Category: Daily Reflections

“Give me, at once, the head of John the Baptizer on a platter.” –Mark 6:25 Mass Readings: August 29 First: Jeremiah 1:17-19; Resp: Psalm 71:1-6,15,17; Gospel: Mark 6:17-29 It’s amazing what a cheap price was paid for the head of St. John the Baptizer: it only took the whim of a dancing girl and her begrudging mother, and the weakness and pride of an insecure ruler, Herod, to purchase the head of the greatest man ever born before Christ (Mt 11:11). John had the most valuable beginning. An angel sent from heaven heralded his conception (Lk 1:13). He was miraculously...

“For everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled and he who humbles himself shall be exalted.” –Luke 14:11 Mass Readings: August 28: First: Sirach 3:17-18,20,28-29; Resp: Psalm 68:4-7,10-11; Second: Hebrews 12:18-19,22-24; Gospel: Luke 14:1,7-14 Jesus invites us to humble ourselves by taking the lowest place (Lk 14:10) and by inviting “beggars and the crippled, the lame and the blind” to eat with us (Lk 14:13). Most people take Jesus’ words as a suggestion and encouragement to be humble and help the poor. Jesus, however, indicates that His words are to be taken much more seriously when He concluded His command...

” ‘My lord,’ he said, ‘you let me have five thousand.’ ” –Matthew 25:20 Mass Readings: August 27 First: 1 Corinthians 1:26-31; Resp: Psalm 33:12-13,18-21 ; Gospel: Matthew 25:14-30 The servant who received the five thousand silver pieces feared his master the right way. This healthy fear is evident because upon receiving what his master entrusted to him, he “immediately” went to work on his master’s behalf (Mt 25:16). This servant had a spirit of the “fear of the Lord” and this fear caused him to “delight” (Is 11:2, 3) to receive the master’s gifts and respond with “industrious and...

“It pleased God to save those who believe through the absurdity of the preaching of the gospel.” –1 Corinthians 1:21 Mass Reading : First : 1 COR 1:17-25; Resp: PS 33:1-2, 4-5, 10-11; Gospel: MT 25:1-13 Pope St. John Paul II maintained that the western world, especially, Europe, Canada, and the USA, was in a crisis of faith. The lack of priestly and religious vocations in our part of the world is a symptom of a lack of faith. Our problems are not superficial, but critical. Satan is not just trying to break the windows of western civilization; he’s trying...

“You must be prepared.” –Matthew 24:44 Mass Readings: August 25 First: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9; Resp: Psalm 145:2-7; Gospel: Matthew 24:42-51 Jesus warns us to be prepared for His final coming and the end of the world. In fact, we must be always prepared since we “cannot know the day” our Lord is coming (Mt 24:42). Jesus describes our preparations in four ways: working to give food to those in need (Mt 24:45-46). While this can refer to feeding people physically (see Mt 25:35), Jesus is probably referring to dispensing the spiritual food of God’s Word (see Mt 4:4) by our...