Category: Memory Verse

THE POWER OF ONE

“Here comes with power the Lord God…like a shepherd.” –Isaiah 40:10, 11 Mass Readings: December 6 First: Isaiah 40:1-11; Resp: Psalm 96:1-3,10-13; Gospel: Matthew 18:12-14 The Lord God comes with power and rules with His strong arm (Is 40:10). The Lord God also comes like a humble, gentle shepherd, and His strong arm gently gathers us, His lambs, with tender care (Is 40:11). How does this seeming paradox work? God’s purpose in coming to earth and exercising His power is to gather all people together as one and keep us united as His body (see Jn 11:52; 17:21; 10:16; Eph...

WANTED: STRETCHER-BEARERS AND ROOFERS

“They were trying to bring him in and lay him before Jesus; but they found no way of getting him through because of the crowd, so they went up on the roof.” –Luke 5:18-19 Mass Readings: December 5 First: Isaiah 35:1-10; Resp: Psalm 85:9-14; Gospel: Luke 5:17-26 Many people, even Christians, have been so brainwashed, manipulated, and overwhelmed by the consumeristic hype of Christmas that they can’t see the Christ of Christmas because of the crowd of obstructions. Nevertheless, some of these people have not been so enslaved that they are helpless. These people, like Zacchaeus, can climb a tree,...

THE ADVENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

“The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him.” –Isaiah 11:2 Mass Readings: December 4 First: Isaiah 11:1-10; Resp: Psalm 72:1-2,7-8,12-13,17;Second: Romans 15:4-9;Gospel: Matthew 3:1-12 Imagine a world without violence, injustice, tragedy, “harm or ruin” (Is 11:9). Imagine a world where everyone knows the Lord deeply and lives and loves accordingly (see Is 11:9). This is the kind of world that the Holy Spirit is re-creating at this very moment (Ps 104:30). Get out of the “culture of death” (Pope St. John Paul II). Be a part of the “new civilization of love” (Blessed Pope Paul VI). Renew your Baptism...

TRANSFORMATIONS

“Lebanon shall be changed into an orchard, and the orchard be regarded as a forest! On that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book; and out of gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind shall see.” –Isaiah 29:17-18 Mass Readings: December 2 First: Isaiah 29:17-24; Resp: Psalm 27:1,4,13-14; Gospel: Matthew 9:27-31 The word from today’s eucharistic readings is “transformations.” Tyrants who oppress their subjects “will be no more” and the arrogant who torment their neighbors “will have gone” (Is 29:20; see also Rv 18:2; Is 37:36-38). The deaf hear. The blind see. Lebanon, a nation known...

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

“It did not collapse; it had been solidly set on rock.” —Matthew 7:25 Mass Readings: December 1 First: Isaiah 26:1-6; Resp: Psalm 118:1,8-9,19-21,25-27; Gospel: Matthew 7:21,24-27 Every Realtor knows that the future value of a house is based upon its present location. Likewise, Jesus teaches that the future of our lives is based upon our location. We are to build our lives upon every word that comes from the mouth of Jesus (Mt 4:4). If we make Jesus’ words our home (Jn 8:31, JB) and put His words into practice (Mt 7:24), we will build our lives upon the unshakable...