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Welcome to Episode #184 of Way of the Bible podcast. This is our eighth of eight episodes in our Twenty-Third mini-series entitled, The Return of Jesus Christ. On today's episode, we'll be taking a walk on the beach with DrZ to overview our past seven episodes and comment on what we've learned on this second of a trilogy of mini-series to address this topic.
The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Saturday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time by Mr. Clement Harrold. John Chrysostom, Bishop, Doctor Obligatory Memorial First Reading: First Timothy 1: 15-17 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 113: 1b-2, 3-4, 5a and 6-7 Alleluia: John 14: 23 Gospel: Luke 6: 43-49 Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com For more details about our 2025 Deacon's Conference, please visit www.stpaulcenter.com/deacons
The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Saturday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time by Mr. Clement Harrold. John Chrysostom, Bishop, Doctor Obligatory Memorial First Reading: First Timothy 1: 15-17 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 113: 1b-2, 3-4, 5a and 6-7 Alleluia: John 14: 23 Gospel: Luke 6: 43-49 Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com For more details about our 2025 Deacon's Conference, please visit www.stpaulcenter.com/deacons
Homily from the Mass offered on Friday, September 12th.1st Reading: 1 Timothy 1:15-17 Gospel Reading: Luke 6:43-49 To support the podcast financially, click here: https://stpiuscda.org/online-giving
The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Friday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time by Dr. John Bergsma. Ordinary Weekday/ Holy Name of Mary First Reading: First Timothy 1: 1-2, 12-14 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 16: 1b-2a and 5, 7-8, 11 Alleluia: John 17: 17b, 17a Gospel: Luke 6: 39-42 Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com For details about our 2025 Deacon's Conference, please visit www.stpaulcenter.com/deacons
Read OnlineJesus said to his disciples: “A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For people do not pick figs from thornbushes, nor do they gather grapes from brambles.” Luke 6:43–44What a great way to examine the direction of your life! This Gospel passage gets to the heart of how we can best discern whether or not we are truly fulfilling the will of God. Oftentimes we may struggle with knowing clearly if we are doing that which God wants of us. There are many directions in life that we can be pulled toward and many goals we can come up with on our own. For that reason, it is useful from time to time to stop and do an honest inventory of our lives. When you look at the past year of your life, what do you see? Specifically, do you see good fruit being born? Such an examination is helpful to do from time to time. It is useful to make such an examination not only for the past year but for different time periods. Perhaps start by looking at the big picture by looking at all the times in your life that were most fruitful for the glory of God. From there, try to look at your life decade by decade, year by year and then even month by month over this past year. Look for the most blessed moments in your life as well as the most challenging moments.When we examine our lives in this way, it's important to understand what to look for. For example, there may be moments when all went well in one way or another and then other times that were painful and very difficult. What's important to know, from a divine perspective, is that just because something “went well” at one point, or just because something was “painful and very difficult” at another point in our lives, this doesn't mean that the former was the most fruitful for the Kingdom of God or the latter the least fruitful. In fact, heavy crosses and difficulties in life can often be the most fruitful times for us, spiritually speaking. Just look at Jesus' life. Of course, everything He did was fruitful for the glory of the Father in Heaven, but we can easily point to the most painful moment of His life as the most fruitful. His Crucifixion brought forth the greatest good ever known.So it is with our lives. The fruitfulness of our lives is not best discerned by looking at those moments when all was easy, fun, memorable and the like. Though those may also be graced moments, we need to look at spiritual fruitfulness from the divine perspective. We need to look for the moments in our lives, be they easy or difficult, when God was clearly present and when we made choices that gave Him the greatest glory.Reflect, today, upon your life being like a tree that bears spiritual fruit. What times of your life, decisions you made, or activities that you were engaged in produced the most virtue in your life? When was your prayer life the deepest? When was your charity the strongest? When was your faith and hope the most evident? Return to those moments, savor them, learn from them and use them as the best building blocks for the glorious future our Lord desires for you.My glorious Lord, Your life bore fruit of infinite value. You continually chose to fulfill the will of the Father in Heaven, and, as a result, You lived every virtue to perfection. Help me to regularly pause in life so as to examine the direction in which I am going. May I learn from my errors and rejoice in those moments that were most fruitful for Your Kingdom. I love You, Lord. Help me to bear the greatest fruit for Your glory. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: Jan Brueghel the Elder, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.
