All Glory be to Jesus. our Messiah and King4th Week of Advent (A) : Sunday 18th December 2022Is. 7:10–14; Ps. 23:1-6; Rom 1:1-7; Mt. 1:18–24 (Ps. Wk. IV) When we contemplate the ‘Annunciation’, we often pray with Mary, but today’s Gospel reading focuses on the role of Joseph. We see in Joseph one who submitted…
All Glory be to Jesus. our Messiah and King3rd Week of Advent (A) : Saturday 17th December 2022Gen. 49:2,8-10; Ps. 71:1-2,3-4,7-8,17; Mt. 1:1-17 (Ps. Wk. III) The first reading describes Jacob’s deathbed blessing of his sons and the characteristics and future destiny of the twelve tribes of Israel. What is clear is the allusion to…
Thank you, Father God, for sending Jesus your Son to us3rd Week of Advent (A) : Friday 16th December 2022Is. 56:1-3, 6-8; Ps. 66 (67):2-3, 5, 7-8; Jn 5:33-36 (Ps. Wk. III) Jesus says He is the truth and is doing the Father’s work because the Father has sent Him. Yes, understanding what is true…
Lord, help me to recognise my sinfulness 3rd Week of Advent (A) : Thursday 15th December 2022Is 54:1-10; Ps. 29:2,4-6,11-13; Lk 7:24-30 (Ps. Wk. III) The passage from Isaiah is full of images of promise and hope for the people of Israel. The Israelites were in exile, and times had been tough. Isaiah’s prophecy was…
St John of the Cross, priest & doctor3rd Week of Advent (A) : Wednesday 14th December 2022Is. 45:6-8,18,21-25; Ps. 84:8-13; Lk. 7:19-23 (Ps. Wk. III) The people of Israel have waited longingly for the coming of the Messiah. John the Baptist was thought to be the Messiah, but he was not. Now he wanted to…
St Lucy , virgin & martyr3rd Week of Advent (A) : Tuesday 13th December 2022Zep. 3:1-2,9-13; Ps. 33:2-3,6-7,16,18-19 and 23; Mt. 21:28-32 (Ps. Wk. III) Zephaniah’s message was disheartening. God was profoundly disappointed with His people. They had promised much but delivered arrogance, injustice, and bloodshed. Dark days were ahead of them as they reaped…
Our Lady of Guadalupe3rd Week of Advent (A) : Monday 12th December 2022Num. 24:2-7,15-17; Ps. 2 4:4-5ab,6-7bc, 8 -9; Mt. 21:23-27 (Ps. Wk. III) “Teach me your ways, O Lord.” All our lives, we can recite this prayer with the Psalmist; for each day of our life, we must be open to the guidance of…
Come, Jesus, Come!3rd Week of Advent (A) : Sunday 11th December 2022Is. 35:1-6,10; Ps. 145:6-10; James 5:7-10; Mt. 1 1:2-11 (Ps. Wk. II) Dry, barren, and harsh describe the desert. In our lives, there are also desert spaces. Spiritual emptiness because prayer is dry. Emotional desolateness because loved ones hurt us. Wasted hopes because we’ve…
St Damasus I, Pope2nd Week of Advent (A) : Saturday 10th December 2022Is. 48:1-4,9-11; Ps. 79:2-3,25-26,28-29; Mt. 17:10-13 (Ps. Wk. II) The colourful, exciting language used about Elijah is a measure of the hope he aroused in the hearts of faithful members of the Chosen People. His fiery preaching brought about a restoration of faith…
St John Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin2nd Week of Advent (A) : Friday 9th December 2022Is. 48:17-19; Ps. 1:1-4,6; Mt. 1 1:16-19 (Ps.Wk. II) When Jesus spoke in today’s Gospel reading, John the Baptist had already appeared as “a voice of one that cries in the desert” (Mt 3:1, 3). His call to repentance; and his ascetic lifestyle…