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Tuesday, April 2nd
2024
In the Octave of Easter
·
Acts 2:36-41
·
Psalm 33:4-5, 18-20 & 22
·
Psalm 118:24
·
John
20:11-18
Christians, let us speculate about Mary
Magdalene: she was the first to arrive to the tomb where Christ
Jesus had been laid; she stayed behind, after the Apostles and
disciples went back to the place they were staying; she was the
first to see the Risen Savior Jesus, the Christ and Messiah;
according to the Gospel of Mark, she was the first to tell the
Apostles that Jesus had risen, but they did not believe her! Now,
when we remember the parable that Christ Jesus testified: the
Creditor and the debtors, we speculate since Mary Magdalene was a
woman who was forgiven much and was healed exceedingly -- do we see
Mary Magdalene as a person who loved Christ Jesus the most – as
Jesus confirms about the person who was forgiven a large debt
compared to a venial sin…. Yes, it is an interesting thing; for
Mary Magdalene was cured and forgiven, but it was not great wealth
that she had; still, she was cured and forgiven. The recollection
of Christ Jesus teaching us the Lord’s Prayer, saying Our Father,
and then he uses the illustrations of although men are evil, they do
not give a stone to their son, when he, the son asks for an
egg. Furthermore, Christ Jesus teaches: ask and you will receive;
seek and you will find; knock and the door will be open, but our
enemy the devil is right there, in our consciences, roaring and
tempting us to believe that Christ Jesus is talking about
materialistic things. However, if you read closely the next verse;
Christ Jesus says: how much more will our Heavenly Father give unto
us the Holy Spirit to them that ask, saying it in such a way, as for
that this gift, of the Holy Spirit, is the absolute best gift that
we may ask and receive in this life; furthermore, the holy spirit
will be and is: a spring that wells up in us to eternal life…. Yes,
Mary Magdalene loved, greatly, the Lord Christ Jesus, but she did
turn from her sins and went on to live a life living in sin no
more…. Now Christians, truly, in a great rebuke and admonishment,
reproving and exposing the Israelites in Jerusalem; Saint Peter the
apostle boldly spoke the truth, saying: let the whole house of
Israel know for certain that God the Heavenly Father did send unto
us and make, Jesus, the Nazarene both Lord and Christ, the Messiah,
this Jesus, whom you, current Israelites, did crucify. As it would
be, the world of today would not consider Saint Peter’s testimony:
fit for a proper Christian for edification; oh! it is much too harsh
for anything for a disciple of Christ Jesus to say! Today, the
improper or proper Christian as they see themselves would say to the
Apostle Peter: do not say such things to the Israelites; do not call
them to repentance; rather, say to them they are all welcome – no
need to consider, the sin of thou shalt not kill, on the fact that
they crucified an innocent man…. Why did they crucify the Lord
Christ Jesus: for in part, they, the Israelites in the city, of
Jerusalem, were like buffalo off a cliff or like the J6 protesters,
who, were egged-on by the Pharisees who hated Christ Jesus. For in
the crowd that stood before Pontius Pilate, Pilate saying, “I find
no fault in this person,” there were Pharisees and Elders stirring
up the crowd with chants of crucify, crucify, crucify: these Elders,
Scribes and Pharisees, truly, proving to be the wicked and evil
creatures that the Lord Christ Jesus, judged, and said unto them;
you will die in your sins…. Still, as this testimony proceeds from
the Book of Acts; it tells us that the Israelites were cut to
their hearts, and they humbled themselves and sought repentance: Oh
Jesus, shed your blood upon us Lord and Christ; oh, yes, shed your
blood upon us that did bleed from your crucifixion; yes, yes Christ
Jesus shed your blood upon us and help us to repent and believe in
your gospel of spirit and life; for the kingdom of heaven is at
hand…. So, now, let us presently look to our minds and our hearts
and see, Saint Peter, Apostle filled with the Holy Spirit; as he
rebuked and admonished the Israelites, gloriously. Yes, let us in
our imaginations, see the people, away from the wickedness and evil
influence of the Pharisees, realizing, that they indeed had called
for the crucifixion of this innocent man and now, understanding, in
their shame, the injustice for that they advocated and asked to
happen, upon this person, to this Christ Jesus…. Truly, the
Israelites were cut to their hearts for the things that they did
