top of page
Easter Altar 3.JPG

Daily Reflection

1 John 3:22 – 4:6 Psalm 2 Matthew 4:12-25 What a fantastic gospel we have today. In the gospel reading, we see that John the Baptist has been imprisoned by Herod – a self-absorbed ruler who was ruthless and a narcissist. Herod imprisoned John because John was teaching of repentance, telling the people to change their lives to focus on the things not of this world. In Matthew 3:2, Matthew tells us John spoke: “Repent, because the Kingdom of God is at hand!”. Herod did not want things to change while he was grabbing for greater authority. Matthew wrote his gospel mainly for the Jewish people who were running scared at the time it was written. Matthew is helping people be courageous – this Jesus was and is for all people. After Jesus hears of the arrest of John, Jesus travels. He goes through all of Galilee. He does not wait for people to come to Him, He goes after the people. And what is Jesus teaching on that journey? In Matthew 4:17 we read that Jesus proclaimed: "Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand." Jesus was not afraid of Herod or any other earthly authority – and Matthew wanted to make that point to encourage the Jews. When obstacles come our way in this new year, let’s remember that Jesus is on our side. Regardless of what happens, He is there for us. We may need to radically change our lives to live the Mission of Christ, but that is a great thing! Have courage! It is a great day! Go smile at God today!

January 5

Read More
Each day this week our Gospel readings continue the epiphany, or revelation, of Jesus in various modes or roles. Today, we reflect on the epiphany of Jesus as the Great Prophet. The promise of a Great Prophet is found in the Book of Deuteronomy (18:15), where God promises to send his people a prophet like Moses. Many prophets, such as the prophet Elijah, were like Moses. But the one who would ultimately fulfill the prophecy of Deuteronomy was Jesus Christ (Acts 3:22; 7:37). Moses was a ruler, preacher, lawgiver, intercessor, wonderworker, and foreseer of the future. Jesus does all of these and does them in a superior fashion. The first line in today’s Gospel speaks about sheep without a shepherd. Moses was a shepherd (Exodus 3:1) and tended the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro. While tending the sheep, the Lord called Moses to tend his people and lead them out of Egypt to the land promised to Abraham. In the Gospel, Jesus sees the vast crowd and, like God the Father, has pity on them. Jesus, like Moses, will shepherd them and lead them out of slavery to sin and into the Promised Land of Heaven. One of the greatest works of the Lord God in the desert was providing Manna for his people. We read in Exodus: “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you” (Exodus 16:4). The miracle of feeding the five thousand with five loaves and two fish looks forward to the Eucharist, to the New Manna, which feeds God’s adopted children for eternal life. The old Manna was sufficient to sustain God’s people for a day in the wilderness. The New Manna nourishes us, not just for a day, but for eternal life. As the Lord fed the five thousand, He feeds us His Body and Blood, the “true bread from heaven.” Every time we receive the Eucharist, Jesus enters our body and gives us what we need for that day, namely, His very life within us. He nourishes our soul to the extent that we remain in a state of grace and seek to do His Will. Let us vow to approach Jesus and receive His Body and Blood more frequently with humility and thanksgiving in the coming year. Today’s Question for Prayer and Reflection How will I receive the New Manna offered by Jesus this year? Source for today’s reflection: https:// https://epriest.com/reflections/view/3302

January 6

Read More
In Today’s Gospel, Jesus reveals that He has the power of God in his ability to still the Sea of Galilee and walk upon it. Does the Lord Jesus ever seem distant when trials or difficulties come your way? After spending many days with Jesus and the crowds and witnessing the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, they find themselves alone, sent by Jesus in a boat across the Lake of Galilee. When a powerful storm comes, even these experienced fishermen feared for their lives. Although Jesus was not physically with them in the boat, he nonetheless had been keeping vigilant watch for them in earnest prayer. When Jesus perceived their trouble he came to them walking on the sea and startled them with his sudden appearance. The disciples were terrified rather than joyful when they saw Jesus' presence on the water. They thought a ghost had appeared to seal their doom. They couldn't believe it was really him until he spoke words of assurance: “Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!” Jesus not only calmed their fears, but the threatening waves and storm as well. We all face times in our life when trials and difficulties make us afraid and feeling alone. The Lord never leaves us alone, but keeps constant watch over us at all times, especially when we are tempted and feel weak or helpless. Jesus assures us that we do not have to give into fear or discouragement if we put our trust in Him and remember his great love for us. He will see us through any trial that comes our way. It is in times of trial and difficulty that our faith is tested. Rather than allow fear to overwhelm us, we should call upon the Lord to guide us and comfort us. He is always near, even if we fail to recognize Him. In these times, we ask the Lord to give us the faith and courage to overcome our difficulties. Today’s Question for Prayer and Reflection Do you look to the Lord Jesus to give you His strength and help when you are in need? Source for today’s reflection: https:// https://epriest.com/reflections/view/3302

