Hebrews 5:1-6

The Bible, it has been said, is a library. That is not to say there isn’t one sacred Author of all the books – God – who is revealing both in word and deed. It is to say that the Bible is not a single genre but is rather made up of many different genres. Within the Bible is poetry, historical narrative, apocalyptic, psalms, and many other styles of literature. What genre is The Letter to the Hebrews?

=======

Click To Learn More About ACTS XXIX

Support Thoughts from the Trailer with Fr. John Riccardo

All this is, indeed, extraordinarily beautiful. In prayer, you can contemplate this admirable love of God: Jesus "had to be made like his brethren in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful High Priest in the service of God". He has accepted humiliation, suffering and death with immense generosity.

Hebrews 4:14-16

=======

Click To Learn More About ACTS XXIX

Support Thoughts from the Trailer with Fr. John Riccardo

The saints knew that God had entrusted to them a mission in this life, a mission to both evangelize and go about the work of recreation and transformation of this world that He loves until Jesus returns and makes all things new. And while all the saints wrestled with sin (save our Lady), they eventually surrendered to His grace and became the true heroes of our race...

Scripture: Hebrews 4:12-13

=======

Click To Learn More About ACTS XXIX

Support Thoughts from the Trailer with Fr. John Riccardo

Who are we to God? We are family to God. And if we are family to God, then we are brothers and sisters to one another. Why is this so important to linger with? Because though this language is almost certainly familiar to most of us in the Church, the lived experience of being a family in the Church is probably not...

Scripture: Hebrews 2:9-11

=======

Click To Learn More About ACTS XXIX

Support Thoughts from the Trailer with Fr. John Riccardo

James isn’t telling us to sell everything and give it all to the poor. And Jesus only said that to one man, because that was the one thing that was holding him back from the fullness of life for which he was looking. Still, it is worth remembering that Jesus teaches us that wealth is a great danger. Why? ...

Scripture: James 5:1-6

=======

Click To Learn More About ACTS XXIX

Support Thoughts from the Trailer with Fr. John Riccardo

We frequently hold up St. Joan of Arc as an example of magnanimity. Her famous words – “I am not afraid. God is with me. I was born for this!” – are not proud, arrogant or boastful words; they’re words that flow from a greatness of soul...

Scripture: James 3:16-4:3

=======

Click To Learn More About ACTS XXIX

Support Thoughts from the Trailer with Fr. John Riccardo

What does it mean when Josephus says, “Repent and believe in me”? He’s certainly not telling someone “how to get to heaven.” He’s more or less saying, “Abandon your current way of acting (in this case, by waging war against Rome) and put your trust in me.” Such an exhortation relates to action...

(James 2:14-18)

=======

Click To Learn More About ACTS XXIX

Support Thoughts from the Trailer with Fr. John Riccardo

Here’s the simple truth: there are no unimportant people. Every. Single. Person. On. The. Face. Of. The. Earth. Is. Made. In. God’s. Image. And. Likeness. Every. Single. Person. On. The. Face. Of. The. Earth. Is. Worth. Dying. For. To. God.

Everyone.

May the Holy Spirit open our eyes today and every day to see others as He does. And to love them, speak to them, and speak of them, accordingly.

James 2: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James%202&version=RSV

=======

Click To Learn More About ACTS XXIX

Support Thoughts from the Trailer with Fr. John Riccardo

Even though we’re beginning to open up the letter of James this week, my mind is still lingering with the Gospel from last week (John 6:60-69). In fact, I might suggest there’s a connection between these words from James and all that John recorded in that most momentous passage.

James 1

=======

Click To Learn More About ACTS XXIX

Support Thoughts from the Trailer with Fr. John Riccardo

What do I do when I come across such texts? Do I come at the text presuming the Word of God is wrong, or do I approach it humbly, willing to do the work necessary so as to understand what’s being revealed to us by the Holy Spirit?

Ephesians 5:21-32

=======

Click To Learn More About ACTS XXIX

Support Thoughts from the Trailer with Fr. John Riccardo