Dec 28 Monday (Feast of the Holy Innocents, Martyrs): https://www.franciscanmedia.org/holy-innocents/ Mt 2:13-18: 13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there till I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.”
14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night, and departed to Egypt, 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt have I called my son.” 16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, was in a furious rage, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time which he had ascertained from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: 18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they were no more.” USCCB video: https://youtu.be/-Kn7aqDe8lA?list=PLpTzvCOJa7DAAsw34PxZGDqnI_bBKNWa9; https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/daily-reflections/This Mass commemorates the deaths of all of those innocents
killed by the order of Herod the Great in his fruitless pursuit of the “newborn
king of the Jews,” as well as the deaths of the untold numbers of innocent
babies slaughtered today by abortion.
The context: Herod the Great had been made the
king of Judea by the Roman Empire although he was not even a Jew. His
father was an Idumean, and his mother was an Arab. This cruel king was
kept in power mainly by the Roman army. He brutally executed all suspected
rivals to his throne including his wife, brother and two brothers-in-law.
No wonder he was terrified at the news that a rival king, a descendant of King
David, had been born somewhere in Bethlehem, for this child could someday claim
to be the legitimate king of Israel and Judea! Herod’s anger intensified when
he realized that the Magi had not returned to his royal palace to report the
whereabouts of the Child Jesus. Matthew says that the slaughter of the
Innocents was in fulfillment of a prophecy of the prophet Jeremiah: “A
voice is heard in Ramah, lamenting and weeping bitterly; it is Rachel weeping
for her children, refusing to be comforted for her children, because they are
no more.” Ramah was a hill near Bethlehem and the burial place
of Rachel, the wife of the patriarch Jacob. The Jews believed that she wept
bitterly from her tomb when the Jews were taken as slaves by the Assyrians and
later when Herod massacred the babies.
Life message: We need to raise our voice against
the 21st century massacre of the Innocents: As in other
advanced countries, the cruel massacre of the innocents continues in North
America by state-permitted abortion. While Herod killed at the most a
hundred children, nearly four thousand unborn babies are slaughtered in the
United States every day. They are killed because, like the infants of
Bethlehem, they are inconvenient. Children are sacrificed also for the
most powerful king of the twenty-first century, Science. Babies are
killed in their embryo stage to harvest their “stem cells” for medical
experiments intended to heal the illnesses of their parents and grandparents.
Along with prayer, let us do everything in our power to stop this brutal murder
of the helpless babies. Fr. Tony (http://frtonyshomilies.com/) 2020
Dec 29 Tuesday (St. Thomas Becket, Bishop, Martyr): (https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-thomas-becket); https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/daily-reflections/ Lk
2:22-35: The context: Today’s Gospel presents the head of the
Holy Family, Joseph, faithfully obeying God’s law given through Moses
concerning the purification of the mother and the redeeming of the child by
presenting Mary and the Baby Jesus in the Temple. The events recounted are
those we traditionally celebrate on February 2nd with the Feast
of Presentation of Jesus. We celebrate them today in order to group
all the events of Christ’s infancy within the Octave of Christmas. Today
(and on February 2nd), we celebrate a combined feast, commemorating
the Jewish practice of the purification of the mother after childbirth and the
presentation of the child in the Temple. It is known as the Hypanthe feast
or Feast of the Purification of Mary (by the offering two
pigeons in the Temple); the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord (by
prayers and, “five shekels to a member of a priestly family” (Nm
18:15-16; NAB; Note on Lk 22:22), to redeem or buy back
the firstborn male child from the Lord); and the Feast of Encounter (because
the New Testament, represented by the Baby Jesus, encountered the Old
Testament, represented by Simeon and Anna). On February 2nd we celebrate these
events as a formal ending of the Christmas season. On February 2, we also
celebrate the Feast of Candlemas (because candles are blessed
then for liturgical and personal use).
Purification and redemption ceremonies: The Mosaic Law
taught that, since every Jewish male child belonged to Yahweh, the parents had
to “buy back” the child (“redeem” him), by offering lambs or turtledoves as a
sacrifice in the Temple. In addition (Numbers 18:15), every mother had to be
purified after childbirth by prayers and an offering made to God in the Temple.
