Category: Daily Reflections

“God has set up in the Church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracle workers, healers, assistants, administrators, and those who speak in tongues.” –1 Corinthians 12:28 Jesus “ascended high above the heavens, that He might fill all men with His gifts” (Eph 4:10). He commands us to set our hearts on spiritual gifts (1 Cor 14:1), especially on the greater gifts (1 Cor 12:31), “those that build up the Church” (1 Cor 14:12). The Lord does not want us to be ignorant of spiritual gifts (1 Cor 12:1). Consequently, the Father and the Son have sent the Holy...

“There may even have to be factions among you for the tried and true to stand out clearly.” –1 Corinthians 11:19 Mass Readings: September 12 First: Sirach 24:17-21; Resp: Luke 1:46-50,53-54; Gospel: Luke 1:26-38 Jesus prays at this moment that we may be one as He and the Father are One (Jn 17:21). However, this unity must come about through conversion and not by compromising basic truths. Jesus is not praying for the lowest-common-denominator unity of a watered-down gospel. Rather, He prays for a Trinitarian unity which comes from deep repentance and radical transformation. To help us grow into this...

“Why, O Lord, should Your wrath blaze up against Your own people?” –Exodus 32:11 After the Israelites sinned by adoring the golden calf, the Lord gave Moses the impression that the people belonged to Moses, not Him (Ex 32:7). Moses implored the Lord and referred to the people as belonging to the Lord (Ex 32:11). The prodigal son felt that he no longer belonged in his father’s family after what he had done (Lk 15:18, 21). His older brother agreed with him (see Lk 15:30). However, the prodigal son’s father would hear none of this. He spoke of the prodigal...

“Each man speaks from his heart’s abundance.” –Luke 6:45 Mass Readings: September 10 First: 1 Corinthians 10:14-22;Resp: Psalm 116:12-13,17-18;Gospel: Luke 6:43-49 The next time you encounter someone who is in love, pay close attention to what they say. What do they talk about? They talk incessantly about the person they love. He tells all his friends about how wonderful she is. She says that he’s always on her heart. They are speaking from their heart’s abundance (Lk 6:45), and their hearts are abundantly full of love for each other. Now, think about what you say. How often do you speak...

“You will see clearly enough to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” –Luke 6:42 Mass Readings: September 9 First: 1 Corinthians 9:16-19,22-27; Resp: Psalm 84:3-6,12; Gospel: Luke 6:39-42 Jesus has commissioned us to remove the specks from other people’s eyes. The sins of other people are our concern because we love these people enough to try to keep them from destroying themselves through sin. However, we are not ready to work on others’ eyes until we have first let the Lord deal with our own spiritual blindness due to sin (Lk 6:42). Blind eye surgeons do much more harm...