HE Left Nothing Not "Subject To HIM"

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

THE GOOD NEWS (10 January 2017)

"The angels were not given dominion over the new world of which we are speaking.  Instead someone declared in Scripture: What is man, that you should be mindful of him, what is the son of man that you should care for him?  For a while you placed him a little lower than the angels, but you crowned him with glory and honor.  You have given him dominion over all things.

What it is said that GOD gave HIM dominion over all things, nothing is excluded.  As it is, we do not yet see HIS dominion over all things.  But JESUS who suffered death and for a little while was placed lower than the angels has been crowned with honor and glory.  For the merciful plan of GOD demanded that HE experience death on behalf of everyone.

GOD, from whom all come and by whom all things exist, wanted to bring many children to glory, and HE thought it fitting to make perfect through suffering the initiator of their salvation.  So HE who gives and those who receive holiness are one.  HE HIMSELF is not ashamed of calling us brothers and sisters, as we read: LORD, I will proclaim YOUR name to MY brothers; I will praise YOU in the congregation." - Hebrews 2:5-12

(The author has just reaffirmed the divinity of CHRIST, but immediately takes other texts from the Old Testament which speak of "man" [son of man is the Hebrew term] and this time applies them to CHRIST.  This shows that in GOD's design, Man and CHRIST are one.  All that HE has been, the glory that is HIS, of all this we are invited to share.

The new world.  Actually the text says: the world to come.  This does not mean future times, or the end of the world, but the new and definitive times that began with the resurrection of CHRIST.

The new world is where the risen CHRIST is.  It is the homeland we are hoping for.  This new world has already come to us: a believer who lives in the Spirit constantly has experiences which are not of the earth even if in the beginning he is not aware of it.

All the history of JESUS is then both HIS and ours.  HE thought it fitting to make perfect through suffering the initiator of their salvation.  There is no other way to human liberation than the way of the cross.  Those who are eager to free others must be tested, some through opposition, others through indifference.  Suffering is a good teacher and it tests the strength of our surrender.

It is on the cross of CHRIST that we must discover the love of the FATHER for HIS Son, since HE did not "condemn HIM" to suffer on earth, but rather, by way of suffering, HE called HIM to be the Savior and model for everyone.)

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This Is MY Beloved SON

Hello! and happy (Baptism Of The LORD, JESUS CHRIST) to all of us, GUYS.  Our "daily bread" this Monday:

THE GOOD NEWS (09 January 2017)

"At that time JESUS arrived from Galilee and came to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him.  But John tried to prevent HIM, and said, 'How is it YOU come to  me: I should be baptized by YOU!'

But JESUS answered him, 'Let it be like that for now that we may fulfill the right order.'  John agreed.

As soon as HE was baptized, JESUS came up from the water.  At once, the heavens opened and HE saw the Spirit of GOD come down like a dove and rest upon HIM.  At the same time a voice from heaven was heard, 'This is MY Son, the Beloved, HE is MY Chosen One.'" - Matthew 3:13-17 

(In this baptism JESUS identifies HIMSELF with HIS people, more precisely with this world of "untitled" people who want to hear a call to conversion.  For HIM it is an occasion of deep religious experience recalling that of the great prophets.  What the voice says gives JESUS HIS mission.  HE will be Son and Servant of the FATHER [Psalm 2 and Isaiah 42.1].)

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Your Light Has Come

Hello! and happy holy (Solemnity Of The Epiphany Of Our LORD) and family day to all of us, GUYS.  Our first-thing-first this Sunday:

THE GOOD NEWS (08 January 2017)

"Arise, shine, for your light has come.

The Glory of YAHWEH rises upon you.

Night still covers the earth

and gloomy clouds veil the peoples,

but YAHWEH now rises

and over you HIS glory appears.

Nations will come to your light

and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

Lift up YOUR eyes round about and see:

they are all gathered and come to you,

Your sons from afar,

Your daughters tenderly carried.

