Friday, March 3rd
2017
After Ash Wednesday
Isaiah 58:1-9
Psalms 51:3-6, 18-19
SEE Amos 5:14
Christians, the question put to Jesus by the disciples of John, the Baptist, shows their worldly and fleshly and wrong thinking, that is “Thinking and acting and behaving without the spirit of Christ Jesus’ grace and truth!” The question does not seek to bring light and life and Christ Jesus’ truth to the differences between the fasting, that Saint John’s disciples were doing and the lack of fasting, that Christ Jesus’ Apostles were doing; rather the question suggest that “Christ Jesus’ Apostles were in the wrong, for not fasting, and that the people would see that they were not suffering or sacrificing for their religion – something that is seemingly a typical notion, which belongs to those, whose hope is in God, our Heavenly Father? Now, if John’s disciples were not acting from the flesh, but were acting in the spirit, the truth and the grace of Christ Jesus’ Gospel, the question, about fasting put to Jesus would have been something like this: “What is the truth about fasting, and are we wrong – for we observe that you and your disciples do not fast?” Now Christians, if Isaiah was to speak, in our day and age, with the fervent outcry that God, our Heavenly Father did instruct… “Cry out full throated and unsparingly” would we humble our hearts and receive God’s instructions or would we be a stiffed-necked and rebellious people? The Heavenly Father instructs, Isaiah, “Tell the house of Jacob of their sins!” Isaiah cries out, ‘you are a people laden with iniquity, a wicked seed, and ungracious child [Not grateful for the gift of life]: and, paraphrased, as Saint Paul puts it, you have looked away, from the image of God, the Heavenly Father: eternal and incorruptible and have chosen to give glory, admiration, and encouragement to the corruptible and sinful image of man: you have chosen sin and sinfulness, instead of seeking Christ Jesus’ kingdom and the Heavenly Father’s righteousness; the overcoming of our sinful flesh….’ Now Christians, we learn from Isaiah of the hypocrisies of the Israelites, Isaiah speaks and as Christ Jesus teaches: you are a people who serve me with your lips, but your hearts are not near or with me: the Israelites went about all through their day pleased with themselves. Vaingloriously, they pretended that they did not abandon the grace and truth of Christ Jesus’ Gospel / that they did not abandon the law of their God? Yet clearly, Christians, see the outcries of Isaiah: you say that you fast, but you carry out your own pursuits – not the seeking of the kingdom of heaven; moreover, your fasting ends with quarreling and fighting – not in the struggle: against principalities and powers, or against the rulers of the world of this darkness, and not against the spirits of wickedness in the high places, but you pursue and quarrel and argue against being faithful, in truth and spirit, to God’s laws; you have abandon your God’s way, truth and life; you have abandon Christ Jesus for the pursuit of your flesh and your desires. Isaiah says your penance is anything but a penance, for it is a pretense, and then you go about in pursuit, of your own desires: abandoning my words and teachings as if they were written by men with an agenda, to keep you from living life. When in reality our Heavenly Father’s words and teachings gives us and bring us life, and brings us life, more abundantly than any passion or sinful desire of the flesh could masquerade to bring. Now Christians, Isaiah teaches us about true fasting; a fasting that is pleasing to God; a fasting that brings a fear, a fear that should overcome by the hearts and minds of men. However, this fear is usually obeyed, rather than overcome, and therefore: the unjustly bound – remain in prison; oppression continues – rather than allowing the first fruits to be received, by the farmer, and life to proceed, in God’s way, truth and life; a fasting whereas – bread is shared with the homeless and sheltered is met; a fasting – where the naked are clothed: for Jesus teaches “Whatever you do to the least of these you also do unto me!” Now Christians when Jesus said this “Whatever you do to the least of these you also do unto me,” he did not mean that the homeless is without responsibilities to his Gospel; that the naked are blameless in regard to his Gospel, rather Jesus means that we are to love our neighbor as we love ourselves and that we are to treat others as we would want to be treated; regardless, if we have a home or if we are homeless. In this reading of Isaiah, Isaiah proclaims as God, our Heavenly Father’s prophet, “If we clothe the naked, when we see them – our light will break forth, like the dawn, and our wounds will quickly heal;” that we will be vindicated, and its light – will go before us, and the Holy Spirit and God’s Heaven will be our rear guard. Now Christians look to the Lord Christ Jesus and to the Heavenly Father, for they are spirit, truth, and life: they are justice, righteousness, goodness, longsuffering, and they are all the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Therefore when we live in the fullness and completeness, and the truth of Christ Jesus’ Gospel, we may see good and not evil, and that admonishment is reproof, so that we may be corrected from our wrong and sinful behavior – enabling us to walk worthily with God, our Lord Christ Jesus and in being fruitful, in every good work and increasing our knowledge of God, our Heavenly Father. Now Christians in the name of the Lord Christ Jesus pray and be thankful. Amen.
