Category: Bible Reading & Meditation

“Lord, would You not have us call down fire from heaven to destroy them?” –Luke 9:54 This is precisely what the Lord wants us to do as His disciples: to call down the consuming fire of the Holy Spirit from heaven (see Heb 12:29; Acts 2:3-4). When a person truly receives the Holy Spirit, it does “destroy” them, in the sense that they die to their old self and live a new, risen life in the Spirit for the Lord (see Lk 9:23). Another way we call down fire from heaven on someone is to act in love and kindness...

“Old men and old women, each with staff in hand because of old age, shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem. The city shall be filled with boys and girls playing in her streets.” –Zechariah 8:4-5 Today, don’t watch the news on TV or your handheld electronic device. Instead, picture in your mind the “prophetic” news reported by Zechariah in today’s first Eucharistic reading. A news camera zooms in on a group of old men and women sitting peacefully in chairs on a sidewalk in Jerusalem. They are observing a game played by a group of happy children in...

“Are you jealous?” –Numbers 11:29 People who have been given a new life in Jesus and are filled with the Spirit seem especially tempted to spiritual jealousy. They’re jealous of Eldad and Medad prophesying (Nm 11:29), of Moses leading (Nm 12:1), of a stranger expelling demons (Mk 9:38), or of John and James trying to get a “spiritual” promotion (Mt 20:24). The Lord does not tolerate spiritual jealousy. Miriam became a snow-white leper after her outbreak of jealousy against Moses (Nm 12:10). Jesus said that being drowned or maimed is preferable to falling into the sin of spiritual jealousy (Mk...

“I will be for her an encircling wall of fire, says the Lord, and I will be the glory in her midst.” –Zechariah 2:9 Zechariah prophesied that God’s people would live “as though in open country” (Zec 2:8). In other words, they would not need a wall, army, or other means of protection. The Lord Himself would be “an encircling wall of fire” to protect them (Zec 2:9). This prophecy has been fulfilled in Jesus Christ. He is our Rock, Fortress, and Deliverer (Ps 18:3). We need no longer defend or insure ourselves. Jesus is all the firepower, all the...

“[Herod] was very curious to see [Jesus].” –Luke 9:9 Many try to see famous people, such as athletes, celebrities, stars, entertainers, etc. Often this is thrill-seeking, or autograph hounding, or simply to gain bragging rights. Herod likewise kept trying to see Jesus (Lk 9:9), and was very curious to see Him. Curiosity can be helpful, but in Herod’s case, he apparently was not concerned with seeking the Lord and the truth. Herod finally did see Jesus, but the encounter did not benefit Herod (Lk 23:8ff). In fact, Herod changed for the worse, for after meeting Jesus, he became an ally...