Daily Reflections
In today’s Gospel passage (Luke 2:22-40), we encounter Simeon and Anna—two individuals who eagerly awaited the redemption of Israel. Their lives were marked by expectation and hope for the salvation of their people. As we reflect on the liturgical celebration of the Presentation of the Lord, these two themes—expectation and…
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This line from the Letter to the Hebrews struck me in a new way today: “All these died in faith. They did not receive what had been promised but saw it and greeted it from afar…” (Hebrew 11:13). Faith is the theme of today’s reflection. Pastoral ministry exposes a priest…
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In his encyclical ‘Spes Salvi’ (Saved in Hope), Benedict XVI distinguished two words from our first reading today. These are “endurance” and “drawing back,” as our lectionary translation puts it. Endurance is perseverance, patiently enduring trials as to receive what God has promised. The Greek word used by the Letter…
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I was recently in the hospital for some major surgery, and Praise be to God, things turned out okay . During this serious time, I put extra effort into putting my lamp on the lampstand (like in Mark’s writing of today), to let my light shine. I used Jesus’ name…
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We are back in the swing of the liturgical season oddly called ‘Ordinary Time’, which is anything but ordinary. The beginning of the liturgical year last December (Advent Season and the beautiful Christmas season) which have just ended is, however, pretty much up in the air. Nevertheless, we have transitioned…
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Why was God pleased with the animal sacrifices required of the Jews in the Old Testament? The first reading today makes clear that these sacrifices do not take away sin. The only sacrifice that cleanses us from sin and opens the doors of Heaven is Our Lord’s death on the…
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It happened that a world-class violinist, Joshua Bell, played in a crowded subway station and was ignored by hundreds of passersby simply because he was performing incognito. Similarly, in Mark 3, the scribes fail to recognize Jesus for who He truly is. Seeing His miraculous works, they accused him of…
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In today’s Gospel reading, something extraordinary happens in the most routine and ordinary of settings. By now we know this is the trademark of our Lord. In a very mundane setting amongst neighbors in his hometown, Jesus drops a blockbuster statement that we are still digesting two thousand years later.…
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Conversion is an experience we are invited to have every day and every moment of life. It happens through renewed encounter with God. Each time we encounter God genuinely, we come out renewed in our mode of thinking and mode of living. Today the Church celebrates the conversion of Paul,…
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Both the reading from Hebrews and the reading from Mark today contain some beautiful seeds of hope. Hebrews refers to the new covenant God establishes with his people. This is referring to Jesus Christ. The hope of this passage is that no longer does the adherence to the covenant rely…
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