Category: Bible Study

TURKEY TALK?

“Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!” –Revelation 18:2 The Scripture readings for today’s Eucharist do not seem appropriate for Thanksgiving Day in the U.S.A., especially the reference to “every filthy and disgusting bird” (Rv 18:2). Nevertheless, the Bible here is probably not referring to a turkey, but to the condition of Babylon, which “is a cage for every unclean spirit” (Rv 18:2). In Revelation, Babylon refers to Rome. Today, it possibly refers to the anti-Christian system of secular humanism. The Lord is telling us to break all ties with Babylon. Otherwise, we will be led astray by her sorcery (Rv...

NO COMPROMISE WITH THE SPOILER

“On the sea of glass were standing those who had won the victory over the beast and its image, and also the number that signified its name.” –Revelation 15:2 Mass Readings: November 23 First: Revelation 15:1-4; Resp: Psalm 98:1-3,7-9; Gospel: Luke 21:12-19 Satan does not expect to rally from being defeated by God’s angels. He knows he has lost his love for Jesus forever. All Satan can do is play the role of spoiler. He can’t get people to love him. All he can do is to try to get people not to love God with all their hearts (see...

GOD’S “HOT POTATO”

“Then, as I watched, a white cloud appeared, and on the cloud sat One like a Son of Man wearing a gold crown on His head and holding a sharp sickle in His hand.” –Revelation 14:14 Mass Readings: November 22 First: Revelation 14:14-19; Resp: Psalm 96:10-13; Gospel: Luke 21:5-11 Because God is Love (1 Jn 4:8, 16), He wants all to be saved (1 Tm 2:4) and none damned (see 2 Pt 3:9). He wants all of us to be with Him forever in the perfect happiness of heaven. Because God is Love, He wants to love us and be...

ANOTHER COLLECTION

Jesus “saw the rich putting their offerings into the treasury, and also a poor widow putting in two copper coins.” –Luke 21:1-2 Mass Readings: November 21 First: Revelation 14:1-5; Resp: Psalm 24:1-6; Gospel: Luke 21:1-4 Because Jesus is the same today as He was yesterday (Heb 13:8), He is still observing us as we put our offerings in the collection. However, collections do not take place only at church. For example, the Lord takes up a collection every day from those He has joined together in marriage, for He has made marriage to be a life of total self-giving. In...

THE KING OF CONTROVERSY

“There was an inscription over His head: ‘THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.’ ” –Luke 23:38 Mass Readings: November 20 First: 2 Samuel 5:1-3; Resp: Psalm 122:1-5 ; Second: Colossians 1:12-20; Gospel: Luke 23:35-43 In 1926, between the two world wars, Pope Pius XI instituted this feast of Christ the King. In so doing, the Church was making a statement that its members were to give their absolute allegiance to no government or person but only to Christ, the King of kings. Thus, we can see why this feast and Jesus’ claim to be the King of kings may...