ROSARY - SORROWFUL MYSTERIES today. DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET for Friday.
The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Friday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time by Dr. John Bergsma. Ordinary Weekday/ Holy Name of Mary First Reading: First Timothy 1: 1-2, 12-14 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 16: 1b-2a and 5, 7-8, 11 Alleluia: John 17: 17b, 17a Gospel: Luke 6: 39-42 Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com For details about our 2025 Deacon's Conference, please visit www.stpaulcenter.com/deacons
Homily from the Mass offered on Thursday, September 11th. 1st Reading: Colossians 3:12–17 Gospel Reading: Luke 6:27–38 To support the podcast financially, click here: https://stpiuscda.org/online-giving
Don't just admire Jesus, resemble him!
Thursday of the Twenty-Third Week in Ordinary Time - A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart - Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts As you begin, take a deep breath and exhale slowly. For at least the next few moments, surrender all the cares and concerns of this day to the Lord. Say slowly from your heart “Jesus, I Trust In You…You Take Over” Become aware that He is with you, looking upon you with love, wanting to be heard deep within in your heart... The post Thursday of the Twenty-Third Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.
The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Thursday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time by Ms. Joan Watson. Ordinary Weekday First Reading: Colossians 3: 12-17 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 150: 1b-2, 3-4, 5-6 Alleluia: First John 4: 12 Gospel: Luke 6: 27-38 Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com For more details about our 2025 Deacon's Conference, please visit www.stpaulcenter.com/deacons
Read Online“Why do you notice the splinter in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?” Luke 6:41Saint Teresa of Ávila, one of the greatest spiritual writers and doctors of the Church, explains in her spiritual masterpiece “Interior Castles,” that one of the first steps on the path to holiness is self-knowledge. Self-knowledge produces humility, because humility is simply having a true opinion about yourself. When a person fails to know themself from the true perspective of the mind of God, then they open themselves up to many errors of judgment. One such error is that they can easily become fixated upon their perceived sins of others.The Gospel passage quoted above depicts a person who gravely lacks self-knowledge. Why? Because they “do not perceive the wooden beam” in their own eye, meaning, they do not see their own sin. As a result, Jesus explains that this person also becomes fixated upon the “splinter” in their brother's eye.When you consider your own thoughts, what do you dwell upon the most all day long? Do you honestly look inward, seeking to know yourself as God knows you? Or do you spend excessive time thinking about others, analyzing and judging their actions? This is an important question to ask yourself and to answer with honesty.The best way to know yourself is to gaze upon Jesus. When He becomes the focus of your attention throughout the day, you will not only come to know Him, but you will also come to know yourself more honestly. Gazing at the beauty and perfection of our Lord will have the double effect of knowing Him and knowing yourself through His eyes. It will also help you to know others as He sees them.How does Jesus look at those around you? He looks at them with perpetual mercy. True, at the end of every life, when we pass from this world to the next, we will encounter our particular judgment from our Lord. But while here on earth, God continually gazes upon us with mercy. For that reason, mercy must become our daily mission, and we must build a habit of gazing upon everyone in our life with the eyes of mercy. Reflect, today, upon our Lord. Look at Him, gaze upon Him, seek to know Him and make Him the focus of your attention. As you do, try to dismiss from your thinking process your own perceived judgments of others. Allow your gaze upon our Lord to help you to not only see Him but to also see others through His eyes. Build this habit and you will be on the fast track to the path to holiness. My merciful Jesus, may I build a humble and true habit of gazing upon You in Your splendor and beauty. As I see You, day in and day out, please also help me to see myself through Your eyes of mercy so that I will also grow in humility. Please remove all judgment from my heart so that I will be free to know and love all people as You know and love them. Jesus, I trust in You. Image: Fra Angelico, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.
