Letters From Home

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Tuesday of the First Week of Advent 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 First Week of Advent by Dr. Scott Hahn.

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

Lecturas:
Isaías 63,16–17.19; 64,2–7
Salmo 80, 2–3.15–16.18–19
1 Corintios 1, 3–9
Marcos 13, 33–37

El nuevo año de la Iglesia comienza con una petición de la visita de Dios: “¡Oh, si rasgases los cielos y bajases!”, clama el profeta Isaías en la primera lectura del domingo.

También en el salmo de hoy escuchamos la voz angustiada de Israel, que le implora a Dios mirar abajo desde su trono celestial, para salvar y pastorear a su pueblo.

Las lecturas de esta semana son relativamente breves. Su lenguaje y “mensaje” son aparentemente sencillos. Pero debemos advertir el tono grave y el aspecto penitencial de la Liturgia de hoy, en la que el pueblo de Israel reconoce su pecaminosidad, su fracaso en guardar la alianza de Dios, su incapacidad para salvarse a sí mismo.

Y nosotros, en este tiempo de adviento, también deberíamos ver nuestra propia vida en la experiencia de Israel. Al examinar nuestra conciencia, ¿no encontramos acaso que con frecuencia endurecemos nuestro corazón, rechazamos su ley, nos apartamos de sus caminos, le retenemos nuestro amor?

Dios es fiel, nos recuerda San Pablo en la epístola de esta semana. Él es nuestro Padre. Él ha escuchado el grito de sus hijos y ha descendido del cielo por el bien de Israel y por el nuestro; para rescatarnos de nuestro exilio de Dios, para restaurarnos a su amor.

En Jesús hemos visto al Padre (cf. Jn 14,8–9). El Padre ha hecho brillar su rostro sobre nosotros. Él es el buen pastor (cf. Jn 10, 11–15) venido para guiarnos al reino celestial. No importa qué tan lejos nos hayamos extraviado: Él nos dará una nueva vida si nos volvemos a Él, si apelamos a su santo Nombre, si prometemos de nuevo que nunca nos alejaremos de Él.

Como San Pablo dice esta semana, Él nos ha dado cada don espiritual – sobre todo la Eucaristía y la Penitencia – para fortalecernos mientras esperamos la última venida de Cristo. Él nos mantendrá firmes hasta el final… si se lo permitimos.

Por tanto, en este tiempo de arrepentimiento, debemos prestar atención a la advertencia que nuestro Señor repite tres veces en el Evangelio de esta semana, vigilar, pues no sabemos la hora en que regresará el Señor de la casa.

Readings:
Isaiah 63:16–17, 19
Psalm 80:2–3, 15–16, 18–19
1 Corinthians 1:3–9
Mark 13:33–37

The new Church year begins with a plea for God’s visitation. “Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down,” the prophet Isaiah cries in today’s First Reading.

In today’s Psalm, too, we hear the anguished voice of Israel, imploring God to look down from His heavenly throne—to save and shepherd His people.

Today’s readings are relatively brief. Their language and “message” are deceptively simple. But we should take note of the serious mood and penitential aspect of the Liturgy today—as the people of Israel recognize their sinfulness, their failures to keep God’s covenant, their inability to save themselves.

And in this Advent season, we should see our own lives in the experience of Israel. As we examine our consciences, can’t we, too, find that we often harden our hearts, refuse His rule, wander from His ways, withhold our love from Him?

God is faithful, Paul reminds us in today’s Epistle. He is our Father. He has hearkened to the cry of His children, coming down from heaven for Israel’s sake and for ours to redeem us from our exile from God, to restore us to His love.

In Jesus, we have seen the Father (see John 14:8–9). The Father has let His face shine upon us. He is the good shepherd (see John 10:11–15) come to guide us to the heavenly kingdom. No matter how far we have strayed, He will give us new life if we turn to Him, if we call upon His holy name, if we pledge anew never again to withdraw from Him.

As Paul says today, He has given us every spiritual gift—especially the Eucharist and penance—to strengthen us as we await Christ’s final coming. He will keep us firm to the end—if we let Him.

So, in this season of repentance, we should heed the warning—repeated three times by our Lord in today’s Gospel—to be watchful, for we know not the hour when the Lord of the house will return.

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

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

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

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com