Tagged: memory verse

“The son grew angry at this and would not go in; but his father came out and began to plead with him.” –Luke 15:28 Mass Readings: March 18 First: Genesis 17:3-9; Resp: Psalm 105:4-9; Gospel: John 8:51-59 We always hear about the prodigal son, but his older brother was at least as prodigal. The older brother looked good but was just as alienated from his father as the younger brother. The younger brother did not feel worthy to be called his father’s son (Lk 15:18). However, the older brother spoke of life with his father as slavery (Lk 15:29). He...

“The Stone which the builders rejected has become the Keystone of the structure. It was the Lord Who did this and we find it marvelous to behold.” –Matthew 21:42 Mass Readings: March 17 First: Daniel 3:14-20,91-92,95; Resp: Daniel 3:52-56; Gospel: John 8:31-42 If we repent in our sinfulness, slavery, and misery, the Lord will take the worst in our lives and make it the best. The Lord manifests His almighty power not just by doing great works but by making the greatest miracles out of the worst sins, injustices, and defeats. “God makes all things work together for the good”...

“More tortuous than all else is the human heart, beyond remedy; who can understand it?” –Jeremiah 17:9 Mass Readings: March 16 First: Numbers 21:4-9; Resp: Psalm 102:2-3,16-21;Gospel: John 8:21-30 Because the human heart is more tortuous, twisted, and deceitful than all else and is beyond remedy, we should: give our hearts to the Lord, Who alone probes the mind and tests the heart (Jer 17:10), receive a new heart through Baptism (Ez 36:26), live our Baptism by loving the Lord with all our hearts (Mt 22:37), go to Confession frequently and regularly to prevent our hearts from becoming hardened (see...

“Let us contrive a plot against Jeremiah. It will not mean the loss of instruction from the priests, nor of counsel from the wise, nor of messages from the prophets.” –Jeremiah 18:18 Mass Readings: March 15 First: Daniel 13:1-9,15-17,19-30,33-62; Resp: Psalm 23:1-6; Gospel: John 8:12-20 Those who persecuted Jeremiah were very “religious.” They were concerned about teachings from the priests, counsel from the wise, and messages from the prophets. James and John were also very “religious.” Motivated by their mother, they were not seeking big salaries or many possessions. They just wanted to work for the Church by being Jesus’...

“He that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies Me; and to him that goes the right way I will show the salvation of God.” –Psalm 50:23 Mass Readings: March 14 First: Isaiah 43:16-21; Resp: Psalm 126:1-6; Second: Philippians 3:8-14; Gospel: John 8:1-11. The Lord commands us to praise Him (Ps 50:14); it is a due sacrifice we offer to God (Ps 96:8), just as the other sacrifices we owe Him. It takes humility to praise God, humility to recognize our sinfulness before Him (Is 1:16ff). We cannot praise Him without acknowledging our own humble position before Him. He is all-powerful...