Category: Message of the Day
“John the Baptizer made his appearance as a preacher in the desert of Judea.” —Matthew 3:1 Today the Church introduces us to a crusty character named St. John the Baptizer. He dressed in a garment of camel’s hair (Mt 3:4). If you know anything about the revolting habits of camels, you understand why you wouldn’t want to cut their hair. John not only dressed oddly but also ate strangely. He’d snatch up a grasshopper and dip it in some honey as we would dip a potato chip or a chicken nugget. Then he’d munch on the grasshopper (Mt 3:4). John...
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Jesus “touched their eyes and said, ‘Because of your faith it shall be done to you’; and they recovered their sight.” —Matthew 9:29-30 The Church prepares us for Christ’s Christmas coming by proclaiming Jesus healing the blind (see Is 29:18; 35:5). This applies not only to the physically blind, but especially to the spiritually blind, who have been blinded by the darkness of sin (see 1 Jn 2:11) and “the god of the present age” (see 2 Cor 4:4). The cause of spiritual blindness is sin, and we are freed from spiritual blindness by repentance. When we sin, it is...
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“Trust in the Lord forever!” —Isaiah 26:4 Advent is a time to prepare our hearts for the coming of Jesus at Christmas. Just as a mother has nine months to prepare her home for the arrival of her baby, so we have four weeks to prepare the way of the Lord in our life. It’s easy to give Jesus only lip-service, and not life-service (see Mk 7:6-7). A litmus test for our hearts is to compare our lifestyle and our actions against the Word of God: 1) Are you keeping God’s commandments? Jesus says: “If you love Me, keep My...
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“Through all the earth their voice resounds, and to the ends of the world, their message.” –Psalm 19:5 Christians are living in love (Jn 15:9-10) with God Who is Love (1 Jn 4:8, 16). Impelled by love (2 Cor 5:14), we publicly “confess with [our] lips that Jesus is Lord” and Love (Rm 10:9). We are not ashamed of the Good News of God’s love, although it is crucified love (Rm 1:16). Love is to be expressed and shared — no matter what the consequences in a hateful world (see Prv 27:5). In God’s love, we are bound to overturn...
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“I am not worthy to have You under my roof. Just give an order.” –Matthew 8:8 On this second day of Advent, we must be careful to get off to a good start. We need to come to the Lord, to Mass, to prayer, and to repentance when the Lord orders us to “come” (see Mt 8:9). We also need to do good, do justice (Is 1:17), and do His will when Jesus commands us: “Do this” (see Mt 8:9). Jesus is God and He alone knows how to prepare us for His special coming this Christmas. Consequently, with the...
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