Letters From Home

By St. Paul Center for Biblical TheologyReligion & Spirituality Christianity

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Letters From Home episodes

January 28, 2022 The Davidic Royal Method of Parables - Friday The Memorial of St. Thomas Aquinas
The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Friday the Memorial of St. Thomas Aquinas by Dr. John Bergsma.
Thomas Aquinas, Priest, Religious, Doctor Obligatory Memorial First: Second Samuel 11: 1-4a, 5-10a, 13-17
Psalm: Psalms 51: 3-4, 5-6a, 6bcd-7, 10-11
Alleluia: Matthew 11: 25
Gospel: Mark 4: 26-34
Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

15 min
January 27, 2022 How Confidence in God Inspires True Humility - Thursday the Third week in Ordinary Time

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Thursday the Third week in Ordinary Time by Dr. James Merrick.
Ordinary Weekday / Angela Merici, Virgin, Religious Founder First: Second Samuel 7: 18-19, 24-29
Psalm: Psalms 132: 1-2, 3-5, 11, 12, 13-14
Alleluia: Psalms 119: 105
Gospel: Mark 4: 21-25
Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

9 min
January 26, 2022 How Do We Become The Rich Soil? - The Memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus
The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Wednesday the Memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus by Dr. John Bergsma.
Timothy and Titus, Bishops Obligatory Memorial First: Second Timothy 1: 1-8 or Titus 1: 1-5
Psalm: Psalms 96: 1-2a, 2b-3, 7-8a, 10
Gospel: Mark 4: 1-20 Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com
14 min
January 24, 2022 The Unforgivable Sin - The Memorial of St. Francis de Sales
The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for the Memorial of St. Francis de Sales by Dr. Scott Hahn.
Francis de Sales, Bishop, Religious Founder, Doctor Obligatory Memorial First Reading: Second Samuel 5: 1-7, 10
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 89: 20, 21-22, 25-26
Alleluia: Second Timothy 1: 10
Gospel: Mark 3: 22-30
Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com
18 min
January 22, 2022 New Day Dawns: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Readings:
Nehemiah 8:2–6, 10
Psalms 19:8–10, 15
1 Corinthians 12:12–30
Luke 1:1–4, 4:14–21

The meaning of today’s liturgy is subtle and many-layered.

We need background to understand what’s happening in today’s First Reading.

Babylon having been defeated, King Cyrus of Persia decreed that the exiled Jews could return home to Jerusalem. They rebuilt their ruined temple (see Ezra 6:15–17) and under Nehemiah finished rebuilding the city walls (see Nehemiah 6:15).

The stage was set for the renewal of the covenant and the re-establishment of the Law of Moses as the people’s rule of life. That’s what’s going on in today’s First Reading, as Ezra reads and interprets (see Nehemiah 8:8) the Law and the people respond with a great “Amen!”

Israel, as we sing in today’s Psalm, is rededicating itself to God and His Law. The scene seems like the Isaiah prophecy that Jesus reads from in today’s Gospel.

Read all of Isaiah 61. The “glad tidings” Isaiah brings include these promises: the liberation of prisoners (61:1); the rebuilding of Jerusalem, or Zion (61:3–4; see also Isaiah 60:10); the restoration of Israel as a kingdom of priests (61:6; Exodus 19:6); and the forging of an everlasting covenant (61:8; Isaiah 55:3). It sounds a lot like the First Reading.

Jesus, in turn, declares that Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled in Him. The Gospel scene, too, recalls the First Reading. Like Ezra, Jesus stands before the people, is handed a scroll, unrolls it, then reads and interprets it (compare Luke 4:16–17, 21 and Nehemiah 8:2–6, 8–10).

We witness in today’s Liturgy the creation of a new people of God. Ezra started reading at dawn of the first day of the Jewish new year (see Leviticus 23:24). Jesus also proclaims a “sabbath,” a great year of Jubilee, a deliverance from slavery to sin, a release from the debts we owe to God (see Leviticus 25:10).

The people greeted Ezra “as one man.” And, as today’s Epistle teaches, in the Spirit the new people of God—the Church—is made “one body” with Him.
3 min
January 22, 2022 King David and the Christian Life - The Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children
The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for The Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children by Mr. Clement Harrold.
Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children Obligatory Memorial First Reading: Second Samuel 1: 1-4, 11-12, 19, 23-27
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 80: 2-3, 5-7
Alleluia: Acts 16: 14b
Gospel: Mark 3: 20-21
Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com
13 min
January 21, 2022 It's Not About the Man, It's the Office - The Memorial of St. Agnes
The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for the Memorial of St. Agnes by Dr. John Bergsma.
Agnes, Virgin, Martyr Obligatory Memorial First: First Samuel 24: 3-21
Psalm: Psalms 57: 2, 3-4, 6 and 11
Alleluia: Second Corinthians 5: 19
Gospel: Mark 3: 13-19 Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com
15 min
January 20, 2022 How Envy Distorts Your Perception - Thursday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Thursday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time by Dr. James Merrick.
Ordinary Weekday / Fabian, Pope, Martyr / Sebastian, Martyr First Reading: First Samuel 18: 6-9; 19: 1-7
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 56: 2-3, 9-10a, 10b-12, 13-14
Alleluia: Second Timothy 1: 10
Gospel: Mark 3: 7-12
Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com
10 min
January 19, 2022 Why We Should Put Our Faith Into Action - Wednesday in the Second Week of Ordinary Time
The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Wednesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time by Dr. John Bergsma.
Ordinary Weekday First: First Samuel 17: 32-33, 37, 40-51
Psalm: Psalms 144: 1b, 2, 9-10
Alleluia: Matthew 4: 23
Gospel: Mark 3: 1-6 Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com
16 min
January 17, 2022 The Logic of Love - The Memorial of St. Anthony the Great
The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for the Memorial of St. Anthony the Great by Dr. Scott Hahn.
Anthony, Abbot Obligatory Memorial First Reading: First Samuel 15: 16-23
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 50: 8-9, 16bc-17, 21 and 23
Alleluia: Hebrews 4: 12
Gospel: Mark 2: 18-22
Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com
16 min

About Letters From Home

From the publisher's feed

Letters From Home is the Daily Scripture Reflections podcast from the St. Paul Center. Our commentators, Dr. Scott Hahn, Dr. John Bergsma, Dr. Shane Owens, Dr. Jeffrey Morrow, Ms. Joan Watson, and Mr.…