Daily Catholic Reflection: December 15, 2020, Tuesday of the Third Week of Advent, Year B

Zephaniah 3:1 -2.9-13,

Ps 34:2-3.6-7.17-15.19,

Matthew 21:28-32 Full Readings

Blessed Mary Frances Schervier

 Not One Who Says, But One Who Does

In the parable of the gospel we see two kinds of attitudes among Christians today. Those who say and those who do. To do the will of the Father does not mean performing religious rituals, but following the commandment of love.  Where do you and I belong? We are invited in this advent to be like the first son who was rebellious at first but later changed his heart and went to work in the vineyard of his Father. Let us not be like the second son who despite saying yes, he didn't go to work, here we become Christians with empty promises.

Daily Catholic Reflection: December 14, 2020, Memorial of Saint John of the Cross, priest and doctor of the Church, Year B

Numbers 24: 2-7, 15-17a,

Psalm 25:4-5ab.6 and 7cd.8—9,

Matthew 21:23-27 Full Readings

Saint John of the Cross

The Authority of Christ

Brethren, today we see Pharisees asking about the origin of the authority of Jesus. Jesus asks them where the authority of John the Baptist came from and they couldn't answer and neither did Jesus. Let us reflect on three important aspects from this Gospel.

Daily Catholic Reflection: December 13, 2020, Third Sunday of Advent: GAUDETE SUNDAY, Year B

Isaiah 61:1-2a.10-11,

PSALM  Luke 1:46-48.49-50.53-54,

1Thessalonians 5:16-24,

John 1:6-8.19-28 Full Readings

Saint Lucy

 Rejoice, The Messiah is Coming 

Brethren, today we celebrate Gaudete Sunday, which is every third Sunday of Advent. The Gaudete is a Latin word which denotes Joy. Therefore today is a Sunday of Joy, a Sunday of rejoicing, an anticipation of the joy we shall have by the birth of Jesus on Christmas day. We put on rose or Violet vestments and light the third candle of the wreath which is rose or purple which means joy. This Sunday is parallel to the third Sunday of Lent which we call Laetare Sunday and denotes the rejoicing that comes with the resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday. Therefore, today we are invited to start putting ourselves in the mood of that joy which we are waiting for on Christmas day. This is only done by preparing our hearts to welcome that joy, the joy of the world.

Daily Catholic Reflection: December 12, 2020: Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Year B

Zechariah 2:14-17 or Rv 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab;

Responsorial Psalm: Judith 13:18BCDE, 19;

Luke 1:26-38 Full Readings

Our Lady of Guadalupe

Our lady of Guadalupe: The Miraculous Lady

Brethren, today we celebrate the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe who appeared in the American continent in Mexico and let us take some time to reflect on her miraculous apparitions to Juan Diego. We celebrate five successive apparitions of our Blessed Mother to Juan Diego, who was an Indian convert to the faith. Early in the morning of December 9, 1531, Juan was traveling to the town of Tlatelolco where he intended to attend a catechism class and the holy Mass. However, on his way, as he passed by the Tepeyac Hill, he was gifted by the vision of a bright light and heavenly music. As he gazed upward with wonder and awe, he heard a beautiful voice calling him. As he moved toward the voice, he saw the glorious Mother of God standing in youthful appearance in heavenly splendor. She said to him, “I am your merciful Mother…” She further revealed to him that she wanted a church built on that spot and that Juan was to go and tell this to the Bishop of Mexico City.

Daily Catholic Readings: December 11, 2020: Friday of the Second Week of Advent, Year B

Isaiah 48:17-19;

Psalm 1:2-4, 6;

Matthew 11: 16-19 Full Readings

Saint Damasus I

 Indifference to the Word of God

Brethren, today's readings look rather discordant not only with the season of Advent we are in which is supposed to give us hope of the expecting the Messiah, but also with the trend of the readings we have been reading since the beginning of Advent. Nevertheless, they give us a very important message for us today, they encourage us not to be indifferent to the word of God, to the words which are told to us that the Messiah is coming such that we should prepare for him well. Some of us may not take the word of God seriously and end up ignoring it and what it teaches us.

Daily Catholic Reflection: December 10 2020, Thursday of the Second Week of Advent, Year B

Isaiah 41:13-20,

Psalm 145:1,  AND 9, 10-11, 12-13AB

Matthew 11:11-15 Full Readings

Blessed Adolph Kolping, Our Lady of Loreto

 Inspired by John the Baptist 

Brethren, in the first. Reading we see the unchanging nature and mercy of God on us. Think of the shame and trauma the Israelites had while they were being led to exile. They suffered humiliation and were helpless in the face of opposition. To worsen the case, they were helplessly turned to slaves in exile. So Isaiah needed to restore their confidence once more. This restoration would come from an understanding that God never changes. The same God who helped Israel of old to fight their battle is still very much there to help them. The same message is being extended to us. When the enemy suggests to you that there can be other ways of getting out of your problems outside of God, tell the enemy that you serve a living God who changes not and who is bigger than your problems. And it shall be well with you. Let us now reflect on these three aspects from the Gospel.

Daily Catholic Reflection: December 9, 2020, Wednesday of the Second Week of Advent, Year B

Isaiah 40:25-31,

Psalm 103:1-2.3-4.8,

Matthew 11:28-30 Full Readings

Saint Juan Diego

 Resting in Jesus

Today's Gospel presents to us Jesus speaking with unique tenderness as He invites us to come to Him with all our burdens and carry His yoke for it's light and easy to carry.

  

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.