Category: Bible Study

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord.” –Jeremiah 17:7 If we trust in the Lord, we are blessed. If we trust in ourselves, others, or anything else, we are cursed (Jer 17:5). The one who is cursed “is like a barren bush in the desert that enjoys no change of season, but stands in a lava waste, a salt and empty earth” (Jer 17:6). For example, the rich man in today’s Gospel reading trusted in himself, his wealth, and his pleasurable lifestyle. Thus, he cursed himself forever and was “tortured in these flames” (Lk 16:24). Trusting in the...

“Anyone among you who aspires to greatness must serve the rest.” –Matthew 20:26 If you are a Christian, you are literally an adopted child of God. You have a new nature in Christ, a share in the divine nature (2 Pt 1:4). You are royal, priestly, holy, chosen, and set apart (see 1 Pt 2:9). Considering your identity in Christ, you are obviously called to greatness. However, we must understand greatness the way Jesus does. Our greatness is not the greatness of the world but the greatness of the cross (see Mt 20:25-26). Once we become convinced of our call...

“Joseph her husband, an upright man unwilling to expose her to the law, decided to divorce her quietly.” –Matthew 1:19 When St. Joseph did not divorce Mary, he made one of the greatest acts of faith in history. Humanly speaking, he had every reason to divorce her. The only thing dissuading Joseph from the divorce was a dream he had in which an angel told him to take Mary as his wife (Mt 1:20). Enlightened by this dream, Joseph did not divorce Mary (Mt 1:24). Thus he did not divorce Jesus, the Baby in Mary’s womb. Like Joseph, we all...

“Pardon our sins for Your name’s sake.” –Psalm 79:9 The prophet Ezekiel explains that God delivered His sinful people to uphold the greatness of His own name throughout the nations (Ez 36:22). It was important to the Lord that He would not be regarded by the pagans as a fickle God Who promised to be God of His people, but then abandoned them when they strayed from Him. Justice is on God’s side (see Dn 9:7); yet even more than being just, God is compassionate and merciful (Dn 9:9; Ps 103:8; Ex 34:6). Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI even made the...

“Unfortunately, many go about in a way which shows them to be enemies of the cross of Christ.” –Philippians 3:18 Jesus commanded us to take up our crosses each day (Lk 9:23). A Roman cross existed only for the purpose of causing a person’s death. A daily cross is daily dying to self. This is the ultimate life of love, which is the greatest expression of freedom. However, a life of daily crosses and daily dyings requires so much love that we may not choose this life of selfless love and thereby be paralyzed by selfishness and fear. Only by...