seek: we see similar, testimony, from Isaiah’s prophecy: for they
shall be ashamed of the oaks which they have desired, and they will
be confounded for the gardens that they have chosen. Again, for
they shall be as an oak whose leaves fade and as a garden that is
left un-watered…. Yes, yes, Christians, in truth of testimony,
Saint Peter Apostle declared unto the repentant Israelites that were
cut to their hearts; those who were asking him: Saint Peter and most
likely, all the apostles who were assembled, with the Rock, Peter,
the Apostle what are we to do? Now Christians, let us take a moment
to reflect on the Israelites of the Sinai Desert and the Israelites
of the time of Christ Jesus. The Alexandrians, the Greeks that is,
somewhat before the time of Christ Jesus, had mostly abolished all
the sacrifices that the Israelites were instructed, from God the
Heavenly Father, to offer as sacrifices for their sins: the yearly
sacrifice for the High Priest and all the people and the individual
sacrifices that were performed, by duty, for those who sought
forgiveness of their sins and sinfulness…. The Greeks mainly
established gymnasiums; instead of the Israelites seeking devotion
to God the Heavenly Father: the Israelites were being pushed to
devotion of their bodies, instead of: revealing unto them the truth
of life and the devotion to God the Heavenly Father. It is rather
strange, if you consider it: for the Greeks were a people of many
gods, but the Israelites knew the one true God; and yet, the
Israelites preferred the darkness to the light and truth of God the
Heavenly Father. This is something that also happened in the time
of Samuel the Prophet: for certain Israelites thought they could
gain, more handsomely, if they had a king to rule them; rather than
living in the truth, the life and the way of God our Heavenly
Father’s word. Now Christians, in the name of the Lord Christ Jesus
let us pray and be thankful…. Amen….
Tuesday, April 9th
2024
The Second Week of Easter
·
Acts 4:32-37
·
Psalm 93:1-2 & 5
·
John 3:14-15
·
John 3:7-15
Christians, Christ Jesus tells us that we
must be born from above, but let us not be unaware that our enemy,
the tempter, who is like a roaring lion, looking to devour souls, is
tempting us in our hearts and minds – as Christ Jesus says, why do
thoughts arise in your hearts – but let us remember that we are to
be lights of the world and the light that came into the world is the
Lord Christ Jesus.
Jesus, the Christ says: if you remain in my word, you will be my
disciples, you will know the truth and the truth, that is, Christ
Jesus’s Gospel of spirit and life, will set you free….
Yes, Christians, let us look at the truth of what Christ Jesus
has taught, to us: for he says, the Comforter, that being the Holy
Ghost, whom God the Heavenly Father, and, then, we have this phrase:
will be sent in the name of the Lord Christ Jesus, and this Holy
Spirit, Christ Jesus’s spirit of truth, will teach us, all things,
and bring all things unto our remembrance, that is, the things that
Christ Jesus has said unto us….
Then, Christ Jesus says that it is expedient (expedient in
this concern, meaning, to our advantage) that he will send unto us
the comforter, this Holy Spirit.
Still, in one instance the Holy Spirit will comfort us, but
it also will shed Christ Jesus’s light of truth: for the Holy Spirit
has come, unto the world, to reprove, that is, to expose our sins
and sinfulness: this being Christ Jesus’s baptism of fire….
Yes, the Holy Spirit, Christ Jesus’s spirit of truth will
expose and convict the world of sin, and convince the world of
Christ Jesus’s righteousness and of judgment; for the ruler of this
world has been condemn.
Hear this clearly Christians, Christ Jesus does not say,
will be,
condemned, but the ruler of this world has, already, been judged and
condemned….
Now
Christians, do not let false prophets come unto you and steal your
blessings: the community of believers were holy, for Saint Peter
Apostle, the first Pope, says, repent and be baptized and believe in
the Gospel of the Lord Christ Jesus: be holy, for I am holy, so,
says, Saint Peter, Apostle….
In the book of Acts it teaches that the community,
was, of one heart and mind; clearly understand, that the one heart
and mind that the community of believers were, was of repentance,
baptism, and believing in Christ Jesus according to his words and
teachings: they did not build on sand or on falsehoods but built
their community, in accordance with Christ Jesus’s word, his gospel,
of spirit and life….
