Third Prophecy Of The Passion

 "When JESUS was going to Jerusalem, HE took the twelve disciples aside and said to them, 'See, we are going to Jerusalem.  There, the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law; and they will condemn HIM to death.  They will hand HIM over to the foreigners, who will mock HIM, scourge HIM and crucify HIM.  But HE will be raised to life on the third day.'" - Matthew 20:17-19 

(JESUS feels full of courage and confidence, as HE HIMSELF walks ahead of them to Jerusalem, where HIS punishment awaits HIM.)

On-Site

Against An Unthinking People

 "Hear the warning of YAHWEH,

rulers of Sodom.

Listen to the word of GOD,

people of Gomorrah.

Wash and make yourselves clean.

Remove from MY sight

the evil of your deeds.

Put an end to your wickedness

and learn to do good.

Seek justice and keep in line the abusers;

give the fatherless their rights

and defend the widow.

'Come,' says YAHWEH,

'let us reason together.

Though your sins be like scarlet, 

they will be white as snow;

though they be as crimson red,

they will be white as wool.

If you will obey ME,

you will eat the goods of the earth;

but if you resist and rebel,

the sword will eat you instead.'

Truly YAHWEH has spoken.

- Isaiah 1:10. 16-20

(Give the fatherless their rights.  The Mosaic commandments condemned theft [Exodus 20:14].  The prophets denounce a social system which crushes the lowly.

Some people are fond of great ceremonies, others of their own devotions and prayers and still others, of doing generous and philanthropic works.  When doing this, we may be covering up the injustice we do everyday.) 

On-Site

Be Merciful, Just As Your FATHER Is Merciful

 "Be merciful, just as your FATHER is merciful.

Don't be a judge of others and you will not be judged; do not condemn and you will not be condemned; forgive and you will be forgiven; give and it will be given to you, and you will receive in your sack good measure, pressed down, full and running over.  For the measure you give will be the measure you receive back." - Luke 6:36-38 

(Perfection for us consists in imitating the FATHER.  HE is a GOD by being compassionate; HIS compassion is HIS ability to be touched by the poverty and the anguish of HIS creatures, and to lavish upon them what HE can give.  The attitude of the person who judges his brothers and sisters is the very opposite of mercy.

JESUS speaks of the way in which GOD already leads us in the present life.  A rationalist culture has often convinced us that GOD lets the laws of nature and humankind go their own way while HE remains a passive spectator, but the kingdom of GOD is the presence of GOD HIMSELF who even today has liberty to reverse all situations, even if for that purpose HE has HIS own time.)

On-Site

If GOD Is With Us, Who Shall Be Against Us?

 "What shall we say after this?  If GOD is with us, who shall be against us?  If HE did not spare HIS own Son, but gave HIM up for us all, how will HE not give us all things with HIM?  Who shall accuse those chosen by GOD: HE takes away their guilt.  Who will dare to condemn them?  CHRIST who died, and better still, rose, and is seated at the right hand of GOD interceding for us?" - Romans 8:31-34 

(Who shall be against us?  Paul is thinking of the evil surrounding us that frequently drags us down.  He is thinking of the Day of Judgment when the accuser, the Spirit of Evil, could face us with the faults we have committed.  He thinks of our troubled conscience that often brings us remorse.  None of these will be stronger than the love and forgiveness of CHRIST.  The believer should not be alarmed at his repeated faults or doubt the love of GOD, but try to live according to the truth.)

On-Site

If You Love Those Who Love You, What Is Special About That?

 "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 sun rise 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?  As for you, be perfect, as your heavenly FATHER is 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: these only exist and find their identity in opposing others.

Do not do good to your enemy: The text is not found in the Scriptures 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 it be, and even if it 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-Site    

If The Sinner Turns From His Sin, He Will Live

 "If the sinner turns from his sin, observes MY decrees and practices what is right and just, he will live; he will not die.  None of the sins he committed will be charged against him; he will live, as a consequence of his righteous deeds.  Do I want the death of the sinner?--word of YAHWEH.  Do I not, rather, want him to turn from his ways and live?

But if the righteous man turns away from what is good, and commits sins as the wicked do, will he live?  His righteous deeds will no longer be credited to him; but he will die, because of his infidelity and his sins.

