Daily Reflections
Dear Gratia Vobis Readers, On this Eve of Christmas, on this Eve of our Savior’s birth, on this Eve of Light, we want to wish you all the best for the Christmas Season. Enjoy the time with your friends and family. Remain Blessed, Paul [Readings: 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a,…
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My dear friends, it is an interesting time as we await the celebration of the birthday of Christ, and the gospel speaks about his cousin John. It recalls his wonderful birth, circumcision, naming celebration, and miraculous restoration of the power of speech to his father Zacharia. Elizabeth and Zacharia have…
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We find today that the Gospel and the Second Reading from the Office of Readings (in the Liturgy of the Hours) is bringing our attention to the Magnificat. During the month of December, we have numerous opportunities to reflect on Our Lady Most Holy and Lady of Consolation. The Magnificat…
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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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