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seekfirstme · 2 years

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BELIEVE WHAT YOU READ.

PRACTICE WHAT YOU BELIEVE.

TEACH WHAT YOU PRACTICE.

THEN YOU WILL BE GREAT IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.

"But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5: 19).

On Wednesday 23rd March 2022 of the 3rd Week of Lent, we hear this injunction from the Master: Study the Law. Observe the Law. Teach the Law.

Today 23rd March 2022 is the feast of St Turibius of Mogrovejo (1538 - 1606). Spanish. Missionary Bishop and Archbishop of Lima, Peru. St Turibius spoke up for the rights of the native peoples of South America and defended them against the rapacious instincts of the Spanish colonizers. The Archbishop saint is remembered in history for his unwavering love of truth.

One dominant theme from today's the Mass Readings: Teach the Law [the word]. The message comes strongly from the first Reading from Deuteronomy 4 and Matthew 5. Below are the Scriptures:

#1 "Israel, hear the statutes and ordinances I am teaching you to observe." (Deuteronomy 4: 1).

#2 "See, I am teaching you the statutes and ordinances as the Lord, my God, has commanded me." (Deuteronomy 4: 5).

#3 "However, be on your guard and be very careful not to forget the things your own eyes have seen, nor let them slip from your heart as long as you live, but teach them to your children and to your children’s children." (Deuteronomy 4: 9).

From the Gospel:

#4 "But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5: 19).

#5 "Whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5: 19).

The Church is in dire need of teachers of the word of God: catechists and evangelists. Without teaching and knowledge, a people perishes. (Cf Hosea 4: 6).

Therefore,

Believe what you read.

Practice what you believe.

Teach what you practice.

Every Christian who obeys the commandments of God is able to share the same by word and example.

"Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!

Your words are spirit, Lord, and they are life; you have the message of eternal life. (Cf. John 6: 63, 68).

"As for you, dear son of mine, persevere in praying to me. Hold fast to my Rosary and beware of every ploy of the Evil One to separate you from it. My Rosary is your safeguard and your weapon in the fight against the forces of evil. At the same time, for you it is a remedy and a comfort. Do you not see how the Rosary has stabilized you? Do you not experience its healing and all its benefits? Pray my Rosary and teach others to do the same." (IN SINU JESU, Tuesday, December 11, 2007).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

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seekfirstme · 2 years

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Meditation: Do you view God's law negatively or positively? Jesus' attitude towards the law of God can be summed up in the great prayer of Psalm 119: "Oh, how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day." For the people of Israel the "law" could refer to the ten commandments or to the five Books of Moses, called the Pentateuch, which explain the commandments and ordinances of God for his people. The "law" also referred to the whole teaching or way of life which God gave to his people. The Jews in Jesus' time also used it as a description of the oral or scribal law. Needless to say, the scribes added many more things to the law than God intended. That is why Jesus often condemned the scribal law. It placed burdens on people which God had not intended. Jesus, however, made it very clear that the essence of God's law - his commandments and way of life, must be fulfilled.

Jesus taught reverence for God's law - reverence for God himself, for the Lord's Day, reverence or respect for parents, respect for life, for property, for another person's good name, respect for oneself and for one's neighbor lest wrong or hurtful desires master us. Reverence and respect for God's commandments teach us the way of love - love of God and love of neighbor.

The transforming work of the Holy Spirit

What is impossible to men and women is possible to God and those who put their faith and trust in God. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit the Lord transforms us and makes us like himself. We are a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17) because "God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us" (Romans 5:5). God gives us the grace to love as he loves, to forgive as he forgives, to think as he thinks, and to act as he acts.

The Lord loves justice and goodness and he hates every form of wickedness and sin. He wants to set us free from our unruly desires and sinful habits, so that we can choose to live each day in the peace, joy, and righteousness of his Holy Spirit (Romans 14: 17). To renounce sin is to turn away from what is harmful and destructive for our minds and hearts, and our very lives. As his followers we must love and respect his commandments and hate every form of sin. Do you love and revere the commands of the Lord?

