Letters From Home

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Monday of the First Week of Lent by Dr. Scott Hahn.

Lenten Weekday First Reading: Leviticus 19: 1-2, 11-18
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 19: 8, 9, 10, 15
Verse Before the Gospel: Second Corinthians 6: 2b
Gospel: Matthew 25: 31-46

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Readings:
Genesis 2:7–9; 3:1–7
Psalm 51:3–6; 12–14, 17
Romans 5:12–19
Matthew 4:1–11

In today’s Liturgy, the destiny of the human race is told as the tale of two “types” of men—the first man, Adam, and the new Adam, Jesus (see 1 Corinthians 15:21–22; 45–59).

Paul’s argument in the Epistle is built on a series of contrasts between “one” or “one person” and “the many” or “all.” By one person’s disobedience, sin and condemnation entered the world, and death came to reign over all. By the obedience of another one, grace abounded, all were justified, and life came to reign for all.

This is the drama that unfolds in today’s First Reading and Gospel.

Formed from the clay of the ground and filled with the breath of God’s own Spirit, Adam was a son of God (see Luke 3:38), created in His image (see Genesis 5:1–3). Crowned with glory, he was given dominion over the world and the protection of His angels (see Psalms 8:6–8; 91:11–13). He was made to worship God—to live not by bread alone but in obedience to every word that comes from the mouth of the Father.

Adam, however, put the Lord his God to the test. He gave in to the serpent’s temptation, trying to seize for himself all that God had already promised him. But in His hour of temptation, Jesus prevailed where Adam failed—and drove the devil away.

Still, we sin after the pattern of Adam’s transgression. Like Adam, we let sin in the door (see Genesis 4:7) when we entertain doubts about God’s promises, when we forget to call on Him in our hours of temptation.

But the grace won for us by Christ’s obedience means that sin is no longer our master.

As we begin this season of repentance, we can be confident in His compassion, that He will create in us a new heart (see Romans 5:5; Hebrews 8:10). As we do in today’s Psalm, we can sing joyfully of our salvation, renewed in His presence.

Lecturas:
Génesis 2,7–9; 3,1–7
Salmo 51,3–6.12–14.17
Romanos 5,12–19
Mateo 4,1–11

En la liturgia de hoy, el destino de la raza humana se nos cuenta como un relato sobre dos “tipos” de hombre: el primero, Adán, y el nuevo Adán, Jesús (cf. 1 Co 15,21–22; 45–59).

San Pablo construye su argumento en la epístola mediante una serie de contrastes entre “uno” o “una solo hombre”, y “muchos” o “todos”. Por la desobediencia de una persona entró el pecado y la condena al mundo, y la muerte comenzó a reinar sobre todos. Por la obediencia de otro, abundó la gracia, todos fueron justificados y la vida vino a reinar para todos.

Este es el drama que se revela en la primera lectura y el Evangelio de hoy.

Adán, que fue formado de la arcilla del suelo y lleno del aliento del propio Espíritu Divino, era hijo de Dios (cf. Lc 3,38), creado a su imagen (cf. Gn 5,1–3). Coronado de su gloria, se le dio poder sobre toda la tierra y la protección de sus ángeles (cf. Sal 8,6–8; 91,11–13). Fue creado para adorar a Dios; para vivir no sólo de pan sino de la obediencia a cada palabra que sale de la boca de Dios.

Sin embargo, Adán puso a prueba al Señor su Dios. Cedió a la tentación de la serpiente, tratando de tomar para sí todo lo que Dios ya le había prometido. Pero Jesús, a la hora de su tentación, venció en lo que Adán había fallado y apartó al demonio.

Nosotros aún pecamos, siguiendo los pasos de la caída de Adán. Como él, dejamos entrar el pecado en nuestra puerta cuando alimentamos dudas sobre las promesas de Dios, cuando olvidamos llamarlo en nuestros momentos de tentación.

Pero la gracia que Cristo nos ganó con su obediencia implica que el pecado ya no es amo nuestro.

