Category: Message of the Day
“The lowly will hear me and be glad.” –Psalm 34:3 Throughout much of our lives, many of us develop the illusion that we are naturally good-hearted, loving, and kind people. We pretend that about all we want out of life is to help people. Although various circumstances in our lives seem to indicate a self-centered, egotistical attitude in us, we ignore these details. Usually somewhere around middle age, we may realize by God’s grace that we have spent our whole lives thinking about ourselves and seeking our own pleasure, even at others’ expense. We now begin to realize we are...
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“I too will ask a question.” –Matthew 21:24 Sometimes we pray and talk to God, even questioning Him, but He doesn’t seem to answer. We wonder if He’s even listening. One reason for this is mentioned in today’s Gospel reading. The chief priests and elders asked Jesus two questions (Mt 21:23). Jesus replied that He would not answer their questions until they answered His (Mt 21:24). “Their answer to Jesus was, ‘We do not know.’ He said in turn, ‘Then neither will I tell you on what authority I do the things I do’ ” (Mt 21:27). Jesus loves to...
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“I rejoice heartily in the Lord, in my God is the joy of my soul.” –Isaiah 61:10 “Rejoice in the Lord always! I say it again. Rejoice!” (Phil 4:4) Today is “Gaudete Sunday,” that is, “Rejoice Sunday.” We are rejoicing because soon and very soon Christ will come in glory this Christmas. We are able to “rejoice always” (1 Thes 5:16) despite the many sorrowful circumstances of our lives. This is because we are not only in sorrow, pain, trouble, and suffering but also “in the Lord.” Being “in the Lord” takes precedence over everything else. With Mary, our spirits...
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“Elijah is indeed coming, and he will restore everything.” –Matthew 17:11 Jesus said that Elijah would restore everything. What a statement! Everything? How could someone restore everything? Jesus said that the restoration of everything was begun by John the Baptizer (Mt 17:13), who came “in the spirit and power of Elijah” (Lk 1:17). The Power for this universal restoration is the Holy Spirit. Consequently, John was “filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother’s womb” (Lk 1:15). John began the restoration of everything by turning “the hearts of fathers to their children” (Lk 1:17). This universal restoration is still in...
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“From John the Baptizer’s time until now the kingdom of God has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.” –Matthew 11:12 How do the violent take God’s kingdom by force? During Jesus’ time on earth, a group called the Zealots believed they would take God’s kingdom by force by waging guerilla warfare against the Romans. Jesus rejected this approach, for His kingdom is not of this world (Jn 18:36). Throughout the history of the Church, some holy people interpreted and applied Matthew 11:12 by doing violence to themselves through harsh physical penances. While there is some value to...
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