The Catholic Church

 "Many of the Jews who had come with Mary believed in JESUS when they saw what HE did; but some went to the Pharisees and told them what JESUS had done.  So, the chief priests and the Pharisees called together the Council.

They said, 'What are we to do?  For this MAN keeps on performing many miraculous signs.  If we let HIM go on like this, all the people will believe in HIM and, as a result of this, the Romans will come and destroy our Holy Place and our nation.'

Then one of them, Caiaphas, who was High Priest that year, spoke up, 'You know nothing at all!  It is better to have one man die for the people than to let the whole nation be destroyed.'

In saying this Caiaphas did not speak for himself, but being the High Priest that year, he foretold like a prophet that JESUS would die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but also would die in order to gather into one the scattered children of GOD.  So, from that day on, they were determined to kill HIM.

Because of this, JESUS no longer moved about freely among the Jews.  HE withdrew instead to the country near the wilderness and stayed with HIS disciples in a town called Ephraim.

The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and people from everywhere were coming to Jerusalem to purify themselves before the Passover.  They looked for JESUS and, as they stood in the temple, they talked with one another, 'What do you think?  Will HE come to the festival?'" - John 11:45-56 

(Caiaphas' words were fulfilled but not in the sense he intended.  JESUS was going to die to gather into one the scattered children of GOD.

The worldwide effect of CHRIST's resurrection is to unite all of humanity in renewed creation--as JESUS HIMSELF put it, "when I'M lifted up from earth, I shall draw all to MYSELF" [John 12:32].  That is to say, the cross and resurrection are the source of communion and fraternity.

The Church reunites believers of all races and cultures: we call it "Catholic," that is, universal.  This Church, however, is but a beginning and a sign of that which will be attained at the end of time, when the whole of humanity will be reunited in CHRIST [Revelation 7].)

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JESUS Claims To Be The Son Of GOD

 "The Jews then picked up stones to throw at HIM; so, JESUS said, 'I have openly done many good works among you, which the FATHER gave ME to do.  For which of these do you stone ME?'

The Jews answered, 'We are not stoning YOU for doing a good work, but for insulting GOD; YOU are only a man, and YOU make yourself GOD.'

Then JESUS replied, 'Is this not written in your law: I said, you are gods?  So those who received this word of GOD were called gods, and the Scripture is always true.  What then should be said of the one anointed, and sent into the world, by the FATHER?  AM I insulting GOD when I say, 'I AM the Son of GOD'?

If I AM not doing the works of MY FATHER, do not believe ME.  But if I do them, even if you have no faith in ME, believe because of the works I do; and know that the FATHER is in ME, and I in the FATHER.'

Again, they tried to arrest HIM, but JESUS escaped from their hands.  HE went away again to the other side of the Jordan, to the place where John had baptized, and there HE stayed.

Many people came to JESUS, and said, 'John worked no miracles, but he spoke about YOU, and everything he said was true.'  And many in that place became believers." - John 10:31-42 

(In the Scriptures angels are sometimes called sons of GOD, and JESUS remarks that the rulers are called gods.  Because of this, JESUS did not like to be proclaimed Son of GOD.  HE speaks forcefully in saying: the FATHER is in ME, and I in the FATHER: equal to equal.  At the same time that HE stresses HIS divine power, HE also affirms HIS total dependence on the FATHER.  In this we recognize GOD the Son.)

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Abram Becomes Abraham

 "Abram fell face down and GOD said to him, 'This is MY Covenant with you: you will be the father of a multitude of nations.  No longer will you be called Abram, but Abraham, because I will make you the father of a multitude of nations.  I will make you more and more famous; I will multiply your descendants.  And I will establish a covenant, an everlasting Covenant between MYSELF and you and your descendants after you; from now on I will be your GOD and the GOD of your descendants after you, for generations to come.  I will give to you and your descendants after you the land you are living in, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession and I will be the GOD of your race'.  GOD said to Abraham, 'For your part, you shall keep MY covenant, you and your descendants after you, generation after generation.'" - Genesis 17:3-9 

(Abram means venerated father, and Abraham: father of multitude.  In changing the name of HIS servant, GOD enables him to begin a new life and to really become what his new name expresses.  JESUS will proceed in the same way with the first leader of HIS church [John 1:42].)

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The Bronze Serpent

 "From Mount Hor they set out by the Red Sea road to go around the land of Edom.  The people were discouraged by the journey and began to complain against GOD and Moses, 'Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die in the wilderness?  There is neither bread nor water here and we are disgusted with this tasteless manna.'

