Category: Bible Reading & Meditation

“His mother said to Him: ‘Son, why have You done this to us? You see that Your father and I have been searching for You in sorrow.’ ” –Luke 2:48 When Mary was a teenager, she said to the Lord: “Let it be done unto me” (Lk 1:38). At this, she became the mother of God and seemingly an adulteress expecting execution. Mary’s “it” meant “that.” Next, her “it” meant having her Baby in a stable (see Lk 2:7). Soon her “it” meant traveling with Joseph and the baby Jesus in the middle of the night to Egypt (see Mt...

“When they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. One of the soldiers thrust a lance into His side, and immediately blood and water flowed out.” –John 19:33-34 Through our sins, we have partially caused Jesus’ crucifixion and death. After we committed this worst of all crimes, Jesus immediately gave us blood and water, flowing from His pierced side. The blood represents the Eucharist, Jesus’ body and blood. The water represents Baptism and eternal life. Thus, Jesus gave us the greatest gifts, Himself and eternal life, immediately after we participated in...

“He himself was a good man filled with the Holy Spirit and faith. Thereby large numbers were added to the Lord.” –Acts 11:24 St. Barnabas was extremely fruitful for God’s kingdom. This makes him one of the greatest saints, for we are known by our fruits (Lk 6:44). St. Barnabas bore fruit in risking his life to accept St. Paul (see Acts 9:27). Paul eventually became an apostle, the writer of many books of the New Testament, and one of the first Christian missionaries in addition to Barnabas. St. Barnabas bore fruit in forming Antioch, the first missionary church. He...

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law and the Prophets.” –Matthew 5:17 When the Bible speaks of “the Law and the Prophets,” it refers to the Old Testament. Peter preached from the Old Testament on the day of Pentecost, and three thousand people received the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:17, 25, 34). “The ministry of the Spirit” (2 Cor 3:8) began by the preaching of the ministry of the law. Jesus’ Transfiguration featured the Law, represented by Moses, and the Prophets, represented by Elijah (Lk 9:30). When Jesus was transfigured into a greater glory (Lk 9:29ff), He...

“It is through Him that we address our Amen to God when we worship together.” –2 Corinthians 1:20 At every Mass, the Eucharistic prayer comes to a climax when the priest elevates the body and blood of Jesus and proclaims: “Through Him, with Him, in Him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is Yours, almighty Father, forever and ever.” At this climactic moment, the entire assembly responds “Amen.” We worship God together by addressing our Amen through Jesus to the Father in the Spirit (2 Cor 1:20). This is God’s plan for worship. Through Jesus...