The Faith Of The Centurion

Hi! and happy good 1st day of the week to all of us; and, it's just 25 days to go before Christmas, GUYS.  For our "daily bread" this Monday:

THE3 GOOD NEWS (30 November 2015)

"When JESUS entered Capernaum, an army captain approached HIM to ask HIS help, 'Sir, my servant lies sick at home.  He is paralyzed and suffers terribly.'  JESUS said to him, 'I will come and heal him.'

The captain answered, 'I am not worthy to have you under my roof.  Just give an order and my boy will be healed.  For I myself, a junior officer, give orders to my soldiers.  And if I say to one:  'Go,' he goes, and if I say to another:  'Come,' he comes, and to my servant:  'Do this,' he does it.' 

When JESUS heard this HE was astonished and said to those who were following HIM, 'I tell you, I have not found such faith in Israel.  I say to you, many will come from east and west and sit down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob at the feast in the kingdom of heaven; ..." - Matthew 8:5-11

(This captain of a foreign army earned the esteem of the Jews.  The amazing thing was not that he should have contributed to the building of the synagogue, but rather that the Jews should have accepted it from him.  He must have been a good man.  He knew the Jews' prejudices too well to have dared to personally approach this JESUS share his compatriots' pride?  Would HE respond to the petition of a Roman official?  That was why he sent his Jewish friends to JESUS.

The man is really troubled:  will JESUS consent to go to a pagan's house and "become impure"?  The captain goes one step further:  JESUS does not have to come to his house.  While other sick people seek to be touched by the Master thinking that JESUS possesses some healing power, this man, has instead grasped that JESUS has the very power of GOD and does not need to go to the sick servant:  it would not be any more difficult to give a command from a distance to a life that was slipping away.) 

1st Sunday Of Advent, 2015-2016

Hello! and happy 1st Sunday of Advent to all of us; and, it's just 26 days to go before Nativity of the Lord, JESUS CHRIST.  Our first-thing-first today, GUYS:

THE GOOD NEWS (29 November 2015)

"May the LORD increase more and more your love for each other and for all people, as HE increases our love for you.  May HE strengthen you internally to be holy and blameless before GOD, our FATHER, on the day that JESUS, our LORD, will come with all HIS saints." - 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 

(Love manifests itself first within the community and then it must be expanded to all people.) 

Be On Your Guard!

Hello! and happy good Saturday to all of us; and, it's just 27 days to go before Christmas, GUYS.  Our today's "food for the soul":

THE GOOD NEWS (28 November 2015)

"Be on your guard; let not your hearts be weighed down with a life of pleasure, drunkenness and worldly cares, lest that day catch you suddenly as a trap. 

For it will come upon all the inhabitants of the whole earth.  But watch at all times and pray, that you may be able to escape all that is bound to happen and to stand before the Son of Man." - Luke 21:34-36

(After speaking about the imminent end of Jerusalem, Luke speaks of that day which will conclude human history with the coming of CHRIST, the Judge.

Be on your guard.  This invitation is not only addressed to those who will know that day, but it is for everyone, throughout the history of the Church.  Once more he invites us to watch and pray while the world is asleep.

That you may be able to stand:  to avoid errors and deceit during the trials preceding CHRIST's coming.  The Our Father expresses the same concern.  Those who are expecting the coming of the Kingdom pray:  do not put us to the test.

In fact, vigils and prayers serve not only to prevent possible falls.  When the believer and the Church are more awake, they cooperate more in the development of the divine plan and hasten the coming of the LORD.)

Vision Of The Four Empires

Hi! and happy TGIF to all of us; and, it's just 28 days to go before Christmas, GUYS.  Our first-thing-first this Friday:

THE GOOD NEWS (27 November 2015)

"In the first year of the reign of King Belshazzar of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions in his mind as he was sleeping.  When he woke up, he wrote down the dream.  This is how the narrative began:

Daniel said, 'I saw the following in my vision:  the four winds of heaven stirred up the great sea, and four great beasts, each one different from the other, came out of the sea.

