Matthew 11:28-30 Full Readings

Saint Kateri Tekakwitha

Resting in Jesus

Today, Jesus is speaking with unique tenderness as He invites us to come to Him with all our burdens and then carry His yoke for it's light and easy to carry. Jesus invites us to be yoked with him, to unite our life with his life, our will with his will, and our heart with his heart. To be yoked with Jesus is to be united with him in a relationship of love, trust, and obedience. 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.

Daily Catholic Reflection: July 13, 2022, Wednesday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time, Year C

IS 10:5-7, 13B-16

Psalm 94:5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 14-15

Gospel: MT 11:25-27                        Full Readings

Saint Henry

Childlike or Playing Wise?

We are presented, in today’s Gospel with Jesus’ prayer of thanksgiving to the Father for revealing things of the Kingdom to the childlike rather than the wise and learned. The question of reflection today is: is it better to be “wise and learned” or “childlike?” It is better to be childlike indeed, not only according to todays gospel but also in our ordinary life.   It can seem strange to say that it’s not good to be wise and learned, but what that means is that it’s not good to be a person who thinks they have it all figured out. Taking ourselves to be wise and learned imbues in us pride and arrogance of knowing it all which not good at all.  It’s not good to be so filled with pride that we think we have all the answers. Rather, even if we are learned and very wise, we should try to be childlike; it’s good to be one who is open, curious, and willing to learn, a distinctive characteristic of children.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Tuesday, July 12, 2022, Tuesday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time, Year C

Isaiah 7:1-9,

Psalm 48:2-3ab.3c-4.5-6.7-8,

Matthew 11:20-24 Full Readings

Saints John Jones and John Wall

Tough Love

Jesus' love for people overwhelmed that he could not resist from to rebuke the people and towns which did not heed to his word. His rebuke even with harsh punishments to those who did not accept him, was not out anger or disappointment of rejection but out of his much love for his people, and that is why he decided to show them tough love because he knows punishment awaits them. After Jesus had performed many miracles and taught in many towns and villages, proclaiming the kingdom of God and calling for repentance people did not still believe in him they made their hearts stubborn and really hardened them and didn't repent. Jesus' miracles aimed at showing the power of God and were instruments to bring people together and believe in the kingdom of God.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Monday, July 11, 2022, Memorial of Saint Benedict, Abbot, Year C

Isaiah 1:10- 17,

Ps 50:8-9.16bc-17.21,

Matthew 10:34-11:1 Full Readings

Saint Benedict

 Peace or Sword?

The Gospel today presents a collection of sayings of Jesus about the mission of the Christian apostolate and  Matthew puts a whole series of daunting challenges. First comes a trio of sayings to show the absolute priority of Christ’s claims, over the closest family ties, over life and finally over possession of one’s own self. Then comes a quartet of promises of rewards to those who welcome Christ’s messengers. These sayings of Jesus remind us and make known to us the challenges involved in being a Christian not to take up Christianity without serious forethought for there is no such thing as non-apostolic Christianity, but by becoming Christians we take on a share in Christ’s own task of spreading the Good News. The challenge is great but the reward is certain.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Sunday, July 10, 2022, Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

Dt 30:10-14

Ps 69:14, 17, 30-31, 33-34, 36, 37 or Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11

Col 1:15-20

Lk 10:25-37                           Full Readings

Saint Veronica Giuliani

Practicing the Law

Brethren, we have the law but do we understand it, and do we practice it. The first reading tells us that we know this law, it is not far from us, for it is written in our hearts. Our conscience and the Holy Spirit keeps reminding us of what good we are supposed and what we are to follow. Don't we sometimes ignore our conscience and do otherwise? If we are to practice the law, we have to understand first what it means and what requires us and that is why we see the teacher of the law of Moses comes to Jesus today and ask him what he must do to gain eternal life. Jesus' response finds him with a quick answer, following the law of the love of God and neighbour. But did this scholar understand the meaning of the neighbour? No. To make him understand, Jesus uses the parable of the Good Samaritan. When we read and reflect on this parable, truly speaking, which character do you identify yourself with? Let's get some glimpse on each character as you see where you belong as concerns following and practicing the law.

Daily catholic Reflection: Saturday, July 9, 2022, Saturday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time, Year C

Isaiah 6: 1-8,

Psalm 93:1AB, 1CD-2, 5

Matthew 10:24-33  Full Readings

Saint Augustine Zhao Rong and Companions

 Proclaiming the Gospel in face of Hostility 

Today we come to the final section of the Mission Discourse which gives us assurance of divine protection in the face of hostility and persecution while in mission. Jesus himself was fearless in proclaiming his message. He ‘taught with authority’, as the gospel constantly tells us. His disciples are sent out to do the same and  to fear nothing but only God who is the overall. Jesus invites us : "Don't be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul, fear him rather who can destroy both body and soul in hell," thus inviting us to be bold and face all the challenges including those who threaten to kill us because of spreading the word of God.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Friday, July 7, 2022, Friday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time, Year C

Hosea 14:2-10

Ps 51:3-4.8-9.12-13.14 and 17

Matthew 10: 16-23 Full Readings

Saint Gregory Grassi and Companions

 The Role of the Holy Spirit in Mission

We continue to reflect on the Mission Discourse where Jesus commissions and instructs His disciples for mission. Jesus does not need to sugarcoat the reality of the mission he is sending hos disciples to and today he tells them to prepare for persecution and rejection as they go for mission. Nevertheless, he tells them to be wise and cunning like shrewd serpent but at the same time to harmless like the dove, and not to worry for the Spirit of the Lord will guide and give them what to say in such times.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Thursday, July 7, 2022, Thursday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time, Year C

Hosea 11: 1 - 4.8c-9,

Psalm 80:2ac, and 3b, 15-16

Matthew 10:7 - 15 Full Readings

Blessed Emmanuel Ruiz and Companions

 Look For A Worthy Person

After choosing the twelve, he sent them on mission as we saw yesterday, and them today he gives them the mission instructions of which one of them is: "Whatever town or village you enter, look for a worthy person in it, and stay there until you leave." Who is this worthy person that Jesus is telling his disciples to look for as they are sent to mission by Jesus? This person is the one who is generous enough to accept and believe in the Good News of Jesus Christ and is also ready to accept the Gospel messengers that Jesus sends to us everyday and in cooperation with the Holy Spirit, help them in any way possible to proclaim the Gospel, that the Kingdom of God is near at hand. Such a person will receive the peace of Christ in his or her heart together with his or her family, the peace of mind, heart and body, and that peace will remain with such a person forever.