"Lord Jesus, grant this day, to direct and sanctify, to rule and govern our hearts and bodies, so that all our thoughts, words and deeds may be according to your Father's law and thus may we be saved and protected through your mighty help."

careful obedience

“Observe them carefully, for thus will you give evidence of your wisdom and intelligence to the nations.” —Deuteronomy 4:6

Because of their disobedience, the Israelites wandered in the desert for forty years. They may have assumed they were obeying God, but Moses warned them that they were not obeying carefully enough (Dt 4:6).

Jesus’ disciples probably thought they were obeying Him. However, Jesus proclaimed that He expected them to obey even the smallest part of a letter of the law (Mt 5:18; see also Ps 119:112). Then they were to obey the spirit of the law (2 Cor 3:6) and thereby usher in Christ’s kingdom.

The Lord promised us total victory in which we bring down the strongholds, sophistries, and proud pretensions which raise themselves against the knowledge of God (2 Cor 10:4-5). We will be able to claim this victory when our obedience is perfect, that is, complete (2 Cor 10:6). When we are committed to obey the Lord in every area of life, we will quickly crush Satan under our feet (Rm 16:19-20).

What we now call “obedience” may be more disobedience than obedience. To enter the “promised land,” live in God’s kingdom, and claim total victory, we need an obedience in the Holy Spirit that is careful, strict, and complete. Then we will be great (Dt 4:6-7; Mt 5:19) and have a deep, intimate love for the Lord (see Dt 4:7). When we obey on a new, deeper level, we will live a new life.

Prayer: Father, through my obedience, raise me beyond my human limitations and weaknesses to the greatness to which you have called me.

Promise: “He sends forth His command to the earth; swiftly runs His word!” —Ps 147:15

Praise: St. Toribio de Mogrovejo baptized and confirmed almost one million Native Americans.

Reference:

Rescript: "In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for the publication One Bread, One Body covering the time period from February 01/2022 through March 31, 2022 Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio June 16, 2021"

The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements

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seekfirstme · 2 years

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PREPARING THE HEART TO FORGIVE AND RECEIVE FORGIVENESS:

1. REJOICE ALWAYS. BE A JOYFUL PERSON.

2. PRAY ALWAYS. EVERYWHERE. ABOUT EVERYTHING.

3. BE NOURISHED ALWAYS BY THE WORD OF GOD FROM YOUR INTERNAL SCRIPTURE DEPOSIT.

4. THANK GOD FOR LITTLE THINGS ALWAYS.

5. NEVER CONFORM TO THE HABITS OF THE WORLD IN ANYTHING.

AS THE LORD TRANSFORMS YOUR HEART AND MIND THROUGH THESE DAILY HABITS, YOU WILL MORE AND MORE DISCERN THE WILL OF GOD AND LIVE BY IT.

Tuesday 22nd March 2022 of the 3rd Week of Lent.

Our key Scripture for today deals with trespasses against us which are in our power to forgive. The "Wicked servant" in the NABRE translation is rendered by other versions as: wicked and contemptible slave, contemptible and wicked attendant, evil [wicked] servant [slave]!, You evil servant!, , ‘You scoundrel!

The other servants were deeply outraged by the unmerciful behavior of this servant. We live in a culture where unforgiveness is of epidemic proportion.

One thing crucial to note in today's Gospel: "I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to." Why is this so important? The minimum price to pay for Divine Mercy is: ASK. This price is the same throughout Sacred Scripture. Anyone who asks is forgiven. One who seeks forgiveness is embraced. The door is always open for one who knocks for forgiveness. This is Lent. A most favorable time for mercy and reconciliation. "I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to." The ABC of Mercy is a tool to remind us of this great truth.

#1. Ask for Mercy.

#2. Be Merciful.

#3. Completely trust Jesus for Mercy.

"Glory and praise to you, O Christ!

Blessed are those who, with a noble and generous heart, take the word of God to themselves and yield a harvest through their perseverance.

Glory and praise to you, O Christ!" (Luke 8: 15).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

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seekfirstme · 2 years

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Meditation: Who doesn't have debts they need to pay off! And who wouldn't be grateful to have someone release them from their debts? But can we really expect mercy and pardon when we owe someone a great deal? When the people of Israel sinned and rebelled against God, God left them to their own devices until they repented and cried out to him for mercy. The Book of Daniel in the Old Testament recounts the story of Daniel and his three young friends, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, who were sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. When the King of Babylon threw Daniel's three friends into the fiery furnace, they cried out to God to have mercy not only on themselves, but to have mercy upon all his people. "Do not put us to shame, but deal with us in your forbearance and in your abundant mercy" (Daniel 3:19-43).