The first was like a lion with eagle's wings.  As I looked at it, its wings were torn off.  It was lifted up from the ground, stood up on its feet like a man, and was given a human heart.  The second was a beast like a bear; it was raised up on one side and had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth.  It was told:  Go and devour much flesh.  I went on looking and saw another beast like a leopard with four wings on its back; it had four heads and dominion was given to it.

I continued seeing my visions of the night and saw a terrible fourth beast.  It was fearful and extraordinarily strong; it had great iron teeth; it ate, tore into pieces, and crushed underfoot whatever remained.  It was different from the previous beasts and had ten horns.  I was looking at the horns, when another small horn sprang among them, and three of the first horns were pulled out by the roots to make way for the new.  It had eyes like human eyes and a mouth that insolent words." -Daniel 7:1:8

(The four empires which dominated the Jewish nation until the time of the great persecution are symbolized by beasts.  The fourth beast is the Syrian empire and the horn that insults GOD, is King Antiochus Epiphanes.)

The GOD Of Daniel

Hello! and happy good Thursday to all of us; and, it's just 29 days to go before Christmas, GUYS.  For our today's "daily bread":

THE GOOD NEWS (26 November 2015)

"King Darius wrote to the nations, to peoples of every language, 'Peace to you all!  I decree that throughout my kingdom people should reverence and fear the GOD of Daniel. 

King Darius

'For HE is the living GOD,  

forever HE endures; 

HIS kingdom will not be crushed,

HIS dominion will never cease.

HE rescues and HE delivers; 

HE performs signs and wonders 

both in heaven and on earth. 

And HE came to Daniel's rescue 

saving him from the lions' tooth and claw.'

Daniel greatly prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian." - Daniel 6:25-28

(Fear GOD, for HE is the living GOD. - Milo R. Arbo)

Signs Before The Destruction Of Jerusalem (A Sequel)

Hello! and happy good mid-week to all of us; and, it's just 30 days to go before Christmas, GUYS.  For our "food for the soul" this Wednesday:

THE GOOD NEWS (25 November 2015)

"Before all this happens, people will lay their hands on you and persecute you; you will be delivered to the Jewish courts and put in prison, and for MY sake you will be brought before kings and governors.  This will be your opportunity to bear witness.

So keep this in mind:  do not worry in advance about what to answer, for I will give you words and wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict.

You will be betrayed even by parents, and brothers, by relatives and friends, and some of you will be put to death.  But even though you are hated by all for MY name's sake, not a hair of your head will perish.  Through perseverance you will possess your own selves." - Luke 21:12-19

(The discourse comprises words pronounced by JESUS in every diverse circumstances.  JESUS refuses speculation and reminds us that Christian history is one of persecution; HE encourages us to be faithful.

JESUS speaks of the days of trial that will conclude with the destruction of Jerusalem that JESUS' listeners will witness.  It will be possible to run away before the disaster occurs.

The Gospel repeats an expression of Daniel to indicate on this occasion, the taking over of the Temple by the Roman troops.

It will be a time for evangelization, a time for persecutions and for Christians' testimony before the Jewish and pagan worlds.  The Jewish people who did not recognize JESUS as their savior, will let other saviors, or messiahs, stir them up against the Romans.  

JESUS shows that his general confusion about the true savior is very far removed from what will happen when HE returns at the end of time.)

Signs Before The Destruction Of Jerusalem

Hi! and happy good Tuesday to all of us; and, it's just 31 days to go before Christmas, GUYS.  Our today's "daily bread":

THE GOOD NEWS (24 November 2015)

War

"While some people were talking about the Temple, remarking that it was adorned with fine stonework and rich gifts, JESUS said to them, 'The days will come when there shall not be left one stone upon another of all that you now admire; all will be torn down.'  And they asked HIM, 'Master, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?'

JESUS then said, 'Take care not to be deceived, for many will come claiming MY title and saying:  'I am HE, the Messiah; the time is at hand.'  do not follow them.  When you hear of wars and troubled times, don't be frightened; for all this must happen first, even though the end is not so soon.'

And JESUS said, 'Nations will fight each other and kingdom will oppose kingdom.  There will be great earthquakes, famines and plagues; in many places strange and terrifying signs from heaven will be seen. - Luke 21:5-11

Earthquake

(When JESUS speaks of the destruction of the Temple, the apostles think of the end of time.  The answer of JESUS is clear; the tragedy that will end with the destruction of Jerusalem is near but that would not be the end of the world.

