Tagged: verse for the day

THE JOHN THE BAPTIST AWARD

“[John] made his public appearance in Israel.” –Luke 1:80 At a recent Mass, the priest revealed his dream during the homily. He wants to see an annual award, called the St. John the Baptist Courage Award. He envisioned that it would be awarded to that Catholic bishop who has most courageously spoken out for the cause of pro-life. The “trophy” would be a silver platter, symbolizing both the courage St. John the Baptist displayed in continuously speaking out against Herod’s public adultery (Mk 6:18) and his resulting imprisonment and execution (Mk 6:28). Such an award would be yet another encouragement...

NOT A WORRY IN THE WORLD?

“Stop worrying, then, over questions like, ‘What are we to eat, or what are we to drink, or what are we to wear?’ ” –Matthew 6:31 Many people today are learning about stress management. The Lord wants to do better than that. He teaches us stress banishment. He commands us: “Do not worry about your livelihood, what you are to eat or drink or use for clothing” (Mt 6:25, 31). Jesus questions us: “Which of you by worrying can add a moment to his life-span?” (Mt 6:27) He commands us again: “Enough, then, of worrying about tomorrow” (Mt 6:34). How...

HOW TO DEFEAT THE TYRANT

When Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah, saw that her son was dead, she began to kill off the whole royal family.” –2 Kings 11:1 Athaliah, the queen mother, massacred the rest of the royal family so she could take over the kingdom of Judah. Seven years later, she was dethroned and killed. This victory of justice was achieved by God’s grace through four people or groups of people: Jehosheba risked her life to rescue a baby, her nephew, Joash, the rightful king (2 Kgs 11:2). Others risked their lives daily for seven years by secretly caring for Joash (2 Kgs...

THE GREATEST THING IN ALL MY LIFE IS…

“Then Elisha, filled with a twofold portion of his spirit, wrought many marvels.” –Sirach 48:12 Elijah humbled Israel’s economy by stopping the rain for three-and-a-half years. “Three times [he] brought down fire” (Sir 48:3). He slit the throats of several hundred false prophets (1 Kgs 18:19, 40). He “brought a dead man back to life” (Sir 48:5). He was “taken aloft in a whirlwind, in a chariot with fiery horses” (Sir 48:9). Yet these were not the greatest things Elijah did. His greatest work was to make Elisha his disciple. This led to Hazael and Jehu being anointed, who finally...

OUT ON A LIMB

“Your Father Who sees what is hidden will repay you.” –Matthew 6:18 We are in the middle of three weeks of reading Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. In the first ten days, He set a standard of holiness that was “out of this world.” He teaches us to regard lowliness and persecution as blessed (see Mt 5:3, 10). We aren’t allowed even to get angry or look lustfully (Mt 5:22, 28). Jesus went so far as to require that we offer no resistance to injury, turn the other cheek, and love our enemies (Mt 5:39, 44). He finally was “totally...