Month: January 2018

Psalm 95: 7-8 Oh, that today you would hear his voice. Do not harden your hearts as at Meribah, as on the day of Massah in the desert.   Commentary: Hearing the voice of God is very challenging. One of the greatest challenges for the addict to hearing God's voice is staying quiet enough to … Continue reading The Voice of God

Psalm 51: 14 Give me back the joy of your salvation, and a willing spirit sustain in me. Commentary: The Psalmist is asking God to give him back the joy of his salvation because he lost God's favor due to his poor choice to commit adultery and murder. The second part of the verse is … Continue reading A Willing Heart

Mark 4: 8-9 And some seed fell on rich soil and produced fruit. It came up and grew and yielded thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold." He added, "Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear." Commentary: Today's Gospel reading read at Mass is fitting on this the anniversary of Bill W. death, the founder of … Continue reading Fruits of Recovery

Proverbs 15;22 Plans fail when there is no counsel, but they succeed when counselors are many. Commentary: Prior to me seeking recovery through a 12 step program I was my own counsel. It was my own wise counsel that got me into the addiction or as the saying goes in the Program "it was my … Continue reading Seeking Counsel

John 18: 3-6 Judas then, having received the Roman cohort and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, came there with lanterns and torches and weapons. So Jesus, knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, went forth and said to them, "Whom do you seek?" They answered Him, "Jesus the Nazarene." He said to … Continue reading The Power of the Name of Jesus

Psalm 56: Now I know that God is with me. In God, in whose promise I glory, in God I trust without fear; What can flesh do against me? Commentary: Many times during Pope John Paul II papacy he said "Be not afraid". The psalmist today is telling us that when we trust without fear, … Continue reading Be Not Afraid

1 Samuel: 41-47 With his shield-bearer marching before him, the Philistine advanced closer and closer to David. When he sized David up and saw that he was youthful, ruddy, and handsome in appearance, he began to deride him. He said to David, “Am I a dog that you come against me with a staff?” Then … Continue reading Our Victory Comes From The Lord

Psalm 38:3-14 (ESV) There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation; there is no health in my bones because of my sin. For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me. My wounds stink and fester because of my foolishness, I am utterly bowed down and … Continue reading The Misery of Relying on Our Own Strength

Matthew 9: 36 At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Commentary: A healthy sheep will only respond and follow the voice of its shepherd. When a sheep becomes ill it will listen and follow any voice, and become … Continue reading Listening to The Voice of the Shepherd

Mark 5:2-15 (ESV) And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the … Continue reading Dealing With Our Demons