Category: Daily Reflections

“Reject godless ways and worldly desires, and live temperately, justly, and devoutly.” –Titus 2:12 Mass Readings: November 8 First: Titus 2:1-8,11-14; Resp: Psalm 37:3-4,18,23,27,29; Gospel: Luke 17:7-10 In the first two verses of the Bible, God is described as creating the beauty and harmony of the heavens and earth by bringing order into “a formless wasteland” and “the abyss” (Gn 1:2). Order is what makes things beautiful. Order is an expression of love, while disorder is destructive, even abusive. Thus, we can see how blessed we are because Jesus has left us peace, that is, shalom-order, in His last will...

“Scandals will inevitably arise, but woe to him through whom they come. He would be better off thrown into the sea with a millstone around his neck than giving scandal to one of these little ones.” –Luke 17:1-2 Mass Readings: November 7 First: Titus 1:1-9; Resp: Psalm 24:1-6; Gospel: Luke 17:1-6 People listen to us partly because of what we say and mostly because of our credibility and integrity. Therefore, the devil tries to promote and publicize scandals in the Church so as to ruin our credibility and thereby set up obstacles in the way of communicating the Gospel. To...

“Sons of the resurrection, they are sons of God.” –Luke 20:36 Mass Readings: November 6 First: 2 Maccabees 7:1-2,9-14; Resp: Psalm 17:1,5-6,8,15; Second: 2 Thessalonians 2:16–3:5; Gospel: Luke 20:27-38 Alleluia! Jesus is risen! Those who believe in Him will be raised from the dead to live with Him forever (Jn 11:26). Because we will rise: we can be free and fearless in the face of death (Heb 2:15; 1 Cor 15:55), we can be marvelously courageous and regard the worst sufferings as nothing (2 Mc 7:12), we are full of hope (2 Mc 7:14; 1 Pt 1:3), we are not...

“You had been concerned all along, of course, but lacked the opportunity to show it.” –Philippians 4:10 Mass Readings: November 5 First: Wisdom 3:1-9 ; Resp: Psalm 23:1-6; Gospel: John 6:37-40 I am sure many in the congregations started by St. Paul appreciated him and his ministry. He introduced thousands to Jesus Christ. Yet only the Philippians shared with Paul something to provide for his needs (Phil 4:15). Many loved Paul but few showed it. The world is full of loved people who think they’re not loved because other people don’t show their love. “What I say to you is...

“He will give a new form to this lowly body of ours and remake it according to the pattern of His glorified body.” –Philippians 3:21 Mass Readings: November 4 First: Philippians 3:17–4:1; Resp: Psalm 122:1-5; Gospel: Luke 16:1-8 Many people desire to get their bodies “in shape.” They want to feel good and look good. Having a healthy, fit body is a good thing, but it’s not the only thing. The reality is that our bodies will die. Health and fitness are fleeting. Whether your body is sick, infirm, or healthy, you can join your body to the body of...