Saturday of the 1st Week of Advent Isa 30:19-21,23-26Mt 9:35-10:1,5,6-8 “You received without charge, give without charge.” Christmas fills me with dread every year. Somewhere along the line, we allowed Christmas to morph into this superficial, materialistic ‘winner take all’ contest, to see who can give and receive the coolest gifts. I know for a... Continue Reading →
4 December, Friday — Anger
Dec 4 – Memorial for St. John Damascene, priest, doctor of the Church St. John Damascene was born in Damascus about 675. After holding public office for a time, he withdrew to the monastery of Sabas near Jerusalem. He wrote ‘The Fount of Wisdom’, in which he presented a comprehensive teaching on Christian doctrine, which had... Continue Reading →
3 December, Thursday — Our House
Dec 3 – Feast of St. Francis Xavier, presbyter, religious, missionary (Principal Patron of Foreign Missions) St. Francis Xavier (1506-1552) was a nobleman from the Basque region. He studied and taught philosophy at the University of Paris, and planned a career as a professor. He was a friend of St. Ignatius of Loyola, who convinced him... Continue Reading →
2 December, Wednesday — When God pities us
Wednesday of the 1st Week of Advent Isa 25:6-10Mt 15:29-37 “I feel sorry for all these people...” In Calcutta lies an old, derelict, defunct temple dedicated to the Hindu god Kali -- the god of death and destruction. In this temple, blood rituals, including human sacrifices, were conducted. This was the property the Indian government accorded to Mother Teresa when she... Continue Reading →
1 December, Tuesday — Not by the example of our power, but by the power of our example
Tuesday of the 1st Week of Advent Is 11:1-10Lk 10:21-24 He does not judge by appearances, he gives no verdict on hearsay, but judges the wretched with integrity, and with equity gives a verdict for the poor of the land. My reflection today is set against the backdrop of the US Elections. An event happening... Continue Reading →
30 November, Monday – Full Speed Ahead
30 November – Feast of St. Andrew, Apostle Andrew was the first Apostle of Jesus Christ. He was a fisherman by trade, and the brother of Simon Peter. He was a follower of John the Baptist. Andrew went through life leading people to Jesus, both before and after the Crucifixion. He was a missionary in Asia... Continue Reading →
29 November, Sunday — When was the last time you cried for someone else?
1st Sunday of Advent Isa 63:16-17, 64:1,3-81 Cor 1:3-9Mk 13:33-37 Why, Lord, leave us to stray from your ways and harden our hearts against fearing you? One Saturday morning, I was all alone in Nativity Church, in quiet prayer before a statue of the Sacred Heart. It was a dismal morning -- huge storm clouds were threatening -- and the inside... Continue Reading →
28 November, Saturday — When we watch and pray, God guides us to protection
Saturday of Week 34 in Ordinary Time Apo 22:1-7Lk 21:24-36 “Stay awake, praying at all times for the strength to survive all that is going to happen, and to stand with confidence before the Son of Man.” To watch is to be active in observation; it means to be awake in realities of guidance and... Continue Reading →
27 November, Friday — Truth is like God’s word; it resurrects to serve its purpose
Friday of Week 34 in Ordinary Time Apo 20:1-4,11-21:2Luke 21:29-33 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” In life, there is no alloy of truth -- it is like God’s word, it cannot die or wither away. The books and letters of the Bible contain God’s words, from the... Continue Reading →
26 November, Thursday — Injustice could attract vengeance; and what comes first are warnings
Thursday of Week 34 in Ordinary Time Apo 18:1-2,21-23;19:1-3,9Lk 21:20-28 “For this is the time of vengeance when all tthat scripture says must be fulfilled.” In many lessons in the Bible, we have seen that vengeance -- God’s anger and punishments that befell the people as a result of sin, rebellion and transgressions -- were... Continue Reading →
OXYGEN 