Morning Voice

December 5, 2021 Second Sunday of Advent – C. READINGS: Bar 5:1-9; Ps 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6; Phil 1:4-6,8-11; Lk 3:1-6. “A voice of one crying out in the desert: Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths…” (Luke 3:4) A Ghanaian proverb says: “When a man is coming toward you, you need not say, ‘Come here.’ be prepared rather to welcome him.” And an Ivorian proverb adds: “He who never knows where he is coming from will never know where he is going.” One of the greatest achievements in Advent time is restoration. Man is brought back to his God through acts of repentance and conversion. The coming of the Lord is to reconcile the sinful humanity to its Creator. And so, the time that prepares us to relive that coming sounds the melody and the divine symphony of restoration. Advent, however, is also a time for a new beginning, new world, new life, new coming. The old, made of sorrow and sadness will be forgotten and give the way to the new, made of triumph and glory. Pea...

November 28, 2021 First Sunday of Advent – C. READINGS: Jer 33:14-16; Ps 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14; 1 Thes3:12—4:2; Lk 21:25-28, 34-36. A Traditional proverb says: “The wood will renew the foliage it sheds.” And an English proverb adds: “Every day is a new beginning.” The Apostolic Constitution, Sacrosanctum Concilium of the Second Vatican Council about the Sacred Liturgy, in its article 102 states that “Over the course of the year the Church celebrates the whole mystery of Christ, from the Incarnation to Pentecost Day and the days of waiting for the Advent the of Lord.” It refers here to the second and glorious Advent. Advent, in that sense, is par excellence, a time of preparation and expectation. Advent is a season of great hope, the meaning of the 1 st Advent Candle. Our Advent journey is a two-fold journey. Firstly, it is a time of preparation to revive and rememorate the first coming of the Lord in our humanity with the Solemnity of Christmas. And then, Advent, secondly, is a ti...

November 21, 2021 The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe - B. READINGS: Dn 7:13-14; Ps 93:1, 1-2, 5; Rv 1:5-8; Jn18:33b-37. “Mine is not a kingdom of this world; if my kingdom were of this world, my men would have fought to prevent my being surrendered to the Jews. But my kingdom is not of this kind.” (Jn 18:36) A Moroccan proverb says: “If at noon the King declares it is night, behold the stars.” And a Hindi proverb adds: “I am king, you a king: who is to fetch the water?” Kingship, in our human and worldly understanding, is a position of authority, power, dominion. Kings have the right of life or death over their subjects. All power in a kingdom belongs to the king. He is surrounded by slaves and people at his service. Many people, in our today's reality dream of Kingship, a position that will give them all rights and potency. With the Lord Jesus Christ, however, Kingship and authority take another definition. There is a complete change of paradi...

November 14, 2021 Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time – B. READINGS: Dn 12:1-3; Ps 16:5, 8, 9-10, 11; Heb 10:11-14, 18;Mk 13:24-32. A Turkish proverb says: “Hope won't be cut from the soul that has not expired.” And an Ivorian proverb adds: “Don't lose hope no situation is permanent.” You can let people take away from you everything that you have, everything you do, and even everything you say. But may no one ever take from you your hope. For, hope is what keeps man moving despite the adversities. As long as there is life, there is hope, it is said. We are exhorted, on this 33rd Sunday in the Ordinary Time, to keep firm our hope in a new world to come. All the storms in man's life end with a new beginning. As says the proverb, “After the rain comes the beautiful weather.” This, however, requires a firm hope for the people to keep dreaming of a better tomorrow, and a better life. The liturgy today has an apocalyptic taste. It is all about the end of a time, of t...

November 7, 2021 Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time – B. READINGS: 1 Kgs 17:10-16; Ps 146:7, 8-9, 9-10; Heb 9:24-28; Mk12:38-44. “For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.” (Mk 12:44) A Spanish proverb says: “Say nothing when you are giving -- only say something when you are receiving.” And a Corsican proverb adds: “Giving what one does not possess is always a sign of charity.” It is said that God loves a cheerful giver. To give to the Lord, one must have no half measure. Either you fully give all with all your heart or you give nothing. Speaking of love as the greatest of all commandments, the Lord insisted on this dimension of totality: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your strength, and with all your soul..." (Mk 12:30), a replication of Deuteronomy 6:5. For, genuine love knows no measure and has no half measure. You...

November 2, 2021 The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls). The following are a selection of the readings that may be chosen for this day. READINGS: Wis 3:1-9; Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6; Rom 6:3-9; Jn6:37-40. "Just as Jesus died and has risen again, so through Jesus God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep; and as in Adam all die, so also in Christ will all be brought to life." (Cf. 1 Th 4: 14; 1 Cor 15: 22). This Entrance Antiphon gives the true meaning of what we are commemorating today, our love and prayer for those who have gone before us in death and whom we believe, are still in the journey of purification towards the glory of God. An Akan proverb says: “Death is like a dress that, at some point or another, everyone has to wear.” And an Amerindian proverb adds: “They are not dead who live in the hearts they leave behind.” In the final article of our Creed, we profess: "I believe in the Resurrection of the dead and life everlasting....

November 1, 2021 Solemnity of All Saints. READINGS: Rv 7:2-4, 9-14; Ps 24:1bc-2, 3-4ab, 5-6; 1 Jn3:1-3; Mt 5:1-12a. “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.” (Mt 5:12a) A Hebrew proverb says: “Whoever has not tasted sinfulness does not qualify for holiness.” And an Italian proverb adds: “All saints do not work miracles.” Communion and fellowship with the Saints is one of the articles of our Catholic faith. We profess in the Creed that we believe in the Communion of Saints. From there, the Saints become our daily companions of life. In the liturgical calendar, every single day has its mentioned saint. So, the whole year, one after another, plenty of known saints are namely commemorated. The Saints, however, are more than those we recall in one year. And not only so, but many other saints are also unknown. Today's feast celebrates all those unknown saints who, we believe, are now in Heaven. Holiness is within everyone's reach. Through the Communion o...