Unless The Grain Dies!

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

THE GOOD NEWS (10 August 2016)

"Truly, I say to you, unless the grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.

Those who love their life destroy it, and those who despise their life in this world keep it for everlasting life.

Whoever wants to serve ME, let him follow ME and wherever I AM, there shall MY servant be also.  If anyone serves ME, the FATHER will honor him." - John 12:24-26 

A Christian Martyr, Gabriel Von Ma

 

(Unless the grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies. JESUS will die and the universal Church will be born.  JESUS allows HIS lifeless body to be laid in the earth; on  rising from the tomb, HIS same body, now glorified, will also embrace the believers united to HIM.  The life that is now HIS will be communicated to all the children of GOD.

Unless the grain dies.  This is the law for all life that will be fruitful [Mark 8:34].  The first believers were already saying: "The blood of the martyrs is a seed.")

On-Track

The Son Of Man Has Come To Save The Lost

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

THE GOOD NEWS (09 August 2016)

"What do you think of this?  If someone has a hundred sheep and one of them strays, won't he leave the ninety-nine on the hillside, and go to look for the stray one?  And I tell you: when he finally finds it, he is more pleased about it than about the ninety-nine that did not get lost.  It is the same with your FATHER in heaven: there they don't want even one of these little ones to be lost." - Matthew 18:11-14 

(The parable of the one hundred sheep is also found in the Gospel of Luke [15:1].  It teaches us several things: JESUS' special concern for sinners and those who stray and, therefore, the missionary dimension of HIS apostolate.  In fact, JESUS came "to seek and save the lost" [Luke 19:10], "to call the outcasts, not the responsible people" [Matthew 9:13].  This attitude should impel our parishes and Christian communities to constantly reach out to the unchurched and marginalized, instead of just working with those who already are in touch with the Church.)

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The Temple Tax

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

THE GOOD NEWS (08 August 2016)

"While JESUS was in Galilee with the Twelve, HE said to them, 'The Son of Man will be delivered into human hands, and they will kill HIM.  But HE will rise on the third day.'  The Twelve were deeply grieved.

When they returned to Capernaum, the Temple tax collectors came to Peter and asked him, 'Does your master pay the temple tax?  He answered, 'Certainly.'

Peter then entered the house, but immediately JESUS asked him, 'What do you think, Simon?  Who pay taxes or tributes to the kings of the earth: their sons or the other people?'  Peter replied, 'The others.'  And JESUS told him, 'The sons, then, are tax-free.  But so as not to offend these people, go to the sea, throw in a hook and open the mouth of the first fish you catch.  You will find a coin in it, take it and let it pay for you and for ME'." - Matthew 17:22-27 

Peter And The Fish With Coin

(Several times JESUS announced HIS death: see 16:21; 20:17.  Never did HE present it as a misfortune that might counteract HIS mission.  John will say that JESUS looked for it as the means for giving glory to HIS FATHER and reconciling humankind [John 17].  JESUS speaks of HIMSELF in the third person: the Son of Man, because HE looks at HIS destiny as an outsider.  This is the will of HIS FATHER, and HE is not concerned about HIMSELF.

All the Jews paid a tax for the maintenance of the Temple.

The collectors approach Peter as owner of the house where JESUS also lives.

JESUS observes the Law,  but takes this opportunity to give a hint as to who HE is: the collectors do not realize they are addressing "the Son."  Notice how the LORD has control over all creatures even fish, and see also HIS intimate solidarity with Peter.

The coin mentioned was worth the Temple tax.  Matthew may have had a special interest for this story because at the time he wrote Christians of Jewish origins were wondering whether they should be still paying this tax.)

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Do Not Be Afraid Little Flock

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

THE GOOD NEWS (07 August 2016)

"Do not be afraid, little flock, for it has pleased your FATHER to give you the kingdom.  Sell what you have and give alms.  Get yourselves purses that do not wear out, and make safe investments with GOD, where no thief comes and no moth destroys.  For where your investments are, there will your heart be also." - Luke 12:32-34 

A Church Poor Like JESUS

(Do not be afraid little flock.  Nowhere in the Gospel does JESUS lead us to believe that with time most people will be converted.

