"The Law Of The LORD Is More Precious Than Gold, And Sweeter Than Honey."

Hello! and happy good Thursday to all of us, GUYS.  Our "daily bread" today:

THE GOOD NEWS (30 June 2016)

"The law of the LORD is perfect:

it gives life to the soul.

The word of the LORD is trustworthy:

it gives wisdom to the simple.

The precepts of the LORD are right:

they give joy to the heart.

The commandments of the LORD are clear:

they enlighten the eyes.

The fear of the LORD is pure,

it endures forever;

the judgments of the LORD are true,

all of them just and right.

They are more precious than gold -

pure gold of a jeweler;

they are much sweeter than honey

which drops from the honeycomb."

- Psalm 19:8-11

(The Law of the LORD is more precious than gold, and sweeter than honey, it speaks to us of GOD and invites us to submit ourselves totally to HIM.

The splendor of heaven gives us a glimpse of the glory of GOD.  We are also aware of HIS presence when we meditate  on HIS commandments which are light and joy for the soul.)

On-Track

Preach The Word

Hello! and happy good mid-week to all of us, GUYS.  Our "food for the soul" this Wednesday:

THE GOOD NEWS (29 June 2016)

"In the presence of GOD and CHRIST JESUS, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by the hope I have of HIS coming and HIS kingdom, I urge you to preach the Word, in season and out of season, reproving, rebuking or advising, always with patience and providing instruction.  For the time is coming when people will no longer endure sound doctrine but following their passions they will surround themselves with teachers to please their itching ears.  And they will abandon the truth to hear fables.  So be prudent, do not mind your labor, give yourself to your work as an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

As for me, I am already poured out as a libation, and the moment of my departure has come.  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Now there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness with which the LORD, the just judge, will reward me on that day; and not only me, but all those who have longed for HIS glorious coming." - 2 Timothy 4:1-8 

Paul, The Apostle

(Preach the Word: this is Paul's last advice.  It must be the first concern of the Church and of any church leader.

Paul knows that he will not be freed and that he will be condemned to death.  He embraces his own sacrifice just as JESUS did.

We find the comparison of the soldier and the athlete that Paul liked so much.  In those days athletes received a crown of laurels as a symbol of immortality.  As for me the time of sacrifice has arrived, and the moment of my departure has come.

On-Track

JESUS Calms The Storm

Hello! and happy good Tuesday to all of us, GUYS.  Our "daily bread" today:

THE GOOD NEWS (28 June 2016)

"JESUS got into the boat and HIS disciples followed HIM.  Without warning a fierce storm hit the lake, with waves sweeping the boat.  But JESUS was asleep.

They woke HIM and cried, 'LORD save us!  We are lost!'  But JESUS answered, 'Why are you so afraid, you of little faith?'  Then HE stood up and ordered the wind and sea; and it became completely calm.

The people were astonished.  They said, 'What kind of man is HE?  Even the winds and the sea obey HIM'." - Matthew 8:23-27 

JESUS Calms The Storm

(Here JESUS affirms HIS divine power over the forces of evil.  HE is not surprised by the disciples fear of the tempest, but of their lack of faith; only trust in the victory of JESUS, Son of GOD, over the forces of evil, will allow them to overcome this fear.

GOD shows HIMSELF in a special way: more than a friend, more than a master, JESUS revealed HIMSELF to them in the truth of HIS being.  This fear in discovering GOD so close to them was greater than the fear they had felt during the tempest a few moments earlier.)

On-Track

Serve GOD With A Sincere Heart

Hello! and happy good first day of the week to all of us, GUYS.  Our "food for the soul" this Monday:

THE GOOD NEWS (27 June 2016)

"But GOD says this to the wicked:

'What right have you to mouth MY laws,

or to talk about my covenant?

You hate MY commands

and cast MY words behind you.

You join a thief when you meet one;

you keep company with adulterers.

You have a mouth of evil

and a deceitful tongue.

You speak ill of your brother,

and slander your own mother's son.

Because I was silent while you did these things,

you thought I was like you.

But now I rebuke you

and make this charge against you.

