#Jesus again foretells His death and resurrection

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

The Transfiguration

1 And after six days, Jesus took Peter and James, and John his brother, and brought them up into a high mountain, alone.

2 And He was transfigured before them. And His face shined as the sun. And His clothes were as white as the light.

3 And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with Him.

4 Then Peter answered, and said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here. If You would, let us make three booths here; one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

5 “While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them. And behold, a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased. Hear Him.”

6 And when the disciples heard that, they fell on their faces, and were very afraid.

7 Then Jesus came and touched them, and said, “Arise. And do not be afraid.”

8 And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one, except Jesus only.

9 And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, “Tell no one of this vision until the Son of Man has risen again from the dead.”

10 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Why, then, do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”

11 And Jesus answered, and said to them, “Certainly Elijah must come first, and restore all things.

12 “But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him. But they have done to him whatever they would. Likewise, the Son of Man shall also suffer by them.”

13 Then the disciples perceived that He spoke to them of John Baptist.

14 And when they had come to the multitude, a certain man came to Him and fell down at His feet,

15 and said, “Master, have pity on my son. For he is epileptic and suffers greatly. For he often falls into the fire, and often into the water.

16 “And I brought him to Your disciples, and they could not heal him.”

17 Then Jesus answered, and said, “O faithless and crooked generation. How long now shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.”

18 And Jesus rebuked the demon. And he went out of him. And the child was healed at that hour.

19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately, and said, “Why could not we cast it out?”

20 And Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief. For truly I say to you, if you have faith as much as is a grain of mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’, and it shall move. And nothing shall be impossible to you.

21 “Nevertheless, this kind only goes out by prayer and fasting.”

22 And while they were in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man shall be delivered into the hands of men.

23 “And they shall kill Him. But the third day He shall rise again.” And they were very sorrowful.

24 And when they had come to Capernaum, those who received the temple tax came to Peter, and said, “Does not your Master pay temple taxes?

25 He said, “Yes.” And when he had come into the house, Jesus stopped him, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take tribute (or temple taxes) - from their children, or from strangers?

26 Peter said to Him, “From strangers.” Then Jesus said to him, “Then the children are free.”

27 Nevertheless, so that we should not offend them, go to the sea and cast in a hook. And take the first fish that comes up. And when you have opened its mouth, you shall find a coin. Take it, and give it to them for you and Me. — Matthew 17 | Revised Geneva Translation (RGT) The Revised Geneva Translation of the Holy Bible; © 2019 by Five Talents Audio Cross References: Exodus 30:13; Exodus 34:29; Exodus 38:26; Deuteronomy 32:5; Judges 13:20; Isaiah 19:14; Isaiah 42:1; Song of Solomon 6:10; Malachi 4:5; Matthew 3:1; Matthew 3:17; Matthew 4:24; Matthew 5:29-30; Matthew 8:4; Matthew 8:20; Matthew 8:26; Matthew 11:14; Matthew 13:31; Matthew 14:27; Matthew 16:21; Matthew 20:19; Matthew 22:19; Matthew 26:37; Mark 5:37; Mark 9:5; Mark 9:14; Mark 9:22; Mark 9:29; Mark 9:42-43; Luke 9:33; Luke 20:22; Acts 1:6; Acts 3:21; Revelation 1:17

[pastortomsteers]

The Bible Study –

Our texts for Friday, March 8 are Genesis 40:1-23 & Mark 10:32-52.

Again, we see God’s hand in enabling Joseph to interpret two prisoner’s dreams.

God will empower Joseph to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams, and thereby secure his freedom and rise to power.

God’s people vastly increase in number while in Egypt.

Eventually they’ll leave in the Exodus to receive the Law through Moses and journey towards the Promised Land.

Through the fulfillment of God��s prophetic promise of a Messiah, Christians are allowed entry into the eternal Promised Land of Heaven.

In our passage from Mark, Jesus again foretells of His death and resurrection.

Christ tells the Twelve:

“See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.”

Jesus is walking on to suffer the punishment and die the sinner’s death we deserve.

The sinless Lamb of God will fulfill God’s plan of salvation, and be the substitutionary atonement for our transgressions.

As the Apostle John explained, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (Jn 3:16)

Further in our passage, blind Bartimaeus calls out to Christ, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 

Jesus restores his sight and says to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.”

We’re also healed, cleansed from sin, by God’s grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone.

Pastor Tom Steers

Christ the Saviour Lutheran Church, Toronto http://christlutherantoronto.org/sermons/bible-verses-showing-justification-by-faith-alone

[crdenhart]

Religious Reflections - Luke 18:31-43

06/12/2023

Today’s designated Gospel reading from the Book of Common Prayer is Luke 18:31-43. The text from the NRSVue version of the Bible is as follows:

A Third Time Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection

(31) Then he took the twelve aside and said to them, “Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. (32) For he will be handed over to the gentiles, and he will be mocked and insulted and spat upon. (33) After they have flogged him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise again.” (34) But they understood nothing about all these things; in fact, what he said was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.

Jesus Heals a Blind Beggar Near Jericho

(35) As he approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. (36) When he heard a crowd going by, he asked what was happening. (37) They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” (38) Then he shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (39) Those who were in front sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he shouted even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” (40) Jesus stood still and ordered the man to be brought to him, and when he came near, he asked him, (41) “What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me see again.” (42) Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has saved you.” (43) Immediately he regained his sight and followed him, glorifying God, and all the people, when they saw it, praised God.

ANALYSIS:

The beginning of this passage foreshadows the Passion of Christ. This section demonstrates Jesus’ divine ability to see into the future.

A major message of this passage is that faith can restore one’s health/abilities. In verse 42, Jesus says, “Receive your sight; your faith has saved you.” Though an increase in faith may not literally cause such wonders as returning a blind person’s physical sense of sight, increasing one’s faith can have a positive impact on his or her health and well-being. When one prays or meditates with his or her attention on areas where he or she is having health issues, he or she is likely to heal more quickly and experience less severe symptoms than if he or she had not prayed or meditated. Even beyond healing illness/injury, prayer/meditation can help one expand his or her consciousness and experience reality from a greater perspective, essentially giving one a new sight.

CALL TO ACTION:

My call to action from the passage is to pray and meditate when you are sick or injured. These activities will put you in better spirits while in your lowly state, and the positive energy created from praying/meditating can give you an extra health boost in addition to whatever your healthcare provider recommends.

[galadrieljones]

Some Biblical Symbolism in TWD 10c (Team Delusional)

Okay so I am VERY behind on the times, due to a ton of family engagements lately; however, now I’m trying to catch up and in doing so, I’m just going to make posts looking at all my recent, random notes from 10c and beyond.

This post starts by looking at the symbolism in the Bible verse that’s referenced in 10.19 “One More.”  This one verse in particular lead me down a lot of other Biblical rabbit holes, and I’ll try to talk about how they pertain to existing Team Delusional arguments, plus some other stuff!!

David and King Saul

The Bible verse I took down in my notes for the episode is 1 Samuel 16, specifically 16:21. This chapter is about God sending Samuel to anoint a new King of Israel after Saul basically pisses him off. Samuel chooses David, a young shepherd and son of Jesse, who is also a wonderful musician. He plays the lyre.

I remember reading about David when I was looking into Daryl/Biblical imagery. Initially I took Daryl’s fight w Beta in season 10 up in that tower to be a David vs. Goliath fight, but after reading more deeply into it, I scrapped the comparison. I read more into David and was actually more taken with him as relatable to Beth. More on that and how this impacts TD in a minute.

In 1 Samuel, King Saul of the Israelites is being tormented by demons (sent by god ofc) and sends his servant to bring him a musician to soothe his brain. The servant suggests David who comes to play the lyre for him and befriends his son. Anyway, consumed with fear that David is going to oust him, Saul tries to kill David, so David goes on the run, as a fugitive, basically until Saul and his son are killed, and then David returns and takes his place as King of the Israelites.

Anytime Gabriel is in the scene, there’s Biblical shit. So I was on top of "One More.” I didn’t really know what to make of the story with Saul and David and why it’s featured in this episode, so I talked to my husband who doesn’t watch the show (which is good because he’s coming at my questions unbiased) but he knows the Old Testament super well. I asked him whether Saul was supposed to be a “villain,” or merely a tortured king. My husband said Saul is not a villain, but a king who is meant to symbolize the unique plight of kings and leaders often characterized as the Sword of Damocles, ie: the sword always hanging over their head, and how the constant threat of death and/or usurpation can push them to great fear, madness, paranoia, and hasty decisions.

As the de facto leader of Alexandria, Gabriel is now in the same exact unique bind for which he sold out Rick to Deanna in season 5. He is potentially becoming a Saul figure, with the pressures of leadership causing him to turn away from his faith. This is a MAJOR shift in character dynamics for the show, as well as a big reference to Season 5 (an important season for TD, obviously). Season 5 Rick is also a very good Saul, as we see him falling to madness, hubris, and fear, and on the clear path to losing his people and his throne. I think we’re witnessing Gabriel now in a similar scenario in which his actions have finally begun to bear the weight of his responsibilities as a leader. He kills Mays because Mays is a killer and unhinged. It’s why Rick wants to and eventually does kill Pete in season 5. Gabriel killing Mays startles Aaron, and it isn’t pretty, but to him, it’s the right thing to do, even as it belies his cloth and belies his faith to do so. 

With his eyes, one light/one dark, as well as his priesthood, Gabriel is a perfect canvas for this sort of Saul struggle, especially now, as Michonne is gone, and Siddiq is dead, and he is not only the leader of Alexandria but now a father to a child, and this only further complicates his motivations. I also think this whole thing, ie: Gabriel as Saul might be another purposeful recycling of seasons 5, which 10c has been doing a lot. As has already been pointed out by @twdmusicboxmystery​, “One More” also rehashes a lot of themes and scenarios from “Still.” The entirety of 10c is consumed with cycles.

