There Are Many Workers, The Building Is One

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

THE GOOD NEWS (31 August 2016)

"I could not, friends, speak to you as spiritual persons but as fleshly people, for you are still infants in CHRIST.  I gave you milk and not solid food, for you were not ready for it and up to now you cannot receive it for you are still of the flesh.  As long as there is jealousy and strife, what can I say but that you are at the level of the flesh and behave like ordinary people.

While one says: 'I follow Paul,' and the other: 'I follow Apollos,' what are you but people still at a human level?

Church People Working Together

For what is Apollos?  What is Paul?  They are ministers and through them you believed, as it was given by the LORD to each of them.  I planted, Apollos watered the plant, but GOD made it grow.  So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but GOD who makes the plant grow.

The one who plants and the one who waters work to the same end, and the LORD will pay each according to their work.  We are fellow-workers with GOD, but you are GOD's field and building." - 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 

(Paul is founder of churches and others come after him, apostles, prophets or teachers, to preach and encourage the people.  Paul is not jealous, but it could be that some of them seek their own prestige, forgetting that the Church belongs only to GOD.  It could also be that the believers compare one apostle with another, and do this readily inasmuch as they are ignorant of what apostolic work really is.)  

On-Track

The Spirit Teaches Us Wisdom

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

THE GOOD NEWS (30 August 2016)

"GOD has revealed it to us, through HIS Spirit, because the Spirit probes everything, even the depth of GOD.

Who but HIS own spirit knows the secrets of a person?  Similarly, no one but the Spirit of GOD knows the secrets of GOD.  We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from GOD and, through HIM, we understand what GOD in HIS goodness has given us.

So we speak of this, not in terms inspired by human wisdom, but in a language taught by the Spirit, explaining a spiritual wisdom to spiritual persons.  The one who remains on the psychological level does not understand the things of the Spirit.  They are foolishness for him and he does not understand because they require a spiritual experience.  On the other hand, the spiritual person judges everything but no one judges him.  Who has known the mind of GOD so as to teach HIM?  But we have the mind of CHRIST." - 1 Corinthians 2:10-16 

(Christian faith proposes that which no human doctrine, no religion could have given us.  At times, comparing ourselves with those who follow a spiritual way outside Christianity, it would seem that we are saying the same thing with different words.  This is partly true regarding our attitudes and our choices in life, but we should not be afraid to confess the riches GOD has given us in CHRIST: HIS Spirit gives us what no one has ever penetrated.

Such knowledge is not intellectual, it is a gift of the Spirit that sows and develops in us the one and only truth.  It is very difficult to give an explanation of a truly spiritual experience.  We can only speak of wisdom to those who have attained a certain spiritual level.  That is why Paul tells the Corinthians that most of them are unable to criticize him.

The one who remains on the psychological level.  [Paul says precisely: "the psychic man"] does not reach the truth of CHRIST.  However the spiritual person, not necessarily the intellectual person, knows by gift of GOD the things of GOD. 

The spiritual person judges everything and no one judges him.  He who sees has no way of convincing the blind person that there are colors.  He sees them, however, and knows that if the blind person does not see them, it is not because the thing is doubtful, but because the blind person has neither eyes nor criteria for that.  It is the same with the spiritual person and the carnal one.)

   
On-Track                                           

I AM With You To Rescue You

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

THE GOOD NEWS (29 August 2016)

"But you, get ready for action; stand up and say to them all that I command you.  Be not scared of them or I will scare you in their presence!

See, I will make you a fortified city, a pillar of iron with walls of bronze, against all the nations, against the kings and princes of Judah, against the priests and the people of the land.  They will fight against you but shall not overcome you, for I AM with you to rescue you - it is YAHWEH who speaks." - Jeremiah 1:17-19

 

(I AM with you to rescue you.  YAHWEH repeats what HE said to Moses when HE called him [Exodus 3:12] and what HE will also say to Paul [Acts 26:17].  Moreover, Jeremiah is assured that the LORD destined him for this mission, of which he had never thought, and which frightens him:  Even before I formed you in the womb I have known you; even before you were born I had set you apart.  Later, the same will be said of John the Baptist [Luke 1:15], of CHRIST [see Isaiah 49] and of Paul [Galatians 1:15].)

On-Track                                                    

Humility

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

THE GOOD NEWS (28 August 2016)

"MY son, conduct your affairs with discretion and you will be loved by those who are acceptable to GOD.

The greater you are, the more you should humble yourself and thus you will find favor with GOD.  For great is the power of the LORD and it is the humble who give HIM glory.

