"We Are People Of Faith And We Shall Save Our Soul."

 "Do I need to say more?  There is not enough time to speak of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, as well as Samuel and the prophets.  Through faith, they fought and conquered nations, established justice, saw the fulfillment of GOD's promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the sword, were healed of their sicknesses; they were weak people, who were given strength, to be brave in battle and repulse foreign invaders.

Some women recovered their dead by resurrection, but there were others--persecuted and tortured believers--who, for the sake of a better resurrection, refused to do what would have saved them.  Others suffered chains and prison.  They were stoned, sawn in two, killed by the sword.  They fled, from place to place, with no other clothing than the skins of sheep and goats, lacking everything, afflicted, ill-treated.  These people, of whom the world was not worthy, had to wander through wastelands and mountains, and take refuge in the dens of the land.

However, although all of them were praised because of their faith, they did not enjoy the promise, because GOD had us in mind, and saw beyond.  And HE did not want them to reach perfection, except with us." - Hebrews 11:32-40 

(These heroes of the faith died without having seen what GOD promised; it would seem that many have failed but their successors will discover that it is they who have made authentic history.  The author addresses the Christians saying: "We are people of faith and we shall save our soul," which means: we shall fulfill all that is in us, and await what GOD has reserved for us in eternity.)

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Married Life Or Family Life Can Present Many Obstacles To Spiritual Freedom And Apostolic Desires

 "I would like you to be free from anxieties.  He who is not married is concerned about the things of the LORD and how to please the LORD.  While he who is married is taken up with the things of the world and how to please his wife, and he is divided in his interests.

Likewise, the unmarried woman and the virgin are concerned with the service of the LORD, to be holy in body and spirit.  The married woman, instead, worries about the things of the world and how to please her husband.

I say this for your own good.  I do not wish to lay traps for you, but to lead you to a beautiful life, entirely united with the LORD." - 1 Corinthians 7:32-35 

(Paul then points out that all Christian commitments are likely to cause division for those who wish to live according to the logic of their Baptism, seen as a total consecration to CHRIST.  Married life or family life can present many obstacles to spiritual freedom and apostolic desires: see the words of JESUS in Mark 10:29.)

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Quiet Now! Be Still!

 "On that same day, when evening had come, JESUS said to them, 'Let's go across to the other side of the lake.'  So they left the crowd, and took HIM along in the boat HE had been sitting in, and other boats set out with HIM.  Then a storm gathered and it began to blow a gale.  The waves spilled over into the boat, so that it was soon filled with water.  JESUS was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion.

They woke HIM up, and said, 'Master, don't you care if we drown?'  And rising up, JESUS rebuked the wind, and ordered the sea, 'Quiet now!  Be still!'  The wind dropped, and there was a great calm.  Then JESUS said to them, 'Why are you so frightened?  Do you still have no faith?'

But they were terrified, and they said to one another, 'Who can this be?  Even the wind and the sea obey HIM!'" - Mark 4:35-41 

(In Jewish mentality the sea is a daily reminder of primitive chaos, it is there the marine monsters move around, monsters which only GOD, for HE is the all-powerful, can challenge: Leviathan and Rahab.  In commanding the sea: Quiet now!  Be still!.  Just as HE does with the demons [Mark 1:25] JESUS affirms HIS divine power over the forces of evil.

Confronted with all the forms of evil that attack them, in the midst of tempests that arise, people, at times, wonder if GOD "does not sleep."  JESUS is there.  HE is not surprised by the disciples' fear of the tempest, but of their lack of faith; only trust in the victory of JESUS, Son of GOD, over the forces of evil, will allow them to overcome this fear.

At the very instant when they discover this divine power in JESUS, the apostles are terrified, as was Moses at the burning of the bush [Exodus 3:1], and Isaiah at the time of his vision in the temple [Isaiah 6:5], as all those to whom GOD shows HIMSELF in a special way: more than a friend, more than a master, JESUS revealed HIMSELF to them in the truth of HIS being.  This fear in discovering GOD so close to them was greater than the fear they had felt during the tempest a few moments earlier.)

