Tagged: verse for the day

“You who have fled a world corrupted by lust might become sharers of the divine nature.” –2 Peter 1:4 When we give our lives to Jesus, we flee a world corrupted by lust – lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes (1 Jn 2:16, RSV-CE), sexual lust, and lusts for money (Eph 5:5; Col 3:5), power, pleasure, etc. Though our lusts are strong, we are nevertheless unhappy when we give in to them, for they tend to make us like animals, to dehumanize us. If we are even slightly honest, we must admit that our lusts motivate us to...

“This is the blood of the covenant.” —Exodus 24:8 Exodus 24:3-8; Hebrews 9:11-15;Psalm 116:12-13, 15-18; Mark 14:12-16, 22-26 View Readings The Last Supper was held in seclusion under the threat of persecution. To keep away those who might disrupt the Last Supper, Jesus arranged for a divine combination of circumstances — a man carrying a water jar was the unsuspecting guide to the home in which the Last Supper was to be eaten (Mk 14:13ff). Throughout the history of the Church, there has been persecution facing those who worship Jesus in Holy Mass. When persecuted in Rome, the early Church...

Jude 17:20-25; Psalm 63:2-6 ;  View Readings “Jesus said to them, ‘I will ask you a question.’ ” —Mark 11:29 Did you ever notice that Jesus was constantly asking questions to those around Him? “Search the Scriptures” (Jn 5:39), especially the gospels, and notice the contexts in which He asks these questions. At times, he asks a question to elicit a response of faith (see Lk 18:41). Sometimes, he asks a question as the grand finale to a teaching (see Mt 21:31, 42). At other times, he asks a question which He knows that no one will answer, simply to drive home...

“When you stand to pray…” —Mark 11:25 As the Blessed Virgin Mary and the early Church prayed in the upper room before the first Christian Pentecost (Acts 1:13ff), let us pray for the coming of the Kingdom of God as soon as possible to as many people and nations as possible. Jesus remarked that there is “the necessity of praying always and not losing heart” (Lk 18:1). Therefore, pray for the grace to pray. Pray for the grace to keep praying. Pray with your spouse and family. Pray for conversions. Pray for an end to hunger, violence, and war. Pray...

“Do not grow slack but be fervent in spirit; He Whom you serve is the Lord.” –Romans 12:11 When you received the Holy Spirit, the devil immediately tried to extinguish the flame (1 Thes 5:19). At the same time, the Lord stirred into an even greater flame the Spirit in your life (2 Tm 1:6). Yield to the Spirit. Put on the lampstand of your life the gifts and fruit of the Spirit (Lk 8:16). The Lord will continue to light your fire. With Mary, go into the hill country (Lk 1:39) and give as a gift what has been...