#1 Kings 22:5b

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Seek the Lord's Counsel First

"'Inquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD today.'" — 1 Kings 22:5b | JPS Tanakh 1917 (JPST) The Holy Scriptures according to the Masoretic text; Jewish Publication Society 1917. Cross References: 1 Kings 22:4; 1 Kings 22:6

[apomaro-mellow]

ST Fics Masterpost Updated 9/25/24

Walking in On Your Parents ONESHOT

Turkey Day ONESHOT

Supernatural Steddie Part 1 AO3 alt (has more parts)

Steve Disappears in the Upside Down: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 COMPLETED

Wingman Nancy: Original Post Pilot post Part 1 Official Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 COMPLETED

Steve being jealous of a guitar  spicy extra COMPLETED

Older kids and walkie-talkies ONESHOT

Welcome to Hawkins: Primer Main Body (AO3)

Newly Wed Game: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 COMPLETED

Dustin’s Nature Doc Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 (COMPLETED)

Soul Eater ficlet ONESHOT

Steve plays Dnd in secret ONESHOT

Incubus!Steve x Vampire!Eddie ONESHOT

Argyle Babysits ONESHOT

Eddie and his Puppybats Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 (COMPLETED)

Ronance Working together Part 1 ONESHOT

Demon!Steve smut ONESHOT Extra

Steve thinks their son takes after Eddie ONESHOT

Steddie vampires ONESHOT

Vampire!Eddie wants Steve ONESHOT

Rock and Rule AU Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6

Eddie being jealous of himself ONESHOT

Steve being the grim reaper of sex ONESHOT

Tommy watches Part 1 Part 2 COMPLETED

Eddie being alive ONESHOT

Steve seducing Kas!Eddie ONESHOT

Night at the Museum AU ONESHOT

Thumbelina AU Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 COMPLETED

Eddie and Kas body sharing Part 1 Part 2 Part 3A Fluffy Part 3B Smutty  Part 4 Part 5 COMPLETED

Wayne shows the baby photos ONESHOT

X-men au scene

King Eddie and Prince Steve Part A Part B Part C Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14 Part 15 Part 16 Part 17 Part 18 Part 19 Part 20 Part 21 Part 22 Part 23 Part 24 Part 25 Part 26 Part 27 Part 28 Part 29 Part 30 Part 31 Part 32 Part 33

Reverse Little Mermaid Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5

Cindereddie Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4

Steve falling for Eddie's goofiness ONESHOT

Steddathan Fake Dating (Steve/Eddie/Jonathan)  Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 COMPLETED

Eddie drinking Steve’s blood ONESHOT

Steddie goes to Action Park ONESHOT

Short a/b/o scene

5 times Eddie singled out Steve at a concert ONESHOT

The Bright Side (sitcom au) E01 E02 E03 E04 E05 E06 AO3 alt E07 E08 E09 E10 E11 E12

Steddie singing when they part ways ONESHOT

Mafia short scenes Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14 Part 15

Steve and Eddie break out into song while giving Lucas advice

Steve seduces Eddie to catch some zzzs

Time loop scene

2 Eddies, 1 Steve ONESHOT

Noir detective Eddie on the case of who cut Steve’s hair ONESHOT

Stobin working as burger joint carhops ONESHOT

Steve being an offering to the village god ONESHOT Extra

Steve sacrificed in a cult Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 COMPLETED

Eddie’s search for the treasure between Steve’s legs ONESHOT

Steddie dimension hopping Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 COMPLETE

Dialogue Prompts Prompt 1 Prompt 2 Prompt 3 Prompt 4 Prompt 5A Prompt 5B Prompt 6 Prompt 7 Prompt 8 Prompt 9 Prompt 10 Prompt 11 Prompt 12 Prompt 13

Eddie’s guitar turns into a human Version A ONESHOT

Eddie’s guitar turns into a human Version B Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 COMPLETED

Eddie steals a diamond for Steve ONESHOT

Infinity Train AU Ep 1 Ep 2 Ep 3

Barbarella!Steve Part 1 AO3 Steddie chapter

Steve’s Doppelgangers Part 1 AO3

Eddie gets his tonsils removed ONESHOT

Steve’s parents play matchmaker Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 COMPLETED

Wrong Number au Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 COMPLETED

Random word blurb

Fruity Four Sense8 ficlet

Ask Meme Prompts Prompt 1 Pining co-workers ficlet Tattoo shop ficlet  Artist!Steve Eddie gives some milk Mermaid/Pirate Baby Ollie Loneliness Steve sets up a scavenger hunt  Fantasy outcast sanctuary Grimm/ST crossover Steve had a puppy Bad barista Wayne makes the vest Frat Boy Steve Kiss Prompt Kiss of relief Eddie realizing he’s married w/kids Stobin graduation Stobin wedding dance Paintball date Geocaching

Passenger princess Steve ficlet

Stargyle ficlet

Pregnancy fluff a/b/o

Every Baby Needs a Daddy (sugar baby au) Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14 Part 15 Part 16 Part 17 Epilogue Extra COMPLETED

Pre S4 Rivals (Gift Fic) ONESHOT

Steddie parents think their kid might be fighting monsters ONESHOT

Forest Guardian WIP

Steddie Bingo 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 -

Hot for Teacher(s) AO3 Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14 Part 15 Part 16 Part 17 Part 18

Trans Eddie smut ONESHOT

Steve goes on a trip and Eddie misses him ONESHOT

Steddie make love in a church before their wedding ONESHOT

Family Planning (a/b/o flour baby au) Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10

Historical omegaverse oneshot

Buckingham oneshot

Merfolk a/b/o / Steddie POV

Demon!Eddie x Priest!Steve Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

Eddie travels back in time ONESHOT

Whatever Stevie Wants (sequel to Every Baby) Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9

Messages in a bottle ONESHOT

Dr. Munson assists Steve with omegan hysteria ONESHOT

O!Steve talks A!Eddie through knotting a sex doll ONESHOT

Runaway Royalty Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5

Porn cliches ONESHOT

Two in the Bush (harringroveson) Part 1

[imsorryimlate]

About to bring you very long and speculative meta about Moby Dick even though we are only 26 chapters into this thing and I have never read it before.

Back in chapter 13 when Ishmael said “from that hour I clove to Queequeg like a barnacle” I was like, huh. That’s a funny way to express it. Because clove – here being the more archaic past tense of cleave, that is, cling to – is often used in the Bible in relation to someone clinging to God, or at times clinging to a loved one.