YAHWEH then sent fiery serpents against them.  They bit the people and many of the Israelites died.  Then the people came to Moses and said, 'We have sinned, speaking against YAHWEH and against you.  Plead with YAHWEH to take the serpents away.'

Moses pleaded for the people and YAHWEH said to him, 'Make a fiery serpent and set it on a standard; whoever has been bitten and then looks at it shall live.'

So, Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a standard; whoever has been bitten and then looks at it shall live.'

So, Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a standard.  Whenever a man was bitten, he looked towards the bronze serpent and he lived.'' - Numbers 21:4-9 

(The story of the serpent is one of those biblical images with a hidden meaning, and people had to wait for the day when CHRIST would give them meaning.  The same is true of the story of Melchizedek [Genesis 14] and the story of Joseph.

The same is true in our own lives; in our past there have been some incidents which we did not understand at that time.  Why did this happen to me?  Someday, the light of CHRIST will reveal the meaning.)

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A Psalm Of Confidence

 "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

HE makes me lie down in green pastures.

HE leads me beside the still waters, 

HE restores my soul.

HE guides me through the right paths

for HIS name's sake.

Although I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I fear no evil,

for YOU are beside me:

YOUR rod and YOUR staff comfort me.

YOU spread a table before me

in the presence of my foes.

YOU anoint my head with oil;

my cup is overflowing.

Goodness and kindness will follow me

all the days of my life,

I shall dwell in the house of the LORD

as long as I live."

- Psalm 23:1-6

(We will be on our way until we reach the Promised Land.  While we journey, this psalm will give us light and consolation.  It is not the repose of death that we await but the resurrection that brings us to the FATHER.  Do we need anymore assurance than that to become a true Christian i.e. CHRIST-like?

The original manuscript uses the word 'YAHWEH is my shepherd.'  Since this psalm is a common, everyday prayer we use, for pastoral purposes, we use the known expression 'The LORD is my shepherd.')

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Prayer Of Repentance And Trust

 "Out of the depths I cry to YOU, O YAHWEH,

O YAHWEH, hear my voice!

Let YOUR ears pay attention

to the voice of my supplication.

If YOU should mark our evil,

O YAHWEH, who could stand?

But with YOU, is forgiveness,

and for that, YOU are revered. 

I waited for YAHWEH, my soul waits;

and I put my hope in HIS word.

My soul expects YAHWEH

more than watchmen, the dawn.

O Israel, hope in YAHWEH,

for with HIM, is unfailing love

and with HIM full deliverance

HE will deliver Israel

from all its sins.

- Psalm 130:1-8

(The psalmist aware of HIS people's faithfulness, is equally sure of GOD's answer to repentance [cf. Nehemiah 1:7-9].  Israel was still waiting, when Simeon took the child in his arms and said: 'My eyes have seen YOUR salvation [Luke 2:30].  He held the infant Son of Man, who came to give HIS life for the redemption of many [Mark 10:45] --'with the LORD, fullness of redemption.'  But since this has come, how can we Christians still await it?  How can we sing the psalm?  Because, though called, we are not yet chosen, though heirs, we do not yet enjoy the inheritance.  Out of these depths, our call must be constant and, if it is constant, it may be confident also.  And there are some whose waiting is a purifying fire.  This, more than any other, is their psalm.) 

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"To Do YOUR Will Is MY Delight, O GOD, For YOUR Law Is Within MY Heart."

 "Sacrifice and oblation YOU did not desire; this, YOU had ME understand.  Burnt offering and sin offering YOU do not require.

Then I said, ' Here I come as the scroll says of ME.  To do YOUR will is MY delight, O GOD, for YOUR law is within MY heart.'

In the great assembly I have proclaimed YOUR saving help.  MY lips, O YAHWEH, I did not seal--YOU know that very well.

I have not locked up in MY heart YOUR saving help, but have spoken about it--YOUR deliverance and YOUR faithfulness;

I have made no secret of YOUR truth and of YOUR kindness in the great assembly."

- Psalm 40:7-8. 8-9. 10. 11

(The psalmist gives us assurance that no matter who we are and what our economic condition, if we love GOD, HE will always and forever be by our side.  The words of Isaiah are echoed in this psalm and JESUS in Luke 4:21 said, "Today these prophetic words come true, even as you listen."  And, the words of JESUS CHRIST our Savior will come true, if only we listen and obey!

Those who have experienced divine love and tenderness will feel impelled to announce it, as a great message, even at the cost of their own lives.)

