Letters From Home

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

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

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

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

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The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for the Memorial of St. Irenaeus by Dr. James Merrick.

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

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

Lecturas:
1 Reyes 19, 16–21
Salmo 16,1–2.5.7–11
Gálatas 5,1.13–18
Lucas 9,51–62

En la primera lectura de esta semana, al discípulo de Elías se le permite dar el beso de despedida a sus papás antes de disponerse a seguir la llamada del profeta.

Pero estamos llamados a seguir a alguien más grande que Elías. Eso es lo que la liturgia de esta semana nos quiere decir.

En el Bautismo, nos hemos revestido con el manto de Cristo, fuimos llamados a la casa de un nuevo Padre; en el reino de Dios se nos dio una nueva familia. Hemos sido llamados a dejar nuestras vidas pasadas y nunca mirar atrás; a seguirle a donde quiera que nos guíe.

Elías fue arrebatado en un torbellino y su discípulo recibió una doble porción de su espíritu (cfr. 2 Re 2,9–15). También Jesús, como nos recuerda el Evangelio, fue “arrebatado” (cfr. Hch 1,2.11.22), y nos dio su Espíritu para que tuviéramos vida y para guiarnos en nuestro camino a su reino.

Y en esta semana la epístola nos dice que la llamada de Jesús sacude el yugo de toda servidumbre, nos libera de los rituales la Antigua Ley, nos muestra que la Ley se cumple en el seguimiento de Jesús y en servirnos unos a otros por amor.

Su llamada dispone nuestras manos para un nuevo arado, una nueva tarea: ser mensajeros enviados a preparar a todos los pueblos para conocer a Cristo y entrar en su Reino.

Elías bajó fuego del cielo para consumir a quienes no quisieron aceptar a Dios (cfr. 2 Re 1,1–16). Pero a nosotros nos acompaña un Espíritu diferente.

Vivir por el Espíritu de Cristo implica enfrentar oposición y rechazo, como lo experimentaron los apóstoles en el Evangelio de esta semana. Es como vivir en el exilio sin tener ciudad fija, sin un lugar en este mundo al cual llamarle hogar o donde reclinar la cabeza.

Sin embargo, en el salmo de hoy escuchamos la voz de Aquel a quien seguimos (cfr. Hch 2,25–32; 13,35–37). Nos llama a apropiarnos de su fe, a soportar las dificultades con la confianza en que Él no nos abandonará, en que nos mostrará el “camino del amor” y nos guiará a la alegría plena de su presencia para siempre.

Readings:
1 Kings 19:16–21
Psalm 16:1–2, 5, 7–11
Galatians 5:1, 13–18
Luke 9:51–62

In this week’s First Reading, Elijah’s disciple is allowed to kiss his parents goodbye before setting out to follow the prophet’s call.

But we are called to follow a “greater than Elijah”, this week’s Liturgy wants us to know.

In Baptism, we have put on the cloak of Christ, been called to the house of a new Father, and been given a new family in the kingdom of God. We have been called to leave behind our past lives and never look back—to follow wherever He leads.

Elijah was taken up in a whirlwind and his disciple was given a double portion of his spirit (see 2 Kings 2:9–15).

Jesus too, the Gospel reminds us, was “taken up” (see Acts 1:2, 11, 22), and He gave us His Spirit to live by, to guide us in our journey in His kingdom.

As this week’s Epistle tells us, the call of Jesus shatters the yoke of every servitude, sets us free from the rituals of the old Law, and shows us the Law’s fulfillment in the following of Jesus, in serving one another through love.

His call sets our hands to a new plow, a new task—to be His messengers, sent ahead to prepare all peoples to meet Him and enter into His Kingdom.

Elijah called down fire to consume those who wouldn’t accept God (see 2 Kings 1:1–16). But we have a different Spirit with us.

To live by His Spirit is to face opposition and rejection, as the Apostles do in this week’s Gospel. It is to feel like an exile, with no lasting city (see Hebrews 13:14), no place in this world to lay our head or call home.

But we hear the voice of the One we follow in this week’s Psalm (see Acts 2:25–32; 13:35–37). He calls us to make His faith our own—to abide in confidence that He will not abandon us, that He will show us “the path to life,” leading us to the fullness of joy in His presence forever.

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for the Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary by Mr. Clement Harrold.

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The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus by Dr. John Bergsma.

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