Give this a thought, you who forget GOD,

lest I tear you to pieces with no one to help you.

Those who give with thanks offerings honor ME,

but the one who walks blamelessly,

I will show him the salvation of GOD'."

- Psalm 50:16-23

(For a long time, it has been a subject of reflection and discussion for the people of GOD to know what, in GOD's eyes is more important: the offering of sacrifices or keeping the Law?  The psalm demands honoring GOD with sacrifices, but clearly gives priority to an upright life.

GOD is coming to judge HIS people.  HE condemns those who replace the obedience of the heart with offerings and material sacrifices, and those who recite the commandments instead of practicing them.)

On-Track

True Freedom

Hello! and happy holy and family day to all of us, GUYS.  Our first-thing-first this Sunday:

THE GOOD NEWS (26 June 2016)

"You, brothers and sisters, were called to enjoy freedom; I am not speaking of that freedom which gives free rein to the desires of the flesh, but of that which makes you slaves of one another through love.  For the whole Law is summed up in this sentence: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  But if you bite and tear each other to pieces, be careful lest you all perish.

Therefore, I say to you: walk according to the Spirit and do not give way to the desires of the flesh!  For the desires of the flesh war against the spirit, and the desires of the spirit are opposed to the flesh.  Both are in conflict with each other, so that you cannot do everything you would like.  But when you are led by the Spirit you are not under the Law.

You know what comes from the flesh; fornication, impurity and shamelessness, idol worship and sorcery, hatred, jealousy and violence, anger, ambition, division, factions, and envy, drunkenness, orgies and the like.  I again say to you what I have already said: those who do these things shall not inherit the kingdom of GOD.

But the fruit of the Spirit is charity, joy and peace, patience, understanding of others, kindness and fidelity, gentleness and self-control.  For such things there is no Law or punishment.  Those who belong to CHRIST have crucified the flesh with its vices and desires.

If we live by the Spirit, let us live in a spiritual way.  Let us not be conceited; let there be no rivalry or envy of one another." - Galatians 5:13-25

(If the Galatians are looking out for religious practices it is partly because they feel that faith should be expressed in a concrete way.  Here Paul tells them: if you are anxious for putting faith into life, look at your community life.  We, like them, are terribly accustomed to a double life: on one hand we proclaim we are children of GOD, we speak of grace, of spiritual life, while we are terribly ordinary, often very dishonest and malicious in daily life or with our rivals within the Church, especially if we have a title to defend.

Paul rightly gives a short list of the works of the flesh and another of the fruits of the Spirit.  He places side by side idolatry and the ambitions or divisions so common in religious and practicing groups.  It is clear that for him flesh and spirit are not the same as "body" and "soul": the pettiness and attachment to our privileges are also sins of the flesh, that is of people alien to the Spirit.)

On-Track

They Will Be Thrown Out Into The Darkness!

Hello! and happy good weekend to all of us, GUYS.  For our "daily bread" this Saturday:

THE GOOD NEWS (25 June 2016)

"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; but the heirs of the kingdom will be thrown out into the darkness; there they will wail and grind their teeth." - Matthew 8:11-12 

(Many will come.  Likewise for us, practices and religious habits will not introduce us to the Kingdom.  We must discover the loving presence of the FATHER while experiencing the power of JESUS' word and controversial deeds.

They will be thrown out into the darkness.  Let us not immediately think of hell: JESUS is using the style of the prophets.  Staying with the appearance of a learned religion, one goes everywhere except where life is.) 

Heaven vs. Hell

On-Track

YAHWEH Called Me From My Mother's Womb

Hi! and happy TGIF to all of us, GUYS.  For our "food for the soul" this Friday:

THE GOOD NEWS (24 June 2016)

"Listen to me, O islands,

pay attention, peoples from distant lands.

YAHWEH called me from my mother's womb;

HE pronounced my name before I was born.

HE made my mouth like a sharpened sword.

HE hid me in the shadow of HIS hand.

HE made me into a polished arrow

set apart in HIS quiver.

HE said to me, 'You are Israel, MY servant,

Through you I will be known.'

'I have labored in vain, I thought

and spent my strength for nothing.'