I decided to check out the Hebrew word for it, which is דבק (dbq, dabaq) and it appears 54 times. I’m not gonna list all of them, but you can find the full collection here.

Now, let us look at this word. I will bold the English word that corresponds with dbq. I use the KJV translation because it consistently translates dbq as “cleave”, while newer translations will generally use cling, hold fast, stick, etc.

Here are some instances where it relates to love/marriage:

Genesis 2:24 “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”

Genesis 34:3 “And his soul clave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and spake kindly unto the damsel.”

1 Kings 11:2b “Solomon clave unto these [his wives] in love.”

However, the word is not only used this way. It has more “everyday” use as well, for example:

Psalm 22:15a “My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws.”

Psalm 102:5b “My bones cleave to my skin.”

1 Sam 31:2a “And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons.” (literally “the Philistines cleaved to Saul and his sons”)

I think here, what these examples demonstrate, is that this word suggests a certain intensity. The Philistines were not simply following Saul and his sons, they were clinging to their heels. The Psalmist isn’t just skinny, his flesh clings to his bones without anything in between, you can see his skeleton through his skin, etc.

It is therefore also used to demonstrate deep loyalty:

Ruth 1:14 “And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.”

2 Sam 20:2b “But the men of Judah clave unto their king, from Jordan even to Jerusalem.”

Which brings me to my original point, that it is used specifically about a worshipper’s commitment and loyalty to God:

Psalm 63:8a “My soul followeth hard after thee.” (literally “my soul cleaves to you”)

Deuteronomy 10:20 “Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name.”

Deuteronomy 13:4 “Ye shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.”

Joshua 22:5b “To love the Lord your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

Joshua 23:8 “But cleave unto the Lord your God, as ye have done unto this day.”

These are just a handful of examples, there are way more, especially in Deuteronomy. And I just feel like, with how Melville strews biblical references all around, it cannot be a coincidence. Or am I reading too much into it?

Then I started thinking about this post, where @animate-mush suggested that Queequeg is whale coded. Which would then not leave my brain.

Because see, the book very much presents whales similarly as the Bible speaks of them and other creatures of chaos, such as the leviathan (which, we do not know exactly what it is, despite the Hebrew word for whale being the same). Which is to say, primordial creatures, present since the creation of the universe, creatures of chaos that only God can control – sometimes with huge effort (depending on which theological strata we’re talking about but that’s not relevant right now). These forces of chaos are not the anti-thesis of God, per se, but they’re something on the outskirts of our world, something to fear, something to be grateful that God subdued, something that could very well be considered divine in itself (for example, the sea god Yam in Canaanite mythology).

Which leads me to my next point, which is that many theological strata in the Bible are not concerned with monotheism, but rather monolatry, that is, the acceptance of several gods existing, but only worshipping and being loyal to one. For a lot of culturally Christian people, myself included, the way God is approached is like, you either believe in God or you don’t. The constant reminders we find in the Bible to be loyal to the Lord might feel a bit like, you know, “yeah duh, if you believe in God obviously”, but it wasn’t that simple. God is the God of the Hebrew people in the Bible because they chose God, and they did it for a reason: the Exodus, that is, God saving the Hebrew people from slavery in Egypt, demonstrating God’s power and loyalty. So the loyalty is reciprocal – the people is loyal to God, and God is loyal to the people (help them, keep them safe). The need for God was not placed in the future, in the idea of Heaven and eternal life, but rather it was urgent and present right then; you would rely on your God for crops to grow and children to be born, you would rely on your God to keep you safe, to help you out of your enemies’ grasp. But if your God could not provide, there were other gods to turn to, who might help you instead.

The reason I bring that up is that, well. It’s interesting that Ishmael’s statement that he “clove to Queequeg” happened after they had already done their whole marriage thing. They had already decided to be ~husband and wife~ (no matter how tongue-in-cheek that designation is), they had already decided to share their earthly possessions, they had already made their “wherever you go, I go” promises. So him cleaving to Queequeg here is not in the marriage way, since that has already been established; he cleaves to him in a different manner now.

So what I have suggested here is that Queequeg is whale coded → whales are creatures of chaos and near-divinity → people cleaved to God in a reciprocal loyal and beneficial relationship, even in the presence of other deities → Ishmael watches Queequeg save a man from the depths of the chaotic sea → Ishmael decides to cleave to Queequeg.

Now, I would definitely not go as far as suggesting that Queequeg is God or “God-coded” or whatever, or that Ishmael would worship him as such. But there is something here, isn’t it? In this scene, Ishmael cleaves to Queequeg not as a companion, but as a protector and as a force to be reckoned with.

[ongolecharles]

DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS (DSR) 📚 Group, Wed June 26th, 2024 ... Wednesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time, Year B

Reading 1

--------------

2 Kgs 22:8-13; 23:1-3

The high priest Hilkiah informed the scribe Shaphan,

"I have found the book of the law in the temple of the LORD."

Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, who read it.

Then the scribe Shaphan went to the king and reported,

"Your servants have smelted down the metals available in the temple

and have consigned them to the master workmen

in the temple of the LORD."

The scribe Shaphan also informed the king

that the priest Hilkiah had given him a book,

and then read it aloud to the king.

When the king heard the contents of the book of the law,

he tore his garments and issued this command to Hilkiah the priest,

Ahikam, son of Shaphan,

Achbor, son of Micaiah, the scribe Shaphan,

and the king's servant Asaiah:

"Go, consult the LORD for me, for the people, for all Judah,

about the stipulations of this book that has been found,

for the anger of the LORD has been set furiously ablaze against us,

because our fathers did not obey the stipulations of this book,

nor fulfill our written obligations."

The king then had all the elders of Judah

and of Jerusalem summoned together before him.

The king went up to the temple of the LORD with all the men of Judah

and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem:

priests, prophets, and all the people, small and great.

He had the entire contents of the book of the covenant

that had been found in the temple of the LORD, read out to them.

Standing by the column, the king made a covenant before the LORD

that they would follow him

and observe his ordinances, statutes and decrees

with their whole hearts and souls,

thus reviving the terms of the covenant

which were written in this book.

And all the people stood as participants in the covenant.

Responsorial Psalm

---------------

Ps 119:33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 40

R. (33a) Teach me the way of your decrees, O Lord.

Instruct me, O LORD, in the way of your statutes,

that I may exactly observe them.

R. Teach me the way of your decrees, O Lord.

Give me discernment, that I may observe your law

and keep it with all my heart.

R. Teach me the way of your decrees, O Lord.

Lead me in the path of your commands,

for in it I delight.

