Daily Catholic Reflection: Wednesday, June 01, 2022, Memorial of Saint Justin, Martyr

Acts 20:28-38,

Psalm 68:33-35a.35b,

John 17: 11b-19 Full Readings

Saint Justin Martyr

Consecrate them in Truth

The Gospel today presents the middle part of the Jesus' high priestly prayer which centres on the separation of the followers of Jesus from the world. He prays that they may remain One as Father and Him are one. Jesus has given them his Word and prays that they may remain uncontaminated by the world and the Evil One. This part justifies the title ‘High Priestly Prayer’ because the priestly function involves sanctifying others. Here Jesus speaks of sanctifying himself, so that his followers may not only be protected from the Evil One, but also may be sanctified as he is sanctified. He prays that we should be sanctified/consecrated in truth. How? Simple. We allow the Word of the Father to consecrate us in truth. In other words, we allow God’s holy Word to engage us, challenge us, change us, call us from sin, point us to Heaven and transform every aspect of our lives. God’s Word is the Truth, and we will become holy if we are transformed by this Truth.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Tuesday, May 31, 2022:Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Year B

Zephaniah 3:14- 18a, or Rom 12:9-16

Psalm: Isaiah 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6

Luke 1:39-46 Full Readings

Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

 Bringing Christ to Others 

Today, we celebrate the feast of the visitation of the blessed Virgin Mary to his cousin Elizabeth. Luke tells us that Mary went in a haste to visit her cousin Elizabeth. Perhaps, she went to rejoice with Elizabeth and to assist her in her pregnancy. This showed the love that Mary had for her cousin the joy she had for her because of her pregnancy in the old age. However, there was something more that Elizabeth and her family benefited from Mary's visit. 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: Monday, May 30, 2022, Monday of the Seventh Week of Easter, Year C

Acts 19:1-8,

Psalm  68:2-3.4-5ac 6-7ab,

John 16:29-33)                      Full Readings

Saint Joan of Arc

Have you come to believe in Jesus?

Today's Gospel reading brings to a conclusion the second version of the discourse after the Last Supper which began with John 15.1. It concludes with an inspiring re-assurance of the certainty of the teaching which has been given. All the teachings of Jesus to his Apostles and to us are meant to bring them peace both of mind and body all in Jesus Christ. This is why he says, "I have told you this so that you might have peace in me." The themes of the whole discourse are love and belief, which have been constant throughout the teaching of Jesus which we have read in the weeks of Eastertide. Now the disciples are to be scattered over the earth on their mission, and though the world will be full of trouble, they can still rest secure in Jesus because of his union with the Father and because of conquering the world. Now, we are ready, with the Apostles, for the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Wednesday, May 25, 2022, Wednesday of the Sixth Week of Easter, Year C

Acts 17: 15.22-18:1,

Psalm 148:1-2.11-12.13.14,

John 16:12-15                       Full Readings

Saint Bede the Venerable

He Will Lead You to All Truth

Today, Jesus continues with His farewell words to his Apostles as well as ensuring them of His promise of the Holy Spirit and today, He introduces this Spirit under the title, Spirit of Truth as he says: “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth.”  John 16:12–13

Daily Catholic Reflection: Tuesday, May 24, 2022, Tuesday of the Sixth Week of Easter, Year C

Acts 16:22-34,

Psalm 138: 1ac-2a.2bcd-3.7c-8,

John 16:5- 11                                Full Readings

Saint Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi

The Role of the Holy Spirit

Brethren, Jesus continues to prepare his Apostles for his departure to his Father in heaven and today tells his Apostles that His going (ascension) to His Father is for their own good and our own good too. This is because when He goes will send us an Advocate, who will be with us forever. If Jesus does not go to His Father, the Advocate will not come.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Monday, May 23, 2022, Monday of the Sixth Week of Easter, Year C

Acts 16:11-15,

Psalm 149: 1bc-2.3-4.5-6a and 9bc,

John 15:26-16:4a                                Full Readings

Saint Gregory VII

 The Spirit of Truth Will Be My Witness. 

As days draw near to His ascension, Jesus is preparing His disciples for the life when He will not be them physically. He is telling them what will really happen and prepares them in time so that they will not be surprised when the time comes. Today He tells His Apostles that they will be expelled from synagogues and even killed but no worry the Spirit of truth will be with them to strengthen them and give them what to say.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Sunday, May 22, 2022, Sixth Sunday of Easter, Year C

Acts 15:1-2, 22-29

Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8

Rev 21:10-14, 22-23

Jn 14:23-29                    Full Readings

Saint Rita of Cascia

The Gifts of Peace and the Paraclete

Brethren, as we see in the first reading, when the Gentiles were joined to the early Christian community, there rose a division between the circumcised Jews and the uncircumcised Gentiles. The Jews held that to be an authentic Christian, one must be circumcised according to the Mosaic practice. This division had to be solved with the help of the Holy Spirit by the Council of the Apostles who sat in Jerusalem around 50AD (Council of Jerusalem) and decreed that the Gentiles did not have to circumcise in order to become Christians. To them, the Gentiles were not to circumcise, but to avoid all food sacrificed to the idols, from blood because it was a source of life, from meat of strangled animals, and from fornication/adultery. In short, there only way of becoming authentic Christians was only through their way of life.