We know that the non-Christian world is numerically much more important than the "Christian" world and it grows  more rapidly.  When large numbers in the "Christian" world give up the practice of religion, we understand that the Church is both a sign and a little flock.

JESUS asks each one of us to be detached from earthly things and HE also asks the same of the flock.  What matters for the church is not the building of powerful institutions nor the holding of key posts in society "for the greater glory of GOD."  A Church which awaits the return of the Master is careful to be ready to pack their bags, wherever it may be, when the LORD will send them out and ask them to become missionary again.

Sell what you have and give alms.  Are ordinary people convinced that the Church has done this?  Christians rejoice when their bishop and pastors condemn injustice and remind them of the rights of the working class and the marginalized.  It is not enough for us to preach to others.  GOD asks justice of the world and poverty of HIS Church.  Our call for justice will not be heard as long as the Church does not accept for herself the whole Gospel.

It has pleased your FATHER to give you the kingdom: compare this with Luke 10:23 and Matthew 16:16.  The Church is in the world, this little flock that seeks what is essential.)

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The Son Of Man

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

THE GOOD NEWS (06 August 2016)

"I looked and saw the following:

Some thrones were set in place and One of Great Age took HIS seat.  HIS robe was white as snow, HIS hair white as washed wool.  HIS throne was flames of fire with wheels of blazing fire.  A river of fire sprang forth and flowed before HIM.  Thousands upon thousands served HIM and a countless multitude stood before HIM. 

GOD In HIS Throne

Those in the tribunal took their seats and opened the book.  But as I remembered the haughty words of the horn with human eyes and mouth which I had seen before, this animal was killed before my eyes, and its body destroyed and cast into the fire.  Dominion was taken from the other animals, though they were allowed to stay alive for a time, until the fixed time.

I continued watching the nocturnal vision:

One like a son of man came on the clouds of heaven.  HE faced the One of Great Age and was brought into HIS presence. 

The Transfiguration

Dominion, honor and kingship were given HIM, and all the peoples and nations of every language served HIM.  HIS dominion is eternal and shall never pass away; HIS kingdom will never be destroyed." - Daniel 7:9-14

(On the clouds of heaven: the cloud is the sign of the divine presence.

The One of Great Age: this refers to GOD, and the white hair is a sign of HIS majesty.  Let us not forget that, in fact, GOD is ageless and is in a unique moment, an ever present now.

A son of man, namely, a human: at first, this mysterious person referred to the whole people of GOD.  If GOD wanted to give HIS Kingdom to people, HE would, in fact, give it in a personal way to the one who is the model, the savior and the head of everyone and of all humankind.   JESUS is the Man [John 19:5], or, to follow the Jewish way of speaking, the son of man.

The son of man comes from the divine clouds, and so JESUS applied the prophecy to HIMSELF to point to HIS divine origin when HIS accusers were seeing HIM in the weakness of the human condition [Matthew 26:64].)

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He Will Find His Life

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

THE GOOD NEWS (05 August 2016)

"Then JESUS said to HIS disciples, 'If you want to follow ME, deny yourself, take up your cross and follow ME.  For whoever chooses to save his life will lose it, but the one who loses his life for MY sake will find it.  What will one gain by winning the whole world if he destroys himself?  There is nothing you can give to recover your own self.

Know that the Son of Man will come in the Glory of the FATHER with the holy angels, and HE will reward each one according to his deeds.  Truly, I tell you, there are some here who will not die before they see the Son of Man coming as king'." - Matthew 16:24-2 

Marriage And Family

(Whoever chooses to save his life will lose it.  JESUS draws attention to the great option of every human life: we cannot discover GOD; we cannot make a success of life without sacrificing it.  All the rest is idle talk.  The option terrifies us in the same measure that life for us seems promising.  It is also the reason why marriage and family frighten many.

He will find his life.  In 10:39 we translated this phrase: "benefit one's life".) 

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The New Covenant

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

THE GOOD NEWS (04 August 2016)

"The time is coming - it is YAHWEH who speaks - when I will forge a new covenant with the people of Israel and the people of Judah.  It will not be like the one I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand and led them out of Egypt.  For they broke MY covenant although I was their LORD.

