Category: Bible Reading & Meditation

“Near the cross of Jesus there stood His mother.” –John 19:25 Mass Readings: September 15 First: Hebrews 5:7-9; Resp: Psalm 31:2-6,15-16,20; Gospel: John 19:25-27 Because Mary is honored as our Lady of Sorrows, she is our Lady of Forgiveness. She forgave the innkeeper who refused to give her a room in which to have her Baby and forced her to give birth in a stable (Lk 2:7). Our Lady of Sorrows forgave Herod for attempting to kill her Baby and forcing her and her family to flee to Egypt in the middle of the night (Mt 2:13-14). Mary forgave Joseph...

“Yes, God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him may not die but may have eternal life.” –John 3:16 Mass Readings: September 14 First: Numbers 21:4-9; Resp: Psalm 78:1-2,34-38; Second: Philippians 2:6-11; Gospel: John 3:13-17 “When I behold the wondrous cross on which the Prince of glory died, My richest gain I count but loss and pour contempt on all my pride.” This traditional hymn simply says that when we look at the cross, we can change dramatically. “They shall look on Him Whom they have pierced” (Jn 19:37). “The centurion who...

“God has set up in the Church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracle workers, healers, assistants, administrators, and those who speak in tongues.” –1 Corinthians 12:28 Jesus “ascended high above the heavens, that He might fill all men with His gifts” (Eph 4:10). He commands us to set our hearts on spiritual gifts (1 Cor 14:1), especially on the greater gifts (1 Cor 12:31), “those that build up the Church” (1 Cor 14:12). The Lord does not want us to be ignorant of spiritual gifts (1 Cor 12:1). Consequently, the Father and the Son have sent the Holy...

“There may even have to be factions among you for the tried and true to stand out clearly.” –1 Corinthians 11:19 Mass Readings: September 12 First: Sirach 24:17-21; Resp: Luke 1:46-50,53-54; Gospel: Luke 1:26-38 Jesus prays at this moment that we may be one as He and the Father are One (Jn 17:21). However, this unity must come about through conversion and not by compromising basic truths. Jesus is not praying for the lowest-common-denominator unity of a watered-down gospel. Rather, He prays for a Trinitarian unity which comes from deep repentance and radical transformation. To help us grow into this...

“Why, O Lord, should Your wrath blaze up against Your own people?” –Exodus 32:11 After the Israelites sinned by adoring the golden calf, the Lord gave Moses the impression that the people belonged to Moses, not Him (Ex 32:7). Moses implored the Lord and referred to the people as belonging to the Lord (Ex 32:11). The prodigal son felt that he no longer belonged in his father’s family after what he had done (Lk 15:18, 21). His older brother agreed with him (see Lk 15:30). However, the prodigal son’s father would hear none of this. He spoke of the prodigal...