Do not seek what is beyond your powers nor search into what is beyond your ability.  Reflect on what you are commanded to do; there is no need for you to know things that are hidden.

Do not tire yourself in resolving useless questions since the knowledge you already have goes beyond human understanding.

For many have been led astray by their personal theories and false pretension has undermined reason.

The obstinate man will eventually fall into evil, and he who loves danger will perish there in.  The obstinate man will be weighed down with sufferings; the sinner heaps up sin upon sin.

For the sufferings of the proud man there is no remedy, the roots of evil are implanted in him.  The wise man reflects on proverbs.  What the wise man desires is an attentive ear. - Sirach 3:17-29  

 On-Track

Let The One Who Boasts Boast Of The LORD

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

THE GOOD NEWS (27 August 2016)

"Brothers and sisters, look and see whom GOD has called.  Few among you can be said to be cultured or wealthy, and few belong to noble families.  Yet GOD has chosen what the world considers foolish, to shame the wise; HE has chosen what the world considers weak to shame the strong.  GOD has chosen common and unimportant people, making use of what is nothing to nullify the things that are, so that no mortal may boast before GOD.  But, by GOD's grace you are in CHRIST JESUS, who has become our wisdom from GOD, and who makes us just and holy and free.  Scripture says: Let the one who boasts boast of the LORD."  - 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 

(See whom GOD has called.  The Church of Corinth is formed of ordinary people: this is their strength.  Everybody has his place and his mission in the Church.  Ordinary people and poor communities, often persecuted and calumniated, have a primary role in the evangelization of the world.  GOD wants them to evangelize the rich and at times, even the hierarchy.)                                                                                                                                        

On-Track                  

The Folly Of The Cross

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

THE GOOD NEWS (26 August 2016)

"For CHRIST did not send me to baptize, but to proclaim HIS Gospel.  And not with beautiful words!  That would be like getting rid of the cross of CHRIST.  The language of the cross remains nonsense for those who are lost.  Yet for who are saved, it is the power of GOD, as Scripture says:      I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and make fail the foresight of the foresighted.  Masters of human wisdom, educated people, philosophers, you have no reply!  And the wisdom of this world?  GOD let it fail.

At first GOD spoke the language of wisdom, and the world did not know GOD through wisdom.  Then GOD thought of saving the believers through the foolishness that we preach.

The Jews ask for miracles and the Greeks for a higher knowledge, while we proclaim a crucified Messiah.  For the Jews, what a great scandal!  And for the Greeks, what nonsense!  But HE is CHRIST, the power of  GOD and the wisdom of GOD for those called by GOD among both Jews and Greeks.

In reality, the "foolishness" of GOD is wiser than humans, and the "weakness" of GOD is stronger than humans." - 1 Corinthians 17-25 

(Even if these Christians in Corinth are not great "intellectuals," as good Greeks that they are, they enjoy fine discourses and want to be seen as cultured persons.  At this time throughout the Roman Empire people are in search of esoteric doctrines and some people in the Church see in faith the means of  acceding to a higher knowledge.  So Paul will tell them that all Christian wisdom is contained in the cross.

That would be like getting rid of the cross of CHRIST.  The cross should be present in the message we preach and in the way we preach it.

Moreover in evangelization it will always cost us to work with poor resources in a world subject to media.  We need to count on the grace of GOD because we are weak and without titles of prestige.  It will cost us to remind our communities of the poverty of JESUS and to be criticized by those who are well off in the world.)

On-Track

Called To Be Holy

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

THE GOOD NEWS (25 August 2016)

"From Paul, called to be an apostle of CHRIST JESUS by the will of GOD, and from Sosthenes, our brother, to GOD's Church which is in Corinth; to you whom GOD has sanctified in CHRIST JESUS and called to be holy, together with those who everywhere call upon the name of our LORD CHRIST JESUS, their LORD and ours.

Receive grace and peace from GOD our FATHER, and CHRIST JESUS our LORD. 

I give thanks constantly to my GOD for you and for the grace of GOD given to you in CHRIST JESUS.  For you have been fully enriched in HIM with words as well as with knowledge, even as the testimony concerning CHRIST was confirmed in you.  You do not lack any spiritual gift and only await the glorious coming of CHRIST JESUS, our LORD.  HE will keep you steadfast to the end, and you will  be without reproach on the day of the coming of our LORD JESUS.  The faithful GOD will not fail you after calling you to this fellowship with HIS Son, CHRIST JESUS, our LORD." - 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 

(From Paul called to be an apostle.... to GOD's church which is in Corinth... with those who everywhere call upon the name of our LORD CHRIST JESUS.  With these three expressions Paul defends his authority.  He reminds the Corinthians, so easily entrenched in their rivalries, that they are part of a greater reality, the Universal Church of GOD.

