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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, May 23, 2009

Scripture: Acts 18:23-28 John 16:20-23 Reflection: In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus continues to talk to His disciples about His leaving them to go to the Father. One of the things » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, May 22, 2009

Scripture: Acts 18:9-18 John 16:20-23 Reflection: "God mounts his throne amid shouts of joy; the LORD, amid trumpet blasts. Sing praise to God, sing praise; sing praise to our king, » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, May 21, 2009

  Scripture: Acts 1:1-11 John 16:6-20       Reflection: The Easter event has fuzzied the notion of presence.  From the first encounter with the risen Jesus, people had trouble » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, May 17, 2009

Scripture: Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48 1 John 4"7-10 John 15:9-17 Reflection: The Trappist monk, Thomas Merton, tells us that on March 18, 1958, he was given a sudden insight as » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, May 15, 2009

Scripture: Acts 15:22-31 John 15:12-17 Reflection: In the immediate context before our current gospel reading Jesus announces that he is the vine and we are the branches. (John 1-11) He » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, May 13, 2009

Scripture: Acts 15:1-6 John 15:1-8 Reflection: Harold, of the Trappists in Vina, California told me that their yield last year was about four and a half tons per acre.  I » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, May 12, 2009

Scripture: Acts 14:19-28 John 14:27-31a Reflection: The early Christian community struggled to establish itself amidst many conflicts. Not only were there external threats, but the community was susceptible to internal » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, May 11, 2009

Scripture: Acts 14:5-18 John 14:21-26 Reflection: A retreatant recently shared with me his aspiration.  "I want to recapture the great feeling I once had of God’s love in my heart." » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, May 10, 2009

Mother’s Day Scripture: Acts 9:26-31 1 John 3:18-24 John 15:1-8 Reflection: I am fascinated by the theme of connection that runs through today’s readings.  We are connected to Christ, the » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, May 8, 2009

Scripture: Acts 13:26-33 John 14:1-6 Reflection: Easter is a season of 50 days. We need time to grasp and soak in the reality of the resurrection. During this season, we » Continue Reading.

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