Category: Bible Reading & Meditation

“SEPARATE YOURSELVES” (2 COR 6:17)

“God then separated…” –Genesis 1:4 God’s original creation involved multiple acts of separation (Gn 1:4, 6, 7, 14, 18). God’s separations were “good” (Gn 1:12, 18). God’s new creation in Christ also involves multiple acts of separation. In His new creation, the Lord separates us from: • original sin and its loss of intimacy with God through the Sacrament of Baptism (Gn 3:23; Catechism, 1263), • our sins through the ministry of Jesus (Mt 1:21), • those who would lead us away from Him, even if it might be a member of our own family (Mt 10:35), and • our...

URBAN DEVELOPER

“After sunset, as evening drew on, they brought Him all who were ill, and those possessed by demons. Before long the whole town was gathered outside the door.” –Mark 1:32-33 Job faced reality head on and declared: “Life on earth” is “a drudgery” (Jb 7:1). He described life as being “assigned months of misery” (Jb 7:3). Nights are long; days are short (Jb 7:4, 6) and, when we reach the end of them, we are without hope (Jb 7:6). The only Answer to the drudgery of human existence is Jesus. Jesus is the only Hope for humanity, but the only...

LIFT UP YOUR LEADERS

“Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over you as men who must render an account. So act that they may fulfill their task with joy, not with sorrow, for that would be harmful to you.” –Hebrews 13:17 At this morning’s Mass, I am seated next to the Head Director of Presentation Ministries. When I heard the above passage proclaimed by the lector, my heart went out to my brother in Christ. He pours out his heart and his life to lead all of us. He and I also happen to belong to the same home-based...

CRUTCHES

“With that they went off, preaching the need of repentance. They expelled many demons, anointed the sick with oil, and worked many cures.” —Mark 6:12-13 Many Christians have accepted Jesus as Lord, been converted, and even have been baptized in the Holy Spirit. Yet still the great harvest has few workers (Lk 10:2). Few make the transition from basic Christian commitment to ministry. What’s our problem? After Jesus summoned and sent forth the apostles with “authority over unclean spirits” (Mk 6:7), “He instructed them to take nothing on their journey” (Mk 6:8). He even enumerated “no food, no traveling bag,...

AMAZING FAITH

“…so much did their lack of faith distress Him.” –Mark 6:6 Jesus was amazed at the Syro-Phoenician woman’s faith (Mt 15:28). He was amazed at the centurion’s faith (Mt 8:10). He was amazed at the lack of faith of the people of Nazareth (see Mk 6:6).How do we get amazing faith? 1) We must ask God for it. Faith is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22). 2) We must accept the discipline of the Lord (Heb 12:5ff). That in itself gives evidence of our faith. By humbling ourselves and changing our lifestyles to obey the Lord’s commands, we show...