Tagged: verse for the day

“He saved us.” –Titus 3:5 “When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us” (Ti 3:4-5). “He saved us through the baptism of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This Spirit He lavished on us through Jesus Christ our Savior” (Ti 3:5-6). We have been saved by grace through faith (Eph 2:8; see also Lk 17:19). Jesus, Whose name means “Yahweh saves,” is our Savior, our only Savior (see Acts 4:12). The Lord commands us to: Rejoice in our salvation (Is 25:9). With Mary, we exclaim: “My being proclaims the greatness of the Lord,...

“Tell the older men that they must be temperate, serious-minded, and self-controlled; likewise sound in the faith, loving, and steadfast.” –Titus 2:2 “Tell the young men to keep themselves completely under control.” –Titus 2:6 In the USA, we often expect our parishes and pastors to provide for the religious education of our children. We expect our pastors to provide the sacraments and to reach out especially to the elderly and the sick. These expectations are good, but they are different than the early Church’s expectations for ministry. St. Paul expected St. Titus, the pastor of the church of Crete, to...

“They gave from their surplus wealth, but she gave from her want, all that she had to live on.” –Mark 12:44 God the Father loves us so much that He gave His Son to us (Jn 3:16). Jesus gave His life for us when He died on the cross. The Holy Spirit gives us charisms, gifts of the Spirit (see 1 Cor 12:4ff). Because God is the greatest Giver, He teaches us that it is better to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). Because God is the greatest Giver, Jesus, Who is God, sat down opposite the treasury and observed...

“You sent something for my needs, not once but twice.” –Philippians 4:16 St. Paul told the Philippians that receiving money from them gave him great joy, but not because he needed the money (Phil 4:10-11). Paul had learned to be self-sufficient, and cope with anything (Phil 4:11-12). Therefore, he was not in want and not eager for the Philippians’ monetary gifts, but he was concerned for them to balance their account and pay for the service He gave them (Phil 4:17). Paul gave the impression that the Church doesn’t need money, but people need to give money. The Church is...