Dec 30- Jan 4: Daily Reflections

Dec 30 Monday (St. Egwin)                 

https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-egwin : 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

Dec 31st: Reflections and Liturgy

*31st December 2019, Tuesday*, Seventh Day within Octave of Christmas

1 John 2:18-21 / John 1:1-18

*Antichrists have appeared: They came from our ranks* 

30th December: Reflection and Liturgy

30th December 2019, Monday, Sixth Day within Octave of Christmas.
1 John 2:12-17 / Luke 2:36-40 

Shun the world’s attractions: The world passes; God alone remains.

Photographer David Crocket of KOMO-TV, Seattle, was caught at the foot of Mt. St. Helens when it exploded on May 18, 1980. He was nearly buried in the falling ash. Ten hours later he was miraculously spotted, picked up by a helicopter, and rushed to a hospital. After the ordeal Crocket wrote in Guideposts: “During those ten hours I saw a mountain fall apart.  I saw a forest disappear. . . .I saw that God is the only one who is immovable. . . .I feel somehow that I’m being allowed to start over . . .whatever is in his master plan for me.”

New Year

A New Year Prayer

Holy Father,

God of our yesterdays, our today, and our tomorrows.

We praise You for Your unequalled greatness.

Jan 1: Mary, Mother of God

New Year 2014 from heartnoi2k

Billy Graham's Prayer for the New Year

Our Father and our God, as we stand at the beginning of this new year we confess our need of Your presence and Your guidance as we face the future.

28th Dec: Holy Innocents

28th December 2019, Saturday, Holy Innocents, Martyrs

1 John 1:5 - 2:2 / Matthew 2:13-18

I have been redeemed: Jesus’ blood purifies us.

There’s a story about a man who dove into a raging river to rescue a drowning boy. Miraculously, the man survived; even more miraculously, the boy was saved. After the boy had recovered from the ordeal, he said to the man, “Thank you, sir, for saving me from the river.” The man put his hand on the boy’s shoulder and said, “That’s okay, son! Just make sure your life was worth saving.” What that man said to the boy, Jesus could say to each one of us here.

St. John, The Evangelist

27th December 2019, Friday, St. John, Evangelist

1 John 1:1-4 / John 20:2-8 

Eternal life becomes visible: We touched him with our hands. 

Cyril Egan wrote a poem called “A Kind of Prayer.” It’s about a person who’s looking for something. Everywhere he goes, he searches, searches, searches. One day someone asks him what he’s searching for. He responds, “I’m looking for God.” Then he adds quickly: “Don’t tell me I’ll find him in my heart (Though in a sense that’s true); And don’t tell me I’ll find him in my fellow man (Though in a sense that’s true, too). What I’m looking for is a God making a five-sense breakthrough to humanity.”

St. Stephen - Reflections and Liturgy

St. Stephen, First Martyr Wednesday, 26th December 2019

Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59 . Matthew 10:17-22

Martyrdom of Stephen: They rushed at him and stoned him.

Holy Family - Stories and Illustrations

 Collection from Fr. Tony Kadavil and Others

# 1: Grandparents are a treasure: Pope Francis said that as a child, he heard a story of a family with a mother, father, many children and a grandfather. The grandfather, suffering from Parkinson’s illness, would drop food on the dining table, and smear it all over his face when he ate. His son considered it disgusting. Hence, one day he bought a small table and set it off to the side of the dining hall so the grandfather could eat, make a mess and not disturb the rest of the family.