The prophet Jeremiah reminds us that God's "mercies never come to an end - they are new every morning" (Lamentations 3:22-23). God gives grace to the humble and he shows mercy to those who turn to him for healing and pardon.

We owe God a debt we could never repay

God's mercy towards each one of us shows us the way that God wants each one of us to be merciful towards one another. When Peter posed the question of forgiveness and showing mercy to one's neighbor, he characteristically offered an answer he thought Jesus would be pleased with. Why not forgive your neighbor seven times! How unthinkable for Jesus to counter with the proposition that one must forgive seventy times that. Jesus made it clear that there is no reckonable limit to mercy and pardon. And he drove the lesson home with a parable about two very different kinds of debts. The first man owed an enormous sum of money - millions in our currency. In Jesus' time this amount was greater than the total revenue of a province - more than it would cost to ransom a king! The man who was forgiven such an incredible debt could not, however bring himself to forgive his neighbor a very small debt which was about one- hundred-thousandth of his own debt. The contrast could not have been greater!

Jesus paid the price in full for our guilt and condemnation

Paul the Apostle tells us that "the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23). There is no way we could repay God the debt we owed him because of our sins and offenses. Only his mercy and pardon could free us from such a debt. There is no offense our neighbor can do to us that can compare with our debt to God! If God has forgiven each of us our own debt, which was very great, we, too must forgive others the debt they owe us.

Jesus ransomed us from slavery to sin and eternal death

Through Jesus' atoning sacrifice for our sins on the cross, we have been forgiven a debt beyond all reckoning. It cost God his very own Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to ransom us with the price of his blood. Jesus paid the price for us and won for us pardon for our sins and freedom from slavery to our unruly desires and sinful habits. God in his mercy offers us the grace and help of his Holy Spirit so we can love as he loves, pardon as he pardons, and treat others with the same mercy and kindness which he has shown to us.

True peace with God

God has made his peace with us. Have you made your peace with God? If you believe and accept God's love and and pardon for you, then you likewise must choose to be merciful towards those who are in debt to you. Are you ready to forgive and to make peace with your neighbor as God has made peace with you?

"Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury let me sow pardon. Where there is doubt let me sow faith. Where there is despair let me give hope. Where there is darkness let me give light. Where there is sadness let me give joy. (Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi, 1181-1226) "

did i forgive?

“My heavenly Father will treat you in exactly the same way unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart.” —Matthew 18:35

We Christians know that we must forgive or we will not be forgiven. Jesus even taught us to pray for this (Mt 6:12). Therefore, we Christians usually say that we have forgiven, for we know we have no acceptable alternative. Nonetheless, have we forgiven by God’s standards? Have we forgiven from the heart?

If we have truly forgiven, we:

should realize that forgiveness is a miracle of God’s grace, for “to err is human; to forgive is divine,”

are willing to reach out in love and mercy to honor and restore those who have sinned against us, as did the father of the prodigal son (Lk 15:20ff),

will be messengers and ministers of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:18-19),

will recognize the great benefits from the Sacrament of Reconciliation, for we are forgiven as we forgive,

are willing to embrace those who have sinned against us (see Lk 15:20),

have let the Lord heal and purify our memory of hatred, rancor, the desire for revenge, and

remember not only others’ sins against us but especially the miraculous grace in which we forgave each of those sins.

If there is any reasonable doubt about your forgiving others, go before Christ present in the tabernacle and say: “By the grace of Jesus Christ, I forgive (name) for (sin) .” Repeat this statement until you are totally purified of unforgiveness.

Prayer: Father, I reject Satan’s work of unforgiveness.

Promise: “And now we follow You with our whole heart, we fear You and we pray to You.” —Dn 3:41

Praise: Daniel learned to forgive his ex-wife by praying for her every day.

Reference:

Rescript: "In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for the publication One Bread, One Body covering the time period from February 01/2022 through March 31, 2022 Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio June 16, 2021"

The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements

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seekfirstme · 2 years

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BAPTISM, CONFIRMATION, Eucharist, PENANCE, MATRIMONY, HOLY ORDERS AND ANOINTING OF THE SICK. THESE 7 SACRAMENTS ARE OUTWARD SIGNS THAT CONVEY INWARD GRACE.

