Monday, April 26, 2010

Scripture On Sundays - Don't be the ones left behind; the unforgiven

The first reading, along with some extra verses so that you can understand the context....

14 Paul and Barnabas continued on from Perga and reached Antioch in Pisidia.  On the Sabbath they entered the synagogue and sat down. 
15 After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue rulers sent word to them, saying, "Brothers, if you have a message of encouragement for the people, please speak."
16 Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and said: "Men of Israel and you Gentiles (non-Jews) who worship God, listen to me!
26 "Brothers, children of Abraham, and you God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent.
27 The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning Him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath.
28 Though they found no proper ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have Him executed.
29 When they had carried out all that was written (by the prophets) about Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb.
30 But God raised Him from the dead,
31 and for many days He was seen by those who had traveled with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now His witnesses to our people.
32 "We tell you the good news: What God promised our fathers
33 He has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm: 
" 'You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.
34 The fact that God raised Him from the dead, never to decay, is stated in these words:  " 'I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.'
35 So it is stated elsewhere:  " 'You will not let your Holy One see decay.'
36 "For when David had served God's purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his fathers and his body decayed.
37 But the One whom God raised from the dead did not see decay.
38 "Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.
39 Through Him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses.
40 Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you:
41 " 'Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish, for I am going to do something in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you.' "
42 As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people invited them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath.
43 When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to remain faithful and continue in the grace of God.
44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.
45 When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and talked abusively against what Paul was saying.
46 Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: "We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.
47 For this is what the Lord has commanded us:  " 'I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.' "
48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.
49 The Word of the Lord spread through the whole region.
50 But the Jews incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region.
51 So they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium.
52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
Acts 13:14-16,26-52

The second reading....

9 After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.
13 Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?"
14 I answered, "Sir, you know." And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
15 Therefore, "they are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will spread His tent over them.
16 Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat.
17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their Shepherd; He will lead them to springs of living water.  And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
Revelation 7:9,13-17

The gospel, with some lead in verses....

The Unbelief of the Jews

22 Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter,
23 and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon's Colonnade.
24 The Jews gathered around Him, saying, "How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly."
25 Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in My Father's name speak for Me,
26 but you do not believe because you are not My sheep.
27 My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.
28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of My hand.
29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of My Father's hand.
30 I and the Father are One."
31 Again the Jews picked up stones to stone Him,
32 but Jesus said to them, "I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone Me?"
33 "We are not stoning You for any of these," replied the Jews, "but for blasphemy, because You, a mere man, claim to be God."
34 Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your Law, 'I have said you are gods'?
35 If He called them 'gods,' to whom the word of God came—and the Scripture cannot be broken—
36 what about the One whom the Father set apart as His very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse Me of blasphemy because I said, 'I am God's Son'?
37 Do not believe Me unless I do what My Father does.
38 But if I do it, even though you do not believe Me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father."
John 10:22-38

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Scripture On Sundays - Fear not; Do not be afraid or ashamed

The apostles were the ones instructed by Jesus, and then with the help of the Holy Spirit, they were inspired to spread the word throughout the land, after Jesus had died and was risen.  This wasn't going to be easy, as you'll see from this first reading from the Acts of the Apostles....

27 Having brought the apostles, they made them appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest.
28 "We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name (Jesus)," he said. "Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man's blood."
29 Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than men!
30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead—whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree.
31 God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.
32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."
33 When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death.
34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while.
35 Then he addressed them: "Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. 36 Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing.
37 After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered.
38 Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.
39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God."
40 His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name of Jesus.
42 Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.
Acts 5:27-42

In the second reading, we hear more from John about his visionary dream in Revelation....

6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
7 He came and took the scroll from the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.
8 And when He had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
9 And they sang a new song:
"You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because You (Jesus) were slain, and with Your blood You purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.
10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth."
11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders.
12 In a loud voice they sang:
"Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!"
13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing:
"To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb (Jesus) be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!"
14 The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshiped.
Revelation 5:6-14

Jesus appears to His disciples a third time after His death, to once again help, instruct and reassure them....

Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish



1 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias. It happened this way:
2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together.
3 "I'm going out to fish," Simon Peter told them, and they said, "We'll go with you." So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
5 He called out to them, "Friends, haven't you any fish?"  "No," they answered.
6 He said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, "It is the Lord," he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water.
8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.
9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.
10 Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you have just caught."
11 Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn.
12 Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples dared ask Him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord.
13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.
14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.



