Category: Bible Reading & Meditation

THE HEAD OF THE CLASS

“We believe and so we speak, knowing that He Who raised up the Lord Jesus will raise us up along with Jesus.” —2 Corinthians 4:13-14 St. James must have been one powerful apostle! When “King Herod started to harass” the Church, his first move was to cut off James’ head (Acts 12:1, 2). “This pleased certain of the Jews” (Acts 12:3). Only after James was killed did Herod turn his attention to arresting Peter (Acts 12:3). James, who was the first apostle to die for love of Jesus, was obviously one giant headache for Herod and the Jews. James had...

BROTHER GOD

“Who are My brothers?” –Matthew 12:48 Jesus transformed motherhood when He commanded His mother Mary to be the mother of all His disciples (Jn 19:26-27). Jesus transformed the meaning of fatherhood, sonship, and daughterhood when He told us to call God our Abba, that is, Father (Mt 6:9). This made us brothers and sisters of Jesus and of each other. Jesus said: “Whoever does the will of My heavenly Father is brother and sister and mother to Me” (Mt 12:50). When we were baptized, we were baptized into a radically transformed brotherhood and sisterhood. Paul spoke of those who bear...

HOW GREAT THOU ART

“O My people, what have I done to you, or how have I wearied you? Answer Me!” –Micah 6:3 There’s no excuse for us to love the Lord with anything less than everything. He has loved us with an everlasting love (Jer 31:3). He has set us free from slavery (Mi 6:4). He alone has been perfectly faithful to us. He even died on the cross for us. What more can He do? Greater love than this no man has (Jn 15:13). The Lord loves us more than we love ourselves. He is willing to forgive us before we ask...

PEACE TALKS

“It is He Who is our Peace, and Who made the two of us one by breaking down the barrier of hostility that kept us apart.” –Ephesians 2:14 Micah prophesied that the Messiah would not only be peaceful or make peace but that He would be Peace (Mi 5:4). Moreover, Jesus began the Sermon on the Mount, the quintessence of His preaching, by proclaiming: “Blest too the peacemakers; they shall be called sons of God” (Mt 5:9). On the night before He died, Jesus announced that He would leave peace to His disciples in His last will and testament (Jn...

HOPE IN THE MIDST OF TRIALS

Jesus “will not contend or cry out, nor will His voice be heard in the streets. The bruised reed He will not crush; the smoldering wick He will not quench until judgment is made victorious.” –Matthew 12:19-20 There are many evil things occurring right now. Family farmers, home owners, and many others are being victimized by subtle maneuvers (see Mi 2:1ff). Also, plots are being hatched (see Mt 12:14), people are being tortured, children are being aborted, and many other sins are being committed. This can be discouraging, but there’s much more taking place. Jesus is peacefully, quietly, and gently...