Saul and David through the Team Delusional Lens

ON THAT NOTE: Beth is an interesting David figure, since David’s main role before he becomes king is as a musician. You probably remember mention of David in the Leonard Cohen song “Hallelujah,” which references both David’s music as well as his later affair with Bathsheba. David’s music soothes the king, and we could say the same thing about Beth in seasons 3 and 4. Further, Dawn in season 5 is another Saul figure who has lost control of her kingdom due to weakness, fear, and selfishness. Beth, like David, is taken into her service (where she DOES sing, and where she calmly professes, “I still sing”), befriends another of Dawn’s young orderlies (such as David befriending Saul’s son), and then when she becomes a threat, Dawn *attempts* to kill her. Ofc in the Bible David just goes on the lam until Saul is killed by the Philistines, and then David becomes king of the Israelites. In TWD, Beth “dies.”

So by this allusion, if applied in template fashion, after Dawn (Saul) is killed, Beth (David) would return to Grady and become its new leader, something I think TD has discussed before.

Other Biblical Allusions and Curiosities:

Jesse and Samuel: Characters from 5b-6a. Samuel of the Bible is a child prophet, and Samuel of TWD is a “sensitive” child who, in the opening of 6.8, is surrounded by a lot of prophetic imagery, including a drawing of a blond person tied to a tree while surrounded by walkers, a toy firetruck, as well as the ants, breaching the window and swarming a cookie, which predicts or mirrors the walkers breaching the wall. This scene is full of TD imagery, which I’m sure other theorists have already rehashed, ie: the tree trunk, the number 8, even a cyclops (one-eyed) action figure on the dresser. Jesse is Samuel’s mother in 5b, and until I read more into Samuel, I didn’t realize that Jesse was a Bible character as well, and that he was David’s father, while Samuel is the prophet who anoints David as king. These are mostly minor characters, but as is a lot of stuff in season 5, they pack a lot of symbolic punch.This is also just me pointing to the fact that TWD has used more direct symbolism involving Samuel and David before, as well as indirect symbolism, and just general allusion. Samuel is also connected to key imagery that appears again and again.

^ (This is not the first blond we’ve seen tied to a tree in TWD.)

Gabriel the Archangel: Gabriel the archangel is a very interesting character in the Bible, as he is seen as not only a fierce defender of the Israelites, but per Christian tradition, he is also the angel who visits the Virgin Mary and foretells the birth of Jesus Christ. I know that TD has discussed Father Gabriel as a Beth “proxy” or as symbolically juxtaposed with Beth, often referencing him as a Sirius symbol, post-partial-blindness, echoing the one-eyed dog from “Still.” The Biblical imagery is consistent with this argument, especially when combined with argument that Beth is a Christ figure to be resurrected, ie: Gabriel is here to “herald” Beth’s return. Ofc, this could be applied to Rick as a Christ figure as well (who sacrifices himself to save his people); however, we know that Rick is not dead, which is inconsistent with the crucifixion, ie: Jesus literally “died” (or was perceived to have died) and came back to life. Further, in Christian tradition as well as in John Milton’s Paradise Lost, Gabriel is credited as the angel blowing the trumpet that signals the return of Christ to the living (Gabriel’s horn). What I’m saying is, Gabriel is a herald. He heralds both the birth of and the return of Christ to the land of the living. It again does not feel like coincidence that Gabriel is introduced during season 4, at the very beginning of Beth’s arc.

Dark vs. Light: Does anyone else find it extremely fishy that Gabriel, Beth, and Daryl are all shown with prominent costume/features that juxtapose dark/light? What I mean is: Gabriel’s eyes, Daryl’s ankle coverings, and Beth’s shoelaces at Grady--all feature one dark, one light. Tbh I am not sure how this is even a Biblical thing (other than the overt good vs. evil connotations), but it just strikes me as further credence for how these characters must be connected. Gabriel as a reference to the one-eyed dog is more evidence tying them all together, further, the light/left dark/right arrangement is the same on Beth and Gabriel, whereas it is reversed on Daryl. I have always found the choice for Beth’s shoelaces to be strange, obviously correlated to Daryl’s ankle coverings, but I’m not sure why. I do know that this kind of visual imagery is not happening by mistake, though I don’t have a good hypothesis for what this means beyond the connection itself. Or, not yet at least. Give me time lol.

Anyway, I think this is all I have for now! If anyone has any thoughts or additions, please let me know. ^_^

[thescienceofapologetics]

Evidence for the Resurrection

It’s Easter time once again! A Sunday that marks the single most pivotal point of Christianity. If you want to prove Christianity is a hoax, all you must do is illustrate how the resurrection was a facade. It is absolutely essential to our salvation that Christ conquered death, for if Jesus Christ did not rise from the dead our hope is lost. 1 Corinthians 15:14 likewise states, “And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.” Without the resurrection our belief is baseless, futile, unfounded, and foolish. So why is it we believe such an outlandish claim could actually happen, superseding the natural laws of earth? Here’s a few reasons...

The Bible is the most historically accurate ancient text in the world — When discussing the validity of history, it’s only reasonable to reference your source that has proven most reliable. The Bible is that source. No other record of ancient history has come CLOSE to matching the reliability of the Bible. If we say the Bible is untrustworthy, we must discard every other historical record as well because the Bible vastly surpasses every test of authenticity as no other book does. More on that here and here.

Yes, Jesus really died - Many people start off with the dispute that maybe Jesus wasn’t really dead. However, that neglects both the historical and circumstancial context. The Romans were masters at execution. They knew how to draw out suffering to the finest line between death and life, make it last for days on end. This was their art form. These men were proficient and practiced. Jesus was tortured, whipped with a scourge that often exposed bone and vital organs, tearing flesh from a body. Many people didn’t survive that alone. He was forced to carry a cross that could have weight up to 300lbs, and he crumpled under the weight, unable to bear it. Nails were driven through his wrist and through both his feet. Make note he would be unable to walk from the pain in his feet, his hands would be rendered useless. The way you hang on a cross causes death by asphyxiation, to breathe you had to push your self up with means grating your torn back against the wood and putting more pressure on the holes ripping your limbs. After Jesus died they speared his side to make certain he was dead and fluid came pouring out. The Romans checked thoroughly to make sure he was dead because they were shocked he died so quickly. He was bloated, swollen, and gored by death on a cross. Even if for arguments sake, Jesus was not yet dead, being in a tomb for three days would indisputably see to that. If blood loss didn’t kill him, infection certainly would. Additionally, Luke, one of eyewitnesses who recorded the events, was a doctor so his perspective is a notably authoritative one. (Luke 23-24).

The tomb was empty - There is no possible way Jesus, weakened to the point where the Roman masters of execution called his death, unable to use his hands or feet due to the spikes pounded into them, was able to roll away a MASSIVE boulder and over power two trained and able-bodied Roman soldiers. The idea that Jesus didn’t fully die on the cross and escaped the tomb is absurd. Furthermore, the guards stationed to prevent anyone from robbing the tomb and the Roman seal on the two-ton rock ensured that anyone who dared to even attempt to move it faced the death penalty themselves. If the guards themselves fell asleep they faced the same fate. There was a LOT at stake if Jesus’ body was taken, the Romans were taking no chances. Every other argument for the absence of Jesus’ body can quickly be dismantled by historical context and the circumstances by which these things took place.

It was prophesied - Isaiah talks about the particular circumstances of Jesus death, such as no bones would be broken, an unusual anomaly when it came to crucifixion. Jesus himself also foretells that he will rise within three days. Even smaller details like casting lots for His garments were spoken of hundreds of years before Jesus was born. Other prophesies like this show that Jesus’ death was no accident, God knew what He was doing. (Isaiah 52:13-53:12; John 18-20)

Eyewitness accounts - Jesus appeared to over 500 people after His resurrection, many of whom were alive at the time of the gospels being written and therefore could confirm or dispute their accuracy (1 Corinthians 15:6) Among those include the disciples, Mary Magdalene, and Paul the former murderer of Christians. The Bible records accounts of skeptism and unbelief, but they saw the scars on his hands, touched his solid flesh before them, heard his familiar voice, and they believed because of it. Paul became that which he initially DESPISED because of his encounter with Jesus Christ, that alone is a mind-blowing testimony. The man who hunted and killed Christians became a Christian who was willing to be tortured and killed because he so strongly believed in the saving death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The apostles went from hiding in extreme fear to preaching the gospel in the face of deadly persecution - When Jesus died the apostles went into hiding. They were TERRIFIED that the Romans, the other Jews, would come after them next. Yet, after Jesus appears, they’re fearlessly preaching the gospel out in open crowds of THOUSANDS. It’s a dramatic switch of perspective. To go from quivering fear to such emboldened confidence, surely seeing Jesus standing risen before you would give you that kind of intrepidation. There is little else to explain how these men were suddenly ready to risk everything after being afraid to admit they ever knew Jesus just days before.

Apostles willing to die for Jesus - Now some people say the apostles stole the body of Jesus to convince people to turn to Christianity. The Bible says that lie was started by the Romans in order to discredit the apostles. However, almost all of the apolstles died for preaching the gospel, and all of them were severely persecuted. Why would they exchange their lives, their health, their reputation, their livelihoods, their comfort for something they knew was a lie? It simply makes no sense. The only logical conclusion is that they believed Jesus was the resurrected Christ.

Appearing to a woman first was a dumb move - The testimony of a woman would not be as respected as than of a man in those times. If Jesus’ resurrection was a ruse, the logical thing to do would be to claim he was seen by a male dignitary of noble standing, not a woman who had been previously possessed by demons - a social blemish (Luke 8:2). “Unflattering” facts like this, the cowardis of the apolstles, their initial skeptism, not recognizing Jesus right away, etc. lend to the credit of the account because it demonstrates an accurate retelling, not a fabrication that was crafted to deceptively sway the masses into false belief.

