Category: Bible Study

“If any man comes to Me without hating his father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, yes and his own life too, he cannot be My disciple.” –Luke 14:26, JB It takes everything we’ve got to live the Christian life. If we don’t make our relationship with Jesus our “all in all” (see Lk 14:26), if we don’t take up His cross daily (Lk 14:27; 9:23), if we don’t renounce all our possessions (Lk 14:33), we will not have what it takes to build the tower (Lk 14:28), fight the war (Lk 14:31), or run the race of the Christian life...

“Force them to come in.” –Luke 14:23 Today’s Scripture passage in which Jesus commands His disciples to “force” people to enter His kingdom can be difficult to comprehend. Perhaps an example from my life might shed light on Jesus’ meaning. I was an intensely shy college student and found it beyond my ability to join in with other students in Catholic activities. I vividly recall after one Mass hearing several students talking excitedly about that night’s prayer gathering at the Newman Center. Their excitement stirred a longing in me to attend. I walked to the Center and was suddenly too...

“As gold in the furnace, He proved them.” –Wisdom 3:6 It is “a holy and pious thought” to pray for the dead (2 Mc 12:45). It is a good thing to do, but how good? Should praying for the dead be a footnote in our Christian life, or should it be a high priority? Those who move from purgatory to heaven due to our prayers obviously think it a high priority. Furthermore, our prayers for those in purgatory not only help them but help us to more greatly benefit from the prayers of the poor souls for us (Catechism, 958)....

“Who are these people all dressed in white? And where have they come from?” –Revelation 7:13 Today we thank God for saving and sanctifying the saints on earth and in heaven. We especially thank Him for taking our family members, relatives, and friends to be with Him in heaven. We look forward to becoming holy and joining Jesus and the family in heaven. We cannot do this by our own power but we can let it be done to us (see Lk 1:38). The Father and the Son have sent the Holy Spirit to make us holy. All we have...