Letters From Home

Readings:
Genesis 18:20–32
Psalm 138:1–3, 6–8
Colossians 2:12–14
Luke 11:1–13

Though we be “but dust and ashes,” we can presume to draw near and speak boldly to our Lord, as Abraham dares to do in this week’s First Reading.

But even Abraham—the friend of God (see Isaiah 41:8), our father in the faith (see Romans 4:12)—did not know the intimacy that we know as children of Abraham, heirs of the blessings promised to his descendants (see Galatians 3:7, 29).

The mystery of prayer, as Jesus reveals to His disciples in this week’s Gospel, is the living relationship of beloved sons and daughters with their heavenly Father. Our prayer is pure gift, made possible by the “good gift” of the Father—the Holy Spirit of His Son. It is the fruit of the New Covenant by which we are made children of God in Christ Jesus (see Galatians 4:6–7; Romans 8:15–16).

Through the Spirit given to us in Baptism, we can cry to Him as our Father—knowing that when we call He will answer.

Jesus teaches His disciples to persist in their prayer, as Abraham persisted in begging God’s mercy for the innocent of Sodom and Gomorrah.

For the sake of the one just Man, Jesus, God spared the city of man from destruction (see Jeremiah 5:1; Isaiah 53), “obliterating the bond against us,” as Paul says in this week’s Epistle.

On the Cross, Jesus bore the guilt of us all. He canceled the debt we owed to God, the death we deserved to die for our transgressions. We pray as ones who have been visited in our affliction and saved from our enemies, as ones who have been spared.

We pray always a prayer of thanksgiving, which is the literal meaning of “Eucharist.” We have realized the promise of this week’s Psalm: we worship in His holy temple, in the presence of angels, hallowing His name.

In confidence we ask, knowing that we will receive, that He will bring to completion what He has done for us—raising us from the dead, bringing us to everlasting life along with Him.

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

Ordinary Weekday / Optional Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary / Bridget of Sweden, Married Woman, Religious Founder First Reading: Jeremiah 7: 1-11
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 84: 3, 4, 5-6a and 8a, 11
Alleluia: James 1: 21bc
Gospel: Matthew 13: 24-30

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

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

Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene First Reading: Songs 3: 1-4b or Second Corinthians 5: 14-17
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 63: 2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9
Gospel: John 20: 1-2, 11-18

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

Ordinary Weekday / Lawrence of Brindisi, Priest, Religious, Doctor First Reading: Jeremiah 2: 1-3, 7-8, 12-13
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 36: 6-7ab, 8-9, 10-11
Alleluia: Matthew 11: 25
Gospel: Matthew 13: 10-17

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

Ordinary Weekday / Apollinarius, Bishop, Martyr First Reading: Jeremiah 1: 1, 4-10
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 71: 1-2, 3-4a, 5-6ab, 15 and 17
Gospel: Matthew 13: 1-9

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

Ordinary Weekday / Camillus de Lellis, Priest First Reading: Micah 6: 1-4, 6-8
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 50: 5-6, 8-9, 16bc-17, 21 and 23
Alleluia: Psalms 95: 8
Gospel: Matthew 12: 38-42

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

Readings:
Genesis 18:1–10
Psalm 15:2–5
Colossians 1:24–28
Luke 10:38–42

God wants to dwell with each of us personally, intimately—as the mysterious guests once visited Abraham’s tent, as Jesus once entered the home of Mary and Martha.

By his hospitality in this week’s First Reading, Abraham shows us how we are to welcome the Lord into our lives. His selfless service of his divine guests (see Hebrews 13:1) stands in contrast to the portrait of Martha drawn in this week’s Gospel.

Where Abraham is concerned only for the well-being of his guests, Martha speaks only of herself—”Do you not care that my sister has left me by myself . . . ? Tell her to help me.” Jesus’ gentle rebuke reminds us that we risk missing the divine in the mundane, that we can fall into the trap of believing that God somehow needs to be served by human hands (see Acts 17:25).

Our Lord comes to us not to be served but to serve (see Matthew 20:28). He gave His life that we might know the one thing we need, the “better part,” which is life in the fellowship of God.

Jesus is the true Son promised today by Abraham’s visitors (see Matthew 1:1). In Him, God has made an everlasting covenant for all time; He has made us blessed descendants of Abraham (see Genesis 17:19, 21; Romans 4:16–17, 19–21).

The Church now offers us this covenant, bringing to completion the word of God, the promise of His plan of salvation, what Paul calls “the mystery hidden for ages.”

As once He came to Abraham, Martha, and Mary, Christ now comes to each of us in Word and Sacrament. As we sing in this week’s Psalm: He will make His dwelling with those who keep His Word and practice justice (see also John 14:23).

If we do these things, we will not be anxious or disturbed. We will not have our Lord taken from us. We will wait on the Lord, Who told Abraham and Who tells each of us: “I will surely return to you.”

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

Ordinary Weekday / Optional Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary / Our Lady of Mount Carmel First Reading: Micah 2: 1-5
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 10: 1-2, 3-4, 7-8, 14
Alleluia: Second Corinthians 5: 19
Gospel: Matthew 12: 14-21

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

Bonaventure, Bishop, Religious, Doctor Obligatory Memorial First Reading: Isaiah 38: 1-6, 21-22, 7-8
Responsorial Psalm: Isaiah 38: 10, 11, 12abcd, 16
Alleluia: John 10: 27
Gospel: Matthew 12: 1-8

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

Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, Virgin Obligatory Memorial First Reading: Isaiah 26: 7-9, 11, 16-19
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 102: 13-14ab and 15, 16-18, 19-21
Alleluia: Matthew 11: 28
Gospel: Matthew 11: 28-30

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com