#JN 132

[local-pokesimp]

After all this time, he's finally done it. He won. Ash Ketchum is now the strongest trainer in the world!

Way to go, Champion🏆

[atomicengineerdetective]

MAY/HARUKA CAMEO!!!

Listen, I know It Wasn't the most important thing in the episode and there are other things to talk about(and I will) but I am just SO HAPPY to see her and Max again, okay? So I'll take any chance I get to geek about her. (I was kinda fearing They forgot about Her, ngl)

[blorbosaur]

this was basically what happened, right?

[christophe76460]

C'est par beaucoup de paraboles de ce genre qu'il leur annonçait la parole, selon qu'ils étaient capables de l'entendre. (Mc 4 : 33)

J'ai encore beaucoup de choses à vous dire, mais vous ne pouvez pas les porter maintenant. (Jn 16 : 12)

Je vous ai donné du lait, non de la nourriture solide, car vous ne pouviez pas la supporter; et vous ne le pouvez pas même à présent, parce que vous êtes encore charnels.

(1Co 3 : 2)

Vous, en effet, qui depuis longtemps devriez être des maîtres, vous avez encore besoin qu'on vous enseigne les premiers rudiments des oracles de Dieu, vous en êtes venus à avoir besoin de lait et non d'une nourriture solide. Or, quiconque en est au lait n'a pas l'expérience de la parole de justice; car il est un enfant. Mais la nourriture solide est pour les hommes faits, pour ceux dont le jugement est exercé par l'usage à discerner ce qui est bien et ce qui est mal. (He 5 : 12-14)

A la lumière de ces passages, il apparait clairement que notre présentation de la vérité doit tenir compte de la situation de ceux à qui elle s'adresse. D'ailleurs, qu'est-ce qu'exposer "fidèlement" la vérité?

La vérité ne doit pas seulement être prêchée avec fidèlité, mais également avec sagesse, modération et bon escient. Il existe un zèle qui n'est pas selon la connaissance et que ne tempère pas la sagesse. On peut présenter la vérité d'une façon tellement déséquilibrée qu'elle fera plus de tort que de bien. L'écriture évoque la "vérité présente" et la "parole dite à propos" (2Pi 1 : 12 ; Pr 15 : 23) Ce qui laisse supposer qu'on peut aussi parler à contretemps, même si l'on a exposé fidèlement la vérité. Qu'est ce qu'une parole dite a propos ? N'est ce pas un message opportun et pertinent, qui tient compte de la situation, des circonstances et des besoins de la personne à qui il s'adresse ?

Dans sa sagesse et sa bonté, Dieu a prévu des encouragements pour ceux qui sont abattus et des consolations aux affligés, tout comme il adresse des exhortations aux paresseux, des avertissements aux insouciants, des mises en garde solennelles aux imprudents et des menaces terrifiantes à ceux qui le provoquent. Nous devons donc faire preuve de discernement dans notre façon de nous approprier et d'appliquer les écritures. Il serait cruel de citer des passages terrifiants à celui qui déjà pleure sur ses péchés ; il serait coupable également de mettre de l'avant les promesses relatives à la sécurité éternelle du croyant pour celui qui professe la foi chrétienne tout en menant une vie charnelle et mondaine.

Nous sommes pleinement d'accord pour affirmer que la vérité éternelle n'a nullement besoin d'une assistance charnelle de notre part, ni pour l'habiller afin de la rendre plus attrayante, ni pour arrondir les angles afin de la rendre moins choquante. Nous souscrivons de tout coeur à la déclaration de Paul : Car nous n'avons pas de puissance contre la vérité; nous n'en avons que pour la vérité. ( 2Co 13 : 8 )

Source : Ils ne périront jamais, Arthur Pink,

page : 131-132

[ohxdios]

¿Dónde está Dios?

Muy amados hermanos en Cristo Jesús la Palabra Viva y redentora y por quien la Gracia se nos ha sido revelada, que le paz del Señor esté con todos ustedes.

Hace poco les platicaba de la tierra santa que es el lugar físico de donde fluye la raíz no solo de nuestra fe sino también de Musulmanes y Judíos. Sin embargo, eso ha cambiado.

La tierra santa es destinada en el Antiguo Testamento únicamente para el pueblo de Israel quienes a pesar de todo lo vivido se desvió de sus creencias en varias ocasiones. Pero vayamos a los números: fueron esclavos de los egipcios por cuatrocientos años (4 siglos), luego peregrinaron por el desierto por 40 años ¿te imaginas eso? Y si eso no fuera suficiente estuvieron exiliados setenta años en Babilonia.  Sus líderes tienen un gran currículo, Abraham tuvo incontables esposas, lo mismo que David; Jacob muy mentiroso, Esaú vendió su primogenitura, los hermanos de José (el soñador) lo vendieron por envidia. Construyeron dos templos y los perdieron, se les dio el arca del pacto y lo mismo, también la perdieron. En cambio, Grecia mostró al mundo entero su poderío, Romanos se extendieron y ¿Los Israelitas?  En México, por ejemplo, la guerra de independencia duró sólo 11 años, y fue iniciada por el cura Hidalgo con una dudosa reputación, pero cada 15 de septiembre el país completo festeja por 3 días enteros (Las comparaciones son malas).

El punto es: ¿No te parece extraño que los templos y arcas, es decir las raíces de fe estén sin paradero? Dios no opera mediante casualidades. Hay una razón de mucho peso. Por una parte, la existencia del Tabernáculo (y más tarde el templo) era algo muy importante, el lugar donde la gente iba a encontrarse con Dios.

Pero ahora bajo la protección del 5nto pacto, el reino de Dios cae preferentemente en los gentiles y eso lo hace muy diferente.

El profeta mayor y sacerdote Ezequiel (571 a.C) en su libro describe que vio la Gloria de Dios; si acudimos a la oración que Jesús nos enseñó, el Padre Nuestro (Mt 6:5-15) nos dice que venga a nosotros tu reino. Siendo esta una constante en las escrituras, por un lado la Gracia y por el otro la Gloria del SEÑOR. Entonces ¿Qué es la gloria? Esa extraordinaria repuesta está en Ezequiel 43:5.

“Entonces el Espíritu me levantó y me introdujo en el atrio interior, y vi que la gloria del Señor había llenado el templo”

Ojo Ezequiel aparece en las escrituras 571 años antes de Cristo, por lo que para su tiempo la existencia de un templo físico es importante y es ahí donde se hace presente la Gloria de Dios.

Ezequiel en su visión tiene contacto con Jesús, él es la Gloria de Dios “y el Verbo se hizo hombre y habitó entre nosotros. Y hemos contemplado su gloria, la gloria que corresponde al Hijo unigénito del Padre, lleno de gracia y de verdad” (Jn 1:14).