R. Teach me the way of your decrees, O Lord.

Incline my heart to your decrees

and not to gain.

R. Teach me the way of your decrees, O Lord.

Turn away my eyes from seeing what is vain:

by your way give me life.

R. Teach me the way of your decrees, O Lord.

Behold, I long for your precepts;

in your justice give me life.

R. Teach me the way of your decrees, O Lord.

Alleluia

---------

Jn 15:4a, 5b

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Remain in me, as I remain in you, says the Lord;

whoever remains in me will bear much fruit.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

--------

Mt 7:15-20

Jesus said to his disciples:

"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing,

but underneath are ravenous wolves.

By their fruits you will know them.

Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?

Just so, every good tree bears good fruit,

and a rotten tree bears bad fruit.

A good tree cannot bear bad fruit,

nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit.

Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down

and thrown into the fire.

So by their fruits you will know them."

***

FOCUS AND LITURGY OF THE WORD

In today’s Gospel, Jesus warns the disciples and us of false prophets who are really ravenous wolves in sheep’s clothing. I do not have to look far to find some examples of these disguised ravenous wolves in my own life. I think about when I spend too much time scrolling through social media, sometimes staying up too late. Or when I watch yet another episode of a show, maybe even one I have seen before. My own discernment of these activities is to separate what is deserved relaxation, a break, some time to wind down, to laugh, to perhaps learn something or get lost in a drama. I deserve that time. But when do I cross the line to wasted time? When do I allow the wolves in?

False prophets sound good. They look the part. But when does playing one more computer game, one more video game become too much? It becomes a time of discernment for myself. What is the cura personalis — the care for the whole person? I have to think of my mind, my body, my spirit. We French talk about showing cura personalis to others. We have to take care of ourselves. I applaud and am thankful for modern technology that allows connection and virtual contact, entertainment, relaxation. But I also need stillness and quiet to discern and pray. I need unmediated human connection as a way to show care for others and to have others care for me.

My prayer today is to recognize the wolves on sheep’s clothing that can certainly come in many disguises. I ask for the grace to recognize when too much is too much.

***

SAINT OF THE DAY

Blessed Raymond Lull

(c. 1235 – June 28, 1315)

Blessed Raymond Lull’s Story

Raymond worked all his life to promote the missions and died a missionary to North Africa.

Raymond was born at Palma on the island of Mallorca in the Mediterranean Sea. He earned a position in the king’s court there. One day a sermon inspired him to dedicate his life to working for the conversion of the Muslims in North Africa. He became a Secular Franciscan and founded a college where missionaries could learn the Arabic they would need in the missions. Retiring to solitude, he spent nine years as a hermit. During that time he wrote on all branches of knowledge, a work which earned him the title “Enlightened Doctor.”

Raymond then made many trips through Europe to interest popes, kings, and princes in establishing special colleges to prepare future missionaries. He achieved his goal in 1311, when the Council of Vienne ordered the creation of chairs of Hebrew, Arabic, and Chaldean at the universities of Bologna, Oxford, Paris, and Salamanca. At the age of 79, Raymond went to North Africa in 1314 to be a missionary himself. An angry crowd of Muslims stoned him in the city of Bougie. Genoese merchants took him back to Mallorca, where he died. Raymond was beatified in 1514 and his liturgical feast is celebrated on June 30.

Reflection

-----------

Raymond worked most of his life to help spread the gospel. Indifference on the part of some Christian leaders and opposition in North Africa did not turn him from his goal. Three hundred years later Raymond’s work began to have an influence in the Americas. When the Spanish began to spread the gospel in the New World, they set up missionary colleges to aid the work. Saint Junípero Serra belonged to such a college.

***

【Build your Faith in Christ Jesus on #dailyscripturereadingsgroup 📚: +256 751 540 524 .. Whatsapp】

[roman-catholic-mass-readings]

26th June >> Mass Readings (USA)

Wednesday, Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time 

(Liturgical Colour: Green. Year: B(II))

First Reading 2 Kings 22:8-13; 23:1-3 The king had the book that had been found in the temple read out to them, and he made a covenant before the Lord.

The high priest Hilkiah informed the scribe Shaphan, “I have found the book of the law in the temple of the LORD.” Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, who read it. Then the scribe Shaphan went to the king and reported, “Your servants have smelted down the metals available in the temple and have consigned them to the master workmen in the temple of the LORD.” The scribe Shaphan also informed the king that the priest Hilkiah had given him a book, and then read it aloud to the king. When the king heard the contents of the book of the law, he tore his garments and issued this command to Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, son of Shaphan, Achbor, son of Micaiah, the scribe Shaphan, and the king’s servant Asaiah: “Go, consult the LORD for me, for the people, for all Judah, about the stipulations of this book that has been found, for the anger of the LORD has been set furiously ablaze against us, because our fathers did not obey the stipulations of this book, nor fulfill our written obligations.” The king then had all the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem summoned together before him. The king went up to the temple of the LORD with all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem: priests, prophets, and all the people, small and great. He had the entire contents of the book of the covenant that had been found in the temple of the LORD, read out to them. Standing by the column, the king made a covenant before the LORD that they would follow him and observe his ordinances, statutes and decrees with their whole hearts and souls, thus reviving the terms of the covenant which were written in this book. And all the people stood as participants in the covenant.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 119:33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 40

R/ Teach me the way of your decrees, O Lord.

Instruct me, O LORD, in the way of your statutes, that I may exactly observe them.

R/ Teach me the way of your decrees, O Lord.

Give me discernment, that I may observe your law and keep it with all my heart.

R/ Teach me the way of your decrees, O Lord.

Lead me in the path of your commands, for in it I delight.

R/ Teach me the way of your decrees, O Lord.

Incline my heart to your decrees and not to gain.

R/ Teach me the way of your decrees, O Lord.

Turn away my eyes from seeing what is vain: by your way give me life.

R/ Teach me the way of your decrees, O Lord.

Behold, I long for your precepts; in your justice give me life.

R/ Teach me the way of your decrees, O Lord.

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 Matthew 7:15-20 By their fruits you will know them.

Jesus said to his disciples: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves. By their fruits you will know them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. So by their fruits you will know them.”

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

[ongole]

DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS (DSR) 📚 Group, Tue April 02nd, 2024 ... Tuesday in the Octave of Easter, Year B

Reading 1

__________

Acts 2:36-41

On the day of Pentecost, Peter said to the Jewish people,

“Let the whole house of Israel know for certain

that God has made him both Lord and Christ,

this Jesus whom you crucified.”

Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart,

and they asked Peter and the other Apostles,

“What are we to do, my brothers?”

Peter said to them,

“Repent and be baptized, every one of you,

in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of your sins;

and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

For the promise is made to you and to your children

and to all those far off,

whomever the Lord our God will call.”

He testified with many other arguments, and was exhorting them,

“Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”

Those who accepted his message were baptized,

and about three thousand persons were added that day.

Responsorial Psalm

___________________

33:4-5, 18-19, 20 and 22

R. (5b) The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Upright is the word of the LORD,

and all his works are trustworthy.

He loves justice and right;

of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.

R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

or:

R. Alleluia.

See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,

upon those who hope for his kindness,

To deliver them from death

and preserve them in spite of famine.

R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Our soul waits for the LORD,

who is our help and our shield.

May your kindness, O LORD, be upon us

who have put our hope in you.

R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Sequence - optional

Victimae paschali laudes

__________________

Christians, to the Paschal Victim

Offer your thankful praises!

A Lamb the sheep redeems;

Christ, who only is sinless,

Reconciles sinners to the Father.

Death and life have contended in that combat stupendous:

The Prince of life, who died, reigns immortal.

Speak, Mary, declaring

What you saw, wayfaring.

“The tomb of Christ, who is living,

The glory of Jesus’ resurrection;

bright angels attesting,

The shroud and napkin resting.

Yes, Christ my hope is arisen;

to Galilee he goes before you.”

Christ indeed from death is risen, our new life obtaining.

Have mercy, victor King, ever reigning!

Amen. Alleluia.

Alleluia

________

Ps 118:24

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

This is the day the LORD has made;

let us be glad and rejoice in it.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

__________

Jn 20:11-18

Mary Magdalene stayed outside the tomb weeping.

And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb

and saw two angels in white sitting there,

one at the head and one at the feet

where the Body of Jesus had been.

And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”

She said to them, “They have taken my Lord,

and I don’t know where they laid him.”

When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there,

but did not know it was Jesus.

Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?

Whom are you looking for?”

She thought it was the gardener and said to him,

“Sir, if you carried him away,

tell me where you laid him,

and I will take him.”

Jesus said to her, “Mary!”

She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,”

which means Teacher.

Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me,

for I have not yet ascended to the Father.

But go to my brothers and tell them,

‘I am going to my Father and your Father,

to my God and your God.’”

Mary went and announced to the disciples,

“I have seen the Lord,”

and then reported what he had told her.

***

FOCUS AND LITURGY OF THE WORD

The first appearance of the risen Jesus, in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, is not in any of the four gospels. Jesus is pictured as appearing to Mary His mother. A person praying through the Exercises is invited to imagine this intimate “mother/Son” embrace. She, who had been told to “Behold your Son” now completes that invitation not merely to behold her son, but hold Him as He holds her in some glorious, (too-much for words) more-than word meeting. How tender!

In today’s gospel from John, Jesus is presented as appearing to an other Mary who holds on to Jesus after firstly had thought him to be a “gardener”. Jesus had been buried in some kind of tomb near some kind of garden.

I suggest we might turn to the third chapter of Genesis where we can read about the Lord walking in His garden calling out to Adam and Eve. They were afraid and ashamed and so were hiding. The Lord has a bit of a conversation with them and with each individually as well. They were to be punished resulting in future human sufferings. The Lord banishes them from the garden to face the results of their disobediance.

We pray today with the Divine Gardener Who has embraced His Humanity and in His Resurrection, divinely embraces our humanity in His new garden. He talks to this woman with her arms around Jesus’ feet. He doesn’t banish her, but missions, sends, invites, her, Mary, to be the first announcer of the Good News. Intimacy here, is temporary, real and as with all experiences of intimacy, shared to be re-shared. In the text, Mary does not resist or ask questions about anything. She is missioned to share with His companions who, like Adam and Eve, were hiding out of fear and shame. Intimacy is meant to be fruitful.

The Gardener sends Mary to His (com-pan-ions) each day of His Eucharistic embrace of our Humanity. As with His meeting His mother and this first-sent woman, we shared the “Bread”, the Latin word is (panish) so companions are those who “bread-with). This Bread, this intimacy is meant to be sent within us and then outside of us.

The Gardener is raised so that we are no longer “banished” to “labor”, but are “sent” to the “mission” of tending His garden through His constant tending to us in our human, but sacred selves.

***

SAINT OF THE DAY

Saint Francis of Paola

(March 27, 1416 – April 2, 1507)

Saint Francis of Paola’s Story

Francis of Paola was a man who deeply loved contemplative solitude and wished only to be the “least in the household of God.” Yet, when the Church called him to active service in the world, he became a miracle-worker and influenced the course of nations.

After accompanying his parents on a pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi, he began to live as a contemplative hermit in a remote cave near Paola, on Italy’s southern seacoast. Before he was 20, he received the first followers who had come to imitate his way of life. Seventeen years later, when his disciples had grown in number, Francis established a Rule for his austere community and sought Church approval. This was the founding of the Hermits of St. Francis of Assisi, who were approved by the Holy See in 1474.

In 1492, Francis changed the name of his community to “Minims” because he wanted them to be known as the least (minimi) in the household of God. Humility was to be the hallmark of the brothers as it had been in Francis’s personal life. Besides the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, Francis enjoined upon his followers the fourth obligation of a perpetual Lenten fast. He felt that heroic mortification was necessary as a means for spiritual growth.

It was Francis’s desire to be a contemplative hermit, yet he believed that God was calling him to the apostolic life. He began to use the gifts he had received, such as the gifts of miracles and prophecy, to minister to the people of God. A defender of the poor and oppressed, Francis incurred the wrath of King Ferdinand of Naples for the admonitions he directed toward the king and his sons.

Following the request of Pope Sixtus IV, Francis traveled to Paris to help Louis XI of France prepare for his death. While ministering to the king, Francis was able to influence the course of national politics. He helped to restore peace between France and Brittany by advising a marriage between the ruling families, and between France and Spain by persuading Louis XI to return some disputed land.

Francis died while at the French court.

Reflection

__________

The life of Francis of Paola speaks plainly to an overactive world. He was a contemplative man called to active ministry and must have felt keenly the tension between prayer and service. Yet, in Francis’s life it was a productive tension, for he clearly utilized the fruits of contemplation in his ministry, which came to involve the workings of nations. He responded so readily and so well to the call of the Church from a solid foundation in prayer and mortification. When he went out to the world, it was not he who worked but Christ working through him—“the least in the household of God.”

