#Judgment on Samaria

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Ephraim's Glory Vanishes

1 When Ephrayim spoke there was trembling; he was exalted in Yisroel; but when he became guilty in Ba’al, he died.

2 And now they sin more and more, and have made for themselves massekhah (idol) of their kesef, and atzabim according to their faculty of binah (understanding), all of it the work of the craftsmen; they say of them, Let adam that sacrifice kiss calf-idols.

3 Therefore they shall be like the anan boker (morning cloud) and as the early dew that disappears, like the motz (chaff) that is driven with the whirlwind out of the threshing floor, and as the smoke out of the window.

4 Yet I am Hashem Eloheicha from Eretz Mitzrayim, and thou shalt know no Elohim but Me; for there is no Moshia besides Me.

5 I did know thee in the midbar, in the eretz taluvot (land of burning heat).

6 According to their pasture (T.N. i.e., as I fed them), so were they filled; they were filled, and their lev became proud; therefore have they forgotten Me.

7 Therefore I will be unto them as a lion; as a leopard by the derech will I lie in wait;

8 I will meet them as a dov (bear) that is bereaved of her cubs, and will rip open the covering of their lev, and there will I devour them like a lion; as the wild beast of the sadeh would tear them.

9 O Yisroel, thou art destroyed; because thou art against Me, thine Ezer (Help).

10 Where now is thy melech that he may save thee? Where in all thy cities are thy shofetim of whom thou saidst, Give me a melech and sarim?

11 I gave thee a melech in Mine anger, and took him away in My wrath [Isa 53:10].

12 The avon (iniquity) of Ephrayim is bound up; his chattat is lurking.

13 The chevlei yoledah (birth pangs of a woman in childbirth) shall come upon him; he is a ben lo chacham; for when it is time he does not come to the opening of the womb.

14 Should I ransom them from the power of Sheol? Should I redeem them from mavet? O Mavet, where are the dever (pestilence, plague) of thee? O Sheol, where is thy destruction? Nocham (sorrow, compassion, pity) shall be hidden from Mine eyes.

15 Even though he thrives among his achim, an east wind shall come, the Ruach Hashem shall come up from the midbar (desert), and his makor (spring, fountain) shall become dry, and his well shall be dried up; it shall plunder the otzar of every keli chemdah (precious vessel).

16 (14:1) Shomron shall bear guilt; for she hath rebelled against her Elohim; they shall fall by the cherev; their olalim shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped open. — Hosea 13 | Orthodox Jewish Bible (OJB) The Orthodox Jewish Bible fourth edition, OJB. Copyright 2002,2003,2008,2010, 2011 by Artists for Israel International. All rights reserved. Cross References: Genesis 31:40; Genesis 41:6; Genesis 49:22; Exodus 20:3; Deuteronomy 2:7; Deuteronomy 8:12; Deuteronomy 8:14; Deuteronomy 32:6; Deuteronomy 32:34-35; Deuteronomy 33:26; Deuteronomy 33:29; Judges 8:1; Judges 12:1; 1 Samuel 8:5,6 and 7; 1 Samuel 10:17; 2 Samuel 17:8; 1 Kings 19:18; 2 Kings 8:12; 2 Kings 15:16; 2 Kings 17:4; 2 Kings 18:35; Job 10:6; Job 21:18; Job 30:15; Psalm 50:22; Isaiah 44:17; John 16:21; Romans 2:5; 1 Corinthians 15:55; Revelation 6:8; Revelation 13:2

[spiritsoulandbody]

#DailyDevotion All Bad Things Must Come To An End

#DailyDevotion All Bad Things Must Come To An End Amos 3 12 The LORD says: “As a shepherd snatches from a lion’s mouth two leg bones or a piece of an ear, so the people of Israel living in Samaria will get away with a corner of a bed or a couch from Damascus. 13 “Listen and testify against the people of Jacob,” says the Lord GOD, the God of armies: 14 “On the day I punish Israel for its wrongs, I will punish the altars at Bethel, and the horns of the altar will be cut off and fall to the ground. 15 I will strike the winter house and the summer house, and the ivory houses will perish, and the big palaces will come to an end,” says the LORD. This is not good. The curses the LORD had the Israelites speak at Mt. Ebal which were perscribed by the LORD in the last chapters of Deuteronomy are coming to pass and that right quickly. The Israelites have become worse than their pagan neighbors and the people they displaced because they had the word of the LORD and rejected it. The threat is large and looming. The people of Israel are about to lose almost everything. The Assyrians, the hand of the LORD, were coming for their destruction. The Assyrians are going to devour the wealth and the people of the country. Only a remnant will remain and they will be absorbed into the nations they are sent only to be heard of in distant memory. They will never be recognized as the people of God any longer or have an identity of their own. The LORD will use the Assyrians to punish Israel for all their wrongs. They will tear down the altars at Bethel, where the idolatry of making the LORD into a golden calf was instituted by Jeroboam to keep the Israelites from worshiping at the temple in Jerusalem. The horns of the altar (they represent power) would be cut off and fall to the ground. This would demonstrate the God they worship isn't coming to help them out. The Assyrians would be thinking their god was greater not realizing it was the LORD the God of the Israelites empowering them. All the wealth, the mammon, the Israelites, particularly the upper classes amassed at the expense of the people who were the apple of His eye, the poor, the widow, the fatherless, and the foreigners, was now going to be taken away. Like the most expensives homes in the resort county I live in, they had summer and winter houses (the summer houses are here), these all would be destroyed by Assyrians. Can you imagine a home with inlaid ivory? It would be something like the palace at Versailles, France or the homes of the rich in Newport Rhode Island. The LORD has even taken these away from those who worship Mammon in the not too distant past. You can see the rubble of these places today mainly because archaeologists have dug them up and restored them to some extent. The LORD's word came to pass. Paul tells us in 1 Cor. 10:11, “These things happened to them to make them a lesson to others and were written down to warn us who are living when the world is coming to an end. 12 So if you think you stand, be careful that you don’t fall.” We too have been given God's Word. The LORD has rescued us from sin, death and the power of the devil and given us eternal life. We have His instructions on how He wants us to live. He has given us His Holy Spirit that we may conform our lives to His will. What will happen to us if we despise all these things like the Israelites despised what the LORD had done for them? Let us live in daily repentance. Merciful God and Father, You have given us all good things. Let us learn from the Israelites how we are not to act and rather live our Your life in our daily lives to Your glory. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Read the full article

[heartofashepherd]

Two Adulteresses, God’s Judgment, and A Promise of Salvation (Ezekiel 23...

