The liturgy of the Catholic Church sets aside December 17-24 as special days of preparation immediately preceding December 25, the solemn feast of the birth day of the Lord. As such these days have …

I take a bye from Daily Readings from December 16 until Christmas. I have written short commentaries on both the gospel and old testament readings for those days here. The only day I left out …

Reading I: Numbers 24:2-7,15-17
Resp. Psalm: Psalm 25:4-5,6,7,8-9
Gospel Reading: Matthew 21:23-27

Balaam was called in to pronounce a curse over Israel as it lay encamped in the desert.  But instead of a curse, he uttered a …

From December 16 until the 24th, Advent masses in the Philippines take on a different twist. We will be celebrating the Christmas novena masses which will begin at 4 AM. This year, December 21 …

Reading I:  Sirach 48:1-4.9-11
Resp. Psalm:  Psalm 80:2,3,15-16,18-19
Gospel Reading: Matthew 17:9.10-13

 
The present selection from Sirach is found in the tribute to the Fathers.  The text is fundamental especially to the understanding of the figure of …

Reading I: Isaiah 40:25-31
Resp. Psalm:  Psalm 103:1-2,3-4,8.10
Gospel Reading: Matthew 11:28-30

Deutero-Isaiah had the unenviable task of convincing Israelites who have grown accustomed to live in exile to go back to a Judah that is still …

Reading I: Gn 3:9-15, 20
Resp. Psalm: Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4
Reading II:  Eph 1:3-6, 11-12
Gospel Reading:  Lk 1:26-38

Pius IX defined the dogma of the Immaculate Conception thus:
The Blessed Virgin Mary "in …

Reading I: Is 29:17-24
Resp. Psalm: Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14
Gospel Reading:  Mt 9:27-31

Psalm 27 is said to be "Of David" and perhaps was one of the psalms he used to sing for …

Reading I: Isaiah 26:1-6
Resp. Psalm: Ps 118:1 and 8-9, 19-21, 25-27a
Gospel Reading: Mt 7:21, 24-27

A city in ruins especially when it has recently fallen is not an edifying site.  The selection from …

Reading I: Isaiah 25:6-10
Resp. Psalm: Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6
Gospel Reading:Matthew 15:29-37

The Messianic banquet is a banquet of life.  Isaiah’s vision of the banquet of the Lord served on the mountain, …