Vision, hallucination unlikely due to number of witnesses and circumstances - Jesus didn’t appear to two people and then go back to Heaven. He appeared to over 500 in all sorts of different locations. People who weren’t looking for him, people who didn’t believe it was Him until they had proof. Proof so certain that they were no longer afraid, they were filled with unextinguishable hope. We must also realize the historical context of the time in which it took place. It’s much easier to fabricate this kind of illusion today with the technology and way by which we pass on information. The time period in which the resurrection took place adds merit that should not be ignored. News was circulated in a manner that was unique to our present day process.

Non-Christian historians record the resurrection - Josephus, a renowned secular historian at the time of Jesus’ death, writes, “On the third day He appeared... restored to life.” It should be noted there are many who debate the reliability of Josephus’ words regarding the resurrection, however, many historians find this evidence to support the Bible’s claims.

The persecution of the early church - Under Nero’s reign the early church suffered some of the most violent persecution, not to mention the Jewish leaders who also sought to kill the Christians. The steadfast resolve of a Church who was in its infant stage is astounding. The only explanation is that they all genuinely believed in the resurrection. They had nothing to gain and everything to lose by preaching the gospel, yet they did so freely despite the cost. If Christianity was based on a lie, it should have been easy to crush it as it was beginning. The fact that the force of the entire Roman Empire wasn’t enough to sway their devotion is incredible. The whole of the known world tried to annihilate Christianity in the cradle but couldn’t.

It is the accumulation of evidence that begs cause for belief - It is not for one singular reason that we believe Jesus rose from the dead, but rather the combined evidence that demands an explanation that only the Bible provides. The proven accuracy of the Bible, the eyewitnesses details; the historical records of Jesus walking, eating, alive; the unexplainable absence in the tomb despite all efforts to seal it; the prophesies fulfilled; the change in people’s lives, the martyrs, the flourishing of the church in the face of persecution. It all points back to Jesus rising from the dead as the only reasonable explanation. The Bible consistently presents answers to questions the world has no answer for.

More comprehensive analysis and sources

Within these sources you’ll find more Biblical references, breaking down arguments and evidence, and quotes from some of the world’s finest minds and historians.

The Resurrection of Christ: The Best Proved Fact in History

Resurrection: No Doubt About It

Biblical and Extra-Biblical Evidences

Is the Resurrection True?

Atheist’s Look at the Resurrection

Still got questions/comments? Shoot me an ask! I don’t usually reply to comments on long posts, but I’d certainly love to talk!

[araitsume]

The Desire of Ages, pp. 788-794: Chapter (82) “Why Weepest Thou?”

This chapter is based on Matthew 28:1, 5-8; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-12; John 20:1-18.

The women who had stood by the cross of Christ waited and watched for the hours of the Sabbath to pass. On the first day of the week, very early, they made their way to the tomb, taking with them precious spices to anoint the Saviour's body. They did not think about His rising from the dead. The sun of their hope had set, and night had settled down on their hearts. As they walked, they recounted Christ's works of mercy and His words of comfort. But they remembered not His words, “I will see you again.” John 16:22.

Ignorant of what was even then taking place, they drew near the garden, saying as they went, “Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulcher?” They knew that they could not remove the stone, yet they kept on their way. And lo, the heavens were suddenly alight with glory that came not from the rising sun. The earth trembled. They saw that the great stone was rolled away. The grave was empty.

The women had not all come to the tomb from the same direction. Mary Magdalene was the first to reach the place; and upon seeing that the stone was removed, she hurried away to tell the disciples. Meanwhile the other women came up. A light was shining about the tomb, but the body of Jesus was not there. As they lingered about the place, suddenly they saw that they were not alone. A young man clothed in shining garments was sitting by the tomb. It was the angel who had rolled away the stone. He had taken the guise of humanity that he might not alarm these friends of Jesus. Yet about him the light of the heavenly glory was still shining, and the women were afraid. They turned to flee, but the angel's words stayed their steps. “Fear not ye,” he said; “for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead.” Again they look into the tomb, and again they hear the wonderful news. Another angel in human form is there, and he says, “Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how He spake unto you when He was yet in Galilee, saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.”

He is risen, He is risen! The women repeat the words again and again. No need now for the anointing spices. The Saviour is living, and not dead. They remember now that when speaking of His death He said that He would rise again. What a day is this to the world! Quickly the women departed from the sepulcher “with fear and great joy; and did run to bring His disciples word.”

Mary had not heard the good news. She went to Peter and John with the sorrowful message, “They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulcher, and we know not where they have laid Him.” The disciples hurried to the tomb, and found it as Mary had said. They saw the shroud and the napkin, but they did not find their Lord. Yet even here was testimony that He had risen. The graveclothes were not thrown heedlessly aside, but carefully folded, each in a place by itself. John “saw, and believed.” He did not yet understand the scripture that Christ must rise from the dead; but he now remembered the Saviour's words foretelling His resurrection.

It was Christ Himself who had placed those graveclothes with such care. When the mighty angel came down to the tomb, he was joined by another, who with his company had been keeping guard over the Lord's body. As the angel from heaven rolled away the stone, the other entered the tomb, and unbound the wrappings from the body of Jesus. But it was the Saviour's hand that folded each, and laid it in its place. In His sight who guides alike the star and the atom, there is nothing unimportant. Order and perfection are seen in all His work.

Mary had followed John and Peter to the tomb; when they returned to Jerusalem, she remained. As she looked into the empty tomb, grief filled her heart. Looking in, she saw the two angels, one at the head and the other at the foot where Jesus had lain. “Woman, why weepest thou?” they asked her. “Because they have taken away my Lord,” she answered, “and I know not where they have laid Him.”

Then she turned away, even from the angels, thinking that she must find someone who could tell her what had been done with the body of Jesus. Another voice addressed her, “Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou?” Through her tear-dimmed eyes, Mary saw the form of a man, and thinking that it was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if thou have borne Him hence, tell me where thou hast laid Him, and I will take Him away.” If this rich man's tomb was thought too honorable a burial place for Jesus, she herself would provide a place for Him. There was a grave that Christ's own voice had made vacant, the grave where Lazarus had lain. Might she not there find a burial place for her Lord? She felt that to care for His precious crucified body would be a great consolation to her in her grief.

But now in His own familiar voice Jesus said to her, “Mary.” Now she knew that it was not a stranger who was addressing her, and turning she saw before her the living Christ. In her joy she forgot that He had been crucified. Springing toward Him, as if to embrace His feet, she said, “Rabboni.” But Christ raised His hand, saying, Detain Me not; “for I am not yet ascended to My Father: but go to My brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto My Father, and your Father; and to My God, and your God.” And Mary went her way to the disciples with the joyful message.

Jesus refused to receive the homage of His people until He had the assurance that His sacrifice was accepted by the Father. He ascended to the heavenly courts, and from God Himself heard the assurance that His atonement for the sins of men had been ample, that through His blood all might gain eternal life. The Father ratified the covenant made with Christ, that He would receive repentant and obedient men, and would love them even as He loves His Son. Christ was to complete His work, and fulfill His pledge to “make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.” Isaiah 13:12. All power in heaven and on earth was given to the Prince of Life, and He returned to His followers in a world of sin, that He might impart to them of His power and glory.

While the Saviour was in God's presence, receiving gifts for His church, the disciples thought upon His empty tomb, and mourned and wept. The day that was a day of rejoicing to all heaven was to the disciples a day of uncertainty, confusion, and perplexity. Their unbelief in the testimony of the women gives evidence of how low their faith had sunk. The news of Christ's resurrection was so different from what they had anticipated that they could not believe it. It was too good to be true, they thought. They had heard so much of the doctrines and the so-called scientific theories of the Sadducees that the impression made on their minds in regard to the resurrection was vague. They scarcely knew what the resurrection from the dead could mean. They were unable to take in the great subject.

“Go your way,” the angels had said to the women, “tell His disciples and Peter that He goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see Him, as He said unto you.” These angels had been with Christ as guardian angels throughout His life on earth. They had witnessed His trial and crucifixion. They had heard His words to His disciples. This was shown by their message to the disciples, and should have convinced them of its truth. Such words could have come only from the messengers of their risen Lord.

“Tell His disciples and Peter,” the angels said. Since the death of Christ, Peter had been bowed down with remorse. His shameful denial of the Lord, and the Saviour's look of love and anguish, were ever before him. Of all the disciples he had suffered most bitterly. To him the assurance is given that his repentance is accepted and his sin forgiven. He is mentioned by name.

“Tell His disciples and Peter that He goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see Him.” All the disciples had forsaken Jesus, and the call to meet Him again includes them all. He has not cast them off. When Mary Magdalene told them she had seen the Lord, she repeated the call to the meeting in Galilee. And a third time the message was sent to them. After He had ascended to the Father, Jesus appeared to the other women, saying, “All hail. And they came and held Him by the feet, and worshiped Him. Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell My brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see Me.”

Christ's first work on earth after His resurrection was to convince His disciples of His undiminished love and tender regard for them. To give them proof that He was their living Saviour, that He had broken the fetters of the tomb, and could no longer be held by the enemy death; to reveal that He had the same heart of love as when He was with them as their beloved Teacher, He appeared to them again and again. He would draw the bonds of love still closer around them. Go tell My brethren, He said, that they meet Me in Galilee.

As they heard this appointment, so definitely given, the disciples began to think of Christ's words to them foretelling His resurrection. But even now they did not rejoice. They could not cast off their doubt and perplexity. Even when the women declared that they had seen the Lord, the disciples would not believe. They thought them under an illusion.

Trouble seemed crowding upon trouble. On the sixth day of the week they had seen their Master die; on the first day of the next week they found themselves deprived of His body, and they were accused of having stolen it away for the sake of deceiving the people. They despaired of ever correcting the false impressions that were gaining ground against them. They feared the enmity of the priests and the wrath of the people. They longed for the presence of Jesus, who had helped them in every perplexity.

