Category: Bible Reading & Meditation

“How awesome are you, Elijah! Whose glory is equal to yours?” –Sirach 48:4 Mass Readings: December 10 First: Sirach 48:1-4,9-11; Resp: Psalm 80:2-3,15-16,18-19; Gospel: Matthew 17:9,10-13 The ministry of Elijah preceded the coming of Jesus at His Incarnation, is preceding Christ’s coming this Christmastime, and will precede His final coming at the end of the world. Elijah’s ministry is to reestablish God’s people (Sir 48:10) and to restore all things (Mt 17:11). Consequently, at this time before Christ’s Christmas coming, the following three prophecies of Isaiah are being fulfilled by new Elijahs: “Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove...

“I, the Lord, your God, teach you what is for your good, and lead you on the way you should go.” –Isaiah 48:17 Mass Readings: December 9 First: Isaiah 48:17-19; Resp: Psalm 1:1-4,6; Gospel: Matthew 11:16-19 To have the Christmas God intends for us, we must simply obey God. Those who are like Mary will have a true Christmas. They hearken to God’s commands (Is 48:18) and let Christmas be done unto them according to God’s Word (see Lk 1:38). The key to Christmas is not self-indulgence, but self-surrender in obedience to the Lord. We should not do our own...

“You shall conceive and bear a Son and give Him the name Jesus.” –Luke 1:31 Mass Readings: December 8 First: Genesis 3:9-15,20; Resp: Psalm 98:1-4; Second: Ephesians 1:3-6,11-12; Gospel: Luke 1:26-38 About five billion people today do not believe that Jesus is God; they see Him as only a man. This heresy, Arianism, has been common for centuries. The fact that the virgin Mary conceived Jesus without sexual relations intimates that Jesus was not just a man but God, “Son of the Most High” (Lk 1:32), “Son of God” (Lk 1:35). Other people do not believe Jesus is a man....

“Come to Me, all you who are weary and find life burdensome, and I will refresh you. Take My yoke upon your shoulders.” –Matthew 11:28-29 Mass Readings: December 7 First: Isaiah 40:25-31; Resp: Psalm 103:1-4,8,10; Gospel: Matthew 11:28-30 In eighteen days, we will be singing “O come, all ye faithful.” When we come to Jesus with all our weariness and burdens, He will give us rest by first unburdening us and then re-burdening us with His yoke, the cross. When we realize that Jesus is about to put the weight of the cross on our lives, we are afraid and...