Friday, March 10th
2017
The First Week of Lent
Ezekiel 18:21-28
Psalms 130:1-8
Ezekiel 18:31
Christians, Saint Paul tell us, “If we believe in Jesus we will be saved, but Christ Jesus, himself tell us, “Unless our righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, we will not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Now, of course, we realize that Jesus was specifically talking to his disciples, but this teaching refers to all past, present, and future disciples, of Christ Jesus, and with wisdom – we should realize and come to believe “That if our belief, in Jesus, does not hold and have a righteousness that surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, in no way will we enter into the kingdom of heaven:” Saint Paul’s meaning of “Believe in Jesus” entails and encompasses all the things that Christ Jesus has taught us, by and through his Gospel, and Jesus teaches, “Unless we repent of our sins, we will perish!” Now Christians, Ezekiel tells the Israelites of the mercies of God, our Heavenly Father, but he also tells them, rendering, “That the wage of sin, is death, and if they do not repent of their sinfulness they will perish.” Ezekiel teaches, if the wicked person turns away from their sins, of the flesh, and keeps the Heavenly Father’s statutes and does what is right and just, this person will enter into the grace and truth that Christ Jesus did establish: through and with his death on the cross; his resurrection from the dead; and his ascension into heaven. Now Christians, when we attempt to live in accordance, with the Lord Christ Jesus’ eternal Gospel, we must learn to step out of the ways of the flesh, for they are of no avail: hence, our Heavenly Father takes no pleasures from the death of wicked – those, who choose to live in accordance, with disobedience, to Christ Jesus’ Gospel and those who are slaves of their flesh; none, seemingly, hear this, our Heavenly Father tells us his pleasure... “When a wicked person, a sinful person, a person practicing sin: turns away from their evil; turns away from their sin and sinfulness; and seeks to live in accordance with Christ Jesus’ Gospel, repenting of their sins, then all of heaven rejoices:” this, then is our Heavenly Father’s and the Lord Christ Jesus’ pleasure. Furthermore, Christians, Ezekiel speaking for the Heavenly Father, as his Prophet, asks, “Is it my way that is unfair or rather, are not your ways unfair?” Christians it is virtuous, to turn away from our sinful flesh, that is: it is virtuous to repent of our sins, and to live in the grace and truth that is Christ Jesus, which is gifted, to us, with our repentance. Now Christians, Ezekiel teaches us that we cannot store up, virtue; for although, we may have lived a virtuous life, up to some point, if we commit a sin, an abominable thing, none of our previous virtues will be remembered: if we break faith and commit sin – our previous virtues are not remembered and we must repent of our breaking faith and committing sin. As well, the person who is known to have been without virtue, they must also repent of their sins and sinfulness, in order to once again walk, in faith, and in the grace and truth that Christ Jesus has brought unto humankind. Therefore, Christians, we should see, “That regardless of whether we were once virtuous or were sinful, we all must repent of our sins and sinfulness; otherwise, we will perish and be thrown, into the everlasting, unquenchable, fire that awaits the unrepentant sinner.” Now Christians, the Psalmist says it clearly and Saint Paul gives us truth: “If you Lord, our Heavenly Father, mark, our iniquities who can stand and Saint Paul says, ‘For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.’” Yes Christians, the Psalmist prays out in the seeking of kingdom of heaven: hear my voice, Lord Christ Jesus; let your ears be attentive to my voice’s supplications and Saint Paul teaches us, that we are to bring all of our imaginations, under the authority of Christ Jesus’ Gospel; therefore, in prayer or meditation, confess your sinfulness and your sins, in the name of the Lord Christ Jesus, and unto the Lord Christ Jesus, seeking to let your ways be in accordance with Christ Jesus’ way; for his way is truth, goodness, kindness, abundance of life, love, forgiveness, and mercy. Now Christians do not let your flesh or the lack of knowledge, of God, our Heavenly Father’s Gospel, keep you from the forgiveness, that awaits the repentant sinner. For Christ Jesus' sacrifice on the cross is an eternal sacrifice that brought unto humankind grace and truth and Jesus' spilt blood, covered ever sin that mankind had committed or could commit; therefore, when we confess our sins to the Lord Christ Jesus; acknowledging our sinfulness, regardless of our sin and sinfulness – Christ Jesus' grace is sufficient unto us for forgiveness. Yes Christians trust in the Lord Christ Jesus, his Gospel, and first seek the kingdom of heaven and the Heavenly Father’s Righteousness and your sins will be forgiven. Now Christians in the name of the Lord Christ Jesus pray and be thankful. Amen.
