Catholic Faith In Action

Today's Gospel(December 6, 2023)
Matthew 15:29-37

At that time: Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee. And he went up on the mountain, and sat down there. And great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the maimed, the blind, the mute, and many others, and they put them at his feet, and he healed them, so that the throng wondered, when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel. Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days, and have nothing to eat; and I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way." And the disciples said to him, "Where are we to get bread enough in the desert to feed so great a crowd?" And Jesus said to them, "How many loaves have you?" They said, "Seven, and a few small fish." And commanding the crowd to sit down on the ground, he took the seven loaves and the fish, and having given thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied; and they took up seven baskets full of the broken pieces left over.

Today's Reflection:
God's bounteous benevolence and providence to His people are gratuitous, not meritorious. God invites us to His banquet, wiping all tears from our faces and swallowing up death forever. This is God's guarantee to all who have the promise of immortality to come. Jesus' passion for His ministry and His compassion for the hungry crowds are propelled by this gratuitous love of God for His children. For three days, the crowds trail Jesus with their sick, the lame, the maimed, the blind, the mute, and He heals them all. His loving compassion moves Him further to give them something to eat. This action by the Good Shepherd shows that compassion is more than concern but also an invitation to live a life of fraternal charity beyond our ecclesiastical responsibilities. May we be compassionate as our heavenly Father is compassionate!

Let Us Pray:
God of justice and mercy, open our eyes to see you in the face of the poor. Open our ears to hear you in the cries of the exploited open our mouths to defend you in the public squares as well as in private deeds. Remind us that what we do to the least ones, we do to you. In the name of Jesus – Amen.

Have a good day and God bless.

Today's Gospel(December 5, 2023)
Luke 10:21-24

At that hour: Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been delivered to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and any one to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." Then turning to the disciples he said privately, "Blessed are the eyes which see what you see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it."

Today's Reflection:
In the Gospel the reciprocal unity of the Godhead is expressed by Jesus, the fullness of divine revelation. Jesus, filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, is led to praise His heavenly Father. He acknowledges the revelation of God's love for humanity as a decisive event that is hidden from the learned and clever but revealed to little children. This self-revelation God is made manifest by the Holy Spirit, the Dispenser of all gifts and graces. To be a child entails simplicity of character and an inner disposition toward love and goodness. The Spirit of the Lord endows God's children with wisdom, understanding, counsel, power, knowledge, piety and the fear of the Lord: to know Him, love Him and serve Him in this life; and lastly, to be happy with Him forever. How blessed are we to have seen and heard the gracious things that God has revealed to us in His Son, Jesus Christ! Lord, may Your salvific love and favours abide with us.

Let us pray:
Dear Lord, thank you for the gift of this new day. I adore you because of your goodness. Lord help me to fight to be at the top but to allow the fullness of the operation of the Holy Spirit in my life. Amen.

Have a good day and God bless.

Today's Gospel(December 4, 2023)
Matthew 8:5-11

At that time: As Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, begging him and saying, “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, in terrible distress.” And he said to him, “I will come and heal him.” But the centurion answered him, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my slave ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard him, he marvelled, and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and sit at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.”

TODAY’S REFLECTION:
“Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my servant will be healed”: these very powerful words of faith, a variant of which we continue to this day to pronounce in the Eucharistic liturgy, were words first found on the lips of one regarded by the Jews as a “Pagan”. Jesus himself marveled and confessed that he had not found such faith in all of Israel. The centurion’s example should speak to u in a special way: it should make us examine the sincerity of our faith in Christ. Has the church become for us a social gathering where we go to gain societal status? Are we more interested in people’s approval of our holiness, or do we really struggle to be holy?

Let Us Pray:
Lord Jesus, fill me with your healing power. Let the warmth of your healing love flood my entire being, so that my body will function the way it was created to be, whole and complete, renewed in your perfect health. Amen.

Have a good day and God bless.

Today's Gospel(December 3, 2023)
Mark 13:33-37
1st Sunday of Advent

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples: “Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the door keeper to be on the watch. Watch therefore — for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morning—lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Watch.”

Today's Reflection:
The Season of Advent begins every new liturgical year. From the Latin root Ad-venio, it means "to arrive or to come to". It is a period of preparation to celebrate the anniversary of the first arrival of the Incarnate Son of God in human history. The season of Advent is a period of preparation for the birth of the Messiah. It has four Sundays. The new liturgical year begins in the church. We are called to prepare for the coming of the Lord. It is certain that the Lord is coming but the day or the hour is not known. In the gospel passage of today, Christ tells us to be watchful and alert. We are to stay awake and watch for his coming. We should live in such a way that when he comes, he should not find us wanting. He should find us doing what he commanded us to be doing: loving God and loving one another; living holy/ righteous lives. May he meet us doing our Christian duty when he comes. May he meet us ready to welcome him whenever he comes, since he will come “like a thief in the night”.

