Category: Bible Study

“It is through Him that we address our Amen to God when we worship together.” –2 Corinthians 1:20 At every Mass, the Eucharistic prayer comes to a climax when the priest elevates the body and blood of Jesus and proclaims: “Through Him, with Him, in Him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is Yours, almighty Father, forever and ever.” At this climactic moment, the entire assembly responds “Amen.” We worship God together by addressing our Amen through Jesus to the Father in the Spirit (2 Cor 1:20). This is God’s plan for worship. Through Jesus...

Jesus “began to teach them: ‘How blest are the poor in spirit: the reign of God is theirs.’ ” –Matthew 5:2-3 Jesus proclaims that He alone knows the secret to happiness. He says that happiness is: choosing to be poor rather than rich (Mt 5:3), sorrowing in repentance for our sins rather than feeling good (Mt 5:4), becoming lowly rather than getting high (Mt 5:5), hungering for holiness rather than getting what we want (Mt 5:6), giving others a break rather than getting our rights (Mt 5:7), having nothing but Jesus rather than having everything (see Mt 5:8), dying for...

“It is better to give alms than to store up gold; for almsgiving saves one from death and expiates every sin.” –Tobit 12:8-9 The archangel Raphael told Tobit and Tobiah that “almsgiving saves one from death and expiates every sin.” This seems to be a strange teaching, for we believe that sin is expiated by Jesus’ saving death and that we accept this expiation by our faith in Him. However, Jesus showed He accepted the reception of expiation through almsgiving when He said to the Pharisees: “If you give what you have as alms, all will be wiped clean for...

“David himself addresses Him as ‘Lord.’ ” –Mark 12:37 Demons believe in God (Jas 2:19). In the Gospels, demons address Jesus by various titles: “Son of God” (Mt 8:29; Lk 4:41), “Holy One of God” (Lk 4:34), “Son of God Most High” (Lk 8:28). However, the demons never address Jesus by the title “Lord.” This is because the title “Lord” means ownership, and demons have rebelled against being ruled by God. Scripture says, “No one can say ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except in the Holy Spirit” (1 Cor 12:3), and demons do not live according to the Spirit of God. How...