Category: Bible Study

“Hate evil and love good, and let justice prevail.” —Amos 5:15 “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil” (Is 5:20). The Lord wants us to “hate evil,” not to rename it by a more acceptable name (Am 5:15). The culture of death specializes in “spin” control, using smooth words to rename actions which are blatantly and objectively evil in the sight of God. Just because our society regards acts as acceptable and commonplace does not mean God no longer regards them as evil and wrong. Some examples of this are: • We have a legal right to...

“Indeed, the Lord God does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants, the prophets.” –Amos 3:7 Every good and bad thing that has ever happened God told us about ahead of time (Am 3:7). Yet we were surprised by world wars, the Third Reich, abortion, the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, and so many other catastrophes. We refused to listen to the prophets that the Father in His loving mercy sent “early and often” to warn us of evil (2 Chr 36:15). Usually prophets tell us to repent before it’s too late. Nonetheless, we refuse to return to Him,...

“Whoever loves father or mother, son or daughter, more than Me is not worthy of Me.” –Matthew 10:37 The Church proclaims “the supremacy of the bond with Christ” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1619). Our relationship with Jesus is in a class by itself. We are called to love Jesus much more than we love anyone else (see Mt 10:37). We must love Jesus so much that we lose our worldly lives, give our lives to Him, suffer in love for Him, take up our crosses daily in imitation of Him, and even die for Him (see Mt 10:37-38). Because...

“Whoever loves father or mother, son or daughter, more than Me is not worthy of Me.” —Matthew 10:37 The Church proclaims “the supremacy of the bond with Christ” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1619). Our relationship with Jesus is in a class by itself. We are called to love Jesus much more than we love anyone else (see Mt 10:37). We must love Jesus so much that we lose our worldly lives, give our lives to Him, suffer in love for Him, take up our crosses daily in imitation of Him, and even die for Him (see Mt 10:37-38). Because...

“That should be the proof they need.” –Matthew 8:4 St. Paul was once a “leper” to Christians, a vicious persecutor of those who followed Jesus. He was converted but the community didn’t believe it, and wouldn’t allow Paul into the family of Christians. Barnabas was convinced of Paul’s genuine, authentic conversion and persuaded the community (Acts 9:26-27). The best way Paul could give evidence of his healing from “leprosy” was to produce good fruit and so glorify God (see Jn 15:8). St. Mark was a “leper” in that he deserted the first Christian missionary journey (Acts 13:13; 15:38). Barnabas gave...