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The Seed Growing By Itself

 "JESUS also said, 'In the kingdom of GOD it is like this: a man scatters seed upon the soil.  Whether he is asleep or awake, be it day or night, the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how.  The soil produces of itself; first, the blade; then, the ear; then the full grain in the ear.  And when it is ripe for harvesting, they take the sickle for the cutting: the time for the harvest has come.'

JESUS also said, 'What is the kingdom of GOD like?  To what shall we compare it?  It is like a mustard seed which, when sown, is the smallest of all the seeds scattered upon the soil.  But once sown, it grows up and becomes the largest of the plants in the garden; and even grows branches so big, that the birds of the air can take shelter in its shade.'

JESUS used many such stories, in order to proclaim the word to them in a way that they would be able to understand.  HE would not teach them without parables; but privately, to HIS disciples, HE explained everything." - Mark 4:26-34 

(In every period of time, people become impatient.  When will the kingdom of justice be realized?  Will violence and corruption soon come to an end?  JESUS answers: invisible forces are already at work; the world matures and the kingdom grows on.

How many seeds are cast in the wind?  A new style, a new song, a new device, a radio program.  Some seeds have grown and taken root, producing fruits that mobilize people.  Let us recognize the humble beginnings of the work of GOD: good willed people meeting together to solve a community problem; a gesture of kindness in a closed, unfriendly environment; a first attempt to smile at life after a great disappointment.  The seed grows, and the person who has welcomed the word walks more confidently on the path where GOD leads.)

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Whatever Is Hidden Will Be Disclosed And Whatever Is Kept Secret Will Be Brought To Light

 "JESUS also said to them, 'When the light comes, is it put under a basket or a bed?  Surely it is put on a lamp stand.  Whatever is hidden will be disclosed and whatever is kept secret will be brought to light.  Listen then, if you have ears!"

And HE also said to them, 'Pay attention to what you hear.  In the measure you give, so shall you receive, and still more will be given to you.  For the one who produces something, more will be given; and from him who does not produce anything, even what he has will be taken away from him.'" - Mark 4:21-25 

(Listen then, if you have ears.  JESUS warns us, 'You waste your time if you only listen to ME yet do not allow what you hear to bear fruit.  The measure that you measure out will be the measure you receive.  That is to say, if you begin to act according to what you have learned, you will receive from GOD new strength and new knowledge.  If you do nothing, even your religious beliefs will be of no value to you, not even when you present yourself before GOD.  You read MY Gospel, but now challenge yourselves before you follow any further.'

Whatever is hidden...  The word works secretly within the heart but when we discover the transformation that is at work in our life, we readily proclaim CHRIST and make known to others the secret that has made us happy [Ephesians 2:4; Colossians 3:3; Philippians 2:10].)

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Do We Not Often Receive The Sacrament Of Pardon? How Then Can We Affirm That CHRIST's Sacrifice Has Freed Us?

 "So, whereas every priest stands, daily, by the altar, offering, repeatedly, the same sacrifices, that can never take away sins, CHRIST has offered, for all times, a single sacrifice for sins, and has taken HIS seat at the right hand of GOD, waiting, until GOD puts HIS enemies as a footstool under HIS feet.  By a single sacrifice HE has brought those who are sanctified to what is perfect forever.

This also was testified by the Holy Spirit.  For after having declared: This is the Covenant that I will make with them in the days to come--says the LORD--I will put MY laws in their hearts and write them on their minds.  HE says: Their sins and evil deeds I will remember no more.  So, if sins are forgiven, there is no longer need of any sacrifice for sin." - Hebrews 10:11-18 

(The sacraments we receive--and the pardon we receive in the Church--are never more than the application of the present moment of that which has been done once and for all.  For a baptized person, there is no further rite, commitment, new baptism [baptism with a lot of water, baptism "in the spirit"...] that can give more.  All has been given in JESUS.  John does not hesitate to say that whoever is in CHRIST does not sin [John 3:6]: he does not commit a sin that leads to death [1 John 5:17].  Only sins that cause a total rupture with CHRIST can bring us back to our former state of "death."  Although it is certain that confession is of great help to overcome sin, let us not think a Christian continually passes from mortal sin to grace by confessing, sinning again, and confessing again.)