Joseph kept these laws as an act of obedience to God.
The encounter with Simeon and Anna: By the
inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the old, pious and Spirit-filled Simeon and
Anna had been waiting in the Temple for the revelation of God’s salvation.
Simeon recognized Jesus as the Lord’s Anointed One, and in his prayer of
blessing, he prophesied that Jesus was meant to be the glory of Israel and a
light of revelation to the Gentiles. While he blessed Mary, he warned that her
Child was “was born for the fall and the rising of many in Israel, and
for a sign that is spoken against … that thoughts out of many
hearts may be revealed,” while “a sword will pierce through your
own soul also” (Lk 2:34-35; RSV 2 Catholic). Simeon was prophesying
both the universal salvation that would be proclaimed by Jesus and the
necessity of suffering in the mission of the Messiah.
Life message: 1) Every Holy Mass in
which we participate is our presentation. Although we were officially presented
to God on the day of our Baptism, we present ourselves and our dear ones on the
altar before God our Father through our Savior Jesus Christ at every Holy Mass.
Hence, we need to live our daily lives with the awareness both that we are
dedicated people consecrated to God, and that we are obliged to lead holy
lives. Fr. Tony (http://frtonyshomilies.com/) 2020.
Dec 30 Wednesday: Luke 2:36-40, There was
also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher; she
was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years from her
virginity, 37 and as a widow till she was eighty-four. She did not depart from
the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 And
coming up at that very hour she gave thanks to God and spoke of him to all who
were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. 39 And when they had performed
everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to
their own city, Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong, filled
with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him. USCCB video: https://youtu.be/j2NFFlcgSh0?list=PLpTzvCOJa7DAAsw34PxZGDqnI_bBKNWa9; https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/daily-reflections/
The context: Today’s Gospel presents Anna
the prophetess who greeted the Baby Jesus as the Redeemer when Joseph presented
Mary and the Infant in the Temple for the purification of the mother and for
the “redemption” of the Baby Jesus.
Anna and her testimony: Anna was an
eighty-four-year-old widow who spent her days in the Temple in fasting and
prayer, waiting for the promised Messiah. She was rewarded with the joy of
seeing her Redeemer as a Baby. In her excitement she praised God and introduced
the Infant to others around her as the expected Messiah.
The Child Jesus’ growth in wisdom and the favor of God:
Commenting on the last sentence of today’s Gospel St. Bede says: “Our Lord
Jesus Christ, as a Child clothed in the fragility of human nature, had to grow
and become stronger. But, as the eternal Word of God, he had no need to become
stronger or to grow. Hence, he is rightly described as full of wisdom and
grace.”
Life messages: 1)The Holy Spirit uses ordinary
men and women with simple Faith as His instruments to bear witness to Christ,
his ideals and teachings.
2) We need praying Annas in all our parishes to offer
prayers for all the members of our parish families. Let us cooperate with the
Spirit in everything. Fr. Tony (http://frtonyshomilies.com/) 2020
Dec 31 Thursday: Jn 1:1-18: 1 In
the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2
He was in the beginning with God; 3 all things were made through him, and
without him was not anything made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the
life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness
has not overcome it. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 6 There
was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came for testimony, to bear
witness to the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the
light, but came to bear witness to the light. 9 The true light that enlightens
every man was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was
made through him, yet the world knew him not. 11 He came to his own home, and
his own people received him not. 12 But to all who received him, who believed
in his name, he gave power to become children of God; 13 who were born, not of
blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And
the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have
beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father. 15 (John bore
witness to him, and cried, “This was he of whom I said, `He who comes after me
ranks before me, for he was before me.'”) 16 And from his fullness have we all
received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and
truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only Son, who
is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known. USCCB video
homily: https://youtu.be/j2NFFlcgSh0?list=PLpTzvCOJa7DAAsw34PxZGDqnI_bBKNWa9 ; https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/daily-reflections/
The context and the content: Bible scholars
generally agree that the Prologue (1:1-18) of John’s Gospel is a hymn, the overall
purpose of which is to highlight the historical and theological significance of
Jesus’ origins as “Word,” “true Light,” and the “Only-begotten Son,” thus
tracing his genealogy to God Himself.” The Navarre Bible commentary
summarizes the main teachings in the prologue thus: 1) the Divinity and
Eternity of the Word; 2) the Incarnation of the Word and His manifestation as
man; 3) the part played by the Word in creation and in the salvation of
mankind; 4) the different ways in which people react to the coming of the Lord
— some accepting him with Faith, others rejecting him; 5) finally, John the
Baptist as witness-bearer to the presence of the Word in the world.
