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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, October 10, 2010

Scripture: 2 Kings 5:14-17 2 Timothy 2:8-13 Luke 17:11-19 Reflection: In the first reading today, Namaan is so grateful for his healing that he takes mule-loads of dirt back to » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, October 8, 2010

Scripture: Galatians 3:7-14 Luke 11:15-26 Reflection: For some days now we’ve been hearing Paul teach about faith. In the strongest of terms (you stupid Galatians!) he wanted the Galatians to » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, October 7, 2010

  Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary   Scripture: Galatians 3:1-5 Luke 11:5-13   Reflection: In 1571, all Europe trembled as the Sultan prepared a mighty  naval armada for » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, October 6, 2010

Scripture: Galatians 2:1-2, 7-14 Luke 11:1-4 Reflection: This reading from Galatians reminds me of a long-standing practice in the Roman Catholic Church. Every bishop must render to the pope an account » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, October 5, 2010

Scripture: Galatians 1:13-24 Luke 10:38-42 Reflection: The Two readings the church gives us today have strong themes of attentiveness.  In the familiar Mary and Martha story from Luke’s gospel Mary » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, October 3, 2010

Scripture: Hebrews 1:2-3;22:2-4 2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14 Luke 17:5-10 Reflection: It is Sunday, the day of celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the core hope of our mission journey » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, October 2, 2010

Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels  Scripture: Job 42:1-3, 5-6, 12-17 Matthew 18:1-5, 10 Reflection: The disciples approached Jesus and said, "Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?"  He » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, October 1, 2010

Memorial of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus Scripture: Job 38:1, 12-21; 40:3-5 Luke 10:13-16 Reflection: She was, by all measure of judgment and estimation, a remarkable woman. It was » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, September 30, 2010

  Scripture: Job 19:21-27 Luke 10:1-12       Reflection: Poor Job.  Not only is he going through a lot of pain and sorrow.  His friends turn against him.  Job could have used » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, September 28, 2010

Scripture: Job 3:1-3, 11-17, 20-23 Luke 9:51-56 Reflection: Have you ever had one of those days when you wish you hadn’t been born?  That is how Job felt in our » Continue Reading.

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