This discourse contains JESUS' warnings about the destruction of the Jewish nation that would occur 30 years later, but what HE said regarding these agents clarifies the meaning of the conflicts that occur at present in the whole world.)

Daniel's Prayer

Hello! and happy good first day of the week to all of us; and, it's just 32 days to go before Christmas, GUYS.  Our first-thing-first this Monday:

THE GOOD NEWS (23 November 2015)

"Blessed are you LORD, GOD of our fathers, be praised and exalted for ever.

Daniel In The Lions' Den

Blessed is YOUR holy and glorious name, celebrated and exalted for ever.

Blessed are YOU in the temple of YOUR sacred glory, YOUR praises are sung for ever. 

Blessed are YOU on the throne of YOUR kingdom, honored and glorified for ever.

Blessed are YOU who fathom the depths, who are enthroned on the cherubim, praised and exalted for ever.

Blessed are YOU in the firmament of heaven, praised and glorified for ever. - Daniel 3:52-56

(Daniel's prayer teaches the persecuted Jews what they must say to GOD.  "LORD remember your promises and forget our sins.  Have compassion on YOUR humiliated people and come to save us.")

4th Sunday, November 2015

Hi! and happy holy and family day to all of us; and, it's just 33 days to go before Christmas, GUYS.  Our first-thing-first this Sunday:

THE GOOD NEWS (22 November 2015)

                1st Reading  :  Daniel 7:13-14

                Psalm           :  Psalm 93:1-5

                2nd Reading:  Revelation 1:5-8

                Gospel         :  John 18:33-37

"I continued watching the nocturnal vision:

One like a son of man came on the clouds of heaven.  He faced the One of Great Age and was brought into his presence. 

Dominion, honor and kingship  were given him, and all the peoples and nations of every language served him.  His dominion is eternal and shall never pass away; his kingdom will never be destroyed." - Daniel 7:13-14

(On the clouds of heaven:  the cloud is the sign of the divine presence.

The One of Great Age:  this refers to GOD, and the white hair is a sign of HIS majesty.  Let us not forget that, in fact, GOD is ageless and is in a unique moment, an ever present now.

A son of man, namely, a human:  at first, this mysterious person referred to the whole people of GOD.  If GOD wanted to give HIS Kingdom to people, he would, in fact, give it in a personal way to the one who is the model, the savior and the head of the everyone and of all humankind.  JESUS is the man, or, to follow the Jewish way of speaking, the son of man.

The son of man comes from the divine clouds, and so JESUS applied the prophecy to HIMSELF to point to HIS divine origin when HIS accusers were seeing HIM in the weakness of the human condition.) 

GOD, Refuge Of The Oppressed

Hello! and happy good Saturday to all of us; and, it's just 34 days to go before Christmas, GUYS.  For today's "daily bread":

THE GOOD NEWS (21 November 2015)

"The pagans have sunk into the pit they have dug, their own feet ensnared by the trap they laid.

The LORD has shown HIS presence, HE has judged and the wicked plotters have been trapped by the work of their hands.

To the netherworld the wicked will depart, all the nations that have no thought of GOD.

The Death of King Antiochus Epiphanes, The Godless (Persia, 163 B.C.)

For the needy will not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the poor perish forever.

Rise, O LORD!  Do not let mortals prevail; let the nations stand on trial before you.

Bring terror, O LORD, strike at them; let these pagans realize that they are but humans.- Psalm 9:16-21

(Psalms 9 and 10 of the Hebrew text are only two halves of the Greek or Latin Bible text.  This causes the disarrangement in the numbering of the psalms which begins here.  Psalm 9 denounces the enemies of Israel.  Psalm 10 denounces the wicked within the community.  Those who exploit the widow and the orphan, the foreigner and the traveler, are in fact the enemies of GOD.)

My House Shall Be A House Of Prayer!

Hello! and happy TGIF to all of us; and, it's just 35 days to go before Christmas, GUYS.  For our this Friday's "food for the soul":

THE GOOD NEWS (20 November 2015)

"Then JESUS entered the Temple area and began to drive out the merchants.  And HE said to them, 'GOD says in the Scriptures:

My house shall be a house of prayer: but you have turned it into a den of robbers.'

