The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary by Dr. John Bergsma.

Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Feast First Reading: Zephaniah 3: 14-18a or Romans 12: 9-16
Responsorial Psalm: Isaiah 12: 2-3, 4bcd, 5-6
Alleluia: Luke 1: 45
Gospel: Luke 1: 39-56

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The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Tuesday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time by Dr. Shane Owens.

Ordinary Weekday First Reading: Sirach 35: 1-12
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 50: 5-6, 7-8, 14 and 23
Alleluia: Matthew 11: 25
Gospel: Mark 10: 28-31

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The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church by Dr. Scott Hahn.

Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church First Reading: Genesis 3: 9-15, 20 or Acts 1: 12-14
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 87: 1-2, 3 and 5, 6-7
Gospel: John 19: 25-34

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Lecturas:
Hechos 2,1–11
Salmo 104,1, 24, 29–31, 34
1 Corintios 12, 3–7, 12–13
Juan 20,19–23

El don del Espíritu Santo al nuevo Pueblo de Dios es el acontecimiento que corona el plan de salvación del Padre.

La fiesta judía de Pentecostés convocaba a todos los judíos devotos a Jerusalén, para celebrar su nacimiento como pueblo escogido de Dios, bajo la Ley dada a Moisés en el Sinaí (cfr. Lv 23,15-21; Dt 16, 9–11).

La primera lectura de hoy nos muestra cómo los misterios prefigurados en esa fiesta se cumplen en el momento en que se derrama el Espíritu sobre María y los Apóstoles (cfr.Hch 2,14).

El Espíritu sella la nueva Ley y el nuevo pacto traído por Jesús, escrito no sobre tablas de piedra, sino sobre los corazones de los creyentes, según lo que prometieron los profetas (cfr. Jr 31,31–34; 2 Co 3, 2–8; Rm 8,2).

El Espíritu es revelado como el aliento dador de vida del Padre, la Voluntad por medio de la cual Él hizo todas las cosas, como nos dice el salmo de hoy.

En el principio, el Espíritu era “viento de Dios” que “aleteaba por encima de las aguas” (Gn 1,2). Y en la nueva creación de Pentecostés, ese mismo Espíritu viene como un “viento fuerte, impetuoso” para renovar la faz de la tierra.

Así como Dios modeló al primer hombre a partir del barro y lo llenó con su Espíritu (cfr. Gn 2,7), en el Evangelio de hoy vemos al Nuevo Adán que comparte el Espíritu vivificador, soplando sobre los apóstoles y dándoles nueva vida (cfr. 1 Co 15, 45.47).

Como río de agua viva para todas las generaciones, Él derramará su Espíritu mediante su Cuerpo, la Iglesia, como nos dice la epístola de hoy (ver también Jn 7, 37–39).

Recibimos ese Espíritu en los sacramentos; por el Bautismo somos hechos una “nueva creación” (cfr. 2 Co 5,17; Ga 6, 15).

Alimentándonos del único Espíritu en la Eucaristía (cfr. 1 Co 10, 4), somos los primeros frutos de una nueva humanidad, nacida de cada nación que existe bajo el cielo, sin distinciones de lengua, raza o condición social. Somos gente nacida del Espíritu.

Readings:
Acts 2:1–11
Psalm 104:1, 24, 29–31, 34
1 Corinthians 12:3–7, 12–13
John 20:19–23

The giving of the Spirit to the new people of God crowns the mighty acts of the Father in salvation history.

The Jewish feast of Pentecost called all devout Jews to Jerusalem to celebrate their birth as God’s chosen people in the covenant Law given to Moses at Sinai (see Leviticus 23:15–21; Deuteronomy 16:9–11).

In today’s First Reading, the mysteries prefigured in that feast are fulfilled in the pouring out of the Spirit on Mary and the Apostles (see Acts 1:14).

The Spirit seals the new law and new covenant brought by Jesus, written not on stone tablets but on the hearts of believers, as the prophets promised (see 2 Corinthians 3:2–8; Romans 8:2).

The Spirit is revealed as the life-giving breath of the Father, the Wisdom by which He made all things, as we sing in today’s Psalm. In the beginning, the Spirit came as a “mighty wind” sweeping over the face of the earth (see Genesis 1:2). And in the new creation of Pentecost, the Spirit again comes as “a strong, driving wind” to renew the face of the earth.

As God fashioned the first man out of dust and filled him with His Spirit (see Genesis 2:7), in today’s Gospel we see the New Adam become a life-giving Spirit, breathing new life into the Apostles (see 1 Corinthians 15:45, 47).

Like a river of living water, for all ages He will pour out His Spirit on His body, the Church, as we hear in today’s Epistle (see also John 7:37–39).

We receive that Spirit in the sacraments, being made a “new creation” in Baptism (see 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15). Drinking of the one Spirit in the Eucharist (see 1 Corinthians 10:4), we are the first fruits of a new humanity—fashioned from out of every nation under heaven, with no distinctions of wealth or language or race, a people born of the Spirit.

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

Easter Weekday/ Augustine of Canterbury, Bishop, Religious, Missionary First Reading: Acts 28: 16-20, 30-31
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 11: 4, 5 and 7
Alleluia: John 16: 7, 13
Gospel: John 21: 20-25

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The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for the Memorial of St. Philip Neri by Dr. John Bergsma.

Philip Neri, Priest Obligatory Memorial First Reading: Acts 25: 13b-21
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 103: 1-2, 11-12, 19-20ab
Alleluia: John 14: 26
Gospel: John 21: 15-19

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The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Thursday of the Seventh Week of Easter by Ms. Joan Watson.

Easter Weekday/ Venerable Bede, Priest, Religious, Doctor/ Gregory VII, Pope, Religious/ Mary Magdalene De’ Pazzi, Virgin, Religious First Reading: Acts 22: 30; 23: 6-11
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 16: 1-2a and 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11
Alleluia: John 17: 21
Gospel: John 17: 20-26

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The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Wednesday of the Seventh Week of Easter by Dr. John Bergsma.

Easter Weekday First Reading: Acts 20: 28-38
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 68: 29-30, 33-35a, 35bc-36ab
Alleluia: John 17: 17b, 17a
Gospel: John 17: 11b-19

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The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Tuesday of the Seventh Week of Easter by Dr. Shane Owens.

Easter Weekday First Reading: Acts 20: 17-27
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 68: 10-11, 20-21
Alleluia: John 14: 16
Gospel: John 17: 1-11a

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