Category: Verse for the day
“To [the crowds] He spoke only by way of parable, while He kept explaining things privately to His disciples.” –Mark 4:34 Note that in the Gospels Jesus explained the mysteries not to all, but particularly to His apostles (Mk 4:34). Today, the successors of the apostles are the Pope and the bishops (see Catechism of the Catholic Church, 861-862; Acts 1:20-26). It is critical that we recognize this pattern. Jesus speaks to His Church and through His Church. If we really want to know what Jesus is saying, we must listen to the Church, for Jesus said: “If they hear...
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“I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God bestowed when my hands were laid on you. The Spirit God has given us is no cowardly Spirit, but rather One that makes us strong, loving, and wise.” –2 Timothy 1:6-7 Most of us reading this are baptized and confirmed. Therefore, we already have the Holy Spirit living in us (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1303). This indwelling of the Spirit should make us ever more desirous to receive the Spirit in new and deeper ways, since the Spirit always seeks deeper union with the Father and the Son....
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“Go into the whole world and proclaim the good news to all creation.” – Mark 16:15 If we believe in the Good News of Jesus and accept Baptism, we will be saved (Mk 16:16). If we refuse to believe, we will be condemned in hell forever (see Mk 16:16; Jn 5:27-29). Believing in Jesus’ Good News is the most important reality of our lives. Believing the Good News is so important that: If we’ve done everything but believe the Good News, our lives are tragic and damnable. The Lord works amazing signs to accompany the proclamation of the Good News...
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“Whoever does the will of God is brother and sister and mother to Me.” –Mark 3:35 Jesus said that He came for division, to divide a family three against two (Lk 12:52). He meant that some family members would receive Him while others would reject Him, at least for a time. For those who love Jesus and love their families, and yet have been rejected within their families because of their love for Jesus, there is great pain. Yet Jesus offers the greatest consolation amidst this pain.Through our Baptism and by doing the will of God, we are adopted and...
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“Whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. He carries the guilt of his sin without end.” –Mark 3:29 The scribes claimed that Jesus was possessed by a devil (Mk 3:30). This statement seems to be blasphemy against Jesus, but Jesus calls it blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (Mk 3:29). Blaspheming Jesus is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit because the Holy Spirit bears witness on behalf of Jesus (Jn 15:26; 1 Jn 5:5-6; Rv 19:10). Therefore, if someone says Jesus is not Lord and God, they are saying the Holy Spirit, Who witnesses that Jesus is Lord and...
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