THE HEALING OF NAAMAN THE LEPER FORESHADOWS THE SACRAMENTS. NAAMAN BATH IN THE RIVER JORDAN AT FIRST APPEARED AS A RIDICULOUS SIGN. BUT IT ACCOMPLISHED A MIGHTY HEALING. OUR FAITH CONTAINS OUR OBEDIENCE.

Monday 21st March 2022, of the 3rd Week of Lent.

"Elisha sent him the message: “Go and wash seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will heal, and you will be clean.” But Naaman went away angry, saying, “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand there to call on the name of the LORD his God, and would move his hand over the place, and thus cure the leprous spot." (2 Kings 5: 10 - 11).

Naaman had his own ideas about how he would be healed. His preconception and programming nearly deprived him of his cure. Naaman did not know that:

. For God everything is possible. “All things serve you.” (Psalm 119: 91)

· God’s ways are not our ways.

· God’s thoughts are not our thoughts.

· God is master of means.

· God is the Lord of times and seasons.

When we compare Naaman’s behavior with that of the Centurion in Matthew 8: 5 – 13, we understand that faith is a simple and childlike trust in God’s word. The centurion knew that the power of God can work through words and through space. Naaman wanted something more tangible as in pagan practices, for example: incantations, rituals, sacred dances etc.

God’s word is always sufficient.

Daily Bible Verse @ Seekfirstcommunity.com

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seekfirstme · 2 years

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Meditation: Do you believe that God wants to act with power in your life today? Power to set you free from sin and hurtful desires, fear and oppression. Throughout the Scriptures we see God performing mighty acts to save his people from death and destruction - from Noah's ark that spared his family from the flood of wickedness that had spread across the land to Moses and the Israelites who crossed through the parting waters of the Red Sea as they fled the armies of Pharoah their slave Master and oppressor.

Throughout the Gospel accounts Jesus praised individuals who put their faith in God as they remembered the great and wonderful deeds he had performed time and again. Jesus even praised outsiders - non-Jews and pagans from other lands who had heard about the mighty deeds of the God of Israel. One example Jesus mentioned was Naaman the pagan army commander from Syria who was afflicted with leprosy - a debilitating skin disease that slowly ate away the flesh (2 Kings 5:1-15). Naaman's slave-girl was a young Jewish woman who had faith in God and compassion for Naaman her master. She urged him to seek healing from Elisha, the great prophet of Israel.When Naaman went to the land of Israel to seek a cure for his leprosy, the prophet Elisha instructed him to bathe seven times in the Jordan river. Namaan was indignant at first, but then repented and followed the prophet's instructions. In doing so he was immediately restored in body and spirit.

Healing the leprosy of soul and body

What is the significance of Naaman's healing for us? Ephrem the Syrian (306-373 AD), an early Christian teacher from Edessa, tells us that Naaman's miraculous healing at the River Jordan, prefigures the mystery of the healing which is freely granted to all nations of the earth by our Lord Jesus through the regenerating waters of baptism and renewal in the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5).

"Therefore Naaman was sent to the Jordan as to the remedy capable to heal a human being. Indeed, sin is the leprosy of the soul, which is not perceived by the senses, but intelligence has the proof of it, and human nature must be delivered from this disease by Christ's power which is hidden in baptism. It was necessary that Naaman, in order to be purified from two diseases, that of the soul and that of the body, might represent in his own person the purification of all the nations through the bath of regeneration, whose beginning was in the river Jordan, the mother and originator of baptism." (commentary ON THE SECOND BOOK OF KINGS 5.10-1)

Jesus told Nicodemus, "unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God" (John 3:5). The Lord Jesus wants to renew in each one of us the gift of faith and the regenerating power of baptism and the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5) which cleanses us of the leprosy of sin and makes us "newborn" sons and daughters of God.