Yet what is due me was in the hand of YAHWEH,

and my reward was with my GOD.

I am important in the sight of YAHWEH,

and my GOD is my strength.

And now YAHWEH has spoken,

HE who formed me in the womb to be HIS servant,

to bring Jacob back to HIM,

to gather Israel to HIM.

HE said: 'Tis not enough

that you be MY servant,

to restore the tribes of Jacob,

to bring back the remnant of Israel.

I will make you the light of the nations,

that MY salvation will reach to the ends of the earth'."

- Isaiah 49:1-6

Judean Exiles At Babylon

(Here we find the second Song of GOD's servant. 

Who is speaking in these verses?  They are the Judean exiles at Babylon [some years later they will be called the Jews].  And it is not a lamentation but rather a thanksgiving to GOD who has chosen them in a very special way for a unique mission.

The hope and the future of Israel have been entrusted to them, not to those remaining in the motherland.  Soon they will return and gather the remnant of the tribes of Jacob, which means not only their kins in the ex-kingdom of Judah, but also the other in the northern kingdom.

From that moment on the dream of a final gathering of the whole people of GOD enters the Bible, and Gospel will announce that this goal will be achieved through and in CHRIST: John 11:52.

But there is more, for GOD wants this small group of exiles to bring to the nations the light of salvation.  This marks the opening of the times of mission.  The Jews will be the messengers of the only GOD and of HIS law in the world.  Those who welcome CHRIST will call on the pagans to the faith and Spirit will be bestowed to them [Galatians 3:14].  A humiliated people will be YAHWEH's hidden arrow, HIS definitive weapon: through them GOD will unbare HIS madness which is wiser than human wisdom [1 Corinthians 1:21].

YAHWEH called me from my mother's womb.  These were Jeremiah's words.  All that follows can be interpreted both of the believing minority or of the one who fully lives a prophetic vocation.  Is the servant a single person, or is he a people of prophets?  The apostles of JESUS quickly understood that the present text applied first to HIM.  HE is the Word and the two-edged sword [Hebrew 4:12; Revelations 19:15].

Paul in turn will take for himself these verses: Galatians 1:14; Acts 13:47; 2 Corinthians 10:4, 12:8.  This double interpretation, personal and collective, should not surprise us for the unique Savior is never a lonely savior.  JESUS wanted to be identified with those who believe, who suffer and persevere to prepare for the salvation of the world.)

On-Track

How Long Will YOUR Anger Last?

Hello! and happy good Thursday to all of us, GUYS.  Our "food for the soul" today:

THE GOOD NEWS (23 June 2016)

"O GOD, the pagans have invaded YOUR inheritance; they have defiled YOUR holy temple and reduced Jerusalem to rubble.

They have given YOUR servants' corpses to the birds, and the flesh of YOUR saints to the beasts of the earth.

They have poured out the blood of YOUR faithful like water around Jerusalem, and there was no one to bury them.

Mocked and reviled by those around us, we are scorned by our neighbors.

How long will this last, O LORD?  Will YOU be angry forever?  Will YOUR wrath always burn to avenge YOUR rights?

Pour out YOUR anger on the nations that do not acknowledge YOU; on the kingdoms that do not call on YOUR name.

For they have devoured Jacob and laid waste his homeland.

Do not remember against us the sins of our fathers.

Let YOUR compassion hurry to us, for we have been brought very low.

Help us, GOD, our savior, for the glory of YOUR name; forgive us for the sake of YOUR name."

- Psalm 79:1-9

The Persecution

(Here again is a psalm born of the religious persecution at the time of Maccabees.  The Bible liked to consider the psalms as prayers composed by David.  When the apostles quote a psalm, they say: "GOD said through the mouth

of David..."  The psalms are in fact the prayer of a people that lived and suffered.

This psalm reminds GOD that HIS honor is at stake: what does HE think?  Are we ready to accept that the glory of GOD includes failure and at times, humiliations for HIS people? 

Let GOD do justice to HIS people.  The LORD owes us nothing since we are sinners.)