Called to be holy.  You have to become holy, but you already are.  Holy, in the biblical sense, is the person or thing that belongs to GOD.  The baptized have been consecrated to GOD and form part of the people who belong to GOD, the assembly of the holy ones, which is the Church.

GOD's call does not allow them to remain as they are.  Their conscience readily adapted to the moral norms of their milieu, but now, GOD's call demands a renunciation of a certain vision of existence based on 'the natural.'  They will have to be orientated, as best they can, towards an ideal of life found in the person of CHRIST.   

In CHRIST.  A single Greek preposition used by Paul is to be translated into English as in or through or with, according to the case.  "In CHRIST" has  many meanings:

- We are sons and daughters of GOD, made after the image of the only Son of GOD, and GOD loves us in CHRIST.

- GOD the FATHER saves us through CHRIST.

- The FATHER calls us to share with CHRIST his inheritance.

- We have become part of the body of CHRIST; we live in CHRIST and have received HIS Spirit.

- The word "Christian," used for the first time in Antioch [Acts 11:26] to denote the disciples of CHRIST, was still not widely used; often in CHRIST means Christian.  So "marry in CHRIST" signified "to marry in a Christian way."

HE will keep you steadfast to the end.  The hope that maintains the "tone" of faith is the return of CHRIST.  The first Christian generation expected to witness HIS glorious coming: HE would judge the world and take HIS own with HIM [1 Thessalonians 4:13].)            

On-Track

Nathanael

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

THE GOOD NEWS (24 August 2016)

"Philip found Nathanael and said to him, 'We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and the prophets as well: HE is JESUS, son of Joseph, from Nazareth.'

Nathanael replied, 'Can anything good come from Nazareth?'  Philip said to him, 'Come and see.'  When JESUS saw Nathanael coming, HE said of him, 'Here comes an Israelite, a true one; there is nothing false in him.'  Nathanael asked HIM, 'How do you know me?'  And JESUS said to him, 'Before Philip called you, you were under the fig tree, and I saw you.'

Nathanael answered, 'Master, YOU are the Son of GOD!  YOU are the king of Israel!'  But JESUS replied, 'You believe because I said, 'I saw you under the fig tree.'  But you will see greater things than that.

Truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened, and the angels of GOD ascending and descending upon the Son of Man'." - John 1:45-51 

Philip And Nathanael

(You will see the heavens opened.  Jacob's dream [Genesis 28:12] has seen the heavens open and the angels of GOD forming a living bridge between heaven and earth: this is an image of the communion with GOD which people seek in vain with their various religions.  These may give us some external knowledge of GOD and satisfy our religious instincts.  Even if we interiorize our search for GOD, we are sinful people who cannot find HIS inner presence without being called by HIM.

The only bridge between GOD and humankind is CHRIST: Son of GOD become man, both GOD and human.  Later, in referring to this text JESUS will declare that HE is the Gate to heaven, because in HIM, GOD has embraced humanity.)  

On-Track

GOD Loves Justice

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

THE GOOD NEWS (23 August 2016)

"Say among the nations, 'The LORD reigns!'

HE will judge the peoples with justice.

Let the heavens be glad, the earth rejoice;

let the sea and all that fills it resound;

let the fields exult and everything in them;

let the forest, all the trees, sing for joy.

Let them sing before the LORD

who comes to judge the earth.

HE will rule the world with justice

and the peoples with fairness.

- Psalm 96:10-13

(More than on the splendor of the universe, human society is founded on justice that glorifies GOD: there is joy in creation when GOD establishes HIS kingdom among us.  Yes, joy of the universe, until then devastated by our exaggerated ambitions.  Joy of nations that have discovered why they exist.)

  

On-Track

To Us A Child Is Born

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

THE GOOD  NEWS (22 August 2016)

"The people who walk in darkness

have seen a great light.

A light has dawned

on those who live in the land of the shadow of death.

YOU have enlarged the nation;

YOU have increased their joy.

They rejoice before YOU,

as people rejoice at harvest time

as they rejoice in dividing the spoil.

For the yoke of their burden,

the bar across their shoulders,

the rod of their oppressors,

YOU have broken it as on the day of Midian.