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Fan Into A Flame The Gift Of GOD You Received

 "From Paul, apostle of CHRIST JESUS, by the will of GOD, for the sake of HIS promise of eternal life, in CHRIST JESUS, to my dear son Timothy.

May grace, mercy and peace be with you, from GOD, the FATHER, and CHRIST JESUS our LORD.

I give thanks to GOD, whom I serve with a clear conscience, the way my ancestors did, as I remember you constantly, day and night, in my prayers.  I recall your tears, and I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy.  I am reminded of your sincere faith, so like the faith of your grandmother Lois and of your mother Eunice, which I am sure you have inherited.

For this reason, I invite you to fan into a flame, the gift of GOD you received, through the laying on of my hands.  For GOD did not confer on us a spirit of fearfulness, but of strength, love and good judgment.  Do not be ashamed of testifying to our LORD, nor of seeing me in chains.  On the contrary, do your share in laboring for the gospel, with the strength of GOD." - 2 Timothy 1:1-8 

(Fan into a flame the gift of GOD you received.  See 1 Timothy 4:14.  Paul tries to give his own energy to Timothy and he reminds him of GOD's love and promises.)

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World-Wide Call To Praise GOD

 "Alleluia!

Praise YAHWEH, all you nations;

all you peoples, praise HIM.

How great is HIS love for us!

HIS faithfulness lasts forever."

- Psalm 117:1-2

(Less than a quarter of a psalm, but all is there: goodness [grace, favor] and fidelity [truth] that is the truth of GOD.  We can pray with this psalm, keeping in our heart the ecumenical cause.)

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Time Is Running Out

 "I say this, brothers and sisters: time is running out, and those who are married must live as if not married; those who weep as if not weeping; those who are happy as if they were not happy; those buying something as if they had not bought it, and those enjoying the present life as if they were not enjoying it.  For the order of this world is vanishing." - 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 

(Paul's response goes further than the question of the Corinthians when he adds: time is running out.  He points to much more than a prompt return of CHRIST, familiar to the first Christians.  The coming of JESUS has shortened time in a figurative way: we can no longer settle down in the present world as we did before when we could see no further than the present.  We are entirely turned towards what is to come.  A Christian lives in the present, but all that matters most for him comes in the "after."  Let us not argue with Paul as if he were reasoning on the consequences of the certain coming of JESUS CHRIST: he is not theologizing but speaks like someone already possessed by CHRIST.)

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To GOD, King Of The World

 "Clap your hands, all you peoples;

acclaim GOD with shouts of joy.

For YAHWEH, the Most High, is to be feared;

HE is a great king all over the earth.

GOD ascends amid joyful shouts,

YAHWEH amid trumpet blasts.

Sing praises to GOD, sing praises!

Sing praises to our King, sing praises!

GOD is King of all the earth;

sing to HIM a hymn of praise.

For GOD now rules over the nations,

GOD reigns from HIS holy Throne.

- Psalm 47:2-3. 6-7. 8-9

('YOUR kingdom come,' we pray, and yet GOD's kingdom has already come.  But we are thinking of our own acceptance of it, our practical acknowledgment of GOD's sovereignty.  However, there is always comfort in throwing responsibility on GOD, as nations, their king and military leader once did.  Hence the note of joy in this psalm, and GOD 'goes up' to the sound of it.  No doubt, this refers to the procession with the Ark, brought up the Temple hill,  For us there is another 'ascension.'  The glorified body of CHRIST has thrown off the chains of place and time, and has power to lead us always and everywhere.  This is surely a psalm for the feast of the Ascension.)

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