Friday, December 1st
2017
The Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Daniel 7:2-14
Daniel: 75-81
Luke 21:28
Christians, heaven and earth will pass away, but Christ
Jesus’ words will not pass away.
Yes
Christians, in Christ Jesus all things were created, in heaven, and on the
earth, visible and invisible; all things were created by him and in him….
Jesus is before all things, and by… him
all things consist; he is the head of the body, the church, he is the beginning,
the first born from the dead; so that, in all things he himself might be
preeminent.
Yes Christians, because
in him, Jesus, it has well-pleased the Heavenly Father that all fullness should
dwell; and through him… to reconcile all things unto himself, making peace …
through the blood of his cross both as to the things that are on earth and the
things that are in heaven….
Now
Christians, when we read these following verses, from the Book of Daniel, and
consider these words of Daniel’s vision… we may wonder, if some of the authors
of fiction and science-fiction have borrowed, imagery, to do their writing;
however, there is a wisdom to understand, in these prophetic-visions of Daniel,
and we should try to understand them, in accordance with this wisdom and in
accordance with the message of life, salvation, and truth that is the Gospel of
the Bible.
Now, in the midst of his
vision, Daniel was walking about: he asks someone present; “What do these things
mean?”
This is the answer that
Daniel received: “These, metaphoric images, these four great beasts stand, for
the four kings, who shall arise on the earth; however, the holy ones of the Most
High shall receive the kingship, to possess it forever and ever.”
Now Christians this vision pertains, to a specific time period but it
also encompasses, the entire messianic message, because Jesus is introduced into
this vision, as one; who is like the Son of Man.
In importance, it should be said; that previous to this vision, when
Daniel saves the lives of many, of King Nebuchadnezzar advisors and others: for
previous to Daniel’s vision, in one of the dreams that King Nebuchadnezzar had,
which Daniel, being the only living soul, who was able to know the dream, before
it was told, and also being able to tell the King, Nebuchadnezzar, the meaning
of the dream – in this dream that Nebuchadnezzar had – Jesus, the Messiah was
also introduced: to Daniel, and to the lands of Shinar, which is Babylonia, and
to King Nebuchadnezzar.
Now, while
the Israeli’s were scattered, and as Daniel puts it… yet as we know others say…
Daniel confesses to the Heavenly Father and is in agreement with the Heavenly
Father for the scattering, of the Israeli people – among the rise and fall of
nations and people; because the Jewish people had once again turned their back
on God, our Heavenly Father’s truth and life, and dismissed his commandments, as
so much rubbish; the truth of Daniels vision did come to pass….
Now, through a historical account: we can see that King Nebuchadnezzar
kingdom was splint, into pieces, and it fell under the rule of other kings.
One being Antiochus IV., surnamed Epiphanes, who was a vile person, bent
on revenge and the destruction of Jerusalem and its vast inhabitants;
interestingly, secular history recalls this vile and evil person as a man best
known for his encouragement of Greek Culture and institution….
Now Christians, another thing on language and remembered names: that is
perhaps important and worth mentioning; is the uses of colloquial language,
names, speech and identification: in the text of the Book of Daniel.
First off!
It is said that
Daniel is not the author of this book, but Daniel is most assuredly the person
who is telling this historical and biblical account, to his contemporaries,
which is then past down to some person, unknown, who decides to write Daniel's
account down, as text.
Now conventional history recalls things: persons, places and events as a
certain writer, of that history understands, and this writer gathers information
from people, who the writer hopes, are a reliable source: Daniel’s
contemporaries likely had their own names, for certain Mesopotamian kings and as
Daniel recalls, Darius, the Mede others may have called him something else;
nonetheless, Daniel’s vision of King Nebuchadnezzar kingdom being piecemealed,
out, did come to pass.
Now
Christians, as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: names given to them by the
Babylonian people, after they were taken as prisoners… but their names as their
parents gave them: Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were thrown into the fiery
furnace – due to the evil and wickedness, of the some of the Chaldeans: satraps,
prefects, governors, counselors, treasures, judges, magistrates and all the
official of the province – these three men were rescued, saved by a sentinel… an
angel of God, our Heavenly Father.
For all the while, they were in this white-hot blazing fire: Hananiah, Mishael,
and Azariah and God’s Angel were left untouched by the flames; hard to believe,
yes, but this is the account and it is an account, which the Babylonians and
history had cause to try and conceal but could not….
Now Christians, while Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were in the blazing
fire, with God’s Angel, and being unharmed by the fires flame, they were thanking
God, our Heavenly Father for his great mercy that he showed to them because it
pleased… God to do so….
