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3:17 (For the fig tree is not going to blossom, nor will there be any fruit on the vine, the yield of the olive will fail, the fields afford no food; the sheep will vanish from the fold, nor will there be any cattle in the stalls.)

3:18 But I will rejoice in Yahweh, I will exult in God my saviour.

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been reading more about Kyrill of Russia. Sort of questionable in his committment to the Gospel and definitely thinks about sex more than normal people.

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Independent Croatian MEP Mislav Kolakušić of the Eu Parliament demonstrated this week how even the brain damaged can get elected. Another loser. Got dropped on your head as a baby maybe?

German MEP Christine Anderson joined him proving that stupidity knows no gender.

Their comments on Canada display their ignorance.

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“Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” - 1 John 3:18

Following his application in verse 17, John summarizes the need for Christians to act on love, not just think about it. It is important to communicate love through our words, but we must also do so through our actions. Jesus gave a similar warning to the Pharisees in Matthew 15:4–9. Just as truly saving faith will produce good works (James 2:17–19), truly loving another person will produce loving actions. This verse once again uses the Greek root word agape, meaning a selfless, sacrificial love.

Jesus not only spoke about love, He provided powerful actions to match His teachings. John 13 offers a clear example in which Jesus washed the feet of His disciples to teach them to serve one another in humility. His death on the cross offered the most powerful evidence of love “in deed and in truth.” He endured suffering, ridicule, and death from those who should have recognized Him as the Messiah. Yet His actions also included His resurrection, offering love in action that changed the course of history.

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Isaiah

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT : YEAR A

THE FIRST READING: from the Book of the Prophet

Isaiah chapter 7 verses 10-14

BACKGROUND: The year is 734 B.C. For several years Ahaz, the king of the southern kingdom of Judah has been a loyal supporter of the Assyrian Empire, paying tribute and even setting up Assyrian worship in the Temple in Jerusalem. He

has been able to maintain a fragile independence through his subservience but now the other kingdoms of the region, Syria

and the northern kingdom of Israel are forming an alliance to stand up to the Assyrians. Ahaz is a practical man. He knows

that his small kingdom is no match for the Assyrian armies which have conquered even mighty Babylon. But his neighbours are adament and decide to attack Judah first, thus removing a possible Assyrian ally in their rear. They will both shortly pay the price for their rebellion and disappear from history, defeated, conquered and destroyed by the Assyrians.

However this is in the future. Right now, Ahaz is faced with the forminable armies of his two neighbours. What should he do?

If he joins the rebellion and is defeated, the kingdom will be lost. If he doesn't join the rebellion and it succeeds, the kingdom will be lost. If he doesn't join the rebellion and no help arrives, the kingdom will be lost. Ahaz calls a council and the Prophet Isaiah enters. He has told the king that there is nothing to fear, that Israel and Syria will not defeat him and the kingdom will be safe. Now in our passage, Isaiah offers a sign

from the Lord and gives Ahaz the choice of what sign he

will have. But Ahaz rejects the sign. He is not particularily faithful to the Covenant and participates in pagan worship. He cloaks his unbelief in pious platitudes but Isaiah rebukes him, demanding that he cease trying the patience of God. The sign

will be the birth of a child who will be called Emmanuel, He will be called by this name because God is with the people and God will have delivered them by the time the child is born.

St. Matthew saw in this sign a foreshadowing of the birth

of Christ to the Virgin Mary. It is doubtful that Isaiah spoke these words pertaining to the birth of Jesus. If it was to be a sign for Ahaz, it would have to have occurred in his lifetime at

least. A sign that would not come to pass for almost six hundred

years would not have been too comforting to the king. St. Matthew, inspired by the Holy Spirit, understood that God was

saying more through these words of Isaiah than even Isaiah

knew and wrote in his Gospel that Jesus was the promised

Emmanuel, the true Deliverer and that his birth of the Virgin Mary was a sign of God's emminent salvation.

VERSE BY VERSE:

7:10 PARAPHRASE--- The Lord spoke to Ahaz again.

The preceding verses tell the words of the Lord given to Ahaz through Isaiah. The evil designs of the neighbouring kingdoms would fail. Judah would be secure. Now the Lord continues the message.

7:11 PARAPHRASE--- The Lord offered him the choice of a sign.

