Daily Mass Gospel from Matthew 7:7-12: “Ask… seek… knock… . Which one of you would hand your son a stone when he asked for a loaf of bread…?” A stone, no. But would we always give our son exactly what he asked for right when he first asked? Why might we not? How might that…
Month: February 2021
Exhortation to the wavering, Hebrews 10:19-39
Having completed his main teaching point in 10:1-19, the Preacher begins to deal with the consequences of the teaching for his congregation. This is a basic Christian methodology: teaching, followed by exhortation to act on the teaching. This second half of chapter 10 falls neatly into three parts: positive call to act (verses 19-25) then…
Lent and our angels
The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert, and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him. After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God…
No meat today. Nibble on Psalm 51 instead.
My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit; a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn. Psalm 51:19, from today’s readings God gave the Israelites a system of sacrifices, some of which were required when a person sinned. But once they had the system in place, the Lord had to…
Hebrews 10:1-18 as Lent begins…
The preacher is just about to finish his key point in his theological teaching–what was done by Jesus replaced all the previous sacrificial practices. As he pointed out before, the earthly Temple was only a copy (“a shadow” he repeats here) of the Reality that is the heavenly original. Jesus was, he says in verse…
More notes on Sunday’s Gospel, Mark 1:40-45
A leper came to Jesus and kneeling down begged him and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched him, and said to him, “I do will it. Be made clean.” The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean. Then, warning him sternly,…
Timely Reminder from Friday’s Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 32:1-7 Blessed is the one whose fault is removed, whose sin is forgiven. 2 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputes no guilt, in whose spirit is no deceit. 3 Because I kept silent, my bones wasted away; I groaned all day long. 4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength withered…
True sanctuary, true sacrifice Hebrews 9:15-28
Hebrews 9:15-28 15 For this reason he is mediator of a new covenant: since a death has taken place for deliverance from transgressions under the first covenant, those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance. 16 Now where there is a will, the death of the testator must be established. 17 For a will takes effect only at…
Sunday Note and additional comments
On leaving the synagogue Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her. He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on them. When it was evening, after sunset, they…
No Fear Friday, February Fifth
The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? The LORD is my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid? … Psalm 27:1 and following (from the daily Mass reading, February 5, 2021) The dangerous virus is still out there, among the many other germs. Drivers not paying attention are still…