Truly, Saint John, Apostle addresses the falseness within
communities, calling some, the antichrist, saying, hereby, know for
certain the Spirit of God: for every spirit that confesses that
Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: and every spirit that
confesses not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God:
and is the spirit of antichrist, whereof you have heard that it
should come; and even now already is it in the world.
Although, there is a spirit among people and some are
delighted with somethings, Christ Jesus is the head of the church:
yet, as Saint Paul taught the Corinthians that they should eat at
home, saying, wherefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat
(this eat, is talking about the bread of life, Christ Jesus, known
today as holy communion) so when we come together, tarry, that is
wait, for one another.
Yet if a man, a person is hungered, let them eat (first) at home;
therefore, to avoid strife or condemnation as you come together, at
church, to celebrate the Lord Christ Jesus, his gospel of spirit and
life….
Yes, Christians,
for a short period of time and in likely a single community, maybe
fifty years, the community of believers held the things, they had in
common, but truly this was a short-lived practice.
Still, even now there are communes, that people can join, but
this is not a government of people, each with different beliefs:
some who believe in God and some who have false gods; and some who
do not believe in any god at all.
The basic fact with today’s Christians; is they cannot get
their heads around Christ Jesus’s truth and rather, they choose to
believe falsely in some utopia.
Yet, Christ Jesus teaches: “Think not that I have come to
send peace on earth: Jesus Christ came not to send peace, but a
sword.”
Jesus Christ
continues his testimony saying: that he came into the world to set
father against son and daughter against mother, and daughter in-law
against mother in-law and that a person’s foes shall be of his own
household….
Truly, when
Jesus Christ talks about peace; it is the peace that he gave unto us
and it is a peace that goes beyond all understanding: this peace of
Christ Jesus is an inner peace of heart and mind, wherewith, we
receive comfort from the Holy Spirit, Christ Jesus’s spirit of
truth….
Christians, now,
let us consider three emotional characteristics: delight, rebellion,
and outrage.
Let us take
outrage first and consider the parable of a certain man at a great
supper.
God the Heavenly
Father has invited us to his feast, but on three different
occasions: first a man has bought some land, and has no time; next,
a pair of oxen were purchased, and there was no time for the feast;
and then lastly, a man has his bride, and he has no time; typically,
when hearing these three refusals to this feast, there is a sense of
outrage, as in, how could they be so inconsiderate and not attend,
God the Heavenly Father’s feast!
The next, parable is ironic and the emotion yielded, deals,
with rebellion: Christ Jesus makes this statement, “O Jerusalem,
Jerusalem, which kills the prophets, and stones them that are sent
unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as
a hen does gather her brood under her wings, and you would
not!”
So, in this
statement, we see the emotion of rebellion against being called into
the kingdom of God: for we do not want to be a brood under the wing
or live in the light of truth.
Again, we state outrage at those who would not attend God’s
kingdom’s feast and then, ironically, we state rebellion for being
called to the kingdom.
Then lastly, we express delight in the fact that the community of
Christ Jesus’s disciples, who are all believers in Christ Jesus and
were of the same opinion – no disputations of about the way, the
truth and life, with these; considering, Saint Peter had called them
all, recently, to repentance, baptism, and belief in Christ Jesus’s
Gospel of spirit and life.
So, yes there was a great favor and accord between these
first followers of the way, that is, followers of Christ Jesus’s
Gospel of spirit and life….
Now Christians, a most interesting thing about all three of
these observations is that they are emotional responses, which, in
the first place, is not what we are supposed to be doing in Christ
Jesus!
Rather, we are
supposed to be living according to the Holy Spirit; we are supposed
to be living according to Christ Jesus’s words of spirit and life:
yes, we recognize our emotions, but in Christ Jesus’s grace, we
choose Christ Jesus and choose to live according to his way, truth
and life: not being emotional wrecks, but being in the spirit of
Christ Jesus’s love, his joy, and his peace.
Now love according to the Gospel of Christ Jesus is, not, the
same as the world sees love: for the world see sexual immoralities
as love: fornication, adultery, homosexuality, pedophilia, sodomy,
and any other sexual immorality but Christ Jesus has a completely
different word of love, that is, one man and one woman joined
together in Holy Matrimony and the two becoming one new person in
Christ Jesus’s Gospel of spirit and life….