Confronting the sin of indifference and unbelief

When Jesus first proclaimed the good news of God's kingdom to his own townspeople at Nazareth (Luke 4:23-27), he did not hesitate to confront them with their sin of indifference and unbelief. He startled his listeners in the synagogue at Nazareth with a seeming rebuke that no prophet or servant of God could receive honor among his own people. He then angered them when he complimented Gentiles who had shown more faith in God than the "chosen ones" of Israel. Some who despised the Gentiles (non-Jews) even spoke of them as "fuel for the fires of hell." Jesus' praise for "outsiders" offended the ears of his own people because they were blind-sighted to God's merciful plan of redemption for all the nations. The word of rebuke spoken by Jesus was met with indignation and hostility. The Nazarenes forcibly threw him out of their town and would have done him physical harm had he not stopped them.

The Lord brings healing and pardon to all who humbly seek him with faith and trust

We all stand in need of God's grace and merciful help every day and every moment of our lives. Scripture tells us that "the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning" (Lamentations 3:22-23). God gives grace to the humble who seek him with expectant faith and with a repentant heart that wants to be made whole and clean again.

The Lord Jesus will set us free from every sinful habit and every harmful way of relating to our neighbor, if we allow him to cleanse and heal us. If we want to walk in freedom and grow in love and holiness, then we must humbly renounce our sinful ways and submit to Christ's instruction and healing discipline in our lives. Scripture tells us that the Lord disciplines us for our good that we may share his holiness (Hebrews 12:10). Do you want the Lord Jesus to set you free and make you whole again? Ask him to show you the way to walk in his healing love and truth.

"Lord Jesus, teach me to love your ways that I may be quick to renounce sin and wilfulness in my life. Make me whole and clean again that I may delight to do your will."

the man who knew too much

“Now I know...” —2 Kings 5:15

As sovereign ruler of the nation, King Joram of Israel was in the right position to know God’s power. He had access to any information he needed. Maybe he had too much information: when Naaman approached him to find God’s healing, Joram presumed the king of Aram wanted to provoke him (2 Kgs 5:7). As a captured slave, the little orphaned, pre-teen girl was seemingly not in a position to know the power and strength of God (2 Kgs 5:2). Guess which of the two knew of a healing prophet in the land of Israel? God reveals to the childlike what He hides from the wise and the learned (Lk 10:21).

As commander of the Aramean army, Naaman had the intellect and resources to understand the regional geography and the probability of pure water in Aram and Israel (2 Kgs 5:12). Naaman’s servants probably knew only what they needed to know to perform menial tasks, but they understood the relationship between humility and healing (2 Kgs 5:13).

Certainly God wants our minds to develop and be renewed (Rm 12:2), since He wants us to love Him with all our mind (Lk 10:27). However, God’s ways are not our ways (Is 55:8-9). If a person with terminal cancer or AIDS asked you to pray with them for God’s healing today, how would you react? Would you be flustered and threatened like Joram, angered like Naaman, or would you be as ready as Naaman’s servants? Get humble. Get ready. Receive “the mind of Christ” (1 Cor 2:16).

Prayer: Father, may I humble myself and thus “be ever ready” to lead people to You (1 Pt 3:15).

Promise: “Send forth Your light and Your fidelity; they shall lead me on.” —Ps 43:3

Praise: Bob humbly receives Jesus daily in the Eucharist, even though he has the powerful position of CEO of a major company.

Reference: (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)

Rescript: "In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for the publication One Bread, One Body covering the time period from February 01/2022 through March 31, 2022 Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio June 16, 2021"

The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements

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seekfirstme · 2 years

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OUR LOVE FOR GOD IS IN DIRECT PROPORTION TO OUR AWARENESS OF GOD'S LOVE FOR US. "T'IS NOT FROM CHANCE SPRINGS ANY OF THE COMFORTS WE ENJOY. IT IS FROM YOUR GRACIOUS ORDAINING O MOST GRACIOUS AND MERCIFUL FATHER.."

THE MORE WE KNOW OF GOD'S MERCIES AND KINDNESSES TO US, THE MORE WE RESPOND WITH LOVE.

The Lord is kind and merciful.

"Bless the Lord, O my soul;

and all my being, bless his holy name.

Bless the Lord, O my soul,

and forget not all his benefits.

He pardons all your iniquities,

heals all your ills.

He redeems your life from destruction, crowns you with kindness and compassion." (Psalm 103...).

