Daily Catholic Reflection: December 24, 2022, Saturday of the Fourth Week of Advent Mass in the Morning, Year A

2 Samuel 7: 1-5.8b-12. 14a.16,

Psalm 89:2-3.4-5.27 and 29 

Luke 1:67-79                          Full Readings

Christmas at Greccio

The Fruit of Zechariah's Silence

Brethren, today we come to a conclusion of the story of annunciation, birth, naming of John the Baptist and defining his mission. This story has a divine intervention in the history of salvation as John the Baptist was to prepare the way for the saviour who is being born tomorrow on Christmas day. However, the story also consists of Zechariah being made mute as a result of doubting the message of Angel Gabriel. And yesterday, we saw him speaking again after naming the child, John, as the Angel had commanded him at J0on’s annunciation. In the gospel today we see Zekariah filled with the Holy Spirit and praises God in the well-known Benedictus which is said every morning in the liturgy of hours. This Benedictus not only blesses the Lord but also defines the mission of Jonn.

Daily Catholic Reflection: December 23, 2022, Friday of the Fourth Week of Advent, Year A

Malachi 3:1-4; 4:5-6,

Psalm 25:4-5ab.8-9.10 and 14 (R. see Luke 21:28)

Luke 1:57-66                          Full Readings

Saint John of Kanty

John and Jesus

Brethren, the Old Testament prophets foretold the return of the prophet Elijah (Malachi 3:1, and 4:5) who would announce the coming of the Messiah - the Savior and Ruler of the earth. In the first reading, Malachi tells us that God is to prepare people for the coming of the Lord, the Day of the Lord. The day of the Lord in the Bible would be sadness and misery for those who are not prepared. The Good News for us is that God has sent the prophets to prepare us for this day. John the Baptist, best of all prophets, fulfils the role of Elijah, the Messianic prophet, as Jesus confirmed (Matthew 11:13-14). His miraculous birth shows the mercy and favour of God in preparing his people for the coming of its Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. Apart from being the percussor of Jesus, there are more similarities and differences between John and Jesus.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Wednesday, December 21, 2022, Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Advent, Year A

Song of Solomon 2:8-14,

Psalm 33:2-3.11-12.20-21,

Luke 1:39-45                          Full Readings

Saint Peter Canisius

Taking Jesus to Others

In the Book of the song of songs, where today's first reading comes from, 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 on Christmas; he wants us to come out of ourselves to meet him with faith and love. For all the time of advent, we have been preparing to meet him, are we ready to meet him. God's visit is the best visit which will ever happen and indeed we are lucky to have Him. Today, let's join Elizabeth as she acclaims with joy, when Mary visited her, that, "Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord?" Indeed, why should we be honoured with the visit from God, coming on Christmas, indeed we are glad, let us rejoice and be eager to welcome him. We should not only rejoice but also take Jesus to others just as Mary did. 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: Tuesday, December 20, 2022, Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Advent, Year C

Isaiah 7: 10-14,

Psalm 24:1-2.3-4ab.5-6,

Luke 1:26-38                          Full Readings

Saint Dominic of Silos

Mary's Fiat

Brethren, the readings of the last Sunday of Advent always turn to Mary, as she waits for her child to be born. Since the beginning of advent, we have seen different personalities who played an important role in the salvation history: the prophets who culminated with the greatest of them, John the Baptist, whom we have taken many days reflecting on him, Saint Joseph, who we were reflecting on last week, Zechariah, Elizabeth and others, and then this last week, we turn to Mary, whose greatest Fiat culminated the salvation history by giving birth to Jesus, the Lord, king and saviour of the world, the Messiah who was to come as promised long ago through the lips of the Holy Prophets. Let's implore Mother Mary to always show us the example in doing the will of God, and let's keep vigil with her as she undergoes labour and finally gives birth to Jesus on Christmas day.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Tuesday, December 13, 2022, Memorial of Saint Lucy, Virgin and Martyr, Year A

Zephaniah 3:1 -2.9-13,

Ps 34:2-3.6-7.17-15.19,

Matthew 21:28-32.                        Full Readings

Saint Lucy

Not the One Who Says, But the One Who Does

Beloved friends in Christ, today we have a great teaching from the parable of the two sons who were told by their father to go and work on the farm. The first son refused but later changed his mind and went to work on the farm; he hesitated, but proceeded to do everything the father asked. The second one said Yes but didn't go to work on the farm; he gave a fine display of obedience but did nothing. This Gospel teaches us that it is not about those who just say and not do but those who do. It is also never too late, until it is late (final judgment), to change our mind, our attitude, our behavior like the second son, and do what is right. We may have developed certain habits in our lifetime, such as drinking, gambling, gossiping, stealing, or cheating. Whatever unhealthy patterns we may have acquired, we have the power to change at any time and can decide to live our life more freely and lovingly by God’s grace.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Thursday, December 8, 2022, Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Genesis 3:9-15.20,

Psalm98:1.2-3ab.3cd-4,

Ephesians 1:3-6.11-12,

Luke 1:26b-38                          Full Readings

Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Mary, Full of Grace

The following reflection is from Catholic Daily Reflections. What does it mean to be “full of grace?” This is a question at the heart of our solemn celebration today.

Today we honor the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of the Savior of the World, under the unique title of “The Immaculate Conception.” This title acknowledges that grace filled her soul from the moment of her conception, thus preserving her from the stain of sin. Though this truth had been held for centuries among the Catholic faithful, it was solemnly declared as a dogma of our faith on December 8, 1854, by Pope Pius IX. In his dogmatic declaration he stated:

Daily Catholic Reflection: Monday, December 5, 2022, Monday of the Second Week of Advent, Year A

Isaiah 35:1 –10,

Psalm 85:9ab and 10. 11 -12.13-1,

Luke 5:17-26                          Full Readings

Saint Sabas

Who Can Forgive Sins but God Alone?

Indeed, who can forgive sins but God alone? This was a complaining and a criticizing question asked by the Scribes and the Pharisees after Jesus had healed a paralytic man, who was brought to him by his friends through the roof of the house because the crowd was too much, and they could not access Jesus apart from removing the roof and bringing him down to Jesus. These scholars of the law knew the Bible, and indeed they were right in saying that it is God alone that forgives sins and to see the man standing before them claim to do just this must have been stunning. Where they missed a point was in their failure to recognize that the man amidst them was God, his only begotten Son who has the power over everything including the power to forgive sins.