Category: Memory Verse

HATE THE SIN AND LOVE THE CHURCH OF SINNERS

“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...

LIVES WHICH NEED ANGELS

Jesus “went on to tell them, ‘I solemnly assure you, you shall see the sky opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.’ ” –John 1:51 Mass Readings: September 29 First: Daniel 7:9-10,13-14; Resp: Psalm 138:1-5; Gospel: John 1:47-51 The Lord loves you perfectly, and He wants to show His love for you by sending Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, and other angels to be more active in your life. For angels to be very active in our lives, we must have lives which fit into the job descriptions of archangels and angels. We need lives...

QUITE A FOLLOWING

“Someone said to Him, ‘I will be Your follower wherever You go.’ ” –Luke 9:57 Mass Readings: September 28 First: Job 9:1-12,14-16; Resp: Psalm 88:10-15; Gospel: Luke 9:57-62 The essence of the Christian life is to follow Christ – not on our terms, but on His. In following Him, Jesus calls us to make a total, self-sacrificing commitment – not even to expect a roof over our heads (see Lk 9:58). He also expects an immediate commitment – no delays (see Lk 9:59-61). Finally, following Jesus is forever. When we put our hands to the plow and begin to work...

LIFE LINES

“Why is light given to the toilers, and life to the bitter in spirit?” –Job 3:20 Mass Readings: September 27 First: Job 3:1-3,11-17,20-23; Resp: Psalm 88:2-8; Gospel: Luke 9:51-56 Nearly all of us can identify in some way with Job’s misery. Sometimes life is bitter (Jb 3:20) and full of drudgery (Jb 7:1). Relief eludes us (Jb 3:13), and death seems better than any hidden treasure the future could possibly hold (Jb 3:21). Then it gets worse. We “have forgotten what happiness is” (Lam 3:17; Jb 7:7). When life is no longer worth living, then we’ve forgotten what life really...

THE ONE-TWO PUNCH

“The Lord said to Satan, ‘Behold, all that he has is in your power.’ ” –Job 1:12 Mass Readings: September 26 First: Job 1:6-22; Resp: Psalm 17:1-3,6-7; Gospel: Luke 9:46-50 Satan is the father of lies (Jn 8:44). He is the expert in tempting us. For example, he tried to get Job to say something “disrespectful of God” (Jb 1:22) and to curse God (Jb 2:9). Job, however, did not fall for Satan’s series of temptations. First, Satan had the Sabeans steal Job’s oxen and asses (Jb 1:14-15). In our economy, this would have been a theft of several thousand...