En la pluma de Ezequiel “El sonido de su venida era como el rugir de aguas torrentosas y todo el paisaje resplandeció con su gloria. (v.2 NTV). pero en RVA encuentras “Todo alrededor de donde está Jesús se vuelve radiante. En la presencia de Jesús se vuelve radiante. En la presencia de Jesús, todo lo que podemos hacer es caer postrados y adorarlo” (v.3 RVA2015). “Y casi postrado sobre mi rostro. La gloria del SEÑOR entró en el templo por la puerta” (v. 3-4 RVA2015).

Por eso la experiencia de alabanza en un templo es tan indescriptible, portentosa, maravillosa pues “la Gloria del Señor” llena la casa. Por eso la celebración presencial es tan llena de gozo, pues es poderosamente transformadora.

Sal 132 dice “Vayamos hasta su morada; postrémonos ante el estrado de sus pies”. (v. 7-8), recordemos que para David el contar con el templo era un gran anhelo.

Ahora acompáñame a la epístola de Pedro en la que el mensaje es precisamente que Jesús lo transformó todo pues la Gloria y presencia de Dios se encuentran de manera suprema en Jesús.

Es en el mismo momento en que Jesús es rechazado y crucificado cuando la presencia de Dios en medio del pueblo sucede por fin y de manera plena. A partir de ese momento ya no hay necesidad de un templo físico. La única iglesia física de la cual habla el Nuevo Testamento es la edificada por la familia de Dios (Efesios 2:20-22), fundada y edificada sobre Jesús: la piedra angular clave.

Aquí hay una alegoría que es muy interesante, cuando hablamos de un templo físico es lógico pensar que está hecho de piedras ¿cierto? Y si recordamos fue precisamente a él que se le dijo “Bendito eres Simón hijo de Juan (Mt 16:17) y en el siguiente versículo le dice “Ahora te digo que tú eres Pedro (que significa roca), y sobre esta roca edificaré mi iglesia” (v.18).

Luego entonces Pedro siendo la roca nos habla en su epístola de que ahora el templo santo está hecho de «piedras vivas» (1 Pedro 2:5); en otras palabras, por nosotros y ese lugar es la nueva morada de Dios. WOW ¡me encanta!

Si regresamos justo ahí (1 Pedro 2:5), leeremos “Cristo es la piedra viva, rechazada por los seres humanos pero escogida y preciosa ante Dios” y lo que sigue es muy interesante (1 Pe 2:4-5) “Al acercarse a él también ustedes son como piedras vivas, con las cuales se está edificando una casa espiritual”

Entonces tenemos una nueva casa, construida sobre Jesús a eso refiere lo del punto angular, pero las únicas piedras somos los miembros en quienes se edifica el espíritu.

Aquí nos muestra la tarea que todo Cristiano debe seguir. Nuestro deber es la santidad y la pureza siguiendo el ejemplo de vida de nuestro Señor Jesucristo con el propósito de usarlo en su nombre con tu enseñanza y tu ejemplo.

Por eso como Cristianos tenemos una gran tarea, primero la batalla a nivel personal con la tentación para ser un buen ejemplo a los demás y luego ayudar a los demás sirviendo en nuestros diferentes ministerios, en nombre de nuestro amado Jesús.

Por cierto Pedro se está basando en Isaías 53 en donde se profetiza la manera en que el Mesías morirá en lugar de su pueblo. Ahí es cuando entra lo de la piedra angular pues es la base de tu fe y en la cruz se vuelve el dolor transformado en salvación.

Concluyendo, ¿Dónde está Dios ahora? Él está en ti, Él VIVE y está en tu interior por su Espíritu que ha s ido insertado en tú corazón y por eso, en su santo nombre nos postramos ante Él en alabanza, adoración y exaltación.

Espero con todo mi amor que este mensaje quede grabado en su corazón y le proporcione la certeza de Gracia y Gloria. Es necesario romper el paradigma marcado por el ritualismo en las iglesias, pues son para promulgar el Evangelio y generar fruto, no así para exhibir imágenes o santos.

Que la paz del Señor Jesús esté siempre con ustedes

OhxDios

[itsyourchoicedevotionals]

Good News

“I’m not ashamed of the Good News. It is God’s power to save everyone who believes, Jews first and Greeks as well.…” Rom 1:16GW

On an average, this year, 132 Americans committed suicide —DAILY. While another 1.4 million have unsuccessfully attempted suicide. We have a pandemic we’re not discussing. Suicides rocketed this year over 2019. News media doesn’t report those people who’ve committed suicides due to pandemic loss of employment, their incomes, and fear. One Facebook post wrote— ‘My cousin committed suicide. She feared bringing Coronavirus to her children, because as a nurse, she cared for Coronavirus patients.’ Feeling hopeless— Fear becomes a killer.

Alcohol online sales, (this isn’t including over the counter sales,) have increased 243% during Coronavirus pandemic. Divorces filings, per ABC News, are expected to deluge the court systems after Coronavirus stay-in-place restrictions are lifted. Meanwhile ERs and reports of child abuse have become eerily quiet, as no one sees the children. Locked inside with the abuser, no one knows whether the abuse has continued, or worsened. What children do go to ER are excessively battered.

I read these things and think— Jesus, God’s love, is the ONLY answer for all of the needs of society. Then comes the questions— ***Are these statistics also true for the church? ***Have we the church lost our excitement about the Good News? ***Did we forget about all the sins Jesus saved us from? ***Wasn’t salvation the life change we needed physically, mentally, even financially? ***Why are we so selfishly keeping the Good News to ourselves?

A professor teaching his students on radical Christianity— “We’re in the time of the opening of the seals. Rev 6:3-4,8NASB“When He opened the second seal… its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, …that people should slay one another:… …He opened the fourth seal…a pale horse! And its rider's name was Death, and Hades followed him. …were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword …with famine …with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth.” The professor asked, “When there’s no peace on the earth, high financial inflation, a fourth of the population killed in a day— will people finally believe in calling salvation Good News?”

If we ran into a coronavirus ward, healing everyone in Jesus’ name; cast out the demon causing various illnesses; would people become excited about the Good News of salvation?

“Come to me, all who are weary and heavy-ladened…” Matthew 11:28NASB —Show people the doorway to peace, will they turn to Jesus’ Good News?

CBN interviewed a woman who had suffered dreadfully as a child. Teenage years, led her to drugs, prostitution, homosexual lifestyle, spiraling even to prison. At prison, she attended chapel to pass notes to her lesbian lover. In chapel, she heard— “Jesus loves you no matter what you’ve done.” This Good News sounded too good to be true. She decided to try Jesus as her Lord. Immediately, she experienced deliverance from drugs and unholy sex. Shame washed off of her like dirt with water. She was made new, holy and pure. Four years later brought an early release. She walked out of prison free in every way. The Good News—Jesus Christ— “…if the Son makes you free, you will indeed be free,” Jn 8:36NASB.

