Category: Daily Reflections

HARDLY HEARING?

“Today, if you should hear His voice, harden not your hearts as at the revolt in the day of testing in the desert.” –Hebrews 3:7-8 Mass Readings: January 12 First: Hebrews 3:7-14; Resp: Psalm 95:6-11; Gospel: Mark 1:40-45 The Israelites in the desert revolted against the leadership of Moses, who represented God (Nm 14:20ff). Thus, they revolted against God. All they could see was a blazing hot sun, a limited diet (Ex 16:1-4), a desert landscape “parched, lifeless, and without water” (Ps 63:2), and a report of giants inhabiting the land God promised. All the while in plain sight of...

MAKE A COVENANT WITH GOD

“[Jesus] had to become like His brothers in every way, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest before God on their behalf, to expiate the sins of the people.” –Hebrews 2:17 Mass Readings: January 11 First: Hebrews 2:14-18; Resp: Psalm 105:1-4,6-9; Gospel: Mark 1:29-39 A covenant is a handing over of one’s essence. It involves a complete and total self-giving, a pledge of one’s very self. A covenant requires faith, hope, and love. It’s not a business contract, although it is just as binding. The Lord remembers His covenant forever (Ps 105:8). May we help others to...

CHANGE THE SUBJECT

“In subjecting all things to Him, God left nothing unsubjected. At present we do not see all things thus subject, but we do see Jesus crowned with glory and honor.” –Hebrews 2:8-9 Mass Readings: January 10 First: Hebrews 2:5-12; Resp: Psalm 8:2,5-9; Gospel: Mark 1:21-28 Everyone and everything is to be subjected to Jesus. “He went to heaven and is at God’s right hand, with angelic rulers and powers subjected to Him” (1 Pt 3:22). “Now He waits until His enemies are placed beneath His feet” (Heb 10:13), “so that at Jesus’ name every knee must bend in the heavens,...

LIVE DAILY YOUR BAPTISM

“Jesus was baptized…” –Matthew 3:16 Mass Readings: January 9 First: Isaiah 42:1-4,6-7; Resp: Psalm 29:1-4,3,9-10; Second: Acts 10:34-38; Gospel: Matthew 3:13-17 Baptism forgives and erases our sins (Catechism, 403, 405). Jesus never sinned. So why did He submit to Baptism? “The baptism of Jesus is on His part the acceptance and inauguration of His mission as God’s suffering Servant. He allows Himself to be numbered among sinners” (Catechism, 536). In addition, the Father reaffirmed Jesus’ Sonship, which was important, since Satan was about to attack His status as God’s Son (Mt 4:3ff). In accepting Baptism, “already [Jesus] is anticipating the...

ONLY THE FOOLS ARE WISE

“We observed His star at its rising and have come to pay Him homage.” –Matthew 2:2 The wise men looked like fools. They traveled for months or even longer in following a star. How foolish to give “gold, frankincense, and myrrh” to a Baby! (Mt 2:11) How foolish and even strange to give myrrh, an anointing balm for the dead, to anyone except to someone about to die! The wise men looked foolish. This is the only way to be wise in a foolish world. Only fools for Christ are wise (see 1 Cor 3:18; 4:10). Therefore, to be wise,...