This sight will make your face radiant,

your heart throbbing in full;

the riches of the sea will be turned to you,

the wealth of the nations will come to you.

A flood of camels will cover you,

caravans from Midian and Ephah.

Those from Sheba will come,

bringing with them gold and incense,

all singing in praise of YAHWEH."

- Isaiah 60:1-6

(As the prophet looks at the humble Jerusalem which is barely rising from its ruins, he suddenly has a vision of the future of Jerusalem, filled with the LORD's riches, the city that will be the bride of the LORD.

There all the aspirations of a humanity purified and gathered in the light of GOD will be achieved [see Revelation 21].  There all people will delight in the fullness everything they ever longed for.

These promises point to the goals on which the Church must focus.  It is in the Church that all the real riches of humanity - faith, understanding, community - are and must be gathered.)

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All Wrongdoing Is Sin

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

THE GOOD NEWS (07 January 2017)

"Through HIM we are fully confident that whatever we ask, according to HIS will, HE will grant us.  If we know that HE hears us whenever we ask, we know that we already have what we asked of HIM.

If you see your brother committing sin, a sin which does not lead to death, pray for him, and GOD will give life to your brother.  I speak, of course, of the sin which does not lead to death.  There is also a sin that leads to death; I do not speak of praying about this.  Every kind of wrongdoing is sin, but not all sin leads to death.

We know that those born of GOD do not sin, but the one who was born of GOD protects them and the evil one does not touch them." - 1 John 5:14-18 

(I do not speak of praying about this.  This sentence is somehow short, John implies: "with the certainty that GOD will give life to the sinner."  The will of GOD remains a mystery, whatever be the confidence we have in HIM.) 

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The Spirit Is Truth

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

THE GOOD NEWS (06 January 2017)

"Who has overcome the world?  The one who believes that JESUS is the Son of GOD.

JESUS CHRIST was acknowledged through water, but also through blood.

Not only water but water and blood.

And the Spirit, too, witnesses to HIM for the Spirit is truth.

There are then three testimonies: the Spirit, the water and the blood, and these three witnesses agree.

If we accept human testimony, with greater reason must we accept that of GOD, given in favor of HIS Son.  If you believe in the Son of GOD, you have GOD's testimony in you.

But those who do not believe make GOD a liar, since they do not believe HIS words when HE witnesses to HIS Son.

What has GOD said?  That HE has granted us eternal life and this life is in HIS Son.  The one who has the Son has life, the one who do not have the Son of GOD do not have life.

I write you, then, all these things that you may know that you have eternal life, all you who believe in the Name of  the Son of GOD. - 1 John 5:5-13 

(Verses 6-9 point out three complementary aspects of the Christian experience, which are first seen in JESUS HIMSELF.  John characterizes them with three words:

- water: water is the symbol of cleanliness and of new life.

- blood: the blood of the sacrifice, the painful atonement for sin, the blood of martyrs.

- Spirit: the uncontainable power that animates CHRIST's witnesses; the amazing creativity of the people and institutions that are rooted in faith.

These three witness to JESUS CHRIST and they also characterize Christian salvation.  We can easily see that they correspond to the three sacraments of baptism, eucharist and confirmation.

In this conclusion, John repeats what he said throughout the letter: you who believe, appreciate what you have.  Do not underestimate the step you took in accepting CHRIST.  Explore and look for the riches which are meant for you and which are found in "HIM who loves us" [Revelation 1:5].)

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You Will See Greater Things Than This

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

THE GOOD NEWS (05 January 2017)

"The next day, JESUS decided to set off for Galilee.  HE found Philip and said to him, 'Follow me.'  Philip was from Bethsaida, the town of Andrew and Peter.  Philip found Nathanael and said to him, 'We have found the one that 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 1:43-51 

Philip Telling Nathanael About JESUS

(The two disciples recognized JESUS.  It would be more exact to say that JESUS recognized those whom the FATHER had entrusted to HIM.  Thus HE recognized Nathanael when he was under the fig tree.  Among the Jews, this expression referred to a teacher of the Law engaged in teaching religion, since ordinarily they taught under the shade of a tree.  In the same way, JESUS recognized Simon whom the FATHER chose to be the first Rock of the Church [Matthew 16:13].

