Category: Bible Study

SHOCKED BY INFINITE LOVE

“She ran off to Simon Peter and the other disciple (the one Jesus loved).” –John 20:2 On this third day of Christmas, the Lord through His Church brings to our attention St. John, who has been customarily identified as the beloved disciple. The beloved disciple is nameless in John’s Gospel, possibly to indicate that all Jesus’ followers are beloved disciples. When we realize that the Lord loves us personally, perfectly, infinitely, and unconditionally, we are: deeply rooted and securely grounded (Eph 3:17), affirmed and fulfilled, freed from fear (1 Jn 4:18), able to give this great love which we have...

THE RELATIONSHIP

“I see an opening in the sky, and the Son of Man standing at God’s right hand.” –Acts 7:56 Mass Readings: December 26 First: Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59; Resp: Psalm 31:3-4,6,8,17; Gospel: Matthew 10:17-22 Listen to the Mass Readings When a baby is born, he can be held, seen, heard, touched, and kissed. We celebrate a birth because after a baby is born we can enter into a new dimension of personal relationship with that baby. We likewise celebrate the birth of Jesus because His birth made it possible for Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the wise men, and us to become...

UNPREDICTABLE

“In the beginning was the Word; the Word was in God’s presence, and the Word was God.” –John 1:1 The Bible is the most unpredictable book ever written. The first words from God’s Word for the Christmas Day Mass are: “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of Him Who brings glad tidings, announcing peace, bearing good news, announcing salvation” (Is 52:7). When everyone else is thinking about gaudy extravagance, God is talking about beautiful feet. These feet are beautiful because they bring the good news of peace (Is 52:7). After centuries of chaos, we can finally have shalom-peace,...

THE PEACE OF CHRISTMAS

“I will plant them so that they may dwell in their place without further disturbance.” –2 Samuel 7:10 Mass Readings: December 24 First: 2 Samuel 7:1-5,8-12,14,16; Resp: Psalm 89:2-5,27,29; Second: Romans 16:25-27; Gospel: Luke 1:26-38 Listen to the Mass Readings The Lord promised David rest from his enemies (2 Sm 7:11). This promise of peace was surprising since violence was David’s “claim to fame” (see 1 Sm 18:7). From cutting off Goliath’s head to setting up Uriah’s murder, David lived an extremely violent life. People must have laughed when they heard David was promised peace. Nevertheless, the promise at first...

THE LAST WORDS

“…lest I come and strike the land with doom.” –Malachi 3:24 Mass Readings: December 23 First: Malachi 3:1-4,23-24;Resp: Psalm 25:4-5,8-10,14; Gospel: Luke 1:57-66 Listen to the Mass Readings In the last words of the Old Testament, the Lord warns us that unless fathers turn their hearts to their children and vice versa, He will “come and strike the land with doom.” The last words of the New Testament and of the Bible are: “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you all. Amen!” (Rv 22:21) Life is either doomed or graced. Life before we live for Christ is doomed,...