Tagged: verse for the day

“I kneel before the Father from Whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name; and I pray.” –Ephesians 3:14-16 Today’s first reading is possibly the greatest family prayer ever. It teaches us that, when we pray for our family and others, we should first of all pray for “gifts in keeping with the riches of His glory” (Eph 3:16). Family life is humanly impossible. We must admit this and then pray for supernatural gifts from God. The demands of family life are overwhelming. The only way we will survive is by asking for and receiving inward strength...

“Be like men awaiting their master’s return from a wedding, so that when he arrives and knocks, you will open for him without delay.” –Luke 12:36 Jesus says that when we knock, the door will be opened for us (Mt 7:7). God neither sleeps nor slumbers (Ps 121:4); He is always ready to answer our knocking. Scripture also reveals that Jesus knocks on our door. He says: “Here I stand, knocking at the door” (Rv 3:20). Will we open for Him without delay? (Lk 12:36) We are to make the most of the present opportunity (Eph 5:16). To do so,...

“Teacher, tell my brother to give me my share of our inheritance.” –Luke 12:13 In the ancient world, receiving an inheritance was a make-or-break deal for the rest of one’s life. Not getting his share of the inheritance he was entitled to could have possibly doomed this man to poverty. Was Jesus insensitive to this man’s request to have his brother share the inheritance he had coming? It sounds that way. Yet Jesus has a heavenly perspective. He is trying to persuade people to focus on what does not fade away. He is concerned with higher things (see Col 3:2)....

“Then the Pharisees went off and began to plot how they might trap Jesus in speech.” —Matthew 22:15 The disciples of the Pharisees tried to trap Jesus by asking Him the question: “Is it lawful to pay tax to the emperor or not?” (Mt 22:17) If Jesus would answer: “Pay taxes to Rome,” He would lose His popularity with the masses of simple people who comprised the great majority of His followers. These simple folks were Jews who naturally opposed their conquerors and oppressors, the Romans. The Pharisees encouraged Jesus to disappoint His followers by reminding Him that He didn’t...