Jesus Reinstates Peter



15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love Me more than these?"  "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love You."  Jesus said, "Feed My lambs."
16 Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love Me?"  He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love You."  Jesus said, "Take care of My sheep."
17 The third time He said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love Me?"
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love Me?" He said, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You."   Jesus said, "Feed My sheep.
18 I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go."
19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then He said to him, "Follow Me!"
20 Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, "Lord, who is going to betray You?")
21 When Peter saw him, he asked, "Lord, what about him?"
22 Jesus answered, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow Me."
23 Because of this, the rumor spread among the brothers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?"
24 This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.
25 Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.
John 21:1-25

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Scripture On Sunday - Divine Mercy

This Sunday's readings focused on what was happening to the apostles after Jesus was crucified. 
The gospel recounts the origins of the phrase "Doubting Thomas". 
Jesus told Thomas,"Blessed are those who have not seen, and yet have believed."

The first reading....
12 The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon's Colonnade.
13 No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people.
14 Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.
15 As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter's shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.
16 Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil spirits, and all of them were healed.
Acts 5:12-16

The second reading....
9 I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.
10 On the Lord's Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,
11 which said: "Write on a scroll what you see...."
12 I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands,
13 and among the lampstands was someone "like a son of man," dressed in a robe reaching down to His feet and with a golden sash around His chest.

17 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as though dead. Then He placed His right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.
18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the netherworld.
19 "Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later.
Revelation 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19
 
The gospel....
Jesus Appears to His Disciples

19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"
20 After He said this, He showed them His hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
21 Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent Me, I am sending you."
22 And with that He breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.
23 If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."

Jesus Appears to Thomas

24 Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came.
25 So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!"  But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in His hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe it."

26 A week later His disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"
27 Then He said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Stop doubting and believe."
28 Thomas said to Him, "My Lord and my God!"
29 Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
30 Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not recorded in this book.
31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His Name.
John 20:19-31

Thursday, April 8, 2010

My Ponderings On Human Sexuality

Don't be shocked! Nothing nowadays should shock us, right? This is nothing more perverse than much of what you see on TV or in the movies. So why not have some serious reflections on the subject? This is my observation on how human sexuality has been perceived in the past, and how our current culture now seems to perceive it.


What is considered legal?  Human sexual relations between two consenting adults.

What is considered moral?  Sexual relations, preferably between two adults who are in a loving and committed relationship.

What is considered illegal? Forced sexual relations, such as in the cases of rape, incest, sodomy.

What is considered immoral? Any unnatural sexual relations that deviate from the norm, regardless of whether it's done under force or consent.

Ever wonder what the full defintion of sodomy is? See below....

Definition of sodomy from dictionary.com

n. Any various forms of sexual intercourse held to be unnatural or abnormal. Sexual intercourse that is not the union of the genital organs of a man and a woman. The term is most frequently applied to anal intercourse between two men, or to sexual relations between people and animals.

Note: According to the Bible, God destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah for unacceptable sexual practices, apparently including oral or anal intercourse between men. Sodomy takes its name from the city of Sodom. From the supposed homosexual practices of the men of the city in Sodom: the crime of oral or anal sexual contact or penetration between persons, or of sexual intercourse between a person and an animal.

Many governments have laws against sodomy. These laws are difficult to enforce, however, because many people now believe they violate personal privacy. Homosexual sex has slowly over the years, become more culturally acceptable. I just wonder how something like sodomy, which is still considered illegal, and was named for the city that was destroyed by God for their people's sexual perversions, has now become acceptable, as long as it is not forced upon someone. In other words, heterosexual sex is okay - rape is not. Homosexual sex is okay - sodomy is not. The difference is, if the use of force applies, this is  where it becomes illegal. But in the moral realm, it is my understanding that sodomy is not acceptable in God's eyes under any circumstance. It doesn't appear to matter to Him whether it's done with consenting adults or not.  It's a sinful act either way. Thus, the reason why many people of faith have a difficult time accepting homosexual behavior.

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Quote of the Day - God Bless Our Troops

From a chaplain for our troops,  "There are no atheists found in foxholes."

Scripture On Sundays - Palm Sunday

During the holiest season for Christians, I have not posted the readings and gospels from Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday.  I feel bad about that!  But most church going Catholics know the full (and long) Passion, which was from Luke this year, is read on Palm Sunday.  Most people know the sad, but triumphant story of Jesus' passion, death and resurrection.  So, if you feel the need, grab a Bible and spend some time reading this truly "historic" story, directly from the original source.   

I have been told that many of my postings and emails are way too long, so that's my excuse for now.  The last thing I want to do is to deter or discourage anyone.  I hope everyone had a blessed Easter.

Quote of the Day - Full of What???

BOTH POLITICIANS AND DIAPERS NEED TO BE CHANGED OFTEN,
AND FOR THE SAME REASON!

Author Unknown