Daily Reflections
Elizabeth recalls. I had almost finished my weeping, through all the years of waiting. I held my sisters’ babes in my arms and nursed the little ones through restless nights, always ready to take my turn with the children. But month by month, year by year, I came to expect…
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As we draw close to Christmas, we anticipate that “the virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall name him Emmanuel” (Isa. 7:14), as our First Reading proclaims. Some biblical scholars argue that the Hebrew word employed in Isaiah 7:14, alma, means “young maiden,” whereas Isaiah refrains from using…
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In our readings today, we are privy to the wondrous good fortune about to fall upon Zechariah, Manoah, and their barren wives. Zealous but childless, they were resigned to their fate only to find God had other plans for them, those that led them out of despair and disgrace to…
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My Advent journey this year has been accompanied, inter alia, by a beautiful book entitled “AN ENCOUNTER: A Daily Discovery in Divine Word.” It was written by Fr. Maurice Nkem Emelu, who is the founder of the Gratia Vobis Ministries and the initiator of this daily reflection via email. The…
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Hello, Welcome to the 3rd week of Advent, and the week of the “pink candle”. The pink represents Joy, so please have a joyful Sunday. Remain Blessed, Paul [Readings: Is 61:1-2A, 10-11; 1 Thes 5:16-24; Jn 1:6-8, 19-28]
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A prophet has a special role in Salvation History. His main role is to be a mouthpiece for God. In order to be effective, he must enter into the grittiness of everyday life with God’s people to wake them up and call them back. The word Advent means “coming” so…
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Dear brothers and sisters, “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24). God’s Commandments Some people, most times, view God’s commandments in a negative light. For such people, the commandments are sets of rules put together to entrap, cage, micromanage,…
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Finding help is often difficult. Many people walk alone with problems that are facing them. No one can be found to help them deal with bad situations in their life. Isaiah quotes God in saying that He is taking hold of their hands and helping them. God tells Israel to…
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In the Gospel narratives, Jesus often used parables to illustrate his teaching. As figurative language, they are used to convey deeper truths. Parables typically employ everyday situations and characters, prompting us to reflect on their relevance to our lives. As we approach Christmas, I would like to reflect today on…
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Our Lady of Guadalupe is not just a symbol of faith or an accident of history. She has promoted unity without sacrificing cultural identity and her influence still transcends religious boundaries, extending into the realms of social justice thus leaving an indelible mark on the Americas. The Cultural Unifier The…
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