Tagged: Daily Reflections

“Continually we carry about in our bodies the dying of Jesus, so that in our bodies the life of Jesus may also be revealed.” –2 Corinthians 4:10 Mass Readings: June 16 First: 2 Corinthians 4:7-15; Resp: Psalm 116:10-11,15-18; Gospel: Matthew 5:27-32 Listen to the Mass Readings Each day, we human beings are one day closer to death. “Death is at work in us” (2 Cor 4:12). Some would wryly agree with the observation that our churches are full of dead people. Jesus Himself told the church of Sardis: “You are dead!” (Rv 3:1) In one sense, our churches should be...

“Whenever he turns to the Lord, the veil will be removed.” –2 Corinthians 3:16 Mass Readings: June 15 First: 2 Corinthians 3:15–4:1,3-6; Resp: Psalm 85:9-14; Gospel: Matthew 5:20-26 Listen to the Mass Readings Because of our sinful nature, a veil obstructs our understanding of the Bible. Only by turning to Jesus and the Holy Spirit is this veil removed (2 Cor 3:14-17). If we turn to the Lord, we will gaze on His glory with unveiled faces and be “transformed from glory to glory into His very image by the Lord Who is the Spirit” (2 Cor 3:18). If we...

“It is not that we are entitled of ourselves to take credit for anything. Our sole credit is from God, Who has made us qualified ministers of a new covenant.” –2 Corinthians 3:5-6 Mass Readings: June 14 First: 2 Corinthians 3:4-11; Resp: Psalm 99:5-9; Gospel: Matthew 5:17-19 Listen to the Mass Readings Fr. Al Lauer, founder and long-time author of One Bread, One Body, was fond of teaching that it’s not so important to be qualified for a ministry but rather to be call-ified. He meant that if God has called us to a ministry, He will provide the wisdom...

“You are the salt of the earth. But what if salt goes flat? How can you restore its flavor? Then it is good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.” –Matthew 5:13 Mass Readings: June 13 First: Wisdom 7:7-14; Resp: Psalm 40:3-4,10-11,17; Gospel: Mark 16:15-20 Listen to the Mass Readings We who are Christians are the salt of the earth. That means we give flavor to life. The everyday activities of life are often laborious. We make our living by the sweat of our brow (Gn 3:19). “Vanity of vanities! All things are vanity! What profit has...

“He comforts us in all our afflictions and thus enables us to comfort those who are in trouble.” –2 Corinthians 1:4 Mass Readings: June 12 First: 2 Corinthians 1:1-7; Resp: Psalm 34:2-9; Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12 Listen to the Mass Readings Jesus came to earth, suffered for us, and consoled us. It was “our sufferings that He endured” (Is 53:4). Because Jesus suffered, He is able to help others who suffer (Heb 2:18). Jesus had an extraordinary public ministry of healing, teaching, and deliverance. However, it was not by His victories but rather by His wounds and His sufferings that we...