Ingratitude of Man: The Story Of Israel

 "They made a calf at Horeb and worshiped the molten image.

They exchanged the glory of GOD for the image of a bull that eats grass.

They forgot their Savior GOD, who had done great things in Egypt, wonderful works in the land of Ham, and awesome deeds by the Sea of Reeds.

So HE spoke of destroying them, but Moses, HIS chosen one, stood in the breach before HIM to shield them from destruction."

- Psalm 106:19-20. 21-22. 23

(With this psalm, we recognize ourselves sinners before GOD, sinners as our parents, and we expect to be saved by grace.)

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The Testimony

 "I can do nothing of MYSELF.  As I hear, so I judge, and MY judgment is just, because I seek not MY own will, but the will of HIM who sent ME.

If I bore witness to MYSELF, MY testimony would be worthless.  But Another One is bearing witness to ME, and I know that HIS testimony is true when HE bears witness to ME.  John also bore witness to the truth when you sent messengers to him, but I do not seek such human testimony; I recall this for you, so that you may be saved.

John was a burning and shining lamp, and for a while you were willing to enjoy his light.  But I have greater evidence than that of John--the works which the FATHER entrusted to ME to carry out.  The very works I do bear witness: the FATHER has sent ME.  Thus HE who  bears witness to ME is the FATHER who sent ME.  You have never heard HIS voice and have never seen HIS likeness; therefore, as long as you do not believe HIS messenger, HIS word is not in you." - John 5:30-38 

(To gain a direction in life, we need some understanding of the world and humankind.  This understanding may come through reason and science, but more often we are influenced and guided by the testimony of others--by their words, attitudes and personal qualities.

It is thus that those in love discover one another, friends accept each other, a career is decided upon, a religious or political commitment is made.  It is also thus that the word of GOD is discovered.  Therefore, JESUS speaks of the testimonies that accredit HIM:

- HIS works, that is, HIS miracles.

- John the Baptist's testimony in pointing HIM out as the Savior.

- the words of the Scriptures that refer to HIM.

Some people say that since Scripture is the word of GOD they do not need anything more than that to guide them.  Let them know that just as GOD spoke through events and through prophets, HE continues speaking to us through actual events and through spokespersons of the Spirit in the Church.  JESUS rebuked those who believed they possessed the truth just by having the Scriptures, but did not believe in HIM whom GOD was sending them.)

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The River That Flows From The Temple

 "The man brought me back to the entrance of the temple and I saw water coming out from the threshold of the temple and flowing eastward.  The temple faced the east and the water flowed from the south side of the temple, from the south side of the altar.  He then brought me out through the north gate and led me around the outside, to the outer gate facing the east; and there I saw the stream coming from the south side.

The man had a measuring cord in his hand.  As he went towards the east he measured off a thousand cubits; and led me across the water which was up to my ankles.  He measured off another thousand cubits and made me cross the water, which came to my knees.  He measured off another thousand cubits and we crossed the water, which was up to my waist.  When he had again measured a thousand cubits, I could not cross the torrent, for it had swollen to a depth which was impossible to cross without swimming.

The man then said to me, 'Son of man, did you see?'  He led me on further and then brought me back to the bank of the river.  There I saw a number of trees on both sides of the river.  He said to me, 'This water goes to the east, down to the Arabah, and when it flows into the sea of foul-smelling water, the water will become wholesome.  Wherever the river flows, swarms of creatures will live in it; fish will be plentiful; and the seawater will become fresh.  Wherever it flows, life will abound.

Near the river on both banks, there will be all kinds of fruit trees, with foliage that will not wither; and fruit that will never fail; each month they will bear a fresh crop, because the water comes from the temple.  The fruit will be good to eat and the leaves will be used for healing." - Ezekiel 47:1-9. 12 

(Note the vision of the river which makes the land fruitful and starts from the place where GOD is present.  The invisible GOD manifests HIMSELF in the life which HE gives to people.  The Holy Spirit, imaged in the stream of living water [see John 7:38], makes all the seeds of life blossom again in the world.

The stream flows to the Salt Sea or the Dead Sea.  [Its waters are so salty that there are no fish.  No plants can grow on the shores.]  This serves as an image of the healing that GOD brings to a world, sterile because of its sins.)

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Unless You See Signs And Wonders, You Will Not Believe!

 "JESUS went back to Cana of Galilee, where HE had changed the water into wine.  At Capernaum there was an official, whose son was ill, and when he heard that JESUS had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and asked HIM to come and heal his son, for he was at the point of death.

JESUS said, 'Unless you see signs and wonders, you will not believe!'  The official said, 'Sir, come down before my child dies.'  And JESUS relied, 'Go, your son lives!'

