Tagged: Daily Reflection

I will “remove from your midst the proud braggarts.” –Zephaniah 3:11 “I will leave as a remnant in your midst a people humble and lowly.” –Zephaniah 3:12 Mass Readings: December 13 First: Zephaniah 3:1-2,9-13; Resp: Psalm 34:2-3,6-7,17-19,23; Gospel: Matthew 21:28-32 To deprive yourself of Christmas: be rebellious (Zep 3:1), accept “no correction” (Zep 3:2), be a proud braggart (see Zep 3:11), “exalt yourself” (Zep 3:11), have “a deceitful tongue” (Zep 3:13), and refuse to repent. To meet Christ in a new way this Christmas: trust in the Lord (Zep 3:2), draw near to God (Zep 3:2), “change and purify” your...

“Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and cried out in a loud voice: ‘Blest are you among women and blest is the Fruit of your womb. But who am I that the mother of my Lord should come to me?’ ” –Luke 1:41-43 Mass Readings: December 12 First: Zechariah 2:14-17; Resp: Judith 13:18-19; Gospel: Luke 1:26-38 One of the principal patrons of Our Lady of Presentation Ministries is Our Lady of Guadalupe. Our retreat center has a chapel named after Our Lady of Guadalupe. We are a network of over thirty small Christian communities. One of our communities is...

“He comes to save you.” –Isaiah 35:4 Mass Readings: December 11 First: Isaiah 35:1-6,10; Resp: Psalm 146:6-10; Second: James 5:7-10; Gospel: Matthew 11:2-11 Today, the Third Sunday of Advent, is called “Gaudete Sunday,” meaning “Rejoice Sunday.” There is great reason to rejoice; we have a Savior! Moreover, this Savior is One Who loves us, delights in us, and wants the very best for us. Yes, He is a Judge (Jas 5:9), but He did not come to condemn us (Rm 8:1; Jn 8:11), but rather to save and redeem us (Is 35:9). He has not only saved us; He has...

“How awesome are you, Elijah! Whose glory is equal to yours?” –Sirach 48:4 Mass Readings: December 10 First: Sirach 48:1-4,9-11; Resp: Psalm 80:2-3,15-16,18-19; Gospel: Matthew 17:9,10-13 The ministry of Elijah preceded the coming of Jesus at His Incarnation, is preceding Christ’s coming this Christmastime, and will precede His final coming at the end of the world. Elijah’s ministry is to reestablish God’s people (Sir 48:10) and to restore all things (Mt 17:11). Consequently, at this time before Christ’s Christmas coming, the following three prophecies of Isaiah are being fulfilled by new Elijahs: “Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove...

“I, the Lord, your God, teach you what is for your good, and lead you on the way you should go.” –Isaiah 48:17 Mass Readings: December 9 First: Isaiah 48:17-19; Resp: Psalm 1:1-4,6; Gospel: Matthew 11:16-19 To have the Christmas God intends for us, we must simply obey God. Those who are like Mary will have a true Christmas. They hearken to God’s commands (Is 48:18) and let Christmas be done unto them according to God’s Word (see Lk 1:38). The key to Christmas is not self-indulgence, but self-surrender in obedience to the Lord. We should not do our own...