Al comenzar este tiempo de arrepentimiento podemos confiar en su compasión, en que Él creará en nosotros un nuevo corazón (cf. Rm 5,5; Hb 8,10). Como lo hemos hecho con el salmo de hoy, podemos cantar alegremente nuestra salvación, renovados en su presencia.

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for the Saturday after Ash Wednesday by Mr. Clement Harrold.

Saturday after Ash Wednesday First Reading: Isaiah 58: 9b-14
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 86: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6
Verse Before the Gospel: Ezekiel 33: 11
Gospel: Luke 5: 27-32

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The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for the Friday after Ash Wednesday by Dr. John Bergsma.

Friday after Ash Wednesday, Day of Abstinence from Meat (Age 14 and Up) First Reading: Isaiah 58: 1-9a
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 51: 3-4, 5-6ab, 18-19
Verse Before the Gospel: Amos 5: 14
Gospel: Matthew 9: 14-15

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The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for the Thursday after Ash Wednesday by Ms. Joan Watson.

Thursday after Ash Wednesday/ Polycarp, Bishop, Martyr First Reading: Deuteronomy 30: 15-20
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 1: 1-2, 3, 4 and 6
Verse Before the Gospel: Matthew 4: 17
Gospel: Luke 9: 22-25

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The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Ash Wednesday by Dr. John Bergsma.

Ash Wednesday, Begin Lenten Preparation for the Easter Triduum, Not a Holy Day of Obligation, Day of Fast (Ages 18-59) and Abstinence from Meat (Age 14 and Up) First Reading: Joel 2: 12-18
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 51: 3-4, 5-6ab, 12-13, 14 and 17
Second Reading: Second Corinthians 5: 20 – 6:2
Verse Before the Gospel: Psalms 95: 8
Gospel: Matthew 6: 1-6, 16-18

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

Ordinary Weekday/ Peter Damian, Bishop, Doctor First Reading: Sirach 2: 1-11
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 37: 3-4, 18-19, 27-28, 39-40
Alleluia: Galatians 6: 14
Gospel: Mark 9: 30-37

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The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Monday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time by Dr. Scott Hahn.

Ordinary Weekday First Reading: Sirach 1: 1-10
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 93: 1ab, 1cd-2, 5
Alleluia: Second Timothy 1: 10
Gospel: Mark 9: 14-29

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Leviticus 19:1–2, 17–18
Psalm 103:1–4, 8, 10, 12–13
1 Corinthians 3:16–23
Matthew 5:38–48

We are called to the holiness of God. That is the extraordinary claim made in both the First Reading and the Gospel this Sunday.

Yet how is it possible that we can be perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect?

Jesus explains that we must be imitators of God as His beloved children (Ephesians 5:1–2).

As God does, we must love without limit—with a love that does not distinguish between friend and foe, overcoming evil with good (see Romans 12:21).

Jesus Himself, in His Passion and death, gave us the perfect example of the love that we are called to.

He offered no resistance to the evil—even though He could have commanded twelve legions of angels to fight alongside Him. He offered His face to be struck and spit upon. He allowed His garments to be stripped from Him. He marched as His enemies compelled Him to the Place of the Skull. On the Cross, He prayed for those who persecuted Him (see Matthew 26:53–54, 67; 27:28, 32; Luke 23:34).

In all this, He showed Himself to be the perfect Son of God. By His grace, and through our imitation of Him, He promises that we too can become children of our heavenly Father.

God does not deal with us as we deserve, as we sing in this week’s Psalm. He loves us with a Father’s love. He saves us from ruin. He forgives our transgressions.

He loved us even when we had made ourselves His enemies through our sinfulness. While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (see Romans 5:8).

We have been bought with the price of the blood of God’s only Son (see 1 Corinthians 6:20). We belong to Christ now, as St. Paul says in this week’s Epistle. By our baptism, we have been made temples of His Holy Spirit.

And we have been saved to share in His holiness and perfection. So let us glorify Him by our lives lived in His service, loving as He loves.