You will see the heavens opened.  Jacob's dream [Genesis 28:12].)

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We Have Found The Messiah

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

THE GOOD NEWS (04 January 2017)

"On the following day John was standing there again with two of his disciples.  As JESUS walked by, John looked at HIM and said, 'There is the Lamb of GOD.'  On hearing this, the two disciples followed JESUS.  HE turned and saw them following, and HE said to them, 'What are you looking for?'  They answered, 'Rabbi [which means Master], where are YOU staying?'  JESUS said, 'Come and see.'  So they went and saw where HE stayed and spent the rest of that day with HIM.  It was about four o'clock in the afternoon.

Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard what John had said and followed JESUS.  Early the next morning he found his brother Simon and said to him, 'We have found the Messiah' [which means the CHRIST], and he brought Simon to JESUS.  JESUS looked at him and said, 'You are Simon, son of John, but you shall be called Cephas' [which means Rock]." - John 1:35-42 

St. Andrew

St. John, The Evangelist

(This Gospel is the work of John the Evangelist who should not be confused with John the Baptist.  John the Evangelist was one of the first two disciples to follow JESUS.

John concerned about helping us understand the profound meaning of JESUS' actions, dwells on details to which we would not immediately pay attention.  For example, the Bible begins with the poem describing Creation as happening in seven days, and because John sees JESUS' work as a new creation, he describes the beginning of JESUS' public ministry as happening within a week [seven being a symbolic number].

On the first day John the Baptist affirmed: there is one among you whom you do not know.  We see how, during the week, John the Baptist was the first to discover JESUS.  Then later, John, Andrew and Simon also discovered HIM.  The last day of the first week will be at the wedding in Cana, where JESUS will let them discover HIS glory.

What are you looking for?  John did not forget these first words JESUS spoke to them.  We want to know who JESUS is, but HE asks us what our inner dispositions are: because we will gain nothing through finding HIM unless we are disposed to submit ourselves to HIM.

These two disciples began to live with JESUS.  With time, they would discover that HE is the Teacher, the Messiah, the Son of GOD.  So, too, with us.  We progress in this knowledge of JESUS CHRIST as we go on our journey through life.

John the Baptist was without jealousy, he had encouraged his disciples to follow JESUS, and later the first two brought others.  Likewise, we come to JESUS because of another person who spoke to us of HIM, or involved us in an apostolic task.)

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The Spirit Remain Upon HIM

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

THE GOOD NEWS (03 January 2017)

"The next day John saw JESUS coming towards him and said, 'There is the Lamb of GOD, who takes away the sin of the world.  It is HE of whom I said: A man comes after me who is already ahead of me, for HE was before me.  I myself did not know HIM, but I came baptizing to prepare for HIM, so that HE might be revealed in Israel.'

And John also gave this testimony, 'I saw the Spirit coming down on HIM like a dove from heaven and resting on HIM.  I myself did not know HIM but GOD who sent me to baptize told me: 'You will see the Spirit coming down and resting on the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.'  Yes, I have seen! and I declare that this is the Chosen One of GOD.'" - John 1:29-34 

The Holy Spirit Coming Down On JESUS CHRIST

(There is the Lamb.  In the language of the Jews, the word "Lamb" can mean both servant and lamb.  JESUS is the Servant of GOD spoken of by the prophets, who was to sacrifice HIMSELF for HIS brothers and sisters.  HE is also the true Lamb that replaces the Paschal Lamb [Mark 14:12].

