Daily Reflections
Ahaz’s Predicament: As we wait in eager anticipation for the blessed day of Christ’s birth, we are drawn once again into the far past – the 8th century B.C – into a familiar prophetic text from Isaiah, Chapter 7. The Lord speaks to Isaiah, and through him, to the young…
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Today we meet two couples – faithful, upright but sans offspring, and they live in an age where childlessness is a curse. Angelic messengers bring tidings of great joy: the promise of a son which fulfills their fondest dreams. As we look at these paragons of the past, we too…
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Today’s gospel reading is the story of the angel coming to St. Joseph in a dream and assuring him not to divorce Mary, but to take her as his wife. The angel explains that the baby, who is to be named Jesus, was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and will…
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Early on in teaching our Faith Formation class this year, my husband and I realized how little our kids knew of our history as God’s people. Doing our best to work with the Holy Spirit in picking out the most imperative stories, we do a candle-lit reading from the Bible…
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The scene in today’s Gospel is a direct challenge to Jesus’s authority. Recall the context of the event: It is just before the start of Holy Week. At the beginning of this chapter in Matthew, Jesus is preparing to enter Jerusalem where he knows he will be arrested and crucified.…
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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). The 3rd Sunday of Advent is called ‘the Gaudete Sunday,’ the Rejoice Sunday, or Joyful Sunday. The days are joyful because the coming of the savior of the…
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Elijah’s extraordinary departure in a whirlwind (2 Kgs 2:11) left an indelible mark on Jewish tradition, symbolizing the hope for repentance and transformation before the messianic age. John the Baptist echoed Elijah’s stern call for renewal, while Jesus embodied Elijah as the prophet who suffered for God’s purposes. Elijah’s enduring…
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Today’s Gospel presents the parable of ten virgins, five described as wise and five foolish, all awaiting the bridegroom’s arrival. This parable extends an invitation to renew our commitment to spiritual vigilance, heartfelt preparation, and active anticipation of the Lord’s coming. Jesus often used vivid imagery to capture our attention…
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I consider myself privileged to have been born on December 12. Perhaps this explains, in part, my tender esteem for Our Lady of Guadalupe whose feast day is today. Our Lady appeared to Saint Juan Diego near Mexico City in 1531 as the natives of Mexico, and most of Central…
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