Friday, June 1st
2018
Memorial of Saint Justin, Martyr
1 Peter 4:7-13
Psalms 96:10-13
Alleluia See John 15:16
Christians, Christ Jesus is Lord; he is life; he is
truth; and he is the way -- the way to salvation and eternal life….
Christians when we read that Saint Peter says, “Beloved, the end of all
things is at hand,” and since this has not happen yet, as some individuals may
imagine, some may discredit what Saint Peter has written; yet, when you
understand it in the wisdom, with which it was written, then you know Saint
Peter is talking about, ‘the end of this age – that, the end of all things is at
hand.’
Indeed, this is true, for we
have been in the “Age of Christ Jesus:” since his birth, since his childhood,
since his ministry, since his raising Lazarus from the dead, since his
crucifixion, and since his resurrection from the dead; we have been in the age
of Christ Jesus, for Jesus proclaimed: “For now the axe is laid to the root of
the trees.
Every tree therefore that
does not yield good fruit shall be cut down and cast into the fire and since
Jesus, the Christ is Lord – nothing men and women or humankind can ever do, will
ever prevent this: end of all things.”
Now Christians, what about this teaching, by Saint Peter, of being
serious and of sober-mind?
What
about prayer and what is prayer: prayer can have different definitions, but
prayer is bringing all of our imaginations under the authority of Christ Jesus’
Gospel; prayer is recognizing, in our hearts and minds that these three testify:
the water, the spirit and the blood.
It is being aware that the water that testifies is the human, the flesh with its
desires: hunger, wealth, sexual, pride, and its greed, etcetera; it is being
aware that the spirit is both temptations and the Holy Spirit: temptations – not
only do they work on our desires, but they try to confuse us with what is truth
and life….
Temptations tries to tell
us that our sinfulness is alright, because we truly want it; temptation tries to
get us to believe that we are not responsible, for our own behaviors and
choices, because they are thoughts that we have in our minds; temptations tries
to lead us to our own self-destruction, by charming us into believing that we
are truly living, the truth, and that sinful things are good and right, and that
evil is actually good….
As well
Christians, our desires, although they can be fulfilled in holiness and
goodness, that is, if we fulfill them according to Christ Jesus’ Gospel; yet
they, our desires, can also lead us to sin….
Now the Holy Spirit is our comforter and our teacher, but the Holy Spirit
does not teach us or comfort us, in a way that goes against Christ Jesus’
Gospel; rather the Holy Spirit: reminds us of all the things that Christ Jesus
has taught us; and reminds us of his words and teachings, that is, if we have
taken the time to read Christ Jesus’ Gospel….
The Holy Spirit comes to us in our deepest temptations and brings to mind
Christ Jesus’ words and teachings; when there is seemingly no answer, to a
question, and the mind is struggling with what to make of the world around us.
Then the Holy Spirit comforts us, by reminding of some certain thing
Christ Jesus may have said or taught; and then like a river that picks up an
object that can float: our minds and hearts float into the grace of Christ
Jesus’ Gospel, and we know that we know truth; we know that we believe in Christ
Jesus, the Son of the Most High, the Heavenly Father….
Now Christians, the third thing that testifies is the blood, and the
blood is the grace – won by Christ Jesus because of his crucifixion and his
resurrection.
Now the blood of
Christ Jesus works in our hearts and our minds, in its own unique way –
different than the Holy Spirit, but in union with the Holy Spirit.
If we call upon the blood of Christ Jesus, while temptations are trying
to convince us of something false: like it would be good to steal something or
all of the other sinful things temptation tries to convince us, is good, such
as: fornication, power, vainglory, pride, murder, homosexuality, adultery,
covetous; whatever temptation is lying to us about – if we call upon the blood
of Christ Jesus and believe in Christ Jesus, then Christ Jesus’ grace flows into
us, because of his blood sacrifice that took away the sins of the world, and
then, we are able to overcome our temptations.
Now this same thing is true about our desires; “If we choose Christ Jesus
we can overcome our desires, and not let them cause us to sin.”
Still, if we choose to deny Christ Jesus and not afford God glory as God,
then God will turn us over to a reprobate sense: to do those things which are
not convenient….
Now Christians, the
Lord comes to judge the earth; therefore let us say and witness among all
nations: “The Lord is king.”
