Tagged: Daily Promises

“Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples (the one about to hand Him over), protested…” –John 12:4 The four Suffering Servant readings from Isaiah during Holy Week reveal that there is no self-centeredness in the Suffering Servant (Is 42:1-7; Is 49:1-6; Is 50:4-9; Is 52:13—53:12). Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, a holy family devoted to Jesus, reveal a focus on Jesus and a lack of self-interest as they minister hospitality to Jesus (Jn 12:1ff). Sadly, Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve apostles chosen by Jesus, showed a total focus on himself and a lack of focus on Jesus during the week he...

“When they came to Skull Place, as it was called, they crucified Him there and the criminals as well, one on His right and the other on His left.” ––Luke 23:33 “One of the criminals hanging in crucifixion blasphemed [Jesus]: ‘Aren’t You the Messiah? Then save Yourself and us.’ But the other one rebuked him: ‘Have you no fear of God, seeing you are under the same sentence?’ ” (Lk 23:39-40) Today’s Gospel passage from St. Luke confirms that every action has a consequence. Are we living for the world like the bad thief? Or do we have the eternal...

“He prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation – and not for this nation only, but to gather into one all the dispersed children of God.” –John 11:51-52 Ezekiel prophesied that the chosen people were a field of dry bones (Ez 37:1-2). They had been dead for centuries. Then he prophesied restoration, unity, and peace (Ez 37:21ff). How can dry bones be restored? By nothing other than resurrection of the dead. How can we be restored to unity and peace? By nothing less than resurrection. We’ve tried to improve the human condition with education, law and order, communism, capitalism,...

“In that place, many came to believe in Him.” –John 10:42 In the temple, at Solomon’s Portico, Jesus was rejected. Many people reached for rocks to stone Him (Jn 10:31). They also tried to arrest Him (Jn 10:39). Jesus “eluded their grasp” and “went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing earlier” (Jn 10:39-40). “In that place, many came to believe in Him” (Jn 10:42). Why was Jesus not accepted in the holy place, the temple, but believed in “down by the riverside”? It was because St. John the Baptizer had been administering his baptism...

“Whom do You make Yourself out to be?” –John 8:53 Lent is an opportunity to discover who we are in Christ. As a result of this Lent, we should be able to answer the question, “Who am I?” First, we must meet I AM WHO AM before we know who we are. That’s how Abraham knew he was to be the father of many nations (Gn 17:5). He first met Yahweh, the great I AM (Gn 15:7). Likewise, Moses realized his identity after meeting I AM in the burning bush (Ex 3:14). Jesus said, “You will surely die in your...