Letters From Home

By St. Paul Center for Biblical TheologyReligion & Spirituality Christianity

Favorites
189
Followers
Typical duration
10 min
per episode
If it hooks
80%
finish an episode

Based on Podcast App listening data

Letters From Home episodes

January 15, 2022 In the Wedding: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Readings:
Isaiah 62:1–5
Psalm 96:1–3, 7–10
1 Corinthians 12:4–11
John 2:1–12

Think of these first weeks after Christmas as a season of “epiphanies.” The liturgy is showing us who Jesus is and what He has revealed about our relationship with God.

Last week and the week before, the imagery was royal and filial—Jesus is the newborn king of the Jews who makes us coheirs of Israel’s promise, beloved children of God. Last week in the liturgy we went to a baptism.

This week we’re at a wedding.

We’re being shown another dimension of our relationship with God. If we’re sons and daughters of God, it’s because we’ve married into the family.

Have you ever wondered why the Bible begins and ends with a wedding—Adam and Eve’s in the garden and the marriage supper of the Lamb (compare Genesis 2:23–24 and Revelation 19:9; 21:9; 22:17)?

Throughout the Bible, marriage is the symbol of the covenant relationship God desires with His chosen people. He is the groom, humanity His beloved and sought after bride. We see this reflected beautifully in today’s First Reading.

When Israel breaks the covenant, she is compared to an unfaithful spouse (see Jeremiah 2:20–36; 3:1–13). But God promises to take her back, to “espouse” her to Him forever in an everlasting covenant (see Hosea 2:18–22).

That’s why in today’s Gospel Jesus performs His first public “sign” at a wedding feast.

Jesus is the divine bridegroom (see John 3:29), calling us to His royal wedding feast (see Matthew 22:1–14). By His New Covenant, He will become “one flesh” with all humanity in the Church (see Ephesians 5:21–33). By our baptism, each of us has been betrothed to Christ as a bride to a husband (see 2 Corinthians 11:2).

The new wine that Jesus pours out at today’s feast is the gift of the Holy Spirit given to His bride and body, as today’s Epistle says. This is the “salvation” announced to the “families of nations” in today’s Psalm.
3 min
January 15, 2022 Following the Divine Physician - Saturday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Saturday of the First Week in Ordinary Time by Mr. Clement Harrold.
Ordinary Weekday / Optional Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary First Reading: First Samuel 9: 1-4, 17-19; 10: 1
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 21: 2-3, 4-5, 6-7
Alleluia: Luke 4: 18
Gospel: Mark 2: 13-17
Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com
14 min
January 14, 2022 God Works With Our Mistakes - Friday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Friday of the First Week in Ordinary Time by Dr. John Bergsma.
Ordinary Weekday First Reading: First Samuel 8: 4-7, 10-22a
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 89: 16-17, 18-19
Alleluia: Luke 7: 16
Gospel: Mark 2: 1-12
Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com
11 min
January 13, 2022 God Will Not Be Mocked - Thursday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Thursday of the First Week in Ordinary Time by Dr. James Merrick.
Ordinary Weekday / Hilary, Bishop, Doctor First Reading: First Samuel 4: 1-11
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 44: 10-11, 14-15, 24-25
Alleluia: Matthew 4: 23
Gospel: Mark 1: 40-45
Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com
11 min
January 12, 2022 How To Hold Dialogue With God - Wednesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Wednesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time by Dr. John Bergsma.
Ordinary Weekday First Reading: First Samuel 3: 1-10, 19-20
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 40: 2 and 5, 7-8a, 8b-9, 10
Alleluia: John 10: 27
Gospel: Mark 1: 29-39
Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com
11 min
January 10, 2022 A Sacrifice of Thanksgiving - Monday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Monday of the First Week in Ordinary Time by Dr. Scott Hahn.
Ordinary Weekday First Reading: First Samuel 1: 1-8
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 116: 12-13, 14-16, 18-19
Alleluia: Mark 1: 15
Gospel: Mark 1: 14-20
Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

18 min
January 08, 2022 The Anointing: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord
Readings:
Isaiah 42:1–4, 6–7
Psalm 29:1–4, 9–10
Acts 10:34–38
Luke 3:15–16, 21–22

The Liturgy last week revealed the mystery of God’s plan—that in Jesus all peoples, symbolized by the Magi, have been made “coheirs” to the blessings promised to Israel. This week, we’re shown how we claim our inheritance.

Jesus doesn’t submit to John’s baptism as a sinner in need of purification. He humbles Himself to pass through Jordan’s waters in order to lead a new “exodus”—opening up the promised land of heaven so that all peoples can hear the words pronounced over Jesus today, words once reserved only for Israel and its king: that each of us is a beloved son or daughter of God (see Genesis 22:2; Exodus 4:22; Psalm 2:7).

Jesus is the chosen servant Isaiah prophesies in today’s First Reading, anointed with the Spirit to make things right and just on earth. God puts His Spirit upon Jesus to make Him “a covenant of the people,” the liberator of the captives, the light to the nations. Jesus, today’s Second Reading tells us, is the One long expected in Israel, “anointed . . . with the Holy Spirit and power.”

The word messiah means “one anointed” with God’s Spirit. King David was “the anointed of the God of Jacob” (see 2 Samuel 23:1–17; Psalm 18:51; 132:10, 17). The prophets taught Israel to await a royal offshoot of David, upon whom the Spirit would rest (see Isaiah 11:1–2; Daniel 9:25).

That’s why the crowds are so anxious at the start of today’s Gospel. But it isn’t John they’re looking for. God confirms with His own voice what the angel earlier told Mary: Jesus is the Son of the Most High, come to claim the throne of David forever (see Luke 1:32–33).

In the Baptism that He brings, the voice of God will hover over the waters as a fiery flame, as we sing in today’s Psalm. He has sanctified the waters, made them a passageway to healing and freedom—a fountain of new birth and everlasting life.
4 min
January 08, 2022 The King as The Bridegroom - Saturday After The Epiphany
The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Saturday after the Epiphany by Mr. Clement Harrold.
Christmas Weekday First Reading: First John 5: 14-21
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 149: 1-2, 3-4, 5 and 6a and 9b
Alleluia: Matthew 4: 16
Gospel: John 3: 22-30
Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

11 min
January 07, 2022 How the Sacraments Give Us Our Identity - Friday After the Epiphany
The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Friday after the Epiphany by Dr. John Bergsma.
Christmas Weekday / Raymond of Peñafort, Priest First Reading: First John 5: 5-13
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 147: 12-13, 14-15, 19-20
Alleluia: Matthew 4: 23
Gospel: Luke 5: 12-16
Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com
13 min
January 06, 2022 God Is Not a Cosmic Therapist - Thursday After the Epiphany
The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Thursday after the Epiphany by Dr. James Merrick.
Christmas Weekday / André Bessette, Religious First Reading: First John 4: 19 – 5: 4
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 72: 1-2, 14 and 15bc, 17
Alleluia: Luke 4: 18
Gospel: Luke 4: 14-22
Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com
13 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.…