Saint Francis of Paola is a Patron Saint of:

Sailors

***

【Build your Faith in Christ Jesus on #dailyscripturereadingsgroup 📚: +256 751 540 524 .. Whatsapp】

[catolinewsdailyreadings]

Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings of Sunday, October 22, 2023

Reading 1

IS 45:1, 4-6

Thus says the LORD to his anointed, Cyrus, whose right hand I grasp, subduing nations before him, and making kings run in his service, opening doors before him and leaving the gates unbarred: For the sake of Jacob, my servant, of Israel, my chosen one, I have called you by your name, giving you a title, though you knew me not. I am the LORD and there is no other, there is no God besides me. It is I who arm you, though you know me not, so that toward the rising and the setting of the sun people may know that there is none besides me. I am the LORD, there is no other.

Responsorial Psalm

PS 96:1, 3, 4-5, 7-8, 9-10

R./ Give the Lord glory and honor.

Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all you lands. Tell his glory among the nations; among all peoples, his wondrous deeds. R./ Give the Lord glory and honor.

For great is the LORD and highly to be praised; awesome is he, beyond all gods. For all the gods of the nations are things of nought, but the LORD made the heavens. R./ Give the Lord glory and honor.

Give to the LORD, you families of nations, give to the LORD glory and praise; give to the LORD the glory due his name! Bring gifts, and enter his courts. R./ Give the Lord glory and honor.

Worship the LORD, in holy attire; tremble before him, all the earth; say among the nations: The LORD is king, he governs the peoples with equity. R./ Give the Lord glory and honor.

Reading 2

1 THES 1:1-5B

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: grace to you and peace. We give thanks to God always for all of you, remembering you in our prayers, unceasingly calling to mind your work of faith and labor of love and endurance in hope of our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father, knowing, brothers and sisters loved by God, how you were chosen. For our gospel did not come to you in word alone, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with much conviction. 

Gospel

MT 22:15-21

The Pharisees went off and plotted how they might entrap Jesus in speech. They sent their disciples to him, with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. And you are not concerned with anyone's opinion, for you do not regard a person's status. Tell us, then, what is your opinion: Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?" Knowing their malice, Jesus said, "Why are you testing me, you hypocrites? Show me the coin that pays the census tax." Then they handed him the Roman coin. He said to them, "Whose image is this and whose inscription?" They replied, "Caesar's." At that he said to them, "Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God."

[barbaramoorersm]

October 22, 2023

October 22, 2023

Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Isaiah 45: 1, 4-6

The prophet is referring to Cyrus, the Babylonian ruler, who allowed the Jews to return home from captivity and exile.

Psalm 96

The psalmist speaks of God’s glory and honor.

1st Thessaloninas 1: 1-5b

Paul gives thanks for this infant church and their faith.

Matthew 22: 15-21

Jesus deals with a taxing issue.

As we prepare to worship this weekend, we cannot ignore the conflict in Israel and the violence and terror caused by extremist groups.  As we reflect on these Scripture readings, we might want to keep in mind the pain and sorrow of all the Jewish people, the hostages, and the innocent Palestinians.  Everyone one involved needs prayers. May God’s peace take root in these lands.

The Prophet Isaiah and Matthew present us with two surprising stories this weekend. Isaiah, writes that King Cyrus, a pagan, is to be praised because he frees the Israelites to return home form Babylon, and to rebuild their temple.  Home from exile.  He, Cyrus, becomes their unlikely liberator.  And Matthew presents Jesus facing a legal question and one that might disturb his religious opponents.  As people of faith, the Pharisees asked him.  “Is it lawful to pay census taxes to Caesar?” 

In the first case, a political ruler is serving the needs and longings of his religious captives.  In the second case, religious leaders are trying to expose Jesus by asking him, a religious leader, if they should pay taxes to a political leader.   Our text tells us that they “were plotting how they might entrap Jesus in speech.”

Our own nation these days is dealing with church and state issues which are showing themselves in our Gospel.  Some these days, want to reduce the separation between Church and State called for by our Constitution, and others want us to be called a Christian nation.  One can imagine how these views could affect public policy, the status of some other religious groups, and what is taught in our public schools. 

As one commentator writes, this struggle the Gospel presents is a struggle between Jews as they deal with their Roman occupation.  Before the religious leaders present their question to Jesus, they shower him with compliments which they hope will trap him.  Is he in favor of Roman law or Jewish religious law?  Scholars write that this question is really a “minefield” for Jesus to address.  Whose side is he on, anyway?   Caesar or his faith tradition.  Some religious leaders already made that choice and chose Caesar.

The census tax was a denarius, a day’s wages for a laborer.  And the coin used to pay the tax had a picture of Caesar on it and a recognition of his divinity.  The fact that Jesus said, “show me a coin that pays the census tax,” and that a religious leader holds one is stunning.  The fact that they had it and had to use it violated Jewish law.

While acknowledging Caeasr’s imagine on the coin, Jesus states, “…repay (or render) to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.”  That response forces the listeners and questioners to think more deeply and to reflect to whom one’s basic allegiance belongs.  The answer is deeper than a tax question.  Of course, we must pay taxes but the issue really is one of priorities.  And as one theologian states, “the focus we give to things of this world should always be grounded in and fully attentive to God.”

As I mentioned above, this Gospel is not whether we should pay taxes, but whether we are demanding of our churches and political entities that they are clear, that God is our priority.  Rulers whether elected or not, are not divine.  During the third century, the theologian Tertullian wrote, “Render to Caeser Caesar’s image, which is on the coin, and to God, God’s image, which is on man (humans).”   Love of neighbor is the critical difference in these two images. 

To return to our opening note, people today are divided on allegiance to the Jewish nation or to the Palestinian community.  It is violence and hatred we must condemn no matter its source and grow in the realization that both Jews and Palestinians are equally God’s children and made in God’s image.

[shammah8]

"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."

1 Peter 5:5

SATAN'S TACTIC OF PRIDE

We each have to come to terms with Satan's deadliest tactic, which the Bible calls pride. Ever since the Garden of Eden, Satan has promulgated The Great Lie: “You will be like God” (Genesis 3:5b). We all must learn to overcome pride, which was Satan’s own initial sin and which is his pervasive and repetitive tactic against us.

