Daily Scripture, September 13, 2025
Scripture:
Reflection:
Jesus often speaks in parables in the Gospel. He uses an image to describe what the kingdom of God is. Funny how the Scribes and Pharisees ask him to speak plainly. He reveals the meaning to His disciples! I will show you what a follower of mine looks like. One who builds their house on a firm foundation, one who has a firm foundation in God, the Rock. This is the house that can weather the storms, the daily afflictions and bombardments.
This day in 1810 inaugurated Mexico’s war for independence. A Catholic priest Miguel Hidalgo rang the church bells in 1810. In the form of grito, he “decried” Spanish oppression with an impassioned speech. The brutal war lasted nearly eleven years. To this day, the tradition continues with the Mexican president ringing the same 200+year bell at midnight and reciting the cry of pain.
The bell continues to ring out across our world; we hear the cries of the earth. The war in Ukraine persists. Incidents of gun violence are taking the lives of our children. With all these events, what is our firm foundation? We are crying out and searching for our firm foundation. Christ indeed says that in the world that you will have trouble. But also, to take courage because He has conquered the world. Let us hear these “gritos” and stretch out our hands to our needy brothers and sisters. God bless!
Fr. Phillip Donlan, CP, is the Associate Director of Ministry at Christ the King Passionist Retreat Center, Citrus Heights, California.
Scripture: Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18Philippians 3:17-4:1Luke 9:28b-36 Reflection: Last week, we reflected on the temptation of Jesus in the desert, when the devil tempted Jesus to betray His true self; to » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Deuteronomy 26:16-19Matthew 5:43-48 Reflection: Lenten Growth: Beyond the Ordinary Our Lenten journey continues…and today’s Scriptures offer insights into the growth that is part and parcel of Lent’s encouragement of » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Ezekiel 18:21-28Matthew 5:20-26 Reflection: In recent weeks, we’ve encountered Jesus’s sharp critique of hypocrisy, mainly directed at the religious leaders of his time. In modern English, he called them » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Esther C:12, 14-16, 23-25Matthew 7:7-12 Reflection: Several years ago, the husband of a dear friend was hospitalized suddenly in serious condition. Before taking him to surgery, the surgeon told » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Jonah 3:1-10Luke 11:29-32 Reflection: The Old Testament reading from the Book of Jonah describes Nineveh as “an enormously large city: it took three days to go through it”. In » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Isaiah 55:10-11Matthew 6:7-15 Reflection: Hidden in Plain Sight The Lord’s Prayer, as we know, contains seven petitions: Our father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.Thy kingdom comeThy » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Leviticus 19:1-2, 11-18Matthew 25:31-46 Reflection: Justice, mercy, honesty, and self-sacrificing service – these are the themes of Christian discipleship throughout Scripture, and very pointedly today. The reading from Leviticus » Continue Reading.
First Sunday of Lent Scripture: Deuteronomy 26:4-10Romans 10:8-13Luke 4:1-13 Reflection: Our Desert Journey Begins Our first Sunday of Lent always brings us to the desert where Jesus is tempted. On » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Isaiah 58:9b-14Luke 5:27-32 Reflection The Lenten message is simple, but easily missed and almost always quickly forgotten: If we do good things—if we especially seek justice for the poor » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Isaiah 58:1-9aMatthew 9:14-15 Reflection: Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me,and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of » Continue Reading.