Often they repeated the words, “We trusted that it had been He which should have redeemed Israel.” Lonely and sick at heart they remembered His words, “If they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?” Luke 24:21; 23:31. They met together in the upper chamber, and closed and fastened the doors, knowing that the fate of their beloved Teacher might at any time be theirs.

And all the time they might have been rejoicing in the knowledge of a risen Saviour. In the garden, Mary had stood weeping, when Jesus was close beside her. Her eyes were so blinded by tears that she did not discern Him. And the hearts of the disciples were so full of grief that they did not believe the angels’ message or the words of Christ Himself.

How many are still doing what these disciples did! How many echo Mary's despairing cry, “They have taken away the Lord, ... and we know not where they have laid Him”! To how many might the Saviour's words be spoken, “Why weepest thou? whom seekest thou?” He is close beside them, but their tear-blinded eyes do not discern Him. He speaks to them, but they do not understand.

Oh that the bowed head might be lifted, that the eyes might be opened to behold Him, that the ears might listen to His voice! “Go quickly, and tell His disciples that He is risen.” Bid them look not to Joseph's new tomb, that was closed with a great stone, and sealed with the Roman seal. Christ is not there. Look not to the empty sepulcher. Mourn not as those who are hopeless and helpless. Jesus lives, and because He lives, we shall live also. From grateful hearts, from lips touched with holy fire, let the glad song ring out, Christ is risen! He lives to make intercession for us. Grasp this hope, and it will hold the soul like a sure, tried anchor. Believe, and thou shalt see the glory of God.

[troybeecham]

Fr. Troy Beecham

Sermon, Proper 16 A, 2020

Matthew 16:13-20

“When Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. “

In this morning’s Gospel reading, Jesus continues his ministry in Gentile territory. As we saw in last Sunday’s Gospel reading, Jesus extended his ministry beyond the Jewish people, and beyond Jewish ideas of who was loved by God and was acceptable as a companion (literally, one with whom you share bread). Jesus was willing to face rejection from his own people in order to teach them, and to teach the Gentiles, that the love of God is not constrained by our ethnic, socio-economic, linguistic filters, or any other filter that we might use to decide who God loves. Jesus later summarizes this by saying, “Do not judge others, for the measure that you use will be used against you”, referring to the Day of Judgment, when God, the only true judge, will call each of us before his throne to account for our lives. St. Paul extends the idea later by saying that we should not even judge ourselves, because our systems of judgment are all irreparably flawed, mostly by self-interest.

This does not translate into a loose interpretation of Jesus saying that all beliefs and behaviors are “ok” with God simply because God loves us where we are when we find him. The opposite is true; Jesus always said to a sinner who had either been rescued by him or who became his disciple “Go and sin no more”. Conversion of life is not a requirement of salvation. Not at all. Salvation is the free gift of God to all who place their trust in him. Conversion of life is, however, the sure sign that we have indeed become vessels of the Holy Spirit of God, who produces in us the “fruits of repentance”, which are love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

The teaching of Jesus that God loved all people was difficult for the Jewish religious leaders of the day, and for most Jewish folks, including his disciples, who were only interested in the salvation of the Jewish people. That Jesus regularly required his disciples to travel with him outside of Jewish territory and to become companions of unclean Gentiles was a tremendous strain upon their fidelity to him, even as much as they were in awe of him and the power of God at work in him. But Jesus is unrelenting in his requirement that all who would be his disciples must grow to love as greatly as he loves, and so in this Gospel reading, Jesus takes his disciples to a true ‘den of iniquity’, to the pagan Roman city of Caesarea Philippi.

Caesarea Philippi was a regional Roman trading hub, located along major trade routes that connected sea trade from Caesarea Maritima to the inland cities across the region. One of the distinguishing physical features of the city was a massive grotto and cave system, which every ancient culture considered to be the gateway to the underworld, literally called the Gates of Hades (Hell). In earlier eras, when that region was occupied by the Canaanites and the Syro-Phoenicians, there was a shrine dedicated to Baal, a deity who demanded human sacrifice, especially the ritual murder of infants and children. After the conquest of Alexander the Great, the shrine was rededicated to the Greco-Roman fertility deity Pan (literally, ‘the one who is all’). The religion of Pan was primarily a religion of fertility, a religion that exalted sex, power, and wealth, and that included ritual orgies as worship of the deity. For faithful Jews, the association of the Gates of Hell with pagan, Gentile religion was an easy one.

In much the same way, it is easy for any of us to judge other peoples as being unclean, unworthy of God’s love, and worthy of destruction. Every people, every nation, every political party, every religion thrives, on some level, on the judgment of others ‘not like us’ and ‘dangerous to our way of life’. Human history is replete with examples of human wickedness perpetrated ‘for the good’ because of our human systems judgment. It is for this reason that Jesus is so clear that we must not judge each other because only God can judge. And the Day of Judgment is still on its way.

The entire history of the Jewish people as recorded in the Old Testament is the story of the faithfulness of God and of the Jewish people struggling to live as the covenant people of God, living according to the Torah rather than falling into living according to the beliefs and practices of the Gentile nations around them. The Prophets declared that the conquest of Israel and Judea some 600 years before the time of Jesus was because the Jewish people had repeatedly turned away from God to the worship of pagan deities and living lives that did not give witness to the covenant of God. The fact that Rome had conquered the Jews again brought up for them painful memories and even more painful questions about why had God seemed to abandoned them, again, and what would it take from them for God to save them from their oppressors. The summation of those questions had crystalized into expectations for the coming of the Messiah, the divinely anointed king and military leader who would drive out their enemies, restore their people’s freedom, and leave them unencumbered in their worship of God. As people living under occupation, it had become intensely important that the Jewish people lived visibly different lives from the Gentiles. Faithfulness to the Law and the Prophets had taken on an urgent intensity for the Jewish people.

With such an urgent, intense desire for redemption, the most important question for Jews during the time of Jesus was how to identify the Messiah. Jesus had recently warned his disciples about religious leaders who can foretell the weather but “cannot interpret the signs of the times”, and how they influence others with their flawed systems of judgment, leading them astray. This is the pressure cooker context of Jesus asking his disciples who the people, and who they, said he was. The Greek text shows that when Jesus asks the disciples, "Who do you say that I am?", the verb is in the imperfect, noting a repeated action. Jesus continually asks and continues to this day to ask: “Who do you say that I am?” The answers provided by the disciples are interesting. The people, which seems to mean Jew and Gentile alike, are unclear, but they are certain that at the least he is a prophet, a miracle worker. And so many people today, even many who call themselves Christians, are happy to consider Jesus a prophet, a miracle worker, a great teacher. But Jesus is clear that such simple ‘belief’ is not enough because it falls utterly short of the staggering Truth: Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God.

The implications for calling Jesus the Messiah are deep, and conflicted. In the Old Testament, kings and prophets, and even the High Priest, were all anointed when they assumed their office. The Hebrew word for ‘anointed’ is Messiah. Each of these offices were in their own small way individual parts of a whole that was expected of the true Messiah who would come at the end of time and usher in the Day of Judgment. So when Simon declares that Jesus is that very Messiah, and the Son of God, he is both giving words to the revelation of God and to the complicated hopes of his people. Such a revelation must surely be shouted from the rooftops! People have often wondered why Jesus then says, “Tell no one that I am the Messiah, the Son of God.” This was the greatest revelation in human history! This was the news that the Jewish people so desperately wanted to hear! Why keep it quiet?!?

Jesus commands them to tell no one because of their complicated ideas and hopes about who the Messiah is and who God is. Right up until the crucifixion of Jesus, the disciples were all excited about Jesus being the Messiah. Their hearts and minds were filled with generations of hope that inevitably required the deaths of their enemies and ended in their investiture with power and authority. How many times did Jesus rebuke his disciples for arguing who would be the greatest in the kingdom of God? For them, and, if we’re honest, for we ourselves, to say that God was on their side meant that God was going to destroy all the people who they hated, for certainly God shares all of our judgments against our enemies! Surely God justifies all of our violence because we are on the side of justice!

The Jewish people of the 1st century, as equally as we today, had very earthly hopes: they all wanted an end to the crushing oppression of the Roman Empire. Each internal group understood this happening in different ways, but ultimately they agreed that it was for the same reason. The long-expected Messiah was destined to overthrow Rome and put them on the top of the smoking pile of rubble, because rubble is always the only thing left when humans make war against each other. As N.T. Wright puts it, no first century Jew would have said: "I want the Messiah to come, die in a humiliating fashion, be resurrected and then promise us that if we follow him, we will die and then enter into a non-earthly eternity with God that will include lots of non-Jews.", and "Everyone knew that a crucified Messiah was a failed Messiah." The Messiah was to bring about the new reign of God on earth, not die as a victim of the intersection of empire and temple.

But that is the Messiah that God had intended all along, as Jesus so patiently tried to teach them. And the disciples were left with crushed hopes and dreams, and their trust in God broken. How often do we experience the same desolation when God fails to act in ways that we expect? And even knowing this, Jesus says to the disciples, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” I want to avoid the dispute about papal authority as much as I can do. The Greek text “I will give you” is in the plural, meaning that Jesus gives to all of the apostles the authority to bind and loose, not Peter alone. So, what may we make of this contentious statement of Jesus?

In rabbinic traditions, the use of the terms “bind” and “loose”, or “oblige” and “permit”, have to do with the authority of the leader of the community to declare what is permissible or not in the believing community. Jesus confers authority to Peter and to all the Apostles to modify the still primarily Jewish Christian community's stance toward the Law, thus opening the way for Gentiles to be considered full members of the Church. At the time when Jesus commands them to “Tell no one”, such inclusion was still not accepted or understood by the disciples. That would only come later, after the Resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit. Matthew is here writing in retrospect to support the Apostle’s authority to declare that eating with Gentiles, and by extension other non-observance of the Law, is acceptable where it is in accordance with the teaching, example, and commandments of Jesus to love as greatly as he loved. Even then, the matter was not settled for the Jewish disciples of Jesus, authority of the apostles or not.

