Tagged: daily bread

“The Israelites had marched on dry land through the midst of the sea, with the water like a wall to their right and to their left. Thus the Lord saved Israel on that day.” –Exodus 14:29-30 The Church requires that today’s first reading be read at Easter Vigil, the most important liturgical service of the year. The Church emphasizes this reading from Exodus because in an exceptional way it prefigures Baptism, and Baptism is the greatest event in our lives. Only at Baptism do we receive a new nature and become adopted sons and daughters of God. At Baptism, we...

“We want to see You work some signs.” –Matthew 12:38 To those who wanted to see Him work a magic trick, Jesus replied: “An evil and unfaithful age is eager for a sign! No sign will be given it but that of the prophet Jonah. Just as Jonah spent three days and three nights in the belly of the whale, so will the Son of Man spend three days and three nights in the bowels of the earth” (Mt 12:39-40). In other words, in answer to their request for a sign, Jesus gave them the sign of the cross. The...

“Jesus saw a vast crowd. He had compassion on them.” –Mark 6:34, our transl. Some people ruined Jesus’ vacation (see Mk 6:31). They wouldn’t even let Him and His apostles rest a little and eat (Mk 6:31). If a crowd of people made life that difficult for us, we might resent it or be upset. However, Jesus felt compassion for the crowd and “began to teach them at great length” (Mk 6:34). Do you have the heart of Jesus for people who demand a lot from you, inconvenience you, or even hurt you? Are you willing to lay down your...

“The time the Israelites had stayed in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years.” –Exodus 12:40 The book of Exodus describes millions of people being liberated from a slavery entrenched in their society for 430 years. Do you believe God can set millions free today? Do you believe He can unite Christ’s body fragmented for hundreds of years? Do you believe in mass conversions? Do you believe strongholds of the evil one, entrenched for centuries, can come tumbling down? God has always been able to effect a monumental liberation of the masses. He is doing it at this second in...

“The Son of Man is indeed Lord of the sabbath.” –Matthew 12:8 Jesus responded to the Pharisees’ criticism of Him and His disciples by comparing Himself to King David and the priests of the Temple (Mt 12:3, 5). Jesus also took the liberty of giving these religious leaders a lesson in interpreting the Bible (see Mt 12:7). Next, Jesus called Himself the Lord of the sabbath (Mt 12:8). In effect, He called Himself God. The Pharisees probably thought: “Who does this Galilean Carpenter think He is?” Jesus acted as if He was King of kings, Priest of priests, Rabbi (Teacher)...