Let us pray:
Father, we make our prayer to you in Advent, that by staying awake in faith and love every moment of our lives, we may prepare ourselves for the Second Coming of the Lord. Amen.

Have a blessed sunday and God bless.

Today's Gospel(December 2, 2023)
Luke 21:34-36

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “Take heed to yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a snare; for it will come upon all who dwell upon the face of the whole earth. But watch at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of man.”

TODAY’S REFLECTION:
When Jesus speaks in many parables and vivid imagery about the end time, he doesn’t want us to get frightened or anxious; he only expects us to be vigilant. Too many horrible things are happening in the world today, making one suspect that there may be a concerted agenda to remove the last vestiges of God from societal consciousness. We hear of countries legalizing gay marriage and abortion; various forms of immorality have now become fashionable; people do unimaginable, even at times, diabolical things just to make money. In this confusion we might be tempted to get carried away by the crowd and turn our back on God, or become completely forgetful of him. He reminds us today not to get carried away but to remain alert and vigilant, for he will come at a time we do not expect.

Let Us Pray:
Most sweet Jesus, the love of the saints, set my love on fire for you. Transform me into yourself, divinize me that my deeds and thoughts may be pleasing to you. Amen.

Have a good day and God bless.

Today's Gospel(December 1, 2023)
Luke 21:29-33

At that time: Jesus told his disciples a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees; as soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away till all has taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”

Today's Reflection:
The Gospel reference to the fig tree gives us a sign of hope. Like most trees in winter, a fig tree looks dead, but in fact in bursting with new life, ready to explode to the surface in the spring. The same is true of the church and of our individual selves. Although we may be enduring difficulties, problems, and apparent death, deep within the church and within us is the Holy Spirit who resuscitates all things that seem dead. No matter what happens to us we should never doubt the power of our call from God; our vocation, God’s specific will for us. With faith in God, we can survive any darkness.

Let Us Pray:
Lord Jesus, fill me with your healing power. Let the warmth of your healing love flood my entire being, so that my body will function the way it was created to be, whole and complete, renewed in your perfect health. I ask this through my Lord, Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Have a good day and God bless.

Today's Gospel(November 30, 2023)
Matthew 4:18-22
St. Andrew, Apostle

At that time: As Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.

Today's Reflection:
Faith in Jesus and belief in his resurrection bring salvation. No one encounters Jesus and remains the same. Through St Andrew’s encounter with Jesus, his life was transformed. He gave up everything, his means of livelihood, his family, practically all his life to follow Jesus. Andrew was transformed from being a fisherman to being a passionately committed disciple of Jesus. We are challenged today to such radical discipleship. We are called daily to abandon the things that hinder us from responding to the call of Christ. Are we ready?

Let Us Pray:
I declare that I will love my neighbor by refusing to house a judgmental spirit. I refuse to focus on the sin in my neighbor’s life as opposed to the sin in my own. I will, however, be bold enough to challenge my neighbor in love and to pray for areas of bo***ge, pain, injustice, and sin in his life. I will love my neighbor by understanding that love doesn’t always feel fuzzy, but often challenges and calls out something greater so that he can experience the fullness of Christ. Amen.

Have a good day and God bless.

Today's Gospel(November 29, 2023)
Luke 21:12-19

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “They will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. This will be a time for you to bear testimony. Settle it therefore in your minds, not to meditate beforehand how to answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and kinsmen and friends, and some of you they will put to death; you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives.”

Today's Reflection:
As in the early church, churches today in different parts of the world are facing severe persecution, and this confirms what Jesus is saying today. In Africa the number of martyrs continues to increase. In our own country, the persecution is unimaginable. Christians are subjected to a barrage of attacks. Social media have become coliseums of persecution and platforms for many such atrocious activities. How we act in the face of these situations has everything to do with whether we are truly disciples of Jesus. It is easy to give in to hatred and anger, but we must not; we must act with love and forgiveness, for by these we conquer those who persecute us.

Let Us Pray:
Most sweet Jesus, the love of the saints, set my love on fire for you. Transform me into yourself, divinized me that my deeds and thoughts may be pleasing to you. May this be accomplished by the Power of your Spirit which I plead that you do not take away from me. Oh, how great my soul tastes and desires you now. Releases upon me a fresh outpouring of your Spirit, O Lord! Amen.

Have a good day and God bless.