This came to the fore in the dispute over Peter's decision to visit to the Gentile Cornelius and to eat non-kosher, unclean food, and then to baptize him and his entire family without requiring first that they become Jewish. The report in Acts 11:2b-3: “the circumcised believers criticized [Peter], saying, ‘Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?’” Peter's initial response is predicated on his authority, given by Jesus, to determine that the Law was no longer binding on either Jewish or Gentile Christians. The matter was clearly not settled, as we see from the convening of the Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15, c. 45 CE). In the Acts account, Peter continues to speak from the position of his authority conferred by Jesus, even though he was once rebuked by Paul for temporarily giving in to the pressure of those who still believed that the Mosaic Law was binding. Although the ultimate decision of the Council still required abstention from blood, from strangled animals and from food sacrificed to idols, within a few generations all requirements from the Mosaic Law were abandoned.

What are we to make of these things in our own times, my friends? What are the new laws that we have created in our own image to determine who is acceptable and who is deplorable, who has privilege and who’s privilege must be burned down? How are our modern equivalents: critical theory, intersectional theory, Marxist/socialist/fascist philosophy, corporate capitalism, and so many others; how are these any different from the Law that the Early Church struggled to nuance, adapt, or reject? Who has the authority to say which of these are obliged and permitted? Are we any different from the disciples, still so filled with our ideas of justice and humanity, that Jesus tells us to not own him as the Messiah? What parts of our lives have still to be sanctified before our claims to be disciples of Jesus are worthwhile? How much does our proclamation that Jesus is the Son of God still reflect the vanity of human judgment? Who, looking at the Church, looking at me or you, can see anything of the Resurrected Savior who loves us all without judgment? These are weighty and essential questions for us to ask of ourselves. May God enlighten the eyes of our hearts that we might see the Truth and be transformed by him that we might be bearers of that Truth, who is Jesus.

Grant, O merciful God, that your Church, being gathered together in unity by your Holy Spirit, may show forth your power among all peoples, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

[pamphletstoinspire]

The adventures of Mary Magdalene after Jesus’ resurrection

While we do not know for certain what happened, here are a few traditions passed down over the centuries.

The last time we see Mary Magdalene in the Bible, Jesus says to her, “[G]o to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God'” (John 20:17).

She did exactly that and proclaimed to them, “I have seen the Lord!” After that, the rest of the Bible is silent in regards to where she went and what she did.

However, there are varying traditions that give some possibilities as to where she went after Jesus’ resurrection.

The medieval text known as the Golden Legend paints Mary Magdalene as a preacher. For example, it gives one story where Mary Magdalene teaches some pagans about Jesus Christ.

When blessed Mary Magdalene saw the people gathering at the shrine to offer sacrifice to the idols, she came forward, her manner calm and her face serene, and with well-chosen words called them away from the cult of idols and preached Christ fervidly to them.

After a few adventures preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Golden Legend claims that she went into solitude for the rest of her life.

At this time blessed Mary Magdalene, wishing to devote herself to heavenly contemplation, retired to an empty wilderness, and lived unknown for thirty years in a place made ready by the hands of angels.

According to this account, she died after receiving Holy Communion from a priest friend of hers who lived nearby.

On the other hand, the Catholic Encyclopedia relates a few differing stories.

The Greek Church maintains that the saint retired to Ephesus with the Blessed Virgin and there died, that her relics were transferred to Constantinople in 886 and are there preserved. Gregory of Tours supports the statement that she went to Ephesus.

There is even a tradition that Mary Magdalene went to France. According to AtlasObscura, “When Mary Magdalene fled the Holy Land, legend says she took refuge in a cave [near the Sainte-Baume mountains in southern France]. This mountaintop cave is now a hidden monastery called the Sanctuary of Mary Magdalene.”

Some of her relics are reportedly located in a church in Aix-en-Provence, France, near where she was a hermit for 30 years.

It is uncertain which of these legends, if any, is true, but whatever the case might have been, Mary Magdalene likely had a privileged place in the early Church for her personal encounter with the risen Lord.

By: Philip Kosloski

Why Mary Magdalene can help us receive Communion with greater love

"This woman has a lot to teach us about the kind of reverence and love we should have in the presence of Jesus Christ."

A year ago, Pope Francis raised to a liturgical feast the memorial of St. Mary Magdalene, July 22. What’s so special about Mary Magdalene and how can she help us know Jesus better?

We asked Fr. Sean Davidson, a member of the Missionaries of the Most Holy Eucharist, who has lived in the shadow of the Basilica of St. Mary Magdalene in Provence and is the author of Saint Mary Magdalene: Prophetess of Eucharistic Love.

Kathryn Jean Lopez: How is Mary Magdalene “Prophetess of Eucharistic Love”? What should the average Catholic’s relationship to her be? Why should they even have one?

Fr. Sean Davidson: In the book I presented her as one who adores and loves Christ most ardently. Since we meet the very same Christ in the mystery of the Eucharist, she is a model for us, teaching us how to relate to Him in a manner that is pleasing to Him. I am personally very fond of the writings of St. Peter-Julian Eymard, the great apostle of Eucharistic Adoration, who always tried to use the Gospel encounters as examples showing us how to encounter the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament today.

This is the way I like to ponder the Scriptures. The biblical texts which the Catholic tradition, especially the Provençal tradition, associated with St. Mary Magdalene are among the best we can use for inspiration while spending time with the Lord.

At this point, it is probably helpful to mention that the Provençal tradition identifies Mary Magdalene with the sinful woman who wept at Christ’s feet in chapter seven of the Gospel of Luke, as well as with the sister of Martha and Lazarus. This may come as a surprise to many today, especially since the contemporary liturgy of the Church no longer makes that association. (The Tridentine liturgy still adheres to the traditional identification.) I am certainly no biblical scholar, but in the book, I used the teachings of French exegete, Fr. Andre Feuillet, to show that this tradition is perfectly coherent with the Gospels, even if no Catholic is obliged to accept it today. The biblical debate about her identity is still open.

If the traditional identification is correct, then this woman has a lot to teach us about the kind of reverence and love we should have in the presence of Jesus Christ. If love can be measured by the degree of attentiveness to the other, then her love for Christ is perfect. We would do well to invoke her assistance as we try to be attentive to Him in Holy Communion and Eucharistic Adoration. In addition to this, there is something even more mysterious that lies hidden deep within these texts. What stood out for me when I meditated upon these Gospel scenes was that there is a strong prophetic dimension to Mary Magdalene’s vocation. She is a prophetess who speaks by means of love. A prophet is one through whom the Holy Spirit communicates; at times by means of words, at times by means of gestures. A prophet will often foretell an impending event of great significance; and at times, a prophet will rebuke sinful behavior, exposing to the world how the Lord has been offended. Without going into it in great detail, we can see that Magdalene does both of these things. In the first anointing scene, her gestures of love had been inspired so as to highlight the fact that the Pharisee had neglected to show Jesus the signs of honor he was due. Jesus’ words subsequently interpreted the meaning of her prophetic gesture. (Luke 7:44-46) In the second anointing scene, just before the Passion, her gestures of love foretell the arrival of Christ’s salvific death. Again, the words of Jesus interpret the gesture. (Mark 9:4) She is a prophetess who silently communicates by means of the expression of her love.

After the Resurrection, she will give words to her prophesying, foretelling the mystery of Christ’s ascension to the Father. (John 20:17) In my opinion, she is the prototype of prophetic women in the Church. There is a reason why women like St. Teresa of Avila were so influenced by the traditional image of St. Magdalene. St. Thomas Aquinas makes a rather astonishing statement about her dignity: “Notice the three privileges given to Mary Magdalene. First, she had the privilege of being a prophet because she was worthy enough to see the angels, for a prophet is an intermediary between angels and the people. Secondly, she had the dignity or rank of an angel insofar as she looked upon Christ, on whom the angels desire to look. Thirdly, she had the office of an apostle; indeed, she was an apostle to the apostles insofar as it was her task to announce our Lord’s resurrection to the disciples.”

Lopez: What long-term impact has serving at the Basilica of St. Mary Magdalene in Provence, France, had on your life?

Fr. Davidson: It was a time of great importance for me. Not only did I learn from Magdalene about love for Christ, I also recall experiencing something of the joy of the Resurrection during that time. It was still dark when Mary Magdalene approached the tomb on Easter Sunday morning, yet Christ was already risen. The world may be filled with darkness today, but with her help, I came to experience the joy of having the same Risen Lord still with us in the Blessed Sacrament. In every one of our churches, we can bathe in the consoling spiritual light emanating from Christ’s Risen Body. No darkness in this world, or in our lives, can ever overcome this Eucharistic light. From his tabernacle, we can almost hear Christ whisper to our weary souls: “In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

BY: Kathryn Jean Lopez

From: www,pamphletstoinspire.com

[one-ishmael]

Chapter 7: The Chapel

Let’s move on to some capital-T Theology in this next run of chapters in Moby-Dick; or, the Whale! I’ll say ahead of time that I am, at best, an amateur theologian, having taken only a few classes on the subject in college, and none of them even remotely relating to 19th century Christianity.

But, having been raised in a denomination that encourages scholarship of the Bible, following @benito-cereno for many years on this site, and listening to his wonderful podcast @apocrypals, I know a thing or three about the following of ol’ Oily Josh.

SUMMARY: Ishmael returns to the inn after his morning perambulations, then leaves again to visit the famous Whaleman’s Chapel of New Bedford. The weather has turned bad, sleeting heavily, but he makes it there, crusted over in ice. The chapel is already half full of various worshipers, each sitting apart and silently in their grief, gazing at the memorial tablets on the wally behind the pulpit. Queequeg is there, but because he can’t read he is unaffected by the gravity of the scene.