People are starving for hope. We have this Good News of hope to give to everyone. Will we be harvesters? Start today with prayer and repentance. Begin sharing the glories of what the Good News of power did in your life. The glory of the Lord will shine through you. You have two choices— share God’s powerful Good News. Or be a part of the world’s problems. It’s your choice. You choose.

PRAYER: Lord God prepare us to harvest souls, please. Fill us with boldness and authority from Your Good News, in Jesus’ name I pray.

by Debbie Veilleux Copyright 2020 You have my permission to repost this devotional for others. Please keep my name with this devotional as author. Thank you.

[giftofshewbread]

Bible Talk ( current events )

 By Daymond Duck  Published on: April 12, 2020

Some thoughts on the Corona virus Crisis:

Jesus said there will be “distress of nations” (Luke 21:25; The nations are in distress now).

Jesus said “Men’s hearts will fail them for fear of the things that are coming upon the earth” (Luke 21:26; Unprecedented fear exists now).

Jesus said, “When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh” (Luke 21:28; Christians are seeing the beginning of the signs now).

The prophesied Sequence of Events:

The Rapture must take place before the Tribulation Period (II Thess. 2:5-8).

The Bible doesn’t say, but I believe the destruction of Damascus and the Battle of Gog and Magog will take place before the Tribulation Period.

There may be a short period of time (a gap of time) between the Rapture and the Tribulation Period (The Bible doesn’t say how long that gap will be).

The Ten Kings or Ten Horns (Ten leaders) must rise before the Antichrist and Tribulation Period (Dan. 7:7-8, 24).

There must be a covenant with many in the Middle East before the Tribulation Period (Dan. 9:27).

The Antichrist will confirm the covenant, and that will be the first day of the Tribulation Period.

This is the point:

The Rapture can happen without signs or warnings anytime God chooses, but the Tribulation Period can’t happen if some things are not in place.

It is possible (emphasis on possible) that the world could come out of the Corona virus crisis for a short time.

The Rapture will take place and the Antichrist will appear, grow stronger and be given power over a world government (Rev. 6:1-2; 13:5-8).

The global economy will collapse and there will be a new global economic system (rider on the black horse; Rev. 6:5-6).

The False Prophet will appear and head up a global ethic (satanic world religion; persecution of believers; Rev. 13:7-8).

There will be unprecedented natural disasters (false Christs, war, famine, pestilence, earthquakes, etc.; Matt. 24:6-7; Rev. 6:1-8).

The Antichrist and False Prophet will establish a cashless society and a global surveillance system called the Mark of the Beast (Middle of the Tribulation Period; Rev. 13:16-18).

The Second Coming will be seven years after the Antichrist confirms the covenant.

Some of the prophetic implications of the Corona virus crisis:

God is in control and His Word will be fulfilled.

Nothing happens that God doesn’t allow.

The Battle of Gog and Magog appears to be shaping up (Ezek. 38-39).

The Corona virus crisis has changed the world (Some think it could be an intentional act to bring in the New World Order and that will be on fast forward from this time on).

This crisis appears to be a major step toward the Tribulation Period with several implications (economic collapse, famine, Pestilence, Mark, etc.).

It appears to be a major pestilence or birth pain (not a local pandemic that is limited to one nation, but global in scope; a forerunner of Rev. 6:7-8).

It creates a need for someone that can solve the world’s problems (the man with a plan, the Antichrist; Did you hear about the April 1, 2020, headline in Dutch Newspaper “Searching for Leader?”).

It is a major step toward a global economic collapse (Africa is already in danger; Nations are printing trillions of dollars to try to avoid it; a forerunner of Rev. 6:5-6).

It provides a reason to establish a cashless society (We are told that the virus is on money; that we need to go digital; a forerunner of Rev. 13:16-18).

It provides a reason to mark people (Bill Gates wants to put a quantum dot tattoo on vaccinated people with information that can be changed, updated, and read by scanners or infrared light; a forerunner of Rev. 13:16-18).

It provides a reason to track and persecute people (those that take the tattoo will be allowed to leave their house, work, buy, sell, etc., but those that refuse the tattoo won’t be allowed to leave their house, work, buy, sell, etc. Note: $500 million to establish a tracking system was included in Trump’s $2.2 trillion stimulus package. Note: Pastors are already being threatened for holding services).

It is uniting the world to fight a common enemy (this co-operation could lead to the rise of the Ten Kings; Dan. 7:24, Rev. 17:12-14).

It confines Christians to their homes to shut down opposition to world government, world religion, the Mark of the Beast, surveillance, etc.

It is causing great fear.

It could mean that God will act soon (the Rapture).

Perhaps, world leaders would do well to recall another prophecy about the Tribulation Period: God said, “Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it” (Zech. 12:2-3).

God established borders at the Tower of Babel (Deut. 32:8-10).

God made a covenant to give the Promised Land to Abraham and his descendants forever (Gen. 13:14-15; 17:7-8).

God intends to put His name on Jerusalem forever (II Kings 21:7).

Jesus intends to dwell in Jerusalem and for His Word to go forth out of Jerusalem during the Millennium (Psa. 132:13; Isa. 2:3).

Jesus is coming back as King of kings and Lord of lords (Rev. 19:16).

Notice the accuracy of what Jesus said above (distress of nations, fear, pestilence).

The idea that world leaders can ignore what God said, give part of the Promised Land to someone other than the Jews, establish a world government, and give power to the king of fierce countenance (the Antichrist) to rule over it without consequences instead of King Jesus is ridiculous, ludicrous, irrational nonsense.

World leaders are creating a confrontation with God, and He will never allow them to establish a world government to rule over the Promised Land and Israel (and get away with it) because He promised that the King of kings and Lord of lords (Jesus) will establish His kingdom on earth (world government) and rule over Israel.

God will remove His Church and cut the nations into pieces for cutting His Land into pieces.

As an act of grace, He may be warning world leaders not to divide the land of Israel and not to establish a world government.

As bad as the Corona virus is, it is fun and games compared to what is prophesied for the seven-year Tribulation Period.

This is more than my opinion.

This is Bible talk (the Word of the one and only all-powerful God that does not lie).

One more thing: Everyone needs to A) Admit that you sin, B) Believe everything the Bible says about Jesus, that He was born of a virgin, He didn’t sin, He suffered and died in our place, He was buried, He was raised from the dead, and C) Confess your sins and ask Jesus to save you.

That is the only way to be saved (the only thing that God will accept to let a person in heaven; Jn. 14:6).

[alegratellenadegracia]

El Plan de Dios.

Lecturas del día (04-abr-2020): Ez 37, 21-28 / Sal Jr 31, 10.11-12ab.13 (R. cf Sal 133[132], 1) / Jn 11, 45-57.

