Letters From Home

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for the Christmas Weekday by Dr. Shane Owens.

Christmas Weekday/ Holy Name of Jesus First Reading: First John 2: 29 – 3: 6
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 98: 1, 3cd-4, 5-6
Alleluia: John 1: 14a, 12a
Gospel: John 1: 29-34

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The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for the Memorial of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen by Dr. Scott Hahn.

Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops, Doctors Obligatory Memorial First Reading: First John 2: 22-28
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 98: 1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4
Alleluia: Hebrews 1: 1-2
Gospel: John 1: 19-28

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The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for the Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas by Mr. Clement Harrold.

Christmas Weekday / Sylvester I, Pope First Reading: First John 2: 18-21
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 96: 1-2, 11-12, 13
Alleluia: John 1: 14a, 12a
Gospel: John 1: 1-18

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The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for the Feast of the Holy Family by Dr. John Bergsma.

The Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph First Reading: Sirach 3: 2-6, 12-14 or Colossians 3: 12-21 or Colossians 3: 12-17
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 128: 1-2, 3, 4-5
Alleluia: Colossians 3: 15a, 16a
Gospel: Matthew 2: 13-15, 19-23

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The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for the Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas by Ms. Joan Watson.

Christmas Weekday / Thomas Becket, Bishop, Martyr First Reading: First John 2: 3-11
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 96: 1-2a, 2b-3, 5b-6
Alleluia: Luke 2: 32
Gospel: Luke 2: 22-35

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The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for the Feast of the Holy Innocents by Dr. John Bergsma.

Holy Innocents, Martyrs Feast First Reading: First John 1: 5 – 2: 2
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 124: 2-3, 4-5, 7b-8
Gospel: Matthew 2: 13-18

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The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for the Feast of St. John by Dr. Shane Owens.

John, Apostle, Evangelist Feast First Reading: First John 1: 1-4
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 97: 1-2, 5-6, 11-12
Gospel: John 20: 1a and 2-8

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

Stephen, proto Martyr Feast First Reading: Acts 6: 8-10; 7: 54-59
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 31: 3cd-4, 6 and 8ab, 16bc and 17
Alleluia: Psalms 118: 26a, 27a
Gospel: Matthew 10: 17-22

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Readings:
Isaiah 52:7–10
Psalms 98:1–6
Hebrews 1:1–6
John 1:1–18

The Church’s Liturgy rings in Christmas with a joyful noise. We hear today of uplifted voices, trumpets and horns, and melodies of praise.

In the First Reading, Isaiah fortells Israel’s liberation from captivity and exile in Babylon. He envisions a triumphant homecoming to Zion marked by joyful singing.

The new song in today’s Psalm is a victory hymn to the marvelous deeds done by our God and King.

Both the prophet and psalmist sing of God’s power and salvation. God has shown the might of His holy arm, they say. This language recalls the Exodus, where the people first sang of God’s powerful arm that shattered Israel’s enemy, Egypt (see Exodus 15:1, 6, 16).

The coming of the Christ child into the world fulfills all that the Exodus and the return from exile prefigured.

In Jesus, all nations to the ends of the earth will see the victory of God over the forces of sin and death.

Jesus is the new king. He is the royal firstborn son and Son of God promised to David, as we hear in today’s Epistle (see Psalms 2:7; 2 Samuel 7:14).

And as our Gospel reveals, He is the Word of God, the one through whom the universe was created, the one through whom the universe is sustained.

In speaking to us through His Son, God has unveiled a new age, the last days.

The new age is a new creation. In the beginning, God spoke His Word and light shone in the darkness. Now, in this new age, He sends us the true light to scatter the darkness of a world that has exiled itself from God.

He is the one Isaiah foretold—who brings good tidings of peace and salvation, who announces to the world that God has come to dwell and to reign (see Revelation 21:3–4).

So we sing a new song on Christmas. It is the song of those who have believed in the Christ child and have been born again—who have by grace been given the power to become children of God.

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Saturday of the Fourth Week of Advent by Mr. Clement Harrold.

Advent Weekday (Readings For the Midnight Mass) First Reading: Isaiah 9:1-6
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 96: 1-2, 2-3, 11-12, 13
Gospel: Luke 2:1-14

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