Still, there is yet another testimony that we must consider,
in regard, to the community of believers, and the first thing,
again, is that they were all believers.
Even yet, if one of these community of believer’s trespasses,
against us, and we go to him, but if he refuses to listen; then we are
to go with two or three witnesses.
If this person still refuses to hear, we are to go with the
church and to appeal unto this person.
Then, if this person still refuses to listen, we are to treat
them as a heathen, as a tax collector, or as an undesirable
publican….
So, yes, it
was wonderful that the community of believers chose to hold things
in common, but let us also consider Christ Jesus’s Gospel of spirit
and life….
Moreover,
among these believers, who were of one heart supposedly, we have
the testimony of Anaias and Sapphira.
Now a most interesting thing about this testimony; is Saint
Peter, Apostles says unto them: that the property was Anaias’s; that
if he sold it the proceeds were his and his wife to do as they
chose; that the property belonged to this husband and wife, and not
to any community; however, because, both Anaias and Sapphira
conspired to lie and not unto Saint Peter or so, we are told; but
they chose to lie unto the Holy Spirit; they both fell to their
deaths: the death happened because they chose to lie to God, that
is, the Holy Spirit.
Now Christians, in the name of the Lord Christ Jesus let us
pray and be thankful….
Amen….
Tuesday, April 16th
2024
Third Week of Easter
·
Acts 7:51-8:1
·
Psalms 31:3-4, 6-8, 17, & 21
·
John 6:35
·
John 6:30-35
Christians, the crowd, this is to say, as
Christ Jesus termed them, the lost sheep of Israel, these who did
not believe in Christ Jesus then also, those who do not believe,
yet, even this day; Christ Jesus was asked for a sign: in a parable
Jesus told about the certain rich man, who willfully ignored the
beggar, Lazarus, that his Father Abraham in Heaven said; although,
your tongue could be soothed by even a finger full of water,
being as, your hell torment, from the flames of unquenchable fire
that surround you, remember that you would not lift a finger in
kindness, goodness or in the light of the gospel of my word for
Lazarus, and thus, you have rightly received your reward.
Moreover, now, in this place of heaven, there is a great gulf
that is fixed between your eternal torment and Christ Jesus’s
Kingdom: where the word of spirit and life is as always, and yes, is
eternal; and that you should know: neither can, we pass to you as
you cannot pass unto us.
Then, as Christ Jesus continues to tell the testimony of the certain
rich man and Lazarus the beggar, he says unto the lost sheep: not
even if a man should return from the dead will they repent and turn
away from their preferred darkness, Jesus saying: Nay, if they hear
not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, through
one rose from the dead….
So, with indignant annoyance, some of the crowd said to Jesus show
us a sign, since Moses gave our forefathers manna from heaven.
Still, Christians, know for certain that the bread that
Christ Jesus is, is of life and eternal life, but that the wage of
sin, that is, preferring the darkness to the light of Christ Jesus
-- Jesus Christ who tells us what is sin and what is repentance –
tells us that the wage of sin is death and not only a mortal death,
but eternal torment which is the death of those who prefer the sins
of the flesh to living in the way, truth and life of the Lord Christ
Jesus, the bread of life.
Now Christians, this testimony from Saint Stephen, disciple
of the Lord Christ Jesus, who may be one of those who Christ Jesus
refers to, when he says: Verily, I say unto you, There be some
standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son
of man coming in his kingdom: for indeed, Saint Stephen saw Christ
Jesus in his eternal kingdom -- being ready to come again to judge
the living and the dead: when God the Heavenly Father names the
time….
So, Saint Stephen
eviscerates the people, the elders and the scribes, that is to say,
he admonishes them; testifying, you stiff-necked people.
This admonishment cuts at the very covenant with Abraham: for
it was with Abraham that the covenant of circumcision first
happened.
Still, we see
down through the generations that although some were circumcised in
the flesh, their hearts were far from God the Heavenly Father.