The man had faith in the word that JESUS spoke to him, and went his way.  As he was approaching his house, his servants met him, and gave him the good news, 'Your son has recovered!'  So he asked them at what hour the child began to recover, and they said to him, 'The fever left him yesterday, at about one o'clock in the afternoon.'  And the father realized that that was the time when JESUS had told him, 'Your son lives!'  And he became a  believer, he and all his family.

JESUS performed this second miraculous sign when HE returned from Judea to Galilee." - John 4:46-54 

(Unless you see signs and wonders, you will not believe.  JESUS' reproach is directed, not to the official who will later show great faith, but to the Jews and to us.  While JESUS works miracles which confirm HIS mission, HE also stresses that we should recognize HIM by seeing and hearing HIM.  Do lovers demand miracles in order to trust one another?  Do those who follow leaders demand absolute proof?  Those who really seek the truth recognize it when it is presented to them.

JESUS second miracle in Cana concludes this second part of the Gospel in which JESUS defines HIMSELF in relation to Jewish society and its hopes.

Now begins a new section: JESUS proclaims the work for which HE has come into this world; HIS FATHER has sent HIM to judge and to give life.  We must first believe in the Messenger of GOD.) 

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In CHRIST, GOD Reconciled The World With HIMSELF

 "For that same reason, the one who is in CHRIST is a new creature.  For him, the old things have passed away; a new world has come.  All this is the work of GOD, who, in CHRIST, reconciled us to HIMSELF, and who entrusted to us the ministry of reconciliation.  Because, in CHRIST, GOD reconciled the world with HIMSELF, no longer taking into account their trespasses, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

So we present ourselves as ambassadors, in the name of CHRIST, as if GOD, HIMSELF, makes an appeal to you, through us.  Let GOD reconcile you; this, we ask you, in the name of CHRIST.  HE had no sin, but GOD made HIM bear our sin, so, that, in HIM, we might share the holiness of GOD." - 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 

(The one who is in CHRIST is a new creature: first because the barriers that divide and separate people no longer exist for him [see Galatians 3:27; Ephesians 2:14-16].  Also because it is not human desires that guide him, but the Spirit of GOD who recreates him at every instant [Galatians 5:13-21].

In CHRIST, GOD reconciled the world with HIMSELF.  Many people like to say: JESUS is love.  This is true, but let us not forget that this love is HIS response to the love of the FATHER who wishes to reconcile us; we must do away with the idea of an angry GOD whom JESUS tries to appease [Romans 3:25].

Who entrusted to us the ministry of reconciliation.  Christians are not satisfied with only singing the praises of GOD, and their supreme aspiration is not to find a likeable community.  They do their part in the task of universal reconciliation that supposes a denunciation of injustice and sin, and the effort to overcome them.  Today the Church says a great deal about this so that we may better understand our mission in the world and in the conflicts and tensions that tear our nations apart.

We present ourselves as ambassadors in the name of CHRIST.  This is not only true of the apostles and Paul.  It is also meant for us when we go to visit the sick or the needy; when, overcoming suspicion, we approach our brother and sister to create an atmosphere of confidence, so that, shortly, we may arrive at fraternal fellowship with others who have the same problems but who, in spite of that, often remain locked in their selfishness.

HE had no sin.  It is difficult to translate Paul's words: "HE made sin HIM who did not know sin," for obviously Paul here speaks according to Hebrew culture where the same word denotes both the sin and the victim who carries the sin.  Paul recalls the mystery of the cross: reconciliation is not achieved without voluntary victims who take on themselves the hatred and the sin of humankind.)

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It Is Love That I Desire, Not Sacrifice

 "Come, let us return to YAHWEH.

HE who shattered us to pieces, will heal us as well;

HE has struck us down, but HE will bind up our wounds.

Two days later HE will bring us back to life;

on the third day, HE will raise us up,

and we shall live in HIS  presence.

Let us strive to know YAHWEH.

HIS  coming is as certain as the dawn;

HIS judgment will burst forth like the light;

HE will come to us as showers come,

like spring rain that waters the earth.

O Ephraim, what shall I do with you?

O Judah, how shall I deal with you?

This love of yours is like morning mist,

like morning dew that quickly disappears.

This is why I smote you through the prophets,

and have slain you by the words of MY mouth.

For it is love that I desire, not sacrifice;

it is knowledge of GOD, not burnt offerings."

- Hosea 6:1-6

(People regret their errors, but they are not so sincere as to abandon their sins.  They think they will please GOD by offering a few sacrifices but are far from real love which manifests itself in obedience; they prefer to offer the costly sacrifices which they choose rather than to do what GOD asks of them.