Jesús, el Hijo de Dios, no vino a este mundo para abolir la ley, sino, para hacerla plena, ¡para darle plenitud!; esto fue lo que tanto incomodo a los sumos sacerdotes, a los fariseos y escribas en su época, porque la ley se había convertido en el escudo con el cual las autoridades judías de la época mantenían su “estatus social” a cambio de mantener al pueblo oprimido.

El Dios que profesaban las autoridades judías en los tiempos de Jesús era un Dios que oprime y castiga, en cambio, el Dios que anunciaba Jesús es un Dios que es en todo amor.

Los que escuchaban las enseñanzas de Jesús tenían un encuentro pleno con el amor de un Padre misericordioso, un amor que se convertía en su luz y que más allá de cumplir rigurosamente muchísimas normas, sanaba realidades físicas y espirituales, un amor que los llevaba a esa realidad plena que renueva todas las cosas, un amor que es el vínculo perfecto entre Dios y los hombres.

El amor de Dios es tan infinitamente misericordioso y justo, que a todos sus hijos nos ama como si fuésemos el único y a todos nos ama como si fuésemos uno solo, es decir, que el llamado que el Señor nos hace a todos es a vivir en ese nuevo mandamiento del amor, «que os améis los unos a los otros; que, como yo os he amado, así os améis también entre vosotros.» (Jn 13, 34).

Debemos permanecer en el amor porque «Dios es amor: y el que se mantiene en el amor se mantiene en Dios y Dios en él.» (1Jn 4, 16), y unidos en esa unidad que nuestro Señor Jesús pidió a Dios Padre por nosotros estando con sus discípulos en la última cena: «No ruego sólo por éstos, sino también por aquellos que crean en mi por medio de su palabra, para que todos sean uno. Como tú, Padre, en mí y yo en ti, que también sean uno en nosotros» (Jn 17, 20).

Ese es el plan de Dios, hacer de todos nosotros, de toda la tierra, una sola nación, con un solo rey (cf. Ez 37, 22), y ese rey, es nuestro amado Señor Jesús, que vino a darle plenitud a todo en el amor.

El plan de Dios es que permanezcamos unidos en el amor ¡Todos!, y que por ese amor que salió a nuestro encuentro y que no se cansa de buscarnos, que no se cansa de guardarnos en su amor como un pastor a su rebaño, salgamos de todos los lugares de nuestra Israel a buscar a Jesús para celebrar con Él, no la pascua de los judíos (cf. Jn 11, 56), sino el banquete eterno de las bodas del Cordero Inmolado que se hizo víctima y altar por amor a nosotros, para ser uno en nosotros y unirnos así a Dios Padre.

La gracia del Señor sea contigo mi querido hermano(a), inunde tu corazón con el fuego de su amor y permanezca siempre en ti.

Por: Ricardo Sánchez Martínez – Agente para la Evangelización, Arquidiócesis de Barranquilla / Ministerio de Música Parroquia Inmaculado Corazón de María, Barranquilla – Colombia.

Agradecimientos: Imagen de www.canva.com – Licencia de uso Canva Pro.

[yes-bernie-stuff]

evangelizo.org

l’Évangile au Quotidien

« Seigneur, vers qui irions-nous ? Tu as les paroles de la vie éternelle » Jn 6, 68

Notre Seigneur Jésus Christ, en naissant vraiment homme, lui qui n’a jamais cessé d’être vraiment Dieu, a réalisé en lui le début de la nouvelle création, et dans sa naissance il a donné à l’humanité un commencement spirituel. Quelle intelligence pourrait comprendre un tel mystère, qui pourrait dire une telle grâce ?L’injustice redevient innocence, la vieillesse, nouveauté ; les étrangers ont part à l’adoption et des gens venus d’ailleurs entrent en possession de l’héritage. Les impies deviennent justes ; les avides, généreux ; les débauchés, chastes ; les hommes pétris de terre, spirituels. D’où vient un tel changement, sinon de « la droite du Très-Haut » (Ps 76,11) ? C’est que le Fils de Dieu est venu détruire les œuvres du diable ; il s’est incorporé à nous et nous a incorporés à lui de sorte que la descente de Dieu vers le monde des hommes fût une élévation de l’homme vers le monde de Dieu. (…)Que tes yeux reçoivent la lumière sensible, mais embrasse de tout ton esprit cette vraie lumière « qui éclaire tous les hommes en venant dans ce monde » (Jn 1,9), et dont le prophète dit : « qui regarde vers elle resplendira, sans ombre ni trouble au visage » (Ps 33,6). Si en effet nous sommes le temple de Dieu, et si l’Esprit de Dieu habite en nous, ce que chaque fidèle porte en son âme a plus de valeur que ce qu’on admire au ciel.

Lundi 7 Février

Premier livre des Rois 8,1-7.9-13.En ces jours-là, Salomon rassembla auprès de lui à Jérusalem les anciens d’Israël et tous les chefs des tribus, les chefs de famille des fils d’Israël, pour aller chercher l’arche de l’Alliance du Seigneur dans la Cité de David, c’est-à-dire à Sion.Tous les hommes d’Israël se rassemblèrent auprès du roi Salomon au septième mois, durant la fête des Tentes.Quand tous les anciens d’Israël furent arrivés, les prêtres se chargèrent de l’Arche.Ils emportèrent l’arche du Seigneur et la tente de la Rencontre avec tous les objets sacrés qui s’y trouvaient ; ce sont les prêtres et les lévites qui les transportèrent.Le roi Salomon et, avec lui, toute la communauté d’Israël qu’il avait convoquée auprès de lui devant l’Arche offrirent en sacrifice des moutons et des bœufs : il y en avait un si grand nombre qu’on ne pouvait ni le compter ni l’évaluer.Puis les prêtres transportèrent l’Arche à sa place, dans la Chambre sainte que l’on appelle le Saint des saints, sous les ailes des kéroubim.Ceux-ci, en effet, étendaient leurs ailes au-dessus de l’emplacement de l’Arche : ils protégeaient l’Arche et ses barres.Dans l’Arche, il n’y avait rien, sinon les deux tables de pierre que Moïse y avait placées au mont Horeb, quand le Seigneur avait conclu alliance avec les fils d’Israël, à leur sortie du pays d’Égypte.Quand les prêtres sortirent du sanctuaire, la nuée remplit la maison du Seigneur,et, à cause d’elle, les prêtres durent interrompre le service divin : la gloire du Seigneur remplissait la maison du Seigneur !Alors Salomon s’écria : « Le Seigneur déclare demeurer dans la nuée obscure.Et maintenant, je t’ai construit, Seigneur, une maison somptueuse, un lieu où tu habiteras éternellement.