In one testimony from the time of Maccabees: a certain,
Alcimus who was appointed as High Priest, from the Roman Demetrius,
which, right there, a Roman appointing a High Priest, shows us
clearly, Alcimus was a fake High Priest, who gained the office
through fraudulent means, and this Alcimus who was a Jew, although,
circumcised in the flesh, his ears and heart were of the world: the
lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life,
these things that are not of the Heavenly Father but are of the
world and so, Saint Stephen testifies the truth to these people.
Saint Stephen, disciple says unto these uncircumcised, in
their hearts and minds: the elders, scribes and people that they
were unfaithful and preferred abomination and idolatry -- as did the
people before the dispersion, saying, which of the prophets did your
ancestors not persecute; you stiff-necked people always oppose the
Holy Spirit!
Yes, these
uncircumcised in the heart and of the mind put to death those who
foretold the coming of the righteous one, and are now the betrayers
and murderers of the Lord Christ Jesus….
Then in this one sentence: Saint Stephen identifies these
uncircumcised in the heart and mind, the elders, people and scribes
who killed Christ Jesus and they were also, those who did not
observe the law that was received as transmitted by angels, which in
regard refers also to Moses.
In many places from the Old Testament, the prophets talk
about the elders and leaders: as causing the people to err, for some
preferred the darkness and sins and lust of the eyes and the flesh
to the light of truth and life….
Yes, strangely, the elders, the scribes and the people were
infuriated and they ground their teeth at Saint Stephen because they
did not want to hear the truth, for they knew they were sinful and
guilty of not repenting, but they wanted to go on believing that
they were welcomed into the kingdom of heaven, when their very
fruits of life – not to mention the murdering of Saint Stephen –
were of the preferred darkness.
Again, Christ Jesus testifies, unless we repent, we will all
perish: God the Heavenly Father made humankind through Christ Jesus,
the word made flesh, so God can raise up children unto Abraham any
old time he wants; therefore, repent and believe in the Gospel for
the kingdom of heaven is at hand….
Remember, straight is the gate, and narrow is the way, which
leads unto life, and few there be that find it; whereas, broad is
the gate that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in
thereat: truly, if there is an eventual world peace between humans,
then what becomes of Christ Jesus coming again to judge the living
and the dead.
No, truly,
it is blasphemy to believe in world peace, when Christ Jesus assures
us that he will come again to reward each of us according to our
deeds; moreover, Christ Jesus teaches that we are to first seek the
kingdom of heaven and the Heavenly Father’s Righteousness.
The thing is in heaven the grass truly is greener – on the
other side of the fence; however, since we cannot see the other side
of the fence and we have to perceive it by faith and life, we hedge
our faith with this and that….
In Revelation, it testifies that the church is being lukewarm
towards Christ Jesus and Jesus tells Saint John that he is going to
spue, spit and vomit them out of his mouth….
Now Christians, in the name of the Lord Christ Jesus let us
pray and be thankful….
Amen….
Tuesday, April 23rd
2024
The Fourth Week of Easter
·
Acts 11:19-26
·
Psalms 87:3-7
·
John 10-27
·
John 10:22-30
Jesus told them; I told you, but you do not
believe…. Now Christians, Barnabas had sought out Saint Paul,
apostle, and when he found him, they both went back to Antioch,
remaining there, for a full year: teaching about the Risen Savior
Christ Jesus, the Nazarene, born of the Virgin Mary…. Christians
consider this: what may Saint Paul have been teaching the people of
Antioch for a full year? Do you suppose they, Paul and Barnabas,
taught them, as some teach today, that it was acceptable to remain
in their sin or do you suppose that the very words of Christ Jesus
and Saint John the Baptist was the gospel that they were testifying,
to these people of Antioch? We cannot rightly believe that Saint
Paul, Apostle and the disciple Barnabas taught them anything other
than Christ Jesus’s Gospel; Jesus saying, the kingdom of heaven is
at hand, repent, and believe in the Gospel…. While writing to
Corinth, Saint Paul articulates that he was determined, to not know,
anything, among them other than Christ Jesus and his crucifixion,
resurrection, and promise of eternal life in Christ Jesus’s eternal
kingdom…. Saint Paul says unto the Corinthians that it was not with
enticing words of man’s wisdom that he taught and testified unto