In Proverbs 6:17 "haughty eyes" are first on the list of the seven things that are an “abomination” to God. Proverbs 27:2 adds, “Let another praise you, and not your own mouth.” Christ spoke of pride in Luke 18:14 when He instructs, “Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Over and over again, we are reminded in the Bible of God’s utter disdain for a prideful spirit.

Why does God have so much to say about this issue? Because, ultimately, a prideful person is saying, “I don't need God. I can do it on my own.” As our Creator and Sustainer, God has the perfect plan laid out before us. Attempting to “go it alone” will only lead us down a path of self-destruction. No one knows that better than God—He has seen pride destroy the lives of His creations throughout time.

In the Old Testament we see an example of this in the life of King Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4:28-37) until he acknowledged the Most High God. We also see it in the life of King Belshazzar, who saw the handwriting on the wall and received judgment because of his pride (Daniel 5:22-31).

In the New Testament, the Pharisees, filled with self-righteousness, denied the work of Christ, even as He stood before them. The Apostle Paul warned the Corinthians to “not take pride in one man over against another” (1 Corinthians 4:6). Peter repeats the warning about pride from Proverbs 3:34.

Pride is so devastating because of its deceptiveness. C. S. Lewis said, “A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you’re looking down, you can’t see something that’s above you.” We may easily point out pride in the life of someone else, completely oblivious to the stranglehold that pride may have in our own lives. Pride causes us to focus solely on being “better” than someone else. Don’t compare yourself to others; compare yourself to Christ. Remember where you came from, and recall what God has saved you from.

When all else fails, God may allow adversity into our lives. Nothing gets our attention better than going through a difficult time. He allows these experiences in order to filter out pride, causing us to return our focus on Him. As much as our prideful spirit may disagree, we cannot live a fulfilling life without God. Simply put, when God is out, pride is in!

Response

Today I will keep my eyes fixed on Jesus and steer clear of pride’s deceptiveness.

Prayer

Lord, I need Your help to keep focused on You and avoid pride’s stranglehold.

© 2013 Open Doors International. Used by permission

[bills-bible-basics]

BACKSLIDING -- KJV (King James Version) Bible Verse List King James Version Bible verse list compiled by #BillKochman for #BillsBibleBasics concerning the topic "Backsliding". Visit https://www.billkochman.com/VerseLists/ to see all the lists I've compiled to date. "Remember Lot’s wife." Luke 17:32, KJV "In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not." John 1:4-5, KJV "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." 1 Corinthians 2:14, KJV "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved." John 3:19-20, KJV "Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?" John 6:60-67, KJV "For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia." 2 Timothy 4:10, KJV "Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him." Hebrews 10:38, KJV "For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire." 2 Peter 2:20-22, KJV "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." John 10:28, KJV "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." John 6:37, KJV ". . . for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." Hebrews 13:5b, KJV "If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself." 2 Timothy 2:13, KJV "The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself." Proverbs 14:14, KJV "Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:" Jeremiah 3:14, KJV "Why then is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? they hold fast deceit, they refuse to return." Jeremiah 8:5, KJV 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/backsliding-kjv-king-james-version-bible-verse-list/?feed_id=55247&_unique_id=64496a0a5422f&BACKSLIDING%20--%20KJV%20%28King%20James%20Version%29%20Bible%20Verse%20List

[dfroza]

what do you really treasure inside?

have you come to see your body as the Temple of the Spirit here on earth?

(Are you willing to read the writing of the Scriptures?)

A set of posts shared on Facebook by John Parsons about a willingness to make space for God in (the inner room):

The materials needed for the creation of the Sanctuary were supplied by contributions (תְּרוּמוֹת) freely given by those whose hearts were moved (Exod. 25:2, Matt. 6:21). In a sense, God “needs” the willing heart to celebrate the glory of his love. It is the nature of love to be shared, and that implies vulnerability, even for God Himself (Luke 14:16-23). The "house" of the Lord is created from the willing heart, just as the goal of God's creative activity is the building of a kingdom based on divine love (i.e., malkhut ha’Elohim: מַלְכוּת הָאֱלהִים). As King David wrote, עוֹלָם חֶסֶד יִבָּנֶה / olam chesed yibaneh: "The world is built up with love" (Psalm 89:4). This is the meaning of "sanctuary," after all, that our lives are built on the solid foundation of God's grace and lovingkindness (i.e., chesed: חֶסֶד). It is said that all the world was created for Messiah, since He is the "corner stone" of creation (i.e., rosh pinnah: ראשׁ פִּנָּה), and the house itself is built up in the love of God given in Him.

[ Hebrew for Christians ]

========

Exodus 25:8 reading:

https://hebrew4christians.com/Blessings/Blessing_Cards/exod25-8-jjp.mp3

Hebrew page download:

https://hebrew4christians.com/Blessings/Blessing_Cards/exod25-8-lesson.pdf

In our Torah reading for this week (i.e., parashat Terumah) the Lord told Moses to construct the Mishkan (or "tabernacle") exactly according to the pattern he was shown during his revelation on Mount Sinai (Exod. 25:40). At the inmost center of this Tabernacle -- the place of utmost holiness -- the Ark of the Covenant (אֲרוֹן־הַקּדֶשׁ) was placed, a "three-in-one" box that held the tablets of the covenant. The Ark served as a symbol of kisei ha-kavod (כִּסֵּא הַכָּבוֹד), the Throne of Glory, since it stood entirely apart as the only furnishing in the Holy of Holies (קדֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִׁים). Upon the cover of the Ark (i.e., the kapporet) were fashioned two cherubim (i.e., angel-like figures) that faced one another (Exod. 25:17-18). According to the Talmud (Succah 5b), each cherub had the face of a child - one boy and one girl - and their wings spread heavenward as their eyes gazed upon the cover (Exod. 25:20). It was here - in the midst of sacred innocence, humility, purity, and hope - that the sacrificial blood was offered to make atonement for our sins, and it was here where God's Voice would be heard (Exod. 25:22; Num. 7:89).

The allusion of two innocent children's faces peering before the Throne of God gives fresh meaning to the statement that unless you "turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 18:1-3). The most important things of life are only known through love, and so-called knowledge apart from love is actually nothing (1 Cor. 13:2). Knowledge "puffs up" (φυσιόω), that is, it swells and feeds the ego and its posture before others, whereas love "builds up" (οἰκοδομέω), that is, it is other-focused and seeks to create a sense of habitation and a place of safety. "If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know; but if anyone loves God, he is known by Him" (1 Cor. 8:2-3). May God help us shine his love as His dear children...

