Category: Daily Promises

“It is not that we are entitled of ourselves to take credit for anything. Our sole credit is from God, Who has made us qualified ministers of a new covenant.” –2 Corinthians 3:5-6 Mass Readings: June 14 First: 2 Corinthians 3:4-11; Resp: Psalm 99:5-9; Gospel: Matthew 5:17-19 Listen to the Mass Readings Fr. Al Lauer, founder and long-time author of One Bread, One Body, was fond of teaching that it’s not so important to be qualified for a ministry but rather to be call-ified. He meant that if God has called us to a ministry, He will provide the wisdom...

“You are the salt of the earth. But what if salt goes flat? How can you restore its flavor? Then it is good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.” –Matthew 5:13 Mass Readings: June 13 First: Wisdom 7:7-14; Resp: Psalm 40:3-4,10-11,17; Gospel: Mark 16:15-20 Listen to the Mass Readings We who are Christians are the salt of the earth. That means we give flavor to life. The everyday activities of life are often laborious. We make our living by the sweat of our brow (Gn 3:19). “Vanity of vanities! All things are vanity! What profit has...

“He comforts us in all our afflictions and thus enables us to comfort those who are in trouble.” –2 Corinthians 1:4 Mass Readings: June 12 First: 2 Corinthians 1:1-7; Resp: Psalm 34:2-9; Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12 Listen to the Mass Readings Jesus came to earth, suffered for us, and consoled us. It was “our sufferings that He endured” (Is 53:4). Because Jesus suffered, He is able to help others who suffer (Heb 2:18). Jesus had an extraordinary public ministry of healing, teaching, and deliverance. However, it was not by His victories but rather by His wounds and His sufferings that we...

“Moses at once bowed down to the ground in worship.” –Exodus 34:8 A bishop was examining the candidates for Confirmation at a certain parish. He asked the young people to tell him what the Holy Trinity was. A boy answered: “It’s one-in-three, and three-in-one.” The bishop, gently probing to determine if the boy truly prepared for the sacrament, said: “That’s good, but I don’t understand.” The youth immediately responded: “You’re not supposed to!” We can’t ever grasp the how of the Holy Trinity, but we can know the Who. This is because God continually reveals Himself to us. “Yes, God...

“Do not be slack in praising Him.” –Tobit 12:6 Mass Readings: June 10 First: Tobit 12:1,5-15,20; Resp: Tobit 13:2,6-8; Gospel: Mark 12:38-44 Listen to the Mass Readings Tobit and Tobiah had a visitor from heaven, the angel Raphael. The angel had spent his existence praising God in the glory of heaven. No wonder Raphael’s vocabulary is composed primarily of praise; that’s what he always has done in heaven. Raphael spoke from the abundance of his heart (Lk 6:45), and that abundance was the everlasting praise of God. Raphael couldn’t help but praise God, saying: “Thank God! Give Him the praise...