them, but it was with the demonstration of Spirit and of
power…. Yes, Christians, it is clear that we are to turn to Christ
Jesus in faith and that this faith is not of the wisdom of men, but
in the power of God. The Prophet Isaiah says it this way: “Cease ye
from man, whose breath is in his nostrils; For wherein is he to be
accounted of?” Again, while Saint John was receiving the testimony
of Revelation; he fell down to worship an angel, but the angel
quickly scolded him, saying, no! do not do this, for I am your
fellow-servant, and of the brethren, the prophets, and of them who
keep the saying of this book: worship God: The Gospel of the Lord
Christ Jesus, the Revelation, of God the Heavenly Father teaches
that we are to worship God. Yes, we are to worship God, but take
care for there is only one God and that God is the creator of heaven
and the earth and is the God of Abraham, the God of Jacob-Israel and
the Heavenly Father of the Lord and Savior Messiah Christ Jesus, the
Nazarene, born of the Virgin Mary…. Yes, Christ Jesus who was sent
by God the Heavenly Father to bring unto humankind, the Gospel of
spirit and life…. Yes Christians, we learn that a byproduct: of the
beloved Saint Stephen’s death, his martyred death, his being stoned
to death, was that Christ Jesus’s disciples were scattered across
the Middle East; some went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and too
Antioch. Interesting note: these scattered only testified to the
lost sheep of Israel; apparently though, through the passing of time
and happenstance, the Gospel of spirit and life that Christ Jesus
did bring unto us: through, God the Heavenly Father sending his only
begotten Son was also received by some of the Cypriots, the
Cyrenians and the Greeks…. Christians let this be a lesson; for in
Jerusalem, the city that Christ Jesus termed, the city where
prophets were killed, that; although, in Antioch the Cyrenians and
Alexandrians, and the Cypriots received the Gospel of the Lord
Christ Jesus, these of the same kin, while in Jerusalem, decided,
and chose to kill Saint Stephen for speaking the truth, which they
did not want to hear, for they preferred the darkness…. It
may be of interest; with children, the responsibility falls to the
parent to keep the child safe and to teach them, the way of God the
Heavenly Father, while ironically, some adults would willingly and
wrongly profess: if Saint Stephen did not want to be killed, he
should have gone to Antioch to preach but do not whatsoever testify
to the truth in Jerusalem: because in Jerusalem the adults do not
take responsibility for themselves and instead of hearing and
receiving the truth, they kill the person speaking truth because
they prefer the darkness and believe that they are saved because
they are children of Abraham. Yes. Christ Jesus told them, the
Pharisees, if God was your Father that they would love him: for
Christ Jesus proceeded forth from God; lest we forget what Christ
Jesus teaches about loving him, for Jesus Christ says: it is the
person who keeps his word that loves him…. So now we have in these
few verses of testimony from Acts: the remembrance of Saint Stephens
death, his martyred death; we have some of Christ Jesus’s disciples
scattered to Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch; we have these
individuals, of Antioch receiving Christ Jesus’s Gospel of spirit
and life; and we have the Church in Jerusalem hearing about the good
news in Antioch and sending Barnabas, there, and then Barnabas
looked for Saint Paul, that is, Saul of Tarsus and a year of
testimony with a large number of people rejoicing and encouraged in
faithfulness to the way, the truth, and the life, the Lord Christ
Jesus…. Incidentally, it was in Antioch that the disciples of Christ
Jesus were first spoken as being Christians: those of Christ
Jesus…. Yes Christians, what a sight it must have been to see;
those, our brethren from the first century, after the resurrection
of Christ Jesus, who had been scattered to Phoenicia, Cyprus, and
Antioch and they being filled with the Holy Spirit and the Gospel of
spirit and life, they were proclaiming the Lord Jesus, and the grace
that was upon the people there was visible; it was manifest; the
grace was of the pleasant aroma of life and love and kindness and
patience and as Saint Paul, Apostle taught: now the Lord is that
spirit, the Holy Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there
is liberty. Again, the Apostle Paul teaches: brethren we have been
called unto liberty; however, only do not use liberty for an
occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. Saint Paul,
also teaches us what Christ Jesus’s love is: Owe no person anything,
but to love one another: for he that loves another has fulfilled the
