Thursday after Epiphany, 09-01-20 - Reflections and Liturgy

1 John 4:19 - 5:4 / Luke 4:14-22

How can we be sure we love God?: Whoever loves God must also love others.

Queen Victoria of England had a summer residence at Balmoral, England. One day she was out walking alone and got caught in a rainstorm. She ran to a small cottage for shelter and asked the woman who answered the door if she could borrow an umbrella.

Baptism of the Lord

Gospel Text: Matthew 3:13-17 Michel de Verteuil
Textual Comments
The story of Jesus’s baptism is told in all four Gospels – an indication that the early Christians considered it an important event in the life of Jesus.
There are two aspects to the event:

Tuesday after Epiphany, 07-01-20: Reflection & Liturgy

1 John 4:7-10 / Mark 6:34-44

God is love: Whoever loves knows God.

An old woman suddenly began to have doubts about the existence of God. The woman couldn’t understand why this was happening. Finally, she decided to go to a priest for help. “I’m having terrible problems with my faith,” she confessed. “Is there anything I can do?” The priest’s suggestion surprised her. He simply said, “Begin to love your neighbor more actively and more concretely.” The priest’s advice jibes with John’s words in today’s reading. John says, “Whoever loves . . . knows God.”

Monday after Epiphany, 06-01-20+ Liturgy

1 John 3:22 - 4:6 / Matthew 4: 12-17, 23-25

Do not trust every spirit: Test each spirit to see if it is of God.

In May 1981, a man was accused of killing eight prostitutes. He said he was acting on orders from God. About a month later Mark Chapman, the killer of John Lennon, said God told him to drop his defense and plead guilty to the slaying.

Jan 6-11: Week after Epiphany - Reflections

Jan 6 Monday: Mt 4: 12-17, 23-25: 12 Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee; 13 and leaving Nazareth he went and dwelt in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulon and Naphtali, 14 that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: 15 “The land of Zebulon and the land of Naphtali, toward the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles — 16 the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death  light has dawned.” 17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Happy New Year

Jan 2nd: Christmas Season - Reflection & Liturgy

2nd January 2020, Thursday

1 John 2:22-28 / John 1:19-28

Some priests question John: “Are you the Messiah, Elijah, or a prophet?”

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.”