JESUS was teaching everyday in the Temple.  The chief priests and teachers of the Law wanted to kill HIM and the elders of the Jews as well, but they were unable to do anything, for all the people were listening to HIM and hanging on HIS words." - Luke 19:45-48

(Nowadays, do we really consider that the structure [Church] is a holy place for us to commune with GOD, and not for anything else?)

If Only Today You Knew The Ways Of Peace!

Hi! and happy good Thursday to all of us; and, it's just 36 days to go before Christmas, GUYS.  Our "daily bread" for today:

THE GOOD NEWS (19 November 2015)

"When JESUS had come in sight of the city, HE wept over it and said, 'If only today you knew the ways of peace!  But now your eyes are held from seeing.  Yet days will come upon you when your enemies will surround you with barricades and shut you in and press on you from every side.  And they will dash you to the ground and your children with you, and leave not a stone within you, for you did not recognize the time and the visitation of your GOD." - Luke 19:41-44

(Is the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation [APEC] for real or just a mere circus? - M.R. Arbo) 

The Ten Pounds

Hello! and happy good mid-week to all of us; and, it's just 37 days to go before Christmas, GUYS.  Our today's "daily bread":

THE GOOD NEWS (18 November 2015)

"JESUS was now near Jerusalem and the people with HIM thought that GOD's reign was about to appear.  So as they were listening to HIM, JESUS went on to tell them a parable.  HE said, 'A man of noble birth went to a distant place to have himself appointed king of his own people, after which he would return.  Before he left, he summoned ten of his servants and gave them ten pounds.  He said: 'Put this money to work until I get back.'  But his compatriots who disliked him sent a delegation after him with this message:  'We do not want this man to be our king.'

 He returned, however, appointed as king.  At once he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, to find out what profit each had made.  The first came in and reported:  'Sir, your pound has earned ten more.'

The master replied:  'Well done, my good servant.  Since you have proved yourself capable in a small matter, I can trust you to take charge of ten cities.'  The second reported:  'Sir, your pound earned five more pounds.'  The master replied:  'Right, take charge of five cities.'

The third came in and said:  'Sir, here is your money which I hid for safekeeping.  I was afraid of you for you are an exacting person; you take up what you did not lay down and reap what you did not sow.' 

The master replied:  'You worthless servant, I will judge you by your own words.  So you knew I was an exacting person, taking up what I did not lay down and reaping what I did not sow!  Why, then, did you not put my money on loan so that when I got back I could collected it with interest?'

Then the master said to those standing by:  'Take from him that pound, and give it to the one with ten pounds.'  They objected:  'But, sir, he already has ten!' 

I tell you:  everyone who has will be given more; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.  As for my enemies who did not want me to be king, bring them in and execute them right here in my presence'." - Luke 19:11-27 

(Galileans go to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover and JESUS goes with them.  HE knows that death awaits HIM:  they, nonetheless, are convinced that HE will be proclaimed king and liberator of Israel. 

In HIS parable, JESUS invites them to hold onto another hope.  HE will rule on his return from a far away land [His own death] at the end of history.  Meanwhile, HIS people are in charge of riches, which HE has given them and which they must multiply.  They should not wait in idleness for HIS return, since HIS enemies will take advantage of HIS absence to struggle against HIS influence.  JESUS' servants will participate in HIS triumph to the degree that they have worked.

The parable insists on GOD's justice:  everyone receives according to his merit.  Heavenly happiness is not something that can be distributed equally.  Everyone will know GOD and will share HIS riches to the degree that one has been able to love throughout life.  Every step we take by way of obedience, sacrifice and humility, develops our capacity to receive GOD and to be transformed by HIM.)                 

The Martyrdom Of Eleazar

Hello! and happy good Tuesday to all of us; and, it's just 38 days to go before Christmas, GUYS.  Our today's "food for the soul":

THE GOOD NEWS (17 November 2015)

"Eleazar, one of the prominent teachers of the Law, already old and of noble appearance, was forced to open his mouth to eat the flesh of a pig.  But he preferred to die honorably than to live in disgrace, and voluntarily came to the place where they beat him to death.  He spit out bravely the piece of meat, as should be done by those who do not want to do things prohibited by the Law, even to save their life.