[antiochianorthodoxcumberlandmd]

The Holy Apostle Jude, one of the twelve apostles of Christ, is descended from King David and Solomon, and was the son of Righteous Joseph the Betrothed (Sunday after the Nativity of the Lord) by his first wife.

The Holy Apostle John the Theologian writes in his Gospel, “... neither did his brethren believe in Him” (John. 7:5). Saint Theophylact, Archbishop of Bulgaria, explains this passage. He says that at the beginning of the Lord Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry, Joseph’s sons, Jude among them, did not believe in His divine nature. Tradition says that when Saint Joseph returned from Egypt, he began to divide his possessions among his sons. He wanted to allot a share to Christ the Savior, born miraculously and incorruptibly from the All-Pure Virgin Mary. The brothers were opposed to this because Jesus was born of another mother. Only James, later called “The Brother of God,” offered to share his portion with Him.

Jude came to believe in Christ the Savior as the awaited Messiah, and he followed Him and was chosen as one of the twelve Apostles. Mindful of his sin, the Apostle Jude considered himself unworthy to be called the Lord’s brother, and in his Epistle he calls himself merely the brother of James.

The Holy Apostle Jude also had other names: the Evangelist Matthew terms him “Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddeus” (Mt. 10:3). The Holy Evangelist Mark also calls him Thaddeus (Mark 3:18), and in the Acts of the Holy Apostles he is called Barsabas (Acts 15: 22). This was customary at that time.

After the Ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ, Saint Jude traveled about preaching the Gospel. He propagated the faith in Christ at first in Judea, Galilee, Samaria and Idumaia, and later in the lands of Arabia, Syria and Mesopotamia. Finally, he went to the city of Edessa. Here he finished the work that was not completed by his predecessor, Saint Thaddeus, Apostle of the Seventy (August 21). There is a tradition that Saint Jude went to Persia, where he wrote his catholic Epistle in Greek. In the Epistle much profound truth was expressed in a few words.

Saint Jude’s Epistle speaks about the Holy Trinity, about the Incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ, about the good and bad angels, and about the dread Last Judgment. The Apostle urges believers to guard themselves against fleshly impurity, to be diligent in prayer, faith and love, to convert the lost to the path of salvation, and to guard themselves from the teachings of heretics. He also says that it is not enough just to be converted to Christianity, but faith must be demonstrated by good works. He cites the rebellious angels and men punished by God (verse 6) to support this.

The Holy Apostle Jude died as a martyr around the year 80 near Mt. Ararat in Armenia, where he was crucified and pierced by arrows.

Troparion — Tone 1

Divinely we praise you, O Jude, as a faithful witness, / knowing you to be the brother of Christ. / You trampled on delusion, / and so preserved the faith. / Today as we celebrate your holy memory, / by your intercessions we receive remission of sins.

Kontakion — Tone 2

You were chosen as a disciple for your firmness of mind: / An unshakable pillar of the Church of Christ, / you proclaimed His word to the Gentiles, / telling them to believe in one Godhead. / You were glorified by Him, receiving the grace of healing, / healing the ills of all who came to you, / O most praised Apostle Jude!

More saints commemorated today: https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2025/06/19

Music downloads: https://www.oca.org/liturgics/music-downloads/june

#saints #feastsandsaints

[roman-catholic-mass-readings]

1st June >> Mass Readings (USA)

The Ascension of the Lord

(Liturgical Colour: White. Year: C(I))

(These readings are for the day of the feast itself)

First Reading Acts of the Apostles 1:1–11 As the Apostles were looking on, Jesus was lifted up.

In the first book, Theophilus, I dealt with all that Jesus did and taught until the day he was taken up, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them by many proofs after he had suffered, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While meeting with them, he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for “the promise of the Father about which you have heard me speak; for John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” When they had gathered together they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He answered them, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight. While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.”

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 47:2–3, 6–7, 8–9

R/ God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord. or R/ Alleluia.

All you peoples, clap your hands, shout to God with cries of gladness. For the LORD, the Most High, the awesome, is the great king over all the earth.

R/ God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord. or R/ Alleluia.

God mounts his throne amid shouts of joy; the LORD, amid trumpet blasts. Sing praise to God, sing praise; sing praise to our king, sing praise.

R/ God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord. or R/ Alleluia.

For king of all the earth is God; sing hymns of praise. God reigns over the nations, God sits upon his holy throne.

R/ God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord. or R/ Alleluia.

Either:

Second Reading Hebrews 9:24–28; 10:19–23 Christ has entered into heaven itself.

Christ did not enter into a sanctuary made by hands, a copy of the true one, but heaven itself, that he might now appear before God on our behalf. Not that he might offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters each year into the sanctuary with blood that is not his own; if that were so, he would have had to suffer repeatedly from the foundation of the world. But now once for all he has appeared at the end of the ages to take away sin by his sacrifice. Just as it is appointed that men and women die once, and after this the judgment, so also Christ, offered once to take away the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to take away sin but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him. Therefore, brothers and sisters, since through the blood of Jesus we have confidence of entrance into the sanctuary by the new and living way he opened for us through the veil, that is, his flesh, and since we have “a great priest over the house of God,” let us approach with a sincere heart and in absolute trust, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. Let us hold unwaveringly to our confession that gives us hope, for he who made the promise is trustworthy.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Or:

Second Reading Ephesians 1:17–23 God seated Jesus at his right hand in the heavens.

Brothers and sisters: May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you a Spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him. May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones, and what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe, in accord with the exercise of his great might, which he worked in Christ, raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens, far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion, and every name that is named not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things beneath his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Gospel Acclamation Matthew 28:19a, 20b

Alleluia, alleluia. Go and teach all nations, says the Lord; I am with you always, until the end of the world. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Luke 24:46–53 As he blessed them, he was taken up to heaven.

Jesus said to his disciples: “Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold I am sending the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” Then he led them out as far as Bethany, raised his hands, and blessed them. As he blessed them he parted from them and was taken up to heaven. They did him homage and then returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and they were continually in the temple praising God.

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

[girlactionfigure]

*ISRAEL REALTIME* - "Connecting the World to Israel in Realtime"

❗️SUICIDE DRONE FROM IRAQ… at the Golan Heights, fired by an Iraqi based Iranian Shia Militia.  “Exposives-laden” drone crashed and was located by IDF troops.

❗️3 SUICIDE DRONES from LEBANON… fell in open areas of Mt. Dov.

▪️LEBANON… Hezbollah announces it fired 30 Katyusha rockets at Kiryat Shmona.  Hezbollah launched about 150 rockets, PGMs and anti-tank missiles at IDF positions and towns in the north of the country yesterday.

