Category: Memory Verse

“As [Jesus] moved on He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus at his tax collector’s post, and said to him, ‘Follow Me.’ Levi got up and became His follower.” –Mark 2:14 Who is the least likely person in the world to follow Jesus? Would it be your spouse, child, parent, boss, or enemy? Expect the conversion of those whom you consider least likely to love Jesus. When Levi, the scum of the earth, repented and followed Jesus, Jesus showed there is no one whom He cannot reach. Paul was “a blasphemer, a persecutor, a man filled with arrogance” (1 Tm...

“The people, however, refused to listen to Samuel’s warning and said, ‘Not so! There must be a king over us.’ ” –1 Samuel 8:19 Mass Readings: January 12 First: 1 Samuel 8:4-7,10-22; Resp: Psalm 89:16-19; Gospel: Mark 2:1-12 Listen to the Mass Readings Samuel had been a great leader of Israel; however, his sons did not follow his example (1 Sm 8:5). Therefore, they would not have been good leaders for Israel. Then who would lead Israel? The most direct answer to this problem would have been for Samuel’s sons to change their lives for the Lord. But the Israelites...

“The man went off and began to proclaim the whole matter freely, making the story public. As a result of this, it was no longer possible for Jesus to enter a town openly.” –Mark 1:45 Mass Readings: January 11 First: 1 Samuel 4:1-11; Resp: Psalm 44:10-11,14-15,24-25; Gospel: Mark 1:40-45 Listen to the Mass Readings The leper was an outcast because of his contagious disease. By the law of Moses, the leper was required to live outside the town, keep his distance from others, and cry out “Unclean, unclean” if anyone approached (Lv 13:45). It is likely that people of the...

“[Samuel] ran to Eli.” –1 Samuel 3:5 Mass Readings: January 10 First: 1 Samuel 3:1-10,19-20; Resp: Psalm 40:2,5,7-10; Gospel: Mark 1:29-39 Listen to the Mass Readings Though Eli the priest left a lot to be desired, he still had some godly wisdom and did provide Samuel the right direction to discern for his life’s vocation as a prophet. Samuel ran to Eli (1 Sm 3:5) to seek God’s guidance and he was led safely to the Lord. Nowadays, when young people need guidance, a common response might be to talk to peers or use various forms of social media for...

“Eli, thinking her drunk, said to her, ‘How long will you make a drunken show of yourself? Sober up from your wine!’ ” –1 Samuel 1:13-14 Mass Readings: January 9 First: 1 Samuel 1:9-20; Resp: 1 Samuel 2:1,4-8; Gospel: Mark 1:21-28 Listen to the Mass Readings In addition to accepting correction (see Prv 12:1), we as disciples of Christ must be open to giving correction (Lk 17:3; Gal 6:1). After first removing the plank of sin from our eyes (Mt 7:5), we must correct others in love and call them to repent. How we give correction is one of the...