Category: Bible Study

FAMILY VALUES

“That is why I kneel before the Father from Whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name; and I pray.” –Ephesians 3:14-16 Mass Readings: October 20 First: Ephesians 3:14-21; Resp: Psalm 33:1-2,4-5,11-12,18-19; Gospel: Luke 12:49-53 Jesus is the second Person of the Trinity. The Trinity is the eternal, ultimate Holy Family. After His Incarnation, Jesus lived in another holy family with Mary and Joseph. Therefore, Jesus has high standards for family life. He calls families to be holy, sacramental signs of the Trinity as Family. To make holy, Trinitarian families, Jesus: lights “a fire on the earth”...

COME, LORD JESUS, TODAY! (see Rv 22:20)

“Be on guard, therefore. The Son of Man will come when you least expect Him.” –Luke 12:40 Mass Readings: October 19 First: Ephesians 3:2-12; Resp: Isaiah 12:2-6; Gospel: Luke 12:39-48 When we expect the world to end and Jesus to come back at any time, we are: on guard against the evil one (see Lk 12:40; 1 Pt 5:8-9), trying to be “faithful, farsighted” stewards for the Lord (Lk 12:42), busy (Lk 12:43) showing our love for Jesus by feeding His sheep, that is, His people (see Jn 21:15-17; Lk 12:42), loving others rather than hurting them (see Lk 12:45),...

NOT A DOCTORAL THESIS

“I have no one with me but Luke.” –2 Timothy 4:11 Mass Readings: October 18 First: 2 Timothy 4:10-17; Resp: Psalm 145:10-13,17-18; Gospel: Luke 10:1-9 St. Luke was a doctor (Col 4:14). The Bible commands us to honor doctors, for their profession has been established by God (Sir 38:1). Although Luke had such a distinguished profession (see Sir 38:3), he apparently put it aside in the light of the surpassing knowledge of His Lord Jesus Christ (Phil 3:8). In the fifty-two chapters of the Bible that Luke compiled (Luke and Acts), there is hardly any indication of him being a...

SAVED FROM AN UNSPEAKABLE HELL

“You were dead.” –Ephesians 2:1 Mass Readings: October 17 First: Ephesians 2:1-10; Resp: Psalm 100:2-5; Gospel: Luke 12:13-21 We start life “dead in sin” (Eph 2:5), and we buy into death through our “sins and offenses” (Eph 2:1). In this living death (1 Jn 3:14), we are blinded, manipulated, and drafted into giving “allegiance to the present age and to the prince of the air, that spirit who is even now at work among the rebellious” (Eph 2:2). Satan keeps us in line and enslaved by seducing us to live “at the level of the flesh, following every whim and...

PRAYER LINES

“…the necessity of praying always and not losing heart.” –Luke 18:1 Mass Readings: October 16 First: Exodus 17:8-13; Resp: Psalm 121:1-8; Second: 2 Timothy 3:14–4:2; Gospel: Luke 18:1-8 Jesus teaches us in today’s parable to pray in perseverance for our needs (Lk 18:1). Elsewhere in Scripture, Jesus reveals more about how to pray always with perseverance and power: Pray by listening to God (Lk 10:38-42). Pray in a love-relationship with “Abba” (Mt 6:9; Gal 4:6). Pray with faith. Jesus is always looking for faith (Lk 18:8). Pray without ever losing heart, that is, not growing weary and not going through...