How are we waiting? Whenever I pray the rosary and meditate upon the first Joyful Mystery, I always wonder how Mary felt at the time when angel Gabriel appeared to her and announced such a life-changing revelation from God. I wonder what her thoughts are as she hears His plans for her. Jewish women were typically betrothed around the age [...]
Luke 1:1-7 gives us an account of what happened in the days leading up to Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem: “In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town. And Joseph [...]
On the third Sunday of Advent, the penitential purple of the season changes to the colour rose and we celebrate “Gaudete” or “Rejoice!” Sunday. It takes its name from the first word of the entrance antiphon – “Rejoice in the Lord always!”(Philippians 4:4). But why are we joyful? Simply because our Saviour is near! In the first reading, we hear the joyful [...]
In today’s readings, we read about God’s promise of the coming of Christ. Isaiah comforts the people with the prophecy of the redemption of God’s coming. However, he talks also about having to reconcile with our one true living God. Through Isaiah, we learn that God cares for us and that He will not leave us or forsake us. His [...]
When the Archangel Gabriel had visited Mary, and she heard the news that her “kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age” had “also conceived a son” and was in “her sixth month” (Luke 1: 26), Mary’s response was immediately attuned to the needs of Elizabeth. She did not spend time glorifying herself – oh I am the Mother of the Messiah, [...]
Luke chapter 1 presents to us the juxtaposition of Zechariah and Mary. Both had received an angelic revelation and message. Both had encountered the Divine as they were going about their ordinary activity – It was Zechariah’s turn for temple duties, and Mary was going about her every day. Yet the response that each person gave differed. Zechariah doubted despite [...]
The Farmer and the Pious Man | Quality over Quantity But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. ❤️” 1 Samuel 16:7 [...]
The Lord has blessed us abundantly for us to understand his love and providence. To be truly appreciative this, we should use these blessings to live in his presence. The blessings of material comfort can often turn us into jello. For comfort is what most of us seek. In this comfort, there is a letting down of our guard and [...]
The prophet Joel exhorts: “It shall come to pass I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.” (Joel 3:1) In a person’s typical day, the brain via its neural network of 80 billion neurons, produces five types of electrical activity known [...]
When the people came to become God's People, it was strictly prohibited to sacrifice to the pagan gods. God's laws were often broken, and as a result the Lord God permitted the people's own sins to overtake them. They were tormented by serpents, and put into exile, they lost their victories in battle, and the people became slaves to other [...]
