Category: Bible Reading & Meditation

“This is an evil age.” –Luke 11:29 Jonah prophesied to the people of Nineveh. “When the people of Nineveh believed God, they proclaimed a fast and all of them, great and small, put on sackcloth” (Jon 3:5). All 120,000 citizens of a city steeped in sin, violence, and murder (see Na 3:1ff) repented in one day (Jon 4:11). They expressed their repentance by communal fasting. Pope St. John Paul II prophesied to the people of the world, especially to Catholics in the Western world. He called our Western society a “culture of death.” He called us to pray that America...

“Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. This is how you are to pray: ‘Our Father…’ ” –Matthew 6:8-9 The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the desert where the devil questioned whether He was God the Father’s beloved Son (see Mt 3:17; 4:3, 6). Jesus overcame these temptations, and the Holy Spirit cried out in Jesus’ heart: “Abba” (Father) (Gal 4:6; Rm 8:15). This Lent, as we imitate Jesus’ forty-day desert fast, we also wish to emerge from the Lenten desert confirmed by the Spirit in our Father’s love for us. On Easter Vigil and on Easter...

“I assure you, as often as you did it for one of My least brothers, you did it for Me.” –Matthew 25:40 We are entering into the forty-day Lenten fast. Our fast can affect our interior disposition, directing our heart, mind, body and lives toward God, correcting our appetites and conforming ourselves to God’s will. Part of this renewal is alms-giving. The Lord might be asking us to give to the poor what money and time we save by fasting. For example, if we save three dollars by skipping lunch, we could use that money to help feed or clothe...

Jesus “was tempted by the devil.” –Luke 4:2 Notice how Jesus dispatches the devil and his temptations: Jesus never engages Satan in dialogue. He does not allow evil to converse with Him. Three times, He simply speaks the truth and ends the conversation. Jesus uses Scripture to defeat each temptation. Jesus was “full of the Holy Spirit” (Lk 4:1). The Holy Spirit fights against the evil spirit (Gal 5:17). Jesus was engaged in prayer and fasting (Lk 4:2), which overcome the devil (Mt 17:21, NAB). Jesus understood that He was God’s beloved Son (Lk 3:22). He knew His Father would...

“They shall call you, ‘Restorer of ruined homesteads.’ ” –Isaiah 58:12 Family life has been in disarray for many years. We like to think that the families of the last generation were better than the families of today. Even if this is true, “better” does not mean “good.” Look at the alcoholism, abuse, and racism which has characterized so many families for many generations. Family life has been and continues to be in ruins. However, the good news for this Lent is: “The ancient ruins shall be rebuilt for your sake, and the foundations from ages past you shall raise...