Category: Bible Reading & Meditation

“I did not want to do anything without your consent, that kindness might not be forced on you but might be freely bestowed.” –Philemon 14 Mass Readings: November 10 First: Philemon 7-20; Resp: Psalm 146:7-10; Gospel: Luke 17:20-25 In today’s first reading, St. Paul, a spiritual father to Philemon, is writing to Philemon to make a special request of him. Philemon was a slave owner, a relatively wealthy man of the city of Colossae. One of Philemon’s slaves, Onesimus, whose name means “Useful,” had apparently escaped and had stolen from Philemon in the process (Phlm 15, 18). Onesimus crossed paths...

“His disciples recalled the words of Scripture: ‘Zeal for Your house consumes Me.’ ” –John 2:17 Mass Readings: November 9 First: Ezekiel 47:1-2,8-9,12; Resp: Psalm 46:2-3,5-6,8-9; Second: 1 Corinthians 3:9-11,16-17; Gospel: John 2:13-22 I, a priest and a pastor, have been trying for years to get people to go to Mass and to support the Church. I and others like me have not been very successful, for most people don’t go to Church even on Sundays and don’t tithe and give alms. However, the Lord calls us to do much more than the little we are trying unsuccessfully to do....

“Reject godless ways and worldly desires, and live temperately, justly, and devoutly.” –Titus 2:12 Mass Readings: November 8 First: Titus 2:1-8,11-14; Resp: Psalm 37:3-4,18,23,27,29; Gospel: Luke 17:7-10 In the first two verses of the Bible, God is described as creating the beauty and harmony of the heavens and earth by bringing order into “a formless wasteland” and “the abyss” (Gn 1:2). Order is what makes things beautiful. Order is an expression of love, while disorder is destructive, even abusive. Thus, we can see how blessed we are because Jesus has left us peace, that is, shalom-order, in His last will...

“Scandals will inevitably arise, but woe to him through whom they come. He would be better off thrown into the sea with a millstone around his neck than giving scandal to one of these little ones.” –Luke 17:1-2 Mass Readings: November 7 First: Titus 1:1-9; Resp: Psalm 24:1-6; Gospel: Luke 17:1-6 People listen to us partly because of what we say and mostly because of our credibility and integrity. Therefore, the devil tries to promote and publicize scandals in the Church so as to ruin our credibility and thereby set up obstacles in the way of communicating the Gospel. To...

“Sons of the resurrection, they are sons of God.” –Luke 20:36 Mass Readings: November 6 First: 2 Maccabees 7:1-2,9-14; Resp: Psalm 17:1,5-6,8,15; Second: 2 Thessalonians 2:16–3:5; Gospel: Luke 20:27-38 Alleluia! Jesus is risen! Those who believe in Him will be raised from the dead to live with Him forever (Jn 11:26). Because we will rise: we can be free and fearless in the face of death (Heb 2:15; 1 Cor 15:55), we can be marvelously courageous and regard the worst sufferings as nothing (2 Mc 7:12), we are full of hope (2 Mc 7:14; 1 Pt 1:3), we are not...