Every warrior's boot that tramped in war,

every cloak rolled in blood,

will be thrown out for burning,

will serve as fuel for the fire.

For a child is born to us,

a son is given us;

the royal ornament is laid upon HIS shoulder,

and HIS name is proclaimed:

'Wonderful Counselor, Mighty GOD,

Everlasting FATHER, Prince of Peace.'

To the increase of HIS powerful rule

in peace, there will be no end.

Vast will be HIS dominion,

HE will reign on David's throne

and over all his kingdom,

to establish and uphold it

with justice and righteousness

from this time onward and forever.

The zealous love of YAHWEH Sabaoth will do this."

- Isaiah 9:1-6

(The people who walk in darkness...  The Gospel [Matthew 4:16] sees in that people the crowds whom JESUS addresses:

- a people dominated by every kind of oppressors;

- a people seeking light and without hope.

A child is born: in growing up HE will lose nothing of HIS child-like qualities, but will do away with the pride of nations.

Without doubt this child is the one named Emmanuel in 7:15.  Here again, HIS name signifies what GOD will do through HIM.  Through HIM GOD will be revealed as "Wonderful Counselor" which means HE whose "counsel," whose plans are marvelously wise.  GOD "FATHER" as HE was for David, "Strong GOD" as HE was for Jacob.  The "Prince of Peace," HE is still GOD but HE will be so in giving the victory to HIS king, HIS "messiah," as HE did for David.

As was already the case for Emmanuel, GOD-with-us, these appellations which seem at first said for GOD could be equally applied to the future king who will be "HIS" king, which usually expressed with the word Messiah.  In any case it prophetically announces what in fact would happen: GOD HIMSELF will come in the person of JESUS.)

On-Track

The Pagans Enter The Kingdom Of GOD

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

THE GOOD NEWS (21 August 2016)

"Now I AM going to gather the nations of every tongue, and they will witness MY glory, for I will perform a wonderful thing among them.  Then I will send some of their survivors to the nations - Tarshish, Put, Lud, Moscheck, Rosh, Tubal, and Javan - to the distant islands where no one has ever heard of ME or seen MY glory.  They will proclaim MY glory among the nations.  They will bring your brothers from all the nations as an offering to YAHWEH on horses, in chariots, in litters, on mules, on camels to MY holy mountain in Jerusalem, says YAHWEH, just as the Israelites bring oblations in clean vessels to the house of YAHWEH.  Then I will choose priests and Levites even from them, says YAHWEH." - Isaiah 66:18-21 

(This announces the day when YAHWEH will conquer the pagan nations united against HIM, and that HE will then save them by gathering them.  Few passages of the Bible express such a universal view of GOD's salvation given "to all the families of the earth."  HE had promised it to Abraham, but people had been so obsessed with resentment and hatred among themselves, among villages and religions, that they hardly paid attention.

Be careful to understand the expression "I AM going to gather."  We already saw in Isaiah 6:9 how the Jews spoke about GOD because they were convinced that GOD rules everything.  When someone undertook something they would say that GOD had moved him to do it, and when someone was doing something evil that GOD would later use for his own ends, they would say that GOD had driven him.  Here, "I AM going to gather" means "they will gather but I will use this to achieve the salvation of MY people."

The nations unite against Jerusalem as in the days of Sennacherib [see Isaiah 31:4-9] and they are defeated in a miraculous way: but this time, the survivors, witnesses of the miracle, will reveal the true GOD everywhere.  They will be admitted to GOD's people and they will share the privileges of the Jews ["from among them I will take priests and Levites"].)

On-Track

Do Not Imitate The Teachers Of The Law!

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

THE GOOD NEWS (20 August 2016)

"Then JESUS said to the crowds and to HIS disciples:

The teachers of the Law and the Pharisees sat on the seat of Moses.  So you shall do and observe all they say, but do not do as they do, for they do not do what they say.  They tie up heavy burdens and load them on the shoulders of the people, but they do not even raise a finger to move them.  They do everything in order to be seen by people; so they wear very wide bands of the Law around their foreheads, and robes with large tassels.  They enjoy the first place at feasts and reserved seats in the synagogues, and being greeted in the marketplace and being called 'Master' by the people.