Love is the reason we turn to God; it is the basis for teshuvah: “We love Him because He first loved us.” We answer God's love by turning to Him.... that is the very first step. We must first receive hope into our hearts and that starts us on our way.

[ Hebrew for Christians ]

========

Jeremiah 31:33b reading:

https://hebrew4christians.com/Blessings/Blessing_Cards/jer31-33b-jjp.mp3

Hebrew page download:

https://hebrew4christians.com/Blessings/Blessing_Cards/jer31-33b-lesson.pdf

2.22.23 • Facebook

­

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

The Lamb Breaks the Seals

The first rider: conquest

1 Then I watched while the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice of thunder, “Come out!”

2 I looked, and before my eyes was a white horse. Its rider carried a bow, and he was given a crown. He rode out conquering and bent on conquest.

The second rider: War

3 Then, when the Lamb broke the second seal, I heard the second living creature, cry, “Come out!”

4 And another horse came forth, red in colour. Its rider was given power to deprive the earth of peace, so that men should kill each other. A huge sword was put into his hand.

The third rider: Famine

5a When the Lamb broke the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come out!”

5b-6 I looked again and there before my eyes was a black horse. Its rider had a pair of scales in his hand, and I heard a voice which seemed to come from the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a shilling, and three quarts of barley for a shilling—but no tampering with the oil or the wine!”

The fourth rider: Death

7 Then, when he broke the fourth seal I heard the voice of the fourth living creature cry, “Come out!”

8 Again I looked, and there appeared a horse sickly green in colour. The name of its rider was death, and the grave followed close behind him. A quarter of the earth was put into their power, to kill with the sword, by famine, by violence, and through the wild beasts of the earth.

The cry of the martyrs in Heaven

9-10 When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I could see, beneath the altar, the souls of those who had been killed for the sake of the Word of God and because of the faithfulness of their witness. They cried out in a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until you judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”

11 Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to be patient a little longer, until the number of their fellow-servants and of their brethren, who were to die as they had died, should be complete.

The wrath of God

12-17 Then I watched while he broke the sixth seal. There was a tremendous earthquake, the sun turned dark like coarse black cloth, and the full moon was red as blood. The stars of the sky fell upon the earth, just as a fig-tree sheds unripe figs when shaken in a gale. The sky vanished as though it were a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was jolted out of its place. Then the kings of the earth, and the great men, the captains, the wealthy, the powerful, and every man, whether slave or free, hid themselves in caves and among mountain rocks. They called out to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of his wrath has come, and who is able to stand against it?” — Revelation 6 | J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS) The New Testament in Modern English by J.B Phillips copyright © 1960, 1972 J. B. Phillips. Cross References: Genesis 3:8; Genesis 4:10; Exodus 29:12; Deuteronomy 4:10; Deuteronomy 32:43; 1 Samuel 6:20; Psalm 2:12; Psalm 76:7; Proverbs 5:5; Isaiah 2:10; Isaiah 13:10; Isaiah 34:4; Isaiah 54:10; Jeremiah 4:24; Jeremiah 14:12; Ezekiel 4:16; Hosea 10:8; Joel 2:31; Nahum 3:12; Zechariah 1:8; Zechariah 6:2-3; Zechariah 6:6; Matthew 10:34; Matthew 24:7; Matthew 27:66; Luke 15:22; John 1:29; Acts 20:24; Revelation 4:6,7 and 8

[atchriststable-blog]

WHO ARE THEY?" ~ PART 6-D of "A People Prepared"(Part 6 of the 6-part series, "A Remnant Will Return"

Who are they?

“The Remnant” are those who are characterized by these two verses in a psalm by the Sons of Korah: “In whose heart are the highways to Zion….  Each one appears before God in Zion.”[1]

“The Remnant” are those whom God has prepared to - “Go through, go through the gates, clear the way for the people; build up, build up the highway, remove the stones, lift up a standard over the peoples.”[2]

There are many ways to label “The Remnant”. For this article, I have chosen the phrase: "A People Prepared”. It's not just "a people" – it's "a people prepared" – a people who have undergone a process of preparation. Not everyone who names the name of Christ fits that description.   

We could consider that the origin of the concept of “A Remnant People” may be that "great nation" which the Lord promised to bring forth from Abraham. What made that nation "great" in Abraham's eyes was that the numbers would be “as the stars of the heavens and as the sand which is on the seashore”.[3] But, will the Remnant be "great" in number? 

Let's consider this: That "great nation" beginning with Abraham, and continuing through Isaac and Jacob, ended up in Egypt, where they, in fact, did continue to increase in number. But, the first generation of that "great nation" under Moses died off in the wilderness. Then there was the Joshua generation, and succeeding generations under Judges, and then a long line of kings, up to the time of the Babylonian Captivity. And, as we have already discussed in previous articles, the actual Remnant returning to Jerusalem from Babylon was just a "portion" – approximately a tenth – that had undergone the Lord's process of preparation. 

~ TO BE CONTINUED ~ 

[1] Psalm 84:5b & 7b. The whole of Psalm 84 fits this context beautifully. 

[2] Isaiah 62:10

[3] Genesis 22:17

_______________________________________________________________

Bill and Frances Furioso

www.AtChristsTable.org 

[carolap53]

SATAN’S TACTIC OF PRIDE God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. 1 Peter 5:5

We each have to come to terms with Satan's deadliest tactic, which the Bible calls pride. Ever since the Garden of Eden, Satan has promulgated The Great Lie: “You will be like God” (Genesis 3:5b). We all must learn to overcome pride, which was Satan’s own initial sin and which is his pervasive and repetitive tactic against us.

In Proverbs 6:17, “haughty eyes” are first on the list of the seven things that are an “abomination” to God. Proverbs 27:2 adds, “Let another praise you, and not your own mouth.” Christ spoke of pride in Luke 18:14 when He instructs, “Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Over and over again, we are reminded in the Bible of God’s utter disdain for a prideful spirit.

Why does God have so much to say about this issue? Because, ultimately, a prideful person is saying, “I don't need God. I can do it on my own.” As our Creator and Sustainer, God has the perfect plan laid out before us. Attempting to “go it alone” will only lead us down a path of self-destruction. No one knows that better than God—He has seen pride destroy the lives of His creations throughout time.

In the Old Testament we see an example of this in the life of King Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4:28-37) until he acknowledged the Most High God. We also see it in the life of King Belshazzar, who saw the handwriting on the wall and received judgment because of his pride (Daniel 5: 22-31).

