Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Jonah 3:1-5,10; Psalm 25:4-9; 1 Corinthians 7:29-31; Mark 1:14-20) Hearing and Responding to God’s Call to Be His Disciples “They left their nets and followed him” (Mark 1:18). In his unending creativity, God calls us to know him and to serve him in a way that is […]
The LORD came and stood there, calling out as before: Samuel, Samuel! Samuel answered, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” (1 Samuel 3:10) Jesus said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (1 Samuel 3:3-10,19; Psalm 40:2,4,7-10; 1 Corinthians 6:13-15,17-20; John 1:35-42) Saying Yes to Jesus’ Invitation to Make Him Our Lord and Savior “Behold, the Lamb of God.” (John 1:36) Most of us became Catholics as infants, when our parents presented us to the church for baptism. That […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72:1-2,7-8,10-13; Ephesians 3:2-3,5-6; Matthew 2:1-12) Being Faithful Stewards of God’s Grace You have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace. (Ephesians 3:2) Have you ever been entrusted with an important message to deliver to someone? If so, you probably worked hard to make sure […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Numbers 6:22-27; Psalm 67:2-3,5-6,8; Galatians 4:4-7; Luke 2:16-21) Living Our Lives as Beloved Sons or Daughters of Our Heavenly Father When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman … so that we might receive adoption (Galatians 4:4-5). Our mothers usually know […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Isaiah 52:7-10; Psalm 98:1-6; Hebrews 1:1-6; John 1:1-18) Christmas, A Time to Deepen Our Faith in Jesus Our Lord The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. (John 1:14) For two thousand years, we have celebrated this day—and for good reason. This was no ordinary […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Isaiah 61:1-2,10-11; Luke 1:46-50,53-54 (Responsorial Psalm); 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8,19-2) Advent: A Time to Testify to the Light of Christ, Not a Time to Quench the Spirit “He came … to testify to the light” (John 1:7) . How many times have you watched a TV courtroom […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Isaiah 40:1-5,9-11; Psalm 85:9-14; 2 Peter 3:8-14; Mark 1:1-8) Advent, A Time to Experience the Lord’s Comfort, Peace, and Joy “Comfort, give comfort to my people.” (Isaiah 40:1) The people of Israel were in crisis. Their Temple in Jerusalem had been burned to the ground. Their king […]
What then shall we say to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but handed him over for us all, how will he not also give us everything else along with him? Who will bring a charge against God’s chosen ones? It is […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31; Psalm 128:1-5; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6; Matthew 25:14-30) Bearing Fruit for the Kingdom of God Come, share your master’s joy. (Matthew 25:21) Quick! Ask yourself: “As I read this parable, did I identify more with the third servant in this parable than with the […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Malachi 1:14–2:2,8-10; Psalm 131:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 2:7-9,13; Matthew 23:1-12) The Second Coming of Christ Our Source of Hope and Encouragement We who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds (1 Thessalonians 4:17). Apparently, some of the first-century Christians in […]
When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi* he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist,* others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter said […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Isaiah 25:6-10; Psalm 23; Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20; Matthew 22:1-14) Accepting God’s Invitation to His Heavenly Wedding Banquet Many are invited, but few are chosen. (Matthew 22:14) “Don’t touch the stove; it will burn your fingers!” “Don’t cross the street until you look both ways.” Just as […]
First of all, then, I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone, for kings and for all in authority, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity. This is good and pleasing to God our savior, who wills everyone to be saved and to come […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Isaiah 5:1-7; Psalm 80:9,12-16,19-20; Philippians 4:6-9; Matthew 21:33-43) Overcoming Our Anxieties by Receiving God’s Peace Have no anxiety at all. (Philippians 4:6) Is Paul serious? How can any of us live an anxiety-free life? Doesn’t he know how hard life can get? Yes, he does! He even […]
And you who once were alienated and hostile in mind because of evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his fleshly body through his death, to present you holy, without blemish, and irreproachable before him, provided that you persevere in the faith, firmly grounded, stable, and not shifting from the hope of the gospel that […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Isaiah 55:6-9; Psalm 145: 2-3,8-9,17-18; Philippians 1:20-24,27; Matthew 20:1-16) Knowing and Doing the Will of Our Heavenly Father “Which of the two did his father’s will?” (Matthew 21:31). This is a familiar story. A father sends each of his two sons to work in his vineyard. The […]
With my own voice I will call out to the LORD, and he will answer me from his holy mountai. (Psalm 3:5). Now the people complained bitterly in the hearing of the LORD; and when Moses heard it his wrath flared up, so that the LORD’s fire burned among them and consumed the outskirts of […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Isaiah 55:6-9; Psalm 145: 2-3,8-9,17-18; Philippians 1:20-24,27; Matthew 20:1-16) The Importance of Knowing and Experiencing the Grace of God “The last will be first, and the first will be last.” (Matthew 20:16) These words can have a number of different meanings. For instance, we look at […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Sirach 27:30–28:7; Psalm 103:1-4,9-12; Romans 14:7-9; Matthew 18:21-35) Forgiving One Another from the Heart “Not seven times but seventy-seven times” (Matthew 18:22). It’s been ten years since two jetliners crashed into theTwinTowersinManhattan, but Paul Fox can still see the flames and, in them, the faces of […]
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. But of that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come. Be sure of this: if the […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Jeremiah 20:7-9; Psalm 63:2-6,8-9; Romans 12:1-2; Matthew 16:21-27) Allowing Our Minds to be Renewed by the Holy Spirit “You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” (Matthew 16:23) Can you imagine being in Peter’s position? Jesus just called you the rock on […]
After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him. Then Peter said to Jesus […]
The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field (Matthew 9:37). It will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of the Father speaking through you (Mt 10:20). I am not ashamed of the gospel, it is the power of […]
