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: James 5:13-20Mark 10:13-16 Reflection: TRUE REFORM If someone were to ask you what the greatest need in the Church is today, how would you respond? Some feel we must » Continue Reading.
Scripture: James 5:9-12Mark 10:1-12 Reflection: Remembering Jesus at Mass Years ago, I was giving a parish mission in Stonewall, TX, and visited the LBJ ranch. Many colorful stories are told » Continue Reading.
Scripture: James 5:1-6Mark 9:41-50 Reflection: In our Gospel reading for today, Jesus uses some startling, even harsh, words warning against sin: “Whoever causes one of these little ones … to » Continue Reading.
Scripture: James 4:13-17Mark 9:38-40 Reflection: Sometimes, the readings for the day are so descriptive of human foibles that they make the gospels leap off the page, becoming so real to » Continue Reading.
Scripture: James 4:1-10Mark 9:30-37 Reflection: If you are a dedicated watcher of the evening news, you have noticed that there are conflicts throughout the entire world, in our communities, in » Continue Reading.
Feast of Mary, Mother of the Church Scripture: Genesis 3:9-15, 20 or Acts 1:12-14John 19:25-34 Reflection: Today we celebrate the Feast Mary the Mother of the Church. Search as you » Continue Reading.
Pentecost Sunday Scripture: Acts 2:1-111 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13 or Galatians 5:16-25John 20:19-23 or John 15:26-27; 16:12-15 Reflection: If you take away their breath, they perish and return to their dust. When » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Acts 28:16-20, 30-31John 21:20-25 Reflection: How many times have we verbalized our interpretation of someone without really knowing all the facts, without knowing their back story or true self? » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Acts 25:13b-21John 21:15-19 Reflection: “Do you love me?” It is the most penetrating, personal question anyone can ask us, and in today’s gospel, it is the question Jesus asks » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Acts 22:30; 23:6-11John 17:20-26 Reflection: Severe weather and tornado season started early this year in the Midwest and the South. I was awed and dumbstruck to see one hit » Continue Reading.