But you, do not let yourselves be called Master because you have only one Master, and all of you are brothers and sisters.  Neither should you call anyone on earth FATHER, HE who is in heaven.  Nor should you be called leader, because CHRIST is the only leader for you.  Let the greatest among you be the servant of all.  For whoever makes himself great shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be made great." - Matthew 23:1-12 

(The teachers of the Law and the Pharisees sat on the seat of Moses.  The Gospel says it with more precision: they have seated themselves in the chair of Moses.  This rather ironic formula suggests that the ambitious appropriate to themselves the authority over the people of GOD and that to a certain point GOD tolerates it.  Matthew, in recording these words of JESUS, wants to preserve in the Church fundamental equality.  It is the whole Church that enjoys the Holy Spirit, and the heads or doctors will have no authority unless they are deeply rooted in the community's life.

Paul will speak of CHRIST and the Church using the comparison of the head and the body [Ephesians 5:25].  Likewise in the Church the authority of the bishop goes hand in hand with fidelity to the Church as it is and does not seek to impose his own projects.

Do all they say.  The bad example of the authorities does not discredit the word of GOD.  Nor does it lessen the principle of authority.  Their bad attitude discredits only their pretense at being superior to others.  They cannot renounce their authority on the pretext of humble service and then carry out what the majority has decided.

JESUS speaks of the form of authority.  Do not be called master or father.  Do not be called "master," the one "who knows" and before whom one is silent; neither must you be called "father," the one who is venerated and imitated, forgetting to look directly at the One who alone is good.  No one in the Church should eclipse the only "FATHER."

Doubtless everyone will say that the word "FATHER" is simply the expression of respectful affection but JESUS affirms that the word has perverse effects.

The purity of faith, which submits to GOD alone, always suffers because of the cult of personality.  The Church should be a community of free persons able to speak frankly.)

"We are the Church together."

On-Track

Which Is The Most Important Commandment In The Law?

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

THE GOOD NEWS (19 August 2016)

"When the Pharisees heard how JESUS had silenced the Sadducees, they came together.  One of them, a teacher of the Law, tried to test HIM with this question, 'Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the Law?  JESUS answered, 'You shall love the LORD, your GOD, with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the first and the most important of the  commandments.  But after this there is another one very similar to it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  The whole Law and the Prophets are founded on these two commandments'." - Matthew 22:34-40 

(You shall love the LORD, your GOD.  This first commandment is not among the Ten Commandments of Moses, which only speak of "serving GOD."  We do read it in Deuteronomy 6:4.

To love GOD is not a commandment like others, because the commandments show specific actions that should be undertaken or avoided, i.e., you shall rest on the day of the LORD, or you shall not commit adultery.  On the other hand, when it comes to loving GOD there is no limit.

The commandments of the Bible [especially the Ten Commandments of Moses] merely express in a clear manner the demands of our conscience.  It should not be necessary to tell us not to steal, and not to slander others.  Nevertheless, it is necessary to teach this to children and to unscrupulous persons.  Paul says, "The Law was not intended for the good, but for those who do evil" [1 Timothy 1:9].

It is the reason why the love of GOD is not presented in the New Testament as a commandment, but as the fruit of the Spirit that GOD gives to HIS sons and daughters: Romans 8, 15 and 22.  GOD is the first to be loved [Matthew 6:9-10; 1 John 4:17] most specially in the person of  HIS Son: 2 Corinthians 5:16; 1 Peter 1:8.  There is no authentic love of neighbor without the love of GOD: 1 John 5:2.

You shall love the LORD, with all your heart.  You shall love HIM more than you love your loved ones.  You shall long for HIM, you shall forget yourself so that, in everything, you search for what HE wants most from you.

You shall love the LORD, with all your mind.  You shall devote the best of your intelligence to knowing HIM.  Looking into your own life, you shall understand how much HE has guided you.  You shall try to understand how the kingdom of GOD is coming through world and daily events.  Praying and reading the Bible regularly, you shall ask GOD to give you HIS own Spirit so that you may understand HIM better.

You shall love the LORD, with all your strength.  Since you are very weak in this, you shall ask for HIS help and strive to unite with the true servants of GOD, using the means that the Church makes available to you.

The commandment to love your neighbor as you love yourself comes second, because it cannot be understood or fulfilled without love of GOD.  For GOD asks for more than solidarity with one's neighbor, or concern for those who are suffering.  We should make an effort to look at our brothers and sisters in the same way that the FATHER does.  We should give them what the FATHER wants for them.  Among so many good things we could do for our neighbor, we should select those that the Holy Spirit inspires us to do.  All this requires that we first know and love GOD.)  

On-Track

A New Heart

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

THE GOOD NEWS (18 August 2016)

"I will make known the holiness of MY great Name, profaned among the nations because of you, and they will know that I AM YAHWEH when I show them MY holiness among you. 

