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…
Mother Mary, pray for usIMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY : Thursday 8th December 2022Gen. 3:9-15,20; Ps. 97:1,2-4; Eph. 1:3-6,1 1-12; Lk. 1:26-38 (Psalter Proper) After Adam and Eve disobeyed God, they became aware of their own nakedness and felt shame. They hid from God, as He called out, ‘Where are you?’ This drama…
St. Ambrose, bishop & doctor2nd Week of Advent (A) : Wednesday 7th December 2022Is 40:25-31; Ps 102:1-4,8,10; Mt 1 1:28-30 (Ps. Wk. II) Many of us spend a big part of our lives waiting for medical test results or for our prayers to be answered. Why is waiting so hard, and why do we struggle…
St Nicholas, bishop2nd Week of Advent (A) : Tuesday 6th December 2022Is. 40:1-1 1; Ps. 95:1-3,10-13; Mt. 18:12-14 (Ps. Wk. II) The passage from the Book of Isaiah expresses the sentiments of the prophet who proclaims the release of the Israelites from exile in Babylon. According to historical records, Cyrus, king of Persia, signed the…