The significance of the text: (Verses 6-9)
introduce John the Baptist in a manner that clearly distinguishes him from
Jesus – “John himself was not the Light, but he came to testify to the
Light. The true Light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world…” Some
scholars maintain that the author of the Gospel may be making such a forceful
differentiation in order to counter a sect claiming that John the Baptist was
the Light and the Messiah, and not simply the one testifying to the
Light. In all he did and said, the Baptist always bore witness to
Jesus and Jesus’ messianic identity: “John testified to Him and cried
out, saying, ‘The One Who is coming after me ranks ahead of me because He
existed before me'”(John 1:15). John 1:19-28 is an Advent and
Christmas text that calls us to remember the origins and purposes of Jesus and
His coming with the kind of devotion that challenges us to be witnesses for
Jesus. John the Baptist demonstrates what it means to bear witness to the
true Light coming into the world.
Life messages: 1) We need to bear witness
to Christ the Light: By Baptism we become members of the family of Christ,
the true Light of the world. Jesus said: “You are the light of
the world.” Hence, our mission as brothers and sisters of Christ and
members of his Church is to reflect Christ’s Light to others, just as the moon
reflects the light of the sun. 2) It is especially important
during the Christmas season that we reflect on Christ’s unconditional
love and forgiveness. Very many people live in spiritual darkness and
poverty and lack real freedom. There are others who are deafened and
blinded by the cheap attractions of the world. Still others feel
lonely, unwanted, rejected, useless, and marginalized. All these people
are waiting for us to reflect the light of Christ and to turn their lives into
experiences of joy, wholeness and integrity. (http://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/20
Jan 1 Friday (New Year Day: Mary the Mother of God):Lk
2: 16-21: (https://blog.franciscanmedia.org/franciscan-spirit/the-solemnity-of-mary-mother-of-god)
& https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/daily-reflections/
Introduction: Since we celebrate the Feast
of Mary, the Mother of God on New Year’s Day, may I take this
opportunity to wish you all a Happy and Peaceful New Year? I pray that
the Lord Jesus and His Mother Mary may enrich your lives during the New
Year with an abundance of Divine blessings. Today’s Feast of
Mary, the Mother of God is a very appropriate way to begin a new year,
reminding us to rely on the powerful intercession of our Heavenly Mother. The
Church has, since 1968, also observed a yearly World Day of Peace; this year,
2021, marks the 53rd celebration. On this day, the Church
invites us to pray specially for lasting peace in the world throughout the New
Year. USCCB video: https://youtu.be/Vc68p6Fk6bU?list=PLpTzvCOJa7DAFrAB3rgpm4xC_YNYqc0xt
Scripture lessons summarized: Today’s first
reading gives us the beautiful Divine blessing from the book of Numbers for the
New Year, and the Responsorial Psalm (Ps 67) begs for that blessing. In the
second reading, Paul reminds the Galatians and us that God’s Son has become one
of us through Mary, and that it is through Jesus that we have become the
children of God. Today’s Gospel describes how the shepherds spread to all their
neighbors the Good News surrounding the birth of Jesus which the angel had
revealed to them, and how Mary treasured “all these things” in her heart.
The Gospel also tells us that on the day of His circumcision, the Child was
given the name Jesus that had been chosen by God Himself.