»Psaume 132(131),1a.2b.4a.5a.6-7.9-10.Souviens-toi, Seigneur, de David,de sa promesse au Puissant de Jacob :«J'interdirai tout sommeil à mes yeuxavant d'avoir trouvé un lieu pour le Seigneur. » Voici qu'on nous l'annonce à Éphrata,nous l'avons trouvée près de Yagar.Entrons dans la demeure de Dieu,prosternons-nous aux pieds de son trône. Que tes prêtres soient vêtus de justice,que tes fidèles crient de joie !Pour l'amour de David, ton serviteur,ne repousse pas la face de ton messie.Évangile de Jésus-Christ selon saint Marc 6,53-56.En ce temps-là, après la traversée, abordant à Génésareth, ils accostèrent.Ils sortirent de la barque, et aussitôt les gens reconnurent Jésus :ils parcoururent toute la région, et se mirent à apporter les malades sur des brancards là où l’on apprenait que Jésus se trouvait.Et dans tous les endroits où il se rendait, dans les villages, les villes ou les campagnes, on déposait les infirmes sur les places. Ils le suppliaient de leur laisser toucher ne serait-ce que la frange de son manteau. Et tous ceux qui la touchèrent étaient sauvés.

© AELF, Paris

[fidei]

OFFER HIM REST

“Advance, O Lord, to Your resting place.” —Psalm 132:8

In today’s first reading and Psalm, the Lord journeys to His place of rest in the newly finished Temple in Jerusalem. God confirms His acceptance of the Temple as a suitable dwelling by the presence of the cloud which fills the Temple. The cloud had been the sign of God’s presence for forty years in the Exodus and the wandering of the Israelites through the desert. Now His presence dwells within the ark of the covenant inside the Temple.Then God sent His only Son into the world (Jn 3:16). In the New Covenant, God’s presence dwelt on the earth through Jesus (see Jn 1:14; Heb 1:3). How ironic then that Jesus had no place to rest during His public ministry, no place to lay His head (see Lk 9:58). Jesus was frequently on the move, in boats, villages, desert places, and other such wanderings.At the end of His life, Jesus took His earthly dwelling place to a new level: He has chosen to dwell in us! After ascending into heaven, Jesus remains with His people through His real presence in the Holy Eucharist. When we receive His Body and Blood in the Eucharist, Jesus now dwells in us and “remains in” us (see Jn 6:56). We become walking tabernacles of His presence. Jesus lives in us to such an extent that He assures us: “Anyone who loves Me will be true to My word, and My Father will love him; We will come to him and make Our dwelling place with him” (Jn 14:23).When Jesus was born, there was no place for Him, Joseph, or Mary to find rest (see Lk 2:7). Let us change our lives in order to prepare our hearts to be a resting place for Jesus. “Advance, O Lord, to Your resting place” (Ps 132:8), my heart.

Prayer:  Lord, here I am. Rearrange my life as You see fit and make Your home in me.

Promise:  “All who touched [Jesus] got well.” —Mk 6:56

Praise:  Reaching age 30, Lynn despaired of ever finding a godly husband, but she devoted herself to serving God in her parish. The Lord then put directly in her path a loving man to marry her.

[kramlabs]

https://heartandsoil.co/is-honey-carnivore/

:::

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14977445/

https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/4/1269/htm

https://academic.oup.com/jn/article/132/11/3379/4687329

[atomicengineerdetective]

ASH KETCHUM WORLD CHAMPION!!

This makes me So Unbelievable Happy. You have No idea. It's been so long. So many years following this Kid and His Incredibly powerful pikachu I love to see him Win. He and his team Family deserves this one

Congratulations!

[pope-francis-quotes]

25th September >> (@zenitenglish) #PopeFrancis #PopeInBaltics Estonia: Full Text of Pope’s Remarks to Ecumenical Meeting of Youth.

Estonia: Full Text of Pope’s Remarks to Ecumenical Meeting of Youth

‘Let us ask for the apostolic strength to bring the Gospel to others.’

 the remarks by Pope Francis during his September 25, 2018, Ecumenical Meeting with young people, in the Kaarli Lutheran Church, Tallinn.

The Holy Father’s Address

Dear Young People,

Thank you for your warm welcome, for your songs and for the testimonies of Lisbel, Tauri and Mirko. I am grateful to the Archbishop of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church, Urmas Viilma, for his kind words of welcome, and for the presence of Archbishop Andres Põder, President of the Estonian Council of Churches, of Bishop Philippe Jourdan, Apostolic Administrator in Estonia, and of the other representatives from the different Christian confessions present in the country. I am also grateful for the presence of Madam President of the Republic.

It is always good to meet, to share our life stories, and to share with one another our thoughts and hopes; it is wonderful, too, for us to come together as believers in Jesus Christ. These meetings bring to fulfillment that dream of Jesus at the Last Supper: “That they may all be one, […] so that the world may believe” (Jn 17:21). If we try to see ourselves as pilgrims journeying together, we will learn how to entrust our heart to our traveling companions without fear and distrust, looking only to what we all truly seek: peace in the presence of the one God. Just as crafting peace is an art, so too, learning to trust one another is also an art and a source of happiness: “Blessed are the peacemakers” (Mt 5:9). And we do not go on this road, on this path only with believers, but with all. All have something to say to us. We have something to say to all.

The great painting in the apse of this church contains a phrase from the Gospel of Saint Matthew: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Mt 11:28). You, as young Christians, can identify with some elements in this passage of the Gospel.

In the preceding narrations, Matthew tells us that Jesus is accumulating disappointments. First He laments because it seems that those who heard Him simply did not understand what He was trying to say (cf. Mt 11:16-19). Frequently you too, as young people, can feel that the adults around you do not appreciate your hopes and desires; sometimes, when they see you very happy, they get suspicious; and if they see you anxious about something, they downplay it. In the consultation prior to the forthcoming Synod, in which we will reflect on young people, many of you expressed the desire to have a companion along the way, someone who can understand you without judging and can listen to you as well as respond to your questions (cf. Synod on Young People, Instrumentum Laboris, 132). Our Christian Churches – and I would dare say this of every institutionally structured religious process – at times bring attitudes that make it easier for us to talk, give advice, speak from our own experience, rather than listen, rather than be challenged and learn from what you are experiencing. Many times Christian communities close themselves, without realizing it, and do not listen to your anxieties. We know that you want and expect “to be accompanied not by an unbending judge, or by a fearful and hyper-protective parent who generates dependence, but by someone who is not afraid of his weakness and is able to make the treasure shine that, like an earthen vessel, it holds within (cf. 2 Cor 4:7)” (ibid., 142). Today, I am here to tell you that we want to mourn with you when you mourn, to accompany your joys with our applause and our laughter, and to help you to be followers of the Lord. You, boys and girls, young people, know this: when a Christian community is truly Christian, it does not engage in proselytism. It only listens, welcomes, accompanies and walks, but does not impose anything.