January 7

Read More
1 John 4:19 – 5:4 Psalm 72 Luke 4:14-22 A great way to reflect on the gospel is to place yourself in the setting at the time of the gospel event, and today is one of those. Jesus returned to Nazareth at a time when significant division existed that was caused by Herod Antipas, supported by the Roman Empire, and exacerbated by the Jewish leaders. People who were disabled, ill, widows, foreigners, tax collectors, or poor, were set apart from the community by using the Jewish law – a law that was actually intended to protect the most vulnerable of God’s children. Now, as He always did, Jesus entered the synagogue on the sabbath, place yourself in the room sitting there as Jesus walks in. Many of those there would recognize Him and welcome Him. Jesus stands up and reads the scripture from Isaiah that states He has been sent for the underprivileged, for the poor, the disabled, and declares a year of jubilee. Jesus has been teaching and performing miracles throughout Galilee, there is something about the way He speaks with authority that grabs the attention of the people He is teaching. As He was reading, you get the sense that he is speaking directly to you. He finishes reading, sits down, and quietly pauses to let the words sink in. He then adds that the words He has spoken have been fulfilled in their hearing it. Jesus does not reinforce that He came to ensure the interpretation of the law by the scribes and leaders was correct – on the contrary, He clearly expresses that He has come to help those who have been set apart by the use of the law. As we read beyond this passage in chapter 4 of Luke, we read how uncomfortable this made the people feel. Question is, do you feel uncomfortable accepting others as they are? Let’s not listen to the media and exacerbate the division in our community that Satan so very much wants to see. Do you help others feel a part of our community? There are a lot of lonely people out there. You will be amazed how great you can make someone feel just by picking up the phone to call them, send them a text, or email them. Give it a try…today!

January 8

Read More
In today’s Gospel, Jesus heals the man with leprosy who approached Jesus with faith and confidence. This event is another epiphany, a manifestation of Jesus as a High Priest. Most of Jesus’ signs and miracles – as recorded in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke – were healings. Through these healings, Jesus fulfilled the words of the prophet Isaiah (see Is. 35:5-6) and manifested that the age of salvation had come. Jesus’ healing signs point to greater healing realities in the age of the Church. Sin causes spiritual blindness, lameness, muteness, deafness, leprosy, paralysis, and sickness. The Church, with the power given her by Christ, can open the eyes of the blind through faith. The Church can strengthen the muscles of the spiritually lame. The Church can enable the spiritually mute to sing God’s praises. The Church can open our ears with the proclamation of the Word of God. The Church, through her Sacraments, can raise the spiritually dead to life and restore those who are spiritually sick to health. When Jesus touched the leper, Jesus was not rendered unclean. The reverse happened. The leper was cleansed by the touch of Jesus. The same happens with our sinful humanity. When God reached out and touched us by assuming our human nature, he was not rendered unclean through his contact with humanity. Instead, the Son of God perfected our human nature. He lived our life but was not marred by sin. This is comforting because no matter how serious or how many our sins are, they can all be healed and cleansed by God’s healing touch. On the Cross, we see Jesus revealed as our high priest, who sacrifices himself for our sins. He effectively did what the Levitical priests could not do through their animal sacrifices. This Gospel passage directly applies to our spiritual wholeness. While not lepers, as sinners our souls need Jesus’ healing touch. No one who sought out Jesus was ever turned away. Jesus never turns His back on us. He gives us the ability to approach Him for healing through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. But through our Catholic faith Jesus offers us much more. He feeds and strengthens us through the Holy Eucharist and Confirmation. He blesses our vocations through the Sacraments of Matrimony and Holy Orders, welcomes our children into God’s family through Baptism, and gives us the sacramental grace to endure suffering when we are seriously ill through Anointing of the Sick. Today’s Question for Prayer and Reflection Where in my life do I need Jesus’ healing touch? Source for today’s reflection: https://epriest.com/reflections/view/3305

January 9

Read More
The first reading today comes from John’s First Epistle. John will encourage his readers that as children of God they can have confidence in approaching the Father with their prayers. They should not only pray for their needs, but for their “brothers sinning.” John will differentiate between “deadly” and “not deadly” sin; “deadly”, we call mortal destroys the life of God within us and separates from His grace, and “not deadly”, called venial, meaning forgivable, while damaging, does not separate us from His love. John warns that “the whole world is under the power of the Evil One” but that we are under the protection of God through the coming of His Son. The second reading from John’s Gospel relates a time when Jesus’ ministry overlaps with that of the Baptist. In a subsequent passage (Jn 4:2) it will be made clear that only the disciples and not Jesus was baptizing at that time. John the Baptist and the disciple’s baptism is a ceremonial, outward sign of presumed inward repentance. Jesus’ Baptism of salvific atonement, conferring actual grace is only made efficacious at Jesus’ Resurrection. The Baptist will here testify that he is but the precursor of “the One” who is to come and will type himself as the best man who prepares for the wedding. It is the bridegroom, Jesus, who will marry the bride, the Church. The marital covenant between Jesus and His Church is an extension of the spousal relationship between Yahweh and Israel under the Old Covenant.

January 10

Read More

© Copyright 2026 St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church. All rights reserved.
 

bottom of page