Yes
Christians, our Heavenly Father is the same today, yesterday, and tomorrow, and
God has created the world firm, not to be moved, and in this creation God
governs, with equity, all peoples….
Now Christians, as we wake to the sunrise and the songs of the morning birds,
praising God, the Heavenly Father – the blueness of the sky is shining its joy
and gladness; the gray clouds of moisture our hanging, overcasting their joy and
gladness.
Yes, the seas with their
depths and their rolling waves are proclaiming the gladness and joy of Christ
Jesus’ creation; and the plains and prairies are growing and blowing and teaming
with life, broadcasting their joy and gladness….
Yes Christians, this is the day that the Lord, our Heavenly Father has
made; therefore, life is rejoicing and being filled with gladness and love, in the majesty of the Lord God of all creation.
Yes Christians, the Lord our Heavenly Father comes to rule the world,
with justice, and the peoples with constancy; let us rejoice and be glad….
Now Christians, Jesus teaches, ‘if we have a grievance against anyone,
forgive them, so that our Heavenly Father may, in turn, forgive our
transgressions.’
Now Christians, in
the name of the Lord Christ Jesus let us pray and be thankful….
Amen….
Friday, June 8th
2018
Solemnity of Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
Hosea 11:1, 3-4, 8-9
Isaiah 12:2-6
Ephesian 3:8-12, 14-19
Matthew 11:29
1 John 4:10
So that you may also believe… this is it: do you believe
that Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary; do you believe that he turned water into
wine; do you believe that he raise Lazarus from the dead; do you believe that he
walked on water and calmed the sea, and if you do believe, these things, do you
then also believe Jesus when he says, “Repent or you will all perish?”
Christians, the word teaches that we are to work out our own salvation;
do we believe this?
Christians we
know that the word -- Christ Jesus’ Gospel calls idolatry, adultery, murder,
homosexuality, bearing false witness, fornication, sodomy, calls all these
things sin and more…, and those who do these things, if they do not repent, will
perish, and in no way, will they enter into the kingdom of heaven: any person
who knows the words and teachings of Christ Jesus’ Gospel knows this is the
truth; yet do we believe, do we believe Christ Jesus when he teaches us, or do
we follow after our own flesh: with its pride, its vainglory, its arrogance and
live according to our desires, of the flesh, rather than the spirit, grace and
truth of Christ Jesus’ Gospel?
Now
Christians, the Lord our Heavenly Father loves his creation: when Jacob was a
child, before he was named Israel, he was a quiet lad of gentle disposition, and
he grew up being a shepherd….
His
mother Rebekah conspired to deceive her husband -- Israel’s father, Isaac, so that
Jacob would be the son to receive his father’s blessing, and the promise from
God, the Heavenly Father would be passed down through Jacob, rather than through
Esau, Jacob-Israel’s older brother....
Jacob left his home in search of a bride; while Esau went to the house of
Ismael, the son of Abraham, from Hagar….
Jacob found his wife, after, the vision that he had from God, the
Heavenly Father; what we know as Jacob’s ladder, and his wife, the woman whose
Jacob’s heart reached out for was a young shepherd girl, by the name of Rachel;
Jacob kissed Rachel….
However …
Rachel’s father was an old beguiler and deceived Jacob, so we see that Jacob in
this sense reaped what he had sown, for he and his mother, Rebekah had deceived
Isaac; still, Jacob worked another week, seven years, and took Rachel for his
bride.
Yes Christians, God the
Heavenly Father loved Jacob-Israel and God did admonish Jacob through various
ways throughout his life, but Jacob-Israel held his faith with God, the Heavenly
Father through his trials and tribulations.
Jacob-Israel and Rachel were blessed with a son, whom they named Joseph,
and through Joseph, we have the second son Ephraim.
Now, the Prophet Hosea says, “That God the Heavenly Father drew them:
Jacob, Ephraim, the people of Ephraim, and the other Israelites with human
cords, with bands of love … yet, God the Heavenly Father says, ‘they did not
know who was there healer.’”