Ahaz is to be given the choice of a sign to confirm the word of the Lord given through Isaiah. Here we must recognize that the sign was rooted in the historical situation. It was to be given to Ahaz to confirm the words Ahaz had heard. What is remarkable is the scope of possibilities. It could be a sign from heaven, from the underworld or from wherever Ahaz wanted.

7:12 PARAPHRASE--- Ahaz replied that he would not put the Lord to a test.

The reply of Ahaz sounds very pious but with what we know of his character, we can hear the fear in his words. Ahaz was scared. It was bad enough that the armies of his neighbours were on the march against him. It was bad enough that he had to dance to the tune of the Assyrians. It was bad enough that there seemed no way out but to now be confronted by the prophet Isaiah was more than Ahaz could handle. He knew how mysterious were that deeds of the God of Israel but Ahaz had also celebrated the gods of Assryia. Could he trust this God whom he had sinned against? And so like all good compromisers, Ahaz did nothing and refused to name a sign.

7:13 PARAPHRASE--- Isaiah responded that this was not humility but effrontery.

Isaiah saw through the charade of piety. He condemned Ahaz for not trusting in God. He spoke of how the kings of Judah had not led the people as well as they might have led them. In his few words, he called forth the image of kings who had not stood firm, not trusted in God, and had led the people astray by their compromises with foeign gods. The people were wearied and instead of being in the land of rest promised by God to Moses they still found themselves struggling against enemies.

7:14 PARAPHRASE--- The Lord chose a sign. It would be the birth of a son to a young woman and the child would be named Emmanuel.

The sign chosen by God was a natural sign and was intended to give a time frame to God's action. Judah's neighbours would be routed within nine months. This might seem like a long time and in our day it would be but in Ahaz's day things moved at a slower pace and armies marched only as fast as their feet could carry them. In seeing the victory of God over the enemies, the mother would name the child 'Emmanuel', which means God is with us.

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just some thots

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT : YEAR B

THE FIRST READING: from the Second Book of Samuel 7:

1-5, 8-12, 16

BACKGROUND: It is a thousand years before Christ. From

being a shepherd watching his father s flock, David, the

youngest son of Jesse of Bethlehem, has become king of

the twelve tribes of Israel. His enemies are cowed, his

territory expansive and his capital city, Jerusalem, a bustling

hive of activity. Not one to simply sit back and enjoy, David

begins to think of building a temple for the Lord. He has the

place, the resources and the desire but before beginning

David seeks the advice of Nathan the Prophet. At first

Nathan tells David to follow his plan but that night the Lord

speaks to Nathan and he tells the king the message which

comprises our first reading.

VERSE BY VERSE:

1: PARAPHRASE: When David had rest from his enemies

2: PARAPHRASE: he spoke to Nathan the prophet and told

him of his plan to build a house for the Lord.

In the preceding chapter we read the account of David

bringing the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem. He had

seen how the Lord blessed whatever place the Ark rested

and sought to receive this blessing for his new captial city.

Once the Ark was in the City, David desired to build a shrine

for it, a House for the Lord to replace the Tent of Meeting

which had been the dwelling place of the Ark up to this time.

Nathan was one of the brotherhood of prophets who spoke

the Word of the Lord.

3: PARAPHRASE: Nathan told David to do as he desired

and he would be blessed.

Here we have a false assumption on the part of Nathan.

Without prayer and meditation, he answers the king

immediately for it seems to him that this desire of the king

can only be worthy.

4: PARAPHRASE: But that night the Lord spoke to Nathan.

Nathan was a true prophet and though he had jumped the

gun, he was ready to hear the word of the Lord.

5: PARAPHRASE: The Lord told Nathan the message he

was to give to the king. Are you the one to build me a

House to dwell in?

The Lord questions David. From where did this idea of a

House for the Lord come? Did the Lord ever ask for a

House? Has not the Lord been with the people throughout

all their travels?

8: PARAPHRASE: The Lord continued. Nathan is told to

tell David that the Lord had brought him from the sheepfolds

to rule the people of the Lord.

9: PARAPHRASE: The Lord had been with David in all his

ventures and made his name great on earth.

10: PARAPHRASE: The Lord will build a place for the

people.

11: PARAPHRASE: And the Lord will build David a House.

12: PARAPHRASE: His son will rule after him.

16: PARAPHRASE: And from David s family will come the

rulers of God s people.