For I will gather you from all the nations and bring you back to your land.  Then I shall pour pure water over you and you shall be made clean - cleansed from the defilement of all your idols. I shall give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you.  I shall remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.  I shall put MY spirit within you and move you to follow MY decrees and keep MY laws.  You will live in the land I gave your forefathers; you shall be MY people and I will be your GOD." - Ezekiel 36:23-28 

The Way To Conversion

(I shall give you a new heart.  Many think it impossible to change the human heart.  Because some have no hope of changing human beings, they accept people as they are, preferring to overlook mediocrity and sinfulness.  Others become bitter about everything and everyone.

This new heart is precisely what GOD offers in this text, quite similar to Jeremiah 31:31 and Ezekiel 11:19.  The experience of the Jewish people showed that human beings are weak and unable to follow the commandments.  Yet if an individual knows GOD personally, to the point of sharing intimately in GOD's life, is there no possibility of change and renewal?

This is the meaning of the word conversion.  To be converted means to come back to GOD after having been away from HIM.  First, there is a change that takes place in the heart, that is to say, in the innermost part of the human being.  Then, there is a change of mentality and attitude.  In fact, it is GOD who converts people, by loving them, attracting them and giving them HIS Spirit, which transforms them into new beings..  I will take away your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.  This will be the New Covenant.

Here may be seen the difference between Jeremiah and Ezekiel.  Ezekiel has been given a pastoral task from GOD: he had to form over long years those who were to rebuild Israel.  Ezekiel is preparing the near future.  I will bring you back to your land: how often Ezekiel will repeat this.  He is in the line of Moses; after him Ezekiel is one who had to lead the people of Israel.  His duties as a pastor prevented him from seeing that a new heart would mean a radical change in the history of Israel: even if the Jews reentered their country, the time of their kingdom had passed and their national hopes would no longer matter.  Jeremiah, on the contrary, who did not bear the same responsibility, lived the tragedy to the full, and in such moments could see that the history of Israel - GOD's people on GOD's earth - was nearing its end: the Gospel had to come.)

On-Track

The Shepherds Of Israel

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

THE GOOD NEWS (17 August 2016)

"The word of YAHWEH came to me in these terms, 'Son of man, speak on my behalf against the shepherds of Israel!  Say to the shepherds on my behalf: Woe to the shepherds of  Israel who feed themselves!  Should not the shepherds feed the flock?  But you feed on milk and are clothed in wool, and you slaughter the fattest sheep.  You have not taken care of the flock, you have not strengthened the weak, cared for the sick or bandaged the injured.  You have not gone after the sheep that strayed or searched for the one that was lost.  Instead you ruled them harshly and were their oppressors.  They have scattered for want of a shepherd and became prey of wild animals.  MY sheep wander over the mountains and high hills; and when they are scattered throughout the land, no one bothers about them or looks for them.

The Good Shepherd

Hear then shepherds, what YAHWEH says: As I live - word of YAHWEH, - because MY sheep have been the prey of wild animals and become their food for want of shepherds, because the shepherds have not cared for MY sheep, because you shepherds have not bothered about them but fed yourselves and not the flocks, because of that, hear the word of YAHWEH.  This is what YAHWEH says: I will ask an account of the shepherds and reclaim MY sheep from them.  No longer shall they tend MY flock; nor shall there be shepherds who feed themselves.  I shall save the flock from their mouths and no longer shall it be food for them.

Ezekiel 34:1-11Indeed YAHWEH says this: I MYSELF will care for my sheep and watch over them'." -

(The LORD YAHWEH gathers HIS scattered flock.

There are two parts to this long comparison in which YAHWEH promises to become the shepherd of HIS flock:

- a revolution,

- a judgment.

Speak on MY behalf against the shepherds of Israel.  Here YAHWEH announces a radical change in the social life of Israel: HE will replace all the shepherds.  The expression "shepherd" applies to all civil authorities, and thus includes the king, the magistrates and the judges.  It does not include the priests and the prophets.  This is contrary to modern usage, since for us the word "pastor" [shepherd] refers only to the spiritual leaders of a community.

Should not the shepherds feed the flock?  The flock does not belong to the shepherds.  YAHWEH condemns the leaders of HIS people who find it normal to enjoy power and wealth without first seeing themselves as the servants of the people.  We can easily imagine the misery of the Jewish people in the days about which Ezekiel writes, immediately after the catastrophe in Jerusalem:

- weak, hungry, sick sheep;

- stray sheep: wandering without home or work, isolated, alienated by the lies of their rulers;

- they became the prey of all the nations, they were taken into exile, or left their homeland looking for work.

