Letters From Home

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Friday after Ash Wednesday by Dr. John Bergsma.

Friday after Ash Wednesday, Day of Abstinence from Meat (Age 14 and Up) First Reading: Isaiah 58: 1-9a
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 51: 3-4, 5-6ab, 18-19
Verse Before the Gospel: Amos 5: 14
Gospel: Matthew 9: 14-15

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The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Thursday after Ash Wednesday by Ms. Joan Watson.

Thursday after Ash Wednesday First Reading: Deuteronomy 30: 15-20
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 1: 1-2, 3, 4 and 6
Verse Before the Gospel: Matthew 4: 17
Gospel: Luke 9: 22-25

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The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Ash Wednesday by Dr. John Bergsma.

Ash Wednesday, Begin Lenten Preparation for the Easter Triduum, Not a Holy Day of Obligation, Day of Fast (Ages 18-59) and Abstinence from Meat (Age 14 and Up) First Reading: Joel 2: 12-18
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 51: 3-4, 5-6ab, 12-13, 14 and 17
Second Reading: Second Corinthians 5: 20 – 6:2
Verse Before the Gospel: Psalms 95: 8
Gospel: Matthew 6: 1-6, 16-18

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

Ordinary Weekday First Reading: James 1: 12-18
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 94: 12-13a, 14-15, 18-19
Alleluia: John 14: 23
Gospel: Mark 8: 14-21

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

Ordinary Weekday First Reading: James 1: 1-11
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 119: 67, 68, 71, 72, 75, 76
Alleluia: John 14: 6
Gospel: Mark 8: 11-13

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Readings:
Lv 13:1–2, 44–46
Ps 32:1–2, 5, 11
1 Cor 10:31–11:1
Mk 1:40–45

In the Old Testament, leprosy is depicted as punishment for disobedience of God’s commands (see Numbers 12:12–15; 2 Kings 5:27; 15:5).

Considered “unclean”—unfit to worship or live with the Israelites, lepers are considered “stillborn,” the living dead (see Numbers 12:12). Indeed, the requirements imposed on lepers in today’s First Reading—rent garments, shaven head, covered beard—are signs of death, penance, and mourning (see Leviticus 10:6; Ezekiel 24:17).

So there’s more to the story in today’s Gospel than a miraculous healing.

When Elisha, invoking God’s name, healed the leper, Naaman, it proved there was a prophet in Israel (see 2 Kings 5:8). Today’s healing reveals Jesus as far more than a great prophet—He is God visiting His people (see Luke 7:16).

Only God can cure leprosy and cleanse from sin (see 2 Kings 5:7); and only God has the power to bring about what He wills (see Isaiah 55:11; Wisdom 12:18).

The Gospel scene has an almost sacramental quality about it.

Jesus stretches out His hand—as God, by His outstretched arm, performed mighty deeds to save the Israelites (see Exodus 14:6; Acts 4:30). His ritual sign is accompanied by a divine word (“Be made clean”). And, like God’s word in creation (“Let there be”), Jesus’ word “does” what He commands (see Psalm 33:9).

The same thing happens when we show ourselves to the priest in the sacrament of penance. On our knees like the leper, we confess our sins to the Lord, as we sing in today’s Psalm. And through the outstretched arm and divine word spoken by His priest, the Lord takes away the guilt of our sin.

Like the leper we should rejoice in the Lord and spread the good news of His mercy. We should testify to our healing by living changed lives. As Paul says in today’s Epistle, we should do even the littlest things for the glory of God and that others may be saved.

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for the Memorial of St. Scholastica by Mr. Clement Harrold.

Scholastica, Virgin, Religious Obligatory Memorial First Reading: First Kings 12: 26-32; 13: 33-34
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 106: 6-7ab, 19-20, 21-22
Alleluia: Matthew 4: 4b
Gospel: Mark 8: 1-10

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

Ordinary Weekday First Reading: First Kings 11: 29-32; 12: 19
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 81: 10-11ab, 12-13, 14-15
Alleluia: Acts 16: 14b
Gospel: Mark 7: 31-37

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The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Thursday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time by Ms. Joan Watson.

Ordinary Weekday/ Jerome Emiliani, Priest, Religious Founder/ Josephine Bakhita, Virgin First Reading: First Kings 11: 4-13
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 106: 3-4, 35-36, 37 and 40
Alleluia: James 1: 21bc
Gospel: Mark 7: 24-30

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The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Wednesday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time by Dr. John Bergsma.

Ordinary Weekday First Reading: First Kings 10: 1-10
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 37: 5-6, 30-31, 39-40
Alleluia: John 17: 17b, 17a
Gospel: Mark 7: 14-23

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