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Today, we are jarred awake. The readings have taken us away from the serenity of the birth of the Messiah, to the death of the first person to be killed for following him. Acts 6:8-10, 7:54-59 The Arrest of Stephen 8  Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.  9  Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and others of those from Cilicia and Asia, stood up and argued with

Today, we are invited to reflect on the pause of Christmas Eve, the last moments before history was forever changed by the birth of the Savior. 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16 God’s Covenant with David 7  Now when the king was settled in his house and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies around him,  2  the king said to the prophet Nathan, “See now, I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of God stays in a tent.”  3  Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that y

Today, we are invited to reflect on our faithfulness as we wait. Malachi 3:1-4, 23-24 The Coming Messenger 3  See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight—indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.  2  But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like washers’ soap;  3  he will sit

Today, we are invited to think about how Mary’s understanding of God’s plan influences our lives today. 1 Samuel 1:24-28 24  When she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine. She brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh, and the child was young.  25  Then they slaughtered the bull and brought the child to Eli.  26  And she said, “Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing h

Today, we are invited to think about our tone when we speak to God, are we open-hearted and trusting or closed-hearted and skeptical or open-hearted and skeptical? Judges 13:2-7, 24-25a The Birth of Samson 2  There was a certain man of Zorah, of the tribe of the Danites, whose name was Manoah. His wife was barren, having borne no children.  3  And the angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, “Although you are barren, having borne no children, you shall conceiv

Today, we are invited to ponder if we would follow a directive that came to us in a dream? Jeremiah 23:5-8 The Righteous Branch of David 5  The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.  6  In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will live in safety. And this is the name by which he will be called: “The Lord is our righteousne

Today, we are invited to reflect on where we see God in suffering? Genesis 49:2, 8-10 2  Assemble and hear, O sons of Jacob;     listen to Israel your father. 8  Judah, your brothers shall praise you;     your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies;     your father’s sons shall bow down before you. 9  Judah is a lion’s whelp;     from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He crouches down, he stretches out like a lion,     like a lioness—who dares rouse him up? 10  The scept

Today, we are invited to reflect on our magnanimity, do we love all and condemn none? Zephaniah 3: 1-2, 9-13 1  Woe, soiled, defiled,     oppressing city! 2  It has listened to no voice;     it has accepted no correction. It has not trusted in the Lord;     it has not drawn near to its God. 9  At that time I will change the speech of the peoples     to a pure speech, that all of them may call on the name of the Lord     and serve him with one accord. 10  From beyond the rive

Today, as we reflect on the readings, we are invited to reflect on how the light of Jesus gives us hope in the darkness. Sirach 48:1-4, 9-11 48  Then Elijah arose, a prophet like fire,     and his word burned like a torch. 2  He brought a famine upon them,     and by his zeal he made them few in number. 3  By the word of the Lord he shut up the heavens     and also three times brought down fire. 4  How glorious you were, Elijah, in your wondrous deeds!     Who can boast as yo

Today, as we reflect on the readings, we are invited to examine Our Lady of Guadalupe. Revelation 11:19a, 12:1-6a, 10 19  Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple; 12  A great portent appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.  2  She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pangs, in the agony of giving birth.  3  Then another portent appeared i

Today, as we reflect on the readings, we are invited to examine the times we feel peace knowing that God has our backs. Isaiah 41:13-20 Israel Assured of God’s Help 13  For I, the Lord your God,     hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Do not fear,     I will help you.” 14  Do not fear, you worm Jacob,     you maggot Israel! I will help you, says the Lord;     your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel. 15  I will make of you a threshing sledge,     sharp, new, and hav

Today, as we reflect on the readings, we are invited to examine our burdens or how we live our lives. When we follow God’s plan vs. our own plan; how do we feel? Isaiah 40:25:31 God’s People Are Comforted 25  To whom, then, will you compare me,     or who is my equal? says the Holy One. 26  Lift up your eyes on high and see:     Who created these? He who brings out their host and numbers them,     calling them all by name; because he is great in strength,     mighty in power,

Today, as we reflect on the readings, we are invited to imagine ourselves in the gospel parable. Are we the lost one? One of the 99? The shepherd who is rescues the one? Isaiah 40:1-11 God’s People Are Comforted 40  Comfort, O comfort my people,     says your God. 2  Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,     and cry to herthat she has served her term,     that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord’s hand     double for all her sins. 3  A voice cries out: “In the wil

Today, we are invited to reflect on our answers to God’s call in our own lives. Do we answer “Here I am”? Genesis 3:9-15,20 9  But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?”  10  He said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.”  11  He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?”  12  The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with

Today, we are invited to explore who we would be in the crowd meeting Jesus. How is our response formed differently, as we have a shepherd in Jesus? Isaiah 30:19-21, 23-26 God’s Promise to Zion 19  O people in Zion, inhabitants of Jerusalem, you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when he hears it, he will answer you.  20  Though the Lord may give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide

Today’s readings invite us to reflect on our daily life. Do we “ err in spirit” or do we “grumble”? Or perhaps with opened eyes we see hope? Isaiah 29:17-24 Hope for the Future 17  Shall not Lebanon in a very little while     become a fruitful field     and the fruitful field be regarded as a forest? 18  On that day the deaf shall hear     the words of a scroll,and freed from gloom and darkness     the eyes of the blind shall see. 19  The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the Lo

Today’s readings invite us to reflect on if our actions match our words. Do we say yes but live no? Isaiah 26:1-6 1   On that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: We have a strong city;     he sets up walls and bulwarks as a safeguard. 2  Open the gates,     so that the righteous nation that maintains faithfulness     may enter in. 3  Those of steadfast mind you keep in peace,     in peace because they trust in you. 4  Trust in the Lord forever,     for in the Lor

Isaiah 25:6-10a 6  On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples     a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines,     of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear. 7  And he will destroy on this mountain     the shroud that is cast over all peoples,     the covering that is spread over all nations; 8      he will swallow up death forever. Then the Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces,     and the disgrace of his people he

Today’s readings invite us to examine how we experience joy. Where do we find joy in our lives? Isaiah 11:1-10 1   A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse,     and a branch shall grow out of his roots. 2  The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him,     the spirit of wisdom and understanding,     the spirit of counsel and might,     the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. 3  His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge

Good Morning. today we are asked to reflect on the words of the centurion and Jesus. Today's Daily Reflection Readings are: Isaiah 4:2-6 2 On that day the branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be the pride and glory of the survivors of Israel. 3 Whoever is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy, everyone who has been recorded for life in Jerusalem, 4 once the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zi