On-Track

The Tree Is Known By Its Fruits

Hello! and happy good mid-week to all of us, GUYS.  For our "food for the soul" this Wednesday:

THE GOOD NEWS (22 June 2016)

"Beware of false prophets: they come to you in sheep's clothing but inside they are wild wolves.  You will recognize them by their fruits.  Do you ever pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?

A good tree always produces  good fruit, a rotten tree produces bad fruit.  A good tree cannot produce bad fruit and a rotten tree cannot bear good fruit.  Any tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown in the fire.  So you will know them by their fruit." - Matthew 7:15-20 

(Most probably Matthew gives us these words of JESUS for the benefit of certain believers in the early Church who considered themselves as charismatic prophets.  They may well have received gifts of the Spirit but have degenerated since then.  In a wider sense JESUS' words address all who encourage division, untruth and violence, even when they pretend to serve a just cause.

Prophets wore a sheepskin by way of a cloak: a wolf could hide in one.  The world has always had a number of "false prophets," usually prophets of easy life, and if the Word of GOD condemns them, many will say that word has been misinterpreted.  It would be well however to ask ourselves why our holy and sacred liberalism tends to sow death in all domains and smothers in so many the ability to believe and hope.

Do you ever pick grapes from thornbushes?  JESUS invites us to look at the facts before coming to conclusions.  We find it hard to carefully observe the reality in which we live.  We prefer to discuss and debate about ideas rather than to analyze particular situations.  JESUS, accustomed to manual labor, distrusts ideas and theories.)   

On-Track 

Enter Through The Narrow Gate!

Hello! and happy good Tuesday to all of us, GUYS.  For our "daily bread" today:

THE GOOD NEWS (21 June 2016)

"Enter through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many go that way.  How narrow is the gate that leads to life and how rough the road; few there are who find it." - Matthew 7:13-14

(Maybe someone was asking JESUS: "Who will be saved?" [Matthew 19:25].  In no instance did JESUS say whether those who would share in eternal life would be many or few.  HE did say many times that very few would be chosen from among the many called.  That means that among the many people privileged to meet HIM, very few would experience the Gospel's riches and bring forth fruit in themselves and for others.  The chosen or approved are those who persevere and strive for perfect freedom.

For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many go that way.  They stray from leading a life in which JESUS is everything for them.  They waste the gifts of GOD entrusted to them and apparently become useless for the Kingdom.  Yet, even so, they are not deprived of GOD's mercy.)  

On-Track

Don't Be A Judge

Hi! and happy good first day of the week to all of us, GUYS.  Our "daily bread" this Monday:

THE GOOD NEWS (20 June 2016)

"Do not judge and you will not be judged.  In the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and the measure you use for others will be used for you.  Why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye and not see the plank in your own eye?  How can you say to your brother: 'Come, let me take the speck from your eye,' as long as that plank is in your own?  Hypocrite, take first the plank out of your own eye, then you will see clear enough to take the speck out of your brother's eye." - Matthew 7:1-5 

(No doubt when JESUS spoke these words it was with the same meaning as in 5:43.  Usually those who consider themselves as good, or belonging to the group of the converted, judge and criticize those of a different standing.  It is a form of pride that spiritual authors call the "fault of beginners."  So strongly inscribed is it in human nature that many among the "just" of the Bible have expressed their disapproval of the "sinner" who did not observe the law of GOD.  Contrariwise the new law tells us not to consider ourselves superior or be judges of those who take a different road, or who are led by GOD to do so.  Do not judge.  We must exercise good judgment in order to distinguish between the good and evil around us.  Though it is a factor of success never to displease anyone, we must have the courage to tell others the wrong that they do.  Here "to judge" means to condemn.

Where we look at our own lives, we realize that those who helped us grow were those who supported and understood us, not those who judged and condemned us.

Do not judge.  See Romans 2:1; 14:4; 1 Corinthians 5:12; James 4:11.)

On-Track

Take Up Your Cross Each Day!

