Tagged: memory verse

“We do not know.” –Matthew 21:27 Balaam called himself the man who “knows what the Most High knows” (Nm 24:4, 16). He was so highly regarded for his ability as a fortune-teller that nations sent large delegations of dignitaries with large amounts of money to obtain his services (Nm 22:6-7, 15). Yet this man who “sees what the Almighty sees” (Nm 24:16) couldn’t even get the picture when his donkey began to talk to him! (Nm 22:28ff) He had to admit that he “did not know that” God opposed His greedy plot against Israel (Nm 22:34). The Jewish religious leaders...

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me.” –Isaiah 61:1 The Holy Spirit wants to bring Good News to the poor, heal the broken-hearted, and set captives free (Is 61:1). Only the Holy Spirit can renew the face of the earth (Ps 104:30). However, we stifle, quench (1 Thes 5:19), sadden, and grieve the Spirit (Eph 4:30). Then the poor stay depressed and oppressed; the broken-hearted are shattered; the captives are chained with even more chains; and the face of the earth becomes more defaced. One of the greatest tragedies in life is...

“Many nations shall join themselves to the Lord on that day.” –Zechariah 2:15 Pope St. Paul VI called Mary the “star of evangelization.” Immediately after conceiving, Mary took Jesus, the baby in her womb, to Elizabeth (Lk 1:39-41). Elizabeth “was filled with the Holy Spirit” (Lk 1:41) and John rejoiced in the Lord. Throughout history, Mary has done whatever her Son has told her (see Jn 2:5) and made disciples of all nations (Mt 28:19). Probably her most fruitful evangelization took place from 1531 to 1538 at the hill of Tepeyac, near what is now called Mexico City. During those...

“If you would hearken to My commandments…your vindication [would be] like the waves of the sea.” –Isaiah 48:18 Jesus is coming soon, and He plans to set things right for “the just” (Ps 1:6), for those who put their trust in Him. We Christians take up our daily cross (Lk 9:23) and give up many things the world embraces. This makes us look foolish in the eyes of the world. We who are just need to be vindicated, proven right to those who denounce us. When Jesus comes, heaven will announce to us: “Here is your God, He comes with...

“They who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles.” –Isaiah 40:31, RSV-CE Advent is a time of waiting. We wait through the longest nights of the year for the light of dawn. Children wait to open their presents on Christmas day. Christians wait for their family and friends to accept Jesus and celebrate their first real Christmas. There are two kinds of waiting: waiting that makes us nervous and emotionally drained, or waiting that renews our strength. If we wait against our will as victims of circumstances, we become frustrated. If...