Letters From Home

Readings:
Deuteronomy 26:4–10
Psalm 91:1–2, 10–15
Romans 10:8–13
Luke 4:1–13

In today’s epic Gospel scene, Jesus relives in His flesh the history of Israel.

We’ve already seen that, like Israel, Jesus has passed through water and been called God’s beloved Son (see Luke 3:22; Exodus 4:22). Now, as Israel was tested for forty years in the wilderness, Jesus is led into the desert to be tested for forty days and nights (see Exodus 15:25).

He faces the temptations put to Israel: Hungry, He’s tempted to grumble against God for food (see Exodus 16:1–13). As Israel quarreled at Massah, He’s tempted to doubt God’s care (see Exodus 17:1–6). When the Devil asks for His homage, He’s tempted to do what Israel did in creating the golden calf (see Exodus 32).

Jesus fights the Devil with the Word of God, three times quoting from Moses’ lecture about the lessons Israel was supposed to learn from its wilderness wanderings (see Deuteronomy 8:3; 6:16, 12–15).

Why do we read this story on the first Sunday of Lent? Because like the biblical sign of forty (see Genesis 7:12; Exodus 24:18; 34:28; 1 Kings 19:8; Jonah 3:4), the forty days of Lent are a time of trial and purification.

Lent is to teach us what we hear over and over in today’s readings. “Call upon me, and I will answer,” the Lord promises in today’s Psalm. Paul promises the same thing in today’s Epistle (quoting Deuteronomy 30:14; Isaiah 28:16; Joel 2:32).

This was Israel’s experience, as Moses reminds his people in today’s First Reading: “We cried to the Lord . . . and He heard.” But each of us is tempted, as Israel was, to forget the great deeds He works in our lives, to neglect our birthright as His beloved sons and daughters.

Like the litany of remembrance Moses prescribes for Israel, we should see in the Mass a memorial of our salvation, and “bow down in His presence,” offering ourselves in thanksgiving for all He has given us.

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Saturday After Ash Wednesday by Mr. Clement Harrold.

Saturday after Ash Wednesday First Reading: Isaiah 58: 9b-14
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 86: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6
Verse Before the Gospel: Ezekiel 33: 11
Gospel: Luke 5: 27-32

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The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Friday after Ash Wednesday by Dr. John Bergsma.

Friday after Ash Wednesday / Casimir, Day of abstinence from meat (age 14 and up) First Reading: Isaiah 58: 1-9a
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 51: 3-4, 5-6ab, 18-19
Verse Before the Gospel: Amos 5: 14
Gospel: Matthew 9: 14-15

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The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Thursday after Ash Wednesday by Dr. James Merrick.

Thursday after Ash Wednesday / Katharine Drexel, Virgin, Religious Founder First Reading: Deuteronomy 30: 15-20
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 1: 1-2, 3, 4 and 6
Verse Before the Gospel: Matthew 4: 17
Gospel: Luke 9: 22-25

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The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Ash Wednesday by Dr. John Bergsma.

Ash Wednesday, Begin Lenten preparation for the Easter Triduum, NOT a holy day of obligation, Day of fast (ages 18-59) and abstinence from meat (age 14 and up) First Reading: Joel 2: 12-18
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 51: 3-4, 5-6ab, 12-13, 14 and 17
Second Reading: Second Corinthians 5: 20 – 6:2
Verse Before the Gospel: Psalms 95: 8
Gospel: Matthew 6: 1-6, 16-18 Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

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

Ordinary Weekday First: First Peter 1: 3-9
Psalm: Psalms 111: 1-2, 5-6, 9 and 10c
Alleluia: Second Corinthians 8: 9
Gospel: Mark 10: 17-27

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Readings:
Sirach 27:4–7
Psalm 92:2–3, 13–16
1 Corinthians 15:54–58
Luke 6:39–45

In today’s readings we hear Jesus speaking in Galilee as well as a Jewish sage named Sirach writing in Jerusalem more than a century earlier. The two of them touch upon a single truth: The words that come out of us make known the hidden thoughts within us. Speech reveals the secrets of the heart.

Sirach teaches that speaking is “the test of men” and their character. One who is upright will utter words that are truthful and encouraging to others. But one whose heart is cluttered with “refuse” will be exposed, since the “fruit” of his mouth speaks volumes about the “tree” that produces it. Sirach also compares the testing of our words to clay fired in a kiln—if properly prepared, a useful vessel emerges; but if the clay is not fully dried, it will break apart in the extreme heat.

In a similar way, Jesus insists that a person speaks “out of the abundance of the heart.” He too compares our speech, whether good or bad, to what grows on a tree: “For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit.”

Both readings urge us to make wholesome speech a habit. After all, much about who we are is brought to light through what we say. But there’s an additional step: The Lord is asking us to look inward, to examine our hearts and fill them with the “good treasure” that God desires.

Why do purity of heart and speech matter so much? Because, as Jesus declares elsewhere: “by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:37). They matter because they help to decide our final judgment, and this is where the Second Reading comes in. Paul reminds us that God will destroy death forever, and if we are to share in this victory and live forever with the Lord, then we must take all steps necessary to give our hearts and lips to what is good.

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

Ordinary Weekday / Optional Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary First: James 5: 13-20
Psalm: Psalms 141: 1-2, 3 and 8
Alleluia: Matthew 11: 25
Gospel: Mark 10: 13-16

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

Ordinary Weekday First: James 5: 9-12
Psalm: Psalms 103: 1-2, 3-4, 8-9, 11-12
Alleluia: John 17: 17b, 17a
Gospel: Mark 10: 1-12

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The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Thursday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time by Dr. James Merrick.

Ordinary Weekday First: James 5: 1-6
Psalm: Psalms 49: 14-15ab, 15cd-16, 17-18, 19-20
Alleluia: First Thessalonians 2: 13
Gospel: Mark 9: 41-50

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com