Category: Daily Prayer

“Let Me see you.” –Song of Songs 2:14 Mass Readings: December 21 First: Song of Solomon 2:8-14; Resp: Psalm 33:2-3,11-12,20-21; Gospel: Luke 1:39-45 We’re hiding from Jesus. He’s trying to look at us, but we’re hiding from Him – whether it’s behind a boulder (Sg 2:14), a sinful, worldly lifestyle, or a veil of fear. It’s estimated that almost half of registered Catholics hide from Jesus simply by not showing up at Mass on Sunday. We may be hiding from Jesus, but that doesn’t stop Him from looking for us (Lk 19:10). He loves us so much that He came...

“Prepare for the Lord a people well-disposed.” –Luke 1:17 Mass Readings: December 19 First: Judges 13:2-7,24-25; Resp: Psalm 71:3-6,16-17; Gospel: Luke 1:5-25 In today’s Scripture readings, God takes the initiative to break into human lives and begin to deliver His people. His deliverance occurs through the conception of children, in this case Samson and John the Baptizer (see Jgs 13:5ff; Lk 1:13ff). These babies prepare the way for the birth of another Baby, Jesus. God does not drop salvation impersonally out of the sky. He sends His salvation in incarnate, human packages to which we can relate and whom we...

“When Joseph awoke he did as the angel of the Lord had directed him.” –Matthew 1:24 Mass Readings: December 18 First: Isaiah 7:10-14; Resp: Psalm 24:1-6; Second: Romans 1:1-7;Gospel: Matthew 1:18-24 Joseph believed that Mary was pregnant not because of sexual relations, but by the Holy Spirit (Mt 1:20). He believed this because of God’s grace given him in a dream about an angel bearing the message of the virgin-conception (Mt 1:20). Many people would consider Joseph one of the biggest fools ever, but we recognize him as one of the greatest men of faith in history. To not divorce...

“A family record of Jesus Christ…” –Matthew 1:1 Mass Readings: December 17 First: Genesis 49:2,8-10; Resp: Psalm 72:1-4,7-8,17; Gospel: Matthew 1:1-17 At Christmas time, many families put up a Christmas tree, and on it they hang ornaments. Often each person in the family will have an ornament bearing their name. It’s easy to picture Mom and Dad grabbing little Johnny’s ornament, polishing it, and telling joyful stories about Johnny’s life as they hang it on the tree. Each one of us is a member of God’s family. We were created in His image (Gn 1:27). Jesus has carved each of...