Today’s first reading for the feast of St. Stephen goes hand in hand with the Gospel reading. The former is a concrete example in the earliest years of the church of Jesus’s instruction to the apostles about the hardships they would endure in carrying out his teachings together with the…
Christmas is no doubt the most joyful season of the year. This is true for every part of the world. Although many who celebrate Christmas today exclude its religious meaning, it still remains for them a period of great joy. But no matter how people try to deny the religious…
As a child, I often played a game called “Hide and Seek” with friends, siblings, and cousins. The one who was “it” had to count down with their eyes covered as the others hid. At the end of the countdown, they would have to say the line, “Ready or not,…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…