law. For this, thou shalt not commit adultery; thou shalt not kill;
thou shalt not steal; thou shalt not bear false witness; thou shalt
not covet and if there be any other commandments, it is briefly
comprehended in this saying, namely, thou shalt love thy neighbor as
thyself. Again, love works not ill to his neighbor; therefore, love
is the fulfilling of the law. Yes, charity and goodness and love,
and love is kind; love does not envy brother or sister nor neighbor
or country or nation; love is not pompous, but seeks the
righteousness of God the Heavenly Father and is blessed with
confidence and purpose. Love is dressed in the armor of God: the
breastplate of justice, the truth girded around the loins; the feet
shod with the peace, that is, Christ Jesus’s Gospel of spirit and
life; the sword of righteousness, that is, Christ Jesus’s words and
teachings; the shield of faith, so to bring all thoughts and
imaginations under the authority and in accordance with Christ
Jesus’s Gospel; and as well, the helmet of salvation, for the
promise in Christ Jesus is eternal life and good cheer throughout
our troubles. Yes, Christians, Saint Paul, Apostle tells us the
antithesis of love, saying: the love of money is the root of all
evil, which while some coveted after, they have erred from faith and
have pierced themselves with many sorrows. Truly, Christians, as
the spirit and the flesh are contrary, the opposite of one another,
so also is the love of God our Lord Christ Jesus contrary with what
the world calls love. Remember, that friendship of the world is
enmity with God; whosoever, therefore will be a friend of the world
is the enemy of God. Now, Christians in the name of the Lord Christ
Jesus let us pray and be thankful. Amen.
Tuesday, April 30th
2024
The Fifth Week of Easter
·
Acts 14:19-28
·
Psalms 145:10-13 & 21
·
Luke 24:46, 26
·
John 14:27-31
Christians, let us contemplate this
statement that Christ Jesus testified: if you loved me, you would
rejoice that I am going to the Father; for in human practical terms:
it is as if Jesus is telling his disciples to rejoice that he is
being killed for being an innocent man who was falsely accused, by
those, as Isaiah said, woe to you that call evil good and good evil
and perhaps, too: woe to those who call what is wrong right and try
to make what is right as wrong…. So Christians, Jesus does not want
us to celebrate that he is going to be killed: we see evidence of
this, when Christ Jesus asks God the Heavenly Father to remove this
cup from him, if possible, but then says: not my will Father but
your will. Christians, it is not his death that he wants us to
celebrate, but that he is going to His and Our Father. Clearly, the
testimony is, rejoice, because, I am going to our Father; it is not,
rejoice, that I have to suffer or rejoice because I am being killed
by wicked and evil men, who refuse to acknowledge the truth, for
they, prefer the darkness of their sinful lives to acknowledging the
way, truth, and life of God the Heavenly Father, except with
anything but lip service and political and religious and social and
economic gain. Yes, as we contemplate this statement of testimony
from Christ Jesus the Lord, let us indeed rejoice that Christ Jesus
is seated at the right hand of the Heavenly Father and that he did
bring his gospel of spirit and life unto us, and also, that Jesus
the Christ has sent unto us the Holy Spirit, the spirit of truth,
who stands before God our Heavenly Father as an advocate for
us. Yes, truly, let us rejoice for we clearly see the wickedness of
men and the Holiness of God the Lord Christ Jesus: how men confuse
themselves and cause others to err in their quest for power, for in
their vanity they serve God with lip-service, while they divine a
godless society exchanging the eternal and glorious uncorruptible
things of God into an image made of like to corruptible man…. Now
Christians, in the reading about Saint Paul, apostle and Barnabas in
Antioch and Iconium, they, these Jews assumed that Saint Paul was
dead; let us be clear, these people knew how to stone people to
death for it was a common practice: they stoned to death adulterers,
idolaters, those who practice bestiality, and those men who laid
with a man as a woman and so too, a woman who laid with a woman as a
man and also those men who took a fancy for things and dressing in
things that pertained to women and as well the opposite; these were
all stoned to death. Christians, when Christ Jesus did not condemn
the adulteress, he did not make adultery acceptable, but by putting
to death sin in his body, he gave us the strength through his grace
to overcome our sinfulness and to be forgiven through
repentance…. So yes, the Jews in Antioch and Iconium well knew how
to stone people to death and indeed supposed that Saint Paul was
