Daily Catholic Reflection: Tuesday, January 31, 2023, Memorial of Saint John Bosco, Priest

Heb 12:1-4.

Ps 22:26-28,30-32.

Mk 5:21-43                        Full Readings

Saint John Bosco

It's Faith that Touches Jesus

Our biblical experience tells us that no one in any situation, however grave or difficult it seemed to be, came to Jesus, with unconditional and expectant faith, was never helped and restored to life. What imbued power from Jesus for all miracles he did to different people who came to him. What really touched his being? It is Faith that touches Jesus.

Daily catholic Reflection: Monday, January 30, 2023, Monday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time, Year A

Heb 11:32-40

Ps 31:20, 21, 22, 23, 24

Mk 5:1-20                         Full Readings

Blessed Mary Angela Truszkowska

We Are Not Irredeemable

Brethren, with faith and trust in the Lord, we can never say at any moment that we are irredeemable. The first reading show how the weak of the weakest, the unthought of people in the society and those who trusted in the Lord were made great because of their faith and trust in the Lord. Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, by faith, conquered kingdoms, did what was righteous, and obtained the promises of the Lord. These were people whom nobody thought of them becoming great and making impact in their societies. Sometimes, when we think of ourselves, or even when others think of us as useless, as sinners, as unworthy and god for nothing, that is when God wants us to make us very important; we only need to turn to him with full trust and faith. Is this not what happen to a man in the gospel today who was possessed with a legion of demons (over 5000 demons).

Daily Catholic Reflection: Wednesday, January 25, 2023, Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, Apostle

Acts 22:3-16 or Acts 9:1-22

Psalm 117

Mark 16:25-18           Full Readings

Conversion of St Paul

From Persecutor to Gospel Proclaimer

Brethren, today we celebrate the feast of the conversion of Saul, the persecutor of the people who followed "The Way."  His conversion was not only a turning point for the spreading of the Christian faith all over the Roman Empire but also for the spread of Christianity throughout the whole world. His conversion on the way to Damascus is so significant that it is recounted three times in the Acts of the Apostles. Paul was a tireless missionary and a great theologian, the one who shaped the Christian message, as his letters contained in the New Testament clearly show.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Monday, January 23, 2023, Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children

Heb 9:15, 24-28

Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4, 5-6

Mk 3:22-30            Full Readings

Saint Marriane Cope

Jesus Power Criticised

Right away from the beginning of his ministry, Jesus started facing opposition and criticism which will eventually led to his death. In today's Gospel, Jesus continues to suffer challenges from every side. His relatives started by regarding him as being out of his mind and today he suffers the challenge from the Scribes as they regard his source of power as from Beelzebul, the prince of demons. Jesus, always wise in responding, tells them that any kingdom divided amongst itself will fall and thus Satan cannot divide itself too, it cannot cast away its fellow Satan. This follows that Jesus' power is from God himself; his miracles, his casting away of demons, his teachings and all what he did are all from God, and an indication of the arrival of the kingdom of God.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Sunday, January 22, 2023, Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

Is 8:23—9:3

Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14

1 Cor 1:10-13, 17

Mt 4:12-23 or 4:12-17            Full Readings

Saint Vincent of Zaragossa

Repent and Believe

Brethren, as we see in the first reading, the prophet Isaiah foretold that the good news of salvation would reach Jews and Gentiles in the "land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations" (Isaiah 9:1). Jesus begins the proclamation of the Gospel here to fulfill the word of God. The Old Testament prophets spoke of God's promise to send a Redeemer who would establish God's rule. That time is now fulfilled in Jesus who brings the light and truth of the Gospel to the world as John the Baptist had announced.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Friday, January 20, 2023, Friday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time, Year A

Hebrew 8:6-13,

Psalm 85:5 and 10.11-12.13- 14,

Mark 3:13-19            Full Readings

Saint Sebastain, Saint Fabian

Called to be With Jesus and to be Sent

Brethren, we continue to reflect on the letter to the Hebrews which centres mostly on the High Priesthood of Christ and how Christ fulfilled Old Testament prophecies. Today, the letter shows us that Christ established a new covenant which replaced the old covenant which God had established with his people, the Israelites, at the time of coming out from Egypt. This is what we call the Old Covenant, but unfortunately, this covenant was not adhered to by the Israelites by disobeying God and turning to their own ways. Then, through prophet Jeremiah 33, as quoted in our first reading today, because God loved them beyond compare, He promised to make with them a new and eternal covenant which will be written on their hearts and where every individual will follow it without excuse, because it will be written in one's conscience and not by being taught by anyone or anything external. Jesus came to establish this new covenant.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Wednesday, January 18, 2023, Wednesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time, Year A

Hebrews 7: 1-3, 15-17

Psalm 110: 1-4

Mark 3: 1-6             Full Readings

Saint Charles of Sezze

Is it Lawful to Save Life or to Kill?

Brethren, from the first reading, we see that Jesus Christ is the eternal and only priest who is the mediator between God and human beings. The First reading compares Christ and Melchizedek. Melchizedek was both king and priest, which is unique according to the Old Testament traditions. Melchizedek means “king of righteousness” in the Hebrew language. The word Salem means “peace” (the Hebrew word shalom), so that Melchizedek is “king of peace” as well as “king of righteousness.” “Righteousness” and “peace” are often found together in Scripture (Is 32:17; Ps 85:10; Ps 72:7; Jas 3:17–18; Heb 12:10–11).

Daily Catholic Reflection: Monday, January 2, 2023, Memorial of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of the Church Year A

1 John 2:22-28

Psalm 98: 1-4

John 1: 19-28          Full Readings

Saints Basil the Great, Gregory Nazianzen

Humility

Brethren, now that our Christmas Octave is completed, we immediately begin to look toward the future ministry of our Lord. In our Gospel today, Saint John the Baptist is the one who points us to that future ministry of Jesus. He acknowledges that his mission to baptize with water is one that is temporary and only a preparation for the One Who is coming after him, Jesus Christ, the newborn king, who will baptise with fire and the Holy Spirit. As we saw severally in our Advent readings, Saint John the Baptist is a man of great humility. His admission that he is not worthy to untie even Jesus’ sandal straps is proof of this fact. But ironically, it is this humble admission that makes him so great! Brethren, we are also called to this mission, to proclaim to all people, the mission of Jesus Christ, the one who saves us from our sins.