How much do you know that the Lord is kind and merciful? (Cf Psalm 103: 8).

On the 3rd Sunday of Lent 2022, we chant in the Responsorial Psalm that the Lord is kind and merciful. Why do we need to remember this important truth? Because our love for God is in direct proportion to our awareness of God's love for us. In other words, the more you know of God's mercies and kindnesses to you, the more we love Him.

The Catechism teaches us that:

God made us to know Him, to love Him and to serve Him so that we can enjoy eternal life with Him forever.

It is therefore very important to remember all the time that the Lord is kind and merciful to us. When we want to remember key facts like doctor's appointment, birth days, court dates, interview dates etc, what do we do? We write it down and place the note where we can easily see it as often as possible.

You do exactly the same with sacred facts like our key Scripture for today. Do you have important landmarks in your life? All those key events where you have experienced God's kindness and mercies. Scripture instructs us never to forget our landmarks. (Cf Proverbs 22: 28). Now organize your landmarks into Timeline and “Write down the special dream [landmarks] on stone so that one may read it in a hurry." (Cf. Habakkuk 2: 2). Do this and you will never forget that the Lord is kind and merciful.

"Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!

Repent, says the Lord, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.

Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!" (Cf. Matthew 4: 17).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

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seekfirstme · 2 years

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Meditation: What causes suffering or affliction and what does God want to teach us through it? The people of Israel suffered greatly under the oppressive rule of Egypt for more than 400 years. Did they suffer unjustly or was God angry with them? God was faithful to his people Israel even in the midst of their affliction and ill treatment by their Egyptian taskmaster. God in his mercy did not forget them nor forsake them. Throughout their long history of exile and suffering God made them strong and they grew in number. God listened to their plea for mercy and freedom. And God raised up a savior for them, called Moses, whom he taught and tested in the wilderness until he was ready to hear and obey God's call.

The fire of God's purifying love and deliverance

When Moses came near the mountain of God at Horeb (which is also named Sinai), God made his presence and will known to Moses through an extraordinary sign - a bush inflamed with a fierce fire that did not harm or destroy the bush. This burning bush was a sign of God's presence and power to save his people from destruction. The fire of God's presence always demonstrates his purifying love and mercy that burns away sin and refashions us in his holiness and righteousness (moral goodness). Just as gold is tested through fire, God tests and purifies his people and fills them with the fire of his love and holiness.

When Jesus preached the coming of God's kingdom of peace and righteousness to his people, he called them to repent and believe in the gospel - the good news of pardon, peace, and new life in the Holy Spirit. His numerous signs and miracles demonstrated the power of God's kingdom breaking into the lives of all who turned to Jesus with faith and obedience. Many recognized that Jesus was the Messiah whom God had promised would come and do even greater signs and wonders than Moses has done.

Jesus addresses the issue of suffering and sin

Jesus on a number of occasions warned the people to turn away from sin before it was too late to repent and receive God's mercy and pardon. Luke recounts two current disasters which Jesus addressed with the people. The first incident occurred in the temple at Jerusalem. Pilate, who was the Roman governor of Jerusalem at the time, ordered his troops to slaughter a group of Galileans who had come up to Jerusalem to offer sacrifice in the Temple. We do not know what these Galileans did to incite Pilate's wrath, nor why Pilate chose to attack them in the holiest of places for the Jews, in their temple at Jerusalem. For the Jews, this was political barbarity and sacrilege at its worst!

The second incident which Jesus addressed was a natural disaster, a tower in Jerusalem which unexpectedly collapsed, killing 18 people. The Jews often associated such calamities and disasters as a consequence of sin. Scripture does warn that sin can result in calamity! Though the righteous fall seven times, and rise again; the wicked are overthrown by calamity (Proverbs 24:16).

The time for repentance and forgiveness is right now!

The real danger and calamity which Jesus points out is that an unexpected disaster or a sudden death does not give us time to repent of our sins and to prepare ourselves to meet the Judge of heaven and earth. The Book of Job reminds us that misfortune and calamity can befall both the righteous and the unrighteous alike. Jesus gives a clear warning - take responsibility for your actions and moral choices and put sin to death today before it can destroy your heart, mind, soul, and body as well. Unrepentant sin is like a cancer which corrupts us from within. If it is not eliminated through repentance - asking God for forgiveness and for his healing grace - it leads to a spiritual death which is far worse than physical destruction.

