Category: Bible Reading & Meditation

“Must I give up my….?” –Judges 9:9, 11, 13 Mass Readings: August 23 First: Judges 9:6-15; Resp: Psalm 21:2-7; Gospel: Matthew 20:1-16 Listen to the Mass Readings If the Lord calls us to leadership, we sacrifice our time to lead for Him. We also sacrifice what we could have done with all that extra time if we weren’t leading His people. A sacrifice involves freely giving up something for the Lord. What we get back from the Lord is not the object; the important thing is what we give to the Lord. God prefers sacrifices freely given from a generous,...

” ‘I shall be with you,’ the Lord said.” –Judges 6:16 Mass Readings: August 22 First: Isaiah 9:1-6; Resp: Psalm 113:1-8; Gospel: Luke 1:26-38 Listen to the Mass Readings Gideon asked: “If the Lord is with us, why has all this” misfortune “happened to us?” (Jgs 6:13) God simply answered: “I shall be with you” (Jgs 6:16). Jesus’ disciples “were completely overwhelmed” (Mt 19:25) at His “impossible” demands (Mt 19:26). Jesus’ answer was: “I am with you always” (Mt 28:20). Humanity is in a rough spot. We have a fallen nature, a twisted heart (Jer 17:9), and are prone to...

“Give to the poor.” –Matthew 19:21 Mass Readings: August 21 First: Judges 2:11-19; Resp: Psalm 106:34-37,39-40,43-44; Gospel: Matthew 19:16-22 Listen to the Mass Readings Jesus commanded a young man: “Go, sell your possessions, and give to the poor” (Mt 19:21). Jesus came to preach the Good News to the poor (Lk 4:18). Jesus was poor (2 Cor 8:9), loves the poor, and expects us to make great sacrifices for the poor. At his conversion, Zacchaeus realized this and said: “I give half my belongings, Lord, to the poor” (Lk 19:8). The early Church also understood Jesus’ emphasis on sacrificing for...

“Jesus then said in reply, ‘Woman, you have great faith! Your wish will come to pass.’ That very moment her daughter got better.” –Matthew 15:28 The Lord wants to say to us as He said to the Canaanite woman: “You have great faith.” Faith and great faith are graces from God. The grace of great faith has been accepted in many ways, especially through testings. “You may for a time have to suffer the distress of many trials; but this is so that your faith, which is more precious than the passing splendor of fire-tried gold, may by its genuineness...

“We will serve the Lord, our God, and obey His voice.” –Joshua 24:24 Mass Readings: August 19 First: Joshua 24:14-29; Resp: Psalm 16:1-2,5,7-8,11; Gospel: Matthew 19:13-15 Listen to the Mass Readings Joshua and millions of other parents have proclaimed throughout the centuries: “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord” (Jos 24:15). When the people responded to Joshua that they too were going to serve the Lord, Joshua questioned whether they could do it. “Joshua in turn said to the people, ‘You may not be able to serve the Lord’ ” (Jos 24:19). Serving the Lord is...