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Daily Reflections

Daily Scripture, September 17, 2025

Scripture:

1 Timothy 3:14-16
Luke 7:31-35

Reflection:

Our readings today might aptly be described as a “lesson on manners,” a brief but very insightful tutorial on how Christians ought and ought not to behave. In the passage from 1 Timothy, we are reminded that through baptism we were incorporated into “the household of God.” Even though all of us belong to multiple “households” (family, friendships, local communities, groups and organizations), none should ever become more important than the household of God, which is “the Church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth.” The household of God is our true place of belonging, the foundation and center of our lives; no other “household” should ever supplant it.

Lest we think the household of God is a haphazard collection of individuals, each doing as he or she pleases, the writer insists that every member should “know how to behave in the household of God.” That’s because as we grow as members of that household, we are initiated into the ways of God that have been revealed to us in Christ. By learning the “manners” of Christ, we can fulfill our baptismal vocation of witnessing Christ in our lives until, as 1 Timothy promises, he is “believed in throughout the world.”

By contrast, today’s strange nugget of a gospel shows us how not to behave; it is a pithy, if initially perplexing, lesson in “bad manners.” Jesus zeroes in on people who are always finding fault, always criticizing, and using that as an excuse to reject the message as well as the messenger. John the Baptist comes along, and rather than taking his message to heart, they declare, “He is possessed by a demon.” Then Jesus stands right in front of them, and rather than opening their hearts to receive him, they mock him as “a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.” As a result, they stay exactly as they were, untouched, unchanged, unredeemed. That’s not only bad manners; it’s also an inconsolable tragedy.

Paul J. Wadell is Professor Emeritus of Theology & Religious Studies at St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wisconsin, and a member of the Passionist Family of Holy Cross Province.

Daily Scripture, November 27, 2014

  Thanksgiving Day (USA)  Scripture: Revelation 18:1-2, 21-23; 19:1-3, 9a Luke 21:20-28       Reflection: Thanksgiving Day – and the Attitude of Gratitude Arcadia is a 1993 play by » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, November 26, 2014

Scripture: Revelation 15:1-4 Luke 21:12-19 Reflection: Holidays have the tendency to lose their connectedness to their origins.  I suppose it is inevitable.  None of us were there at the first » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, November 25, 2014

Feast of St. Catherine of Alexandria Scripture: Revelations 14:14-19 Luke 21:5-11 Reflection: St. Catherine of Alexandria was a learned woman, a convert to Christianity at the age of eighteen. She » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, November 24, 2014

Scripture: Revelations 14:1-3, 4b-5 Luke 21:1-4 Reflection: He said, "I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; for those others have all made offerings » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, November 21, 2014

Presentation of Mary in the Temple Scripture: Revelations  10:8-11 Matthew 12:46-50 Reflection: There is no scriptural account of Mary’s presentation in the temple, by her parents, Joachim and Ann.  Apparently » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, November 20, 2014

Scripture: Revelations 5:1-10 Luke 19:41-44 Reflection: The readings today describe contrasting moments in the life of the people of God and of every disciple of Jesus.  The first reading from » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, November 23, 2014

Scripture: Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-17 1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 28 Matthew 25:31-46 Reflection: As I write this, many in the U.S. are waiting to see what will happen in Ferguson, MO, when » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, November 19, 2014

Scripture: Revelation 4:1-11 Luke 19:11-28 Reflection: "Come up here and I will show you what must happen afterwards." Revelation 4:1 The two readings for today’s Mass sent me to the » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, November 17, 2014

Scripture: Revelation 1:1-4; 2:1-5 Luke 18:35-43 Reflection: For the next several weeks we will have readings from this strange and unique book called Revelation, or in Greek, Apocalypse. It abounds » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, November 22, 2014

Scripture: Revelations 11:4 – 12 Luke 20:27 – 40 Reflection: How often have we heard or even participated in conversations which include something of the following:  "I try not to » Continue Reading.

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