We are treated as deceivers and yet are truthful; as unrecognized and yet acknowledged; as dying and behold we live; as chastised and yet not put to death; as sorrowful yet always rejoicing; as poor yet enriching many; as having nothing and yet possessing all things. 2 Cor. 6: 8-10 In today’s reading from 2…[read more]
My heart is overwhelmed, my pity is stirred. I will not give vent to my blazing anger, I will not destroy Ephraim again; For I am God and not a man, the Holy One present among you; I will not let the flames consume you. Hosea 11: 8-9 Today we celebrate the Feast of the…[read more]
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Acts 13: 2 For many of us, work is only the means of survival. The Book of Genesis tells us that as a result of the fall…[read more]
Brothers and sisters: Such confidence we have through Christ toward God. Not that of ourselves we are qualified to take credit for anything as coming from us; rather, our qualification comes from God, who has indeed qualified us as ministers of a new covenant, not of letter but of spirit; for the letter brings death,…[read more]
You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. Matthew 5: 13 Jesus summons his disciples to be the salt of the earth and the light of the…[read more]
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all encouragement, who encourages us in our every affliction, so that we may be able to encourage those who are in any affliction with the encouragement with which we ourselves are encouraged by God. 2 Cor.…[read more]
The great crowd heard this with delight. Mark 12: 37 Today’s gospel continues Jesus’ ongoing contestation with the Scribes. It also provides a contrast between the attitude of the scribes and that of those who constitute the “great crowd” that follow Jesus and humbly and openly attend to his word. Jesus reminds us that “where…[read more]
Jesus answered: “‘The first is this: Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart with all your soul with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'” Mark 12:…[read more]
Whereas all your decrees are true when you deal with me as my faults deserve, and those of my fathers, since we have neither kept your commandments nor walked in truth before you; so now, do with me as you will . . . Tobit 3:5 Today’s reading from Tobit invites us to reflect on,…[read more]
And he said to them, “Whose image is this and whose inscription?” They said to him, “Caesar’s.” Jesus said to them: “The things of Caesar give back to Caesar, and the things of God to God.” And they were amazed at him. Mark 12: 16-17 Today we hear one of the most familiar sayings of…[read more]
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