In their
thanking they recited many praises -- mountains and hills bless the Lord; praise
and exalt him above all forever….
Now Christians, stand erect and raise your hands because your redemption is at
hand… pray and be thankful, in the name of the Lord Christ Jesus.
Amen.
Friday, December 8th
2017
Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the
Blessed Virgin Mary
Genesis 3:9-15, 20
Psalm 98:1-4
Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12
SEE Luke 1:28
Christians, the Angel Gabriel was sent by God; in our life of faith… this sending of Gabriel, the Archangel to Mary, a young blessed woman of Galilee, from the town of Nazareth is an occurrence, which may bring skepticism, suspicion, incredulity, agnosticism, mistrust and unbelief… but we believe Mary, our Blessed Mother, the Nazarene, and she is Blessed among women. Now Christians, what can be prayed… mediated… and written that has not already been said about the Book of Genesis and these versus, but do we yet have the truth of wisdom and the truth of being with regard: to Adam, Eve, the serpent and God, our Heavenly Father…? …Let us look again, at what is written, and write some thoughts and pray some prayers – stemming from this translation of the many written texts and many remembered telling’s of this occurrence, between: Adam, Eve, the serpent and God, our Heavenly Father. Where to begin: a parallel concept occurs… when we remember that Saint Paul said, “If the Law of God’s Commandments did not tell me, I was being covetous, then I would not have known that I was coveting, and do we not see a similar truth… when God asks, Adam; ‘Who told you that you were naked?’” Christians, it is not as if Adam did not know, that he did not have any clothes on; there simply were no clothes to put on, but more to the point – there was no realization, of what it meant to be naked, just as there was no realization – to what it meant to be covetous, before God gave us the commandment: “That Shalt Not Covet thy Neighbor’s Goods.” Now trying to explain nakedness and covetous to a person who has no previous concept, of what these things are… would be like trying to explain to the Sioux, Native American Indians, of the Nineteenth Century, what a Chevy Impala or a Ford Mustang or a Dodge Ram truck was; simply put, Adam’s mind had never imagined what was naked; his ears had never heard what was naked; and his eyes had never seen what was naked – even though all the time they, Adam and Eve were both naked and knew that they did not have clothes on; while they were in the Garden of Eden; they were intelligent. Now, Saint Paul’s discourse explains and goes into the idea of whether God’s law is sin and Paul says, of course not; still, our flesh is constantly being tempted and our enemy, the devil is like a roaring lion in our consciences and in our minds, and in this spirit of thought… tempting us to believe that the way of the world is the only truth, and that Christ Jesus – being born of the Virgin Mary is a story and a fantasy; that Lazarus was never raised from the dead; Christ Jesus was not crucified for our sins; that he, Jesus did not rise from the dead but we, as Christians: we believe in Mary, our Blessed Mother and we believe in Jesus, the Lord, Christ, and Savior, who did raise Lazarus from the dead and did himself rise from the dead to eternal life, after his crucifixion and sacrifice for the sins of humankind. Now in Genesis it tells us that Eve said to God, “That the serpent tricked her.” Christians, because the serpent did trick Eve, the serpent was punished or cursed by God: the serpent was made to crawl on its belly and God, the Heavenly Father put enmity between the woman and its offspring and her offspring; they, women strike at its head, while it, the serpent strikes at their heel. Now at this point the Garden of Eden was taken away from Adam and Eve; Eve’s womb was opened and she was faced with the pain of child birth and Adam had to work for their meat and bread. Now Christians, sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds: God is perfect justice, he is righteousness, God is victorious over all his enemies, and all will receive their just desserts; the Heavenly Father has shown us salvation and remembered his kindness and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel and he so loves the world that he gave to the world his only begotten Son, the Lord Christ Jesus, who is the son of Mary, a daughter, of the house of David. Yes Christians, the entire world knows and has seen the salvation, by and through the hands of the Heavenly Father: for he delivered Moses and the entire Jewish people from the Lands of Egypt, and the enslavement by Pharaoh, to a land flowing with milk and honey and God the Father has brought to humankind eternal salvation through his Son, our Lord Christ Jesus; where we are no longer slaves to the sins of our flesh and we are no longer in bondage to the sins of our flesh, if only we call upon the name of the Lord Christ Jesus: for our salvation, our hope, our peace and our life. Now Christians, let us remember our Blessed Mother Mary, who is the mother of all disciples: male and female, and all those who believe in Christ Jesus, her son. Now in the name of the Lord Christ Jesus let us pray and be thankful. Amen.