In the New Testament, the Pharisees, filled with self-righteousness, denied the work of Christ, even as He stood before them. The Apostle Paul warned the Corinthians to “not take pride in one man over against another” (1 Corinthians 4:6). Peter repeats the warning about pride from Proverbs 3:34.

Pride is so devastating because of its deceptiveness. C. S. Lewis said, “A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you’re looking down, you can’t see something that’s above you.” We may easily point out pride in the life of someone else, completely oblivious to the stranglehold that pride may have in our own lives. Pride causes us to focus solely on being “better” than someone else. Don’t compare yourself to others; compare yourself to Christ. Remember where you came from, and recall what God has saved you from.

When all else fails, God may allow adversity into our lives. Nothing gets our attention better than going through a difficult time. He allows these experiences in order to filter out pride, causing us to return our focus on Him. As much as our prideful spirit may disagree, we cannot live a fulfilling life without God. Simply put, when God is out, pride is in!

RESPONSE: Today I will keep my eyes fixed on Jesus and steer clear of pride’s deceptiveness.

PRAYER: Lord, I need Your help to keep focused on You and avoid pride’s stranglehold.

Open Doors ministry

[roman-catholic-mass-readings]

22nd October >> Mass Readings (USA)

Twenty Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A 

(Liturgical Colour: Green: A (1))

First Reading Isaiah 45:1, 4–6 I have grasped the right hand of Cyrus to subdue the nations before him.

Thus says the LORD to his anointed, Cyrus, whose right hand I grasp, subduing nations before him, and making kings run in his service, opening doors before him and leaving the gates unbarred: For the sake of Jacob, my servant, of Israel, my chosen one, I have called you by your name, giving you a title, though you knew me not. I am the LORD and there is no other, there is no God besides me. It is I who arm you, though you know me not, so that toward the rising and the setting of the sun people may know that there is none besides me. I am the LORD, there is no other.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 96:1, 3, 4–5, 7–8, 9–10

R/ Give the Lord glory and honor.

Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all you lands. Tell his glory among the nations; among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.

R/ Give the Lord glory and honor.

For great is the LORD and highly to be praised; awesome is he, beyond all gods. For all the gods of the nations are things of nought, but the LORD made the heavens.

R/ Give the Lord glory and honor.

Give to the LORD, you families of nations, give to the LORD glory and praise; give to the LORD the glory due his name! Bring gifts, and enter his courts.

R/ Give the Lord glory and honor.

Worship the LORD, in holy attire; tremble before him, all the earth; say among the nations: The LORD is king, he governs the peoples with equity.

R/ Give the Lord glory and honor.

Second Reading 1 Thessalonians 1:1–5b Calling to mind faith, love, and hope.

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: grace to you and peace. We give thanks to God always for all of you, remembering you in our prayers, unceasingly calling to mind your work of faith and labor of love and endurance in hope of our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father, knowing, brothers and sisters loved by God, how you were chosen. For our gospel did not come to you in word alone, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with much conviction.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Gospel Acclamation Philippians 2:15d, 16a

Alleluia, alleluia. Shine like lights in the world as you hold on to the word of life. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Matthew 22:15–21 Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.

The Pharisees went off and plotted how they might entrap Jesus in speech. They sent their disciples to him, with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. And you are not concerned with anyone’s opinion, for you do not regard a person’s status. Tell us, then, what is your opinion: Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?” Knowing their malice, Jesus said, “Why are you testing me, you hypocrites? Show me the coin that pays the census tax.” Then they handed him the Roman coin. He said to them, “Whose image is this and whose inscription?” They replied, “Caesar’s.” At that he said to them, “Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.”

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

[atoutlines]

He Gets the Glory! | Revelation 1:5b-8

“Giving glory is a natural human response to witnessing greatness, which is why our world is infatuated with celebrities. We are addicted to greatness. And when we see it, we ascribe worth and value to it.” - JR Vassar

Main Idea: Jesus gets the glory because he is a conquering King, he is coming to rescue the world, and he is constant! 

I. He is King (v5b-6): 

“5b To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

The first half of verse 5 reveals that Jesus is the king over all the “rulers on the earth” (v5a). 

In the second half of verse 5, John unpacks this thought more. 

He does this through a hymn of praise to Jesus, beginning by highlighting Jesus as a benevolent King of kings who is full of sacrificial love: “to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood.” 

The implication of the word “love” is that it is ongoing. 

It is distributed and disseminated liberally, without restrictions, unceasingly, forever. 

John qualifies it by telling us that he loosened the bonds of sin by sacrificing his own life. 

“He offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins.” (Heb 10:12). 

“While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom 5:8). 

His love came by way of shed blood, and now it has “made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father” (v6). 

Shades of Ex 19:6 “You shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” 

Jesus is King, but he is also the Great High Priest (Mediator cf 1 Tim 2:5) and he has positioned us as little go-betweens here on earth to serve the will and purposes of his God and Father. 

All of us have an earthly destiny with an eternity-sized mandate to live as representatives of God. 

We should want to serve him because he has saved us - into his kingdom! 

Therefore, “to him be glory and dominion forever and ever.” 

The combination of the massivity and powerful presence of Jesus as King over this earth and the cosmos warrant our eternal worship! 

II. He is Coming (v7): 

“7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.”

Not only is he a benevolent, loving king and priest but he is also coming again. This is half of what advent is all about. 

Whereas Jesus’ first coming was marked by lowliness, his second will be marked by him “coming with the clouds”.

This is representative of the majesty of his presence (“He makes the clouds his chariot” Ps 104:3).

Jesus’ first coming was private with only a few shepherds witnessing it. 

His second will be the most public spectacle in the history of the world where “every eye will see him”. 

His ultimate victory will come when “even those who pierced him” and “all the tribes of the earth will wail on account of him”. 

Why will there be so much sorrow? 

Everybody who ever rejected him as King, Savior, Lord, and God will have to answer for it. 

There is hope in this for us however (John 16:22).

III. He is Constant (v8): 

“8 ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.’”

John reveals the final glorious aspect of Jesus: He is self-described as the “Alpha and the Omega”. 

This makes him preeminent and eternal at the same time. 

This is further reinforced when Jesus himself says that he is the one “who is and who was and who is to come”.

He is secure, unchanging, steady, and stable. 

He is the most constant thing in the Universe; the “Almighty” - the one whom no one can resist in the end.

His glory is irresistible. 

Reflect: In what ways is my life being lived for the glory of Jesus and what do I need to repent of for living for my own glory?