ROSARY - LUMINOUS MYSTERIES today. DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET for Thursday.
Thursday of the Twenty-Third Week in Ordinary Time - A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart - Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts As you begin, take a deep breath and exhale slowly. For at least the next few moments, surrender all the cares and concerns of this day to the Lord. Say slowly from your heart “Jesus, I Trust In You…You Take Over” Become aware that He is with you, looking upon you with love, wanting to be heard deep within in your heart... The post Thursday of the Twenty-Third Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.
The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Thursday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time by Ms. Joan Watson. Ordinary Weekday First Reading: Colossians 3: 12-17 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 150: 1b-2, 3-4, 5-6 Alleluia: First John 4: 12 Gospel: Luke 6: 27-38 Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com For more details about our 2025 Deacon's Conference, please visit www.stpaulcenter.com/deacons
Look there goes a truth child of the Father!
Homily by Fr. Michael Renninger
Thursday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary TimeLuke 6:27-38"Stop judging and you will not be judged.Stop condemning and you will not be condemned.Forgive and you will be forgiven.Give and gifts will be given to you;a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing,will be poured into your lap.For the measure with which you measurewill in return be measured out to you."
Psalm 69Reading 1: Lamentations 3Reading 2: From a sermon by Blessed Isaac of Stella, abbotSt. Helena Ministries is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit. Your donations may be tax-deductibleSupport us at: sthelenaministries.com/supportPresentation of the Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) from The Liturgy of the Hours (Four Volumes) © 1975, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. The texts of Biblical readings are reproduced from the New American Bible © 1975
Psalm 132Psalm Canticle: Revelation 11Reading: 1 Peter 3Intercessions: Hear us, O God our refuge.St. Helena Ministries is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit. Your donations may be tax-deductibleSupport us at: sthelenaministries.com/supportPresentation of the Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) from The Liturgy of the Hours (Four Volumes) © 1975, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. The texts of Biblical readings are reproduced from the New American Bible © 1975
Psalm 51Canticle: Jeremiah 14Psalm 100Reading: 2 Corinthians 12Intercessions: Save those you have redeemed by your blood, Lord.St. Helena Ministries is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit. Your donations may be tax-deductibleSupport us at: sthelenaministries.com/supportPresentation of the Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) from The Liturgy of the Hours (Four Volumes) © 1975, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. The texts of Biblical readings are reproduced from the New American Bible © 1975
In you, my God, my body will rest in hope.St. Helena Ministries is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit. Your donations may be tax-deductibleSupport us at: sthelenaministries.com/supportPresentation of the Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) from The Liturgy of the Hours (Four Volumes) © 1975, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. The texts of Biblical readings are reproduced from the New American Bible © 1975
The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Wednesday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time by Dr. John Bergsma. Ordinary Weekday First Reading: Colossians 3: 1-11 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 145: 2-3, 10-11, 12-13ab Alleluia: Luke 6: 23ab Gospel: Luke 6: 20-26 Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com For details about our 2025 Deacon's Conference, please visit www.stpaulcenter.com/deacons
Read OnlineTo the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well, and from the person who takes your cloak, do not withhold even your tunic. Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back. Luke 6:29–30This must have been shocking to Jesus' first disciples. First of all, recall that Jesus taught these words with a spiritual authority that left those with an open heart with a conviction that what Jesus taught was truth. Also recall that Jesus taught these deep spiritual lessons within the context of performing numerous miracles. So, for these reasons, His new followers would have known that what Jesus taught was true. But how could they fully accept such teachings?Though many commentators will try to point to the deeper spiritual principles that Jesus was teaching, try to first take His words on face value. He really said that you must offer the other cheek to someone who strikes you, to give your tunic to one who steals your cloak, and to give to everyone who asks of you, never demanding back that which someone takes from you. These are not easy lessons to accept!One thing that these powerful lessons teach us is that there is something far more important in life than the humiliation of being struck on the cheek and having your possessions stolen. What is that more important thing? It's the salvation of souls.If we were to go through life demanding earthly justice and retribution for wrongs received, we would not be able to focus upon that which is most important. We would not be able to focus upon the salvation of those who have wronged us. It's easy to love those who are kind to us. But