Category: Bible Study

“What must we do to perform the works of God?” –John 6:28 Since we have been raised up in company with Christ, we set our hearts on what pertains to higher realms (Col 3:1). “The old order has passed away; now all is new!” (2 Cor 5:17; cf Rv 21:5) For example, now that we have been baptized into Jesus’ death and Resurrection, we look at work in a new, risen way. We no longer work “for perishable food but for food that remains unto life eternal” (Jn 6:27). We do “the work of God,” that is, we “have faith...

“He does not ration His gift of the Spirit.” –John 3:34 In today’s Gospel, we are told: “He does not ration His gift of the Spirit.” Many older readers might remember the shortages of material goods during the gasoline rationing in the early 1970s or the massive rationing during World War II. If you have lived during a time of rationing, you have learned how to adapt (Phil 4:11-12). Jesus reveals in today’s Gospel passage that God does not ration His gift of the Holy Spirit (Jn 3:34). Perhaps many of us have become accustomed to living without the Holy...

“Go out now and take your place in the temple precincts and preach to the people all about this new life.” –Acts 5:20 The Mass readings this week have been talking about being “born again,” begotten from above (see Jn 3:5). Just as an infant needs to be taught how to live in a new world, so “newborn” Christians need to be nurtured and taught. Thus, the angel commands the apostles to teach “the people all about this new life” (Acts 5:20). Parents, do you remember when your newborn infant was delivered in the hospital room? The baby had never...

“None of them ever claimed anything as his own; rather, everything was held in common.” –Acts 4:32 Early Christians “shared all things in common” (Acts 2:44). This work of the Holy Spirit was a powerful witness to Jesus’ Resurrection (Acts 4:33). Sharing all things in common requires a miraculous unity. “The community of believers were of one heart” (Acts 4:32). Furthermore, sharing all things in common is motivated by such zeal for evangelization that we pool our resources to maximize our evangelistic outreach. When we become one in heart, mind, and possessions, we begin to be one as Jesus and...

“Clothe yourselves with humility, because God ‘is stern with the arrogant but to the humble He shows kindness.’ ” –1 Peter 5:5 After Mark quit the first missionary journey (Acts 13:13), he changed his mind and was willing to be taken on the second missionary journey (Acts 15:37). This may have been an act of repentance and humility. When St. Paul refused to take St. Mark (Acts 15:38), Mark must have eventually accepted this, for Mark was later on good terms with Paul (see Col 4:10; 2 Tm 4:11). This reconciliation required acts of humility from both Mark and Paul....