I MYSELF will care for MY sheep.  Now YAHWEH has rejected Israel's leaders who have disappeared in the catastrophe and promises to become Israel's pastor.  YAHWEH will be the good shepherd and HE names the responsibilities of a shepherd: to gather, protect, and feed everyone, and to hold back the very powerful.)

On-Track

Choose Life!

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

THE GOOD NEWS (16 August 2016)

"See, I set before you on this day life and good, evil and death.  I command you to love YAHWEH, your GOD and follow HIS ways.  Observe HIS commandments, HIS norms and HIS laws, and you will live and increase, and YAHWEH will give you HIS blessing in the land you are going to possess.  But if your heart turns away and does not listen, if you are drawn away and bow before other gods to serve them, I declare on this day that you shall perish.  You shall not last in the land you are going to occupy on the other side of the Jordan.

Let the heavens and the earth listen, that they may be witnesses against you.  I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse.  Therefore, choose life that you and your descendants may live, loving YAHWEH, listening to HIS voice, and being one with HIM.  In this is life for you and length of days in the land which YAHWEH swore to give to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob." - Deuteronomy 30:15-20 

Good vs. Evil

(This text about the two ways is very famous, reminding us of the importance of our free decisions and GOD's respect for human freedom [see also Sirach 15:11].

Throughout Deuteronomy faithfulness to GOD is spoken of together with the remembrance of HIS promises and rewards here on earth.  This should not surprise us.  In those distant times the people of GOD had no understanding of another life nor of the resurrection and the vision of GOD after death.  They only focused on the present life and their national destiny which, in their view, were more important than the destiny of the individual.  For them, GOD's justice had to be seen on earth in the present.

Later, the Gospel will not promise lands or houses, except in a figurative way [Mark 10:28].  Prosperity will not be mentioned except for the final day when GOD will create the world anew [Acts 3:21 and Revelation 21:3].)  

 On-Track

CHRIST Gave Us The Way

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

THE GOOD NEWS (15 August 2016)

"But no, CHRIST has been raised from the dead and HE comes before all those who have fallen asleep.  A human being brought death; a human being also brings resurrection of the dead.  All die for being Adam's, and in CHRIST all will receive life.  However, each one in his own time: first CHRIST, then CHRIST's people, when HE comes.

Then the end will come, when CHRIST delivers the kingdom to GOD the FATHER, after having destroyed every rule, authority and power.  For HE must reign and put all enemies under HIS feet.  The last enemy to be destroyed will be death." - 1 Corinthians 15:20-26 

The Resurrection Of JESUS CHRIST

(Whoever shares the faith of the apostles has accepted resurrection as a fact.  Paul immediately goes to the consequences for us: shall we also enter another life?  

All die for being Adam's.  See Romans 5:12 concerning Adam and CHRIST.  The myths of various religions in the past projected onto some mysterious personage  our own condition, but were unable to do more than give a meaning to life.  They could not change it.  Faith instead tells us that the Son-of-God-made-human has lived among us and lived for all of us.  Let us leave aside our individualistic vision in which each one sees no more than his own destiny: for GOD the entire venture of creation and salvation is that of Adam, one and multiple at the same time.  JESUS who is HIMSELF Man has lived it fully for us all.

Then the end will come, when CHRIST delivers the kingdom to GOD the FATHER.  Here again, let us leave aside simplistic images.  Let us remember that there is only one GOD.  Here, the Son is the Word of GOD made flesh who has taken on HIS shoulders the whole history of humankind.  HE who is eternally returning to the FATHER from whom HE is born brings to the eternity of GOD all creation.  There will not be a re-beginning of history.  GOD will be all in all, we will receive GOD from GOD and we will have all, finally becoming ourselves.  That, surely, surpasses all we could have imagined, but Paul adds: The last enemy to be destroyed will be death.  John will say the same in Revelation 21:4.)

On-Track

Accept The Correction Of The LORD

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

THE GOOD NEWS (14 August 2016)

"What a cloud of innumerable witnesses surround us!  So let us be rid of every encumbrance, and especially of sin, to persevere in running the race marked out before us.