▪️MORE WAR POLITICS… the argument grows.  Says Min. of National Security MK Ben Gvir: “My disagreement with (National Unity leader) MK Benny Gantz is much deeper than the extension of the term of office of the Prison Commissioner.

The same commissioner who conducted negotiations with Hamas to whom I told her that my policy was the opposite. Who gave positive terms to Kotier, a prisoner from a crime family, and I forbade her and told her that it was terrible, who hid entire events from me, as was the case in Ramonim prison when she told me that there were tensions in the wing and in the end it turned out that they tried to murder a warden.

My dispute with MK Gantz is over the fact that he is in favor of fueling Hamas and I oppose this, he is in favor of giving humanitarian aid without any conditions, and I say humanitarian for humanitarian.”

(Amit Segal) Gantz withdrew from the compromise he agreed to today after the cabinet meeting. Part of the plan is to come up with excuses even though the war will last for many months per the chief of staff last night and despite Gantz’s commitment to stay until the end of the war.  The next excuse will be the 2024 budget. It's all a show to escape from committing to stay until the end of the war.

▪️JUDICIAL REAONSABLE-NESS DECISION LEAKS… this would be an earthquake if not for the war.  High Court overturns the Knesset Basic Law: Judicial Reasonableness:

(1) It’s unreasonable for the Knesset to require the court to control their reasonableness unless by broad agreement, not a narrow coalition.

(2) An exemption is given for the full high court only, and by not making the reasonableness a blanket standard by giving the high court full panel more flexibility, it became unreasonable.

(3) Two of the judges in the decision are past their required retirement date, without them it would be a 7-6 decision allowing, with them it is an 8-7 decision overturning.

To summarize:  Former High Court Lead Judge Hayut is going to cancel a basic law on the pretext that it was accepted "by a narrow majority”.

The court says: The writing of the judgment has not yet been completed. We take unauthorized leaks very seriously and will not address it. The judgment will be published after its writing is completed.

▪️ARAB WORKERS TRY TO POISON CHILDREN?  Central district police officers detained 3 gardening workers in a city for questioning, on suspicion of spraying pesticide on playground equipment in the park (with the intent to poison the children).

▪️RELATED: ARAB WORKERS AUTHORIZED?  Sahar Saad, chairman of the Palestinian Workers Association:  "Israel has issued ten thousand work permits to Palestinians in the field of construction. These permits are limited by time of day for the work - from five in the morning to five in the evening. They allow the entry of workers from Judea-Samaria in Israeli territory. They will come into effect on Jan. 6, 2024.  The Israeli contractor ordering the work will guarantee the pick up of the workers from the checkpoint.

[theprayerfulword]

September 27

Jude 1:20-21 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

1 John 5:4 For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.

2 Corinthians 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,

Romans 6:13 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to Him as an instrument of righteousness.

1 Corinthians 13:4-5 Love…does not seek its own…

May you listen to the Lord, as do all who pursue righteousness and who seek the Lord, and look at Abraham and Sarah, whom God blessed and multiplied, for the Lord will surely comfort you and look on you with compassion, making the barren wilderness surrounding you to be like Eden and the wastelands you know so well like the garden of the Lord, so that joy and gladness will be found there with great thanksgiving and the sound of singing. Isaiah 51

May you hear the Lord as He speaks to His people to declare that instruction will go out from Him, His justice will be a light to the nations, His righteousness draws near speedily, His salvation is on the way, and His arm will bring judgment to all the peoples, and the coast-lands will wait expectantly upon Him in Whom they hope. Isaiah 51

May you lift your eyes to the heavens and look at the earth beneath, for the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment and its inhabitants will die like flies, but the salvation of the Lord will last forever and His righteousness will never fail. Isaiah 51

May you hear the Lord, as do all Who know what is right and have the instruction of the Lord in their hearts, and do not fear the reproach of men or be terrified by their insults, for the moth will eat them up like a garment and the worm will devour them like wool, but the righteousness of the Lord will last forever and the salvation of God will endure through all generations. Isaiah 51

May you cry unto the Lord to awaken and clothe His arm with strength as He has before when He smashed the proud one and pierced the scaly one, drying up the waters of affliction and making the sea-bed into a road for the redeemed to follow, so that the ransomed of the Lord will return and enter into Zion with singing, crowned with everlasting joy, as gladness and joy overtakes them, causing sorrow and sighing to flee away. Isaiah 51

May you not forget the Lord your Maker, Who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth, lest you start to fear mortal men who are but grass, causing you to live in constant terror daily because of the wrath of the oppressor, who is bent on destruction, for He, even God, is the One Who comforts you, and what can they do before Him? Isaiah 51

May you rejoice in the Lord your God, Who churns the sea so the waves roar the name of the Almighty, for He Who set the heavens in place and laid the foundations of the earth, saying to Zion, “You are my people,” is He Who has put His words in your mouth and covered you with the shadow of His hand. Isaiah 51

May you, who have known the rebuke of God and been afflicted, hear what the Sovereign Lord says, your God, Who defends His people, “See, I have taken out of your hand the cup that made you stagger and you will never drink from it again, for I will put it into the hands of your tormentors, those who accuse and condemn you, seeking to gain authority over you,” for they will be cast down from the heavenlies. Isaiah 51

May you awaken, shake off your dust, rise up, freeing yourself from the chains on your neck as you clothe yourself with strength, putting on your garments of splendor and sit enthroned in the joy of your Beloved, in the presence and authority of your Lord and King, for just as you were sold for nothing, even so He has redeemed you without money. Isaiah 52

May you see how beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news and proclaim peace, bringing good tidings and proclaiming salvation, as they say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” causing the watchmen to lift up their voices as they shout together for joy. Isaiah 52

May you see it with your own eyes when the Lord returns to Zion, causing you to burst into songs of joys with the rest of the people of the Lord as He comforts you with His redemption, baring His holy arm in the sight of the nations and showing the ends of the earth the salvation of God. Isaiah 52

May you not travel in haste or go in flight as you journey on in your pilgrimage to the city of the Lord, but recall that you carry the precious treasure of His glory that the Lord has entrusted to your vessel, and walk worthy of that hope, keeping your vessel clean and unspotted from the impurities of the world, for the the Lord will go before you and the God of Israel will be your rear-guard. Isaiah 52, Colossians 1, 2 Corinthians 4

