Letters From Home

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

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

Lecturas:
Éxodo 20,1–17
Salmo 19, 8–11
1 Corintios 1, 22–25
Juan 2, 13–25

Jesús no viene para destruir la tradición que el Templo representa, sino para “darle cumplimiento” (cf. Mt 5,17); es decir, para revelar su verdadero significado dentro del plan de salvación de Dios.

El es el Señor de quien los profetas dijeron que vendría a purificar el Templo, echando afuera a los comerciantes y haciéndolo “casa de oración para todos los pueblos” (cf. Za 14,21; Ml 3,1–5; Is 56,7).

El Dios, que hizo los cielos y la tierra, que sacó a Israel de la esclavitud de Egipto, “no habita en casas fabricadas por manos humanas” (cf. Hch 7,48; 2S 7,6). Ni necesita sacrificios de novillos, ni ovejas ni palomas (cf. Sal 50,7–13).

En la primera lectura de este domingo es importante constatar que, en un principio, Dios no pedía sacrificios de animales, sino solo que Israel obedeciera sus mandamientos (cf. Jr 7,21–23; Am 5, 25).

Su ley fue un regalo de la sabiduría divina, como cantamos en el salmo. Es una Ley de Amor (cf. Mt 22, 36–40), expresada perfectamente en la entrega que Cristo hizo de sí mismo en la cruz (cf. Jn 15,13).

Este es el “signo” que Jesús ofrece en el evangelio: signo que fue “escándalo” para los líderes de los judíos, como dice San Pablo en la epístola.

El cuerpo de Jesús, destruido en la cruz y resucitado tres días después, es el Nuevo y verdadero Santuario. Desde el templo de su cuerpo salen ríos de agua viva, el Espíritu de gracia que hace de cada uno de nosotros un templo (cf. 1 Co 3,16) y nos constituye en morada de Dios (cf. Ef 2, 22).

Nosotros, en la Eucaristía, participamos en el ofrecimiento de su Cuerpo y Sangre. Este es el culto “en espíritu y verdad” que desea el Padre (cf. Jn 4, 23–24).

La alabanza es nuestro mejor sacrificio (cf. Sal 50,14.23). Esto consiste en imitar a Cristo “ofreciendo nuestros cuerpos”; es decir, todas nuestras intenciones y acciones por amor a Dios y al prójimo (Hb 10,5–7; Rom 12,1; 1P 2,5).

Readings:
Exodus 20:1–17
Psalm 19:8–11
1 Corinthians 1:22–25
John 2:13–25

Jesus does not come to destroy the temple, but to fulfill it (see Matthew 5:17)—to reveal its true purpose in God’s saving plan.

He is the Lord the prophets said would come—to purify the temple, banish the merchants, and make it a house of prayer for all peoples (see Zechariah 14:21; Malachi 3:1–5; Isaiah 56:7).

The God who made the heavens and the earth, who brought Israel out of slavery, does not dwell in sanctuaries made by human hands (see Acts 7:48; 2 Samuel 7:5).

Nor does He need offerings of oxen, sheep, or doves (see Psalm 50:7–13).

Notice in today’s First Reading that God did not originally command animal sacrifices—only that Israel heed His commandments (see Jeremiah 7:21–23; Amos 5:25).

His law was a gift of divine wisdom, as we sing in today’s Psalm. It was a law of love (see Matthew 22:36–40), perfectly expressed in Christ’s self-offering on the Cross (see John 15:13).

This is the “sign” Jesus offers in the Gospel today—the sign that caused Jewish leaders to stumble, as Paul tells us in the Epistle.

Jesus’ body—destroyed on the Cross and raised up three days later—is the new and true sanctuary. From the temple of His body, rivers of living water flow, the Spirit of grace that makes each of us a temple (see 1 Corinthians 3:16) and together builds us into a dwelling place of God (see Ephesians 2:22).

In the Eucharist we participate in His offering of His body and blood. This is the worship in Spirit and in truth that the Father desires (see John 4:23–24).

We are to offer praise as our sacrifice (see Psalm 50:14, 23). This means imitating Christ—offering our bodies—all our intentions and actions in every circumstance, for the love of God and the love of others (see Hebrews 10:5–7; Romans 12:1; 1 Peter 2:5).

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

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Friday of the Second Week of Lent by Dr. John Bergsma.

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

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

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

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

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

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

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

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

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

Readings:
Genesis 22:1–2, 9–13, 15–18
Psalm 116:10, 15–19
Romans 8:31–34
Mark 9:2–10

The Lenten season continues with another story of testing. Last Sunday, we heard the trial of Jesus in the desert. In this week’s First Reading, we hear of how Abraham was put to the test.

The Church has always read this story as a sign of God’s love for the world in giving His only-begotten son.

In today’s Epistle, Paul uses exact words drawn from this story to describe how God, like Abraham, did not withhold His only Son, but handed Him over for us on the Cross (see Romans 8:32; Genesis 22:12,16).

In the Gospel today, too, we hear another echo. Jesus is called God’s “beloved Son”—as Isaac is described as Abraham’s beloved son.

These readings are given to us in Lent to reveal Christ’s identity and to strengthen us in the face of our afflictions.

Jesus is shown to be the true son that Abraham rejoiced to see (see Matthew 1:1; John 8:56). In His transfiguration, He is revealed to be the “prophet like Moses” foretold by God—raised from among their own kinsmen, speaking with God’s own authority (see Deuteronomy 18:15, 19).

Like Moses, He climbs the mountain with three named friends and beholds God’s glory in a cloud (see Exodus 24:1, 9, 15). He is the one prophesied to come after Elijah’s return (see Sirach 48:9–10; Malachi 3:1, 23–24).

And, as He discloses to the Apostles, He is the Son of Man sent to suffer and die for our sins (see Isaiah 53:3).

As we sing in today’s Psalm, Jesus believed in the face of His afflictions, and God loosed Him from the bonds of death (see Psalm 116:3).

His rising should give us the courage to face our trials, to off er ourselves totally to the Father—as He did, as Abraham and Isaac did.

Freed from death by His death, we come to this Mass to offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and to renew our vows—as His servants and faithful ones.