Yes
God, the Heavenly Father blessed them, with all the things they, Jacob and
Ephraim and indeed all of Israel and all of humankind needed to live: loving,
healthy and prosperous lives, but in succession, down through the ages, they,
Ephraim, the place, and other kings of Israel, in Ephraim were like sons and
daughters of the evil one – choosing the weeds and the tares of the field and
preferring darkness, turning away from what is good and true and convenient and
preferring that which is inconvenient.
Now Christians, when we consider the achievements of the Lord, God the
Heavenly Father we know that he populated the earth, with life, but that he
specifically reached down and formed Adam, from clay and blew life into him –
for Adam was created to be a witness, to God the Heavenly Father’s light, to the
rest of creation....
Adam and his
lineage were created separately; specifically to be witnesses and lights to God,
the Heavenly Father’s word that being Christ Jesus.
Christians, when we faithfully seek the kingdom of heaven and the
Heavenly Father’s righteousness, we work out our salvation in Christ Jesus:
where there is a peace, that goes beyond all understanding; where Christ Jesus’
Gospel is our life and strength; where our courage comes from living, in the
truth of Christ Jesus’ Gospel; and where our joy is complete, for our souls are
cleansed, in the baptism of the Holy Spirit and we have repented of all our
sins; as well, where we have yielded our hearts and minds to Christ Jesus’
Gospel, his words and teachings….
Yes, yes Christians, great in our midst is the Holy Spirit, the Lord Christ
Jesus, for greater is he, Jesus’ grace, his blood sacrifice than anything that
is in the world and Jesus have overcome the world: amen and alleluia.
Now Christians, Saint Paul talks to the Ephesians, about the inscrutable
riches of Christ Jesus, that is: living and being in Christ Jesus’ Gospel;
still, if we are not willing to take this journey, of Christ Jesus’ Gospel; if
we are unwilling to seek the kingdom of Heaven, and the Heavenly Father’s
Righteousness; if we are unwilling to faithfully believe in Christ Jesus’
Gospel; and if we are unwilling to yield our hearts and minds and obediently
follow Christ Jesus’ words and teachings, Jesus’ Gospel – how will we ever come
to know the riches, personally, that Saint Paul is expounding….
Yes, yes Christians, Christ Jesus is Lord and he is the true light of our
hearts and minds; let us take Jesus’ yoke upon ourselves and learn from the Holy Spirit
and Jesus’ Gospel, our teacher, for Christ Jesus is meek and of gentle heart….
Now Christians, in the name of the Lord Christ Jesus let us pray and be
thankful….
Amen….
Friday, June 15th
2018
The Tenth Week of Ordinary Time
1 Kings 19:9 & 11-16
Psalms 27:7-9 & 13-14
Philemon 2: 15-16
Christians, Christ Jesus teaches us truth and life, and teaches us the things… we must believe, so that we are living in accordance, with his words and teachings…. Now Christians, the Israelites had become, so perverted and immoral that the Word of God was anathema to them, so much so that they had put all of God, the Heavenly Father’s prophets to the sword; all but Elijah, who had escaped to the mountain of God, Horeb.... Now, God asked Elijah – why he was hiding here, at Mount Horeb? Not that God, the Heavenly Father did not know, why Elijah was at Mount Horeb, but he wanted to communicate with Elijah, and bless him in his adversities…. Now Christians, it says that the word of God came to Elijah, where he had taken shelter in a cave: imagine if you will, being Elijah, and having the word of God come to you…. The words that were in Elijah’s mind were, “Go outside and stand on the mountain before the Lord; the Lord will be passing by.” So Elijah being a true and good prophet of the Lord, our Heavenly Father, obediently went outside and stood: there was a great storm of heavy wind and crushing rocks; there was an earthquake; after these things there was a fire; and then after these things it became silent and calm, and then there was a tiny whispering sound…. Now when Elijah heard this, ‘whispering sound,’ he, Elijah hid his face in his cloak and went and stood at the entrance of the cave, and then God asked Elijah, in this still tiny whisper, “Elijah why are you here?” Elijah tells God, the Heavenly Father, communicating, the truth that God already knew, but seeing Elijah was steadfast and true; God the Father blessed Elijah, and once again changed the fate of the Israelites, by setting them on the course, of bringing them to reconciliation, and back to truth…. Now Christians, let us look at how God, our Heavenly Father – interacted with the Israelites, so we will not be dissuaded, by ridiculous ideas of God hurling lighten bolts down upon people, because in most cases: God did not destroy with fire and brimstone, as he destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, but interacted, with Prophets and Kings, giving them his power to overcome, the pervasive immoralities and idolatries that had enveloped, the Israelites…. So now Christians, if we see this story of Elijah: Elijah came down from Mount, Horeb, and took the road back to the desert, near Damascus; there was likely other ways, roads, for Elijah to travel, and maybe some even shorter and easier to travel, but God wanted Elijah to travel this road – likely for his safety, and because he, God the Heavenly Father knew that it would put him, Elijah, in Damascus on his, God’s Time; whereas to perfectly setup the blessing and anointing of Hazael, to be king of Aram…. Elijah anointed and appointed, two other kings, and also appointed his successor… as God’s anointed prophet, the son of Spaphat of Abel-meholah, Elisha…. Now Christians, each of us have our own road, our own path to live and work out our salvation; yet, no road or path that is inconsistent and not in accordance with Christ Jesus’ Gospel will lead us to eternal salvation; for Christ Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life and no one, no person comes to the Father, the Heavenly Father except by and through the Son, the Lord Christ Jesus. So when the Psalmist sings and says, Hear O Lord the sound of my call; although it may seem untrue that he is talking about Jesus – unknown, at that time to the Psalmist, as Jesus; yet in reality, the Psalmist is speaking and singing about Christ Jesus…. Now we know this: because the Gospel says “In the beginning was the word,” and Jesus is the word made flesh…. The Psalmist sings: “Have pity on me, and answer me – this being the still small voice that ‘spoke’ to Elijah.” Christians we also see from this Psalm that the Psalmist is seeking the kingdom of heaven, which is the same Gospel, the Lord Christ Jesus gave to the Israelites and the world, the Psalmist singing, “You – my glances seek; your presence, O Lord, I seek; hide not your face, from me, and do not, in anger, repel me: your servant – all of these things are the seeking of the kingdom of heaven.” Now Christians, although, it seemingly something that many do not want to speak about; we have a fairly clear example of how the Old Testament and the New Testament, although both being God, the Heavenly Father’s Gospel, have different endings: this than, this ending, is what most people refrain from speaking about. In the Psalm, the Psalmist says, “I believe that I shall see the bounty of the Lord, in the land of the living;” however, in the Heavenly Father’s Gospel given to us by his Son, the Lord Christ Jesus, the ending is not about seeing the bounty of the Lord, in the land of the living, but it is about the Revelation of the Lord Christ Jesus and living eternal life, in Christ Jesus' kingdom; it is about looking for new heavens and a new earth and knowing that whosoever therefore will be a friend of this world, becomes an enemy of God, the Heavenly Father…. Christians, shine like lights in the world, as you hold on to the word of life; remember that what is in us is greater than anything in the world.... Now Christians, in the name of the Lord Christ Jesus let us pray and be thankful…. Amen….
Friday, June 22nd
2018
The Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
2 Kings 11:1-4, 9-18, 20
Psalms 132:11-14 & 17-18
Matthew 5:3
Christians our imaginations are filled with many things, but not everything that comes to our mind is a beneficial thing or behavior: in Christ Jesus our treasures are inscrutable and they are a wealth that cannot be taken from us: by moth, decay, or thieves; therefore we should see, “If our eye is sound, our entire person will be filled, with light, and not with just any light – we will be fill with the light that is gifted to us: by believing and seeking and living, in accordance, with Christ Jesus’ Gospel; wherefore, any other light besides Christ Jesus’ light is, a charm of idolatry, and is, darkness portraying itself as light: Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life; Jesus is the light that came into the world.” Now Christians, when we look at this reading, in Second Kings, we see the murderous wickedness that is in the woman, Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah…. Yet, let us adventure back to a time, before there were kings, in Israel, to the days of Samuel…. Samuel, the Prophet is displeased by the peoples request, “For a king to judge them” and God, the Heavenly Father communicates, with Samuel, “That it was not him that the Israelites were rejecting, but that it was God, the Heavenly Father, who they were rejecting:” Samuel appoints Saul as king, and then David becomes the next king of Israel. Ahaziah is the ninth king of Judah, while after Solomon there is a king, for both the Land of Judah, and the Land of