Daily Catholic Reflection: November 3, 2020, Tuesday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time, Year A

Philippians 2:5- 11,

Ps 22:26b-27.28.29-3tl.3,

Luke 14:15-24 Full Readings

Saint Martin de Porres

 Responding to God's Invitation

Today we read Luke's version of the king who invited the guests for a wedding feast and the invited guests would not turn up which made him collect anybody in the city, for the feast had to take place. Today we are also invited to that feast. The king represents God and the invited guests are we his people. God is always inviting us, not forcing us to commune with him. Are you ready to commune with him or you are going to give excuses? Let us be humble and respond to his invitation.

Daily Catholic Reflection: November 2, 2020, The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed(All Souls)

Wisdom 3:1-9,

Psalm 23: 1-3.4.5.6,

Romans 5:5-11,

John 6:37-40 Full Readings

Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed

Teach Us to Count Our Days

Brethren, Death must be thought of as a light that guides us through our lives so that our decisions may always be wise and righteous, leading us to embody the beatitudes.

Daily Catholic Reflection: November 1, 2020, Solemnity of All Saints, Year A

Reading 1: RV 7:2-4, 9-14

Responsorial Psalm: PS 24:1BC-2, 3-4AB, 5-6

Reading 2: 1 JN 3:1-3

Gospel: MT 5:1-12A                                  Full Readings

Solemnity of All Saints

 Living the Beatitudes

Today we celebrate all Saints Day, the people who are living in heaven ever praising God and giving him glory in the company of the Angels. These are the people, as we see in the first reading from the book of Revelation, who went under every and different kinds of persecution in this world and washed their robes and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb. For that matter they are enjoying eternal life in heaven with God.

Daily Catholic Reflection: October 31, 2020, Saturday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time, Year A

Philippians1:18b-26,

Psalm 42:2.3.5,

Luke 14:1.7-11 Full Readings

Saint Wolfgang of Regensburg

 Let Others Exalt You 

Brethren, Shame is an emotion which only those who are well-off can afford; the destitute cannot afford it! Today’s gospel text teaches us about simple etiquette. Jesus tells us that no one takes honour upon himself, but other people, seeing how worthy and humble you are, give you the honour you deserve. It also speaks to us about how we understand positions of authority. You do not assume positions of authority because you feel your status should earn you such positions, we should wait a little and reflect, anyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and anyone who humbles himself will be exalted.

Daily Catholic Reflection: October 30, 2020, Friday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time, Year A.

Philippians 1:1 - 11,

Psalm 111: lb-2.3-4.5-6,

Luke 14: 1-6 Full Readings

Saint Alphonsus Rodriguez

 Love Over the Law

The beginning of the Letter of St Paul to the Philippians is so instructive. It reflects the concern and love every Bishop and priest of the Church ought to have for God’s people. This responsibility of love and concern does not end with Priests, it comes down to the parents and children in the family, teachers and leaders, and in fact, everyone who has the responsibility of caring for others. The question Jesus asked the lawyer and the Pharisees in today’s gospel about healing on the Sabbath and his subsequent healing miracle is one of care and concern he has for a suffering person. He also puts the same question before all of us today. What act of love and concern can you do today? Jesus invites us to join him in healing our world of hatred, pain, neglect, indifference, slander and disunity.

Daily Catholic Reflection: October 29, 2020: Thursday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time, Year A.

 

Ephesians 6: 10-20,

Psalm 144: 1.2.9-10,

Luke 13:3l-35 Full Readings

Saint Narcissus of Jerusalem

 The Spiritual Battle

Brethren, St Paul in the first reading tells us, we should not and we ought not to struggle and fight against human enemies, we are wasting our time by doing that, the battle we should fight is the spiritual battle, a battle against the sovereignties, principalities and the powers who originate darkness in the world, that is, the spiritual army of evil, Satan being the army commander. If we fight and win this battle, we have victory over everything, even enmity for it is the evil that brings this enmity.

Daily Catholic Reflection: October 28, 2020, Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles, Year A

Ephesians 2:19-22,

Psalm 19:1-2.3-4,

Luke 6:12-19 Full Readings

Saints Simon and Jude

 Saints Simon and Jude Pray for Us

The scripture tells us little about Simon the Zealot and Jude who was also called Thaddaeus. Jude is the patron saint of lost and desperate causes. Put together we can understand the zeal with which they followed Christ in his earthly ministry. And beyond that, think of the persecution they faced after the Ascension. Our Christian Journey is decorated with trials, temptation and persecution but we must take courage from those who have gone before us in faith, to understand that there is a crown of unfading glory awaiting us. Jesus Christ our Lord and master have gone through the worst case scenario. So we know that not only do we participate in Christ’s suffering, we share in his glory. As we celebrate the feast of Saints Simon and Jude we pray for strength and courage to live a holy life. May these saints continue to intercede for us.