My child, come to Me with nothing to recommend yourself. Draw near to Me with only your need and the confident assurance in My word that I can fill your need. Away with those whose hearts are filled and overflowing with pride of self and bearing lists of their accomplishments. They are an abomination to Me. Heed the rod of My chastisement, My willful one, and let My godly sorrow have its cleansing way in your heart. I will not ever be angry beyond measure with you, My precious one, nor will I remember iniquity forever, for you are Mine, sought after and purchased with My own blood. Do not seek for that which I have not given you, My acquisitive one. Be convinced in your heart that I have not overlooked a single good thing you need, or forgotten a single item that I intended to give you. I would not be so uncaring toward you as to supply you with that for which I have not yet prepared you. That is what you are walking through now, for I have much that I desire to bless you with in knowledge and wisdom, in understanding and revelation, in compassion and authority. It is down the path I am leading you that you will be able to learn to handle the truth of My Word in mercy, and to walk tenderly with those who are wounded and in need of healing. Obey the leading of My Spirit in order to walk meekly before Me in the knowledge of My glory as you carry it in your clay vessel. You must be able to show My glory to others without the desire to keep any for yourself, for that would be deadly to you, even as it was to Uzzah. My child, it is not the wicked who will know happiness all their days, but it is My own who will. My foes will not be given endless comfort, but My chosen will. My enemies will not rejoice with mirth in their inheritance, but My family will. Though there are times of difficulty and sorrow, sadness and exhaustion, there is never a time when the streaks of light are not visible which foreshadow the dawning of your eternal day. Be strong and of good courage, rejoicing, for I am with you always.

May you believe the message of the Lord as it is spoken to you and see the arm of the Lord as it is revealed to you, for though there is nothing of note for the natural senses to see or hear, yet He took your infirmities and carried your sorrows, was pierced for your transgressions, crushed for your iniquities, punished to gain you peace, and wounded that you would be healed, even though you had gone astray and followed your own way, for it was the will of the Lord to cause Him to suffer so that afterwards He will see the light of life and justify many after He bore your sin and made intercession for you. Isaiah 53

May you be an imitator of God, like a dearly loved child, and live a life of love, just as Christ loved you and gave Himself up for you as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5

May you behave as God's love impels you to, without immorality or impurity, because these are improper for God's holy people, but letting your speech express thanks and appreciation, as is appropriate for one who has received so much, for your inheritance in the kingdom of God is not available to those who are disobedient to God – they only get God's wrath, so do not join them in their activities. Ephesians 5

May you live as children of light, bearing goodness, righteousness and truth, which is the fruit of light, and seek to find out what pleases the Lord, having no interest in the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them to the light that they may be removed. Ephesians 5

May you be very careful that you live wisely, making the most of every opportunity to understand what the Lord's will is and, as you are filled with the Spirit, speak to others with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs in your heart as you sing and make music to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5

May you understand that you are a part of the body of Christ which we are all being formed into, and He is the head, so learn to submit to Him Who is in charge, knowing you can trust Him to love you for He gave Himself up for you to make you holy, cleansing you by the washing with water through the Word so that He can present you, as part of Christ's body to Himself, a member of a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. Ephesians 5

May you be confident that the Lord knows how you have been scorned, disgraced and shamed by your enemies, and how it has broken your heart and left you helpless, unable to find sympathy or locate a comforter, for He has experienced it Himself, and has assigned His own Comforter to dwell with you, that you may be healed and walk in the abundance of His Love, carrying His grace to others as a wounded healer, whose scars bear witness to the healing power of the Loving Physician. Psalm 69

May the salvation of God protect you in all of your pain and distress. Psalm 69

May you praise God's name in song and glorify Him with thanksgiving, for it will please the Lord greatly for the poor to see this and be made glad. Psalm 69

May you seek God, for then your heart will live. Psalm 69

May you know that the Lord hears you when you express your needs to Him, and He does not despise His people when they are in bondage and imprisoned. Psalm 69

May you not be like a fool who considers wisdom to be no more than an expensive ornament and not worth the high cost of time and effort required to obtain it Proverbs 24:7

[steveezekiel]

THOSE WHO ARE AT EASE IN ZION

"WOE TO YOU WHO ARE AT EASE IN ZION, AND TRUST IN MOUNT SAMARIA, NOTABLE PERSONS IN THE CHIEF NATION, To whom the house of Israel comes!"

Amos 6:1 (NKJV)

Comment: The woe does mean: judgment is coming, how terrible or horrible it will be for those who are at ease or complacent in Zion.

Someone's confidence should not be in anything other than God. Your trust should not be in your affiliation with any denomination, or group, or society, or some notable people.

Nothing can help you in the time of distress and affliction like your affiliation with God the Father. And ultimately, at the end of your journey on earth, your affiliation with any group or denomination or whatever would not help nor save you, except your relationship or affiliation with God through Jesus Christ only (John 14:6; Acts 4:12).

Some are proud of their noble birth and they do believe It can earn or fetch them whatever they want. That may be true to some extent, but there are things that your noble birth or connections in the society cannot give you. There are issues or challenges that you would have before you that will take only God to help you solve.

Taking pride in your affiliation with a particular church denomination; your parents status in the family church that you attend, your background or noble birth, the social groups you belong or the ones your parents affiliated with, are all nothing If you did not have a genuine relationship with God and build a strong communion with Him: "Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, AND TRUST IN MOUNT SAMARIA, NOTABLE PERSONS IN THE CHIEF NATION [seeing yourself as a notable persons], TO WHOM THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL COMES (Amos 6:1).

Note:

• The message is that a believer should not be complacent, or be at ease where evils, injustices, reign.

• A believer should not be at ease in the midst of evils:

a. where rebellions and perversions reign.

b. Where people openly disregarded God; His Word and His express commands.

• A believer should not be comfortable where people live in an open rebellion to God's Word and will.

The woe means an unpleasant thing would come on the person or people. Thus, If you are of God, what makes God angry or sad should make you angry or sad as well. Where evil and perversions reign, you should not be comfortable there, being muted or silenced, without telling them the truth (Psalm 50:18).

Some people claimed to be believers in Christ Jesus, they are present where evils are done or practiced, yet, they would not make their stand known about the situation of things. This is what the Bible passage all about.

There were evils being done in various places today as It did happen in Zion then, and If you are of God, you should not be at ease in such places. You should let the mind of God be known about the things which the people there are doing. They may take to your words or not, but you declare It, let them know God's mind or will about the evils being done there (Ezekiel 3:17-21; 33:2-9).

There are believers in certain places where evils reign but they would not be moved; they are comfortably hiding in the crowd without declaring the truth. Whereas they are supposed to be the light in such places, God's representative; His ambassadors, and an extension of His Kingdom for that matter (Matthew 5:14-16; 2 Corinthians 5:20). Those believers failed to represent God well or properly in such places.

If you find yourself where evils are reigning and you do nothing about it; you are not mournful because of it, but you felt unconcerned; It means you are at ease in Zion (Romans 1:32). The truth is, If you continue in that state God would not be happy with you. And If nothing changes and He comes to visit the place, the judgement would be severe. Your own punishment might be more because you know the right thing to do but you do not do it (Romans 1:32; James 4:17). But If you sound the warnings you would be spared (1 Peter 2:6-9).

