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Daily Readings from the USCCBJesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people: “Hear another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey. When vintage time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce. But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat, another they killed, and a third they stoned…” Matthew 21:33–34Jesus addressed this parable to the chief priests and elders of the...

Daily Readings from the USCCBWhen the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. Luke 16:22–23Money is dangerous, as are power, notoriety, physical beauty, and exceptional talent. All of these are often desired, sought after, and envied. In and of themselves, each has the potential for great good. But because of that, they also have the potential for great sin. The Gospel passage...

Daily Readings from the USCCBThen the mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sons and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something. He said to her, “What do you wish?” She answered him, “Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your kingdom.” Matthew 20:20–21What a bold move by the mother of the sons of Zebedee! A common misconception at that time was that the Messiah would usher in a new political and earthly kingdom and those who held positions of power in this...

Daily Readings from the USCCBJesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice.” Matthew 23:1–3Why do you do what you do? Even when our actions appear good, reverent, or charitable, they can be motivated by pride. The scribes and Pharisees struggled with this very sin. They often performed their acts of piety and charity not to glorify God but to win...

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot held a call on Monday with his ​Chinese counterpart Wang Yi to discuss ‌the Iran war and both agreed to work on de-escalation, Barrot's office said in a statement. Both ministers ​committed to seeking a political solution ​that would guarantee collective security and take ⁠into account the aspirations of the ​Iranian people, the statement said. Barrot "reiterated the Iranian ​regime's responsibility for the ongoing escalation, after it unjustifiably attacked several countries in the region," the statement ​said. He also criticised the Iranian regime for ​refusing to respect the resolutions from the United Nations' ‌Security ⁠Council...

Daily Readings from the USCCBJesus said to his disciples: “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” Luke 6:36What is mercy? How is the Father in Heaven merciful? Suppose someone lived a life contrary to God’s will. When that person dies and stands before the Judgment Seat of God, will God, in His mercy, say, “That’s okay, you can enter Heaven even though you do not deserve it”? Or in our lives, if someone is living an openly sinful lifestyle that is objectively contrary to God’s moral law, should we say, “If living that way makes you happy, then I’m...

Daily Readings from the USCCB“Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” Matthew 17:4The Apostle Peter’s reaction to the Transfiguration reveals that he was overwhelmed by his firsthand experience of a glimpse of Jesus’ true glory. Not long before this moment, our Lord took His disciples north to Caesarea Philippi and asked them privately who they thought He was. Peter boldly proclaimed, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). In response, Jesus promised Peter that He...

By Dr. John BergsmaThis Sunday we are only eleven days into Lent, still very early along on our Lenten pilgrimage. The readings share the theme of beginning the journey of faith, even while giving us a glimpse of our final destination. In all three years of the lectionary cycle (A, B, C), the readings for the Second Sunday of Lent always pair a key pericope from the Abraham narrative (Genesis 12—22) with an account of the Transfiguration from one of the Synoptic Gospels. This is because, in all the Gospels, the Transfiguration marks “the beginning of the end” of Jesus’...

Daily Readings from the USCCBJesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you…” Matthew 5:43–44Why would we want to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us? The fallen natural mind alone reasons that an enemy is someone we should oppose and distance ourselves from, and those who persecute us deserve our wrath and condemnation. Without grace, our minds are incapable of comprehending this command. As the passage continues, Jesus answers...

Daily Readings from the USCCBJesus said to his disciples: “I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:20Imagine a wife asked her husband to go to the supermarket and pick up a pound of potatoes. Being literal, he went to the store, found a pound of potatoes, picked them up, set them back down, and returned home. When his wife asks where the potatoes are, he explains that they’re still at the store. Confused, she asks why he didn’t bring them home, and he responds,...

Daily Readings from the USCCBJesus said to his disciples: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:7–8Will God grant us whatever we ask for? Though one might conclude this from today’s Gospel, Jesus qualifies His statement by adding, “...how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him.” In other words, God always gives “good” things to...

Daily Readings from the USCCBWhile still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them, “This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah.” Luke 11:29Today’s Gospel takes place during the midpoint of Jesus’ public ministry. By this time, He had healed the sick, cast out demons, raised the dead, preached many powerful sermons, and changed many hearts. Despite that, many in the crowds did not believe in Him and demanded more signs. Additionally, the Pharisees were becoming increasingly hostile toward our Lord. In Luke’s Gospel,...

Daily Readings from the USCCBJesus said to his disciples: “In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. This is how you are to pray: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name…” Matthew 6:7–8Prayer is so essential to our spiritual lives that we should strive to live in a state of constant prayer, all day, every day. However, saying prayers is very different from truly praying. Jesus begins by teaching that...

Daily Readings from the USCCBJesus said to his disciples: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.” Matthew 25:31–32Throughout history, rulers have vied for power, and countless wars have been fought over ambitions for political control. Even in modern democracies, there is constant strife over who should lead. Yet, in the end, there will be only one King Who will...

A Reform government would move to give churches protected status to ensure they are not turned into mosques. The party’s new home affairs spokesman, Zia Yusuf, plans to “restore Britain’s Christian heritage” by enacting mass deportations of illegal migrants and persuading British expats to return to the country. He said renewing Britain’s Christian faith was imperative to restoring “cultural meaning” among young people and men in particular. Mr Yusuf, a practicing Muslim, told The Telegraph his first move would be to grant immediate and automatic listed status to churches across the UK. This means alterations affecting their historic character would...

Daily Readings from the USCCBFirst Sunday of LentAt that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry. The tempter approached and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.” Matthew 4:1–3In His great humility and compassion for us, Jesus, the Incarnate Son of God, allowed Himself to endure something that we sinful human beings encounter every day—temptation. God’s glorious plan from the beginning included the creation of both humans...

By Dr. John BergsmaThe Readings for this Sunday are exceptionally rich, so we will have to limit ourselves to following just a few themes. The First Reading is the account of the Fall, in which Eve, followed by Adam, gives in to temptation by eating the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. 2. Reading 1: Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7The LORD God formed man out of the clay of the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and so man became a living being. Then the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in...

Daily Readings from the USCCBJesus saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him. Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were at table with them. Luke 5:27–29Levi’s life changed in an instant. He encountered the Messiah, the Son of God, the Savior of the world, and in response to Jesus’ simple yet profound invitation—“Follow me”—Levi left everything behind and followed Him. This radical decision offers an inspiring witness...

Daily Readings from the USCCBThe disciples of John approached Jesus and said, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast much, but your disciples do not fast?” Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.” Matthew 9:14–15Fasting is an essential spiritual discipline. It signifies humility, repentance, and a sincere turning toward God, while also strengthening the virtue of temperance. This enables us to overcome inordinate desires for food, drink, and other appetites of the flesh. Given...

Daily Readings from the USCCB“If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself?” Luke 9:23–25Today’s Gospel presents us with one of the great paradoxes of our faith: the only way to save one’s life is to lose it by taking up Christ’s Cross and following Him. This truth defies human reason; we...