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: Hebrews 2:14-18Mark 1:29-39 Reflection: Whenever I hear this Gospel being proclaimed, I am reminded of our trip to the Holy Land and the Basilica of the Nativity in Nazareth. » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Hebrews 2:5-12Mark 1:21-28 Reflection: Angels and Us So, Jesus became human… like, way “lower than the angels,” right? Makes you wonder, will we humans still be the low-ranking ones » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Hebrews 1:1-6Mark 1:14-20 Reflection: Mark’s gospel has no Christmas story, no manger or shepherds in Bethlehem, no Magi or star to lead them. And yet, the Christmas narrative is » Continue Reading.
Feast of the Baptism of the Lord Scripture: Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7Acts 10:34-38Luke 3:15-16, 21-22 Reflection: I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you » Continue Reading.
Scripture: 1 John 5:14-21John 3:22-30 Reflection: When John the Baptist declared of Jesus, “He must increase; I must decrease” (Jn 3.30), he meant that for others to know Jesus, John » Continue Reading.
Scripture: 1 John 5:5-13Luke 5:12-16 Reflection: My much younger friend recently vented about how overwhelming her life as a working parent can seem. I remember being the primary parent of » Continue Reading.
Scripture: 1 John 4:19-5:4Luke 4:14-22a Reflection: May You Enjoy Your Christmas Gifts Do you have a gift yet to be delivered, one under the soon-to-disappear tree sitting unclaimed? Could there » Continue Reading.
Scripture: 1 John 4:11-18Mark 6:45-52 Reflection: The first reading for today begins with a surprising statement: “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also must love one another.” As I » Continue Reading.
Scripture: 1 John 4:7-10Mark 6:34-44 Reflection: He said to them in reply, “Give them some food yourselves.” But they said to him, “Are we to buy two hundred days’ wages » Continue Reading.
Scripture: 1 John 3:22-4:6Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25 Reflection: Who among us has not paused to access major intersections of our lives . . . after high school plans, marriage, entering the » Continue Reading.