Your silence in such a place means your endorsement or approval; meaning that you agree with what the people there are doing (Romans 1:32). Do something today before It is too late.

Peace.

[orthodoxadventure]

As he who fell among the thieves and was sorely wounded, I too have fallen because of mine own sins, and my soul is gravely wounded. Unto Whom shall I flee for refuge, I who have brought this upon myself, except unto Thee, the compassionate healer of souls. Pour out upon me, O God, Thy great mercy.

I have come unto Thee, O Compassionate One, as did the Prodigal Son. Receive me, as I fall down before Thee, as one of Thy hired servants, O God, and have mercy on me.

Having fallen among the thieves of mine own thoughts, my mind hath been stripped from me, the miserable one; and all my soul is terribly wounded, and I lie there in the path of life naked of any virtue. The priest, seeing me in the agony of mine unhealable wounds, looks past me and doth not attend unto me. And again, the Levite, unable to bear my soul-destroying pain—he too, seeing doth not attend unto me. But Thou, Who in Thy good will wast incarnate, not from Samaria, but from Maria, O Christ God, in Thy man-befriending manner, grant me healing, pouring upon me Thy great mercy.

I bring to mind that fearful day, and I mourn for my evil actions. How shall I render an account to the immortal King? With what boldness shall I, the prodigal, look unto the Judge? O merciful Father, Only-begotten Son, and Holy Spirit, have mercy on me.

In that valley of tears, in that place which Thou hast ordained, when thou sittest, O Merciful One, to make that just judgment, do not make public all of my hidden deeds, nor shame me before the Angels; but spare me, O God, and have mercy on me. It is I who am that unfruitful tree, O Lord, bearing no fruit of compunction at all; I fear being cut down at my very roots, and I cringe at that fire that is never quenched. Wherefore I beseech Thee: Before that violent moment, give me repentance and save me.

Thou art the good hope of the world, O Virgin Theotokos; Thy fearsome protection only do I seek. Have compassion upon me, the sinner, and entreat the merciful God to save my soul from every threat, thou only blessed One.

[versegpt]

Empowered Living: A 10-Day Spirit-filled Journey

Day 1: Empowered Witnesses - Acts 1:8 "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." — We receive empowerment from the Holy Spirit to witness about Jesus, starting from our immediate surroundings and extending to the farthest places.

Day 2: The Promised Helper - John 14:16 "I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever." — Jesus promises the Holy Spirit as a constant eternal Helper for us.

Day 3: Verified Authentic Children of God - Romans 8:16 "The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God." — The Holy Spirit affirms our identity as God's children, providing assurance and a deep sense of belonging.

Day 4: Fear-Banishing Spirit of God - 2 Timothy 1:7 "For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline." — The Holy Spirit empowers us to overcome fear, replacing it with power, love, and sound judgment.

Day 5: Our Ever-Present Comforting Teacher - John 14:26 "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you." — The Holy Spirit serves as a constant teacher, guiding and reminding us of Jesus' teachings.

Day 6: Cultivating Spiritual Fruit - Galatians 5:22-23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." — The Holy Spirit produces qualities in us known as the "fruit of the Spirit," reflecting Christ-like character.

Day 7: Revealing Spiritual Gifts - 1 Corinthians 12:7 "But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good." — The Holy Spirit bestows unique gifts to each believer for the benefit of the entire Christian community.

Day 8: Persistent Prayer in the Spirit - Ephesians 6:18 "With all prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints." — We are encouraged to pray continually, relying on the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and intercede for fellow believers.

Day 9: Mercy-Based Spiritual Renewal - Titus 3:5 "He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit." — Salvation is not earned through deeds but is a result of God's mercy and the transformative work of the Holy Spirit.

Day 10: Glorifying God as Living Temples - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore, glorify God in your body." — We are reminded that our bodies are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, emphasizing the importance of honoring God in both actions and lifestyle choices.

CLICK HERE FOR PRAYER VERSION

[orthodoxydaily]

Icon, Saints&Reading: Saturday, July 2, 2023

July 2_July 19

THE HOLY APOSTLE JUDE, BROTHER OF THE LORD (80)

The Holy Apostle Jude, one of the twelve apostles of Christ, is descended from King David and Solomon and was the son of Righteous Joseph the Betrothed (Sunday after the Nativity of the Lord) by his first wife.

In his Gospel, the Holy Apostle John the Theologian writes, “... neither did his brethren believe in Him” (John. 7:5). Saint Theophylact, Archbishop of Bulgaria, explains this passage. He says that at the beginning of the Lord Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry, Joseph’s sons, Jude, did not believe in His divine nature. Tradition says that when Saint Joseph returned from Egypt, he began to divide his possessions among his sons. He wanted to allot a share to Christ the Savior, born miraculously and incorruptibly from the All-Pure Virgin Mary. The brothers were opposed to this because Jesus was born of another mother. Only James, later called “The Brother of God,” offered to share his portion with Him.

Jude came to believe in Christ the Savior as the awaited Messiah, and he followed Him and was chosen as one of the twelve Apostles. Mindful of his sin, the Apostle Jude considered himself unworthy to be called the Lord’s brother, and in his Epistle, he calls himself merely the brother of James.

The Holy Apostle Jude also had other names: the Evangelist Matthew terms him “Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddeus” (Mt. 10:3). The Holy Evangelist Mark also calls him Thaddeus (Mark 3:18), and in the Acts of the Holy Apostles he is called Barsabas (Acts 15: 22). This was customary at that time.

After the Ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ, Saint Jude traveled about preaching the Gospel. He first propagated the faith in Christ in Judea, Galilee, Samaria, and Idumaia, and later in the lands of Arabia, Syria, and Mesopotamia. Finally, he went to the city of Edessa. Here he finished the work not completed by his predecessor, Saint Thaddeus, Apostle of the Seventy (August 21). There is a tradition that Saint Jude went to Persia, where he wrote his catholic Epistle in Greek. In the Epistle, much profound truth was expressed in a few words.

Saint Jude’s Epistle speaks about the Holy Trinity, the Incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ, the good and bad angels, and the dread Last Judgment. The Apostle urges believers to guard themselves against fleshly impurity, to be diligent in prayer, faith, and love, to convert the lost to the path of salvation, and to defend themselves from the teachings of heretics. He also says that it is not enough just to be converted to Christianity, but faith must be demonstrated by good works. He cites the rebellious angels and men God punishes (verse 6) to support this.

The Holy Apostle Jude died as a martyr around 80 near Mt. Ararat in Armenia, where he was crucified and pierced by arrows.