Hello! and happy holy and family day to all of us, GUYS.  Our first-thing-first this Sunday:

THE GOOD NEWS (19 June 2016)

"JESUS also said to all the people, 'If you wish to be a follower of MINE, deny yourself and take up your cross each day, and follow ME.  For if you choose to save your life, you will lose it, and if you lose your life for MY sake, you will save it.  What does it profit you to gain the whole world while you destroy or damage yourself?  If someone feels ashamed of ME and of MY words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of HIM when HE comes in HIS Glory and in the Glory of HIS FATHER with HIS holy angels.  Truly, I say to you, there are some here who will not experience death before they see the kingdom of GOD'." - Luke 9:23-27 

(Take up your cross each day.  Here comes the acceptance of the cross which the LORD gives to each one of us and which we do not have to choose because we find it in our destiny.  We must not carry it because we are compelled to, but rather we must love it because the LORD wished it for us.

In a world where it has become usual to live one's own life - and in so doing, to waste it, many difficult, even abnormal children, will cause their parents to become true followers of JESUS in bearing their cross.

If you choose to save your life.  JESUS refers to the general orientation of our life.  HE has nothing in common with those who are only concerned about avoiding "sins," while they pursue their ambitions and their desire to enjoy this life to the fullest.  The mere fact of seeking to live without risks separates us from GOD's way.

If someone feels ashamed of ME.   Besides the cross given to us each day, GOD will ask us to witness to our faith and in that we will have to run risks, even if it is nothing more than the risk of being ridiculed by our friends and our boss.  During periods of violence, can Christians remain silent, limit themselves to their "spiritual" reunions, give no concrete indication of what they themselves think and live?)

On-Track

The Lamp Of The Body Is The Eye

Hi! and happy good weekend to all of us, GUYS.  Our "daily bread" this Saturday:

THE GOOD NEWS (18 June 2016)

"The lamp of the body is the eye; if your eyes are sound, your whole body will be in the light.  If your eyes are diseased your whole body will be in darkness.  Then, if your light has become darkness, how dark will be the darkest part of you!" - Matthew 6:22-23 

(Here eye is the conscience.  To be bright-eyed signifies generosity, to be dark-eyed signifies meanness. JESUS emphasizes what HE has just said: a misinformed conscience leads us astray and turns us in on ourselves.)

She has really a big heart!

On-Track

"Do Not Treasure Treasures."

Hello! and happy TGIF to all of us, GUYS.  For our "food for the soul" this Friday:

THE GOOD NEWS (17 June 2016)

"Do not store up treasure for yourself here on earth where moth and rust destroy it, and where thieves can steal it.  Store up treasure for yourself with GOD, where no moth or rust can destroy nor thief come and steal it.

For where your treasure is, there also your heart will be." - Matthew 6:19-21 

GOD's Providence

(The Gospel says: "Do not treasure treasures," treasures meaning those savings held in reserve rather than something that is loved.  For centuries the majority of human beings rarely had personal reserves: the family or the clan took charge of the reserve in times of adversity.  Today each one is in charge of his own resources; it is perhaps better, but how do we escape the obsession  of a secure future?  Once more JESUS invites us to believe in the Providence of the FATHER: if we have HIS interests at heart, HE will look after ours.

Store up with GOD.  Gospel says "in Heaven" and we know that Heaven is one of the names of GOD.

There also your heart will be.  [In the Jewish culture the heart is where judgments and decisions are made].  I do not possess things but they possess me and by degrees impose on me a certain life-style.

It is this certitude that motivates any effort made towards "evangelical poverty."  It is a question of being as free as possible for action and for love.  JESUS calls us to disinterested action and at the same time warns us against inordinate attachment to persons, to ideas and possessions: we are to be ready for anything but must never get attached to the fruits of action.)

On-Track

GOD Reigns And The Idols Disappear

Hi! and happy good Thursday to all of us, GUYS.  For our "food for the soul" today:

THE GOOD NEWS (16 June 2016)

"The LORD reigns; let the earth rejoice;

let the distant islands be glad.

Clouds and darkness surround HIM;

justice and right are HIS throne.

Fire goes before HIM,

burning HIS foes on every side.

HIS lightning lights up the world;

the earth watches and trembles.

The mountains melt like wax

before the LORD, the LORD of all the earth.

