Category: Daily Reflections

“I saw you.” –John 1:48, 50 Mass Readings: August 24 First: Revelation 21:9-14; Resp: Psalm 145:10-13,17-18; Gospel: John 1:45-51 Listen to the Mass Readings Nathanael (Bartholomew) had a negative attitude toward Jesus before he even met Him, simply because Jesus was from Nazareth (Jn 1:46). In contrast, Jesus had a positive attitude toward Nathanael even before Jesus met him. Jesus did not focus on Nathanael’s sins; He called Nathanael “a true Israelite” in whom there was no guile (Jn 1:47). Nathanael responded to Jesus’ affirmation of him by affirming Jesus as “the Son of God” and “the King of Israel”...

“Must I give up my….?” –Judges 9:9, 11, 13 Mass Readings: August 23 First: Judges 9:6-15; Resp: Psalm 21:2-7; Gospel: Matthew 20:1-16 Listen to the Mass Readings If the Lord calls us to leadership, we sacrifice our time to lead for Him. We also sacrifice what we could have done with all that extra time if we weren’t leading His people. A sacrifice involves freely giving up something for the Lord. What we get back from the Lord is not the object; the important thing is what we give to the Lord. God prefers sacrifices freely given from a generous,...

” ‘I shall be with you,’ the Lord said.” –Judges 6:16 Mass Readings: August 22 First: Isaiah 9:1-6; Resp: Psalm 113:1-8; Gospel: Luke 1:26-38 Listen to the Mass Readings Gideon asked: “If the Lord is with us, why has all this” misfortune “happened to us?” (Jgs 6:13) God simply answered: “I shall be with you” (Jgs 6:16). Jesus’ disciples “were completely overwhelmed” (Mt 19:25) at His “impossible” demands (Mt 19:26). Jesus’ answer was: “I am with you always” (Mt 28:20). Humanity is in a rough spot. We have a fallen nature, a twisted heart (Jer 17:9), and are prone to...

“Give to the poor.” –Matthew 19:21 Mass Readings: August 21 First: Judges 2:11-19; Resp: Psalm 106:34-37,39-40,43-44; Gospel: Matthew 19:16-22 Listen to the Mass Readings Jesus commanded a young man: “Go, sell your possessions, and give to the poor” (Mt 19:21). Jesus came to preach the Good News to the poor (Lk 4:18). Jesus was poor (2 Cor 8:9), loves the poor, and expects us to make great sacrifices for the poor. At his conversion, Zacchaeus realized this and said: “I give half my belongings, Lord, to the poor” (Lk 19:8). The early Church also understood Jesus’ emphasis on sacrificing for...

“Jesus then said in reply, ‘Woman, you have great faith! Your wish will come to pass.’ That very moment her daughter got better.” –Matthew 15:28 The Lord wants to say to us as He said to the Canaanite woman: “You have great faith.” Faith and great faith are graces from God. The grace of great faith has been accepted in many ways, especially through testings. “You may for a time have to suffer the distress of many trials; but this is so that your faith, which is more precious than the passing splendor of fire-tried gold, may by its genuineness...