dead. Now, the likely thing is that he was just unconscious but
given Christ Jesus and given the fact that these people believed
Paul was dead, we should not consider it far-fetched that God, the
Lord Christ Jesus had more work for Saint Paul, apostle to do, so he
breathed life back into Paul and told him not yet, Paul; you have
yet to finish your work…. We should also consider: what may the
people of Antioch and Iconium thought, when here comes Saint Paul,
apostle, back from Derbe: they must have had conversations among
themselves; did not we stone this man to death and now here he is
again speaking the Gospel of truth and life, while he is
interrupting our preferred darkness for our works our evil. People
will see that our works are false, wrong, evil, that is, against
God’s word, but we killed Saint Paul once, we stoned him; oh, this
is not going to look or be good for we who choose to do evil in the
sight of the Lord; again, Saint Paul being restored to life; this
will not be good for those who choose to do abomination in the sight
of God, the Lord Christ Jesus…. So, Saint Paul, apostle and
Barnabas coming back from Derbe, Paul being assumed dead by the
Antiochians and Lycaonians, Paul and Barnabas strengthened the
spirit of the disciples and exhorted them to persevere in faith,
saying, “It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter
the Kingdom of God.” Remember Christians, Christ Jesus testifies,
in the world you will have troubles, but be of good cheer for Christ
Jesus has overcome the world; moreover, we too learn how to
understand that Christ Jesus has overcome the world, when we have
consumed, that is, read, studied, meditated upon his words and
teachings and then, the Holy Spirit causes us: to learn, to grow and
be strengthen in our spirituality, and to live in the complete joy
that is Christ Jesus and live in the peace that is given to us by
and through and in the unity with the Holy Spirit and Christ Jesus
and God the Heavenly Father…. Now, although, Christ Jesus did not
want us to rejoice in his death but rejoice that he was going to His
and Our Father, this does not mean that we do not learn and grow
from understanding the sufferings that he went through. For, yes,
as Saint Paul taught, we must go through hardships and suffering,
but we understand because Christ Jesus overcame the flesh, we can in
spirit and truth turn to Christ Jesus and the Holy Spirit will
indeed comfort us through our sufferings, our hardships, and our
troubles, but again, this faith is a gift and these gifts come to us
when we are in the righteousness of God the Heavenly Father and this
comes to us, when we repent in the name of the Lord Christ Jesus,
seek forgiveness, turn from our sinfulness and choose to be obedient
to Christ Jesus’s Gospel – for it is life: Jesus testifies, he that
believes on the Son, the Lord Christ Jesus has life: and he that
does not believe in the Son, the Lord Christ Jesus shall not see
life; but the wrath of God abides upon them; yes, whosoever disobeys
the Son the Lord Christ Jesus will not see life, but the wrath of
God remains upon them….
Now Christians, what does it mean that they, Saint Paul and
Barnabas, appointed presbyters?
Christians, we have a few examples given unto us by Saint
Paul, how he appointed a presbyter or bishop.
The Apostle Paul teaches they must be blameless; what then,
is this blameless?
Can
it be anything other than a bishop must live in accordance with the
gospel of spirit and life that Christ Jesus brought unto humankind;
therefore, we now clearly see that in some churches, the bishops
that are appointed are an abomination in the sight of God, the Lord
Christ Jesus: some churches revel in their filth so much that they
joy, with pride that they have gone against God’s word; nonetheless,
it is an abomination in the sight of God according to his word and
according to what Saint Paul has taught.
Yes, Saint Paul Apostle says that a bishop must not be
self-willed; again, this is also clearly telling us that a bishop
must be obedient by faith, that is, live in faithful obedience to
Christ Jesus’s Gospel.
Obviously, it does not mean that the bishop should follow the will
of the congregation nor as stated, must not be self-willed, but the
bishop must live according to the words and teachings that Christ
Jesus did bring unto humankind, the words and gospel that God the
Heavenly Father gave unto his son, the Lord Christ Jesus to bring to
us: the bishop must live according to God’s word and will, as our
Blessed Mother Mary did, when she said; let it be done to me
according to thy word, thy will.
Now Christians, in the name of the Lord Christ Jesus let us
pray and be thankful….
Amen….
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