Category: Bible Study

“In respect to the gospel, the Jews are enemies of God for your sake; in respect to the election, they are beloved by Him because of the patriarchs.” –Romans 11:28 Mass Readings: November 4 First: Romans 11:1-2,11-12,25-29; Resp: Psalm 94:12-13,14-15,17-18; Gospel: Luke 14:1,7-11 Listen to the Mass Readings An old saying says God writes straight with crooked lines. “God makes all things work together for the good of those who love” Him (Rm 8:28). God is omnipotent; so He even uses His enemies to further His plan (Prv 16:4). For example, Joseph’s brothers heartlessly abandoned him in a cistern (Gn...

“If before men, indeed, they be punished, yet is their hope full of immortality.” –Wisdom 3:4 Mass Readings: November 2 First: Wisdom 3:1-9; Resp: Psalm 27:1,4,7-9,13-14; Second: Romans 5:5-11; Gospel: John 11:17-27 Listen to the Mass Readings It is a holy and pious thought to pray for the dead (2 Mc 12:44-45). Because those in heaven or in hell don’t benefit from our prayers, this implies that not everyone immediately goes to heaven or hell after they die. Therefore, when we pray for the dead, we must be praying for people in some other place, usually called purgatory. It is...

“See what love the Father has bestowed on us in letting us be called children of God!” –1 John 3:1 Mass Readings: November 1 First: Revelation 7:2-4,9-14; Resp: Psalm 24:1-6; Second: 1 John 3:1-3; Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12 Listen to the Mass Readings To become a saint in heaven, we must be baptized (see Mk 16:16), totally commit our lives to Jesus, and have a strong desire to be holy in every aspect of our conduct (1 Pt 1:15). We must strive “for that holiness without which no one can see the Lord” (Heb 12:14). To do this, we must hunger...

“Hoping for what we cannot see means awaiting it with patient endurance.” –Romans 8:25 Mass Readings: October 31 First: Romans 8:18-25; Resp: Psalm 126:1-6;Gospel: Luke 13:18-21 Listen to the Mass Readings Because we: have been baptized into Christ (Rm 6:3), have the Trinity living within us (see Jn 17:23), are royal, priestly children of God (Rm 8:16; 1 Pt 2:9), are the light of the world and the salt of the earth (Mt 5:13-14), and by faith can do greater works than Jesus did (Jn 14:12), our lives are of great significance for the whole world for all times. Nevertheless,...