This is the covenant I shall make with Israel after that time: I will put MY Law within them and write it on their hearts; I will be their GOD and they will be MY people.

And they will not have to teach each other, neighbor or brother, saying: 'Know the LORD,' because they will all know ME, from the greatest to the lowliest, for I will forgive their wrongdoing and no longer remember their sin." - Jeremiah 31:31-34 

(Here we must underscore 31:31-34 where Jeremiah delivers his most famous prophecy.  During the bitter days which the Jewish people are experiencing, GOD reveals and Jeremiah announces the New and eternal Covenant between GOD and HIS people.

I will make a new covenant.  This is likeable to escape  saying that the Sinai Covenant which made Israel GOD's  people, had become obsolete or insufficient.  GOD had bound HIMSELF to a family [Abraham's] which became a people under Moses' leadership.  And apparently HIS promises were more for the community than for individuals.

The expression the prophet uses, "a new covenant" does not mean that GOD is forsaking HIS former promises to Israel.  It clearly illustrates the characteristic of the covenant which GOD wants to establish between HIM and humanity through Israel.  This novelty is that of love, because true love is always fresh and new.  Although the people of GOD had broken the covenant, GOD who is always faithful, will respond by a gift, through HIS son, born of Mary.

They broke MY covenant.  Actually, this covenant between YAHWEH and Israel on Sinai had failed, through Israel's fault, not YAHWEH's.  But it is not a matter of renewing it as Joshua, Samuel, Hezekiah and Josiah had done so many times.  Nor is it a matter of making another one like it, since this old covenant had already proven its weakness: people are sinful and unable to escape from their sins.  Moreover, no laws, or human solidarity, or any form of education can bring GOD's grace to a nation or a collectivity and preserve them in the faith.  Only a personal accepting of the divine Truth makes one a true believer.  The true people of GOD cannot be confused with any people or human community: only those who are reborn will become part of GOD's people.

I will put MY Law in their hearts.  Now, Jeremiah knows the secret of the New Covenant.  For he is aware of the change which occurred in him when YAHWEH made him a prophet.  Then, he discovered an intimate relationship with GOD which is entirely different from a religion of mere practices.

I will make another covenant with Israel.  Jeremiah predicts the day when YAHWEH will reveal HIMSELF to all believers as HE had done with HIS great prophets.  The law will be in their hearts and the hand of GOD will keep them on the right path, as was the case with Jeremiah when he doubted.

I will forgive their sins.  A New  Covenant will be achieved through the death of CHRIST on the cross for the forgiveness of sins.  In celebrating the Last Supper, JESUS says: "This cup is the New Covenant in MY blood" [Luke 22:20].  The author of the Letter to the Hebrews will develop the meaning of the New Covenant [see Hebrew 8:8 and 10:16]   

The Gospel of John will also clarify the meaning of they will all know ME: in the Christian faith, not everyone receives personal revelations, but everyone is guided by the FATHER to CHRIST in whom are found all the treasures of knowledge and wisdom.

Perhaps Jeremiah himself had not seen all the consequences of this revelation, but it certainly throws a decisive light on the history of the people of Israel.  We understand that GOD's teaching, HIS way of leading and instructing HIS people through events was a pedagogy, leading to a definitive truth to be given through CHRIST and through the gift of the Spirit.  It is understandable that JESUS and HIS apostles so often recalled the message of the prophets to justify the revolution of the Gospel and the birth of a Church rooted in the Jewish people but now independent of its national history.)

On-Track

The Faith Of The Canaanite Woman

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

THE GOOD NEWS (03 August 2016)

"Leaving that place, JESUS withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.  Now a Canaanite woman came from those borders and began to cry out, 'LORD, Son of David, have pity on me!  My daughter is tormented by a demon.'  But JESUS did not answer her, not even a word.  So HIS disciples approached HIM and said, 'Send her away: see how she is shouting after us.'

Then JESUS said to her, 'I was sent only to the lost sheep of the nation of Israel.'

