The Gospel today is very inspiring. It highlights the faithfulness of God to his promises and to the people. His kindness to them does not depend on their holiness or state in life, but part of his unchanging character. Timothy even noted it in his writing thus: “If we are…
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For this child I prayed; and the LORD has granted me my petition which I made to him. 1 Samuel 1 :27 Never be rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be quick to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven, and you upon earth; therefore,…
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My friend was a fair and generous man. All the men in his family looked to him for guidance and the women said that no one would find a better husband. He was faithful. He obeyed the law to the letter, but we never heard him condemn anyone. If someone…
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In both of today’s Mass readings, an emissary of God comes bearing a Word from the Almighty to one of His people. King Ahaz, who takes over the throne after his father King Uzziah dies, is told by the Lord through the prophet Isaiah to “ask the Lord for a…
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In today’s readings, we encounter similar storylines – angels deliver God’s messages that answer prayers and realize dreams that seemingly lay in tatters. There are contrasting reactions, belief and unbelief and in the end, God’s promises are fulfilled at the proper time. As for us, how do we treat God’s…
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Today’s gospel puts the spotlight on St. Joseph. I have written about my great love and respect for St. Joseph in an earlier GVM reflection. We are treated to the beginning of his story of love, sacrifice, and devotion as Mary’s spouse and Jesus’s earthly father in this reading. I…
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Dear Brothers and Sisters, today’s gospel reading is on the genealogy of Jesus. While this is extremely important, instead I would like to focus on this third week of Advent. This past Sunday at Mass, the priests wore their rose-colored vestments. I say that with a little giggle as I…
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The scene from today’s Gospel (Mt 21, 28-32) is the Temple of Jerusalem. Jesus was there teaching the crowds; some chief priests and elders of the people approached, interrupting him rudely and asking him for explanations about who had given him the authority to do what he was doing (cf.…
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There’s a saying that goes, “there is no one more deaf than the one who does not want to hear.” Today’s Gospel shows us the tricky question that the priests and elders of the people pose to Jesus. Their question is not one of wanting to understand but of wanting…
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Today is called Rejoicing Sunday. The candle on the Advent wreath is pink, not purple like the other three Sundays of Advent. Its color expresses our joy at the nearness of Christ’s birth. Some people seem naturally cheerful; others more solemn or mournful by temperament. There is a story of…
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