Letters From Home St. Paul Center

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Lent by Dr. John Bergsma.
Lenten Weekday
First Reading: Isaiah 49: 8-15
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 145: 8-9, 13cd-14, 17-18
Verse Before the Gospel: John 11: 25a, 26
Gospel: John 5: 17-30
Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent by Dr. Shane Owens.
Lenten Weekday
First Reading: Ezekiel 47: 1-9, 12
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 46: 2-3, 5-6, 8-9
Verse Before the Gospel: Psalms 51: 12a, 14a
Gospel: John 5: 1-16
Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for the Solemnity of St. Joseph by Dr. Scott Hahn.
Joseph, Husband of Mary Solemnity
First Reading: Second Samuel 7: 4-5a, 12-14a, 16
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 89: 2-3, 4-5, 27 and 29
Second Reading: Romans 4: 13, 16-18, 22
Verse Before the Gospel: Psalms 84: 5
Gospel: Matthew 1: 16, 18-21, 24 or Luke 2: 41-51a
Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

Readings:
1 Samuel 16:1, 6–7, 10–13
Psalm 23:1–6
Ephesians 5:8–14
John 9:1–41
God’s ways of seeing are not our ways, we hear in today’s First Reading. Jesus illustrates this in the Gospel as the blind man comes to see and the Pharisees are made blind.
The blind man stands for all humanity. “Born totally in sin,” he is made a new creation by the saving power of Christ.
As God fashioned the first man from the clay of the earth (see Genesis 2:7), Jesus gives the blind man new life by anointing his eyes with clay (see John 9:11). As God breathed the spirit of life into the first man, the blind man is not healed until he washes in the waters of Siloam, a name that means “Sent.”
Jesus is the One “sent” by the Father to do the Father’s will (see John 9:4; 12:44). He is the new source of life-giving water: the Holy Spirit who rushes upon us in Baptism (see John 4:10; 7:38–39).
This is the Spirit that rushes upon God’s chosen king David in today’s First Reading. A shepherd like Moses before him (see Exodus 3:1; Psalm 78:70–71), David is also a sign pointing to the good shepherd and king to come—Jesus (see John 10:11).
The Lord is our shepherd, as we sing in today’s Psalm. By His death and Resurrection He has made a path for us through the dark valley of sin and death, leading us to the verdant pastures of the kingdom of life, the Church.
In the restful waters of Baptism He has refreshed our souls. He has anointed our heads with the oil of Confirmation and spread the Eucharistic table before us, filling our cups to overflowing.
With the once-blind man we enter His house to give God the praise, to renew our vow: “I do believe, Lord.”
“The Lord looks into the heart,” we hear today. Let Him find us, as Paul advises in today’s Epistle, living as “children of light,” trying always to learn what is pleasing to our Father.

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Saturday of the Third Week of Lent by Mr. Clement Harrold.
Lenten Weekday/ Cyril of Jerusalem, Bishop, Doctor
First Reading: Hosea 6: 1-6
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 51: 3-4, 18-19, 20-21ab
Verse Before the Gospel: Psalms 95: 8
Gospel: Luke 18: 9-14
Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Friday of the Third Week of Lent by Dr. John Bergsma.
Lenten Weekday/ Patrick, Bishop, Missionary, Day of Abstinence from Meat (Age 14 and Up)
First Reading: Hosea 14: 2-10
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 81: 6c-8a, 8bc-9, 10-11ab, 14 and 17
Verse Before the Gospel: Matthew 4: 17
Gospel: Mark 12: 28-34
Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com