Jesus also complains about the cities He visited, where he worked great miracles and demonstrated signs of great tenderness and closeness, and He deplores their inability to see that the change He came to bring was urgent and not to be delayed. He even says that they are more stubborn and obdurate than Sodom (cf. Mt 11:20-24). When we adults refuse to acknowledge some evident reality, you tell us frankly: “Can’t you see this?” Some of you who are a bit more forthright might even say to us: “Don’t you see that nobody is listening to you anymore, or believes you?” We ourselves need truly to be converted; we have to realize that in order to stand by your side we need to change many situations that, in the end, put you off.

We know – as you have told us – that many young people do not turn to us for anything because they don’t feel we have anything meaningful to say to them for their existence. This is awful. When a Church, a community, behaves in such a way that young people think: “They won’t say anything to me that will help me in my life.” In fact, some of them expressly ask us to leave them alone, because they feel the Church’s presence as bothersome or even irritating. And this is true. They are upset by sexual and economic scandals that do not meet with clear condemnation, by our unpreparedness or simply the passive role we assign them (cf. Synod on Young People, Instrumentum Laboris, 66). These are just a few of your complaints. We want to respond to them; as you yourselves put it, we want to be a “transparent, welcoming, honest, inviting, communicative, accessible, joyful and interactive community” (ibid. 67), namely, a community without fear. Fears close us. Fear drives us to be proselytes.  And fraternity is something else: an open heart and fraternal embrace.

Before coming to the evangelical text that dominates this church, Jesus breaks out in praise of the Father. He does so because He realizes that those who did understand, who did grasp the meaning of His message and his person, are the little ones, those that have a simple, open mind. Seeing all of you like this, gathered as one and singing together, I add my own voice to that of Jesus and I marvel that, for all our lack of witness, you continue to discover Jesus in the heart of our communities. Because we know that where Jesus is, there is always renewal; there are always new opportunities for conversion and for leaving behind everything that separates us from Him and from our brothers. Where Jesus is, life always has the flavor of the Holy Spirit. You, here today, reflect something of the marvel that Jesus felt.

So yes, let us repeat His words: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Mt 11:28). But let us say them in the conviction that, beyond all our limitations and divisions, Jesus is still the reason for our being here. We know no greater peace of mind can be found than by letting Jesus carry our burdens. We also know that many people still do not know Him and live in sadness and loss. One of your famous singers, about ten years ago, said about one of her songs: “Love is dead, love has gone, love no longer lives here” (Kerli Koiv, Love is dead). No, please! Let us make love be alive, and we must all do this! And there are so many who have this experience: they see that the love of their parents ends, that the love of newlyweds dissolves; they feel profound pain when no one cares that they must emigrate to look for work or when they are regarded with suspicion because they are foreigners. It might seem that love is dead, as Kerli Koiv said, but we know that it is not and that we have a word to say, a message to bring, with few words and many actions, for you are the generation of images, the generation of action, more than speculation and theory.

And that is how Jesus likes it because He went about doing good, and when dying He preferred the striking message of the crossover mere words. We are united by our faith in Jesus, and He is waiting for us to bring Him to all those young people whose lives are no longer meaningful. And the risk is, also for us t0 believe, to lose the meaning of life. And this happens when we believers are inconsistent. Let us accept together that newness that God brings to our life, that newness that impels us to set out anew to all those places where humanity is most wounded. Wherever men and women, beneath the appearance of a shallow conformity, continue to seek an answer to the question of life’s meaning. Yet we will never go alone: God comes with us; “He is unafraid of the fringes, He himself became a fringe (cf. Phil 2:6-8; Jn 1:14). If we have the courage to go out of ourselves, of our egoism, of our closed ideas and go to the fringes, we will find Him there, because Jesus precedes us in the life of a suffering and discarded brother. He is already there (cf. Apostolic Exhortation Gaudete et Exsultate, 135).

Boys and girls, love is not dead. It calls us and sends us forth. It only asks that we open our heart. Let us ask for the apostolic strength to bring the Gospel to others – but to offer it, not impose it — and to resist the tendency to see our Christian life as if it were a museum of memories. The Christian life is life, is future, is hope! It’s not a museum. May the Holy Spirit help us to contemplate history in the light of the risen Jesus, so that the Church, so that our Churches will be able to continue to go forward welcoming in them the Lord’s surprises (cf. ibid, 139), recovering their youthfulness, the joy, and beauty of which Mirko spoke, of the Bride that goes to meet the Lord – the Lord’s surprises. The Lord surprises us because life surprises us always. Let us go forward, to meet these surprises. Thank you!

[Original text: Italian]  [Official translation]

© Libreria Editrice Vatican

SEPTEMBER 25, 2018 17:23

PAPAL TEXTS

[pamphletstoinspire]

Understanding Catholic Teaching On The Blessed Virgin Mary - Part 6

Written by: Tom Perna

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary  into Heaven

Before the Papal Definition

Before Bl. Pope Pius XII solemnly declared (in 1950) the dogma of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary into Heaven, he asked the bishops of the Church two questions: first, is the Assumption definable, and second, do you and your flocks desire such a definition? From the 1,232 bishops asked, 1,210 responded overwhelmingly with an affirmation of yes to both questions. It was the consensus of the Church that this doctrine be solemnly defined.

From 1854, the year the Immaculate Conception was solemnly declared a dogma, to 1946, the Vatican received over eight million petitions from the universal Church asking for this dogma. The Council Fathers of the First Vatican Council (1869–1870) also signed a petition desiring that the Assumption of Mary into Heaven be declared dogmatic.

The Papal Definition

With the complete and total consensus of the bishops in union with the lay faithful of the Church, on December 1, 1950 Bl. Pope Pius XII spoke “ex cathedra” (“from the chair”) declaring,

For which reason, after we have poured forth prayers of supplication again and again to God, and have invoked the light of the Spirit of Truth, for the glory of Almighty God who has lavished his special affection upon the Virgin Mary, for the honor of her Son, the immortal King of the Ages and the Victor over sin and death, for the increase of the glory of that same august Mother, and for the joy and exultation of the entire Church; by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and by our own authority, we pronounce, declare, and define it to be a divinely revealed dogma: that the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory. (Emphasis added)

In this declaration, Bl. Pope Pius XII focuses on the Sacred Scriptures, with the primary Scripture verse being Genesis 3:15, given to him by the bishops of the Church as the main verse confirming this teaching. The Holy Father also draws on Sacred Tradition where we see Church Fathers, beginning in the fifth and sixth centuries, writing about Mary’s Assumption and celebrating this common belief in the Eastern liturgies.

Furthermore, with the Assumption of Mary into Heaven we see the conclusion of her earthly life that began with her Immaculate Conception and led to her being the Mother of God. The Assumption of Mary is the clear natural effect of the Immaculate Conception.

