Catholic Bible Study Made Simple

The refrain of a hymn based on the 23rd Psalm says, “Shepherd me, O God, beyond my wants, beyond my fears, from death into life.” This is what the Good Shepherd wants to do for us. Unfortunately, we often are more like some of the sheep Phillip Keller describes in his book A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23: obstinate, self-willed, rebellious. We do not need to be that way.

The Mass readings can be found here: Scripture Readings

The blog post can be found here: Blog Post

Ignorance is a common malady for human beings. Sometimes the ignorance is deliberate, other times it is accidental due to lack of experience on our parts. More frequently ignorance is a result of clinging to pre-conceived notions and a refusal to let go of them. In these readings we are called to let go of what is inhibiting our belief in God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—and what He tells us either directly or through His chosen servants. Perhaps the greater challenge is to believe and then act consistently in accordance with our beliefs.

The Mass readings can be found here: Scripture Readings

The blog post can be found here: Blog Post

“Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting.” (Response) Do we thank God enough for the mercy He has shown us, not only in the big things but in the little as well? Draw hope from the mercy that Jesus showed Thomas when he doubted the testimony of the other apostles regarding Jesus’ appearance to them.

Jesus wants to show us His mercy to us for all our missing the mark that He has established for us. Let us come to Him for mercy. Let us believe that He wants to show us mercy. Let us accept the mercy He shows us. We needn’t deserve His mercy. We could never deserve His mercy. Yet He graciously bestows His mercy upon us because of His infinite love for us.

The Mass readings can be found here: Scripture Readings

The blog post can be found here: Blog Post

Jesus raised people from the dead during His public ministry. When the time came, His Father raised Jesus from the dead. This is good news for us, because the Father will raise us from the dead too on the last day since we are His children as well. For our part we are called to live like children of God.

The Mass readings can be found here:

Scripture Readings for 04/04/2021

The blog post can be found here:

Blog Post for 04/04/2021

It is beneficial to examine the passion story to determine if we can identify ourselves as one of the people who were a part of it. Perhaps we will see ourselves in Peter, or the members of the Sanhedrin, or perhaps John, or one of the women at the cross. When we do, we may either find encouragement or motivation to change our lives.

The Mass readings can be found here:

Scripture Readings for 03/28/2021

The blog post can be found here:

Blog Post for 03/28/2021

We may want to see Jesus; however, do we want to see the Jesus who is; or do we want to see the Jesus we prefer? We may want to follow Jesus; however, we prefer that He only require outward observance without a change of heart. To see Jesus, we must see Jesus crucified. To follow Jesus, we must die to self.

The Mass readings can be found here:

Scripture Readings for 03/21/2021

The blog post can be found here:

Blog Post for 03/21/2021

God does not abide by our rules to accomplish His plans. He uses a pagan like Cyrus, king of Persia, to free the Jews from Babylonian captivity. He chooses the cross to free us from our sin and the sin of Adam. Are we willing to allow God to have His way, or are we going to refuse His gift to us because it is not coming in the manner we desire or through the person we desire?

The Mass readings can be found here:

Scripture Readings for 03/14/2021

The blog post can be found here:

Blog Post for 03/14/2021

In the gospel, Jesus cleanses the temple to return it to it intended holiness. In lent we are called to allow Jesus to cleanse the temple that is us to restore it to His intended holiness for us. He has given us His commandments as instruction concerning the kind of thoughts, words, and actions that will help us to become and remain that holy.

The Mass readings can be found here:

Scripture Readings for 03/07/2021

The blog post can be found here:

Blog Post for 03/07/2021

Jesus showed Himself to Peter, James, and John as He had been for all eternity. He had been showing himself through the Old Testament in passages such as the sacrifice of Isaac. On the Mount of Transfiguration, He showed Himself in a new light. He wants to reveal Himself to us too. Are we willing to go with Him where He leads us so that He can do that?

The Mass readings can be found here:

Scripture Readings for 02/28/2021

The blog post can be found here:

Blog Post for 02/28/2021

Jesus must have had what we would call a spiritual high after His baptism and His Father calling Him, His beloved Son; but immediately, the Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness for forty days of preparation for His mission of ministry.

Why are we surprised when, after a spiritual high, we have a period in which we feel as though we are in a hot, dry desert or being nearly drowned as Noah must have during the flood. Yet we, too, may need a time of preparation for some next phase or life; and when we are in preparation, we should not be surprised if we come under all types of attack instigated by our enemy the devil.

The Mass readings can be found here:

Scripture Readings for 02/21/2021

The blog post can be found here:

Blog Post for 02/21/2021