Tagged: Daily Reflection

THE SIGHT OF CHRISTMAS

Jesus “touched their eyes and said, ‘Because of your faith it shall be done to you’; and they recovered their sight.” –Matthew 9:29-30 The Church prepares us for Christ’s Christmas coming by proclaiming Jesus healing the blind (see also Is 29:18; 35:5). This applies not only to the physically blind, but especially to the spiritually blind, who have been blinded by the darkness of sin (see 1 Jn 2:11) and “the god of the present age” (see 2 Cor 4:4). The cause of spiritual blindness is sin, and we are freed from spiritual blindness by repentance. When we sin, it...

EXTREME HEART MAKEOVER

“Trust in the Lord forever!” –Isaiah 26:4 Advent is a time to prepare our hearts for the coming of Jesus at Christmas. Just as a mother has nine months to prepare her home for the arrival of her baby, so we have four weeks to prepare the way of the Lord in our life. A litmus test for our hearts is to compare our lifestyle and our actions against the Word of God. It’s easy to give Jesus only lip-service, and not life-service. Are you keeping God’s commandments? Jesus says: “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (see Jn 14:21;...

NOT WELFARE, BUT WELL-FARE

“He took the seven loaves and the fish, and after giving thanks He broke them and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. All ate until they were full.” –Matthew 15:36-37 Today’s Scripture readings all foreshadow the blessed feast which is celebrated at Mass in Holy Communion. The rich feast (Is 25:6) celebrated at the banquet table (see Ps 23:5) to nourish the multitudes (Mt 15:38) is the Eucharist we receive at every Mass. The word “Eucharist” even means “to give thanks.” The thanksgiving described in today’s Scripture readings is not just saying “Gee,...

GOD MAKES ALL THINGS NEW

“Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; the calf and the young lion shall browse together, with a little child to guide them. The cow and the bear shall be neighbors, together their young shall rest; the lion shall eat hay like the ox. The baby shall play by the cobra’s den, and the child lay his hand on the adder’s lair. There shall be no harm or ruin on all My holy mountain; for the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord.” –Isaiah 11:6-9...

“FEED MY SHEEP” (Jn 21:17)

“In days to come, the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest mountain and raised above the hills. All nations shall stream toward it; many peoples shall come and say: ‘Come, let us climb the Lord’s mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, that He may instruct us in His ways, and we may walk in His paths.’ ” —Isaiah 2:2-3 Today, many stream toward shopping malls and purchasing Websites, saying, “Come, let us finish our Christmas shopping” (cp Is 2:3). Many merchants hear this call and have answered it, setting up shop to...