So, we transition ever so smoothly from Ishmael extolling the merits of the whale fishery, rhapsodizing about how it has made New Bedford a paradise on earth when it was previously a blasted waste, straight into this, a contemplation of the cost of that wealth. Not only the lives lost in gaining it, but the grief of those left behind, the shipmates and relatives who now suffer eternal grief.

Ishmael explains that the deaths of whalemen in the process of their craft is especially harsh, as their bodies are usually unrecoverable. A boat is simply carried off over the horizon, and everyone on it is accounted as dead. A man is dragged beneath the waves after not cutting a rope soon enough, never to be seen again. He goes overboard during a squall, and only noticed in the morning’s accounting.

Thus, the grief is more keenly felt by those in this particular chapel. Which is a real place, it turns out, but is called the Seaman’s Bethel and not the Whaleman’s Chapel. It is preserved exactly as it is described in this book, and you can go there, in New Bedford, and gaze at those tablets yourself, if you so wish.

Not knowing where your loved one’s body ended up is tragic, because how will you find them when the resurrection comes? Indeed, Ishmael posits that this is the reason the grief is all the deeper and intractable in this place. It undermines the very faith of the grievers, how can they believe in Eternal Life if the bodies of their beloved lay at the bottom of some ocean, thousands of miles away?

This is referring to the concept of Jesus returning to grant eternal life to all who have died. The idea being that when you die, you don’t just go to heaven immediately, but have to stay dead for a while, until Jesus returns to Earth to raise the righteous dead and bring them with him up into paradise. So the placement of bodies after death becomes a very important thing, in Christianity.

There’s a whole Thing about what these resurrected dead will be like, and be able to do, which is buck-fucking-wild, but I’m not gonna get into that here. Check out episode 5 of the aforementioned podcast, Apocrypals, for more info on all that.

Getting back to the text, I really didn’t understand this bit at all the first time I read it, but now it makes more sense, being aware of the whole second-coming-resurrection thing. Ishmael gets more philosophical here, wondering why people care so much about where the bodies lay, or why people care about their loved ones being dead at all! After all, they’ll be back as immortal spirits in no time. They’re not even really dead, just resting until the second coming.

And yet, there is grief. There is sorrow eternal, over the placeless dead. There is fear over the idea of resurrection itself. Ishmael seems to be picking at a contradiction here, that people don’t really believe in these things. Or, that the faith itself only sustains itself by offering hope to those in the depths of despair. You may say, taking advantage of those who are desperate for a shimmer of hope.

But Faith, like a jackal, feeds among the tombs, and even from these dead doubts she gathers her most vital hope.

Then, Ishmael gets really philosophical, right in the last paragraph.

After contemplating the tablets seemingly foretelling his own death in his forthcoming voyage, he decides to take the whole thing in stride. Sure, maybe he’ll die in some ignominious way in some random accident, but so what? He’s just getting it over with, getting a promotion to an immortal spirit, shedding his earthly form early.

Methinks we have hugely mistaken this matter of Life and Death. Methinks that what they call my shadow here on earth is my true substance. Methinks that in looking at things spiritual, we are too much like oysters observing the sun through the water, and thinking that thick water the thinnest of air. Methinks my body is but the lees of my better being. In fact take my body who will, take it I say, it is not me. And therefore three cheers for Nantucket; and come a stove boat and stove body when they will, for stave my soul, Jove himself cannot.

So, what we see as the world is not necessarily the truth of it. Ishmael is going full Descartes here, saying that the only thing you can know for sure is that you exist. The true nature of the world is not revealed to us by appearances.

That is definitely gonna show up a lot in this book, as an ongoing theme. The world that presents itself to our eyes, at a glance, is not even a fraction of the whole story when it comes to whales. Why should it be so for anything else? What appears to be the important things in life, the physical things, are just impermanent shadows, compared to the eternal nature of the soul!

Sounds an awful lot like Gnosticism to me, frankly. Melville was a bit of a heretic! Not that he ever claimed not to be. Gnosticism being the off-shoot of christianity, going way back to the very early days, which posits that the physical world was made by an evil being called the Demiurge and exists only to corrupt the pure, spiritual essence of mankind.

But, really, Melville isn’t being specific enough to be slotted into any particular theology or philosophy. The whole point is that knowledge is impossible. You can try and try, but to really get to the true truth? The real reality? It is completely unknowable whether you’ve ever reached it. 

I warned you it was gonna be a big one, for such a short chapter. And this isn’t even getting into all the meaning I could wring out of that line about faith being like a jackal. I’ve basically made that quote the basis for this indie game project I’ve been working on, and even used it as a prospective name!

The deep stuff in this book comes out of nowhere, sometimes. One chapter Ishmael is opining about how pretty the girls of New Bedford are in the spring, and the next he’s saying it’s okay if he dies because this physical world is but an illusion. Go figure!

As always, you can follow along with the full text of the book FOR FREE on Gutenberg dot org. Or, there are many free or very cheap editions available on amazon dot com. And if you really want to get fancy, check out the illustrated edition by one Evan Dahm, the author of the webcomics Rice Boy and Vattu.

Until next time, shipmates!

[calebyap]

Mark’s Gospel: God’s Own Kingdom

Kingdom Introduction: Good News Arrives

The arrival of a new kingdom: “repent and believe the gospel”. This man Jesus has great authority over spirits, illness, including leprosy, and most shockingly in Mk2, forgive sins (2:10). This is the reason why He calls sinners to come to Him (2:17). 3 rounds of questions surround His followers in ch2: offensive inclusivity, true nature of fasting, and who is Lord of the Sabbath. Of the crowd, He calls 12 to be with Him (3:13-15), and the contention of whose Spirit is this new kingdom, thus introducing the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit (3:29), which also separates His true family from His earthly family that doesn’t get Him (3:34-35).

Kingdom Dawing: News Spreads, Creeping Outward

Jesus’ teaching is focused on the parables, which instruct about the kingdom of heaven (4:11) and He urges His disciples to truly hear them (4:24-25). The kingdom parables are of seed growing to harvest, and like a small mustard seed. These are reinforced by more miracles over the sea, and over the demoniac, over deathly illness, and even discharged from His garments. The response to this is unbelief (6:6) in Nazareth, which prompts Him to send out His disciples out in their first assignment (6:7), alerting the ears of King Herod (6:14) and leading to John the Baptist’s death. Jesus goes away to a “desolate place” (6:31) and there, provides for the five thousand and walks on the water to comfort His disciples. More confrontations with the Pharisees follow as He exposes their hearts (7:21) and outward hypocrisy, and expands His outreach to the Gentiles like the Syrophenician woman. Bread and leaven describe the intensifying conflict between Him and the Pharisees and Herod (8:14), as questions swirl about seeing clearly (8:23) the nature of His identity and divinity (8:29).

Kingdom Wrestling: Understanding The Roman Cross And Jewish Resurrection

Only at this point does Jesus talk about the coming Cross and resurrection (8:31) and what it means for His followers. [Blind man at Bethsaida sees clearly but in stages] More revelations follow as He is transfigured before the inner circle of three (9:2) and another healing which involves a plea for faith takes place. Jesus begins to teach about faith in Him (9:23-24) as the second prediction of the Cross and resurrection occurs, despite them not understanding. Kingdom humility is taught to His disciples as another response (9:35), and personal holiness is another (9:42-43). More confrontations with the Pharisees take place on the topic of marriage and divorce, children in the kingdom of God, wealth and possessions — and the cross and resurrection are foretold again. This time, service is mandated for those who be great, as Jesus’ own death shows us (10:45). Here Blind Bartimaeus identifies Jesus asthe Son of David (10:48), just before Jesus enters Jerusalem (ch11).

Kingdom Coming: Jerusalem’s King Appears

The triumphal entry follows (11:9), and the fig tree accounts (11:12-14 and 20-25) are important bookends about the nature of faith and forgiveness, which also stress for us the authority of Jesus (11:28). More teaching follows in the parable of tenants, paying taxes to Caesar, the resurrection and the great commandment — all which stress the character and requirements of God. Over this, Jesus foretells the destruction of the temple, and the signs of the end, which are confirmed by the eternal words of Jesus (13:31). This authoritative teaching is too much for the chief priests and scribes, who plot to kill Him and Judas is enlisted to betray Him.

Kingdom Crushed: Betrayed, Battered And Buried

Poignantly, He is anointed for burial at Bethany. (14:8). The Passover is the final meal of the fellowship, and laced with betrayal (14:21), as He institutes the Lord’s Supper, or the sign of the new kingdom (14:25). Betrayal is the theme of the Gethsemane scene (14:42). At His Jewish trial, His crime is found as blasphemy when He affirms His authority (14:62), and His Roman trial, the King of Jews is traded up for the insurrection its Barrabas as Mark records His royalty in great irony (15:16-20, 26, 32). Jesus is forsaken by God (15:34) and dies. We are told Joseph, a Sanhedrin member was seeking the kingdom of God and buried Jesus (15:43).

Kinqgdom Shock: Hope Beyond Belief

After His death, the resurrection is abrupt, shocking and scant of details, and full of fear and astonishment (16:8). The testimony of the witnesses is full of disbelief (16:12, 14). His followers are commissioned to go out to all creation (16:15), and He ascends in power and glory as His followers declare His message everywhere.

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

A Third Time Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection

32 They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them; they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them what was to happen to him, 33 saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death; then they will hand him over to the Gentiles; 34 they will mock him, and spit upon him, and flog him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise again.”

