Tagged: memory verse

“Through Him the whole body grows.” –Ephesians 4:16 God began His cultivation of the earth in the Garden of Eden (Gn 2:8ff). Man was assigned to care for the Garden of Eden, but man and woman didn’t care for the garden. Instead, they cared for their own curiosity. So man was banished from the garden. Then Jesus came and restored man’s access to God’s gardening. To do this, Jesus had to be betrayed, suffer anguish, and be arrested in a garden, Gethsemane. Finally, “in the place where [Jesus] had been crucified there was a garden” (Jn 19:41). Mary Magdalene on...

“Make every effort to preserve the unity.” –Ephesians 4:3 From prison, St. Paul pleaded with his Christian brothers and sisters to “live a life worthy” of their calling (Eph 4:1). This meant being humble, meek, long-suffering, and lovingly forbearing (Eph 4:2). This radically different way of life was necessary to preserve and deepen the early Church’s unity in the Spirit (Eph 4:3). The priority was unity in the body, unity in the Spirit, and unity in hope; unity in the Lord, faith, and baptism, and unity in the God and Father of all (Eph 4:4-6). This sevenfold unity is still...

“I kneel before the Father from Whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name; and I pray.” –Ephesians 3:14-16 Today’s first reading is possibly the greatest family prayer ever. It teaches us that, when we pray for our family and others, we should first of all pray for “gifts in keeping with the riches of His glory” (Eph 3:16). Family life is humanly impossible. We must admit this and then pray for supernatural gifts from God. The demands of family life are overwhelming. The only way we will survive is by asking for and receiving inward strength...

“Be like men awaiting their master’s return from a wedding, so that when he arrives and knocks, you will open for him without delay.” –Luke 12:36 Jesus says that when we knock, the door will be opened for us (Mt 7:7). God neither sleeps nor slumbers (Ps 121:4); He is always ready to answer our knocking. Scripture also reveals that Jesus knocks on our door. He says: “Here I stand, knocking at the door” (Rv 3:20). Will we open for Him without delay? (Lk 12:36) We are to make the most of the present opportunity (Eph 5:16). To do so,...