Category: Bible Reading & Meditation

“Samuel was sleeping in the temple of the Lord where the ark of God was.” –1 Samuel 3:3 Will you sleep through 2021 or will you wake up and answer God’s call? Many people, even religious people, will tell you to “go back to sleep” (1 Sm 3:5, 6). Instead, you should turn to God and say: “Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening” (1 Sm 3:9). 2021 can be the greatest year of your life. “Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor has it so much as dawned on man what God has prepared for those who...

“People who are healthy do not need a doctor; sick people do. I have come to call the sinners, not the self-righteous.” –Mark 2:17 Pope Francis has said: “The Eucharist is not a prize for the perfect, but a medicine for sinners.” “For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to sympathize with our weakness, but One Who was tempted in every way that we are, yet never sinned. So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and favor and to find help in time of need” (Heb 4:15-16). “The law of the...

“When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralyzed man, ‘My son, your sins are forgiven.’ ” –Mark 2:5 When Jesus saw the roof being dismantled, He spoke of the forgiveness of sins. When He saw paralysis, He thought of forgiveness. When He hung on the cross, He said: “Father, forgive them” (Lk 23:34). Jesus clearly has forgiveness on His mind. If we have the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:16), we also will be preoccupied with forgiveness. When we watch or read objectionable material, we will pray: “Father, forgive us.” When we feel sick, we’ll go to Confession...

“A leper approached Him with a request.” —Mark 1:40 Lepers were obliged by the law to stay away from people so as not to spread leprosy. Lepers had to live in isolated places and warn anyone who unknowingly got near them that they were unclean (Lv 13:45). The leper of today’s Gospel does just the opposite; he approaches Jesus. Jesus also does the unthinkable by stretching out His hand and touching the leper (Mk 1:41). Jesus is approachable no matter what our condition. Jesus will never reject us no matter who we are, what we’ve done, or how we look...

“Jesus likewise had a full share in ours.” —Hebrews 2:14 Jesus had a full share in our human condition. This is a shocking reality. As St. Paul writes, Jesus, Who did not know sin, was made to be sin (2 Cor 5:21). He did not sin, but He took on our sinful condition. Jesus “was tempted in every way that we are, yet never sinned” (Heb 4:15), which teaches that He was tempted to murder, commit sexual sin, gossip, hold a grudge, curse, hate, etc. Although Jesus never sinned, He “atoned for our faults and made satisfaction for our sins...