our love must extend to everyone, and sometimes the form of love we must offer another is the free acceptance of injustices they commit against us. There is great power in this act of love. But we will only be able to love another this way if our deep desire is for their eternal salvation. If all we want is earthly justice and satisfaction for wrongs committed, we may achieve that. But it may come at the expense of their salvation. Sometimes we can fall into the trap of thinking that every wrong must be righted here and now. But that's clearly not what Jesus taught. His wisdom is so much deeper. He knew that a profound act of mercy and forgiveness to another, especially when they have hurt us deeply, is one of the greatest gifts we can give. And it's one of the most transformative actions we can also do for our own souls. When love hurts, in the sense that it costs us our earthly pride, especially by completely letting go of injustice, then our act of love for that person has great power to change them. And if that act changes them, then this will be the cause of your joy for eternity. Reflect, today, upon any way that this hard teaching of Jesus is difficult for you. Who comes to mind as you ponder this teaching? Do your passions revolt against this command of love from Jesus? If so, then you have discovered the specific area where God wants you to grow. Think about anyone with whom you have a grievance and ponder whether you desire their eternal salvation. Know that God can use you for this mission of love if you will love in the way our Lord commands. My merciful Lord, Your love is beyond my own ability to comprehend. Your love is absolute and always seeks the good of the other. Give me grace, dear Lord, to love with Your heart and to forgive to the extent that You have forgiven. Use me, especially, to be an instrument of salvation and mercy to those who need it most in my life. Jesus, I trust in You. Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.
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Welcome to Episode #183 of the Way of the Bible podcast. This is our seventh of eight episodes in our Twenty-Third mini-series entitled The Return of Jesus Christ [2]. Today's episode, our seventh in this second mini-series on the Day of the Lord, will address the Regathering of Jews in Unbelief in Israel. A prelude to the tribulation, the great tribulation, and the Day of the Lord.There are four common views, theologically, regarding Israel's role in the world today, the return of Jesus, and the end of time. These views would be of no consequence if it were not for the fact that Israel was reestablished in 1948 as a sovereign nation-state in the global community. Israel has not been a sovereign nation-state since Babylon conquered the southern kingdom of Israel (Judah) and deported a remnant into captivity between 605 and 587 BC. The reconstitution of Israel over two millennia after it was obliterated is so unique that it should make us pause to wonder.I'll mention the four common views of the role of Israel in the world briefly and then discuss a less common fifth option that I adhere to. The first view is called replacement theology, in particular amillennialism, which does not see the nation of Israel to be of any consequence prophetically. In this view, Israel rejected their messiah and forfeited any rights and all privileges associated with former promises and covenants with God. In this view, Israel is just another of the rebellious nations in the world. The church has replaced Israel in prophetic history in regard to the promises and covenants. The nation of Israel today is just a random historical event.The second view believes the prophetic texts which say Israel will once again be a restored nation to God, but the current Israel is not it. The reason being, the far majority of Jews living in Israel are agnostic or secular in their beliefs of Judaism, with few who have faith in Jesus. This view believes there is a time coming when, prophetically, Israel will come to a final restoration with God in the land of promise through faith in Jesus.The third view believes Israel today is going to fulfill the prophetic texts of a final restoration with God in the land of promise. In this view, prophetic texts that speak of a divine tribulation and the wrath of God were fulfilled in the Holocaust of WWII. What we are seeing today in Israel are just the first stages of this final restoration.The fourth view believes there will be a series of tribulations and wrath of God against Israel, including the holocaust, that will prepare Israel for final restoration with God. The nation of Israel today, while a unique incident, may not be the final nation of Israel that God raises up for restoration of a remnant of Jews to God. The fifth view, which again is the one I hold, believes the current nation of Israel established in 1948, will experience tribulation and the wrath of God along with the rest of the world. What will end the great tribulation will be a remnant of Israel calling out to Jesus for redemption. This redemption will coincide with the judgment of the world and the restoration of the nation of Israel with God. King David, as the prince of Israel will rule over the Jews in the land, and the people of the surrounding nations. Jesus himself will rule the entire world from a temple on the world's highest mountain, just north of Jerusalem.The prophetic scriptures are clear and plain. First, there is going to be a regathering of Israel in unbelief back to the land in preparation to go through the great tribulation that is coming upon the whole earth. This will be a judgment of unbelief in Israel, along with the unbelief in the rest of the world. Again, this unbelief is in Jesus.