Friday, December 15th
2017
The Second Week of Advent
Isaiah 48:17-19
Psalms 1:1-4 & 6
Christians, Jesus said, “Wisdom is vindicated by her works.” Now Christians, the Prophet Isaiah speaking to the Israelites – calls to their minds: “The fact that they may-make-mention of God, our Heavenly Father, but that they are not mindful of his words or his teachings and that they do not honoring him neither in truth nor in justice;” instead, they have trusted in their wickedness and they have sought the ways of the world: by loving their sinful flesh and by taking pride in their deceits… when they could have chosen the great pearl of life, “By honoring and by keeping the way of truth and the way of justice, in accordance with our Heavenly Father's ...words of life, his Gospel.” Now Isaiah speaks with the Israelites, “You know that God, the Heavenly Father has promised us, a Savior, and that God, the Father teaches us what is good… for us!” Yet you, oh Israelites – you have chosen – not to be mindful of God, our Heavenly Father’s commandments nor keep his words and teachings nor live in his way or his life, but yet you fain his protection; still, you know that God, the Heavenly Father can only protect those who keep his words and teachings, and those who he will protect for his own name sake; yet, instead of prospering like the ever flowing Mississippi, River or the great Nile, River you chose wickedness and deceit and immoralities, and still worse, you do these things, in God, the Heavenly Father’s name; as if God would spare you, from your just desserts…. Christians not only did the Israelites throw away God, our Heavenly Father’s protection for themselves, but because they chose darkness, over mindfulness of his commandments -- their descendants will also suffer at the hands of those who serve the world, rather than serve God, the Heavenly Father: their names did not have to be blotted out of the presence of God, the Heavenly Father, but they chose sin and sinfulness rather than living in the way, the truth, and the life of God, our Heavenly Father’s Gospel of life…. Now Christians, Jesus teaches us that he is the light, of the world, and those who follow him – will not walk in darkness, but they will have the light of life; therefore Christians do not follow the counsel of the wicked – those who would tell you it makes no difference if you lie, steal, and cheat as long as you are doing it for the greater good…? Yet, Jesus asks this question: “If the light that is in you is darkness; the darkness itself how great shall it be: if the eye be evil, then the whole body shall be darkness.” Moreover Christians, we are not to walk in the ways of sinners; look at your life are you participating in the way of sinners and pretending that you are not involved: do not deceive yourselves…! Again Christians, the Palmist tells us not to sit in the company of the insolent and what is insolence you may ask: “It is showing a rude and arrogant lack of respect; it is cheeky; it is audacious; it is brazen; it is discourteous; it is bad-manners; it is impudent, but it is also not affording God glory as God.” Now Christians, the Palmist tells us: “Instead of being insolent and instead of following the counsel of the wicked and instead of walking in the ways of sinners that we are to meditate on the law of God, the Heavenly Father both night and day.” Now Christians make sure you are aware of this cogent fact: “That Christ Jesus is life; that he is light and in him there is no darkness, at all; furthermore, if we say that we are in fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not know the truth.” Now Christians, if we are in the light of Christ Jesus our lives are sure to bear and yield fruit in due season; even if that fruit is only, if we can say only, for such a tremendous thing – that is being welcomed into the kingdom of heaven with all the angels and saints, and are blessed brothers, the Apostles: The first, Simon who is called Peter and his brother Andrew, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the Publican, James the son of Alpheus, and Thaddeus, Simon the Cananean and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed the Lord Christ Jesus -- we must leave to the Lord Christ Jesus' judgment; as well, let us not forget our Mother, the Blessed Mary, who is the mother of all disciples. Now Christians, let us speak again about the difference between desire and temptation: in the Book of Ephesians, there is a scripture that tell us, of the spirit that is at work in the disobedient and those of unbelief that they are following, the ruler of the power of the air. Now this power of the air is the temptations that come into our conscious minds; once we were dead in our transgressions, but now we have Christ Jesus and his grace to help us overcome all temptation. Temptations are not something that we desire; only a sick person would desire to kill another person or to cause them some type of harm, but that is the manifestation of temptation, if we do not resist our temptations. Still, desires, as it says in scripture; “They... desires can lead us to sin,” if we let ourselves fulfill our desires, in a sinful way, but they... the natural desires for food is not a sin, but gluttony is a sin. Now Christians, if we call for and pray for and ask for and seek the grace and truth of Christ Jesus, Jesus will give us the strength to resist our desires that may lead us to sin and strength to deny our sinful flesh and the strength to overcome our temptations…. Now Christians, Christ Jesus will come again to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom has no end; therefore seek the kingdom of heaven and the Heavenly Father’s Righteousness – where Father, Son and Holy Spirit are one, and then let us live in the grace, truth, and the abundance that Christ Jesus did establish... for us. Now Christians in the name of the Lord Christ Jesus pray and be thankful. Amen.