The Assumption of Mary in Sacred Scripture

Now that we have a primary understanding of the definition of the Assumption of Mary, let us turn our attention to understanding the scriptural teachings of the dogma. There are two Scripture verses that speak directly to Mary’s Assumption into Heaven. Like the Immaculate Conception, the primary verse is Genesis 3:15. In accordance with this Scripture verse, we also have the writings of St. Paul on sin. The secondary verse is Luke 1:28, but also in accordance with this verse is Revelation 11:19 and 12:1.

In Genesis, Mary shares the same victory over sin and death as does Jesus due to their mutual enmity with Satan and sin. St. Paul addresses this victory in Romans chapters 5–8, and again in Hebrews 2:14: “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same nature, that through death he might destroy him who has the power of death, that is, the devil.” The effects of the seed of Satan are sin and death, therefore Mary had to triumph over sin and death. Through the Immaculate Conception Mary triumphs over sin and through the Assumption into Heaven she triumphs over death.

The secondary verse supporting the Assumption of Mary we have learned about already. Luke 1:28 says, “And he came to her and said, ‘Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you.’” Being that Mary was “full of grace,” the effects of sin would not taint her, which would be bodily death. In union with Luke 1:28, we also have Revelation 11:19: “Then God’s temple in heaven was opened and the ark of the covenant was seen within his temple” and 12:1, “And a great sign appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.” In the heavenly Jerusalem, Mary is the New Ark of the Covenant and the woman crowned and assumed.

There are other Scripture verses that give support to a potential bodily assumption. 1 Corinthians 15:23 states, “But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ” (emphasis added). “At his coming” is in reference to when Christ will return and the bodies of the saints will rise in glory. Matthew 27:52 says, “the tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised.” Besides St. Matthew’s Gospel, there is nothing written about this in secular history. Verified by many (27:53), we don’t know who was raised, or the length of time, or what their bodies appeared like. Psalm 132:8 prophesies, “Arise, O Lord, out of your resting place: you and the ark which you have sanctified.”

Mary as the New Ark of the Covenant

The ark of the covenant in the Old Testament contained the Ten Commandments, a gold vessel (similar to a ciborium) holding the manna that fed the Israelites in the desert (read Ex 16:34), and the staff of Aaron that blossomed (read Heb 9:4). The ark was the visible sign of God’s presence and protection among the sons and daughters of Israel. A cloud, which also represented God’s presence, would overshadow the ark. This cloud became known as the shekinah, which means “Divine Presence” or “Divine Glory.” At the Annunciation, the Holy Spirit overshadows Mary, the New Ark of the Covenant, just as the shekinah overshadowed the old ark of the covenant.

The New Testament is a covenant that is everlasting between God and all of humanity through the person of Jesus Christ. Mary, the God-Bearer (Theotokos), becomes the sacred vessel, for she is immaculately created by God to carry God Himself in the person of Jesus Christ. Just as the original ark was layered with gold, a precious metal that does not fade, so Mary, the New Ark of the Covenant, through her Immaculate Conception would not fade.

Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the articles that were placed in the ark of the covenant. He is the New Law (Beatitudes) that fulfills the Old Law (the Ten Commandments). He is the fulfillment of the manna come down from heaven that fed the Israelites. Jesus is the living bread come down from heaven (see Jn 6:51) to feed all of us with his Holy Eucharist (read Jn 6:22–71). He is the fulfillment of the staff of Aaron, as Aaron was the first high priest of the Levitical priesthood and Jesus is the eternal and Royal High Priest.

The Assumption of Mary in Sacred Tradition

Even though the Assumption of Mary was not declared dogmatic until 1950, recall that the Church has held this teaching sacred from her earliest centuries.

By the fifth and sixth centuries, the Eastern rites of the Church developed liturgies to the Blessed Virgin Mary celebrating her Assumption in Egypt and Syria. In the middle of the fifth century, the feast of the Anapausis (“fallen asleep) or the Dormition of the Mother of God began to be celebrated in a basilica near Jerusalem, specifically Gethsemane, which tradition taught held her tomb and final resting place. By the end of the sixth century and reign of Emperor Maurice (AD 582–602), this feast had spread throughout the Eastern Empire and was to be celebrated on August 15.

After appearing in Egypt, the tradition of the Dormition of Mary made its way to France in the sixth century and was celebrated on January 18. During the pontificate of Pope Sergius I in the late seventh century, the Feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God was commonly celebrated and eventually became known in the West as the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. By the twelfth century, the doctrinal teaching of the Assumption of Mary was accepted and celebrated in the universal Church in both the East and West.

The writings of St. Gregory of Tours, St. Germanus, Patriarch of Constantinople, and St. John Damascene also wrote about the Assumption (and Dormition) of Mary.

When speaking about Mary’s departure from this earth in De Gloria Beatorum Martyrum (late sixth century), St. Gregory of Tours says,

When finally the Blessed Virgin had fulfilled the course of this life, and was now to be called out of this world, all the apostles were gathered together from each region to her house . . . and behold the Lord Jesus came with his angels and, receiving her soul, entrusted it to the Archangel Michael and departed. At the break of day the apostles lifted the body with the couch and laid in the sepulcher, and they guarded in awaiting the coming of the Lord. And behold the Lord again stood by them, and commanded that the holy body be taken up and borne on a cloud into paradise, where now, reunited with (her) soul and rejoicing with the elect, it enjoys the good things of eternity which shall never come to an end.

In Praise of the Holy and Venerable Falling-Asleep of our Most Glorious Lady Mother of God Mary ever Virgin (pre-AD 730), Patriarch of Constantinople St. Germanus speaks about the appointed time of Mary’s falling asleep:

When Christ had willed that His Mother, she who had borne Life Itself within her, should be taken upwards to Himself, He tells her, by the message of an angel who was already known to her, that the time of her falling asleep is now at hand. And this he did so that through the imitation of Her coming death, she might not be troubled at departure from the living; as will happen to the rest of mortal men. For we know that the separation of the soul from the body can bring distress to the spirit of even strong men. Therefore, lest death, coming unawares, should trouble the natural instinct of the body, and so that His Mother might know beforehand of her own departure, He Who knows all things sent an angel to her, to give her strength of soul . . .

Speaking in his second homily of three given in Jerusalem on the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin, St. John Damascene says,

This day the Immaculate Virgin, unacquainted with early affections, and nurtured on heavenly affections, has not returned to earth; but, belonging truly to the life of heaven, she has taken up abode in heavenly dwellings . . . it crossed over to it by way of an earthly tomb. And first it was taken through the midst of the city [by the Apostles], like a bride in her beauty, but she is adorned in the unapproachable radiance of the Spirit, and thence it was born to that most holy place, Gethsemani, angels overshadowing her with their wings, going before and with her and following after, together with the whole assembly of the Church.