THE PSALM RESPONSE:I WILL SING FOREVER OF

YOUR LOVE O LORD

THE RESPONSORIAL PSALM : PSALM 89 1,2,3,4,26,28

BACKGROUND: Though beginning with praise and recalling

the Covenant God made with David, this Psalm is a lament

for one of Judah s kings. Though the dating is uncertain, the

psalm speaks of a disasterous defeat and cam probably be

associated with either of the last two kings. It is the first part

which reccomends this psalm as our response. Consider

the author, looking at the situation in which the people find

themselves. The king has been defeated, the army crushed

and the land overrun by the enemy. How many of them

despaired and turned from their trust in the promises of God.

Had not God promised that David s family would rule them?

Yet now look what had happened. The author raises his

voice in praise of God, looking beyond what human eyes

alone can see and behold the glory of the Lord. God s love

is firm. God is faithful. God will keep God s promise.

As Christians we see the fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant

in the reign of Christ the King. Descended from David,

Jesus reigns and of His kingdom there will be no end.

VERSE BY VERSE:

1: PARAPHRASE: I will celebrate Your love forever O Lord,

proclaiming Your faithfulness to everyone.

If, as seems evident from the full text, the psalm was

composed at the end of the dynasty s rule, the author is

proclaiming his trust in the love and faithfulness of God.

2: PARAPHRASE: The love of God is eternal and God s

faithfulness as firm as the heavens.

This love and faithfulness ascribed to God is not some

passing thing but forever. The love people have may grow

cold and treachery rear its head even among friends but

never with God.

3: PARAPHRASE: The Lord has made a covenant with

David.

4: PARAPHRASE: I will establish David s dynasty forever.

These two verses contain in a nutshell the Covenant with

David. God promised David that his son would rule after

him and that the ruler of Judah would always be from the

family of David.

26: PARAPHRASE: He shall call to me and I will answer him

as a Father.

The verses in between celebrate God s love and the joy of

those who trust in him. Now we hear again God s promise

to David that God will be as Father to the kings.

28: PARAPHRASE: I will make him the eldest, the highest

of the kings of the earth.

Those who rule in Judah will be ranked by God as the

highest of kings.

THE GOSPEL from the holy Gospel according to Luke

chapter 1 verse 26-38

BACKGROUND: Our Gospel reading is one we think we

know so well that we must make a conscious effort to listen

to it as if we were hearing it for the first time. Luke gives us

the account of the Annunciation of the Incarnation to Mary.

Yet what occurs is not an announcement of an event but an

announcement of an opportunity of grace. Mary is told that

she is the one chosen to be the mother of the Messiah and

Gabriel waits for her response.

VERSE BY VERSE:

26: PARAPHRASE: In the sixth month of the pregnancy of

Elizabeth with John the Baptist, the angel Gabriel was sent

from God to Nazareth in Galilee.

As is the case throughout the Gospel of St. Luke, specific

times and places are recorded. This is not some sort of

once upon a time in a land far,far away story but a factual

record of an actual event. Mary s cousin Elizabeth was

pregnant with John the Baptist who was conceived in early

October. Now it is March and Elizabeth is in her sixth

month. The angel Gabriel is sent from God to Nazareth. In

his account of the Annunciation of the birth of John, Luke

has introduced us to Zechariah and Elizabeth.

27: PARAPHRASE: The angel came to a virgin betrothed to

Joseph of the House of David. Her name was Mary.

27: Now we are introduced to Mary and Joseph who are

betrothed but not yet living together. Even so, the betrothal

ceromony has made them husband and wife. All that is left

now is for them to set up their household. Jospeh is a

member of the family of David and can trace his ancestors

back to that great king.

28: PARAPHRASE: The angel greeted Mary by saying

Hail, O favoured One, the Lord is with you.

28: The first words of Gabriel are words of greeting. The

word used by St. Luke was a common greeting among those

who spoke Greek. Chaire implies a desire for the listener

to respond as if hearing good news. It is both a wish and a

statement somewhat like our good morning which may be

expanded to express I wish you a good morning or It is a

good morning .

The second phrase in the greeting indicates that the one

spoken to is a person who has received favour or grace. It

speaks of someone to whom something good has happened

or for whom something has turned out well.

The third phrase gives a reason for the first two phrases.

The Lord is with her and therefore she is favoured and has

good reason to rejoice.

29: PARAPHRASE: This greeting troubled Mary and she

wondered what the angel meant.

29: Mary is troubled by this greeting and wonders about it.