ROSARY - GLORIOUS MYSTERIES today. DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET for Wednesday.
The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Wednesday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time by Dr. John Bergsma. Ordinary Weekday First Reading: Colossians 3: 1-11 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 145: 2-3, 10-11, 12-13ab Alleluia: Luke 6: 23ab Gospel: Luke 6: 20-26 Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com For details about our 2025 Deacon's Conference, please visit www.stpaulcenter.com/deacons
Homily from the Mass offered on Tuesday, September 9th. 1st Reading: Colossians 2:6-15Gospel Reading: Luke 6:12-19To support the podcast financially, click here: https://stpiuscda.org/online-giving
Blessings and Woes!
Homily by Fr. Michael Renninger
You can find this reflection and others at lectiodiv.wordpress.com.
Today's reflection and more: https://lectiodiv.wordpress.com/
Join Fr. Danielle Kim, M.M. in today's Gospel reflection on Wednesday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time, 9/10/25.Luke 6:20-26"Blessed are you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours.Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied.Blessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh.Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man." Listen to past Gospel Reflections or check out more podcasts from the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers➡️ https://ow.ly/CIRj50Ta1kw #CatholicFaith #Gospel
Psalm 87Canticle: Isaiah 40Psalm 99Reading: 1 Peter 4Intercessions: May you be glorified, Lord, for all ages.St. Helena Ministries is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit. Your donations may be tax-deductibleSupport us at: sthelenaministries.com/supportPresentation of the Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) from The Liturgy of the Hours (Four Volumes) © 1975, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. The texts of Biblical readings are reproduced from the New American Bible © 1975
The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Tuesday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time by Dr. Shane Owens. Peter Claver, Priest, Religious, Missionary Obligatory Memorial First Reading: Colossians 2: 6-15 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 145: 1b-2, 8-9, 10-11 Alleluia: John 15: 16 Gospel: Luke 6: 12-19 Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com For details about our 2025 Deacon's Conference, please visit www.stpaulcenter.com/deacons
Read Online“But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. But woe to you who are filled now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will grieve and weep. Woe to you when all speak well of you, for their ancestors treated the false prophets in this way.” Luke 6:24–26Is it dangerous to be rich, to be filled, to laugh, and to have all speak well of you? According to Jesus, it appears so. Why would Jesus warn against these things? And before that, why would He pronounce it blessed to be poor, hungry, weeping and insulted? Essentially, Jesus was condemning four common sins—greed, gluttony, intemperance, and vainglory—and promoting their opposite virtues.Poverty, in and of itself, is not sufficient for holiness. But in Luke's Gospel, Jesus declares it blessed to be poor, literally. This goes further than Matthew's Gospel which says it is blessed to be “poor in spirit.” To be poor in spirit is to be spiritually detached from the material things of this world so that you can be fully open to the riches of God. One common tendency among those with material wealth is to rationalize that even though they have many things, they are detached from them. Hopefully that is the case. However, in Luke's version of the Beatitudes, Jesus directly says, “Blessed are you who are poor” and “woe to you who