The Request of James and John

35 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” 36 And he said to them, “What is it you want me to do for you?” 37 And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” 38 But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” 39 They replied, “We are able.” Then Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; 40 but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”

41 When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. 42 So Jesus called them and said to them, “You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. 43 But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

The Healing of Blind Bartimaeus

46 They came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 Jesus stood still and said, “Call him here.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart; get up, he is calling you.” 50 So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. 51 Then Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “My teacher, let me see again.” 52 Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way. — Mark 10:32-52 | New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. All rights reserved. Cross References: Isaiah 53:3; Matthew 2:23; Matthew 3:6; Matthew 4:18; Matthew 4:21; Matthew 5:40; Matthew 8:3; Matthew 9:2; Matthew 9:22; Matthew 9:27; Matthew 13:11; Matthew 16:21; Matthew 19:28; Matthew 20:17; Matthew 20:20; Matthew 20:22; Matthew 20:24-25; Matthew 20:28; Matthew 23:7-8; Matthew 23:11; Matthew 26:67; Mark 1:27; Mark 8:31; Mark 9:35; Mark 10:13; Luke 18:35; Luke 19:1; Luke 22:25; John 20:16; Acts 1:7; Acts 12:2; Revelation 1:9

[spiritsoulandbody]

#DailyDevotion It's The Good News Charlie Brown!

#DailyDevotion It's The Good News Charlie Brown! 1 Cor. 15:1-4 5My fellow Christians, I am telling you the good news I brought you and you accepted. 2You stand in it and are saved by it if you cling to the words I used in telling it to you —- unless you were trifling when you believed. 3I brought you what I received — something very important — that Christ died for our sins as the Scriptures said He would, 4He was buried, and He rose on the third day as the Scriptures said He would. Paul is summing up the message of the Gospel which is the power to convert heart, change lives and give eternal life. This Good News of Jesus Christ of Nazareth has us stand in it and saved by if you continue in the words of St. Paul, i.e. rest of the Word of God as well. I don't know why anyone would trifle about their faith in Paul's day and time but apparently some did. Perhaps persecution hadn't reached them yet concerning the faith. Now Paul had brought to him and to us something very important. He had received it from the LORD Jesus Christ himself on the road to Damascus and for a number of years in the Arabian wilderness. It is what Paul handed to them and now to us. Christ died for our sins as the Scriptures said he would. So the LORD said in Gen. 3:15, “He will crush your head, and you will bruise His heel.” Isaac's sacrifice in Genesis foretold it. The Passover Lamb, the atonement sacrifices, the scapegoat, and sin offerings of the Torah all foretell Jesus' ultimate sacrifice for sins. The Suffering Servant Songs of Isaiah are very explicit concerning Jesus' suffering and death and its purpose. He says in Isaiah 53, “4Surely He has taken on Himself our suffering and carried our sorrows, but we observed that God had stricken, smitten, and afflicted Him. 5And certainly He was pierced for our transgressions and crushed for our sins; By His punishment, we were saved and by His wounds we were healed. 6We have all gone astray like sheep. Every one of us has turned to go his own way, and the LORD has punished Him for the sins of us all. He was oppressed and mistreated without opening His mouth.” Again he says, “...8Who in His time even considered that He was cut off from the land of the living and struck down for His people's sins?” Again he writes, “By His experience My righteous Servant justifies many by taking on Himself the heavy load of their guilt.” That he was buried, Isaiah also says in the same, “9They assigned Him a grave with criminals and with a rich man in His death, though He hadn't done any crime or said anything deceitful.” That he would rise from the dead Isaiah 53 also says, “10...He will see those born to Him and will enjoy a long life.” Again he says, “12Because of this I will give Him many people as His share; and He will divide the spoil with the mighty because He pours out His life in death, lets Himself be counted with sinners, while He takes on Himself the sins of many people and intercedes for the wrongdoers.” Isaac being sacrificed and saved on third day foretold Jesus' resurrection on the third day. Jonah's rest in the belly of the big fish and vomited out on the third day foretold as Jesus tells us. This is the core of the Good News, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus' suffering and death won for you forgiveness of sins and the wiping away of your guilt. His resurrection from the dead is the promise of the resurrection to eternal life for all who put their trust in him. Heavenly Father, always give us this good news so we may believe and receive the benefits of Christ's suffering, death and resurrection. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Read the full article

[elohim61]

St. Mark 10:32–45

A Third Time Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection

They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them; they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them what was to happen to him, saying, ‘See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death; then they will hand him over to the Gentiles; they will mock him, and spit upon him, and flog him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise again.’

[dfroza]

“Listen now, to the voice of the Holy Spirit through what the psalmist wrote:”

Today’s reading of the Scriptures from the New Testament is the 3rd chapter of the book of Hebrews:

So all of you who are holy partners in a heavenly calling, let’s turn our attention to Jesus, the Emissary of God and High Priest, who brought us the faith we profess; and compare Him to Moses, who also brought words from God. Both of them were faithful to their missions, to the One who called them. But we value Jesus more than Moses, in the same way that we value a builder more than the house he builds. Every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God. Moses brought healing and redemption to his people as a faithful servant in God’s house, and he was a witness to the things that would be spoken later. But Jesus the Anointed was faithful as a Son of that house. (We become that house, if we’re able to hold on to the confident hope we have in God until the end.)

Listen now, to the voice of the Holy Spirit through what the psalmist wrote:

Today, if you listen to His voice,

Don’t harden your hearts the way they did

in the bitter uprising at Meribah

Where your ancestors tested Me

though they had seen My marvelous power.

For the 40 years they traveled on

to the land that I had promised them,

That generation broke My heart.

Grieving and angry, I said, “Their hearts are unfaithful;

they don’t know what I want from them.”

That is why I swore in anger

they would never enter salvation’s rest.

Brothers and sisters, pay close attention so you won’t develop an evil and unbelieving heart that causes you to abandon the living God. Encourage each other every day—for as long as we can still say “today”—so none of you let the deceitfulness of sin harden your hearts. For we have become partners with the Anointed One—if we can just hold on to our confidence until the end.

Look at the lines from the psalm again:

Today, if you listen to His voice,

Don’t harden your hearts the way they did

in the bitter uprising at Meribah.

Now who, exactly, was God talking to then? Who heard and rebelled? Wasn’t it all of those whom Moses led out of Egypt? And who made God angry for an entire generation? Wasn’t it those who sinned against Him, those whose bodies are still buried in the wilderness, the site of that uprising? It was those disobedient ones who God swore would never enter into salvation’s rest. And we can see that they couldn’t enter because they did not believe.

The Book of Hebrews, Chapter 3 (The Voice)

Today’s paired chapter of the Testaments is the 43rd chapter of the book of Jeremiah where Jeremiah was falsely accused of lying:

When Jeremiah finished giving the people this answer from the Eternal their God—and he did tell them everything that is recorded here, just as he promised— Azariah (son of Hoshaiah) and Johanan (son of Kareah) and all the other overconfident men in that group spoke.

Leaders (to Jeremiah): These words are lies! The Eternal our God didn’t tell you to say, “Do not go to Egypt and settle there.” These are not His words at all. They are the words of Baruch (son of Neriah), your secretary. He is trying to turn you against us so we will be handed over to the Chaldeans, when they come back. If we listen to his counsel, we will be killed or taken into exile in Babylon.

So Johanan (son of Kareah), all the other army leaders, and all the people refused to obey the Eternal’s command to remain in Judah. So Johanan (son of Kareah) and the other army officers gathered up all the Judeans who had survived and returned to Judah from the countries they fled to. This vast company of refugees included the men, women, children, and daughters of the royal family and everyone else who Nebuzaradan, captain of the imperial guard, had left in the care of Gedaliah (son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan). Jeremiah the prophet and Baruch (son of Neriah) were also forced to join the company leaving Judah for Egypt. And so it was that this vast company of Judeans entered the land of Egypt in disobedience to the voice of the Eternal. They traveled as far as the northern city of Tahpanhes.

While they were in Tahpanhes, the message of the Eternal came to Jeremiah.

Eternal One: While everyone from Judah is watching, pick up some large rocks and then bury them in the clay of the brick pavement at the entrance of Pharaoh’s palace in Tahpanhes. Once you’ve done this, give the people this message from the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies and God of Israel: “I am sending My servant Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, to Egypt. I will set his throne over the exact spot where I’ve hidden these stones, and he will spread his royal canopy over this exact spot. He is coming to attack Egypt, and he will bring death to those destined to die, captivity to those destined to be captive, and war to those destined to die in battle. I will start a fire, and then he will burn the temples of Egypt’s so-called gods. He will take these idols back to Babylon. He will pick through the land of Egypt as easily as a shepherd picks clean his robe. And once he’s finished, he will return home unharmed. He will tear down the obelisks of Egypt in the temple of the sun. Yes, he will burn down the temples of Egypt’s gods.

The Book of Jeremiah, Chapter 43 (The Voice)

A link to my personal reading of the Scriptures for Saturday, September 25 of 2021 with a paired chapter from each Testament of the Bible along with Today’s Proverbs and Psalms

A post by John Parsons that looks to the “end”:

Shalom friends. Our Lord foretold that in the "end of days" there would be perilous times -- moral, political, ethnic, and spiritual chaos throughout the world, "as it was in the days of Noah." Of Noah's generation the Torah says: "The LORD saw that the wickedness of humanity was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually, so that it grieved the LORD to his heart" (Gen. 6:5-6). Indeed, Paul's description of the character of people before the time of the end is chillingly accurate of our present generation (see 2 Tim. 3:1-7).

With the increasing rise of anarchy and lawlessness throughout the nations, the Scriptures further foretell the rise of a governmental system that would oppress and subjugate the entire world, using surveillance systems and devices to control every aspect of life, so that no one would be able to buy or sell without being tagged as an compliant member of the system. Once a global (cashless) currency system has been established, the prophesied "man of sin" would then arise to embody the presence of Satan on the earth, in mimicry of the advent of the true Messiah.

At first this "man of sin" (איש החטא) will seem to be a man of peace but after his reign is secured, he will reveal his malice by persecuting those who still believe in the one true God, causing great tribulation, especially for the Jewish people. The rise of this "Messiah of Evil" or the "anti-Christ" will be in accordance with the great vision of the prophet Daniel, wherein the final "week" of "seventy weeks of years" is fulfilled...

