Category: Daily Reflections

“I went to extremes in persecuting the Church of God and tried to destroy it.” –Galatians 1:13 Mass Readings: October 4 First: Sirach 50:1,3-4,6-7; Resp: Psalm 16:1-2,5,7-8,11; Second: Galatians 6:14-18; Gospel: Matthew 11:25-30 At the time this teaching is written, there are terrorist groups that are persecuting Christians in certain Middle East nations “to extremes.” Christians are being driven out of entire regions. They are being beheaded. It seems that the witness to Jesus in these regions is lost forever, and that the witness of these Christians was “in vain” (Is 49:4). Yet the truth is that “the blood of...

“What must I do to inherit everlasting life?” –Luke 10:25 Mass Readings: October 3 First: Galatians 1:6-12; Resp: Psalm 111:1-2,7-10; Gospel: Luke 10:25-37 St. Paul founded the churches of Galatia on his missionary journeys. He preached that people were set right with God not by any efforts or actions of their own, but by having faith in Jesus Christ (Gal 2:16; 3:22, 26). Eventually, Paul moved on to other cities to preach the gospel. A few years later, traveling evangelists visited Galatia. These men taught that more was required to be justified with God. They accepted that faith in Jesus...

“Increase our faith.” –Luke 17:5 When Habakkuk prayed, he cried out, “Violence!” (Hab 1:2) He described his situation as “ruin,” “misery,” “destruction,” “strife,” and “clamorous discord” (Hab 1:3). He begged God to intervene (Hab 1:2), but God didn’t seem to do anything. We live in times which fit Habakkuk’s description. We live in the most violent and murderous of times for several reasons. One major reason is the mass murders occurring through abortions. We tend to feel depressed and hopeless. However, the Lord calls this a “rash” response to the violence and evil in our society (see Hab 2:4). Rather,...

“Many prophets and kings wished to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.” –Luke 10:24 Mass Readings: October 1 First: Job 42:1-3,5-6,12-17; Resp: Psalm 119:66,71,75,91,125,130; Gospel: Luke 10:17-24 Because we are Jesus’ followers, “demons are subject to us” (Lk 10:17). We can shoot down Satan to fall from the sky like lightning (Lk 10:18). We can “tread on snakes and scorpions and all the forces of the enemy” (Lk 10:19). We can “quickly crush Satan under” our feet (Rm 16:20). However, few Christians are aware of their...

“Then Job answered the Lord and said: ‘Behold, I am of little account.’ ” –Job 40:3-4 Mass Readings: September 30 First: Job 38:1,12-21; 40:3-5; Resp: Psalm 139:1-3,7-10,13-14; Gospel: Luke 10:13-16 God’s ways and thoughts are as high above our ways and thoughts as the heavens are above the earth (Is 55:8-9). Even the wisest people know nothing compared to God. We all must say with Job: “Behold, I am of little account; what can I answer You? I put my hand over my mouth” (Jb 40:4). Nevertheless, the infinite, all-holy, almighty Lord has decided to speak through His Church made...