Above all, showing respect for the holy laws established by GOD, he answered that he would rather be sent to the place of the dead.  And he added, 'It would be unworthy to pretend at our age, and to lead many young people to suppose that I, at ninety years, have gone over to the pagan customs.  If I led them astray for the sake of this short life I would bring disgrace to my old age.  Even if I could now be saved from men, I cannot - whether living or dead - escape from the hands of the Almighty.  I prefer to bravely sacrifice my life now, as befits my old age.  So I shall leave an excellent example to the young, dying voluntarily and valiantly for the sacred and holy laws.'

When he was almost at the point of death, he said groaning, 'The Holy Lord, who sees all, knows that though I could have saved myself from death, I now endure terrible sufferings in my body.  But in my soul, I suffer gladly because of the respect I have for HIM.'  In his death, he left a noble example and a memorial of virtue and strength, not only to the young but to the whole nation." - 2 Maccabees 6:18-20, 23-28, 30-31

(How noble are Eleazar's words:  he does not want to hide his faith; he prefers honor to life; above all he fears GOD; to die out of faithfulness to divine laws sets a noble example for young people; and Eleazar suffers physically, but he dies happy.  We have in him the prototype, the model of martyrs.)

Alexander

Hi! and happy good opening day of the week; and, it's just 39 days to go before Christmas, GUYS.  Our first-thing-first this Monday:

THE GOOD NEWS (16 November 2015)

Alexander, The Great

"Everything began with the conquests of Alexander the first, son of Philip, the Macedonian.  Setting out from Greece, he killed Darius, king of the Persians and the Medes.  Being already King of Greece, he took the throne of Darius.  After fighting many battles, conquering strongholds and putting to death the kings of those nations, he reached the ends of the earth and plundered several nations.  And when the world became quiet and subject to his power, he became proud.  He gathered a strong army, ruled over provinces and nations, and rulers paid him taxes.  But he fell sick, and knowing he was going to die, he summoned his generals and the noblemen who had been brought up with him from his youth; and while still alive, he divided his kingdom among them.  Alexander had reigned for twelve years when he died.

Antiochus Epiphanes

His generals assumed power, each one in the region assigned to him.  And immediately after Alexander's death, they made themselves kings and their sons after them, filling the earth with evil for many years.  From their descendants there came a godless offshoot, Antiochus Epiphanes, son of King Antiochus, who had been held as hostage in Rome.  He became king in the one hundred and thirty-seventh year of the Greek era (175 B.C.)." - 1 Maccabees 1:1-10

(The paragraphs summarize the period of history from Alexander until Antiochus Epiphanes, king of Syria, a godless offshoot, where the moral crisis in Judah began.)

3rd Sunday, November 2015

Hi! and happy holy and family day to all of us; and, it's just 40 days to go before Christmas, GUYS.  Our first-thing-first this Sunday:

 

THE GOOD NEWS (15 November 2015)

 

                1st Reading  :  Daniel 12:1-3

 

                Psalm           :  Psalm 16:5-11

 

                2nd Reading :  Hebrew 10:11-18

 

                Gospel          :  Mark 13:24-32

"Later on, in those days after that disastrous time, the sun will grow dark, the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall out of the sky and the whole universe will be shaken.  Then people will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.  And HE will send the angels to gather HIS chosen people from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the sky. 

Learn a lesson from the fig tree.  As soon as its branches become tender and it begins to sprout leaves, you know that summer is near.  In the same way, when you see these things happening, know that the time is near, even at the door.  Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all this has happened.  Heaven and earth will pass away, but MY words will not pass away.

 But, regarding that Day and that Hour, no one knows when it will come, not even the angels, not even the SON, but only the FATHER." - Mark 13:24-32

 

(Later on... After announcing the end of the Jewish world, JESUS speaks of an even more important event: the end of the world or, better still, its transformation.

 

The sun will grow dark, the moon will not give its light.  These are images taken from Isaiah 13:10 and 34:4 that express the confusion, the surprise and the disintegration of the people and the universe before the majesty of the Supreme Judge.

