Letters From Home

Readings:
Amos 8:4–7
Psalm 113:1–2, 4–6, 7–8
1 Timothy 2:1–8
Luke 16:1–13

The steward in today’s Gospel confronts the reality that he can’t go on living the way he has been. He is under judgment. He must give account for what he has done.

The exploiters of the poor in today’s First Reading are also about to be pulled down, to be thrust from their stations (see Isaiah 22:19). Servants of mammon, or money, they’re so in love with wealth that they reduce the poor to objects; they despise the new moons and sabbaths—the observances and holy days of God (see Leviticus 23:24; Exodus 20:8).

Their only hope is to follow the steward’s path. He is no model of repentance. But he makes a prudent calculation—to use his last hours in charge of his master’s property to show mercy to others, to relieve their debts.

He is a child of this world, driven by a purely selfish motive—to make friends and be welcomed into the homes of his master’s debtors. Yet his prudence is commended as an example to us, the children of light (see 1 Thessalonians 5:5; Ephesians 5:8). We too must realize, as the steward does, that what we have is not honestly ours, but in truth belongs to another, our Master.

All the mammon in the world could not have paid the debt we owe our Master. So He paid it for us. He gave His life as a ransom for all, as we hear in today’s Epistle.

God wants everyone to be saved, even kings and princes, even the lovers of money (see Luke 16:14). But we cannot serve two Masters. By His grace, we should choose to be, as we sing in today’s Psalm, “servants of the Lord.”

We serve Him by using what He has entrusted us with to give alms, to lift the lowly from the dust and dunghills of this world. By this we will gain what is ours and be welcomed into eternal dwellings, the many mansions of the Father’s house (see John 14:2).

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

Ordinary Weekday / Optional Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary / Robert Bellarmine, Bishop, Religious, Doctor First Reading: First Corinthians 15: 35-37, 42-49
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 56: 10c-12, 13-14
Alleluia: Luke 8: 15
Gospel: Luke 8: 4-15

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

Cornelius, Pope, Martyr, and Cyprian, Bishop, Martyr Obligatory Memorial First Reading: First Corinthians 15: 12-20
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 17: 1bcd, 6-7, 8b and 15
Alleluia: Matthew 11: 25
Gospel: Luke 8: 1-3

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The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for the Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows by Dr. Scott Hahn.

Our Lady of Sorrows Obligatory Memorial First Reading: First Corinthians 15: 1-11
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 118: 1b-2, 16ab-17, 28
Gospel: John 19: 25-27 or Luke 2: 33-35

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

EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS Feast First Reading: Numbers 21: 4b-9
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 78: 1bc-2, 34-35, 36-37, 38
Second Reading: Philippians 2: 6-11
Gospel: John 3: 13-17

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

John Chrysostom, Bishop, Doctor Obligatory Memorial First Reading: First Corinthians 12: 12-14, 27-31a
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 100: 1b-2, 3, 4, 5
Alleluia: Luke 7: 16
Gospel: Luke 7: 11-17

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The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for the Memorial of the Most Holy Name of Mary by Dr. Scott Hahn.

Ordinary Weekday / Holy Name of Mary First Reading: Galatians 4: 4-7
Responsorial Psalm: Luke 1: 46-47, 48-49, 50-51, 52-53, 54-55
Alleluia: Luke 1: 45
Gospel: Luke 1: 39-47

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Readings:
Exodus 32:7–11, 13–14
Psalm 51:3–4, 12–13, 17, 19
1 Timothy 1:12–17
Luke 15:1–10

The episode in today’s First Reading has been called “Israel’s original sin.” Freed from bondage, born as a people of God in the covenant at Sinai, Israel turned aside from His ways and fell to worshipping a golden calf.

Moses implores God’s mercy, just as Jesus will later intercede for the whole human race. Just as He still pleads for sinners at God’s right hand and through the ministry of the Church.

Israel’s sin is the sin of the world. It is your sin and mine. Ransomed from death and made His children in Baptism, we fall prey to the idols of this world. We remain a “stiff-necked people,” resisting His will for us like an ox refuses the plowman’s yoke (see Jeremiah 7:26).

Like Israel, in our sin we push God away and reject our divine sonship. Once He called us “my people” (see Exodus 3:10; 6:7). But our sin makes us “no people,” people He should, in justice, disown (see Deuteronomy 32:21; 1 Peter 2:10).

Yet in His mercy, He is faithful to the covenant He swore by His own self in Jesus. In Jesus, God comes to Israel and to each of us—as a shepherd to seek the lost (see Ezekiel 34:11–16), to carry us back to the heavenly feast, the perpetual heritage promised long ago to Abraham’s children.

“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners,” Paul cries in today’s Epistle. These are the happiest words the world has ever known. Because of Jesus, as Paul himself can testify, even the blasphemer and persecutor can seek His mercy.

As the sinners do in today’s Gospel, we draw near to listen to Him. In this Eucharist, we bring Him the acceptable sacrifice we sing of in today’s Psalm—our hearts, humbled and contrite.

In the company of His angels and saints, we rejoice that He has wiped out our offense. We celebrate with Him that we have turned from the evil way that we might live (see Ezekiel 18:23).

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

Ordinary Weekday / Optional Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary First Reading: First Corinthians 10: 14-22
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 116: 12-13, 17-18
Alleluia: John 14: 23
Gospel: Luke 6: 43-49

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

Peter Claver, Priest, Religious, Missionary Obligatory Memorial First Reading: First Corinthians 9: 16-19, 22b-27
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 84: 3, 4, 5-6, 12
Alleluia: John 17: 17b, 17a
Gospel: Luke 6: 39-42

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com