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The Love that Compels

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Daily Reflections

Daily Scripture, September 16, 2025

Scripture:

1 Timothy 3:1-13
Luke 7:11-17

Reflection:

Beloved, this saying is trustworthy. 1 Timothy 3:1

Last week, as I was preparing for this homily, I read the first reading for the Saturday Mass, a reading from St. Paul’s letter to Timothy, St. Paul states: “This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance.” (I Tim. 1:15) Then I reread the first reading for today’s Mass and Paul says, “This saying is trustworthy” to Bishop Timothy, a young man whom Paul mentored as he went about his missionary journeys.

What does trustworthy mean and why is it important? As I reflected on those questions, I went back to the New Testament and discovered that this word is used 21 times in the Gospels and the other books of the New Testament. We first find it used by Jesus who tells us that someone who is trustworthy in small matters will also be trustworthy in great ones (Luke 16:10). For the early church, being trustworthy was very important and the only to know if a person is trustworthy is by looking at what person says and does. As St. Luke explains in the Gospel passage cited, a person who lies, is dishonest and disrespects others is not trustworthy. We really do not need an expert to tell us this. Even a child knows when we are being trustworthy and when we are deceitful.

Recently, I began reading a biography of the Lutheran martyr, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who became a theologian and a pastor when Hitler began his rise as leader in Germany. He came from a wealthy, well know family in Germany. Shortly after Hitler’s election, Bonhoeffer broadcasted a sermon over the radio in which he said that Hitler was not trustworthy and why. The radio station stopped transmitting mid-sermon, but no one would be able to stop him from preaching the Gospel. As we know, the German authorities later arrested him, threw him into a concentration camp and executed him. Of course, he was not the only one who condemned Hitler for his policy of extermination of the Jewish race and other crimes against humanity, but certainly he continues to be an outstanding example of someone who knows the difference between someone who is trustworthy and one who is not.

So, when Paul writes to Timothy, he is telling him to pay attention to what is trustworthy. Who is Timothy supposed to trust? Who are we supposed to trust? God and God’s Word. God acts of Love, which includes Jesus’ death on the Cross. The word and testimony of the many men and women over the centuries who have taught us the Gospel of Jesus, its values, its way of life, its sayings, and its saving message of grace. That is trustworthy and worthy of full acceptance!

St. Paul is asking us to be trustworthy ourselves. And Paul is also asking us not to be deceived by people who are not trustworthy. The rest of the first reading describes people who are trustworthy and people who are not. What a wonderful message we have to today’s times!

In whom do we put our trust?

Fr. Clemente Barrón, C.P. is the local superior of Mater Dolorosa Community in Sierra Madre, California. 

Daily Scripture, July 26, 2012

Feast of Saints Joachim and Anne, parents of  the Blessed Virgin Mary  Scripture: Jeremiah 2:1-3, 7-8, 12-13 Matthew 13:10-17 Reflection: Sitting in the faculty lounge during my first year of » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, May 26, 2012

  Scripture: Acts 28:16-20, 30-31 John 21:20-25       Reflection: "What concern is it of yours?  You follow me."  In this concluding verse of the Gospel of John, Peter » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, July 25, 2012

Feast of Saint James, Apostle Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:7-15 Matthew 20:20-28 Reflection: "…the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, July 24, 2012

  Scripture: Micah 7:14-15, 18-20 Matthew 12:46-50       Reflection: Mercy  In today’s liturgy the Church introduces us to the prophet Micah who lived about 2,750 years ago.  His » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, July 22, 2012

Scripture: Jeremiah 23:1-6 Ephesians 2:13-18 Mark 6:30-34 Reflection: "His heart was moved with pity for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd." Mark 6:34 Many of our Catholic » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, July 21, 2012

Scripture: Micah 2:1-5 Matthew 12:14-21 Reflection: Probably all very large cities in the world have their "slum" areas.  I lived in India for three years and I saw the poor » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, July 20, 2012

Scripture: Isaiah 38: 1-6, 21-22, 7-8 Matthew 12: 1-8 Reflection: In today’s first reading, when Hezekiah, the King of Judah, was told to put his house in order because he » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, July 18, 2012

Scripture: Isaiah 10:5-7, 13b-16 Matthew 11:25-27 Reflection: As I share this brief reflection on our readings for the day, there are two simple thoughts that come to mind.  In our first reading » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, July 16, 2012

  Scripture: Isaiah 1:10-17 Matthew 10:34-11:1       Reflection: Jesus, Our Life-Giving Experience of God’s Love "If we do not have a profound experience of and conversion to God’s » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, July 15, 2012

Scripture: Amos 7:12-15 Ephesians 1:3-14 Mark 6:7-13 Reflection: In 1979, Immaculate Conception Parish on Chicago’s northwest side celebrated the 75th anniversary of its’ founding.  One of its’ several Jubilee projects » Continue Reading.

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