Category: Bible Reading & Meditation

“The congregations grew stronger in faith and daily increased in numbers.” –Acts 16:5 The Lord is very interested in the growth of individuals and congregations. He delights in our growth as a parent delights in their child’s first step or first word. The Lord wants congregations to grow both in faith and in numbers (see Acts 16:5). Growing in quality and quantity are not two separate types of growth, but eventually go together. If we truly have a strong faith, we will be strong in evangelizing and leading many to Christ. The Lord wants every Christian and every Christian congregation...

“Your fruit must endure.” –John 15:16 Mass Readings: May 4 First: Acts 15:22-31; Resp: Psalm 57:8-12; Gospel: John 15:12-17 Listen to the Mass Readings Jesus, the Vine, commands us, the branches, to bear fruit that is not only abundant but also lasting (Jn 15:16). Our commitment to the Lord and the commitments of those whom we have led to the Lord will last, if these commitments are: “rooted in [Jesus] and built up in Him” (Col 2:7), confirmed by the Holy Spirit, founded on the rock of hearing and obeying God’s Word (Mt 7:24ff), in submission to the authority of...

“Day pours out the word to day, and night to night imparts knowledge.” –Psalm 19:3 Mass Readings: May 3 First: 1 Corinthians 15:1-8; Resp: Psalm 19:2-5; Gospel: John 14:6-14 Listen to the Mass Readings To the man who would later be called “doubting Thomas,” Jesus gave one of the greatest revelations in the history of the human race. Jesus told Thomas: “I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” (Jn 14:6). Jesus was profoundly disappointed in Philip, who did not know Jesus or His Father after “all this time”...

“Apart from Me you can do nothing.” –John 15:5 Mass Readings: May 2 First: Acts 15:1-6; Resp: Psalm 122:1-5; Gospel: John 15:1-8 Listen to the Mass Readings Business leaders understand well the concept of cutting activities out of the business process that are not profitable. Sports coaches and athletic trainers also understand cutting out practice drills and plays which are not productive. Farmers don’t waste their limited time on activities which do not increase the yield of crops, flock, or herd. So, Jesus’ teaching on pruning the branches which don’t bear fruit is well understood by many. What is not...

“Isn’t this the carpenter’s Son?” –Matthew 13:55 Mass Readings: May 1 First: Genesis 1:26–2:3; Resp: Psalm 90:2-4,12-14,16; Gospel: Matthew 13:54-58 Listen to the Mass Readings Pope Pius XII instituted today’s feast of St. Joseph the Worker to compete with the May Day celebrations in Communist countries. We have the obscure carpenter of Nazareth (see Mt 13:55) pitted against the Goliath of multi-national, atheistic Communism. For years, on this day, the Communists paraded their armies, missiles, tanks, and guns, while Joseph called us to do the manual tasks of everyday life with our whole being and “in the name of the...