It is love that I desire, not sacrifice.  On several occasions JESUS refuted the Pharisees by quoting this saying [see Matthew 9:13].)  

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Here I AM To Do YOUR Will

 "... and never, will the blood of bulls and goats take away these sins.

This is why, on entering the world, CHRIST says: YOU did not desire sacrifice and offering; YOU were not pleased with burnt offerings and sin offerings.  Then I said: 'Here I AM.  It was written of ME in the scroll.  I will do YOUR will, O GOD.'

First HE says: Sacrifice, offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings YOU did not desire nor were YOU pleased with them--although they were required by the law.  Then HE says: Here I AM to do YOUR will.

This is enough to nullify, the first will and establish the new.  Now, by this will of GOD, we are sanctified, once, and for all, by the sacrifice of the body of CHRIST JESUS." - Hebrews 10:4-10 

(These verses say that we passed from a religion where everything is a continual beginning again to a new state where we are in the definitive now.  Here we have an aspect of the Christian faith that is not easy to accept.

The sacraments we receive--and the pardon we receive in the Church--are never more than the application at the present moment of that which has been done once and for all.  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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The Chosen People Will Have Peace If They Listen To The Word Of Their GOD

 "One thing I did command them: Listen to MY voice and I will be your GOD and you will be MY people.  Walk in the way I command you and all will be well with you.  But they did not listen and paid no attention.  They followed the bad habits of their stubborn heart and turned away from ME.

From the time I brought their ancestors out of Egypt until this day I have continually sent them MY servants, the prophets; but this stiff-necked people did not listen.  They paid no attention and were worse than their ancestors.

You may say all these things to them but they will not listen.  You will call them but they will not answer.  This is a nation that did not obey YAHWEH and refused to be disciplined.  Truth has perished and is no longer heard from their lips." - Jeremiah 7:23-28  

(Jeremiah repeats the warnings of Deuteronomy.  This book had just been discovered [2 Kings 22].  The chosen people will have peace if they listen to the word of their GOD.  In the same way we also must go beyond our religious practices and listen to the LORD.)

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Not The Smallest Letter Or Dot In The Law Will Change Until All Is Fulfilled

 "Do not think that I have come to annul the law and the prophets.  I have not come to annul them, but to fulfill them.  I tell you this: as long as heaven and earth last, not the smallest letter or dot in the law will change, until all is fulfilled.

So then, whoever breaks the least important of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be the least in the kingdom of heaven.  On the other hand, whoever obeys them, and teaches others to do the same, will be great in the kingdom of heaven." - Matthew 5:17-19 

(JESUS does not refer to the commandments.  Rather HE affirms that the religion founded on the Old Testament's Scripture was a temporary, yet necessary step in the history of salvation.  The prophecies had to be fulfilled; the rites and sacrifices of that religion expressed in a veiled manner the mystery of sin and mercy that would be fulfilled in the person and the work of JESUS.  With HIM comes the perfect and definitive fellowship of GOD with humankind.

For us as well, observing the laws of the Scriptures is not an end in itself.  They are an expression of real love and are its guidelines.  In obeying them we become receptive to the Spirit who will lead us.  In this way we discover a "righteousness" or perfection far superior to the canonists of the time: the Lawyers and the Pharisees.)

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Prayer For Protection And Forgiveness

 "Teach me YOUR ways, O YAHWEH, make known to me YOUR paths.

Guide me in YOUR truth and instruct me, for YOU are my GOD, my savior; I hope in YOU all day long.

Remember YOUR compassion, O YAHWEH, YOUR unfailing love from of old.

Remember not the sins of my youth, but in YOUR love remember me.

Good and upright, YAHWEH teaches sinners HIS way.

HE teaches the humble of heart and guides them in what is right."

- Psalm 25:4-5. 6. 7. 8. 9

(This psalm is a model 'act of contrition.'  It does not try to stir up an emotional sorrow.  It simply states the case, admits the guilt, and asks for mercy.  Can anyone before GOD do more?

Scripture does not know despair.  We can  be broken by sorrow, anxiety, the weight of sin, but there is always an escape.  All our paths, even the worst, can finally lead to a love stronger than all the powers of this world.

In praying this psalm, the psalmist has asked GOD for many favors.  Our prayers like his, have been answered several times by JESUS who in John 14:6 says, "I AM the way, the truth and the life."  And then again, in Matthew 11:28-30, "Come to ME, all of you who...carry heavy burdens...for MY yoke is good and MY burden is light."  In fact, ALL answers have been provided to us by JESUS in the Gospels.  If only we believe!)   

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