THE KOROBEININIKOVSKAYA -KAZAN ICON OF THE MOTHER OF GOD

Since the beginning of the 20th century, The Korobeinikovskaya Kazan Icon of the Mother of God is the greatest Altai shrine and the only miraculous icon in Siberia; it is located in the Mother of God-Kazan Church in the village of Korobeinikova (Ust-Pristansky district of the Altai Territory). The temple was erected in 1902 under the guidance of the builder-architect Borzenko and consecrated in 1903–1904. it is a remarkable masterpiece of church architecture. In the temple, decorated with paintings, there were many holy icons, among which the large Kazan icon of the Mother of God, which later received the name Korobeinikovsky, stood out with its fantastic beauty. The Most Holy Theotokos in a purple robe and the blessing of the Divine Infant was depicted on a gold background in a mosaic frame.

      1938 the temple was closed, looted, and turned into a granary. The Kazan icon of the Mother of God, thrown under her feet, was saved from desecration by a resident, a blind woman Olga Peregudova, nicknamed Olushka Dark, in the late 1990s, she was canonized as a locally venerated saint. The Most Holy Theotokos appeared to the pious Olga in a dream, commanding her to take the icon from the desecrated church. The image was severely damaged; only the eyes of the Mother of God and the Divine Child were distinguishable. After some time, a miracle happened - the icon was renewed, shone with new colors, and miracles began to occur from it.

      Several pious families kept the miraculous icon before the time came in June 1994 to return the icon to Korobeynikovo.

      Until June 29, 1994, the Korobeinikovskaya Kazan Icon of the Mother of God stayed in the Intercession Cathedral in Barnaul. Thousands of believers were able to bow to the miraculous image.

      On July 2, 1994, the miraculous icon was returned to the restored Kazan Church in the village of Korobeynikova in a crowded procession. She became a revered shrine of the Bogoroditse-Kazan Monastery, which opened in the town. In remembrance of this event, the celebration of the Korobeinikov Kazan Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos was established.

More about this highly venerated icon here

JUDE 1:1-10 

1 Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, To those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ: 2 Mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you. 3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to exhort you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. 4 For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. 5 But I want to remind you. However, you once knew that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. 6 And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day; 7 as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. 8 These dreamers also defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries. 9 Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation but said, "The Lord rebuke you!" 10, But these speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things, they corrupt themselves.

MATTHEW 8:5-13 

5 When Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, 6 saying, "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented." 7 And Jesus said to him, "I will come and heal him." 8 The centurion answered, saying, "Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it. 10 When Jesus heard it, He marveled and said to those who followed, "Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! 11 And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you." And his servant was healed that same hour.

[hinge]

Hinge presents an anthology of love stories almost never told. Read more on https://no-ordinary-love.co

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Only God’s Judgment Is Trustworthy

by William Gurnall (1616–1679)

David, not wholly satisfied with his own single testimony, calls out to God, “Search me, O God I and know my heart; see if there be any wicked way in me” (Psalm 139:23,24); and wise physicians will not trust their own judgments about the state of their own health, nor sincere Christians themselves about their soul’s welfare; it is God that they attend to; His judgment alone concludes and determines them. When they have prayed and opened their case to Him, with David they listen what He will say; therefore you shall find them putting themselves under the most searching ministry, from which they never come more pleased than when their consciences are stripped naked, and their hearts exposed to their view, as the woman of Samaria, who commended the sermon, and Christ that preached it, for this unto her neighbors, that he had told her all that ever she had done (John 4:29).

[frmartinshomiliesandreflections]

18th July >> Fr. Martin's Gospel Reflections / Homilies on Matthew 11:20-24 for Tuesday, Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time: ‘Jesus began to reproach the towns’.

Tuesday, Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Gospel (Except USA) Matthew 11:20-24 It will not go as hard with Sodom on Judgement Day as with you.

Jesus began to reproach the towns in which most of his miracles had been worked, because they refused to repent.

‘Alas for you, Chorazin! Alas for you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. And still, I tell you that it will not go as hard on Judgement day with Tyre and Sidon as with you. And as for you, Capernaum, did you want to be exalted as high as heaven? You shall be thrown down to hell. For if the miracles done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have been standing yet. And still, I tell you that it will not go as hard with the land of Sodom on Judgement day as with you.’

Gospel (USA) Matthew 11:20-24 It will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon and for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.

Jesus began to reproach the towns where most of his mighty deeds had been done, since they had not repented. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. And as for you, Capernaum:

Will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to the netherworld.

For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”

Reflections (5)

(i) Tuesday, Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Today’s gospel reading reveals the distress of Jesus before the refusal of some of the towns of Galilee to welcome him and his message, the towns of Capernaum, Bethsaida and Chorazin. According to John’s gospel, Simon Peter, Andrew and Philip were from Bethsaida and according to the other gospels Capernaum was the home of Peter’s mother-in-law. Jesus’ threat of judgement on these towns reveals his anguish at their refusal to accept his preaching of the kingdom of God’s loving mercy. We tend to have the strongest feelings towards those we love the most, and, sometimes, that can include the feeling of anger. We often have a sense of helplessness when those we deeply care about take a path that we know will not serve them well. We try to persuade them otherwise out of our love for them, but our words fall on deaf ears. We have to let them go, even though our heart breaks at the path they are taking. This is akin to the experience of Jesus before those towns of Galilee that mattered deeply to him. However, because Jesus’ love is infinitely deeper than ours, his feeling of anguish at his love being rejected is also much greater than ours. Jesus too remains helpless before the refusal of others to take the path of life he is offering them. Yet, he never gives up on those who reject him, continuing to call out to them in his love. After his death and resurrection, the risen Lord continued to preach the gospel to the towns of Galilee through his disciples, and the Acts of the Apostles suggests that many of the Galilean towns heard the gospel. ‘Meanwhile the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and was built up’ (Acts 9:31). The Lord never gives up on us but he looks to us to seek him and, if we do so, we will not be disappointed. In the words of the responsorial psalm, ‘Seek the Lord, you who are poor, and your hearts will revive’.

And/Or

(ii) Tuesday, Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time

We sometimes like to think of ourselves as being in control, as having everything under control. Yet, the reality is that in so many ways we are not in control. So much happens to us over which we have no control. Among other things, we cannot control how people respond tto us. We can offer someone the gift of friendship, for example, but we have no control over whether or not they receive that gift. Even Jesus had no control over how other people responded to him. He brought people the gift of God’s presence but not everyone received that gift, not everyone recognized Jesus as God visiting his people. In this morning’s gospel reading, Jesus laments the fact that the towns of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum did not respond to his presence, in spite of the miracles that were done in their midst. He suggests that the pagan cities of Tyre and Sodom would have been much more responsive to his presence. The fact that people were graced by the Lord did not necessarily mean that they responded to that grace. We have been graced by the Lord in many ways. We have the gift of the Lord’s presence in his word, in the sacraments, in each other. We spend our lives learning to respond to the many graces the Lord is always offering us. 