Let us look to JESUS the founder of our faith, who will bring it to completion.  For the sake of the joy reserved for HIM, HE endured the cross, scorning its shame, and then sat at the right of the throne of GOD.  Think of JESUS who suffered so many contradictions from evil people, and you will not be discouraged or grow weary.  Have you already shed your blood in the struggle against sin?" - Hebrew 12:1-4 

The Passion Of JESUS CHRIST

 (Three reasons for remaining steadfast under testing:

- think about JESUS and HIS sufferings;

- think about "the communion of saints," that is to say, the mysterious bonds uniting all believers;

- think of the trial as a test coming from the FATHER.)

On-Track

JESUS And The Children

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

THE GOOD NEWS (13 August 2016)

"Then little children were brought to JESUS that HE might lay HIS hands on them with a prayer.  But the disciples scolded those who brought them.  JESUS then said, 'Let them be!  Do not stop the children from coming to me, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to people such as these.'  So JESUS laid HIS hands on them and went HIS way." - Matthew 19:13-15 

JESUS And The Children

 

(JESUS, despite having no children of HIS own, opens to everyone the richness of HIS heart.  HE marvels at the mystery of life that begins full of hope, and discovers the likeness of the FATHER in every unknown child.  How could JESUS, who asks us to have hope, forget that the children are also our hope?

We must be like children in order to enter the kingdom of GOD.  We must forget our wisdom and self-sufficiency, and the bitterness of past experience in order to receive GOD's gifts and words in wonder and simplicity.)

On-Track

Song Of The Saved

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

THE GOOD NEWS (12 August 2016)

"HE is the GOD of my salvation;

in HIM I trust and am not afraid,

YAHWEH is my strength: HIM I will praise,

the one who saved me.

You will draw water with joy

from the very fountain of salvation.

Then you will say: 'Praise to the LORD,

break into songs of joy for HIM,

proclaim HIS marvelous deeds among the nations

and exalt HIS Name.

Sing to the LORD: wonders HE has done

let these be known all over the earth.

Sing for joy, O people of Zion,

for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel'."

- Isaiah 12:2-6

Praise To The LORD!

(We have here a song of thanksgiving.  About the fountains of salvation, see Isaiah 55:1 and the story of the Samaritan woman in John 4:1.)

On-Track

The Pardon

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

THE GOOD NEWS (11 August 2016)

"Then Peter asked HIM, 'LORD, how many times must I forgive the offenses of my brother or sister?  Seven ?  JESUS answered, 'No, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.'

This story throws light on the kingdom of heaven.  A king decided to settle the accounts of his servants.  Among the first was one who owed him ten thousand gold ingots.  As the man could not repay the debt, the king commanded that he be sold as a slave with his wife, children and all his goods in payment.

The official threw himself at the feet of the king and said, 'Give me time, and I will pay you back everything.'  The king took pity on him and not only set him free but even canceled his debt.

This official then left the king's presence and he met one of his companions who owed him a hundred pieces of silver.  He grabbed him by the neck and almost strangled him, shouting, 'Pay me what you owe!'  His companion threw himself at his feet and asked him, 'Give me time, and I will pay everything.'  The other did not agree, but sent him to prison until he had paid all his debt.

His companions saw what happened.  They were indignant and so they went and reported everything to their lord.  Then the lord summoned his official and said, 'Wicked servant, I forgave you all that you owed when you begged me to do so.  Weren't you bound to have pity on your companion as I had pity on you?  The lord was now angry, so he handed his servant over to be punished, until he had paid his whole debt.'

JESUS added, 'So will MY heavenly FATHER do with you unless each of you sincerely forgive your brother or sister.'

When JESUS had finished this teaching, HE left Galilee and arrived at the border of Judea, on the other side of the Jordan River." - Matthew 18:21-19:1 

(The offenses we suffer from our companions are nothing compared with our offenses against GOD.  While GOD forgives all, we do not even give others enough breathing space.  GOD does not demand HIS rights, but we, in demanding them, behave like wicked servants [see Matthew 5:43].

This parable goes beyond personal problems.  The world needs, above everything else, the forgiveness of GOD, and those who want a more just society will not achieve it through accusations and hatred.

The parable helps us understand much better another verse in the Bible: Revenge is mine, says the LORD; I will pay each one according to his own conduct.  GOD will not demand an account regarding HIS own rights [what we owe HIM], but regarding the rights of the little ones who, unable to pay, were deprived of them.  HE will also demand an accounting regarding those who were sorry for their sins but were not forgiven by others.

The fourth Discourse of Matthew's Gospel ends with this parable on the duty to forgive.  The Church has not always been as holy as she should have been.  Yet nobody can deny that, at all times, in the Church the mercy of GOD has been preached and people have learned to forgive.)

On-Track