Against Hypocrisy ISAIAH 1:10, 16-20 PSALM 50; MATTHEW 23:1–12 Isaiah 1:16 says, “Cease to do evil; learn to do good.” This is an alarm not only to feel sorrowful for the sin committed but also to break away from the practice. We often regret the evil we have done, but we do not put an […]
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Feb
Feb
Love your enemies. DEUTERONOMY 26:16–19; PSALM 118; MATTHEW 5:43–48 Jesus said to his disciples, ‘You have learned how it was said: You must love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say this to you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you; in this way, you will be sons of your […]
23
Feb
Feb
True Conversion EZEKIEL 18:21–28; PSALM 129; Matthew 5:20–26 Today we are reminded that God does not delight in the death of a wicked man. He says in Ezekiel 18:21–22 that “If the wicked man renounces all the sins he has committed, respects my laws, and is law-abiding and honest, he will certainly live; he will […]
22
Feb
Feb
THE CHAIR OF ST. PETER, APOSTLE 1 Peter 5:1-4; PSALM 23; Matthew 16:13–19 Today the church celebrates the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter, also known as the Throne of Saint Peter. The “chair” symbolizes the authority of St. Peter and his successors (the Pope). Peter lived and worked in Capernaum as a fisherman […]
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Feb
Feb
REPENTANCE JONAH 3:1-10; PSALM 51; LUKE 11:29-32 Jonah was sent by God to the people of Nineveh to warn them about the coming wrath if they don’t turn from their evil ways. They received Jonah’s message with so much remorse, declared fasting and penance and repented. Nineveh’s narrative reminds us of the importance of penance […]
21
Feb
Feb
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 The separation of the sheep from the goats is a parable that exhorts Christians to take action to help those in need. Jesus says, “Truly, I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40). Do you believe this? […]
21
Feb
Feb
FORGIVENESS ISAIAH 55:10–11; PSALM 34; MATTHEW 6:7–15 The gospel presents us with the Lord’s Prayer. Jesus gives us a model of prayer in “Our Father.” The prayer begins with a focus on God. Oftentimes, our prayers tend to focus on our situations, wants, and fears rather than God. This prayer comes in during this season […]
18
Feb
Feb
Destruction and repentance Genesis 9:8–15; Psalm 24; 1 Peter 3:18–22; Mark 1:12–15 Destruction and repentance are the two basic themes in our readings today. The first reading presents us with the covenant God entered into with Noah. The background to this covenant was the flood. The flood took place for two reasons: First, Gen. 6:2, […]
16
Feb
Feb
FASTING Fasting was the subject of debate between the disciples of John and Jesus. John’s disciples asked Jesus, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?” In response, Jesus said to them, “The wedding guests cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them. The days will come […]
15
Feb
Feb
DEUTERONOMY 30:15-20; PSALM 1; LUKE 9:22-25 CHOOSE LIFE See, “I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction.” Moses asked the people to make a choice between life and death. If they obey God’s commandments, they will live, but if they don’t, they will certainly be destroyed. Disobedience results in destruction, but […]