 

HE will send the angels.  This also a common image in Jewish books that spoke of GOD's judgment.  Likewise, the trumpet referred to in Matthew 24:31 and 1 Thessalonians 4:16 should not be understood literally.

 

Learn a lesson.  JESUS comes back to the destruction of Jerusalem. 

 

In this paragraph, we return to the end of the world.  The Day mentioned is the day of the Judgment, called the "Day of Yahweh" in the Prophets [Amos 5:18; Zephaniah 1:15].

 

No one knows when... JESUS states it clearly.  Nevertheless, there have always been people who believe they know what the angels do not.  People in every century have foretold the impending end of the world [2 Thessalonians 2].

 

Not even the angels or the SON, only the FATHER.  Some are confused by this.  Does this not mean that JESUS is not GOD as the FATHER is?  They must remember that when JESUS speaks of the FATHER and the SON, HE speaks of HIMSELF with HIS human consciousness in relation to the FATHER.  GOD's infinite knowledge cannot be encompassed by the human mind of JESUS.

 

GOD the FATHER can communicate to JESUS certain prophecies but HE cannot tell HIM for example:  "the end of the world will take place on the 12th of July of the year 2017" because the date is not fixed; it depends on  how we make the kingdom of GOD mature through our efforts and prayers [2 Peter 3:14].

 

Modern science shows that time does not pass at the same speed for two persons if one is moving and the other is still; much less equal is the pace of time between GOD and us.  GOD knows the time as it can be known in eternity, but this does not mean that it corresponds with a certain date in our calendar.)

 

Pray And Never Lose Heart

Hello! and happy good Saturday to all of us; and, it's just 41days to go before Christmas, GUYS.  Our "food for the soul" today:

 

THE GOOD NEWS (14 November 2015)

"JESUS told them a parable to show them that they should pray continually and not lose heart.  HE said, 'In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared GOD nor people.  In the same town was a widow who kept coming to him, saying:  'Defend my rights against my opponent.  For a time he refused, but finally he thought:  'Even though I neither fear GOD nor care about people, this widow bothers me so much I will see that she gets justice; then she will stop coming and wearing me out.' 

And JESUS explained, 'Listen to what the evil judge says.  Will GOD not do justice for HIS chosen ones who cry to HIM day and night even if HE delays in answering them?  I tell you, HE will speedily do them justice.  Yet, when the Son of Man comes, will HE find faith on earth?" - Luke 18:1-8

 

(If there is a just GOD, why does HE not do justice?  JESUS answers:  Do you desire and ask for the justice of GOD with enough faith?  HE will undoubtedly do justice, but you will have to wait.

 

A judge who neither feared GOD nor people:  many people upon seeing what is unjust and absurd in life, view GOD this way.  If we pray with perseverance, we will gradually discover that things are not as absurd as they seem, and we will come to recognize the face of the GOD who loves us in what happens.

 

Who cry to HIM day and night.  JESUS, who so insists on our responsibility to the world, is the one who also urges us to call on GOD day and night.  Why are people so readily divided [or why do we divide them] into prayers and doers?

 

Will HE find faith on earth?  JESUS confirms an opinion already found among the Jews of HIS days.  In the last days before Judgment, the power of evil will be so great that in many love will grow cold.

 

In fact, with the first coming of JESUS, the Old Testament ended in seeming failure; few had believed in HIM and, later, most were influenced by the confusion, the false saviors and the violence which precipitated the fall of the nation forty years after the death of JESUS.)

 

The Materialists

Hello! and happy weekend to all of us; and, it's just 42 days to go before Christmas, GUYS.  Today's first-thing-first:

THE GOOD NEWS (13 November 2015)

"The natural helplessness of men is seen in their ignorance of GOD.  The experience of good things did not lead them to the knowledge of HIM who is.  They were interested in HIS works, but they did not recognize the author of them.

Fire, wind, air, the sphere of the stars, rushing water and the lights in the sky were held as the rulers of the world. 

If, charmed by such beauty, they took them for gods, let them know how far superior is their sovereign.  And if they were impressed by their power and activity, let them understand from this how much mightier is HE who formed them.  For the grandeur and beauty of creatures lead us to ponder on their Author, greater and more magnificent.

