Habakkuk Archives - Daily Mass Meditations

The gift of faith makes us watchers. In the modern age, we have security devices, systems, and firms – we trust in professionals and protocols to keep us safe. While this is very good and practical because it enables us to go about our daily lives without constantly looking over our shoulder, we must never forget spiritual vigilance. We are sentinels, but the first thing we are keeping watch over is not the earthly city. We are watchers over the kingdom of God – a Kingdom (as Jesus reminds us) that is also, and most importantly, within us. When we pray, we are actively fulfilling our duty to keep watch. They eyes of faith enable us to know what is invisible – a kind of paradox of the Christian life. We are to become sentinels and watchers of the invisible. Setting the eyes of our heart upon the invisible God and eternity, we are better situated to warn our fellow brothers and sisters in humanity about the dangers they ignore because they aren’t looking. The vigilant Christian remembers. Remembering is a form of keeping watch for what is invisible. The vigilant Christian remembers constantly that he or she will be leaving this earthly existence behind and only their soul – which is also invisible – will appear before its Creator. read more

Daily Readings

Feast of the Holy Innocents, martyrs
by USCCB on December 28, 2024 at 9:30 am
Reading 1 1 Jn 1:5—2:2 Beloved:This is the message that we have heard from Jesus Christand proclaim to you:God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all.If we say, "We have fellowship with him," while we continue to walk in darkness,we lie and do not act in truth.But if we walk in the light as he is in the light,then we have fellowship with one another,and the Blood of his Son Jesus cleanses us from all sin.If we say, "We are without sin,"we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing.If we say, "We have not sinned," we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.My children, I am writing this to youso that you may not commit sin.But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one.He is expiation for our sins,and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world. Responsorial Psalm Ps 124:2-3, 4-5, 7cd-8 R. (7) Our soul has been rescued like a bird from the fowler's snare.Had not the LORD been with us—When men rose up against us,then would they have swallowed us alive,When their fury was inflamed against us.R. Our soul has been rescued like a bird from the fowler's snare.Then would the waters have overwhelmed us;The torrent would have swept over us;over us then would have swept the raging waters.R. Our soul has been rescued like a bird from the fowler's snare.Broken was the snare,and we were freed.Our help is in the name of the LORD,who made heaven and earth.R. Our soul has been rescued like a bird from the fowler's snare. Alleluia See R. Alleluia, alleluia.We praise you, O God,we acclaim you as Lord;the white robed army of martyrs praise you.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 2:13-18 When the magi had departed, behold,the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said,"Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt,and stay there until I tell you.Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him."Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by nightand departed for Egypt.He stayed there until the death of Herod,that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled,Out of Egypt I called my son.When Herod realized that he had been deceived by the magi,he became furious.He ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinitytwo years old and under,in accordance with the time he had ascertained from the magi.Then was fulfilled what had been said through Jeremiah the prophet:A voice was heard in Ramah,sobbing and loud lamentation;Rachel weeping for her children,and she would not be consoled,since they were no more. - - - Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Category: Habakkuk

Saint Dominic

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