Letters From Home

By St. Paul Center for Biblical TheologyReligion & Spirituality Christianity

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Letters From Home episodes

March 25, 2023 At Lazarus’ Tomb: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Fifth Sunday of Lent
Readings:
Ezekiel 37:12–14
Psalm 130:1–8
Romans 8:8–11
John 11:1–45

As we draw near to the end of Lent, today’s Gospel clearly has Jesus’ passion and death in view.

That’s why John gives us the detail about Lazarus’ sister, Mary—that she is the one who anointed the Lord for burial (see John 12:3, 7). His disciples warn against returning to Judea; Thomas even predicts they will “die with Him” if they go back.

When Lazarus is raised, John notices the tombstone being taken away, as well as Lazarus’ burial cloths and head covering —all details he later notices with Jesus’ empty tomb (see John 20:1, 6, 7).

Like the blind man in last week’s readings, Lazarus represents all humanity. He stands for “dead men”—for all those Jesus loves and wants to liberate from the bands of sin and death.

John even recalls the blind man in his account today (see John 11:37). Like the man’s birth in blindness, Lazarus’ death is used by Jesus to reveal “the glory of God” (see John 9:3). And again like last week, Jesus’ words and deeds give sight to those who believe (see John 11:40).

If we believe, we will see—that Jesus loves each of us as He loved Lazarus, that He calls us out of death and into new life.

By His Resurrection Jesus has fulfilled Ezekiel’s promise in today’s First Reading. He has opened the graves that we may rise, put His Spirit in us that we may live. This is the Spirit that Paul writes of in today’s Epistle. The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead will give life to we who were once dead in sin.

Faith is the key. If we believe as Martha does in today’s Gospel—that Jesus is the resurrection and the life—even if we die, we will live.

“I have promised and I will do it,” the Father assures us in the First Reading. We must trust in His word, as we sing in today’s Psalm—that with Him is forgiveness and salvation.
3 min
March 25, 2023 How Clarity Can Become an Idol - The Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord
The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord by Mr. Clement Harrold.
Annunciation of the Lord Solemnity First Reading: Isaiah 7: 10-14; 8: 10
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 40: 7-8a, 8b-9, 10, 11
Second Reading: Hebrews 10: 4-10
Verse Before the Gospel: John 1: 14ab
Gospel: Luke 1: 26-38
Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com
11 min
March 24, 2023 How Jesus Is the True Philosopher - Friday of the Fourth Week of Lent
The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Friday of the Fourth Week of Lent by Dr. John Bergsma.
Lenten Weekday, Day of Abstinence from Meat (Age 14 and Up) First Reading: Wisdom 2: 1a, 12-22
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 34: 17-18, 19-20, 21 and 23
Verse Before the Gospel: Matthew 4: 4b
Gospel: John 7: 1-2, 10, 25-30
Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com
13 min
March 23, 2023 How We Imitate the Israelites - Thursday of the Fourth Week of Lent
The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Thursday of the Fourth Week of Lent by Ms. Joan Watson.
Lenten Weekday/ Toribio De Mogrovejo, Bishop First Reading: Exodus 32: 7-14
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 106: 19-20, 21-22, 23
Verse Before the Gospel: John 3: 16
Gospel: John 5: 31-47
Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com
12 min
March 22, 2023 The Mission of the Messiah - Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Lent
The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Lent by Dr. John Bergsma.
Lenten Weekday First Reading: Isaiah 49: 8-15
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 145: 8-9, 13cd-14, 17-18
Verse Before the Gospel: John 11: 25a, 26
Gospel: John 5: 17-30
Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com
13 min
March 21, 2023 The Way God Works on the Sabbath - Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent
The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent by Dr. Shane Owens.
Lenten Weekday First Reading: Ezekiel 47: 1-9, 12
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 46: 2-3, 5-6, 8-9
Verse Before the Gospel: Psalms 51: 12a, 14a
Gospel: John 5: 1-16
Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com
14 min
March 20, 2023 How God Qualifies Us - The Solemnity of St. Joseph
The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for the Solemnity of St. Joseph by Dr. Scott Hahn.
Joseph, Husband of Mary Solemnity First Reading: Second Samuel 7: 4-5a, 12-14a, 16
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 89: 2-3, 4-5, 27 and 29
Second Reading: Romans 4: 13, 16-18, 22
Verse Before the Gospel: Psalms 84: 5
Gospel: Matthew 1: 16, 18-21, 24 or Luke 2: 41-51a
Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com
15 min
March 18, 2023 Eyesight to the Blind: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Fourth Sunday of Lent
Readings:
1 Samuel 16:1, 6–7, 10–13
Psalm 23:1–6
Ephesians 5:8–14
John 9:1–41

God’s ways of seeing are not our ways, we hear in today’s First Reading. Jesus illustrates this in the Gospel as the blind man comes to see and the Pharisees are made blind.

The blind man stands for all humanity. “Born totally in sin,” he is made a new creation by the saving power of Christ.

As God fashioned the first man from the clay of the earth (see Genesis 2:7), Jesus gives the blind man new life by anointing his eyes with clay (see John 9:11). As God breathed the spirit of life into the first man, the blind man is not healed until he washes in the waters of Siloam, a name that means “Sent.”

Jesus is the One “sent” by the Father to do the Father’s will (see John 9:4; 12:44). He is the new source of life-giving water: the Holy Spirit who rushes upon us in Baptism (see John 4:10; 7:38–39).

This is the Spirit that rushes upon God’s chosen king David in today’s First Reading. A shepherd like Moses before him (see Exodus 3:1; Psalm 78:70–71), David is also a sign pointing to the good shepherd and king to come—Jesus (see John 10:11).

The Lord is our shepherd, as we sing in today’s Psalm. By His death and Resurrection He has made a path for us through the dark valley of sin and death, leading us to the verdant pastures of the kingdom of life, the Church.

In the restful waters of Baptism He has refreshed our souls. He has anointed our heads with the oil of Confirmation and spread the Eucharistic table before us, filling our cups to overflowing.
With the once-blind man we enter His house to give God the praise, to renew our vow: “I do believe, Lord.”

“The Lord looks into the heart,” we hear today. Let Him find us, as Paul advises in today’s Epistle, living as “children of light,” trying always to learn what is pleasing to our Father.
3 min
March 18, 2023 The Pruning Love of God - Saturday of the Third Week of Lent
The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Saturday of the Third Week of Lent by Mr. Clement Harrold.
Lenten Weekday/ Cyril of Jerusalem, Bishop, Doctor First Reading: Hosea 6: 1-6
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 51: 3-4, 18-19, 20-21ab
Verse Before the Gospel: Psalms 95: 8
Gospel: Luke 18: 9-14
Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com
11 min
March 17, 2023 How God's Law is About Love - Friday of the Third Week of Lent
The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Friday of the Third Week of Lent by Dr. John Bergsma.
Lenten Weekday/ Patrick, Bishop, Missionary, Day of Abstinence from Meat (Age 14 and Up) First Reading: Hosea 14: 2-10
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 81: 6c-8a, 8bc-9, 10-11ab, 14 and 17
Verse Before the Gospel: Matthew 4: 17
Gospel: Mark 12: 28-34
Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com
11 min

About Letters From Home

From the publisher's feed

Letters From Home is the Daily Scripture Reflections podcast from the St. Paul Center. Our commentators, Dr. Scott Hahn, Dr. John Bergsma, Dr. Shane Owens, Dr. Jeffrey Morrow, Ms. Joan Watson, and Mr.…