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: Jeremiah 31:1-7Matthew 15:21-28 Reflection: Then Jesus said to her in reply, ‘O woman, great is your faith!Let it be done for you as you wish.’ And her daughter was » Continue Reading.
Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord Scripture: Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14Mark 9:2-10 Reflection: The two great prophets, Moses and Elijah just couldn’t get a break. Both were called by the » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Jeremiah 28:1-17Matthew 14:13-21 Reflection: What is the mission of the Church? Back in my student days, I had a teacher who asked this question a couple of times a » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Exodus 16:2-4,12-15Ephesians 4:7, 20-24John 6:24-35 Reflection: A Hearty Appetite for the Lord The readings for the 18th Sunday in Ordinary time stretch our faith using a very familiar human » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Jeremiah 26:11-16, 24Matthew 14:1-12 Reflection: It is innocent blood you bring on yourselves, on this city and its citizens. For in truth, it was the Lord who sent me » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Jeremiah 26:1-9Matthew 13:54-58 Reflection: Two whistleblowers, Allan McDonald and Roger Boisjoly, engineers at Morton Thiokol Inc., testified before the Rogers Commission investigating the 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. They » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Jeremiah 18:1-6Matthews 13:47-53 Reflection: Jesus, in the 13th chapter of Matthew’s Gospel, shares seven parables with the crowds and the apostles. In today’s reading, we hear about the net » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Jeremiah 15:10, 16-21Matthew 13:44-16 Reflection: Happy Wednesday in the 17th Week of Ordinary Time! “What would you do for a Klondike Bar?” Do you remember the ad campaign for » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Jeremiah 14:17-22Matthew 13:36-43 Reflection: Once again our Scriptures give us a blueprint to help us grow in relationship with our God if we so choose. We read in the » Continue Reading.
Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus Scripture: 1 John 4:7–16Luke 10:38–42 Reflection: “God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him.” 1Jn » Continue Reading.