A man comes after me.  In history, JESUS appears after John, but being the Word of GOD, HE existed before all creatures.  HE also precedes, that is to say, all - including John the Baptist - are guided by HIS light.)

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Remain In HIM!

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

THE GOOD NEWS (02 January 2017)

"Who is the liar?

The one who denies that JESUS is the CHRIST.

This is an antichrist, who denies both the FATHER and the SON.  The one who denies the SON is without the FATHER, and those who acknowledge the SON also have the FATHER.

Let what you heard from the beginning remain in you.  If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, you, too, will remain in the SON and in the FATHER.  And this is the promise HE HIMSELF gave us: eternal life.

I write this to you thinking of those who try to lead you astray.

You received from HIM an anointing, and it remains in you, so you do not need someone to teach you.  HIS anointing teaches you all things, it speaks the truth and does not lie to you; so remain in HIM, and keep what HE has taught you.

And now, my children, live in HIM, so that when HE appears in HIS glory, we may be confident and not ashamed before HIM when HE comes." - 1 John 2:22-28 

 

(Fourth criterion: to be sure we are walking in the Light, we must reject the antichrist and remain steadfast in the faith and in what faith teaches.  The believers of John's days knew that before the glorious return of CHRIST, an antichrist would appear.  John says: the person who denies that JESUS is the CHRIST already is an antichrist.  Today there are still many people who make a distinction: on one hand the man JESUS, lost in the mist of legend and on the other hand an idealized CHRIST adored by believers.  John says: "The one who has come in history, HE HIMSELF is eternal GOD."

You received from HIM an anointing, and it remains in you.  John not only speaks of the anointing of oil in baptism and confirmation.  "CHRIST" signifies precisely, "he who is anointed," and this anointing was the presence in him of the Spirit of GOD, his FATHER.  John adds: "You cannot receive passively just any instruction in the Church, but you must discern whether the word of GOD is being faithfully transmitted."

HIS anointing [Spirit] teaches you all things.  In writing that, John had in mind the prophets who were the animators of the churches: through their inspired words the Spirit taught the community [see Acts 14:2 and 1 Thessalonians 5:19].  Today the Spirit also maintains us in the truth through the leaders of the community and those who teach but we are not dispensed from seeking by ourselves the meaning of the Word and discerning what others tell us.)

  

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HE Was Named JESUS

Hi! and happy and prosperous New Year 2017 to all of us, GUYS.  Our "first-thing-first" this Sunday:

THE GOOD NEWS (01 January 2017)

"So they came hurriedly and found Mary and Joseph with the baby lying in the manger.  On seeing this they related what they had been told about the child, and all were astonished on hearing the shepherds.

As for Mary, she treasured all these messages and continually pondered over them.

The shepherds then returned giving glory and praise to GOD for all they had heard and seen, just as the angels had told them.

On the eight day the circumcision of the baby had to be performed; HE was named JESUS, the name the angel had given HIM before HE was conceived." - Luke 2:16-21 

The Nativity Of JESUS

(While the world was in darkness, some shepherds saw GOD.  Why were they called to the manger?  GOD delights in revealing HIMSELF to the poor, and Mary and Joseph had the joy to share with them a part of their secret. 

With the birth of JESUS a new age begins [the final age as the apostles will say] in which, on one hand, people hope for the salvation of the world, and on the other they already enjoy this salvation.  The shepherds are models for those dedicated to contemplation.  Following them, the Church will never be totally involved in works of mercy or human development, but instead, with its truest spirit, will continue to look upon CHRIST present in its midst, giving thanks and rejoicing in GOD.

Mary treasured all these messages, because every event of her life was for her the way GOD revealed HIS plans to her, and all the more so now that she was living with JESUS.  She wondered, marveled but was not confused, because her faith was beyond wavering.  However, she too had to discover the ways of salvation slowly and painfully.  She pondered on these things until the time of the Resurrection and Pentecost when all the words and deeds of JESUS became clear.) 

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