Friday, December 22nd
2017
The Third Week of Advent
1 Samuel 1:24-28
1 Samuel 2:1, 4-8
Christians… Mary said, “My soul does magnify the Lord!” Yes Christians, our Blessed Holy Mother, Mary – what a magnificent statement of witness that she, Mary, the Mother of our Lord Christ Jesus did proclaim, for she received welcomingly, the blessing of our Heavenly Father; although she knew and was mindful, and she was aware of the magnificent and splendid and tremendous responsibilities that were placed upon her, yet with humility and love – she was Mary, the Blessed Virgin, the Mother of the Son of God, our Lord Christ Jesus…. Now Christians, Samuel was a blessed Prophet of the Lord our Heavenly Father; he was born of Elcana/Elkanah, his father and his mother, Anna/Hannah, and he was a blessing to his parents, in a more particular way then most children? For Hannah had prayed for a child and made a promise to the Lord, our Heavenly Father! When God heard her prayer, Hannah’s womb was opened and in due time, Samuel was born, then Hannah fulfilled her promise to God, our Heavenly Father: by not giving up the child, but allowing Samuel to be the fulfillment of her promise and Samuel was lent to the Lord all the days of his life…. Yes Christians, with tremendous fortitude Hannah was faithful, to her promise, which she did make, in prayer, to God our Heavenly Father. God, the Father heard her prayer and open her womb, in answer to her prayer, “That she would offer her child, Samuel for dedication to the Lord, God our Heavenly Father.” Hannah was a woman whose womb was shut, by the Lord, our Heavenly Father; still, Hannah prayed, “Heavenly Father, I make this vow to you – if you but open my womb, so I may give birth to a man-child, a human being; I will offer my child to you in dedication: no razor shall touch his head and I will lend my child to you all the days of the child’s life: Hannah was faithful to her promise; though she had to give up her only child.” Now Christians, if we walk, that is live… in the light that is the Lord Christ Jesus; our hearts do exult in the Lord, our Heavenly Father’s Gospel of life. Yes … our horn or the thing that we hold on to: our strength is the words of life; it is our peace and it is our exultation. Christians have no doubt; for Christ Jesus did overcome the world and through his Gospel, and through our belief in Christ Jesus, we too may overcome the world. Again Christians, yes… when we remember that Christ Jesus is already victorious, then we come to understand and realize, “When and if we seek the kingdom of heaven and the Heavenly Father’s Righteousness; we leave our worldly problems with the peace that passes all understanding and progress, to a day of eternal life;” where we ourselves live in the light… of Christ Jesus and in his victory. Now with more testimony, from the Book of Samuel we are taught… that the bows of the mighty are broken, but this is only, when and if we are walking in the light of God, our Heavenly Father’s way, truth, and life. The Author of the Book of Samuel is not merely making up words of faith; this scribe is giving a poetic account of what has happened: not an accounts of all men and women, seen and known, but in the accounts of those who were faithful! As well, in other testimonies, we learn of how Saint Paul said, “I have ran the race and I have won; still, his life was of much suffering, which the Lord Christ Jesus told us he would suffer and as well, the Prophet Daniel – his life was filled with much consternation, but in Daniel’s heart and mind; ‘He believed his life to be blessed.’” Now Christians, to the casual observer and those with worldly ambitions: they, perhaps, do not see how God has chosen to act, in certain individual’s lives, as related to us through: the Book of Samuel, the Book of Daniel, and by Saint Paul, himself, but these accounts exist: both for Saint Paul, for the Prophet Daniel and as well, for the Blessed Prophet Samuel. Now Christians when we read in the Book of Samuel that “The Lord puts to death and gives life,” we may wonder how can a loving God put to death; still, there are many accounts of God vanquishing the human-race because they were as, a leopard, and they could not change their spots…. They were so far into their corruption, of their hearts and minds; they were so far debased, by their immorality; and they were so overcome with pride, that there was no way back into truth and into the light and when Christ Jesus comes again to judge the living and the dead according to the testimony given by the Holy Scripture; we are taught that many, will be thrown into the unquenchable fire. Now Christians in the name of the Lord Christ Jesus pray and be thankful. Amen.
Friday, December 29th
2017
The Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas
1 John 2:3-11
Psalm 96:1-3, 5-6
Luke 2:32
Christians, do not believe that the Law of Moses has
been abolished, for it most assuredly has not been fulfilled, and not one tittle
nor jot of the Law of Moses will pass… until it is all fulfilled; furthermore,
Christ Jesus, himself tells us, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the
Law of Moses, rather I have come to fulfill it, the Law of Moses, which be the
Ten Commandments.”
