Letters From Home

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for the Memorial of St. Paul Miki & Companions by Dr. Shane Owens.

Paul Miki, Priest, Martyr, & Companions, Martyrs Obligatory Memorial First Reading: First Kings 8: 22-23, 27-30
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 84: 3, 4, 5 and 10, 11
Alleluia: Psalms 119: 36, 29b
Gospel: Mark 7: 1-13

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for the Memorial of St. Agatha by Dr. Scott Hahn.

Agatha, Virgin, Martyr Obligatory Memorial First Reading: First Kings 8: 1-7, 9-13
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 132: 6-7, 8-10
Alleluia: Matthew 4: 23
Gospel: Mark 6: 53-56

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

Readings:
Job 7:1–4, 6–7
Psalm 147:1–6
1 Corinthians 9:16–19, 22–23
Mark 1:29–39

In today’s First Reading, Job describes the futility of life before Christ.

His lament reminds us of the curse of toil and death placed upon Adam following his original sin (see Genesis 3:17–19). Men and women are like slaves seeking shade, unable to find rest. Their lives are like the wind that comes and goes.

But, as we sing in today’s Psalm, He who created the stars promised to heal the brokenhearted and gather those lost in exile from Him (see Isaiah 11:12; 61:1). We see this promise fulfilled in today’s Gospel.

Simon’s mother-in-law is like Job’s toiling, hopeless humanity. She is laid low by affliction but too weak to save herself.

But as God promised to take His chosen people by the hand (see Isaiah 42:6), Jesus grasps her by the hand and helps her up. The word translated “help” is actually Greek for “raising up.” The same verb is used when Jesus commands a dead girl to arise (see Mark 5:41–42). It’s used again to describe His own resurrection (see Mark 14:28; 16:7).

What Jesus has done for Simon’s mother-in-law, He has done for all humanity—raised all of us who lay dead through our sins (see Ephesians 2:5).

Notice all the words of totality and completeness in the Gospel. The whole town gathers; all the sick are brought to Him. He drives out demons in the whole of Galilee. Everyone is looking for Christ.

We too have found Him. By our baptism, He healed and raised us to live in His presence (see Hosea 6:1–2).

Like Simon’s mother-in-law, there is only one way we can thank Him for the new life He has given us. We must rise to serve Him and His gospel.

Our lives must be our thanksgiving, as Paul describes in today’s Epistle. We must tell everyone the good news, the purpose for which Jesus has come—that others, too, may have a share in this salvation.

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

Ordinary Weekday/ Optional Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary/ Blase, Bishop, Martyr/ Ansgar, Bishop, Missionary First Reading: First Kings 3: 4-13
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 119: 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14
Alleluia: John 10: 27
Gospel: Mark 6: 30-34

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord by Dr. John Bergsma.

Presentation of the Lord Feast First Reading: Malachi 3: 1-4
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 24: 7, 8, 9, 10
Second Reading: Hebrews 2: 14-18
Alleluia: Luke 2: 32
Gospel: Luke 2: 22-40 or Luke 2: 22-32

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

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

Ordinary Weekday First Reading: First Kings 2: 1-4, 10-12
Responsorial Psalm: First Chronicles 29: 10, 11ab, 11d-12a, 12bcd
Alleluia: Mark 1: 15
Gospel: Mark 6: 7-13

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

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

John Bosco, Priest, Religious Founder Obligatory Memorial First Reading: Second Samuel 24: 2, 9-17
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 32: 1-2, 5, 6, 7
Alleluia: John 10: 27
Gospel: Mark 6: 1-6

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

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

Ordinary Weekday First Reading: Second Samuel 18: 9-10, 14, 24-25a, 30 – 19: 3
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 86: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6
Alleluia: Matthew 8: 17
Gospel: Mark 5: 21-43 

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

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

Ordinary Weekday First Reading: Second Samuel 15: 13-14, 30; 16: 5-13
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 3: 2-3, 4-5, 6-7
Alleluia: Luke 7: 16
Gospel: Mark 5: 1-20

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

Readings:
Deuteronomy 18:15–20
Psalm 95:1–2, 6–9
1 Corinthians 7:32–35
Mark 1:21–28

Last week, Jesus announced the kingdom of God is at hand. This week, in mighty words and deeds, He exercises His dominion—asserting royal authority over the ruler of this world, Satan (see John 12:31).

Notice that today’s events take place on the sabbath. The sabbath was to be an everlasting sign—both of God’s covenant love for His creation (see Exodus 20:8–11; 31:12–17), and His deliverance of His covenant people, Israel, from slavery (see Deuteronomy 6:12–15).

On this sabbath, Jesus signals a new creation—that the Holy One has come to purify His people and deliver the world from evil.

“With an unclean spirit” is biblical language for a man possessed by a demon, Satan being the prince of demons (see Mark 3:22).

The demons’ question: “What have you to do with us?” is often used in Old Testament scenes of combat and judgment (see Judges 11:12; 1 Kings 17:18).

And as God by His Word “rebuked” the forces of chaos in creating the world (see Psalms 104:7; Job 26:10–12), and again rebuked the Red Sea so the Israelites could make their exodus (see Psalm 106:9), Mark uses the same word to describe Jesus rebuking the demons (see Mark 4:39; Zechariah 3:2).

Jesus is the prophet foretold by Moses in today’s First Reading (see Acts 3:22). Though He has authority over heaven and earth (see Daniel 7:14, 27; Revelation 12:10), He becomes one of our own kinsmen.

He comes to rebuke the forces of evil and chaos—not only in the world, but in our lives. He wants to make us holy in body and spirit, as Paul says in today’s Epistle (see Exodus 31:12).

In this liturgy, we hear His voice and “see” His works, as we sing in today’s Psalm. And as Moses tells us today, we should listen to Him.