Letters From Home

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Thursday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time by Ms. Joan Watson.

Ordinary Weekday/ Maria Goretti, Virgin, Martyr First Reading: Genesis 22: 1b-19
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 115: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9
Alleluia: Second Corinthians 5: 19
Gospel: Matthew 9: 1-8

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The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Wednesday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time by Dr. John Bergsma.

Ordinary Weekday/ Elizabeth of Portugal, Married Woman/ Anthony Mary Zaccaria, Priest, Religious Founder First Reading: Genesis 21: 5, 8-20a
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 34: 7-8, 10-11, 12-13
Alleluia: James 1: 18
Gospel: Matthew 8: 28-34

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The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Tuesday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time by Dr. Shane Owens.

Ordinary Weekday/ Independence Day First Reading: Genesis 19: 15-29
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 26: 2-3, 9-10, 11-12
Alleluia: Psalms 130: 5
Gospel: Matthew 8: 23-27

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The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for the Feast of St. Thomas by Dr. Scott Hahn.

Thomas, Apostle Feast First Reading: Ephesians 2: 19-22
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 117: 1bc, 2
Alleluia: John 20: 29
Gospel: John 20: 24-29

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Readings:
2 Kgs 4:8–11, 14–16
Ps 89:2–3, 16–19
Rom 6:3–4, 8–11
Mt 10:37–42

The liturgy this week continues to instruct us in the elements of discipleship. We’re told that even the most humble among us have a share in the mission Christ gives to His Church.

We’re not all called to the ministry of the Apostles or to be prophets like Elisha in today’s First Reading. But each of us is called to a holy life (see 2 Timothy 1:9; 1 Thessalonians 4:3).

At Baptism, our lives were joined forever to the Cross of Christ, as Paul tells us in today’s Epistle. Baptized into His death, we’re to renounce sin and live for God in Christ Jesus.

We are to follow Him, each of us taking up our personal cross, as Jesus says in today’s Gospel. That doesn’t mean we will all be asked to suffer a martyr’s death. But each of us is called to self-denial, to the offering of our lives in service of God’s plan.

Jesus must be elevated to first place in our lives—above even our closest bonds of kinship and love. By Baptism, we’ve been made part of a new family: the kingdom of God, the Church. We are to proclaim that kingdom with our lives, bringing our fathers, our mothers, and all men and women to live as little ones under the fatherhood of God and the kingship of the Holy One.

We do this by opening our hearts and homes to the service of the Lord, following the Shunnamite woman’s example in today’s First Reading. As Jesus tells us, we’re to receive others—not only prophets but also little children, the poor, and the imprisoned—as we receive Christ Himself (see Matthew 18:5; 25:31–46).

As we sing in today’s Psalm, we are to testify to His favors and kindness in our lives.

We’re to hold fast to the promise—that if we have died with Christ, we shall also live, that if we lose our lives for His sake, we shall find our reward and walk forever in His countenance.

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Saturday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time by Mr. Clement Harrold.

Ordinary Weekday/ Optional Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary/ Blessed Junipero Serra, Priest, Religious, Missionary First Reading: Genesis 18: 1-15
Responsorial Psalm: Luke 1: 46-47, 48-49, 50 and 53, 54-55
Alleluia: Matthew 8: 17
Gospel: Matthew 8: 5-17

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The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Friday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time by Dr. John Bergsma.

Ordinary Weekday/ First Martyrs of the Church of Rome First Reading: Genesis 17: 1, 9-10, 15-22
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 128: 1-2, 3, 4-5
Alleluia: Matthew 8: 17
Gospel: Matthew 8: 1-4

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The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul by Ms. Joan Watson.

Peter and Paul, Apostles Solemnity/ Day First Reading: Acts 12: 1-11
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 34: 2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
Second Reading: Second Timothy 4: 6-8, 17-18
Alleluia: Matthew 16: 18
Gospel: Matthew 16: 13-19

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The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for the Memorial of St. Irenaeus by Dr. John Bergsma.

Irenaeus, Bishop, Martyr Obligatory Memorial First Reading: Genesis 15: 1-12, 17-18
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 105: 1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8-9
Alleluia: John 15: 4a, 5b
Gospel: Matthew 7: 15-20

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The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Tuesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time by Dr. Shane Owens.

Ordinary Weekday/ Cyril of Alexandria, Bishop, Doctor First Reading: Genesis 13: 2, 5-18
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 15: 2-3a, 3bc-4ab, 5
Alleluia: John 8: 12
Gospel: Matthew 7: 6, 12-14

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