Traditional belief and Church doctrine: We honor
Mary primarily because God honored her by choosing her to become the
mother of Jesus, the Incarnate Second Person of the Holy Trinity, Who remained
God, when He took on human flesh and became Man, as stated in the Bible. The
angel said to Mary: “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and
bear a son, and you shall call His Name Jesus. He will be great, and will be
called the Son of the Most High…” [Lk 1:31-32a; RSV 2
Catholic] After the angel had appeared to her and told her that she was
to be the mother of Jesus, the Blessed Virgin Mary visited Elizabeth. At Mary’s
greeting, Elizabeth said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is
the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted me, that the Mother
of my Lord should come to me? (Lk 1:42-43; RSV 2 Catholic).
Hence, the Council of Ephesus affirmed in AD 431 that Mary was truly the Mother
of God (Theotokos), and in AD 451, the Council of Chalcedon affirmed the
Divine Motherhood of Mary as a dogma, an official doctrine of the Holy Catholic
Church.
Life messages: 1) Let us strive to be pure and
holy like our Heavenly Mother. All mothers want their children to inherit or
acquire their good qualities. Hence, let us honor Mary, our Heavenly
Mother, by practicing her virtues of trusting Faith, obedience to the
word of God, purity and humble and committed service. 2) Let us make the New
Year meaningful by having everyday a) some noble thing to dream,
b) something good to do, and c) Someone to love, the first-person
being Jesus. 3) Let us sanctify every day of the New Year: a) by offering
every morning, all the activities of the day to God for His glory, thus transforming
them into prayers, b) by asking for the anointing and strengthening of the Holy
Spirit to do good to others and to avoid evil, c) by remaining faithful to our
family prayers and Bible reading at night, d) by asking God’s pardon and
forgiveness for our sins committed during the day and e) by seeking God’s
special protection during sleep. Before we sleep, let us say, “Good night,
Lord,” repeating Jesus’ last words from the cross, “Father, into Your hands
I commend my spirit.” Fr. Tony(http://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/20
Jan 2 Saturday (St. Basil the Great and Gregory
Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of the Church): (https://mycatholic.life/saints/saints-of-the-liturgical-year/2-january-saints-basil-the-great-and-gregory-nazianzen-bishops-and-doctors-memorial/)
Jn 1:19-28: 19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews
sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He
confessed, he did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 And they
asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the
prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 They said to him then, “Who are you? Let us
have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He
said, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, `Make straight the way
of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” 24 Now they had been sent from the
Pharisees. 25 They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither
the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize
with water; but among you stands one whom you do not know, 27 even he who comes
after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28 This took
place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing. USCCB video: https://youtu.be/tWAj8whE_WA?list=PLpTzvCOJa7DAFrAB3rgpm4xC_YNYqc0xt ; https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/daily-reflections/
The context: The news reached the central Jewish
religious authorities in Jerusalem that one John, the son of a Jewish priest,
was preaching repentance and renewal of life to the Jews and inviting them to
receive the baptism of repentance meant only for Gentiles. Hence, the Sanhedrin
sent a delegation of experts to Bethany on the eastern bank of river Jordan
(different from the Bethany near Jerusalem, where Lazarus lived), to discover
whether John was claiming to be the expected Messiah or his forerunner Elijah,
the prophet, and to ask why he encouraged the Chosen People to receive the
baptism of repentance.
John’s witnessing mission: John frankly declared in all
humility that he was not Elijah nor the expected Messiah nor even one of the
Old Testament prophets reincarnated. Later, Jesus referred to him as “a lamp “He
was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in
his light (Jn 5:35). In the spiritual life, the ideal is to
become invisible, and our role as Christians is to become salt, yeast, grain,
and light. But John claimed that he was the forerunner of the real
Messiah, and that his mission was to prepare the lives of the Jews to receive
the expected Messiah and to bear witness to him when he should appear in
public. John also explained to them that he was baptizing the Jews with water
because they must be made holy through repenting of their sins and renewing
their lives if they were to receive the most Holy Messiah in their midst.
Life messages: 1) As Catholic Christians, we believe in the coming of Jesus our Lord and Savior on our altars during each Eucharistic celebration. Hence, we, too, need to repent of our sins and ask God’s pardon and forgiveness on a daily basis if we wish to receive Jesus into our hearts and lives sacramentally. 2) We, too, need to renew our lives with the help of our Lord Jesus living within us, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, so that He may radiate His love, forgiveness and mercy to all around us(http://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/20.