But the woman was already kneeling before JESUS and said, 'Sir, help me!'  JESUS answered, 'It is not right to take the bread from the children and throw it to the little dogs.'  The woman replied, 'It is true, sir, but even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their master's table.'  Then JESUS said, 'Woman, how great is your faith!  Let it be as you wish.'  And her daughter was healed at that moment." - Matthew 15:21-28 

(The Jews usually looked down on pagans with marked contempt: they were the sons, the pagans were the dogs.  JESUS answered the afflicted woman repeating this well-known scornful saying.  HE said this to test the woman's faith: would she insist when it appeared that even GOD would reject her?)

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"The LORD Will Be Praised By A People HE Will Form."

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

THE GOOD NEWS (02 August 2016)

"O LORD, the nations will revere YOUR name, and the kings of the earth YOUR glory,

when the LORD will rebuild Zion and appear in all HIS splendor.

For HE will answer the prayer of the needy  and will not despise their plea.

Let this be written for future ages, 'the LORD will be praised by a people HE will form.'

From HIS holy height in heaven, the LORD has looked on the earth to hear the groaning of the prisoners, and free those condemned to death.

Then the name of the LORD will be declared in Zion, and HIS praise in Jerusalem,

when the peoples and the kingdoms assemble to worship HIM."

- Psalm 102:16-23 

Rebuilding Of Jerusalem

(This psalm blends two poems: the cry of a forsaken, sick person, and a prayer for the rebuilding of Jerusalem.)

On-Track

First Miracle Of The Loaves

Hi! and happy good 1st day of the month of August to all of us, GUYS.  For our "food for the soul" this Monday:

THE GOOD NEWS (01 August 2016)

"On hearing this, JESUS set out secretly by boat for a secluded place.  But the people heard of it, and they followed HIM on foot from their towns.  When JESUS went ashore, HE saw the crowd gathered there and HE had compassion on them.  And HE healed their sick.

Late in the afternoon, HIS disciples came to HIM and said, 'We are in a lonely place and it is now late.  YOU should send these people away, so they can go to the villages and buy something for themselves to eat.'

But JESUS replied, 'They do not need to go away; you give them something to eat.'  They answered, 'We have nothing here but five loaves and two fishes.'  JESUS said to them, 'Bring them here to me.'

Then HE made everyone sit down on the grass.  HE took the five loaves and the two fishes, raised HIS eyes to heaven, pronounced the blessing, broke the loaves and handed them to the disciples to distribute to the people.  And they all ate, and everyone had enough; then the disciples gathered up the leftovers, filling twelve baskets.  About five thousand men had eaten there besides women and children." - Matthew 14:13-21 

(The Bible says that from the mouth of GOD comes bread, and the Word that we need [Deuteronomy 8:3].  By the act of giving bread, JESUS demonstrates that HIS words are GOD's words.  GOD gives bread to HIS people [Exodus 16; Psalm 72:16; Psalm 81:17; Psalm 132:15; 147:14].

What comes from the mouth of GOD [Deuteronomy 8:3; Wisdom 16:26; Matthew 4:4].

Seen in the light of the Old Testament, this narration identifies JESUS as the Shepherd foretold by the prophets.

They sat in fresh pastures [Psalm 23] and they were all satisfied [Psalm 78:29].  The crowd seated for a meal is the image of the Reign when JESUS will unite all of humanity in the fraternal banquet of GOD [Luke 14:15].

Raising HIS eyes to heaven.  By using this gesture, rather than a prayer that saints or prophets might have said on this occasion, JESUS expresses HIS personal relationship with the FATHER.

JESUS is the bread needed by humanity [John 6].  GOD has set on this earth all that humanity needs for food and development, but if we do not know how to listen to the Word, we will not know how to solve the world's most urgent problem, the distribution of the riches of the earth.  Faith in GOD's promises is the only force with which to fight against egoism and unequal privileges, and it will eventually obtain food, peace, and freedom for all.

Because of this, JESUS had compassion for this crowd whose leaders had little concern for them.  Without bothering about food, this crowd sat listening to HIM while HE conveyed to them the word of GOD that liberates people from blindness and emptiness.  Then, being the Shepherd and the True Bread of Life, HE gave them food and distributed it.) 

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