Category: Daily Reflections

GRAND STAND

“Stand your ground, and you will see the victory the Lord will win for you today.” –Exodus 14:13 Mass Readings: July 24 First: Exodus 14:5-18; Resp: Exodus 15:1-6; Gospel: Matthew 12:38-42 Listen to the Mass Readings If we stand our ground, we will see the victory of the Lord, for He will fight for us (Ex 14:14). Moses made this promise before the Lord rescued the chosen people by drowning the Egyptians in the Red Sea. This is a symbol of Baptism. When we stand on the ground of our Baptism, we will see the Lord’s victory. We must stand...

THE HOLY SPIRIT: PRAYER LEADER

“We do not know how to pray as we ought.” –Romans 8:26 Jesus said there is “the necessity of praying always and not losing heart” (Lk 18:1). We are to “never cease praying” (1 Thes 5:17). Jesus prayed early in the morning (Mk 1:35) and late at night (Lk 22:39-41). Because we are His disciples, we imitate Him and pray so much that we are in the spirit of prayer during all daily activities. Jesus continues to invite us to watch and pray at least one hour with Him (see Mt 26:40). Because we communicate with God in prayer, it...

I HOPE SO

“In His name, the Gentiles will find hope.” –Matthew 12:21 Mass Readings: July 22 First: Exodus 12:37-42; Resp: Psalm 136:1,23-24,10-15; Gospel: John 20:1-2,11-18 Listen to the Mass Readings As we begin the third millennium, with much of the world ensconced in the culture of death after ending the last with the only two world wars in history, the Lord is calling us to hope in Him. The Church through Pope Pius XII defined the doctrine of Mary’s Assumption in 1950. After all the centuries this doctrine was preached and believed, the Church chose to define it in 1950 as a...

THE PASSOVER

“It is the Passover of the Lord.” –Exodus 12:11 Mass Readings: July 21 First: Wisdom 8:9-16;Resp: Psalm 67:2-5,7-8;Gospel: Luke 9:1-6 Listen to the Mass Readings Through the Passover, the Lord freed the Israelite nation from centuries of slavery. The Lord chose to do one of His greatest works through a family meal accompanied by prayer. This Passover meal was so important that it became “a memorial feast” to be celebrated by all generations “as a perpetual institution” (Ex 12:14). A few hours before Jesus died on the cross to save us all from sin and for eternal life, He said:...

MOUNTAIN RANGE

“He came to Horeb, the mountain of God.” –Exodus 3:1 Mass Readings: July 19 First: Exodus 3:1-6,9-12; Resp: Psalm 103:1-4,6-7; Gospel: Matthew 11:25-27 Listen to the Mass Readings There are many mountains in life. For example, Mount Gerizim is the mountain of blessings for God’s obedient people, while Mount Ebal is the mountain of curses (Dt 27:12-13). Mount Sinai (Horeb) is the mountain of the commandments (Ex 19:2ff), and Mount Carmel is the mountain of restoring our covenant with God and overcoming idolatry and false prophets (1 Kgs 18:19ff). Ultimately, Jesus wants us to walk with Him to Mount Calvary,...