Category: Daily Reflections

CALVARY-CHRISTMAS

“You will be hated by all on account of Me. But whoever holds out till the end will escape death.” —Matthew 10:22 On this second day of Christmas, the Church presents to us St. Stephen, the first martyr. The festive red color of Christmas is mixed with the blood-red of the martyr. The Church proclaims that Christmas is not just a custom, diversion, or triviality. Christmas is glorious — and serious. Christmas is the proclamation of Jesus’ lordship. It is the Word confronting the world (see Wis 18:15). The Church’s Christmas characters are not Santa, Rudolph, or Frosty. Our Christmas...

DIS-HONORABLE MENTION

“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings glad tidings, announcing peace, bearing good news, announcing salvation, and saying to Zion, ‘Your God is King!’ ” —Isaiah 52:7 The Good News of Christmas is: “A Savior has been born to you” (Lk 2:11). “Your Savior comes” (Is 62:11). “When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us” (Ti 3:4-5). If Jesus had not been born, our future would be bleak, our present a desperate escape attempt, and our past an even heavier burden. If Jesus had not been born, fear, resentment and...

THE TIME OF FULFILLMENT

“Zechariah his father, filled with the Holy Spirit, uttered this prophecy…” —Luke 1:67 On this Christmas Eve, we stand at the threshold of the fulfillment of amazing prophecies. We may have been waiting for months or years for this, and this Christmas season will be the awaited time. Most of these prophetic promises of God may seem no closer to being fulfilled now than they have been for years. Some of these revelations you can hardly remember. It’s been so long since you first heard them. Nonetheless, now you are on the threshold, although you know this only by faith,...

CHRISTMAS PRESENCE

“All who heard stored these things up in their hearts, saying, ‘What will this child be?’ ” —Luke 1:66 I hope you’re more excited than you’ve ever been for Christmas — more excited than when you were a little child waiting to open your Christmas presents. The excitement I’m talking about is not primarily an emotion but an expression of faith. It’s not based on Christmas presents but on Christmas presence. The Lord is present. We can see Him setting the captives free, healing the sick, and working miracles (see Lk 4:18). We sense His presence within us, as He...

THE SECOND PRESENTATION

“Now I, in turn, give him to the Lord; as long as he lives, he shall be dedicated to the Lord.” –1 Samuel 1:28 Because Christmas is the celebration of Jesus’ birthday, we should be thinking of what to give Him for a birthday and Christmas present. Since “the Lord’s are the earth and its fullness” (Ps 24:1), the Lord has almost everything. Therefore, it is difficult to give Him a present. However, we can give Him our lives, wills, days, future, and love. Like Hannah, we can also give our children to Jesus. Hannah presented Samuel to the Lord...