Category: Bible Study

“What emerges from within a man, that and nothing else is what makes him impure.” –Mark 7:20 Mass Readings: February 8 First: Genesis 2:4-9,15-17;Resp: Psalm 104:1-2,27-30;Gospel: Mark 7:14-23 “All these evils come from within and render a man impure.” –Mark 7:23 The source of “acts of fornication, theft, murder, adulterous conduct, greed, maliciousness, deceit, sensuality, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, an obtuse spirit” (Mk 7:21-22) is the impurity inside us. Consequently, it is very important to be cleansed inside and to remain clean inside. This means that: The Sacrament of Reconciliation is one of God’s most precious gifts because of its cleansing...

“Evening came, and morning followed.” –Genesis 1:5 Mass Readings: February 6 First: Genesis 1:1-19; Resp: Psalm 104:1-2,5-6,10,12,24,35; Gospel: Mark 6:53-56 God can do new and amazing things each day. In the beginning, God created light, heaven, and earth in one day (Gn 1:1-3). The next day He created the sky (Gn 1:8). The day after that He created plant life (Gn 1:12). Since God is the same today as He was when He created the earth (Heb 13:8), it follows that He is creating something new and exciting this very day. When we come to know God as the Creator,...

“What if salt goes flat?…Then it is good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.” –Matthew 5:13 Mass Readings: February 5 First: Isaiah 58:7-10; Resp: Psalm 112:4-9; Second: 1 Corinthians 2:1-5; Gospel: Matthew 5:13-16 If you had a container of Morton’s salt which had lost its flavor, what would you do? You’d probably throw it in the garbage. I doubt if you would throw it on the ground and trample it underfoot. However, that is what Jesus said would be done to salt that has lost its flavor. Grinding salt into the ground was sometimes done in...

“Be content with what you have, for God has said, ‘I will never desert you, nor will I forsake you.’ ” –Hebrews 13:5 We live in a world of broken and hurting human relationships. Few of us are untouched by the effects of widespread divorce, unforgiveness, unfaithfulness, treachery, revenge, backstabbing, gossip, slander, and other problems stemming from interpersonal breakdowns. Those fortunate to have some deep friendships with Christian brothers and sisters still at times might endure the sting of a brushoff, a turned back, or a deaf ear from even the closest of friends. We may suffer from relationships to...