Letters From Home

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

First Reading: Romans 8: 12-17
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 68: 2 and 4, 6-7ab, 20-21
Alleluia: John 17: 17b, 17a
Gospel: Luke 13: 10-17

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

El evangelio de hoy es irónico. Un ciego, Bartimeo, es el primero en reconocer a Jesús como Mesías (aparte de los apóstoles). Su sanación es el último milagro que hace Cristo antes de entrar en la ciudad santa de Jerusalén, en la última semana de su vida en la tierra.

Today’s Gospel turns on an irony—it is a blind man, Bartimaeus, who becomes the first person outside of the Apostles to recognize Jesus as the Messiah. And his healing is the last miracle Jesus performs before entering the holy city of Jerusalem for His last week on earth.

Readings:
Jeremiah 31:7–9
Psalm 126:1–6
Hebrews 5:1–6
Mark 10:46–52

Today’s Gospel turns on an irony—it is a blind man, Bartimaeus, who becomes the first person outside of the Apostles to recognize Jesus as the Messiah. And his healing is the last miracle Jesus performs before entering the holy city of Jerusalem for His last week on earth.

The scene on the road to Jerusalem evokes the joyful procession prophesied by Jeremiah in today’s First Reading. In Jesus this prophecy is fulfilled. God, through the Messiah, is delivering His people from exile, bringing them back from the ends of the earth, with the blind and lame in their midst.

Jesus, as Bartimaeus proclaims, is the long-awaited Son promised to David (see 2 Samuel 7:12–16; Isaiah 11:9; Jeremiah 23:5). Upon His triumphal arrival in Jerusalem, all will see that the everlasting kingdom of David has come (see Mark 11:9–10).

As we hear in today’s Epistle, the Son of David was expected to be the Son of God (see Psalm 2:7). He was to be a priest-king like Melchizedek (see Psalm 110:4), who offered bread and wine to God Most High at the dawn of salvation history (see Genesis 14:18–20).

Bartimaeus is a symbol of his people, the captive Zion of whom we sing in today’s Psalm. His God has done great things for him. All his life has been sown in tears and weeping. Now, he reaps a new life.

Bartimaeus, too, should be a sign for us. How often Christ passes us by—in the person of the poor, in the distressing guise of a troublesome family member or burdensome associate (see Matthew 25:31–46)—and yet we don’t see Him.

Christ still calls to us through His Church, as Jesus sent His Apostles to call Bartimaeus. Yet how often are we found to be listening instead to the voices of the crowd, not hearing the words of His Church.

Today He asks us what He asks Bartimaeus: “What do you want me to do for you?” Rejoicing, let us ask the same thing of Him—what can we do for all that He has done for us?

Lecturas:
Jeremías 31, 7-9
Salmo 126, 1-6
Hebreos 5, 1-6
Marcos 10, 46-52

El evangelio de hoy es irónico. Un ciego, Bartimeo, es el primero en reconocer a Jesús como Mesías (aparte de los apóstoles). Su sanación es el último milagro que hace Cristo antes de entrar en la ciudad santa de Jerusalén, en la última semana de su vida en la tierra.

La escena en el camino a Jerusalén evoca la procesión gozosa profetizada por Jeremías en la primera lectura de hoy. La profecía se cumple en Cristo. Dios, por medio de su Mesías, libera a su pueblo del exilio, trayéndolo desde los confines de la tierra, con los ciegos y cojos andando entre los demás.

Jesús, como Bartimeo proclama, es el tan esperado Hijo prometido a David (2S 7, 12-16; Is 11, 1; Je 23, 5). Cuando entre triunfalmente en Jerusalén, todos reconocerán que el reino eterno de David ha llegado (Mc 11, 9-10).

Como escuchamos en la epístola de hoy, se esperaba que el Hijo de David fuera Hijo de Dios (cfr. Sal 2,7). Él estaba destinado a ser un sacerdote-rey, como Melquisedec (Sal 110, 4), quien ofreció pan y vino al Dios Altísimo en los albores de la historia de salvación (Gn 14, 18-20).

Bartimeo es símbolo de su gente, el pueblo cautivo de Sión, sobre el que cantamos en el salmo de hoy. Su Dios ha hecho grandes cosas por él. Toda su existencia había sido sembrada de lágrimas y llanto; ahora cosecha una nueva vida.

Bartimeo también debería ser un signo para nosotros. ¡Cuántas veces Cristo pasa delante nuestro en la persona del pobre, o disfrazado de miembro problemático de la familia o de compañero difícil (cfr. Mt 25, 31-46), y no lo vemos!

Cristo sigue llamándonos a través de su Iglesia, como llamó a Bartimeo por medio de sus apóstoles. Sin embargo, ¡cuántas veces nos halla escuchando a la muchedumbre y no a las enseñanzas de su Iglesia!

Hoy nos pregunta como a Bartimeo, “¿Que quieres que te haga?”. Con alegría, preguntémosle igualmente: “¿Qué quieres que hagamos en gratitud por todo lo que has hecho por nosotros?”.

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

Ordinary Weekday / Optional Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary / John of Capistrano, Priest

First Reading: Romans 8: 1-11

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 24: 1b-2, 3-4ab, 5-6

Alleluia: Ezekiel 33: 11

Gospel: Luke 13: 1-9

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

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

Ordinary Weekday / Optional Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary / John of Capistrano, Priest First Reading: Romans 8: 1-11
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 24: 1b-2, 3-4ab, 5-6
Alleluia: Ezekiel 33: 11
Gospel: Luke 13: 1-9

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

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

Ordinary Weekday / St. John Paul II, Pope First Reading: Romans 7: 18-25a
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 119: 66, 68, 76, 77, 93, 94
Alleluia: Matthew 11: 25
Gospel: Luke 12: 54-59

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

 

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

Ordinary Weekday / St. John Paul II, Pope

First Reading: Romans 7: 18-25a

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 119: 66, 68, 76, 77, 93, 94

Alleluia: Matthew 11: 25

Gospel: Luke 12: 54-59

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Thursday of the Twenty-ninth Week of Ordinary Time by Mr. Rory Mitrik.

First Reading: Romans 6: 19-23
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 1: 1-2, 3, 4 and 6
Alleluia: Philippians 3: 8-9
Gospel: Luke 12: 49-53

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com