The heavens proclaim HIS justice,

all peoples see HIS glory.

Shame on worshipers of idols,

on those proud of their worthless images.

Let all spirits bow before HIM."

- Psalm 97:1-7

(We often find it hard to share the enthusiasm and joy of the psalmist who sees so clearly the world divided between the good and the wicked.  We rather see the world covered by a fog where each one has his own excuses and share of wickedness.  The confusion is temporary, however, there is good seed and there are weeds, and each one goes towards what he prefers. GOD hates evil as much as HE loves HIMSELF, and what cannot return to GOD should be destroyed.

Already light shines on the just.  Already it shines on the person of the risen CHRIST.)

On-Track

I Seek Refuge In YOU, LORD

Hello! and happy good mid-week to all of us, GUYS.  Our "daily bread" this Wednesday:

"How great is the goodness which YOU have stored for those who fear YOU, which YOU show, for all to see, to those who take refuge in YOU 

In the shelter of YOUR presence YOU hide them from human wiles; YOU keep them in YOUR dwelling, safe from the intrigues of wagging tongues.

Blessed be the LORD for HIS wonderful love!  HE has strengthened my heart. 

I said in my fright: 'I have been cut off from YOUR sight!'

Yet when I was crying, YOU heard; when I called for mercy, YOU listened.

Love the LORD, all you HIS saints!  The LORD preserves HIS faithful, but HE fully requites the arrogant." - Psalm 31:20-24 

(Luke attributes these words to JESUS on the cross.  A little further on we find other words.  "YOU are MY GOD," which are also in Psalm 22, and closely linked to the Passion.  It will be our last hope at the moment of death.

Into YOUR hands I commend MY spirit.) 

On-Track

Love Of Enemies

Hello! and happy good Tuesday to all of us, GUYS.  Our "food for the soul" today:

"You have heard that it was said: Love your neighbor and do not do good to your enemy.  But this I tell you: Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your FATHER in Heaven.  For HE makes HIS sunrise on both the wicked and the good, and HE gives rain to both the just and the unjust.

If you love those who love you, what is special about that?  Do not even tax collectors do as much?  And if you are friendly only to your friends, what is so exceptional about that?  Do not even the pagans do as much?  For your part you shall be righteous and perfect in the way your heavenly FATHER  is righteous and perfect." - Matthew 5:43-48 

(Love your neighbor.  Here we come to the last of the opposites between the Old Law and the New.  The Old Testament spoke of loving a neighbor and this was a matter of solidarity among the members of the people of GOD.   With the Gospel the word "love" is not only given a wider dimension: it introduces us into a world totally different.  Solidarity within the group is supported by an instinct inscribed in nature.  This love however does not cross the frontiers that separate social groups: those only exist and find their identity in opposing others.

Do not do good to your enemy.  The text is not found in the Bible as it stands but its equivalent is in several places [Deuteronomy 7:2].  Referring to enemies of the nation rather than to personal enemies, we are asked to be wary of them, not to help them and even to exterminate them, rather than share their errors.  If in many countries today it is understood that there is no frontier for love, it must be recognized that this ideal is a fruit of the Gospel: JESUS has enlightened our minds by asking us to model the love of our neighbor on the universal love of GOD the FATHER.  We have only to open a newspaper to see that this love of neighbor, whatever he be, and even if he comes from a social, national or religious group, in enmity  with ours, remains incomprehensible to the majority even in Christian countries.  When we realize that there is a place for everyone in the present world and that GOD directs everything for the benefit of all, we see things as GOD does and are perfect as the FATHER is perfect.

Love your enemies: Mark 12:31; Luke 10:27; Romans 13:9; Galatians 5:14; Romans 12:20; Luke 23:34; Acts 7:60; Romans 12:14; Ephesians 5:1.)

On-Track

Morning Prayer

Hi! happy good first day of the week to all of us, GUYS.  For our "food for the soul" this Monday:

THE GOOD NEWS (13 June 2016)

"O LORD, listen to my words and hear my complaint,

give heed to my sighs, my King and my GOD.

From daybreak YOU hear  my voice, from dawn I am in YOUR presence watching for YOU.

