My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord. My spirit rejoices in God, my Saviour. 4th Week of Advent : Tuesday 22nd December 20201 Sam. 1:24-28; (R. Ps.) 1 Sam. 2:1,4-5,6-7,8; Lk. 1:46-56 (Ps Wk IV) It is of the greatest significance that Mary did not sing her Magnificat in the presence of the angel…
In this world, you will have trouble, but have courage for I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)4th Week of Advent : Monday 21st December 2020Song 2:8-14 or Zeph. 3:14-18; Ps. 32:2-3,11-12,20-21; Lk. 1:39-45 (Ps Wk IV) The Old Testament frequently speaks of enemies and how God saves Israel or individual Israelites from these enemies.…
The Annunciation: Mary's Yes to God4th Sunday of Advent (B) : 20th December 20202 Sam 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Ps. 88:2-3,4-5, 27,29; Rom 16:25-27; Lk 1:26-38 (Ps Wk IV) Often people try to do favours for God without asking if God wants them. David wanted to build a temple for the Lord, but God said…
Jesus, be my Lord and my God3rd Week of Advent : Saturday 19th December 2020Jdg. 13:2-7,24-25; Ps. 70:3-4,5-6,16-17; Lk. 1:5-25 (Ps Wk III) During these days of special preparation for Christmas, we read several Old Testament stories of the miraculous or unexpected conception of children. These stories, of course, attribute these births to God as…
Jesus, be my Lord and my God3rd Week of Advent : Friday 18th December 2020Jer. 23:5-8; Ps. 71:1-2,12-13,18-19; Mt. 1:18-24 (Ps Wk III) The prophecy in the first reading concerns the future Son of Man, the ideal king who is described as a “virtuous Branch for David.” In contrast to the kings of Israel who…
Thank you, Lord, for all your many blessings on me3rd Week of Advent : Thursday 17th December 2020Gen. 49:1-2,8-10; Ps. 71:1-2,3-4,7-8,17; Mt. 1:1-17 (Ps Wk III) During Advent, we hear about the family of Jesus, his ancestors all the way back to Abraham. Some of these names may be familiar, some perhaps less so. What…
Lord, help me to point people to You by the way I live my life3rd Week of Advent : Wednesday 16th December 2020Is 45:6b-8, 18, 21b-25; Ps. 84:9-10,11-12,13-14; Lk 7:19-23 (Ps Wk III) Isaiah emphasizes that the Lord is the only God. The Lord created the entire universe — both good and evil, light and…
Lord, help me to be more aware of your Holy Presence in my life3rd Week of Advent : Tuesday 15th December 2020Zeph 3:1-2; 9-13; Ps. 33:2-3,6-7,16,18-19,23; Mt. 21: 28-32 (Ps Wk III) The parable in the Gospel illustrates two different kinds of people in their relationship with God. The Jewish leaders are those who said…
St John of the Cross3rd Week of Advent : Monday 14th December 2020Num. 24:2-7,15-17a; Ps. 24:4-5,6-7,8-9; Mt. 21:23-27 (Ps Wk III) Advent is a time when we see the fulfilment of many of the Old Testament incidents and prophecies that the early Church saw as pointing to Christ. In the first reading, King Balak had…
Lord, help me to discover what is my mission in life3rd Sunday of Advent (B) : 13th December 2020Is. 61:1-2,10-11; (R. Ps.) Lk. 1:46-48,49-50, 53-54; 1 Thess. 5:16-24; Jn. 1:6-8,19-28 (Ps Wk III) When asked who he was, John the Baptist first of all affirmed who he was not. Eventually, he described himself in terms…