She is not disturbed by the presence of the angel but at the

angel s words, that the Lord is with her and she is favoured.

Throughout the Scriptures this is a common response to an

angelic visitation. Zechariah is troubled at the sight of

Gabriel when the angel had brought him the message of

John s birth. The women at the tomb will also be troubled at

the sight of the angels.

30: PARAPHRASE: The angel continued and told her not to

be afraid for she had found favour with God.

30: Gabriel restates that Mary is favoured by God and

should have no fear. The angel s greeting is a simple

statement of fact.

31: PARAPHRASE: You will conceive a son , the angel

continued, and will call Him Jesus

31: Here begins the message of the angel. Mary is to

conceive and bear a son and His name shall be Jesus.

32: PARAPHRASE: Your son will be great and God will give

to Him the throne of David. ???

32:

33: PARAPHRASE: He will reign forever over the House of

Jacob

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Trucker Tantrum!

sitting in a truck blowing a horn and hiding behind your children is so adult. what a bunch of losers!

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Putiin in a dress?

so called patriarch kryill

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Russ Patriarch?

what a loser! supposed Christian leader shaking pompms for russian hate. bye bye kryill!

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Crypto Christain Russian Orthadox chuch shows its true colors as it embaces Russin War mchine. Gotta love that kryii! he knows his lord

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Tragic

pray please for the repose of the soul of Plutarco Elías Calles a former Mexican President whose hatred of Christianity was the cause of martyrdom of many in Mexico

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“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth; It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish the purpose for which I sent it.”

– Isaiah 55: 10-11

I was reading these verses when I realized two things. 

First, that God doesn’t speak because He just wants to, He speaks because every word that comes from Him has a purpose. His word is not empty, His words are not just words.

Second, God uses the water cycle to illustrate us, too. 

– “He said that the rain and snow comes down from heaven.”  just like us, we were created by God, and He sent us here on earth to fulfill His purpose.

– “And do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish,” God sent us here because we have a purpose. God will let us stay here on earth until we fulfill His purpose, and when the time comes that God will call us to go to Him, we can finally say that we already did what He wants us to do.

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the nEWS

Sort of saddens me as I watch or read the news these days as I come across supposed adults demonstrating how intellectually deficient they are as they use every logical fallacy to support their arguments and call it all logic. Even sadder is the fact that they will lead others astray.

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A Thot

“God, who promises you eternity, does not promise you tomorrow."

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October 21 is the feast day of Blessed Charles IV. of Hungary, king

Source of picture: David Kaehling on Pinterest

Life of Blessed Charles IV. of Hungary

He was born on 17 August 1887 in the Castle of Persenbeug, Austria. His deeply religious mother played the most decisive role in his education.

On 21 October 1911 he contracted sacramental marriage, out of love, with the Servant of God, Zita of Bourbon-Parma. They had eight children. Their family life was unique and exemplary in their social circles. Charles and his wife were against the war right from its beginning, however, he strove to fulfil his military service in a Christian way.

Without wishing for it, on 21 November 1916 Charles became king and emperor of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy following the death of four heirs to the throne, as he was preceded by four relatives in the line of succession. This was a truly providential succession. He inherited the burden of a hopeless war, an obsolete political system and constantly worsening internal and exterior problems. The new king had a virtuous and rich personality completed with the enthusiasm of the youth. King Charles was the only supporter of Pope Benedict XV’s efforts to bring about peace, thus he made every effort to finish the war.

On 11 November 1918, after World War I,  he relinquished every participation in the administration of the Austrian State and on 13 November 1918 he did the same regarding the Hungarian State. However, he was not willing to abdicate; having received his responsibility as king from God, he could not imagine such an action.

After much tribulation, Charles was exiled first to Switzerland, on 24 March 1919, then to the island of Madeira, after his return attempt of 1 November 1921. He never lost his living faith, piety and love for his family, and he offered his sufferings for his peoples. He passed away on 1 April 1922 due to a sudden illness. His tomb in Madeira has become a destination of pilgrims, who remember him as a holy hermit, father of a family and an expiating king.

Source: https://www.mindszentyalapitvany.hu/

Quotes from Blessed Charles IV. of Hungary

Jacek Malczewski: Reconciliation

“I strive always, in all things, to understand, as clearly as possible and follow, the will of God and this, in the most perfect way.”

“Now, we must help each other to get to Heaven.”