Israel.... So here we are in the present, with Ahaziah, who has just died and was replaced by his mother, the next ruler to judge; still there was not a true justice in the land, and the people continued to live after the flesh, rather than be observant of the Ten Commandments, given to them by God, through Moses; after they were freed from slavery from Egypt…. So Christians, we see that even though God instructed Samuel to appoint a king, to rule, there was still no true justice in the land because people preferred the darkness, and their justice was merely a pretense…. Interestingly, God tells Samuel, “It is me, God the Heavenly Father who they, the Israelites are rejecting, so the Israelites – not only did they reject God, the Heavenly Father – wanting a man to judge them, instead of justice and truth; they also rejected Christ Jesus, Jesus being a man and the Son, of God, yes, yes Jesus is Lord, who is the way, the truth and the life…. So here we are, again in the present, seven years into the reign of the woman, who is a wicked murderer, of her own Grandchildren; killing them from vainglory: for she wants to rule so much that it was worth it, to her, to kill all of her Sons, Ahaziah’s children, but somehow, the youngest, Joash escaped her wickedness…. Christians, imagine if you will you are Joash, and your Grandmother killed all of your brothers and sisters because she vaingloriously wanted to rule; does justice demand that she be put to death, for her crimes or to be let free? Now Joash, with the Captain of the guard, Jehoiada the priest, and the sister of Ahaziah, the Aunt of Joash, Jehosheba – worked together to put the rightful king, back on the throne, and to seek justice, against the wicked murdering Grandmother, Athaliah: Joash was led out by the priest, Jehoiada and he put the crown and the insignia upon him: they proclaimed him king and anointed him…. Now the murderous Grandmother heard the noise made by the people, and she appeared before them in the temple of the Lord: she screamed and cried and carried on treason!, treason!, but the people knew that she had killed her grandchildren; they knew that this was Ahaziah son, Joash the rightful king, so justice was swift, and she was hauled out of the Temple of God, and she was justly slain…. Christians, the Priest, Jehoiada made a covenant with the Heavenly Father, as one party, and the new king Joash, and the people as the other; as well, there was a covenant between the new king, Joash and the people: whereupon, all the people gave up their idolatrous ways, crushing the temples of Baal to dust…. Now Christians, if we take lightly, these following words; we can truly miss the absolute fullness of them: for the Psalmist says, “The Lord has chosen Zion for his dwelling!” Christians this choice was made with Adam, and the choice and the promise has been passed on, all the way down to Christ Jesus, who now is humankind’s, eternal king, and with an eternal king there will be eternal consequences: for the things we do and the things we do not do; therefore, believe in the Gospel, of the Lord Christ Jesus, and repent of your sins and sinfulness…. Now Christians, when we repent of our sins, we are turning away from our pride, humbling ourselves in poor spirit, acknowledging to God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit that we have fallen short, of his glory, and that our flesh is sinful, which of course is simply the truth…. When we repent of our sins and sinfulness and believe in Christ Jesus’ Gospel, we are taught that, “If we confess with our mouth [with our words] the Lord Christ Jesus, and believe [live according to Jesus’ Gospel] in our hearts that Jesus was raised from the dead we will be saved unto eternal life in Christ Jesus…. Now Christians, take to heart and mind these words and teachings of Christ Jesus, for they show us whether our belief is true, and in the light of Christ Jesus or whether they are false and in the darkness of death: “The lamp of the body is the eye.... If our eye is sound, our whole body will be filled with light; but if our eye is bad, our whole body will be darkness…. And if the light that is in you is darkness, how great will the darkness be.” Now Christians, in the name of the Lord Christ Jesus let us pray and be thankful…. Amen….
Friday, June 29th
2018
Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles
Acts 3:1-10
Psalms 19:2-5
Galatians 1:11-20
John 21:17
Christians, in this teaching from John and the Acts,
Jesus has been crucified, and he, Jesus, the risen Savior-Christ has been in the
presence of the disciples….
Jesus
has said to Thomas, “See Thomas, the wounds in my hands, feet, sides, and the
marks on my head,” and the disciples have left Golgotha; they have left Calvary;
they are at the Sea of Tiberias, and Saint Peter says to his brother disciples,
“I am going fishing.”