YOU are not a GOD who delights in wickedness; evil has no place in YOU.

The arrogant cannot stand before YOU.  YOU hate all who do evil;

YOU destroy all who speak falsehood, who thirst for blood and live on lies; all of them the LORD detests.

- Psalm 5:2-7

(Let us begin the day by asking GOD to be our light and our strength; going also to the house of GOD, HIS temple where HIS light and HIS strength are within our reach.)

The House Of GOD

On-Track

I Am Crucified With CHRIST!

Hi! and happy holy and family day to all of us, GUYS.  For our first-thing-first this Sunday:

THE GOOD NEWS (12 June 2016)

"Yet we know that a person is justified not by practicing the law but by faith in CHRIST JESUS.  So we have believed in CHRIST JESUS that we may receive true righteousness from faith in CHRIST JESUS, and not from the practices of the Law, because no one will be justified by the works of the law.

Now, if in our own effort to be justified in CHRIST we ourselves have been found to be sinners, then CHRIST would be at the service of sin.  Not so!  But look: if we do away with something and then restore it, we admit we did wrong.

As for me, the very Law brought me to die to the Law, that I may live for GOD.  I am crucified with CHRIST.  Do I live?  It is no longer me; CHRIST lives in me.  My life in this body is life through faith in the Son of GOD who loved me and gave HIMSELF for me.  In this way I don't ignore the gift of GOD, for, if justification comes through the practice of the Law, CHRIST would have died for nothing." - Galatians 2:16-21  

(Paul develops here what his reply to Peter contained: when you welcomed Christian faith, you gave up any hope of being rewarded for fulfilling the commandments; you put instead all your trust in JESUS as a Savior.  This challenge has made Christian faith very strong.  If now, for fear of scandalizing the Jews you decline from eating with non-Jews, all will understand that you have gone too far and that in fact the Law is still valid.

If we do away with something and then restore it.  This is exactly what the Galatians are doing in  their turn.  Paul taught them to be free of the prejudices of their pagan religion just as of the practices of the Old Testament.  Now without these practices they feel naked: was faith in CHRIST sufficient when all around them each one had religion and practices?  It was not pleasant to be circumcised, but at least, it gave you an identity.

We have here a summary of what Paul will develop four years later in chapters 2-8 in his letter to the Romans.  We must not let the defense  of Christian freedom, something that was so new and had not finished cracking cultural and social molds, hide from us what Paul would most like to transmit: "CHRIST lives in me."  Paul is not a theoretician; what makes him write today and tomorrow urges him to cross seas and traverse mountains in a passionate love of  JESUS-GOD.  It would need audacity to comment on this dwelling of CHRIST in those HE loves and who love HIM.  It has taken nothing less than this love without reserve, to bring about the greatest achievement of Christian faith and yet the least noticed: pardon and humility among others: I am crucified with CHRIST.)  

On-Track

Paul Sent By The Church

Hi! and  happy good weekend to all of us, GUYS.  Our "food for the soul" this Saturday:

THE GOOD NEWS (11 June 2016)

“There were at Antioch – in the Church which was there – prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Symeon known as Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod, and Saul.  On one occasion while they were celebrating the LORD and fasting, the Holy Spirit said to them, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul to do the work for which I have called them.'  So, after fasting and praying, they laid their hands on them and sent them off.” – Acts 13:1-3 

Paul And Barnabas

(This is the beginning of Paul's missions; for the time being he is  sent as Barnabas' assistant.

It is very difficult to know how the Church organized itself in the beginning.  It did not have the same kind of hierarchy with three orders that we have now: bishops, presbyters [or priests] and deacons: this started only at the end of the first century.  The Churches of Jerusalem and Antioch were certainly not directed as those in small towns.  Most of the time, the communities chose their elders among the most trusted men.  They had to be recognized or installed either by the apostles or some other superior authority and accepted by the neighboring communities.  Their ministry as leaders included baptism, the celebration of the Eucharist and the anointing of the sick.  This institution of the Elders [see 14:23 and 11:30] copied exactly the organization of the Jewish communities.

