Tagged: memory verse

“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...

“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...

“On those who inhabit a land overshadowed by death, light has arisen.” —Matthew 4:16 In the northern hemisphere, it is gloomy and cloudy. The days are short and the nights are long. The newness of New Year’s resolutions has worn off, and it is very cold outside. In addition, spiritually speaking, the land is overshadowed by death (see Mt 4:16). Does this describe your life? Then, suddenly, in the midst of this gloom, a bright light shines forth: the light of Christ. The Easter Vigil liturgy vividly conveys this image of darkness to light. Darkness and death are powerful forces;...

Jesus “achieved eternal redemption.” ––Hebrews 9:12 The Holy Bible is often called God’s love letter to humanity. In a particular sense, the Letter to the Hebrews is God’s love letter to Jewish converts to the Christian faith. The author makes this clear when he references the Lord’s prophetic messages to the Hebrew people: “In times past, God spoke in fragmentary and varied ways to our fathers through the prophets” (Heb 1:1). But Hebrews contains a lesson important for all of us. Specifically, Jesus Himself has replaced the Old Testament sacrifices. A priest of the Old Covenant needed “to offer sacrifice...

“They were likewise to have authority to expel demons.” —Mark 3:15 Jesus created His Church and gave it the power to expel demons (Mk 3:15). We are authorized to be the Church Militant and drive out the demons of abortion. A battle rages fiercely in the USA over the future of legalized abortion in the various states, dividing the nation sharply. This coming week will feature a time of prayer for Christian unity. The teaching of the Catholic Church on abortion is united in truth; however, the Church’s members are not united, much less all the members of Christian denominations....