Receive the gifts of God

Today's Readings:
Is 25:6-10
Ps 23:1-6
Mt 15:29-37

The generosity of our God is beyond imagining. He gave us his only Son when Jesus came among us as a man; and Jesus did not come to be served, rather to serve, which he shows in our Gospel today his eagerness to do just that. He cures the sick, the blind, and the lame; then seeing that the crowds are hungry he tells his disciples to feed them. With a few fish and a few loaves of bread, he fills the multitudes and has some left over. He wishes to do all of this for us this day. He desires to cure us of any sickness or blindness we suffer with, whether it is physical, emotional, or spiritual; and he desires to fill us with the best of food, his own body and blood. Let us receive the generosity of our God and thank him this day for all of his gifts to us. Have a great day and God Bless.
Prayer: Lord, cure us of our sinfulness so that we may receive more openly the gifts you wish to shower upon us this day. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Saint of the Day - St. Bibiana
Bibiana's father Flavian had been prefect of the city of Rome in early Christian times. He and his wife were known as fervent Christians. In fact, when Emperor Julian left the Catholic faith, he began persecuting it. That is when Flavian was arrested. He was branded on the face with a hot iron and then exiled. After he died, his wife Dafrosa was also made a prisoner in her own house. This was only because of her good Christian life. Then she, too, was put to death. Left alone with her sister, Demetria, Bibiana tried with all her heart to trust in God and pray. Everything they had was being taken from them. Then the two young women were brought to court. Poor Demetria was so frightened that she dropped dead at the judge's feet. Bibiana was handed over to a sinful woman, who was supposed to make the girl as evil as she was. This woman tried by sweet words and many clever tricks to make Bibiana fall. However, the saint could not be moved. She was brought back to court and beaten. Yet she held to her faith and purity as strongly as ever. St. Bibiana was beaten to death with leaden scourges. A priest buried her at night beside her mother and sister.
Reflection: Sometimes we must suffer for doing what we know to be right. We can pray for the grace of perseverance in doing good in our lives.

Saint information comes from: http://www.holyspiritinteractive.net/dailysaint/december/1202.asp