 However, wherever there were prophets accepted as such [this was the case in Antioch], they enjoyed greater authority, somewhat like the apostles [1 Corinthians 12:28 and Ephesians 2:20].

 Paul and Barnabas are not considered apostles yet, but they are prophets.  As for the teachers: they are those who have the ability to teach doctrine and morality based on Scripture, for the service of the community.

 Luke gives the details of the beginning of this mission.  It emerges from the initiative of the Holy Spirit, but responds to the life of fervor of the community of Antioch.  Note also that the community agrees to have two of its five leaders leave, and that Saul and Barnabas are ready to face the risks of this adventure.

 The laying on of hands invokes the grace of GOD upon these two missionaries.)

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The Encounter With GOD

Hello! and happy TGIF to all of us, GUYS.  For our "daily bread" this Friday:

THE GOOD NEWS (10 June 2016)

"On reaching the place, he came to the cave and stayed in it.  Then the word of YAHWEH came to him, 'What are you doing here, Elijah?'  He answered, 'I am burning with jealous love for YAHWEH, the GOD of Hosts, because the Israelites have forsaken YOUR covenant, thrown down YOUR altars, and slain YOUR prophets with the sword.  No one is left but myself and they are still trying to kill me as well.'  Then YAHWEH said, 'Go up and stand on the mount, waiting for YAHWEH.'  And YAHWEH passed by.

There was first a windstorm, wild wind rent the mountains and broke the rocks into pieces before YAHWEH, but YAHWEH was not in the wind.  After the storm, an earthquake, but YAHWEH was not in the earthquake.  After the earthquake, a fire, but YAHWEH was not in the fire.  After the fire, the murmur of a gentle breeze.  When Elijah perceived it, he covered his face with his cloak, went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.

Then he heard a voice addressing him again, 'What are you doing here, Elijah?'  He answered, 'I am burning with jealous love for YAHWEH, the GOD of Hosts, because the Israelites have forsaken YOUR covenant, thrown down YOUR altars and slain YOUR prophets with the sword.  No one is left but myself, yet they still seek my life to take it away.'

YAHWEH said to him, 'Take the road back through the desert and go to Damascus for you must anoint Hazael as king of Syria; you shall also anoint Jehu, son of  Nimshi, as king over Israel; and Elisha, son of Shaphat, from Abel Meholah, you shall anoint as prophet in your place." - 1 Kings 19:9-16 

Elijah's Encounter With GOD

 (Thus Elijah arrives at Horeb: it is the other name of Sinai, where YAHWEH had revealed HIMSELF to Moses four centuries earlier.

Go up and stand on the mount, waiting for YAHWEH.  To him who is afire with a jealous love for GOD, GOD manifests HIS tenderness beyond all that we can imagine.  Thus, YAHWEH reveals HIMSELF in the gentle breeze more than in the hurricane or in the earthquake.

What are you doing here, Elijah?  First, GOD asks a question and obliges the prophet to discover the depth of his heart.  There is nothing in Elijah but his jealous love for YAHWEH.  YAHWEH, in turn, reveals HIS infallible plans.

Hazael, Jehu, Elisha.  YAHWEH tells Elijah about the future of Israel with all its tragic truth: the kingdom, gloriously begun with David and Solomon, is destined to disappear.  This will be the result of the people's disobedience.

- Hazael, king of Syria, is the enemy king who will conquer and humiliate Israel.

- Jehu will destroy Ahab's family and annihilate the worshipers of Baal.

- Elisha will transmit the menacing words of YAHWEH.

Nevertheless, Israel will not totally disappear, for GOD reserves a Remnant, expressed in symbolic form by 7,000 Israelites who have not knelt before Baal.

This revelation clarifies the mission of the prophets of the Bible.  The majority of them, and the greatest among them, lived during the three centuries in which Israel passed from the glory of Solomon to the Exile.  So the prophets:

- tried to hold back the infidelity of the chosen people who were heading to their ruin;

- called for inner conversion, that of the heart;

- taught the marvelous future which GOD had reserved for the "remnant" of Israel, after the destruction of their material kingdom in the land of Palestine.) 

The Destruction Of Israel

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