Friday, March 17th
2017
The Second Week of Lent
Genesis 37:3-4, 12-13, 17-28
Psalms 105: 16-21
John 3:16
Christians, the chief priests and the elders said to Jesus, “That the owner will put those wretched men to a wretched death and lease his vineyard to other tenants who will give him [the owner] the produce at the proper times;” therefore we see: by their own mouth, their own convictions, they condemned themselves to death, but once realizing, they condemned themselves, they began to retract their conviction and began to believe the lie – accusing Jesus of heresy and attempting to kill him. Apart from for the crowd, Jesus would have been killed. Now Christians, in the letter from Saint James, we learn that the spirit that dwells in us tends towards jealousy and envy, but that God, our Heavenly Father has given us, a grace that is sufficient for us, to overcome our lust for jealousy and envy and that if we resist the devil, sin will flee from us: now the reason for this spirit of envy, in us, is to separate the proud, whom God, our Heavenly Father does resist from those, who walk humbly and lovingly and righteously in the grace and truth of Christ Jesus’ Gospel of life. Now Christians, in the account of Israel and his beloved son, Joseph and all the other sons of Israel, whom Israel did love; we see the jealousy and envy of Joseph’s brothers exemplified. Joseph’s brothers did have the God given grace to overcome their jealousy and envy, of Joseph, but they preferred the darkness of their brooding rather than seeing and understanding the love, Israel had for Joseph: was the same love that he had for the rest of his sons. Christians the jealousy and envy Joseph’s brothers had for him, turned to hate, and it was so paramount that the normal act of greeting Joseph was resisted: here again, Joseph’s brothers preferred and chose the darkness, of envy and jealousy, over the grace of kindness and goodness and a pray of love for their brother. Now Christians, remember the plot to kill at Dothan; for this is where God, our Heavenly Father began to reveal how he would take the pride and jealousy and envy of Joseph’s brothers and [repent it] that is, turn it – into showing the Egyptians that there is a God, in heaven, and that God is the Lord Creator of all things. Now Christians, Joseph’s brothers were filled with evil – were they born this way or did they allow themselves to be consumed, with the sin of jealousy and envy? They, Joseph’s brothers maliciously and openly talked and discussed jovially and wickedly and gave preparation for the killing of Joseph: they saw him coming from afar and wanted him dead; they called him names to justify their hate, jealousy, and their envy; they devised schemes, to kill and explain his death; they gave place to sin and sinfulness in their hearts and minds. Yes, Joseph’s brothers were indeed given over to the sins of the flesh and debased themselves, in jealousy and envy; Joseph’s brothers mocked him. Instead of treating Joseph as a brother, for whom they knew their father did have a sweet joy; they laid their hands on him as if he was a thief, who had stolen a coat from their father. They sold Joseph to Ishmaelites, who are descendants of the bondwoman Hagar; who bore Abraham’s first son for Sarai, Sarah, whose faith in God fell short and she became obsessed for Abraham to have a descendant: these Ishmaelites were travelling to Egypt and they bought, they purchased, Joseph for twenty pieces of silver…. Now Christians, we must live our lives, putting forth every effort: our strength, heart, mind, and talent can achieve, but we also must give place and preparation, for faith in God, our Heavenly Father; remembering, the marvels the Lord have done: Joseph was sold into slavery, but the Lord, our Heavenly Father laid a path, for him; whereas the Israelites grew in number, strength and knowledge. Yes Christians, truly Joseph's life was a life that was filled with marvel: he was his father’s favorite; he was the envy of his brothers and was sold into slavery; however, through his God given talents, he rose to the highest place of honor in Egyptian society; and then Joseph was honored by his own people, the Israelites for saving them from starvation – setting into place the day that Moses would deliver the Jew from Pharaoh and bring unto the Israelites, God, our Heavenly Father’s commandments. Now Christians, God, our Heavenly Father giving up his Son, as a sacrifice, for humankind’s sins – is no matter of small concern and this sacrifice started, some two-thousand years before Christ Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary, with Abraham choosing to be faithful, even to the point of willingly sacrificing his son, Isaac to God, our Heavenly Father. Christ Jesus’ sacrifice, his death on the cross, replaced all other sacrifices that humankind went through with perfunctory repentance and brought into existence the grace and truth that allows humankind to overcome their sin and sinfulness. Moreover, God, our Heavenly Father wanted to exemplify: the arrogance and the jealousy and envy that was held in the hearts and minds, of the scribes and Pharisees; for they served God with their lips, but their hearts and minds were far from him. The Chief Priest and scribes killed an innocent man, Jesus, the Messiah because they were envious and jealous of his ministry and not because he was a heretic. Now Christians in the name of the Lord Christ Jesus pray and be thankful. Amen.
