Category: Daily Reflections

THE PEACE OF CHRISTMAS

“I will plant them so that they may dwell in their place without further disturbance.” –2 Samuel 7:10 Mass Readings: December 24 First: 2 Samuel 7:1-5,8-12,14,16; Resp: Psalm 89:2-5,27,29; Second: Romans 16:25-27; Gospel: Luke 1:26-38 Listen to the Mass Readings The Lord promised David rest from his enemies (2 Sm 7:11). This promise of peace was surprising since violence was David’s “claim to fame” (see 1 Sm 18:7). From cutting off Goliath’s head to setting up Uriah’s murder, David lived an extremely violent life. People must have laughed when they heard David was promised peace. Nevertheless, the promise at first...

THE LAST WORDS

“…lest I come and strike the land with doom.” –Malachi 3:24 Mass Readings: December 23 First: Malachi 3:1-4,23-24;Resp: Psalm 25:4-5,8-10,14; Gospel: Luke 1:57-66 Listen to the Mass Readings In the last words of the Old Testament, the Lord warns us that unless fathers turn their hearts to their children and vice versa, He will “come and strike the land with doom.” The last words of the New Testament and of the Bible are: “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you all. Amen!” (Rv 22:21) Life is either doomed or graced. Life before we live for Christ is doomed,...

GIVE THE CHILDREN TO JESUS

“Now I, in turn, give him to the Lord; as long as he lives, he shall be dedicated to the Lord.” –1 Samuel 1:28 Mass Readings: December 22 First: 1 Samuel 1:24-28; Resp: 1 Samuel 2:1,4-8; Gospel: Luke 1:46-56 Listen to the Mass Readings The meaning of Christmas is: “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son” (Jn 3:16). Christmas is God’s gift of a Child. To be in the Christmas Spirit, we should be like Hannah and give our children to the Lord (1 Sm 1:28). This is done by: married couples lovingly having all the...

O COME, ALL YE FAITH-FUL

“For see, the winter is past, the rains are over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth.” –Song of Songs 2:11-12 Mass Readings: December 21 First: Song of Solomon 2:8-14; Resp: Psalm 33:2-3,11-12,20-21; Gospel: Luke 1:39-45 Listen to the Mass Readings When the Church tells us on the first day of winter in the northern hemisphere that “winter is past,” it is calling us to walk by faith and not by sight (see 2 Cor 5:7). Faith is “conviction about things we do not see” (Heb 11:1). Mary was a pregnant teenager, who could have been divorced by her...

“REJOICE” THE LORD ALWAYS

“Is it not enough for you to weary men, must you also weary my God?” –Isaiah 7:13 Mass Readings: December 20 First: Isaiah 7:10-14; Resp: Psalm 24:1-6; Gospel: Luke 1:26-38 Listen to the Mass Readings Before writing this, I sat at two airports for several hours as my flights were canceled and/or delayed. I was very weary. Then I read Isaiah 7:13. In a manner of speaking, I weary God when I: complain and whine about my own weariness, refuse to “walk by faith” (see 2 Cor 5:7), sin, disobey the Lord, refuse to forgive, refuse to repent, gossip, waste...