Category: Bible Reading & Meditation

“Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, but whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.” –Matthew 23:12 It’s March, and in the USA college basketball tournaments, known fondly as “March Madness,” are in full swing. Hundreds of athletes have trained diligently for months and are competing for the chance to be exalted as “Number One.” An athlete practices to make his or her vertical jump higher and jump shot more accurate. We disciples of Jesus, however, must train ourselves to grow in humility much more diligently than any athlete trains to win a tournament. “Athletes deny themselves all sorts of things” to...

“Forgive and you will be forgiven.” –Luke 6:37, RNAB When Jesus was dying on the cross, He prayed: “Father, forgive them” (Lk 23:34). When St. Stephen, the first martyr, was being stoned to death, “he fell to his knees and cried out in a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them’ ” (Acts 7:60). After St. Patrick was kidnapped and enslaved, he forgave his enemies. Martyrs forgive those who murder them. Every day millions of people receive the miracle of forgiving others. Let us join in Christ’s great symphony of forgiveness which has been sounding throughout the...

“God put Abraham to the test.” –Genesis 22:1 Lent is a season of being put to the test (see Mt 4:1; Gn 22:1). God, “the Tester of our hearts” (1 Thes 2:4), brings us to obedience school this Lent. He is testing us to see if we trust His promises or if our hearts are far from Him and we’ve just been giving Him “lip service” (Mk 7:6). Three days ago, the Church proclaimed Jesus’ promise that God wants to provide our needs (Mt 7:7-11). Tomorrow Jesus promises us that if we give, God will provide for us lavishly (Lk...

“None of the crimes he committed shall be remembered against him.” –Ezekiel 18:22 Many elderly people can’t remember what they ate for lunch, but can remember what happened in the 1950s. Yet in a figurative way, the Bible speaks of God as being just the opposite. If we change our ways, we can make God forget the past. “If the wicked man turns away from all the sins he committed…none of the crimes he committed shall be remembered against him” (Ez 18:21-22). We can sin seriously and repeatedly for years, but when we repent God forgets all those sins, even...

“Help me, who am alone and have no one but You, O Lord.” –Esther C:25 Queen Esther was about to risk her life to plead before the king on behalf of her people, the Jews. Alone inside the palace, she had no one to turn to for support. In her anguish, she prayed fervently: “Help me, who am alone and have no help but You…Help me, who am alone and have no one but You, O Lord” (Est C:14, 25). Esther knew God was with her in her loneliness. A few hours before Jesus was arrested, He told His disciples...