Category: Memory Verse

LOVING GOD FOR HIMSELF

“The reign of God is like the case of the owner of an estate who went out at dawn to hire workmen.” –Matthew 20:1 “There is, of course, great gain in religion” (1 Tm 6:6). “While physical training is to some extent valuable, the discipline of religion is incalculably more so, with its promise of life here and hereafter” (1 Tm 4:8). There are such awesome benefits to Christianity that Christians are tempted to think that these benefits are the reason for Christianity. However, the essence of the Christian life is love – unconditional love – for God is this...

PROUD OF BEING HUMBLE?

“You are haughty of heart, you say, ‘A god am I! I occupy a godly throne in the heart of the sea!’ – And yet you are a man, and not a god, however you may think yourself like a god.” –Ezekiel 28:2 The prince of Tyre had no qualms about displaying His arrogance. He had the gall to proclaim: “A god am I!” The prince of Tyre thought he was wiser than Daniel (Ez 28:4) and personally responsible for the amassing of his riches (Ez 28:5). Although in recent times a number of people follow the example of the...

ABNORMALITIES?

“That evening my wife died, and the next morning I did as I had been commanded.” –Ezekiel 24:18 The Jewish people mourned the death of those they loved by crying and groaning, by taking off their turbans and sandals, by covering their beards, and by eating a special kind of bread (Ez 24:16-17). The Lord told Ezekiel not to do these customary things when his wife died. God told Ezekiel not to react normally for the purpose of showing His people that they did not react normally to the desecration of their sanctuary and the destruction of their children (Ez...

THE WORD OF LIFE

“Do not continue in ignorance, but try to discern the will of the Lord.” –Ephesians 5:17 St. Jerome asserted: “Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ” (Catechism, 133). If we are ignorant of Christ, we will not discern the will of the Lord (Eph 5:17). This means we will not make “the most of the present opportunity” (Eph 5:16). But through knowledge of the Scriptures and through good discernment of God’s will, we are saved from a futile (see 1 Pt 1:18), vain (see Eccl 1:2) existence. Therefore: “Keep this book of the law on your lips. Recite it...

LOVE CHILDREN, DON’T HINDER THEM

“Jesus said: ‘Let the children come to Me. Do not hinder them.’ ” –Matthew 19:14 Jesus loves children. This means not only that He gives them special graces but also that He expects us to provide the best circumstances for children to grow. This means Jesus expects us to: try hard to stop abortion and contraception, change our lifestyle and make any other decisions necessary to do something about the millions of starving children in the world, promote the covenant of marriage, in which children should be conceived and raised, not condone promiscuity, which often deprives children of two parents,...