Today's Gospel(November 28, 2023)
Luke 21:5-11

At that time: As some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, Jesus said, “As for these things which you see, the days will come when there shall not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” And they asked him, “Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign when this is about to take place?” And he said, “Take heed that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and, 'The time is at hand! ’ Do not go after them. And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified; for this must first take place, but the end will not be at once.” Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.”

Today's Reflection:
The Gospel speaks of how we must prepare for the end. The world will come to an end and that end will be marked by the coming of Jesus Christ. We are reminded of this by our Lord’s remark of the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem. Just as the temple is reduced to rubble and succeeded by the person of Jesus risen from the dead and living as head of his church, so too will this world pass away and be replaced by a new heaven and a new earth. This present world will be transformed and will be made glorious. Gaining a place in that kingdom depends on how we live our lives now; we will secure a place if we persevere in fidelity to the name and mission of Jesus. Every day is an opportunity for us to grow in our relationship with Jesus, the one who promises life to his faithful ones.

Let Us Pray:
O Christ Jesus, when all is darkness, and we feel our weakness and helplessness, give us to have perfect trust in your protecting love and strengthening power, so that nothing may frighten or worry us, for, living close to you, we shall see your hand, your purpose, your will through all things. Amen.

Have a good day and God bless.

Today's Gospel(November 27, 2023)
Luke 21:1-4

At that time: Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury; and he saw a poor widow put in two copper coins. And he said, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; for they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all the living that she had.”

Today's Reflection:
Jesus’ criteria for discerning a good offering are different. Man looks at the size of the gift while God looks at the intention that goes with the gift. Man focuses on the gift, while God focuses on the giver. The poor widow, according to Jesus, gives more because her intention is genuine because she gives out of love. In offering all that she has, she expresses her faith in God as her only provider. What counts the most, when we offer God a gift, is not the size or quality but the intention; the love with which we make the offering. Pause a moment and ask yourself the disposition of your heart when you come before the Lord with your gift. Jesus will appreciate your offering, however little it is, when you give out of love and pure intention.

Let us pray:
Dear Lord, watch over us as we begin this day, guide and protect us and grant success to the work of our hands. Amen.

Have a good day and God bless.

Today's Gospel(November 26, 2023)
Matthew 25:31-46

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left. “Then the King will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.’ Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared’ for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.’ And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Today's Reflection:
God is the true king over the whole universe. Christ had delivered the kingdom to God the father after destroying every rule, every authority and every power (1 Cor 15:24). He must reign until all his enemies are put under his feet, the last of which is death. He accomplished this through his resurrection. The parable of the last judgement shows that everybody will be rewarded according to his/her deeds. It is a call to be sensitive to the needs of the people around us and offer them the needed help. Our help to people should be motivated only by the love of Christ. Every good deed done for the love of Christ is actually done to Christ. If we want to reign with him eternally in his heavenly kingdom, we have to feed the hungry, help the sick, the naked, those in the prison and such others.

Let Us Pray:
Lord Jesus, you remained steadfast to the will of thy Father even on the cross of death, help me never to deviate from the will and plan of God at that hour when I shall breathe my last. Help me so that your servant may go in peace. May the Virgin Mary, mediatrix of all graces, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Have a blessed sunday and God bless.

Today's Gospel(November 25, 2023)
Luke 20:27-40

At that time: There came to Jesus some Sadducees, those who say that there is no resurrection, and they asked him a question, saying, "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies, having a wife but no children, the man must take the wife and raise up children for his brother. Now there were seven brothers; the first took a wife, and died without children, and the second and the third took her, and likewise all seven left no children and died. Afterward the woman also died. In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had her as wife." And Jesus said to them, "The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage; but those who are accounted worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, for they cannot die any more, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the passage about the bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living; for all live to him." And some of the scribes answered, "Teacher, you have spoken well." For they no longer dared to ask him any question.

Today's Reflection:
The Gospel teaches us that God's commandments are not to be diluted with excuses. The teachers of the law, knowing fully what the law is, question Jesus about it and try to justify themselves. Jesus, on the other hand, reminds them about God's original plan for humans. What God does; humans should not find a way to make it easy for themselves. Jesus teaches us that the law is a guide to reach heaven. In heaven we shall be children of God, being there in Heaven, no relationships exist, we will be like Angels. In heaven, no earthly laws are applicable. Jesus in His teaching makes it clear: give God what is due to Him. Love Him without conditions, it is He who will provide all our needs. Have faith and confidence.

Let Us Pray:
Lord Jesus Christ, I believe that you took the pain of the Cross to give me new life. I ask you to come into my life and to give me your peace and Joy. I confess that I am a sinner, that I have gone my own way and have done wrong. Please forgive me for my sins. I receive you now as my Lord and Saviour. Please fill me with your Holy Spirit. Help me to follow you and to serve you all my life. Thank you, Lord Jesus. Amen.