Paragraph 974 of the Catechism states, “The Most Blessed Virgin Mary, when the course of her earthly life was completed, was taken up body and soul into the glory of heaven, where she already shares in the glory of her Son’s Resurrection, anticipating the resurrection of all members of his Body” (see also 966).

Did Mary Die?

From what the early Church Fathers have given us, now arises the question that has been debated for centuries and is still debated today: Did the Blessed Virgin Mary die? There are two positions on this question, one from the Mortalists and the second from the Immortalists. (1)

The Mortalists position is that Mary experienced a temporary separation of soul and body but without bodily corruption. Her soul would have assumed directly into heaven and her body remained on earth for three days [like her Son]. Pope St. John Paul II favored this position when he said, “The fact that the Church proclaims Mary free from original sin by a unique divine privilege does not lead to the conclusion that she also received physical immortality. The Mother is not superior to the Son who underwent death, giving it a new meaning and changing it into a means of salvation.” If our Lord endured death, then so did His mother.

The Eastern rites of the Catholic Church (and the Orthodox churches) celebrate this as the Dormitio or Dormition. When time had come for the Theotokos to pass from this life to the next, the Apostles, including St. Paul, traveled, gathered, and briefly spent time with her. St. Thomas arrived three days after Mary had fallen asleep (a term we use when someone passes into death) and wanted to see her. When the Apostles went to the tomb where she was placed, they found that it was empty. An angel of the Lord appeared to them saying the Theotokos was assumed into heaven. By the fourth century, the majority of the East celebrated this feast.

The Immortalists position is that Mary with body and soul intact was assumed into heaven. Timothy of Jerusalem does not think Mary died and argues by saying, “Wherefore the Virgin is immortal up to now, because he who dwelt in her, assumed her to the heavenly regions.”

Between the two positions, the position of the Mortalists is the stronger theological position. Most of the theologians and doctors of the Church, from St. Augustine of Hippo to Venerable John Cardinal Newman, conclude that Mary did suffer death, but without bodily corruption. It was not a painful death, as some have claimed that she was martyred (Simeon’s prophecy), but as St. Francis de Sales says, it was a death “due to a transport of love.”

Conclusion

The four Marian dogmas should in no way take away from our relationship with Jesus Christ. Knowing these dogmas of the Virgin Mary will only increase and strengthen our relationship with our Lord each day. If you want to get to know a person, spend time with his mother. This is exactly what we need to do with the Blessed Virgin Mary. The more time we spend with her and learn about her, the more we will come to know and love Jesus. Don’t be afraid to study Mary! Having a relationship with her will only improve our relationship with Him.

________

1. The two terms were used by Dr. Mark Miravalle, professor of Theology and Mariology, in the class Mary in the Modern World at Franciscan University of Steubenville.

[thewahookid]

One Minute Reflection – 16 May – “I am glorified in them.” – John 17:10

REFLECTION - “My Father and I will come to him” - that is to say, to the holy of heart - says the Son of God “and we will make our home with him” (Jn 14:23). It seems to me, that when the psalmist said to God: “You make your dwelling in the holy place, you who art Israel's praise,” (Ps 22[21]:4) he had no other heaven in mind, than the hearts of the saints. The Apostle expresses it quite clearly: “Christ lives in our hearts through faith,” he tells us (Eph 3:17). Surely it is no wonder that the Lord Jesus gladly makes His home in such a heaven because, unlike the other heavens, He did not bring it into existence by a mere word of command. He descended into the arena to win it; He laid down His life to redeem it. And so, after the battle was won, He solemnly declared: “This is my resting place forever and ever; here I have chosen to dwell” (Ps 132[131]:14). Blessed indeed is the soul to whom the Lord says: “Come, my chosen one, I will set up my throne in you” (Sg 2:10).

“Why, then, are you sorrowful, my soul and why are you troubled within me?” (Ps 42[41]:6). Are you trying to find a place for the Lord within yourself? Who among us can provide a fitting place for the Lord of glory, a place worthy of His majesty! O that I might be counted worthy to worship at His footstool, that I might at least cling to the feet of some saintly soul whom the Lord has chosen to be His dwelling place! However, the Lord has only to anoint my soul with the oil of His mercy, for me in my turn, to be able to say: “I have run the way of your commandments because you have enlarged my heart” (Ps 119[118]:32). Then perhaps, even if I cannot usher Him into a “large and richly furnished room” in my heart where He may refresh Himself with His disciples (cf. Mk 14:15), I shall at least, be able to offer Him, “a place to lay his head” (cf. Mt 8:20).

It is necessary for a soul to grow and be enlarged until it is capable of con­taining God within itself. But the dimensions of a soul are in proportion to its love, as the Apostle confirms when he urges the Corinthians to “widen their hearts in love” (2 Cor 6 13). Although the soul, being spiritual, cannot be measured physically, grace confers on it what nature does not bestow… Love, then, is the measure of the soul. Souls are large that love much, small that love little; while as for the soul that has no love at all, such a soul is itself nothing. “Without love,” says Saint Paul, “I am nothing” (1 Cor 13:3). - St Bernard (1091-1153) Cistercian Monk and Doctor of the Church - Sermons on the Song of Songs, no. 27, 8-10

[naturalwellnessjourney]

With keto, weight loss is real and effective for one simple reason: it helps people convert from a carb-heavy diet, carb-burning diet to a fat-heavy, fat-burning diet. Ketosis has been shown to suppress ghrelin (a strong appetite stimulator) When you’re on a keto diet and regularly in a state of ketosis, your body produces ketones, specifically BHB (ß-hydroxybutyrate), which is a strong anti-inflammatory chemical. On a ketogenic eating plan, many people experience a decrease in total cholesterol, a decrease in triglycerides, and an increase in HDL. Your insulin levels to lower, because your body is no longer being tasked with managing a lot of sugar A diet low in carbohydrates and higher in fats has been shown to drastically improve the biomarkers associated with heart disease.  Ketones have been shown to increase mitochondrial efficiency and production, which helps to protect brain cells from strokes and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. A ketogenic diet has been shown to help regulate glutamate (a dominant neurotransmitter in our brain) which can cause nerve cell damage if over stimulated.  We’re seeing an increasing number of preclinical studies evaluating the ketogenic diet as an adjuvant therapy in cancer treatment,  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5842847/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26053068/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12235168/ https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/01.CIR.103.13.1823 https://academic.oup.com/jn/article/132/7/1879/4687418 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20101008/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2633336/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19641727/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23632752/ #keto #ketosis #lowcarb #heartdisease #heartdiseaseawareness #hearthealth #bloodpressure #diabetes #bloodsugarbalance #insulinresistance #insulin #carbs #holistichealth #healthychoices #type2diabetes #lchf https://www.instagram.com/p/CMmkVBwABVt/?igshid=1las5st7zmt0n