Still,
Christians, consider the hearts, minds, and imaginations of these Apostles: let
us assume the day was fairly clear, there were some clouds, but not too many, it
was warm, there was a breeze, and it was early in the morning….
It has been days since the Apostles saw the Risen Savior Christ Jesus,
in Jerusalem, and they have spent many days walking and many nights camping on
the way north, to the Sea of Tiberias….
Their minds must be filled with such thoughts that have never been thought... before or since….
Their hearts
remember Lazarus being raised from the dead, but their hearts are silent towards
one another; they have not yet received the gift of the Holy Spirit, and they
have no idea what is to become of themselves… after, the things that they have
lived, the past three or so years….
They likely had thoughts, “Are we supposed to go back to fishing, after all this...
we have witnessed, and what did the Master, the Lord Jesus mean when he said, 'I will
make you fishers of men?'”
Minute-by-minute, hour-by-hour and day-by-day: their minds, must have, had enough
thoughts, “That they were past wits end,” and were in... a completely different
presence of mind, so much so that they were drenched, in life: not upset and not
angry, but not being able to know what, next, they would do; yet, filled with... a life that lifted them by their spirits and carried them to new thoughts
and new understandings: thoughts that have never been known by any person ever
before or since: for the Apostles were not and are not like any other men, who
have ever walked on the face of this earth….
Yes Christians, try to imagine the minds and hearts of the Apostles, the
days after they had seen the Risen Savior Jesus, and they are trying to
understand, what the last three years of being with Jesus, the Messiah had done
to them and what it meant to them, and furthermore what it meant in regard to
all life….
Then Simon Peter, being a
fishermen says, “I am going fishing, and his Christian brothers joined him and he
did not forbid their company.”
They
fished all through the night with no success, but in the morning Jesus stood on
the shore (without a doubt Jesus could have stood right there beside them by the
boat), but God is not a showoff, so Jesus calls to them as says, “Try the other
side,” and they did, catching more fish than the net could hold….
Now the Apostles recognized Jesus and they hasten to his company:
bringing fish that they had caught, by Jesus’ request – sitting and eating the
breakfast Jesus has prepared for them....
(Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when he cometh, shall find them
watching. Amen I say to you that he will gird himself, and make them sit
down to meat, and passing will minister unto them.)
Now Christians, at a time after the Apostles had received, the gift of
the Holy Spirit; they went to the temple for a three o’clock hour of prayer….
Now from reading these words, the image imagined of Peter and John is of
absolute light; they, walking up to the temple called “The Beautiful Gate” are
Apostles with holiness emanating out of them like breath from lungs or like, the
warmth of the sun streaming from the skies….
John and Peter are filled with holiness, filled with and by the Holy
Spirit, the gift from Christ Jesus to those who believe and live in accordance
with his Gospel; still, the manner of the Apostles and in the workings of the
gifts of the Holy Spirit, although the same spirit, God’s shedding of his Holy
Spirit is not the same today as it was with the Apostles; after all, the Apostles
knew Christ Jesus not only through the word and the Holy Spirit, but they walked
and talked and spent three or so years of ministry with Jesus; it is simply
different, the relationship the Apostles had with Jesus, then all others since….
Now in this teaching, we are instructed that a man crippled since birth
was carried and placed at the Temple’s Gate, and begs for alms from the people
entering the temple….
The crippled
man asks, Peter and John, for alms, as they were entering the temple, and Peter
looked at him fixing his eyes upon him; John was looking intently fastening his
eyes upon the man, who was crippled, and they said to him: “Neither silver nor
gold do we have, but what we have... we give to you freely -- now, in the name of the
Lord Christ Jesus, rise and walk: the ankles grew strong and the crippled man
leaped to his feet and walked around.”
Now inside the temple, the people recognized the man as the person who
had for most all his life sat in front of the temple begging for alms, and they
were amazed and astonished at what had happened to him….
Now interestingly, we never hear about this man again, so a proper
assumption about him may be due: “It is likely that this man, from this day
forward, was able to work for his keep, and likely he was filled with joy to do
so!”
Now Christians, Saint Peter
says to the Lord Christ Jesus, “Lord you know everything; you know that I love
you.”
Christians let us pray, in the
name of the Lord Christ Jesus, and be thankful….
Amen…..