Tagged: word of god

GOD’S “HOT POTATO”

“Then, as I watched, a white cloud appeared, and on the cloud sat One like a Son of Man wearing a gold crown on His head and holding a sharp sickle in His hand.” –Revelation 14:14 Mass Readings: November 22 First: Revelation 14:14-19; Resp: Psalm 96:10-13; Gospel: Luke 21:5-11 Because God is Love (1 Jn 4:8, 16), He wants all to be saved (1 Tm 2:4) and none damned (see 2 Pt 3:9). He wants all of us to be with Him forever in the perfect happiness of heaven. Because God is Love, He wants to love us and be...

ANOTHER COLLECTION

Jesus “saw the rich putting their offerings into the treasury, and also a poor widow putting in two copper coins.” –Luke 21:1-2 Mass Readings: November 21 First: Revelation 14:1-5; Resp: Psalm 24:1-6; Gospel: Luke 21:1-4 Because Jesus is the same today as He was yesterday (Heb 13:8), He is still observing us as we put our offerings in the collection. However, collections do not take place only at church. For example, the Lord takes up a collection every day from those He has joined together in marriage, for He has made marriage to be a life of total self-giving. In...

THE KING OF CONTROVERSY

“There was an inscription over His head: ‘THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.’ ” –Luke 23:38 Mass Readings: November 20 First: 2 Samuel 5:1-3; Resp: Psalm 122:1-5 ; Second: Colossians 1:12-20; Gospel: Luke 23:35-43 In 1926, between the two world wars, Pope Pius XI instituted this feast of Christ the King. In so doing, the Church was making a statement that its members were to give their absolute allegiance to no government or person but only to Christ, the King of kings. Thus, we can see why this feast and Jesus’ claim to be the King of kings may...

COME TO THE WITNESS STAND

“These witnesses have power.” –Revelation 11:6 Mass Readings: November 19 First: Revelation 11:4-12; Resp: Psalm 144:1-2,9-10; Gospel: Luke 20:27-40 What do you picture when you think of the Church? Do you think of a building, a group of people praying, or a family at table? St. John, in the book of Revelation, pictures the Church as being witnesses (Rv 11:5), people testifying personally and publicly to their relationship with Jesus. John pictures the Church as witnesses because Jesus commanded us before His Ascension to be His witnesses (Acts 1:8). Thus, to be a witness is foundational and essential to being...

THE WORD ON CLEANING THE TEMPLE

Jesus “entered the temple and began ejecting the traders saying: ‘Scripture has it, “My house is meant for a house of prayer” but you have made it “a den of thieves.” ‘ He was teaching in the temple area from day to day.” –Luke 19:45-47 Mass Readings: November 18 First: Acts 28:11-16,30-31; Resp: Psalm 98:1-6; Gospel: Matthew 14:22-33 Jesus ejected the traders from the temple not only by turning over their tables but also by proclaiming a prophecy from Jeremiah and by teaching every day. The Holy Spirit uses the prophetic word like a “two-edged sword” to judge and purify...