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Tuesday, October 15, 2024
Two Ways Of Living
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Monday, October 14, 2024
Woe To You, Pharisees!
"As JESUS was speaking, a Pharisee asked HIM to have a meal with him. So,
HE went and sat at table. The Pharisee then wondered why JESUS did not first wash HIS hands before dinner. But the LORD said to him, 'So then, you Pharisees, you clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside yourselves you are full of greed and evil. Fools! HE who made the outside, also made the inside. But according to you, by the mere giving of alms everything is made clean'." - Luke 11:37-41
Sunday, October 13, 2024
The Comparison Of Sarah And Hagar
"It says that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman, the other by the free woman, his wife. The son of the slave woman was born in the ordinary way; but the son of the free woman was born in fulfillment of GOD's promise.
Here we have an allegory and the figures of two covenants. The first is the one from Mount Sinai, represented through Hagar: her children have slavery for their lot. We know that Hagar was from Mount Sinai in Arabia: she stands for the present city of Jerusalem which is in slavery with her children.
But the Jerusalem above, who is our mother, is free. And Scripture says of her: Rejoice, barren woman without children, break forth in shouts of joy, you who do not know the pains of childbirth, for many shall be the children of the forsaken mother, more than of the married woman.
You, dearly beloved, are children of the promise, like Isaac. But as at that time the child born according to the flesh persecuted Isaac, who was born according to the spirit, so is it now. And what does Scripture say? Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave cannot share the inheritance with the son of the free woman.
Brethren, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.
CHRIST freed us to make us really free. So, remain firm and do not submit again the yoke of slavery." - Galatians 4:22-5:1
I Prayed And Wisdom Was Given To Me
"I prayed and understanding was given to me; I asked earnestly, and the spirit of Wisdom came to me.
I preferred her to scepters and thrones, and I considered wealth as nothing compared with her.
I preferred her to any jewel of inestimable value, since gold beside her is nothing but a few grains of sand, and silver but mud. I loved her more than wealth and beauty and even preferred her to light, because her radiance never dies.
She brought with her all-other good things, untold riches in her hands." - Wisdom 7:7-11
(All this page is an invitation to seek Wisdom as one would seek a spouse: we remember that at this time sovereign rulers would "espouse" such and such divinity which allowed them at times to take possession, in the name of their spouse, of the treasures in its temple [2 Maccabees 1:14]. Seeking the Wisdom of GOD is no different from what we do when we speak of union with CHRIST: we must not forget that HE is uncreated Wisdom. This communion is not a matter of something sentimental: it is the costly and never-ending search for the one who is the Truth.
I preferred her to any jewel of inestimable value. See Matthew 13:44-45.)
Saturday, October 12, 2024
Blessed Is The One Who Gave YOU Birth!
"As JESUS was speaking, a woman spoke from the crowd and said to HIM, 'Blessed is the one who gave YOU birth and nursed YOU!' JESUS replied, 'Truly blessed are those who hear the word of GOD and keep it as well.'" - Luke 11:27-28
Thursday, October 10, 2024
JESUS And Beelzebul
"One day JESUS was driving out a dumb demon. When the demon had been driven out, the mute person could speak, and the people were amazed. Yet some of them said, 'HE drives out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the chief of the demons.' So, others wanted to put HIM to the test by asking HIM for a heavenly sign.
But JESUS knew their thoughts and said to them, 'Every nation divided by civil war is on the road to ruin and will fall. If Satan also is divided, his empire is coming to an end. How can you say that I drive out demons by calling upon Beelzebul? If I drive them out by Beelzebul, by whom do your fellow members drive out demons? They will be your judge, then.
But suppose I drive out demons by the finger of GOD; would not this mean that the kingdom of GOD has come upon you? As long as the strong and armed man guards his house, his goods are safe. But when a stronger one attacks and overcomes him, the challenger takes away all the weapons he relied on and disposes of his spoils.
Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me, scatters.
When the evil spirit goes out of a person, it wanders through dry lands looking for a resting place. And finding none, it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' When it comes, it finds the house swept and everything in order. Then it goes to fetch seven other spirits even worse than itself. They move in and settle there, so that the last state of that person is worse than the first.'" - Luke 11:14-26
Wednesday, October 09, 2024
Knock And It Will Be Opened To You
"Ask, and you will receive; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened. For everyone who asks, receives; whoever seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Would any of you give a stone to your son, when he asks for bread? Or give him a snake, when he asks for a fish? However bad you may be, you know how to give good things to your children. How much more, then, will your FATHER in heaven give good things to those who ask HIM!
So, do to others whatever you would that others do to you: there, you have the law and the prophets." - Matthew 7:7-12
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LORD, Teach Us To Pray
"One day JESUS was praying in a certain place and when HE had finished, one of HIS disciples said to HIM, 'LORD, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.' And JESUS said to them, 'When you pray, say this:
FATHER, hallowed be YOUR name,
may YOUR kingdom come,
give us each day the kind of bread we need,
and forgive us our sins, for we also forgive all who do us wrong,
and do not bring us to the test'." - Luke 11:1-4
Monday, October 07, 2024
Martha And Mary
"As JESUS and HIS disciples were on their way, HE entered a village, and a woman called Martha welcomed HIM to her house. She had a sister named Mary, who sat down at the LORD's feet to listen to HIS words. Martha, meanwhile, was busy with all the serving, and finally she said, 'LORD, don't YOU care that my sister has left me to do all the work? Tell her to help me!'
But the LORD answered, 'Martha, Martha, you worry and are troubled about many things, whereas only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the better part, and it will not be taken away from her.'" - Luke 10:38-42
Saturday, October 05, 2024
The Good Samaritan
"Then a teacher of the Law came and began putting JESUS to the test. And he said, 'Master, what shall I do to receive eternal life?' JESUS replied, 'What is written in the Scripture? How do you understand it?' The man answered, 'It is written: You shall love the LORD your GOD with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength and with all your mind. And you shall love your neighbor as yourself.' JESUS replied, 'What a good answer! Do this and you shall live.' The man wanted to keep up appearances, so he replied, 'Who is my neighbor?
JESUS then said, 'There was a man going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him and went off leaving him half-dead.
It happened that a priest was going along that road and saw the man, but passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite saw the man and passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, too, was going that way, and when he came upon the man, he was moved with compassion. He went over to him and treated his wounds with oil and wine and wrapped them with bandages. Then he put him on his mount and brought him to an inn where he took care of him.
JESUS then asked, 'Which of these three, do you think, made himself neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?' The teacher of the Law answered, 'The one who had mercy on him.' And JESUS said, 'Go then and do the same'." - Luke 10:25-37