Category: Reflections

Reflection for the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

by Thokozani Mkhonta

Solemnity of Mary Holy Mother of God Mass, January 1,1000, Netzaberg Chapel, 1 January | Event in EschenbachClick here for readings

The occasion of a brand-new dawning year is often an opportunity to evaluate the past year and set goals for the new year. The goals which people set for themselves often express a desire to better the achievements or situation of the past year. This evidences an inherent desire in human beings to maximize their potentials and become the best that they can be.

Whilst it is desirable and commendable to strive for success all the time, there is a concern in the manner in which success tends to be perceived and measured in present times. It is recognizable that success has tended to be so much viewed in terms of material and monetary possessions. Thus, the goals which people set for themselves tend to be significantly oriented towards wealth accumulation.

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Holy Family Sunday – Year B

by Khonzumenzi Dlamini

Click here for Sunday’s readings

Today we celebrate and honour the Holy Family of Mary, Jesus and Joseph. Having celebrated Christmas today we are called to reflect on the gift of family. Ideally, the family is called the domestic Church and this became exemplary during the lockdown where all of us went back to be with our families. It was unfortunate that we also read in newspapers how domestic violence occurred in the families during the lockdown.

It shows that there are some unattended wounds in families. Today we are called to pray for our families. We must learn from the Holy Family of Mary, Jesus and Joseph. The first thing we learn from them today from the Gospel passage is fidelity to God. They followed the law and presented Jesus to God in the Temple as it was the Jewish norm to offer the first male child to God.

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Reflection for Christmas Day Mass – Year B

by Khonzumenzi Dlamini

CHRISTMAS DAY MASS 9.00 AM, St. Matthew Catholic Church, Rocky Mountain House, 25 December 2020 | Online EventWhen exploring Salvation History, we get the reality that God has over the times taken the initiative of revealing himself. This took place through the Patriarchs in the Old Testament and the Prophet and so on. God provided numerous revelations of himself throughout Salvation History. The second reading today from the letter to the Hebrews 1:1-6 explains, the culminating of God’s revelation and Christ’s unique superiority. Today we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ a superior mode God used to reveal himself to Humanity in order to save us. This is God’s final revelation till he come again in the Parousia (Second coming).

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4th Sunday of Advent – Year B

by Khonzumenzi Dlamini

4th Sunday of AdventClick here for Sunday’s readings

As we draw closer to Christmas, Holy Mother Church invites us to celebrate the 4th Sunday of Advent. Our Gospel passage narrates the Good News of how the birth of Christ our Saviour will come about. Luke 1:26-38 narrates that God sent the Angel Gabriel to Mary in the place called Nazareth.

Our focus today should be open to the will of God as Mary did. As fellow Catholics as we come to the end of the year 2020 and about to celebrate Christmas, each and every day of our lives we should always say “Here I am Lord let it be with me according to your word. ” This defines the way that we should follow as the people of God.

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Third Sunday of Advent reflection – Year B 

by Khonzumenzi Dlamini

Click here for Sunday’s readings

Today we celebrate the third Sunday of Advent known as Gaudete Sunday (rejoice). The second reading 1 Thessalonians 5:16-25 sets the theme of today’s Eucharistic celebration “Rejoice always.” We should embrace the joyful hope of the coming of the Messiah. The Old Testament history tells us that the coming of the Messiah was a sweet national obsession. Everyone was waiting for the Messianic age, it was coming with great news of emancipation, happiness and restoration.

Our Gospel periscope today presents John the Baptist in the River Jordan where he was baptizing, calling People to “turn away from their sins and make straight the way of the Lord.” A delegation of Priests and Levites was sent to find out who John the Baptist was, they wanted his identity. He confessed that he was not the Messiah since some Jewish authorities and the people might have thought he was the Messiah, or else Elijah whom they believed would reappear when it was time for the Messiah to come.

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Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception

by Fr D. Mazibuko osm

8 December 2020

Today the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin is one of the oldest Dogmas of the Church dating back to the 2nd century, which teaches us that Mary was conceived without the stain of sin, that is, she was conceived without the mark of original sin. God bestowed on her an immaculate beginning. In the Office of Readings for this day, St Anselm eloquently observes “Blessed Lady, sky and stars, earth and rivers, day and night – everything that is subject to the power of man rejoices that through you they are in some sense restored to their lost beauty and are endowed with inexpressible new grace”. The Church Fathers speak of Mary as the new Eve since by her obedience and trust Mary began the process of undoing the harm inflicted by Eve’s disobedience and distrust. It is indeed a day of grace for all of us.
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December 2020: For a life of Prayer

by Fr. Christopher Krall, SJ

Pope’s Prayer Intention: We pray that our personal relationship with Jesus Christ be nourished by the Word of God and a life of prayer.

Why do people pray? What is the point of these ritualistic actions? Does prayer affect us and the world? Is prayer just another method used to numb our pains, to feel good about ourselves, or to practice wishful thinking? Rather, prayer, as done through acts of penance, through contemplation of scripture and meditation, through self-regulation of one’s words, thoughts, and actions, through fasting, and through praise of God, are the methods Christianity has been teaching for the last two millennia. Continue reading “December 2020: For a life of Prayer” →

2nd Sunday of Advent – Year B

by Khonzumenzi Dlamini

Click here for Sunday’s readings

The year 2020 has been difficult for many if not all of us. From a spiritual, social-economic and political perspective we are on the brink of collapsing. The message we are longing for is comfort, we need to be comforted from all the afflictions we faced this year. As we prepare ourselves to celebrate the mystery of the incarnation i.e. Christmas, we cannot shun away from the fact that pandemic fatigue is upon us. Almost all the people I am closely connected to have lost some of their relatives and friends this year. Some contracted the COVID 19 virus and survived it some could not make it and indeed it has been a very terrible year. It is possible to complain and blame God either for the time we lost and other things so dear to us.
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