No doubt these men are not to be blamed severely, for possibly they strayed though they searched for GOD and desired to find HIM.  They pondered over the created things that surrounded them and were captivated by the sight of such beauty.

Even so they are not to be excused, for if they were able to explore the world, why did they not discover first the world's Sovereign?" - Wisdom 13:1-9

 (Materialists ignore GOD.  The proud believe they can achieve everything on their own.  They use things as their own, without giving them a deeper meaning and without seeing them as gifts from GOD. 

 

Simple and humble people see the hand of GOD in everything.   The water, the wind, the mountains remind them of the Perfect Being who created them; even more do the riches they discover in their loved ones.  Human intelligence is meant to discover GOD who fills everything and is the end of everything.)

The Coming Of The Kingdom Of GOD!

Hi! and happy good Thursday to all of us; and, it's just 43 days to go before Christmas, GUYS.  Our today's "food for the soul":

 

THE GOOD NEWS (12 November 2015)

"The Pharisees asked JESUS when the kingdom of GOD was to come.  HE answered, 'The kingdom of GOD is not like something you can observe and say of it:  'Look, here it is! There it is!'  See, the kingdom of GOD is among you.' 

And JESUS said to HIS disciples, 'The time is at hand when you will long to see one of the glorious days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it.  Then people will tell you:  'Look there! Look here!'  Do not go, do not follow them.  As lightning flashes from one end of the sky to the other, so will it be with the Son of Man.  But first HE must suffer many things and be rejected by this people." - Luke 17:20-25

(When will the kingdom of GOD come?  It does not come as a revolution or the change of the seasons each year:  it is at work in people who have received the Good News.  Those who believe already enjoy the Kingdom.

 

Then come the words of JESUS  concerning the end of Jerusalem and HIS second coming.  We should not speak about the end of the world in every time of anxiety.  JESUS gives us two comparisons:  the lightning which is seen everywhere and the vultures which gather without fail wherever there is a corpse,  In the same way, everyone, without fail, will be aware of CHRIST's return.

 

Yet HIS return will catch off guard those who are not expecting it (just as in the days of Noah).  Judgment will separate the elect from the condemned - nothing separated them in daily life - from two people working side by side, one will be taken, the other left behind.)

The Ten Lepers

Hello! and happy mid-week to all of us; and, it's just 44 days to go before Christmas, GUYS.  Our today's "daily bread":

THE GOOD NEWS (11 November 2015)

"On the way to Jerusalem, JESUS was passing along the border between Samaria and Galilee, and as HE entered a village, ten lepers came to meet HIM.  Keeping their distance, they called to HIM, 'JESUS, Master, have pity on us!'  Then JESUS said to them, 'Go and show yourselves to the priests.'  Now, as they went their way, they found they were cured. One of them, as soon as he saw he was cleansed, turned back praising GOD in a loud voice, and throwing himself on his face before JESUS, he gave HIM thanks.  This man was a Samaritan.

Then JESUS said, 'Were not all ten healed?'  Where are the other nine?  Was no one found to return and give praise to GOD but this alien?  And JESUS said to him, 'Stand up and go your way, your faith has saved you'." - Luke 17:11-19 

 (The ten lepers were cured but only one of them was told:  "Your faith has saved you.  He was the one who responded straight from the heart.  While the others were concerned about fulfilling the legal requirements, he only thought about giving thanks to GOD right where the grace of GOD found him:  such is the faith which saves and transforms us.

 

Among the many people asking GOD for healing and favor, how many will really come to love GOD?)

The Just Will Live With GOD

Hi! and happy good Tuesday to all of us; and, it's just 45 days to go before Christmas, GUYS.  Our "food for the soul" today:

 

THE GOOD NEWS (10 November 2015)

"Indeed GOD created man to be immortal in the likeness of HIS own nature, ...

Those who trust in HIM will penetrate the truth, those who are faithful will live with HIM in love, for HIS grace and mercy are for HIS chosen ones." - Wisdom 2:23-3:9 

(At the time of judgment we will see that the just are the only ones who have been truly alive.  The death of the friends of GOD brings peace to those who were at their side.  Through their death the martyrs bring the triumph of the cause for which they lived.)