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  MARY MOTHER OF GOD - NEW YEAR DAY - WORLD PEACE DAY Numbers 6:22-27; Galatians 4:4-7; Luke 2:16-21   Feast of Mary, the Mother of God is a very appropriate way to begin a new year. This celebration reminds us that the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, is also our Heavenly Mother.  This is an occasion to renew our devotion to Mary, who is also Mother of the Church because she is our spiritual mother.  As Mother of our Redeemer and of the redeemed, she reigns as Queen at the side of Christ the King. She is a powerful intercessor for all of our needs here on earth. The Church observes this day also as the World Day of Peace and invites us to pray specially for peace in the world. The theme of the feast has always been about creating a culture of care. The Pope stresses the need to care and share tolerance for each other, and to create a society that focuses on good moral values and does not yield to the temptation to disregard others. The benefits of a...

  THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT Readings:   Isaiah 35:1-6 James 5:7-10 Matthew 11:2-11   The Third Sunday of Advent continues to prepare us for the coming of the Lord Jesus among us. During this special time of Advent, we are called to embrace a holy mind so that we may perceive for the benefit of our spiritual growth the true spiritual meaning of the Words of God given to us. This Sunday is called “Gaudete Sunday” from the first word of the Entrance Song in Latin, giving a call to rejoice.   As a symbol of this rejoicing the penitential violet visualize of the vestments are changed to rose colour.   So, the Mass text and readings today are full of joy, because the Lord is near.   In the Gospel Jesus indirectly claims to be the Messiah. He points to the actions that exemplify the presence of the Messianic age. He praises John as a prophet and one even greater than a prophet, a person who prepared the way of the Lord.   The First Reading from the Boo...

  SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT Readings:   Isaiah 11:1-10    Romans 15:4-9    Matthew 3:1-12   The season of Advent is the time of waiting for the coming of the Lord.   We eagerly wait for someone we love.   The liturgy of today speaks of repentance, personal change of heart, a transformation or conversion. Repentance is more than merely grieving over our sins; it is a call to change for the better.     In today’s Gospel Matthew presents us John the Baptist as he introduces Jesus to the world. The church chooses him as the personification of the Advent theme as he preaches repentance, transformation of the heart and reform of our lives. He calls people to prepare the way for the Lord and make his paths straight. His words have an advice and warning for each one of us.     Today’s First Reading from the Book of Isaiah consists of a descriptive prophecy related to the coming of the ideal king from David’s line. It begin...