Category: Bible Reading & Meditation

THE LEFT-OUT CAN REACH OUT

Jesus “watched two brothers, Simon now known as Peter, and his brother Andrew.” –Matthew 4:18 Mass Readings: November 30 First: Romans 10:9-18; Resp: Psalm 19:8-11; Gospel: Matthew 4:18-22 Listen to the Mass Readings Andrew was one of the first two disciples to follow Jesus (Jn 1:40). Andrew even led his brother, Simon Peter, to Jesus (Jn 1:41). Andrew, with Peter, James, and John, was called by Jesus to become a fisher of men (Mt 4:19). However, Andrew’s prominence did not continue. Jesus did not include Andrew in His inner circle of apostles. Only Peter, James, and John were included at...

THE HAND THAT WRITES GOD’S WORD

“A human hand appeared, writing on the plaster of the wall in the king’s palace.” –Daniel 5:5 Mass Readings: November 29 First: Sirach 44:1,10-15; Resp: Psalm 24:1-6; Gospel: Mark 10:17-21 Listen to the Mass Readings King Belshazzar and his party companions were terrified but attentive to the words of God delivered in a sensational manner by the hand mysteriously writing on the wall (Dn 5:5ff). The king was consumed by curiosity to know the meaning of the message sent by God. The Lord has also written many other words by hands He has sent to earth. These hands wrote the...

CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE: HOPE FOR THE FUTURE

“The great God has revealed to the king what shall be in the future; this is exactly what you dreamed, and its meaning is sure.” –Daniel 2:45 Mass Readings: November 28 First: Daniel 2:31-45; Resp: Daniel 3:57-61; Gospel: Luke 21:5-11 Listen to the Mass Readings The fourth kingdom in Nebuchadnezzar’s vision was the strongest because it was made of iron (Dn 2:40). However, this kingdom was fragile because the iron was mixed with clay tile (Dn 2:41-42). This represented that the Seleucid kingdom sealed “their alliances by intermarriage” (Dn 2:43). This was doomed to failure and resulted in the collapse...

THE “ALL” CALL

“They make contributions out of their surplus, but she from her want has given what she could not afford – every penny she had to live on.” –Luke 21:4 Many people wish that the world would be saved in that war and violence would cease, babies and the elderly be protected from being murdered, marriages and families be holy, etc. Their wish is already granted. Jesus has saved us (see Ti 3:5). All we need do is apply Jesus’ saving death and resurrection to our world. We do this by believing in Him and expressing our faith by acts of...

COME KING, JUDGE, LOVE, GOD!

“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, escorted by all the angels of heaven, He will sit upon His royal throne, and all the nations will be assembled before Him.” –Matthew 25:31-32 Over 2,500 years ago, Ezekiel prophesied: “As for you, my sheep, says the Lord God, I will judge between one sheep and another, between rams and goats” (Ez 34:17). Jesus announced that it would be ultimately fulfilled at the end of the world when He comes again as the King of kings to judge the living and the dead (Mt 25:32). On that last day, Jesus...