But you say: YAHWEH's way is not just!  Why, Israel!  Is MY position wrong?  Is it not rather that yours is wrong?  If the righteous man turns from his righteous deeds, and sins, then he dies, because of his sins.  And if the wicked man does what is good and right, after turning from the sins he committed, he will save his life.  He will live and not die, because he has opened his eyes; and turned from the sins he had committed." - Ezekiel 18:21-28 

(If the sinner turns from his sin, he will live: everyone will have time to decide freely.  If people are evil and then decide to do good, GOD will wait for their conversion and will take their last orientation into account.

In later times, wise people will note that oftentimes evil people do not receive punishment, nor good people their reward in this life [see Job 21]; it will become obvious to them that GOD's justice will be achieved in the next life.)

On-Site

Ask, And You Will Receive; Seek, And You Will Find; Knock, And The Door Will Be Opened

 "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 

(JESUS invites us to ask with perseverance: persevering petitions cease being self-centered and become prayer, that is, they lift us up and bring us closer to GOD.

What about asking the saints?  We must admit, that, very often, the person who begs from the saints takes a road opposed to real prayer.  Such a person is not interested in discovering GOD's mercy, but in obtaining some favor.  She does not care whom she addresses as long as she finds an efficient and automatic dispenser of benefits.  So begins the search for saints, shrines and devotions.

The Church is a family.  Just as we ask our friends to pray for us, so too and much more should we ask our brothers and sisters, the saints.  No one will criticize us if, at times, we show our confidence in their intercession, especially the intercession of those whom we admire more because we know their lives and their deeds.  This "petition" to the saints should not, however, be confused with perseverance in asking, which introduces us into GOD's mystery.  Only Mary, the mother of GOD can accompany us in that prayer because GOD made her our mother; because HE deposited in her all the compassion HE has for us; and because HE united her to HIMSELF in such a way that when we look at her, we always find the living presence of GOD.)

On-Site   

All That GOD Has Given To Each One Of Us Should Produce Fruits For All Humanity

 "As the crowd increased, JESUS spoke the following words: 'People of the present time are troubled people.  They ask for a sign, but no sign will be given to them except the sign of Jonah.  As Jonah became a sign for the people of Nineveh, so will the the Son of Man be a sign for this generation.  The Queen of the South will rise up on Judgment Day with the people of these times and accuse them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and here, there is greater than Solomon.  The people of Nineveh will rise up on Judgment Day with the people of these times and accuse them, for Jonah's preaching made them turn from their sins, and here, there is greater than Jonah." - Luke 11:29-32 

(The Ninevites, being sinners received no other divine sign than the coming of Jonah, who invited them to repent.  JESUS' contemporaries believe they are "good" because they belong to the people of GOD, and they do not realize that the hour has come for them to repent as well.

The people of Nineveh will rise up with these people and accuse them.  JESUS again uses the traditional image of collective judgment where each one excuses himself by pointing out that others have done worse.  This image retains a deep truth: all that GOD has given to each one of us should produce fruits for all humanity.)

On-Site

The Word Of GOD Appears Personified

 "As the rain and the snow come down

from the heavens and do not return

till they have watered the earth,

making it yield seed for the sower

and food for others to eat,

so is MY word that goes forth out of MY mouth:

it will not return to ME idle.

but it shall accomplish MY will,

the purpose for which it has been sent.

- Isaiah 55:10-11

(Here the word of GOD appears personified.  It is already much more than the words spoken by the prophets.  This word which comes from the FATHER and returns to HIM will be presented by the apostle John in the first page of his Gospel: it is CHRIST.  See also in 45:8.)

On-Site

Shepherd The Flock Which GOD Has Entrusted To You

 "I now address myself to those elders among you; I, too, am an elder, and a witness to the sufferings of CHRIST, hoping to share the glory that is to be revealed.  Shepherd the flock which GOD has entrusted to you, guarding it, not out of obligation, but willingly, for GOD's sake; not as one looking for a reward, but with a generous heart; do not lord it over those in your care, rather be an example to your flock.  Then, when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will be given a crown of unfading glory." - 1 Peter 5:1-4 

(In the varied counsels that follow, note what concerns the elders, leaders and pastors of the community.

In persecution Peter also sees a work of the devil, who does his best to discourage those who hope in CHRIST.

It is a proven fact that when we get ready to make an important decision or to make some commitment in the service of CHRIST, many unexpected obstacles arise.  The person who becomes intimidated loses everything.  When he tries again to take some step, the devil will increase his attacks.  These trials are common and to face them we need to be alert in our faith.)

On-Site