And/Or

(iii) Tuesday, Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time                                 

The words of Jesus against the Galilean towns of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum seem harsh to our ears. Behind the harsh woes lie the anguish of a love that is frustrated. His rejection by many in these towns foreshadows a great rejection that lies ahead by the people of Jerusalem. Jesus has given much to these Galilean towns. Miracles have been done in their midst. Yet, the response has been at best indifferent and at worst hostile. Are all the efforts Jesus made to make present the kingdom of God among them wasted? Jesus had spared nothing on their behalf and, yet, the return has been minimal. Such an experience could have left Jesus disheartened. Yet, in the passage immediately following Jesus gives thanks to God for all those who have responded to his message and work. Jesus understood that in spite of some many setbacks and disappointments, God was at work in and through him. Much of the seed he scattered appeared to bear no fruit, yet some of the seed would bear a rich harvest. As people of faith we can get very discouraged by the indifference or even hostility to the gospel message. Yet, we can be sure that the Lord continues to work in our midst, even when the signs are unpromising. Like Jesus in the gospel reading, we can get distressed and troubled by the gospel’s lack of progress but, like him, we need never get discouraged. There always remains much to give God thanks for, because God’s work is not ultimately thwarted by human resistance.

And/Or

(iv) Tuesday, Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time

We can get very discouraged when we encounter a poor response to our efforts to offer something we consider worthwhile. Those of us who work in parishes may get a speaker who has something valuable to say on life of faith and only a handful turn up, in spite of our best efforts to promote it. Within a family, parents give exemplary witness to their faith in the Lord and their children do not come to share their faith. In the gospel reading, Jesus shows his discouragement, indeed, his exasperation, at the indifferent response of the towns of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum to his healing and life giving ministry. On another occasion he wept over the city of Jerusalem because in spite of his best efforts to gather them to himself as a hen gathers her brood, they were unwilling. Jesus bemoaned his deep disappointment in all these cases. However, when Moses saw an Egyptian strike a Hebrew in today’s first reading, his reaction went beyond bemoaning to violent behaviour resulting in the death of the Egyptian. How do we respond to situations we find deeply disappointing and upsetting? Jesus has something to teach us in this regard as in all others. In Luke’s gospel a Samaritan town rejected Jesus’ offer of the gospel. His disciples wanted the townspeople struck dead from heaven, which was akin to Moses’ reaction. Jesus simply went on his way to the next town. As risen Lord he reached out to the Samaritan towns with the gospel through the ministry of Philip and on this occasion the Samaritans responded with joy. We sometimes need that kind of patience. Yes, we can bemoan people’s lack of response to our offer of the gospel message, but we do not allow such experiences to embitter us. We keep offering, trusting that the Lord will bring some good out of our persistence.

And/Or

(v) Tuesday, Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time

In the previous chapter of Matthew’s gospel to today’s gospel reading, Jesus had said, ‘You received without charge, give without charge’. When the Lord gives to us, he looks to us to give to others from what we have received from him. When the Lord gives, we need firstly to receive from what he gives, and then to give to others from what we have received. That first step of receiving what the Lord gives is vital. We can be slow to receive what the Lord wants to give us. We have to keep learning to receive from him. As Jesus says elsewhere, anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it. In today’s gospel reading, Jesus bemoans the fact that the inhabitants of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum were unwilling to receive what Jesus was offering them. God had worked powerfully through Jesus in these towns, and, yet, their inhabitants failed to receive Jesus. God was gifting them through Jesus and, yet, they did not welcome God’s gifts through Jesus, God’s gift of Jesus. Today’s gospel invites us to ask ourselves, ‘How well do we receive all that God is offering us through his Son?’ The opening chapter of John’s gospel declares that Jesus came among us full of grace and truth and from his fullness we have all received. Because the Lord is full of God’s love for us, there is no limit to how much we can receive from him. There is always more to receive, and more that we can give from what we have received.

Fr. Martin Hogan.

[bills-bible-basics]

PROMISE OF THE SPIRIT -- KJV (King James Version) Bible Verse List #Scriptures #BibleStudy #BibleVerses "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD come. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call." Joel 2:28-32, KJV "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:" Matthew 3:11, KJV "John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:" Luke 3:16, KJV "But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." Acts 2:16-21, KJV "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" Luke 11:13, KJV "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:" John 16:7-8, KJV "And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:" John 20:22, KJV "And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence . . . But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." Acts 1:4-5, 8, KJV "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." Acts 2:1-4, KJV "Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost." Acts 8:14-17, KJV "‭‭And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,‭ He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.‭ And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.‭ Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.‭ When they heard ‭this‭, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.‭ And when Paul had laid ‭his‭ hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.‭ And all the men were about twelve." Acts 19:1-7, KJV "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels [meaning the Spirit in our bodies of flesh], that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." 2 Corinthians 4:7, KJV "‭‭Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, ‭is‭ God;‭ Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the spirit in our hearts." 2 Corinthians 1:21-22, KJV "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love," Ephesians 3:17, KJV Please also refer to the KJV Bible Verse List called "Coming Comforter", which you can find at the following URL: https://www.billkochman.com/VerseLists/verse009.html If you would like more info regarding the origin of these KJV Bible verse lists, go to https://www.billkochman.com/VerseLists/. Thank-you! https://www.billkochman.com/Blog/index.php/promise-of-the-spirit-kjv-king-james-version-bible-verse-list/?PROMISE%20OF%20THE%20SPIRIT%20--%20KJV%20%28King%20James%20Version%29%20Bible%20Verse%20List

[spiritsoulandbody]