are rich.” In this teaching, we discover a second blessing not found in Matthew's version. In addition to spiritual detachment (poverty of spirit) being identified as a blessing, literal poverty is proclaimed as the easier way to achieve this spiritual detachment. Material wealth, though not a sin in and of itself, brings with it many temptations toward attachment, self-reliance, and self-indulgence. Thus, spiritually speaking, it is easier to be detached when one is poor, rather than when one is rich. This is a hard truth for both the poor and the rich to accept. The poor often want to be rich, thinking that if they were, they would share their wealth with others and remain detached. The rich often enjoy being rich and believe that they are more spiritually detached than they actually are.Being “hungry” is also identified as a blessed state, whereas being “filled” is a dangerous state. When you are literally hungry, either from fasting or from lack of an abundance of food, it is easier to turn your hunger and thirst toward God so as to be filled by Him and to more easily trust in His providence. An abundance of food, especially fine food, tempts you with a gluttonous satisfaction that makes it difficult to hunger and thirst for God and His holy will in a complete way. Therefore, if you refrain from indulgence and experience hunger, you will be blessed to be free from gluttony and even the temptation toward it.“Laughing” and “weeping” in this case are not referring to joy and despair. Rather, they are referring to those who are always seeking fun and an indulgent life. Many people live for fun, entertainment, and momentary pleasures. Weeping refers to those who have discovered that the fleeting pleasures of the world can never satisfy. Constant entertainment, therefore, brings with it a real temptation, whereas the loss of that form of fleeting pleasure helps eliminate that temptation.Finally, Jesus declares it blessed to be hated, excluded, insulted, and denounced as evil on account of Him rather than being spoken well of by all. In this case, Jesus is referring to the praise that comes from things that mean nothing from an eternal perspective. When all speak well of us, praising qualities and accomplishments that are not true Christian virtues, we will be tempted to rely upon that praise for our satisfaction. But this form of satisfaction is nothing other than vainglory and never truly satisfies in the end. However, when one sees and praises the virtues of God within us, God is praised first and foremost, and we are blessed to share in God's glory. Reflect, today, upon whether you prefer to be rich, to indulge in the best of foods, to be constantly entertained and to be the envy of others, or whether you see the temptations this type of life brings. Reflect also upon the concrete spiritual blessings that come to those who are literally poor, hungry, temperate and humble. This is a very demanding teaching from Jesus. If it doesn't sit well with you, then know that it is a sign that you still have various attachments in life. Reflect, especially, upon the beatitude that is most difficult to embrace, and make that beatitude the source of reflection and prayer. Doing so with honesty and openness will result in you being among those who are truly blessed in the eyes of God. My blessed Lord, You were poor, hungry, temperate and humble to the perfect degree. For these reasons, You were filled with perfect virtue and were satisfied to the greatest degree. Please open my eyes to the deceptions of this world so that I can live with You a life of true holiness, experiencing the riches of the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus, I trust in You!Image: Sermon on the Mount by Danijel Dukić, license Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 InternationalSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.