Still, the
dictate of the law – offering a pair of turtle doves and two you pigeons – this
ordinances and other such ordinances are not the means of working our way into
heaven, and they never were; truthfully, we have moved from faith to faith, with
Christ Jesus bringing into effect the New Covenant between God and humankind,
and it is no longer by the law that we may find salvation; rather it is by
faith: faith in Christ Jesus and belief in Christ Jesus: believing in his,
Christ Jesus’ Gospel and repenting of our sins – this is the faith that may
bring us, into eternal salvation in Christ Jesus.
Now Christians, the way that we can be sure, that we know Jesus – is to
keep his commandments; moreover, whoever says, “I know Jesus,” but does not keep
his commandments is a liar and the truth is not in them!”
Christians, it is through Christ Jesus’ Gospel that we overcome our flesh
and overcome the world.
Now, we are
taught “If and when: we keep – that is live according to Christ Jesus’ Gospel –
keeping his words and teachings, then Jesus’ Gospel, which is spirit and life:
Jesus’ words and teachings will perfect the love of God in our hearts, souls,
minds and in our strength.”
Now
Christians, the Gospel teaches us, “That we are known and that we know, others
– by their fruits:” we know them by the things that they do and as well we know
-- that we are in fellowship and union with God, the Lord Christ Jesus and the
Heavenly Father, when we walk as Christ Jesus did walk?
Now this does not mean if Jesus walked with a limp that we should walk
with a limp too; rather it means, since Jesus did not condemn the adulterous,
but did tell her to go and sin no more: that we should also, “Tell the
adulterous to do the same…” and this same teachings… applies to all things that
Christ Jesus and the Heavenly Father has called sin….
Now Christians, Saint John states clearly that the darkness is passing
away and that the true light is already shining – that being Christ Jesus.
Again, Saint John clearly states; if you say that you are in the light
but hate your brother, then it does not matter what you say – for you are still
in the darkness of sin.
We are to
love our brother, and if we do so; then we remain in the light and there is
nothing in us that will cause us to fall.
Again, whoever hates their brother is in darkness; they walk in darkness
and they do not know where they are going, because darkness has blinded their
eyes….
Now Christians, in this
previous sentence, Saint John uses the word brother, but this word… must be
appreciated with wisdom, just as the word “Believe” must be appreciated, with
wisdom; likely, it is fair to say, “When Saint John uses the word “Brother” in
this previous sentence, he is including our neighbor, which includes humankind?
Now Christians, the blessed bliss of the Palmist is truly a thing to
appreciate: this person must have been in complete, awe: of his view, his
setting, his moment of heart and mind with God, the Heavenly Father; he must
have been in such joy, and therefore – he hopes and witnesses to us the
greatness of God, and the magnificence that he can bestow….
So the Palmist says, “Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!”
The Palmist says, “Sing a new song,” but he is not saying, “Be blinded to
the worldly troubles that abound,” but see that God is love and see that the
gifts of the Holy Spirit are: charity, joy, peace, love, patience, gentleness,
goodness, faithfulness, and self-control.
Again Christians, do not be blinded to the evils men and women choose to
do… with their own free wills that God, the Heavenly Father has given to each
and every human creature, but also… do not be blinded to the fact that God is
Righteousness; God is truth; God is everlasting; God is eternal; God is kindness
and goodness and justice; God is forgiving and merciful: God is what he is….
Yes Christians, the troubles of the world abound, and the evils of men are
well crafted -- attempting to hide the truth through pacification and indulgence of the sinful
and weak flesh; nonetheless, salvation is from the Jew and through Christ Jesus.
Now Christians, in this stanza from the Book of Psalms – we see
another image of magnificence: for the Psalmist teaches, “Yes! The Lord made the
heavens!”
Splendor and majesty go
before him,” and in the imaginations of the mind’s eye – we may envision, God
the Father walking through his day; whereas, love and life and truth and
righteousness are emanating out of his being.
Yes Christians, Christ Jesus is the salvation of all of humankind and is
a light of revelation to the Gentiles and is the glory for the people of Israel.
Now Christians, let us turn our minds back to what Simeon said, in the
Book of Luke: Mary, who is our Blessed Mother, “Behold your child is
destined to the rise and fall of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be
contradicted, while you, yourself a sword will pierce, so that the thoughts of
many hearts may be revealed.”
Now
Christians in the name of the Lord Christ Jesus let us pray and be thankful.
Amen.