Category: Daily Reflections

“I tell you, there will likewise be more joy in heaven over one repentant sinner than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need to repent.” –Luke 15:7 Mass Readings: November 3 First: Philippians 3:3-8; Resp: Psalm 105:2-7; Gospel: Luke 15:1-10 St. Paul thought of himself as a magnificent Jew – he could follow the rules, the Law, better than the rest. Paul said: “If anyone thinks he has a right to put his trust in external evidence, all the more can I…I was above reproach when it came to justice based on the law” (Phil 3:4, 6). Then Jesus...

“Chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed, because God tried them and found them worthy of Himself. As gold in the furnace, He proved them, and as sacrificial offerings He took them to Himself.” –Wisdom 3:5-6 Mass Readings: November 2 First: Wisdom 3:1-9; Resp: Psalm 27:1,4,7-9,13-14; Second: Romans 5:5-11; Gospel: John 11:17-27 The Lord has made it clear through various Jewish traditions (see 2 Mc 12:43-44), the early Church (see Mt 12:32), and the Church Fathers that we should pray for some of those who have died. Because the Church prays for the dead at Mass each day, it...

“They stood before the throne and the Lamb, dressed in long white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.” –Revelation 7:9 Mass Readings: November 1 First: Revelation 7:2-4,9-14; Resp: Psalm 24:1-6; Second: 1 John 3:1-3; Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12 The saints stand “before the throne and the Lamb.” This applies both to saints on earth and in heaven, for we on earth “have our citizenship in heaven” (Phil 3:20). Although our bodies are not in heaven, our citizenship is, “since [we] have been raised up in company with Christ” (Col 3:1). We became saints when we were raised up with...

“Never act out of rivalry or conceit; rather, let all parties think humbly of others as superior to themselves, each of you looking to others’ interests rather than to his own.” –Philippians 2:3-4 Mass Readings: October 31 First: Philippians 2:1-4; Resp: Psalm 131:1-3; Gospel: Luke 14:12-14 By being baptized into Jesus’ death and Resurrection, we receive a new nature. In this new nature, we relate to others quite differently. For example, we naturally compare ourselves with others and note how we are superior to them in that we look better, dress better, have more money, have a better job, or...

“Today salvation has come to this house.” –Luke 19:9 After salvation had come to his house, Zacchaeus immediately stated his intent to make reparation for the damage done by him through his sins. This is traditionally called “doing penance.” Zacchaeus “said to the Lord: ‘I give half my belongings, Lord, to the poor. If I have defrauded anyone in the least, I pay him back fourfold’ ” (Lk 19:8). Likewise, if we have truly repented from our sins, we will want to do penance and repair in some way the damage done by our sins. Because sin is such a...