Category Archives: Penance, Poverty and the Will of God

The Acts of the Apostles, 14: 8-10: In Lystra there sat a man who was lame. He had been that way from birth and had never walked. He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed and called out; “Stand up on your feet!” At that, theContinue reading “Chapter 10: Conclusion”

The Gospel of John 6:29: Jesus answered,“The work of God is this; to believe in the one he has sent.” The Gospel of John 6:38-40: For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.  And this is the will of him who sent me, thatContinue reading “Chapter Nine: Discerning the Will of God”

(This short reflection was originally included in the main body of chapter eight.  In review, I decided it did not fit well, so I excised it.  But, given the references to current culture in other places, I thought it was still relevant.  So here it is on its own.  If it is objectionable, hopefully itContinue reading “Chapter Eight A: The Will of God and Political Freedom”

The Gospel of Matthew, 7:21-27: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons andContinue reading “Chapter Eight: The Will of God and the Example of Jesus”

The Gospel of Mark, Chapter 10: 29-31: “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along withContinue reading “Chapter Seven: God’s Will in Adversity”

I have asserted in the reflection just concluded that the gospels in their entirety can be seen as an expression of Jesus’ devotion to Spiritual Poverty. As a bit of proof, here is a short addendum based on chapter ten of the gospel of Mark, which is the gospel chapter I was contemplating as IContinue reading “Chapter Six A: Examples of the Teaching of Jesus on Spiritual Poverty”

The Gospel of Mark, 12:41-44: Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him,Continue reading “Chapter Six: Spiritual Poverty”

The Gospel of Mark, 9:13-15: They came to Capernaum.  When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?”  But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.  Sitting down, Jesus called the twelve and said, “If anyone wants to beContinue reading “Chapter Five: Self-Denial”

The Gospel of Mark: 1:4, 14-15: And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins………… After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” The gospel of MarkContinue reading “Chapter Four: Penance”

The Letter of St. Paul to Titus, 3:3-7: At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, butContinue reading “Chapter Three: Gratitude”