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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, August 5, 2009

Scripture: Numbers 13:1-2, 25-14:1, 26-29a, 34-35 Matthew 15:21-28 Reflection: Holy Frustration Our Exodus story continues,  and  I’m feeling inside myself a tremendous amount of frustration.  Before speaking of the frustration, this » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, August 4, 2009

Feast of St. John Mary Vianney Scripture: Numbers 12:1-13 Matthew 14:22-36 Reflection: Foibles and Fear — Faith and Forgiveness St. John Mary Vianney, today’s celebrated saint, was known for his » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, August 3, 2009

Scripture: Numbers 11:4b-15 Matthew 14:13-21 Reflection: The Word of God is so clear today and shines a bright light on our own challenges when we are faced with, seemingly, insurmountable » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, August 2, 2009

Scripture: Exodus 16:2-4, 12-15 Ephesians 4:17, 20-24 John 6:24-35 Reflection: Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, July 30, 2009

Scripture: Exodus 40:16-21, 34-38 Matthew 13:47-53 Reflection: Today’s Responsorial Psalm is from Psalm 84: "How lovely is your dwelling-place, Lord, mighty God!" Our first reading from Exodus directs our attention » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, August 1, 2009

Feast of Saint Alphonsus Liguori Scripture: Leviticus 25:1, 8-17 Matthew 14:1-12 Reflection: Today the Church celebrates the feast of St. Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop and Doctor of the Church.  A lawyer » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, July 31, 2009

Scripture: Leviticus 23:1, 4-11, 15-16, 27, 34b-37 Matthew 13:54-58 Reflection: "…..Is he not the carpenter’s son?" "A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and in his » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, July 29, 2009

Scripture: Exodus 34:29-35 John 11:19-27 or Luke 10:38-42 Reflection: Today on this Feast of St. Martha the Church offers us the option of two possible gospels for our reflection. I » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, July 27, 2009

Scripture: Exodus 32:15-24, 30-34 Matthew 13:31-35 Reflection: "Alas, this people have sinned a great sin; they have made for themselves gods of gold.  But now, if you will forgive their » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, July 26, 2009

Scripture: 2 Kings 4:42-44 Ephesians 4:1-6 John 6:1-15 Reflection: I write this reflection from a Benedictine monastery perched on a mountaintop in Big Sur, California-overlooking the vastness of the Pacific Ocean.  » Continue Reading.

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