Friday, March 24th
2017
The Third Week of Lent
Hosea 14:2-10
Psalms 81:6, 8-11, 14 & 17
Matthew 4:17
Christians, take to heart and be aware that not all of the scribes were of the same mind or consideration – towards and about Jesus, the Messiah? One particular scribe, who was not mentioned by name, commended Jesus, for his truth and accuracy of professing the Gospel of the Heavenly Father. Now Christians, in the First Book of Timothy, he startles those who follow after worldly things, stating, “Physical exercise profits the body, little, but devotion and godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds the promise for the present and also for the life to come” and with this in mind, we should consider the profound charge of God’s first commandment – again spoken to us, by Jesus, the Christ: that we are to acknowledge and know, “That the Lord our God is Lord alone! That we are to love the Lord, Our Heavenly Father with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind, and with all our strength” and that through keeping this commandment we become aware that in order to truthfully and faithfully love our Heavenly Father, we must keep the words, of his Gospel, and live according to them. Now Christians, the Heavenly Father’s Prophet, Hosea proclaims, this wonderful God given thing: “Take with you words!” Christians are you mindful that we will be held accountable for every word that we have spoken: every idle word that men/humankind shall speak, they shall give an account thereof on the Day of Judgment? Do you remember or know that we are, to live according to ever word that has proceeded out of the mouth of God: it is written that man/humankind does not live by bread alone, but by every word that has proceeded out of the mouth of God, our Heavenly Father? Now Hosea says, speaking for our Heavenly Father, “You Israelites have collapsed through your guilt!” Still, we know and have learned that some, instead of collapsing from their guilt, they revel in their shame, and it, their shame becomes their glory? Yet, revel as they may, in their shame, and give glory, as they well – to what God has called sin: they cut themselves off from life and light and prefer to live in the darkness of sin – taking with them, the marks of their choices and charting for themselves, a course for their chosen destination; a course of their own chosen reward. Still, we also know and have borne witness too and have learned: that some people choose to repent of their guilt, and take and live according to the words of the Lord, our Heavenly Father, which are the same words and teachings of the Lord Christ Jesus and then, God our Heavenly Father forgives us of our inequities and forgive us our transgressions; we are freed from our sins. Yes Christians, you should know and understand that no person, no human creature can save us from our unrepentance; even though, wealth may make our lives more comfortable and easier to navigate – riches and wealth cannot save us from the truth, life, and the light of love and righteousness that awaits us: when Christ Jesus comes again to judge the living and the dead. Jesus teaches us, “That the axe is already at the root of trees and every tree that does not bring forth good fruit will be hewn down and cast into the fire.” Now Christians, the biblical definition, of good fruits, are the fruits of the Holy Spirit, and some of these are: joy, peace, longsuffering, self-control, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, love and righteousness and the biblical definition of sinful practices are: unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity, and all other sins of the flesh. Now Christians, the Lord, our Heavenly Father tell us, through Hosea: that he will heal our defection; that God does love us freely; and that God will turn his wrath away from us. Still Christians we should know that all these previous things have been fulfill by the birth, of our Savior Jesus; however, Saint Paul teaches us, that wrath does fall upon all ungodliness and injustice of those people, who detain and suppress the truth of God, by their injustices and by their wickedness. Moreover, the wrath that God delivered us from… that was spoken too, by Hosea – is the wrath that we store up for ourselves, like treasures, because of our hardness and impenitent hearts and this wrath will be revealed, by the just judgment, of God, our Lord Christ Jesus, when all things will be summed up. Now Christians when we learn about God, our Heavenly Father: we discover that God is like the morning dew for his people; that God blossoms like the lily; that God's roots are like that of cedars and the trees that grow in our cities, putting forth their shoots. Yes, God’s splendor is like the olive tree or the blossom of cherry trees, and God’s fragrance is splendid to our sense of smell. Yes Christians in God we can dwell, in the shade of God’s words and teachings, and raise grains for our nourishment -- when God blesses the lands with seasonal rains. Christians, God the Father and the Son, the Lord Christ Jesus are life and they are truth and they are the only way to eternal salvation and grace and truth. Now Christians in the name of the Lord Christ Jesus pray and be thankful. Amen.
