Tagged: verse for the day

“As a woman about to give birth writhes and cries out in her pains, so were we in Your presence, O Lord.” –Isaiah 26:17 Maimonides, a Jewish rabbi in the twelfth century, listed 613 commandments in the Old Testament. Moreover, the commands in the New Testament are much more challenging than those of the Old (see Mt 5:22, 28, etc.). We are obligated to obey God’s commandments, for if we don’t act on God’s Word, we deceive ourselves (Jas 1:22). Moreover, “whoever falls into sin on one point of the law, even though he keeps the entire remainder, has become...

“Will the axe boast against Him Who hews with it?” –Isaiah 10:15 We are instruments and tools in God’s hands. Our loving Father employs us according to who we are and what gifts we have. We can experience this both in the present and through hindsight, seeing how the Father has directed our lives. Our Father employs us using a symphony of our free choices and His divine, loving omnipotence. As an example of this, the homilist at today’s Mass mentioned that his own free choice to attend a Calvinist seminary was used by God as a part of His...

“I assure you, it will go easier for Tyre and Sidon than for you on the day of judgment.” –Matthew 11:22 Although many people don’t want to talk or think about it, it is a fact that “we shall all have to appear before the judgment seat of God” (Rm 14:10). After dying (Heb 9:27) and at the end of the world (Mt 25:31), each person will be “judged according to his conduct” (Rv 20:13). The Lord “will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and manifest the intentions of hearts” (1 Cor 4:5). Those who have lost their...

“He who will not take up his cross and come after Me is not worthy of Me.” –Matthew 10:38 We are Christians, disciples of Christ. We follow Jesus, Who saved us not so much through His power or wisdom, but through His ministry of suffering. Jesus came to earth to die on the cross to atone for our sins, pay the price for our salvation (1 Cor 6:20), and reconcile us to God (Col 1:20). We must never over-spiritualize our faith and forget that Jesus suffered horribly in the flesh (Heb 5:8). Jesus died a disgraceful death. He was publicly...

“Praised be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” –Ephesians 1:3 Before we were created, the Lord destined us to “praise His glory” (Eph 1:12). Our bodies are not ideal for thinking, working, or running. Our human limitations are obvious when we forget information, stumble over our words, stumble over our feet, or get tired. However, our bodies are tailor-made to praise God. From our renewed minds (see Rm 12:2), singing tongues, praying lips, open hearts, raised hands, to our dancing feet – we are created to praise God always and forever. Our greatest praise of God is...