Daily Catholic Reflection: Sunday, November 6, 2022, Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

2 Mc 7:1-2, 9-14

Ps 17:1, 5-6, 8, 15

2 Thes 2:16-3:5

Lk 20:27-38                   Full Readings

Saint Nicholas Tavelic and Companions

The Life After Here

Brethren, what will the life after here on earth, the new life, look like for those who share in the Resurrection to new life?  It is the most splendid and beautiful life to behold, what St Thomas Aquinas calls the beatific vison. It will be life with God, physically and spiritually, as well as life with each other.  The Book of Revelation speaks symbolically of this new life as a city where God is on the throne in the center of the city.  Light shines forth from Him so there is no need for the sun or moon.  The streets are gold.  The gates filled with precious stones.  And so much more.  This symbolic language should not be taken literally, rather, it should be seen as imagery that helps us understand the beauty, splendor, and magnificence of the life that awaits us.  It’s the new Heavens and new Earth.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Wednesday, November 2, 2022, The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls)

Wisdom 3:1-9c,

Psalm 23: 1-3, 4, 5, 6,

Romans 6:3-9,

John 6:37-40                   Full Readings

Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed

Praying for the Departed

Brethren, most, if not all, of us would wish not to die; we are all afraid of death. For us for Christians and believers, we need not to be much afraid of it, but should pray to God for a happy death. 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. Knowing this, we shall live everyday lives worthy of having a happy death. What is a happy death? It is when one dies with no stain of sin and such a person enters directly to heaven. These are the saints we celebrated yesterday, the triumphant church.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Tuesday, November 1, 2022, Solemnity of All Saints

Apocalypse 7:2-4,9-14,

Psalm 24:1bc-2, 3-4ab, 5-6

1 John 3:1-3,

Matthew 5:1-12                   Full Readings

Solemnity of All Saints

Becoming Saints

Our fundamental call, as Christians, is the call to holiness. If there is a Christian who is not working tirelessly to become Holy, then he or she has a misguided religion. Our life as Christians must be modelled to move to holiness, and this is becoming Saints. As we celebrate All Saints Day, this is our basic reminder that we are all called to become saints.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Saturday, October 22, 2022, Saturday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time, Year C

Ephesians 4:7-16,

Psalm 122:1-2.3-4ab.4cd-5,

Luke 13: 1-9                   Full Readings

Saint John Paul II

God's Second Chances

Brethren, one of the strongest emphasizes and lessons from Luke's Gospel is the need for conversion and repentance, and above all God's patience or second chances right away from the preaching of St John and onwards to the end of the Gospel. Today's gospel emphasizes these two aspects: need for repentance and God's patience and grace.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Friday, October 21, 2022, Friday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time, Year C

Ephesians 4:1-6.

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

Luke l2:54-59                   Full Readings

Saint Hilarion

Interpreting Our World Today

Brethren, there are many natural human abilities to read and predict the future especially as it concerns weather. One may look in the west and knows that it is going to rain and so it does, or one may look at the clouds and says it won't rain and so it doesn't. Seafarers and farmers know the importance of spotting weather conditions for safe travel and planting. More still, a lot of effort is made today, with the help of science and technology, to discern potential natural dangers, such as tropical storms, hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, earthquakes, and erupting volcanoes, so that people can be warned to take shelter before disaster hits. Surprisingly, this is how Jesus wants us to interprete and read the signs of time in our world.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Thursday, October 20, 2022, Thursday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time, Year C

Ephesians 3 :14-21.

Psalm 33: I-2.4—5.11- 12.18-19.

Luke 12:49-53                   Full Readings

Saint Paul of the Cross

Fire and Division

Today's Gospel is quite shocking. How can Jesus who is the prince of peace, a spear header of unity among the people, say that he didn't come to bring peace on earth but fire and division among families.  During the Last Supper, Jesus explained to his Apostles: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid (John 14:27). And yet in today’s Gospel passage, Jesus said, do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. Is he contradicting himself? Not really.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Wednesday, October 19, 2022, Memorial of Saints John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues, Priests, and Companions, Martyrs

Ephesians 3:2- 12.

PSALM Isaiah 12:2-3.4bcde.5-6.

Luke 12:39-48                    Full Readings

Saints Isaac Jogues, Jean de Brébeuf, and Companions

Uncertainty of the Last Day

Dear brethren, the last Judgement on the Last day is real, it will come as a thief comes at night. Be alert! The eschatological discourse of Luke continues to build, telling us about the need for our preparedness for the coming of God’s kingdom. We have here the stylistic Lukan analogy of master and servant relationship and punishment to paint a picture of judgement, heaven and hell. When the master will come is judgement day, and the banquet with the master is heaven, and condemnation is hell. If we know when judgement will befall us, we shall be prepared in waiting, but unfortunately this knowledge is far from us. There will be total condemnation for those who heard the urgency of this coming yet are unprepared. Those who have the will but no action to implement the master’s command will be punished, and those who are ignorant, will be given a lighter punishment. What category do you belong to? Of course, we belong to the ones who know about the coming to this day, we know what is expected of us and how we should be prepared for that day. We have been given much and much is expected of us.