Friday, March 31st
2017
The Fourth Week of Lent
Wisdom 2:1, 12-22
Psalms 34:17-21 & 23
Matthew 4:4
Christians, Saint John witnesses to us, “That the Jews tried to kill Jesus!” Yet, in this statement, we know, through wisdom and other testimony, that it was not all… the Jews that were trying to kill Jesus; therefore brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, seek the kingdom of heaven and the Heavenly Father’s Righteousness and do not give meaning, where there is not… and do not take away truth and meaning… where it is. Now Christians, the Book of Wisdom was written some fifty years, before God gave birth to Jesus, through our Blessed Mother Mary, and its author writes it, the book of wisdom, in the hopes that our eyes will see and that our ears will hear, the words and teachings of God, our Heavenly Father. He writes and appeals to our sense of reason and our souls of truth. The author believes and has come to know, the truth of God’s Gospel, in his own heart and mind, and within his own soul. The author sees the ways that his fellow Jewish brothers and sisters are living and sees their disregard and their blaspheme, and appeals, pleas, and calls: to their name, their souls, and persons that they are named, as souls, in the hopes that they will turn away from their sinfulness and seek the righteousness of God, the Heavenly Father. The author knows that his tools of life are, in his faithful witness, and that each person has to choose, within themselves: either to believe and be faithful or to believe and be unfaithful. The author knows that each person will receive their just desserts, on that faithful day of belief and determination, when Christ Jesus, comes again, and all will have to give an account: of the words that they have spoken; the choices that they have made; the things that they have encourage; the things that they have turn a blind eye too; and the things that do consist... and do not consist… in their lives: each person will have to give an account, of their repentance and their rebellion: none can escape Christ Jesus’ eternal judgment. Christians, in the Book of Wisdom, we read that the wicked chose to be wicked and beset the person, who seeks to be just – doing their wickedness, because the truth is obnoxious to them and they believe that justice works against, the things they hope to accomplish. The just and righteous person says, “Thou shalt not kill,” but the wicked person says, “The just person reproaches us for our transgressions of the law.” Again Christians, the wicked person violates the trainings and instructions that they have received, and then says to the just person “Unless you join us in our falsehoods, we will do everything we can to obstruct you and detain righteousness.” The wicked person says, “The righteous person holds the Heavenly Father, dear, and says, blest is the destiny of the just,” but the wicked person works to subvert the righteous continually – working to present honest communication, among people, as the wicked workings of their own hands. Now Christians, it is truth that the wicked person may repent of their wickedness and their sinfulness – for Christ Jesus’ grace has been established for all of humankind; still, it is more likely that a leopard will change their spots than for a wicked person to turn to holiness; to turn to God, our Heavenly Father Righteousness; and it is more likely, for a leopard to change their spots than a wicked person to walk in the path of repentance, holiness, and in God, our Heavenly Father’s righteousness. The wicked person stoops too revilement and torture – putting to test the just person – hoping to prove that they, the just person are without gentleness and without patience. The wicked person hides their true colors, presenting themselves as honorable and just in the hopes of condemning the just person to a shameful death; subsequently, the wicked person proclaims, “This righteous man said that God had blest his destiny!” Now brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, the wicked person errors in their thinking, and they know not the counsel of God, our Heavenly Father; they do not count on the recompense of holiness nor discern the innocent souls reward. Yes Christians, though, we may struggle and wrestle, against the sins of the flesh, the grace and truth of Christ Jesus -- rewards us in our spirituality: bringing us peace of heart and truth of mind. Now Christians, in this life we may be broken hearted, but in our spiritual life, in Christ Jesus, we can still be and should be joyous. For the Lord does and will confront evildoers and hears the prayers of the just person. The Lord Christ Jesus knows when a person’s spirit is crushed and knows that the just man's troubles are many; still, if we seek the kingdom of heaven and the Heavenly Father’s Righteousness – Christ Jesus’ grace and truth will be sufficient unto us for peace, joy, and the hope of eternal life. Yes Christians take refuge in the words and teachings of Christ Jesus’ Gospel of repentance – knowing that the Lord redeems the lives of his servants and ... that they shall be made whole, upon entering Christ Jesus’ eternal kingdom: remember Saint Stephen and Saint Patrick; although Saint Stephen was crushed by stones, his final words were, of wonder, and of the mysteries of God, our Heavenly Father; similarly, like Jesus he, Saint Stephen forgave the people, saying “Bless them Father they know not what they do!” Again we also find, in Saint Patrick, a whole host of miraculous events and a blessed life that shows the day-to-day work of faith and belief. Now Christians remember and take to heart and mind that we do not live by bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God, our Heavenly Father. Christians in the name of the Lord Christ Jesus pray and be thankful. Amen.