#DailyDevotion Jesus Promised & Delivered Power From On High

#DailyDevotion Jesus Promised & Delivered Power From On High Acts 1:1-11 IN MY FIRST BOOK, Theophilus, I wrote about everything Jesus did and taught 2until the day He was taken up to heaven after giving orders by the Holy Spirit to the apostles He had chosen. 3After His suffering Jesus proved to the apostles in many convincing ways that He was alive as He showed Himself to them for forty days and talked about God's kingdom. 4When He met with them, He ordered them not to leave Jerusalem but to wait for what the Father had promised: “You heard Me tell about Him: 5John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 6When they came together, they asked Him, “Lord, are You now going to reestablish the kingdom of Israel?” 7“It isn't for you to know," He told them, "what times or periods the Father has set by His own authority. 8But when the Holy Spirit comes on you, you will receive power and will testify of Me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest parts of the world.” 9When He had said this and while they were watching Him, He was lifted up, and a cloud took Him away so they couldn't see Him anymore. 10As He was going and they were gazing up into the sky, two men in white clothes were standing right beside them. 11“Men of Galilee,” they asked, "why are you standing here looking up to heaven? This Jesus, Who was taken away from you to heaven, will come back the same way you saw Him go to heaven.” Luke gives us a little summary of the end of his Gospel here. In particular we note Jesus' suffering and the works to show he was truly risen from the dead, bodily, being alive. He spent forty days with them talking about God's kingdom. No doubt many of the parables and things they didn't quite understand because of hiddenness of his teaching were made clearer. It seems though from this dialogue that they didn't quite get it yet, when they ask him about the establishment of the kingdom of Israel. Perhaps though this was just part of Jesus' teaching them about the kingdom. Jesus reaffirms what he had taught them earlier about times and seasons and such being ordained by the Father and not to concern ourselves with such things.  What Jesus does make clear to them was they were to stay in Jerusalem until they received the Holy Spirit. While some people try to take away the distinction of the Holy Spirit being with us and the Holy Spirit being in us, I think they do that because they simply don't know what to do with those prepositions. The reason for this is He has chosen not to let us know. But we know this, there is a distinction. Perhaps it is in the receiving of power that is different. While the Holy Spirit is always there with faith, I think to some extent, when he makes his home in you he gives you a certain understanding of the Scriptures, in particular, how the Old Testament proclaims Jesus as the Messiah. Despite some Old Testament professors' disclaimers, I'm quite certain if you see Jesus anywhere in the Old Testament, you are probably correct. Jesus sent his Apostles into all the world, from Jerusalem, Samaria to the furthest parts of the world. They proclaimed Jesus' life, death and resurrection and ascension. They proclaimed he is coming back in judgment but has provided for all who trust in him forgiveness of sins and eternal life in the resurrection. Their message continues throughout the world today until Christ comes again in glory. The angels promised Jesus is coming back as he departed. If someone claims to be Jesus and he isn't coming on the clouds in judgment, he isn't Jesus. Jesus' judgment for those who believe in him is innocent, not guilty and righteous. Heavenly Father, continually give us your Holy Spirit so we may proclaim Jesus to a fallen world so many may come to faith and be saved through him. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Read the full article

[roman-catholic-mass-readings]

21st May >> Mass Readings (USA)

Wednesday, Fifth Week of Eastertide  or Saint Christopher Magallanes and his Companions, Martyrs.

Wednesday, Fifth Week of Eastertide 

(Liturgical Colour: White. Year: C(I))

First Reading Acts of the Apostles 15:1-6 They decided to go up to Jerusalem to the Apostles and presbyters about this question.

Some who had come down from Judea were instructing the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the Mosaic practice, you cannot be saved.” Because there arose no little dissension and debate by Paul and Barnabas with them, it was decided that Paul, Barnabas, and some of the others should go up to Jerusalem to the Apostles and presbyters about this question. They were sent on their journey by the Church, and passed through Phoenicia and Samaria telling of the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brethren. When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the Church, as well as by the Apostles and the presbyters, and they reported what God had done with them. But some from the party of the Pharisees who had become believers stood up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and direct them to observe the Mosaic law.” The Apostles and the presbyters met together to see about this matter.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 122:1-2, 3-4ab, 4cd-5

R/ Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord. or R/ Alleluia.

I rejoiced because they said to me, “We will go up to the house of the LORD.” And now we have set foot within your gates, O Jerusalem.

R/ Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord. or R/ Alleluia.

Jerusalem, built as a city with compact unity. To it the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD.

R/ Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord. or R/ Alleluia.

According to the decree for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the LORD. In it are set up judgment seats, seats for the house of David.

R/ Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord. or R/ Alleluia.

Gospel Acclamation John 15:4a, 5b

Alleluia, alleluia. Remain in me, as I remain in you, says the Lord; whoever remains in me will bear much fruit. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel John 15:1-8 Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit.

Jesus said to his disciples: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you. Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they will be burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

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Saint Christopher Magallanes and his Companions, Martyrs 

(Liturgical Colour: Red. Year: C(I))

(Readings for the memorial)

(There is a choice today between the readings for the ferial day (Wednesday) and those for the memorial. The ferial readings are recommended unless pastoral reasons suggest otherwise)

First Reading Revelation 7:9-17 These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress.

I, John, had a vision of a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue. They stood before the throne and before the Lamb, wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice:

“Salvation comes from our God, who is seated on the throne, and from the Lamb.”

All the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They prostrated themselves before the throne, worshiped God, and exclaimed:

“Amen. Blessing and glory, wisdom and thanksgiving, honor, power, and might be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”

Then one of the elders spoke up and said to me, “Who are these wearing white robes, and where did they come from?” I said to him, “My lord, you are the one who knows.” He said to me, “These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress; they have washed their robes and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb. “For this reason they stand before God’s throne and worship him day and night in his temple. The One who sits on the throne will shelter them. They will not hunger or thirst anymore, nor will the sun or any heat strike them. For the Lamb who is in the center of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to springs of life-giving water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9

R/ The Lord delivered me from all my fears.

I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth. Let my soul glory in the LORD; the lowly will hear me and be glad.

R/ The Lord delivered me from all my fears.

Glorify the LORD with me, let us together extol his name. I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.

R/ The Lord delivered me from all my fears.

Look to him that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not blush with shame. When the afflicted man called out, the LORD heard, and from all his distress he saved him.

R/ The Lord delivered me from all my fears.

The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. Taste and see how good the LORD is; blessed the man who takes refuge in him.

R/ The Lord delivered me from all my fears.

Gospel Acclamation Matthew 5:10

Alleluia, alleluia. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. Alleluia, alleluia.

Or: John 17:19

Alleluia, alleluia. I consecrate myself for them, so that they also may be consecrated in the truth. Alleluia, alleluia.

Or: 2 Corinthians 1:3b-4a

Alleluia, alleluia. Blessed be the Father of compassion and God of all encouragement, who encourages us in our every affliction. Alleluia, alleluia.

Or: James 1:12

Alleluia, alleluia. Blessed is the man who perseveres in temptation, for when he has been proved he will receive the crown of life. Alleluia, alleluia.

Or: 1 Peter 4:14

Alleluia, alleluia. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of God rests upon you. Alleluia, alleluia.

Or: cf. Te Deum

Alleluia, alleluia. We praise you, O God, we acclaim you as Lord; the white-robed army of martyrs praise you. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel John 12:24-26 If a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it produces much fruit.

Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me.”

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.