The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Tuesday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time by Dr. Shane Owens. Peter Claver, Priest, Religious, Missionary Obligatory Memorial First Reading: Colossians 2: 6-15 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 145: 1b-2, 8-9, 10-11 Alleluia: John 15: 16 Gospel: Luke 6: 12-19 Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com For details about our 2025 Deacon's Conference, please visit www.stpaulcenter.com/deacons
Read OnlineAnd he came down with them and stood on a stretch of level ground. A great crowd of his disciples and a large number of the people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and even those who were tormented by unclean spirits were cured. Everyone in the crowd sought to touch him because power came forth from him and healed them all. Luke 6:17–19The Gospel of Luke presents us with what is traditionally known as the “Sermon on the Plain.” Almost everything Luke includes in this sermon is also found in Matthew's “Sermon on the Mount.” Matthew, however, adds some teachings not found in Luke. Matthew's sermon has three chapters while Luke's has only one.In this, the introduction to this “Sermon on the Plain,” from which we will be reading all week, Luke points out that large numbers of people came from far and wide to listen to Jesus. This crowd included many Jews but also included many people from the pagan territory of Tyre and Sidon. And what was it that drew so many of them? They came to “hear” Jesus preach and “to be healed.” They wanted to hear the words of Jesus since He spoke with great authority and in a way that was changing lives. And they were especially amazed by the healing power that Jesus manifested. The last line of the passage above gives great emphasis to this desire for healing. “Everyone in the crowd sought to touch him because power came forth from him and healed them all.”It's interesting that Jesus performed so many powerful miracles as He went about His public ministry. This was especially the case as He began His ministry. He became a sort of instant celebrity to many and was the talk of the many surrounding towns. But it's also interesting to note that, as time went on, Jesus gave more emphasis to His teaching than He did to the miracles.What is it that draws you to our Lord? Perhaps if there were numerous manifest miracles performed today by God, many people would be amazed. But physical miracles are not the greatest work of our Lord and, therefore, should not be the primary focus of our relationship with Him. The primary reason we should be drawn to our Lord is because His holy Word sinks in deeply, changes us and draws us into communion with Him. This is clearly seen by the fact that now that the Gospel message has been deeply established and the Church formed, physical miracles are rare. They do happen, but not in the same way that they did as Jesus first established His public ministry.Reflect, today, upon the primary reason you find yourself drawn to our Lord. Seek out His living Word, spoken within the depths of your heart. The most important miracle that takes place today is that of interior transformation. When a person hears God speak, responds to that Word, and allows Him to change their life, this is among the most important miracles of grace that we could ever encounter. And this is the central reason we should be drawn to Him, seek Him out and follow Him wherever He leads.My miraculous Lord, please draw me to Yourself, teaching in the wilderness of my interior life of silence and solitude. Help me to seek You out so that I can hear Your Word, spoken to me to give me new life. May I always listen to You so that Your holy Word will transform me more fully, making me into the new creation You desire me to be. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: Cosimo Rosselli, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.
Welcome to Episode #182 of the Way of the Bible podcast. This is our sixth of eight episodes in our Twenty-Third mini-series entitled The Return of Jesus Christ [2]. Today's episode, our sixth in this second mini-series on the Day of the Lord, will address what Paul may have meant when he said in Romans 11:26, “All Israel Will Be Saved.”The salvation of “ALL” that is Israel is central to the return of Jesus Christ on the Day of the Lord. Let's look at the context of the statement by Paul from Romans 11:25-32 – I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, 26 and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written: “The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. 27 And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.” 28 As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, 29 for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable. 30 Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, 31 so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God's mercy to you. 32 For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.In Romans 11, Paul is closing a can of worms of the doctrinal issue that has severely divided the Church since the Reformation. Paul began Chapter 9 expressing anguish over his own people, the Jews, who were rejecting the gospel of Jesus. He then went on from Chapter 9 through 11 to point out the reason for their rejection. In these three chapters, the Holy Spirit had Paul lay a clear doctrinal landmine that has been picked up by theologians of every generation who have used it in an attempt to blow up unity within the body of Christ. We are not going to look at that today.Paul made it clear at the opening of his letter to the Romans where the Jews stood in terms of the Gospel. Romans 1:16-17 – For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.Here's the key before we go any further. All mankind is born into sin and death. All people, nations, tribes, languages, etc., Jew and Gentile alike stand condemned before God unless redeemed by the Lamb.The reason Jews and Gentiles alike are repulsed from each other is the dividing wall of hostility between us, which is the Law with its ordinances and regulations (See Eph 2:14-16). Let me see if I can summarize it such that I can continue without getting bogged down. This topic, by the way, is critical in understanding who we are in Christ and our relationship to the Father. But I digress. After the flood, when the nations rebelled at Babel, God chose one man from among the nations, Abram, and covenanted with him to give him a people, a land, and a seed who would bless all nations. The people were the descendants of Jacob, his grandson, whose name God changed to Israel.
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