Daily Catholic Reflection: Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Advent. Year B

1 Samuel 1:24-2b,

PSALM 1 Samuel 2: 1.4-5.6-7

Luke 11:46-56 Full Readings

Blessed Jacopone da Todi

 The Lord has Done Great things for Me

Brethren, Do you think that God has done any great thing for you? Have you thought of giving something to him in appreciation? Learn something from Hannah and Mary today, and see for yourself how you cannot outdo God in generosity! Hannah gave Samuel her only son back to God and became a mother of more children. For her part, Mary gave God her time in service to the needy and all generations call her blessed. What have you given back to God for your life? It is not late yet to begin – and could start now. Do not look for him in faraway places. He is right beside you in the faces of the poor and the less privileged. As you do that, may you also have the cause to sing out in praise like Hannah and Mary.

Daily Catholic Reflection: December 21, 2020, Monday of the Fourth Week of Advent, Year B

Zephaniah 3:14- 18a,

Psalm 33:2-3.11-12.20-21:

Luke 1:39-45 Full Readings

Saint Peter Canisius

 Bringing Christ to Others 

Brethren, in the Book of the song of songs, God is theologically interpreted as the lover and we the beloved. Today, he advances to meet the beloved and calls out to the beloved to come out and meet him in love along the way. He is near, and is coming into our lives; he wants us to come out of ourselves to meet him with faith and love. One way to do that is to reach out to others, share in their joys and console the sorrowful. Mary went to rejoice with Elizabeth and to assist her. 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: December 20, 2020, Fourth Sunday of Advent, Year B

2 Samuel 7:1-5.8b-12.14a.16,

Psalm 89:2-3.4-5.27,

Romans 16:25-27,

Luke 1:26-38 Full Readings

Saint Dominic of Silos

 The Yes that Wrought Our Salvation

Brethren, Mary's Yes to God in order to fulfil his plan wrought our Salvation and through her the true Messiah came to us. There have been, and still are, many people who profess to be “messiahs” and “saviours” of humanity. The readings today tell us that there is only one true Messiah: Jesus, the son of Mary. In the first reading we have seen in the prophecy of Nathan that the descendants of David will inherit an eternal kingdom. In the gospel Jesus is presented as the Messiah, the king who will sit on the throne of his father David for ever as promised in the first reading. The second reading is a song of praise to God for his wonderful works especially for sending us the Messiah.

Daily Catholic Reflection: December 19, 2020, Saturday of the Third Week of Advent, Year B

Judges 13:2-7.24-25a,

Psalm 71:3-4a.5-6ab,

Luke 1:5-25 Full Readings

Blessed Pope Urban V

 John the Baptist, Preparer of Jesus Coming

With this reading from Luke we begin a continuous series of Lukan readings which will carry us right up to Christmas Eve, enabling us to share in the experiences which prepared for the birth of Jesus.

Daily Catholic Reflection: December 18, 2020, Friday of the Third Week of Advent, Year B

Jeremiah 23:5-8,

Psalm 72:1-2.12-13.18-19,

Matthew 1:18-24 Full Readings

Blessed Anthony Grassi

 He is from the House of David

Brethren, for today's reflection I use the same title as the one of yesterday as an emphasis on the descendence of Jesus from the House of David. In the first reading Jeremiah tells us that the Lord will raise a virtuous branch for David who will be a king forever and his dynasty will last forever, he will rule as a true king and be wise and all people will be saved because of his saving justice. This prophecy is fulfilled in the person of Jesus.

Daily Catholic Reflection: December 17, 2020, Thursday of the Third Week of Advent, Year B

Genesis 49:2.8-10,

Psalm 72: 1-2.3-4ab.7-8.17,

Matthew 1 : 1-17 Full Readings

Saint Hildegard of Bingen

 He is from the House of David

Brethren, Christmas is drawing near, in eight days. An invitation for the final spiritual preparation for the coming of our Lord, the Messiah. This final week leading up to Christmas can oftentimes become filled with busyness and other forms of preparation, such as shopping, cooking, traveling, decorating, etc. Though all of these other preparations have a place, don’t neglect the most important preparation—the spiritual preparation of your soul. Jesus will surely come to dwell in our hearts if they are prepared, not just in the physical preparation which most of the people do even at the expense of Spiritual preparations.

Daily Catholic Reflection: December 16, 2020, Wednesday of the Third Week of Advent, Year B

Isaiah 45:6b-8.18.21b-25,

Psalm 85:9ab and 10.11-12.13-14,

Luke 7:19-23 Full Readings

Blessed Honoratus Kozminski

 Who is to Come?

Brethren, from the first reading, we see Isaiah reminding the Israelites of One God after the exile in Babylon. Fresh from the land of exile and slavery, where they experienced polytheism (the idea of many gods) and religious prostitution, the people of Israel needed to be reminded that they have only one God, who is able to do all things well for them, and under whom they shall experience victory and glory. That reminder is equally important for us today in the face of great confusion arising from different life challenges. No matter what, fix your gaze firmly on Jesus who gives sight to the blind, makes the lame walk, cleanses the leper, raises the dead and preaches the good news to the poor. As you place your trust and fix your gaze on him, may the good news of salvation and a breakthrough be preached in the ugly and challenging situations of your life.