Letters From Home

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

Ordinary Weekday First Reading: Ephesians 6: 10-20
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 144: 1b, 2, 9-10
Alleluia: Luke 19: 38; 2:14
Gospel: Luke 13: 31-35

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

Ordinary Weekday First Reading: Ephesians 6: 1-9
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 145: 10-11, 12-13ab, 13cd-14
Alleluia: Second Thessalonians 2: 14
Gospel: Luke 13: 22-30

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

Ordinary Weekday First Reading: Ephesians 5: 21-33
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 128: 1-2, 3, 4-5
Alleluia: Matthew 11: 25
Gospel: Luke 13: 18-21

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

Ordinary Weekday / Anthony Mary Claret, Bishop, Religious Founder First Reading: Ephesians 4: 32 – 5: 8
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 1: 1-2, 3, 4 and 6
Alleluia: John 17: 17b, 17a
Gospel: Luke 13: 10-17

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Readings:
Sirach 35:12–14, 16–18
Psalm 34:2–3, 17–19, 23
2 Timothy 4:6–8, 16–18
Luke 18:9–14

Jesus draws a blunt picture in today’s Gospel.

The Pharisee’s prayer is almost a parody of the thanksgiving psalms (see for example Psalms 30, 118). Instead of praising God for His mighty works, the Pharisee congratulates himself for his own deeds, which he presents to God in some detail.

The tax collector stands at a distance, too ashamed even to raise his eyes to God (see Ezra 9:6). He prays with a humble and contrite heart (see Psalm 51:19). He knows that before God no one is righteous, no one has cause to boast (see Roman 3:10; 4:2).

We see in the Liturgy today one of Scripture’s abiding themes: that God “knows no favorites,” as today’s First Reading tells us (see 2 Chronicles 19:7; Acts 10:34–35; Romans 2:11).

God cannot be bribed (see Deuteronomy 10:17). We cannot curry favor with Him or impress Him—even with our good deeds or our faithful observance of religious duties such as tithing and fasting.

If we try to exalt ourselves before the Lord, as the Pharisee does, we will be brought low (see Luke 1:52).

This should be a warning to us—not to take pride in our piety, not to slip into the self-righteousness of thinking that we’re better than others, that we’re “not like the rest of sinful humanity.”

If we clothe ourselves with humility (see 1 Peter 5:5–6), if we recognize that all of us are sinners in need of His mercy, we will be exalted (see Proverbs 29:33).

The prayer of the lowly, the humble, pierces the clouds. Paul testifies to this in today’s Epistle as He thanks the Lord for giving him strength during his imprisonment.

Paul tells us what the Psalmist sings today—that the Lord redeems the lives of His humble servants.

We too must serve Him willingly. And He will hear us in our distress, deliver us from evil, and bring us safely to His heavenly kingdom.

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

Ordinary Weekday / John Paul II, Pope / Optional Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary First Reading: Ephesians 4: 7-16
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 122: 1-2, 3-4ab, 4cd-5
Alleluia: Ezekiel 33: 11
Gospel: Luke 13: 1-9

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

Ordinary Weekday First Reading: Ephesians 4: 1-6
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 24: 1-2, 3-4ab, 5-6
Alleluia: Matthew 11: 25
Gospel: Luke 12: 54-59

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The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Thursday of the Twenty-Ninth Week in Ordinary Time by Dr. Scott Hahn.

Ordinary Weekday / Paul of the Cross, Priest, Religious Founder First Reading: Ephesians 3: 14-21
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 33: 1-2, 4-5, 11-12, 18-19
Alleluia: Philippians 3: 8-9
Gospel: Luke 12: 49-53

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The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for the Memorial of Saints John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues by Dr. John Bergsma.

Isaac Jogues and John de Brébeuf, Psalms, Religious, Missioneries, Martyrs, & Companions, Marturs Obligatory Memorial First Reading: Ephesians 3: 2-12
Responsorial Psalm: Isaiah 12: 2-3, 4bcd, 5-6
Alleluia: Matthew 24: 42a, 44
Gospel: Luke 12: 39-48

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

Luke, Evangelist Feast First Reading: Second Timothy 4: 10-17b
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 145: 10-11, 12-13, 17-18
Alleluia: John 15: 16
Gospel: Luke 10: 1-9

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