The sign of the barren fig tree

Jesus' parable of the barren fig tree illustrates his warning about the consequences of allowing sin and corruption to take root in our hearts and minds. Fig trees were a common and important source of food for the people of Palestine. A fig tree normally matured within three years, producing plentiful fruit. If it failed, it was cut down to make room for more healthy trees. A decaying fig tree and its bad fruit came to symbolize for the Jews the consequence of spiritual corruption caused by evil deeds and unrepentant sin.

The unfruitful fig tree symbolized the outcome of Israel's indifference and lack of response to God's word of repentance and restoration. The prophets depicted the desolation and calamity of Israel's fall and ruin - due to her unfaithfulness to God - as a languishing fig tree (see Joel 1:7,12; Habbakuk 3:17; and Jeremiah 8:13). Jeremiah likened good and evil rulers and members of Israel with figs that were either good for eating or rotten and wasteful (Jeremiah 24:2-8). Jesus' parable depicts the patience of God, but it also contains a warning that we should not presume upon God's patience and mercy. God's judgment will come in due course - very soon or later.

Why God judges

Why does God judge his people? He judges to purify and cleanse us of all sin that we might grow in his holiness and righteousness. And he disciplines us for our own good, to inspire a godly fear and reverence for him and his word. God is patient, but for those who persistently and stubbornly rebel against him and refuse to repent and change their course, there is the consequence that they will lose both their soul and body to hell. Are God's judgments unjust or unloving? When God's judgments are revealed in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness (Isaiah 26:9). To pronounce God's judgment on sin is much less harsh than what will happen if those who sin are not warned to repent and turn back to God.

Don't tolerate sin

God, in his mercy, gives us time to get right with him, but that time is now. We must not assume that there is no hurry. A sudden and unexpected death leaves one no time to prepare to settle one's accounts when he or she must stand before the Lord on the day of judgment. Jesus warns us that we must be ready at all times. Tolerating sinful habits and excusing unrepentant sin and wrongdoing will result in bad fruit, painful discipline, and spiritual disease that leads to death and destruction. The Lord in his mercy gives us both grace (his gracious help and healing) and time to turn away from sin, but that time is right now. If we delay, even for a day, we may discover that grace has passed us by and our time is up. Do you hunger for the Lord's righteousness (moral goodness) and holiness?

"Lord Jesus, increase my hunger for you that I may grow in righteousness and holiness. May I not squander the grace of the present moment to say "yes" to you and to your will and plan for my life."

the view from the cross

“I want you to remember this...” —1 Corinthians 10:1

When you’re talking with Jesus, it seems like He’s always changing the subject to repentance. You might mention how tragic the most recent natural disaster was (see Lk 13:4). Jesus maneuvers the conversation to our need to reform (see Lk 13:4-5). You might mention to Him how pretty your Church building looks (see Mk 13:1ff). But Jesus turns the conversation into the need to be watchful and on guard against tragedy and sin. You’re hard at work, and Jesus talks about reforming your life (Mt 4:17). Why is repentance always on the tip of His tongue?

To answer this question, try to put yourself into Jesus’ sandals. Imagine walking around for at least three years knowing that you would stretch out your hands and have them nailed to a cross so that others would repent. Picture yourself tied to a pillar and being cruelly whipped until you pass out — to pay the penalty for other people’s sins. Imagine hanging in excruciating agony in place of people who could care less whether they sin or not. Now imagine having a heart of passionate love for each person who has no interest in repentance. You’re getting a glimpse of Jesus’ perspective on the importance of repentance.

If you had to suffer all this, you’d change the subject too. You wouldn’t want even one person to lose their soul if you had suffered that much so they could be saved. Be like Jesus and “proclaim this theme: ‘Reform your lives!’ ” (Mt 4:17)

Prayer: Jesus, may Your death never be in vain for anyone. I will spend my life leading others to You and to repentance.

Promise: “He pardons all your iniquities; He heals all your ills.” —Ps 103:3

Praise: St. Paul told us “that the Messiah must suffer, and that, as the first to rise from the dead, He will proclaim light to our people and to the Gentiles” (Acts 26:23). Praise Jesus!