Presently we are living in the "gap" between the 69th week and the 70th week of years, but we see signs that the gap is now closing, and soon the world will enter into the "tribulation" period... As things get closer to the time of great judgment (יום יהוה), followers of Messiah will be forcefully removed by God's hand (i.e., raptured) either before the tribulation proper begins ("pre-trib"), or perhaps just before the Great Tribulation period ("mid-trib"), the later view being argued because followers of Yeshua will see the advent of the man of sin (2 Thess. 2:3-4). Either way, however, God has not appointed his followers to undergo the unleashing of his wrath upon the world system during the last half of the seventieth week (1 Thess. 5:9), so "post-trib is not a sound eschatological option. The rapture will occur as we are gathered together with the LORD to meet him in the air (1 Thess. 4:16-17).

The 70th week of the vision given to Daniel will begin when the "man of sin" appears to make a "covenant" with the people of the world, though he will later set up an "abomination" and force all world citizens to bow down to its image (perhaps similar to Nebuchadnezzar's insanity to force people to bow down before the golden image of himself; at this time the rapture of followers of Messiah may occur). Like Daniel's three friends who refused to bow down before the image, many will refuse to comply and outright worldwide persecution of the Jewish people will take place. This is called the "time of Jacob's trouble" and the "Great Tribulation." Satan will rule only “until the end that is decreed is poured out on him” and then the great Day of LORD will seal his doom with the second coming of Yeshua (as described in Rev. 19:11-21).

So, in light of this (very brief) sketch of what is coming -- and as the world system becomes more and more tyrannical as it prepares for the arrival of the "messiah of evil" -- how are you walking out your faith? Remember that spiritual warfare is not an option for the life of a follower of Yeshua. How are you keeping free of fear or anger? How are you preparing for the days ahead? Please feel free to leave your comments below. [Hebrew for Christians]

9.22.21 • Facebook

Today’s message (Days of Praise) from the Institute for Creation Research

September 25, 2021

My Lord and My God

“And Thomas answered and said unto Him, My Lord and my God.” (John 20:28)

Thomas has been called “doubting Thomas” because of his initial reluctance to believe in the Lord’s resurrection, but neither the Lord nor the other disciples ever viewed him in such a light. His later ministry, as the first missionary/ martyr to India, speaks clearly of his great faith.

It is only in John’s gospel that we have any specific insight into Thomas’ character. When the other disciples sought to dissuade Jesus from returning to Jerusalem, it was Thomas who urged, “Let us also go, that we may die with him” (John 11:16). Thomas understood the dangers awaiting them but was ready to go wherever Jesus desired him to go. In the upper room when Jesus spoke of going away, Thomas, still willing to go with Him anywhere, was the only one to ask, “Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?” (John 14:5). Then, just a few hours later, the Lord had been crucified, and soon “the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews” (John 20:19) as they hid themselves in the upper room.

But Thomas was not hiding! The Scriptures do not say where he was when Jesus appeared in their midst, but he was not hiding there like the others. He may well have been out working or witnessing, doing whatever he could to follow the Lord, but he (like the others) had failed to understand Jesus’ promise that He would rise again.

When the other disciples reported that they had seen the resurrected Lord, Thomas, realizing the tremendous significance of such a miracle if it were true, insisted he must see the proof firsthand. Then, when he saw the Lord, he showed a higher comprehension of what had taken place than any of the others, as he whispered in awe: “My Lord, and my God!” HMM

[spookysharkwonderland]

Then, is it really the self-consciousness that you don't realize you are? It's not like forgetting yourself and being absorbed in your own desire for nature. That may also be a great aspect of human beings. Big business, deep research, inventions, discoveries, all hard work. However, that alone does not mean that a person has found his true self. This is the true self at the moment when you become a true self beyond the desire of natural nature, and then pass by yourself, which is the center of nature, and you do not realize that you are yourself. It's in the neighbor. A true self that can only be found in neighbors. The smallest thing, the meaninglessness that is very unconvincing to me. Neighbors who are the neighbors who are given to them and who are unreasonably disgusting. Without being dragged by my feelings of dislike it, I silently sink myself into the meaningless bottomless mud swamp. It does not mean that you can overcome yourself or that you are well trained. The person who is the most unpleasant to me, who is not very convinced, swallows me and eats me up. There is nothing left to be my face. After all, one's personality is not something that people usually feel as themselves. On the contrary, it is on the side of the neighbor who is not himself. But even so, does God's devoted feelings for himself really come from such neighbors? This is a matter of faith. God's love and compassion for people really works on people in their daily lives. As long as you believe in God and his church, you cannot doubt this. The omnipotent and omnipotent god created and ruled this world. It is God's providence. Furthermore, God is the Son In Jesus Crist, the Son of God calling for the salvation of love Christ suffered for the salvation of mankind and disappeared on the cross. As long as this is true, one cannot doubt God's love. Of course, humanity is a mysterious body headed by Christ. Therefore, there can be no disjointed love between individuals or salvation of only one person. But again, the love of God was just stunned You can't think of it as human love or philanthropy. Jesus Christ sends his disciples to the whole world. To "make all the people disciples" (Matthew 28; 19). This "making a disciple" is not the only thing. Follow the Lord's bet, "If anyone wants to follow me, abandon yourself, bear your cross, and follow me" (Mark 8; 34). This is not the command to "gather". It is a heart-to-heart call to each and every one of us. "This is not just for the disciples specially selected by the Lord. Following the current paragraph 34, salvation is said. "Those who want to save their lives lose it. Those who lose their lives for me and for the gospel will save it." This sentence was applied only to selected disciples. It's not a thing. In other words, I'm not just calling out to a specific person, "I don't care about other people, I want you to do it well." Not just the disciples. If anyone wants to save his life, he must first become his cross and lose his life for the sake of the Lord and the gospel. This is the point. Here is the heart-to-heart contact between God and man. But why is something like a cross a heartfelt love? Here the cross can be considered from two sides. One is a neighbor and the other is a place of living. Either way, the end result is the same. This is because the place of life in which each person is placed is built around the neighbors. Christ has repeatedly called on everyone to carry and obey their own crosses. According to the Gospels, the Lord has revealed in advance to his disciples that he should suffer and die (Matthew16; 21-28, Mark8; 31-9-1, Luke9; 22-27). .. But what did you do that for? The Lord first talks about the suffering, death, and resurrection that he should suffer after going to Jerusalem. On the other hand, his disciples disagree. "There can be no such thing" (Matthew 16; 22). However, Christ reacts violently to this. "Saturn, withdraw." Then, following this, he can state his own thoughts. This is the previous word that everyone must take his cross and abandon himself, and he must give up his life for the Lord, not to spare his life to save. Under these circumstances, Christ did not reveal his suffering in search of sympathy and comfort from his disciples. For his disciples, he must have been surprised because Christ, who had relied on him, was told something difficult. Like Petro, everyone has no choice but to blame the Lord, "Is there such a thing?" "Petro pulled Jesus aside and began to cry" (Mark 8; 32). This sentence often expresses the unexpected feelings of the disciples at that time. After all, what did the Lord foretell his disciples of suffering? It is a call to his disciples. Petro is not the only one who has blamed the Lord. All the disciples. This is called suffering and death on the cross. It is a fluttering human heart that cannot be convinced or endured by this mysterious eerieness. Why should that be the case? Christ wasn't the only one to blame Petro. "Jesus scolded Petro, looking back at his disciples" (Matthew 8; 33). The Lord urges everyone, this time, not about his suffering, but about everyone's salvation. Anyone who follows Christ must bear his cross, suffer his suffering, and be finally prepared to give up his life. It's a pretty funny story because I'm going to die in Jerusalem, everyone must have tried to blame me if it shouldn't be. But I'm not the only one who has to die on the cross. If you really want to follow me and save your life, don't spare your life, take your cross with each other, love your enemies, become their friends, and give up your lives for them. Must. It is known where I have clung to my life in this world. Only by abandoning the life of this world for friends can we live in the life of God and bear 100 times more fruit. It doesn't matter how long I've lived on my own. Mostly a lonely and miserable life. In the end, I have no choice but to give up my life for my friend. The one who follows me and gives up his life for his friends, I will revive without leaving any. "My father's will is that whatever he sees and believes in his child will have eternal life, and I will bring him back to the last days" (John 6; 40).

[seekfirstme]

"They were on the way, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus

.... Taking the Twelve aside again, he began to tell them what was going to happen to him. “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and hand him over to the Gentiles." (Mark 10: 32 - 33).

Wednesday 26th May 2021, in the 8th Week of Ordinary Time is the feast of St Philip Neri. (1515 - 1595), Italian Priest.

St Philip Neri was an extraordinary priest filled with the Holy Spirit and ecstatic joy. He founded the Congregation of the Oratory, the same religious community of St John Henry Newman. He converted thousands through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. He was a great catechist and spiritual director. He was noted for his joyful and cheerful disposition which attracted thousands to him. One of my favorite quotes from Philip is:

"One of the very best means of obtaining humility is sincere and frequent confession."

Our key Scripture is Jesus' third prediction of His Passion. It is unthinkable that the disciples could forget such a prediction. Even His foretelling of His Resurrection was totally forgotten. We just celebrated Pentecost after 50 days of the Season of Easter. We all remember that Jesus has risen from the dead.

In what ways is the Risen Jesus available to us. He is no longer available to us in flesh and blood. He is truly present to us in the Eucharist, in the Blessed Sacrament, in His word especially when it is proclaimed in Holy Mass. He is present in us in the Sacrament of the Present Moment when we remember Him and call upon Him.

Let us never forget all these ways Jesus is truly and uniquely present to us. Let us pray to the Holy Spirit to keep this truth alive in us.

Daily Bible Verse @ Seekfirst.blogspot.com