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The Godless Say There Is No Other Life

 "Led by mistaken reasons they think, 'Life is short and sad and there is no cure for death.  It was never heard that anyone came back from the netherworld.

Let us set a trap for the righteous, for he annoys us and opposes our way of life; he reproaches us for our breaches of the law and accuses us of being false to our upbringing.

He claims knowledge of GOD and calls himself son of the LORD.  He has become a reproach to our way of thinking; even to meet him is burdensome to us.  He does not live like others and behaves strangely.

According to him we have low standards, so he keeps aloof from us as if we were unclean.  He emphasizes the happy end of the righteous and boasts of having GOD as FATHER.

Let us see the truth of what he says and find out what his end will be.  If the righteous is a son of GOD, GOD will defend him and deliver him from his adversaries.

Let us humble and torture him to prove his self-control and test his patience.  When we have condemned him to a shameful death, we may test his words.'

This is the way they reason, but they are mistaken, blinded by their malice.  They do not know the mysteries of GOD, nor do they hope for the reward of a holy life; they do not believe that the blameless will be recompensed." - Wisdom 2:1. 12-22 

(Let us set a trap for the righteous for he opposes our way of life.  Secretly we all admire an upright person, but in any institution, her presence disturbs us--in the trade unions just as in the factories--because we cannot buy her conscience.

He does not live like others and behaves strangely.  When this was written the Jews were not well-thought-of by non-Jews because of all the things in their lives that were different from the pagan customs.  The same is true now, as well; even though believers try not to be distinct, their integrity and enthusiasm make them "strange."

Let us see the truth of what he says.  Because the godless are the friends of death, they necessarily come to persecute and even kill the good.  For them it is like a game to prove to what extent the righteous can remain firm, since they themselves believe in nothing.  They need to destroy others to convince themselves that they alone benefit from life.

If the righteous is a son of GOD, GOD will defend him.  The words in verses 16-20 reveal the situation of JESUS on the cross.  Matthew, in particular, will recall them in 27:43.

This is also verified in the lives of real believers, a scandal to a materialist who enjoys inflicting suffering on those who make sacrifices for others.  We have seen comfortable "Christians" rejoicing over the death of those who speak of justice and who, by their involvement, disturb the conscience of the satisfied.)

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Ingratitude Of Man: The Story Of Israel

 "They made a calf at Horeb and worshiped the molten image.

They exchanged the glory of GOD, who had done great things in Egypt, wonderful works in the land of Ham, and awesome deeds by the Sea of Reeds.

So, HE spoke of destroying them, but Moses, HIS chosen one, stood in the breach before HIM to shield them from destruction."

- Psalm 106:19-23

(It is not only praise that the remembrance of our past calls forth: the story of the Old Testament is a story of people's sin and GOD's mercy, and 'we have sinned like our ancestors'.  We join with our ancestors in confessing it.  To have sinned is not fatal; but to fail to acknowledge it, is.

With this psalm, we recognize ourselves sinners before GOD, sinners as our parents, and we expect to be saved by grace.)

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YAHWEH's Maternal Love For HIS People

 "This is what YAHWEH says:

'At a favorable time, I have answered you, on the day of salvation I have been your help; I have formed you and made you to be MY Covenant with the people.

You will restore the land and allot its abandoned farms.  You will say to the captives: Come out; and to those in darkness: Show yourselves.

They will feed along the road; they will find pasture on barren hills.  They will neither hunger nor thirst, nor will the scorching wind or the sun beat upon them; for HE who has mercy on them will guide them and lead them to springs of water.

I will turn all MY mountains into roads and raise up MY highways.

See, they come from afar, some from the north and west, others from the land of Sinim.'

Sing, O heavens, and rejoice, O earth;

break forth into song, O mountains:

for YAHWEH has comforted HIS people

and taken pity on those who are afflicted.

But Zion said: 'YAHWEH has forsaken me,

my LORD has forgotten me.'

Can a woman forget the baby at her breast

and have no compassion on the child of her womb?

Yet though she forget, I will never forget you."

 - Isaiah 49:8-15

(YAHWEH's maternal love for HIS people.

HE saves them from despair and from being despised, rebuilding Jerusalem and gathering those who were dispersed.  HE invites all the nations to come and recognize the true city.

Here GOD again addresses the more conscious minorities of Israel, those who held onto their hope at a time they seemed to be lost amidst the pagan inhabitants of the materialistic Babylon.  They would lift up their nation and become the light of the world.)   

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