Daily Reflections
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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Today, we all live under the strain of hectic and demanding schedules. Our days are filled with countless demands and work that exhaust us by evening, leaving us anxious about what we couldn’t accomplish and what awaits us the next day. Additionally, there is mental fatigue, with overwhelming thoughts and…
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The Bible abounds with strange proportions that defy mathematical logic. Perhaps the most compelling of all these equations, though, is the parable of the one sheep and the ninety-nine. In today’s Gospel reading we hear the story of the shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine sheep in order to seek out…
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Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is a “term” or a “day” that is often misunderstood in the Christian world. In a nutshell, today we Catholics celebrate that Mary was born without original sin. In fact, she never did sin! The…
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The readings of today, the second Sunday in Advent (Baruch 5,1-9; Phil 1, 6.8-11 and Luke 3, 1-6), offer us a typical advent perspective. The readings present us with a message of hope, promise of salvation, words of restoration and wholeness, and the call to justice and uprightness. We are…
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During the holy season of Advent, the lectionary gives us many prophecies of the Messianic Era. Vibrant imagery is used of overflowing abundance, peace, healing, and an end to the sorrows of the past. Such is the prophecy spoken by the prophet Isaiah in the first reading, O people of…
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According to the book of Ecclesiastes: “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance” (Eccl. 3:1,4). This is the nature of our human life on…
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