Have a good day and God bless.

Today's Gospel(November 24, 2023)
Luke 19:45-48

At that time: Jesus entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold, saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer’; but you have made it a den of robbers.” And he was teaching daily in the temple. The chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people sought to destroy him; but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people hung upon his words.

Today's Reflection;
A cleansing of our individual temples is also important before we can experience God. We can apply Jesus’ gesture to ourselves. Our relationship with him is something that has to be worked out, moulded, fashioned, and sometimes even hammered out. A sober question to ask is: what would Jesus do if he came into the temple of my heart? Would he be happy that it is kept clean and used for the right purpose, or angry that it is polluted by sin and turned into a cesspit of vices? Let us make a firm decision today to keep the temple of our body clean by frequenting the sacrament of penance and nourishing our lives with the eternal word of God.

Let Us Pray:
Lord Jesus, you remained steadfast to the will of thy Father even on the cross of death, help me never to deviate from the will and plan of God at that hour when I shall breathe my last. Help me so that your servant may go in peace. May the Virgin Mary, mediatrix of all graces, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen.

Have a good day and God bless.

Today's Gospel(November 23, 2023)
Luke 19:41-44

At that time: When Jesus drew near and saw the city he wept over it, saying, "Would that even today you knew the things that make for peace! But now they are hid from your eyes. For the days shall come upon you, when your enemies will cast up a bank about you and surround you, and hem you in on every side, and dash you to the ground, you and your children within you, and they will not leave one stone upon another in you; because you did not know the time of your visitation."

Today's Reflection:
Jesus expresses deep sorrow that the people of Jerusalem did not heed his call to repent. They continuously ignored the call to return to Godly ways. Today we have to make a difference in the way we want our personal relationship with God. He is always waiting for us to understand that without Him we can do nothing. When we are so full of ourselves, we cannot see anything beyond ourselves, our family and friends. It is our own understanding of our hyper self-confidence that will usher in destruction, as the reading of the gospel indicates. It is time to reflect, repent and resolve to return to the basic principles: love God above everything else and love your neighbor. When we have such firm foundation, we cannot go wrong. Saints have done this before, now this is your time to become a saint. Be Good, Be Holy.

Let Us Pray:
Most sweet Jesus, the love of the saints, set my love on fire for you. Transform me into yourself, divinize me that my deeds and thoughts may be pleasing to you. May this be accomplished by the Power of your Spirit which I plead that you do not take away from me. Oh, how great my soul tastes and desires you now. Releases upon me a fresh outpouring of your Spirit, O Lord! Amen.

Have a good day and God bless.

Today's Gospel(November 22, 2023)
Luke 19:11-28

At that time: Jesus proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately. He said therefore, “A nobleman went into a far country to receive kingly power and then return. Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten pounds, and said to them, ‘Trade with these till I come.’ “But his citizens hated him and sent an embassy after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’ “When he returned, having received the kingly power, he commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by trading. The first came before him, saying, ‘Lord, your pound has made ten pounds more.’ “And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.’ “And the second came, saying, ‘Lord, your pound has made five pounds.’ “And he said to him, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’ “Then another came, saying, ‘Lord, here is your pound, which I kept laid away in a napkin; for I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man; you take up what you did not lay down, and reap what you did not sow.’ “He said to him, ‘I will condemn you out of your own mouth, you wicked servant! You knew that I was a severe man, taking up what I did not lay down and reaping what I did not sow? Why then did you not put my money into the bank, and at my coming I should have collected it with interest?’ “And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the pound from him, and give it to him who has the ten pounds.’ “(And they said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten pounds!’) “‘I tell you, that to every one who has will more be given; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them before me.”’ And when Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

Today's Reflection:
God’s life within us has enormous potential. We are to grow into the rich persons that God intends us to be. In our everyday living of the Gospel we can be fearful or lazy and be safe. We can do what is minimally necessary; go to mass, confession, say our daily prayers, but take no risks. Real growth in our potential and the life God has given us comes with taking risks. We risk dying to self and increasing our life when we see someone poor and in need whom we don’t know and still reach out to him or her. We risk dying to self and increasing our life when we see someone poor and in need whom we don’t know and still reach out to him or her. We risk dying to self and increasing our life when we share our resources and talents with others who are less fortunate. When we risk dying to self, we receive from God an abundance of life because in dying to self we are more perfectly conformed to Christ.

Let Us Pray:
God of justice and mercy, open our eyes to see you in the face of the poor. Open our ears to hear you in the cries of the exploited open our mouths to defend you in the public squares as well as in private deeds. Remind us that what we do to the least ones, we do to you. In the name of Jesus – Amen.

Have a good day and God bless.