Sunday Bible Reflections

David Spares Saul's Life

Davids and Sauls: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

The story of David and Saul in today’s First Reading functions almost like a parable. Showing mercy to his deadly foe, David gives a concrete example of what Jesus expects to become a way of life for His disciples.

The new law Jesus gives in today’s Gospel would have us all become “Davids”—loving our enemies, doing good to those who would harm us, extending a line of credit to those who won’t ever repay us.

Davids and Sauls: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Read More »

Dives and Lazarus

Rich in Poverty: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

The blessings and woes we hear in today’s Gospel mark the perfection of all the wisdom of the Old Testament.

That wisdom is summed up with marvelous symmetry in today’s First Reading and Psalm: Each declares that the righteous—those who hope in the Lord and delight in His Law—will prosper like a tree planted near living waters. The wicked, who put their “trust in human beings,” are cursed to wither and die.

Rich in Poverty: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Read More »

The Miraculous Catch

Into the Deep: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Simon Peter, the fisherman, is the first to be called personally by Jesus in Luke’s Gospel.

His calling resembles Isaiah’s commissioning in the First Reading: Confronted with the holiness of the Lord, both Peter and Isaiah are overwhelmed by a sense of their own sinfulness and inadequacy. Yet each experiences the Lord’s forgiveness and is sent to preach the good news of His mercy to the world.

Into the Deep: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Read More »

The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple

Presenting the Present: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Feast of the Presentation

Today’s feast marks the Presentation of the Lord Jesus in the Temple, forty days after he was born. As the firstborn, he belonged to God. According to the Law, Mary and Joseph were required to take him to the Temple and “redeem” him by paying five shekels. At the same time, the Law required the child’s mother to offer sacrifice in order to overcome the ritual impurity brought about by childbirth.

Presenting the Present: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Feast of the Presentation Read More »

Jesus Unrolls the Book in the Synagogue

New Day Dawns: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

The meaning of today’s liturgy is subtle and many-layered.

We need background to understand what’s happening in today’s First Reading.

Babylon having been defeated, King Cyrus of Persia decreed that the exiled Jews could return home to Jerusalem. They rebuilt their ruined temple (see Ezra 6:15–17) and under Nehemiah finished rebuilding the city walls (see Nehemiah 6:15).

New Day Dawns: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Read More »

The Wedding at Cana

In the Wedding: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Think of these first weeks after Christmas as a season of “epiphanies.” The liturgy is showing us who Jesus is and what He has revealed about our relationship with God.

Last week and the week before, the imagery was royal and filial—Jesus is the newborn king of the Jews who makes us coheirs of Israel’s promise, beloved children of God. Last week in the liturgy we went to a baptism.

This week we’re at a wedding.

In the Wedding: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Read More »

The Anointing: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

The Liturgy last week revealed the mystery of God’s plan—that in Jesus all peoples, symbolized by the Magi, have been made “coheirs” to the blessings promised to Israel. This week, we’re shown how we claim our inheritance.

Jesus doesn’t submit to John’s baptism as a sinner in need of purification. He humbles Himself to pass through Jordan’s waters in order to lead a new “exodus”—opening up the promised land of heaven so that all peoples can hear the words pronounced over Jesus today, words once reserved only for Israel and its king: that each of us is a beloved son or daughter of God (see Genesis 22:2; Exodus 4:22; Psalm 2:7).

The Anointing: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord Read More »

Adoration of the Magi,

A King to Behold: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord

An “epiphany” is an appearance. In today’s readings, with their rising stars, splendorous lights, and mysteries revealed, the face of the child born on Christmas day appears.

Herod, in today’s Gospel, asks the chief priests and scribes where the Messiah is to be born. The answer Matthew puts on their lips says much more, combining two strands of Old Testament promise—one revealing the Messiah to be from the line of David (see 2 Samuel 2:5), the other predicting “a ruler of Israel” who will “shepherd his flock” and whose “greatness shall reach to the ends of the earth” (see Micah 5:1–3).

A King to Behold: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord Read More »

The Holy Family

Our True Home: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Feast of the Holy Family

Why did Jesus choose to become a baby born of a mother and father and to spend all but His last years living in an ordinary human family? In part, to reveal God’s plan to make all people live as one “holy family” in His Church (see 2 Corinthians 6:16–18).

In the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, God reveals our true home. We’re to live as His children, “chosen ones, holy and beloved,” as the First Reading puts it.

Our True Home: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Feast of the Holy Family Read More »

Visitation with Sts Nicholas and Anthony

A Mother’s Greeting: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Fourth Sunday of Advent

On this last Sunday before Christmas, the Church’s Liturgy reveals the true identity of our Redeemer:

He is, as today’s First Reading says, the “ruler . . . whose origin is from . . . ancient times.” He will come from Bethlehem, where David was born of Jesse the Ephrathite and anointed king (see Ruth 4:11–17; 1 Samuel 16:1–13; 17:1; Matthew 2:6).

A Mother’s Greeting: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Fourth Sunday of Advent Read More »